CELL VOLTAGE DETECTING SYSTEM AND DRIVE VOLTAGE MAINTAINING METHOD
First Claim
1. A cell voltage detecting system that detects voltages of cells in a fuel cell connected in series, comprising:
- a voltage detector that detects voltages of the cells and includes positive and negative drive terminals;
an auxiliary power supply that generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage necessary for driving the voltage detector between positive and negative terminals thereof;
a first diode connected to a positive terminal of the fuel cell and the positive drive terminal in such a direction as to allow a current to flow therethrough from the positive terminal of the fuel cell to the positive drive terminal; and
a second diode connected to the positive terminal of the auxiliary power supply and the positive drive terminal in such a direction as to allow a current to flow therethrough from the positive terminal of the auxiliary power supply to the positive drive supply terminal, wherein a negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a cell voltage detecting system detecting cell voltages of a fuel cell connected in series, a voltage detector detects cell voltages. An auxiliary power supply generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage for driving the voltage detector at positive and negative terminals thereof. First and second diodes are connected to a positive drive terminal of the voltage detector to supply the power to the drive terminal of the voltage detector from a high voltage side between the fuel cell or the auxiliary power supply. A negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential. A method of maintaining a drive voltage for the voltage detector is also disclosed in which the drive voltage for the voltage detector is supplied from the high voltage side.
11 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A cell voltage detecting system that detects voltages of cells in a fuel cell connected in series, comprising:
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a voltage detector that detects voltages of the cells and includes positive and negative drive terminals; an auxiliary power supply that generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage necessary for driving the voltage detector between positive and negative terminals thereof; a first diode connected to a positive terminal of the fuel cell and the positive drive terminal in such a direction as to allow a current to flow therethrough from the positive terminal of the fuel cell to the positive drive terminal; and a second diode connected to the positive terminal of the auxiliary power supply and the positive drive terminal in such a direction as to allow a current to flow therethrough from the positive terminal of the auxiliary power supply to the positive drive supply terminal, wherein a negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of maintaining a drive voltage for a cell voltage detector that detects voltages of cells in a fuel cell connected in series, using voltages of the fuel cell and an auxiliary power supply, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying the voltage of the fuel cell to the cell voltage detector when the voltage of the fuel cell is greater than the voltage of the auxiliary power supply; and supplying the voltage of the auxiliary power supply to the cell voltage detector 90 when the voltage of the fuel cell is not greater than the voltage of the auxiliary power supply. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification