Variable Voltage Converter (VVC) with Integrated Battery Charger

• US 20110170318A1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Lihua
• Granted Patent: US 8,575,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A variable voltage converter (VVC) is configured to provide bidirectional voltage boost and buck from an input side to an output side. A VVC can include a voltage control portion and a battery charging portion. When incorporated into an inverter system controller (ISC) for a hybrid electric vehicle, the VVC can be configured to charge a battery during both high and low ISC dc bus voltage conditions. A VVC can be configured to receive power from an ac power source through a plug coupled to the VVC via a soft start rectifier. Accordingly, the VVC with integrated battery charger can be used to charge a battery for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) from a standard ac electrical outlet.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a power supply; and

an inverter system control (ISC) circuit coupled to said power supply and configured to provide bidirectional voltage boost and buck operation, said ISC circuit including an inverter configured to provide power to a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said ISC circuit comprises a first phase leg for coupling with said inverter, and a second phase leg for coupling with said power supply.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first phase leg and said second phase leg are coupled to one another via an inductance.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a diode rectifier with a soft start coupled to said ISC, and a plug configured to connect said diode rectifier with an ac power source;

wherein said ISC is configured to charge said power supply using power provided by said ac power source.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) coupled to said inverter.

6. A system comprising:

a variable voltage converter (VVC) with integrated battery charger; and

an inverter coupled to said VVC and configured to provide power to a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM).

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a soft start diode coupled to said VVC and configured to receive ac power via an ac power plug.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a battery coupled to said VVC, wherein said VVC is configured to charge said battery.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said VVC is configured to provide bidirectional voltage boost and buck operation.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said integrated battery charger comprises a phase leg having a first transistor paired in parallel with a first diode, and a second transistor paired in parallel with a second diode.

11. A variable voltage converter (VVC), comprising:

a battery charging portion;

a voltage control portion coupled to said battery charging portion via an inductance; and

wherein said VVC is configured to provide bidirectional voltage boost and buck operation.

12. The VVC of claim 11, wherein said voltage control portion comprises a first phase leg having a first switching unit and a second switching unit, and said battery charging portion comprises a second phase leg having a third switching unit and a fourth switching unit.

13. The VVC of claim 12, wherein a first node between said first and second switching units provides a connection to said first phase leg for said inductance, and a second node between said third and fourth switching units provides a connection to said second phase leg for said inductance.

14. The VVC of claim 11, wherein said VVC is configured to receive ac power via an ac plug coupled to said VVC via a diode rectifier with a soft start.

15. The VVC of claim 14, wherein said VVC is configured to provide power provided via said ac plug to a battery coupled to said VVC in order to charge said battery.

16. The VVC of claim 14, wherein a first node positioned between said inductance and said first phase leg provides a first input to said diode, and a second node positioned between said first and second phase legs provides a second input to said diode.

17. The VVC of claim 11, wherein said third switching unit comprises a transistor arranged in parallel with a diode.

18. The VVC of claim 17, wherein said transistor comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor.