POWER SOURCE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130026828A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwami, Ryotaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle power source device which can improve the accuracy of battery deterioration detection. The vehicle power source device (100) is provided with: generator (110) which is in-built in a vehicle; high-voltage first battery (120) which stores the electricity generated by the generator (110); DC/DC converter (140) which is provided between the generator (110) and the first battery (120), and electrical component (180); second battery (130) which is connected to the first battery (120) via the DC/DC converter (140), and which has a lower voltage than the first battery (120); and power source ECU (150) which controls the DC/DC converter (140). If the current drawn from the first battery (120) satisfies predicted conditions, the power source ECU (150) increases the output voltage of the DC/DC converter, measures the parameters required to detect the deterioration of the first battery (120), and determines the deterioration of the first battery (120).

Claims

1. A vehicle power supply apparatus comprising:

a generator installed in a vehicle;

a high-voltage first battery that is connected to the generator and stores electric power generated by the generator;

a DC-DC converter located between electrical equipment, and a node between the generator and the first battery;

a second battery that is connected to the first battery via the DC-DC converter, and that has a lower voltage than the first battery;

a control section that controls operation of the DC-DC converter;

a measurement section that measures a parameter necessary to detect deterioration of the first battery, in synchronization with control of the DC-DC converter by the control section; and

a determination section that determines deterioration of the first battery using a measurement result of the measurement section,

wherein the control section increases an output voltage of the DC-DC converter if a condition for which drawing of a current from the first battery is predicted is satisfied, or temporarily stops the DC-DC converter during vehicle deceleration.

2. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first battery is a nickel-hydride battery, a lithium-ion battery, or a lead battery; and

the second battery is a lead battery.

3. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

an electrically driven compressor is connected to the first battery; and

the condition for which drawing of a current from the first battery is predicted is satisfied is that the electrically driven compressor or the electrical equipment is turned on, or that power consumption of the electrically driven compressor increases.

4. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

an electrically driven compressor is connected to the first battery; and

the control section temporarily stops operation of the electrically driven compressor and the DC-DC converter during vehicle deceleration.

5. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the measurement section measures a current and a voltage of a plurality of points for the first battery in synchronization with control of the DC-DC converter by the control section.

6. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the determination section calculates an internal resistance of the first battery using a measurement result of the measurement section, compares that internal resistance with a predetermined determination value, and determines deterioration of the first battery.