VEHICLE POWER SUPPLY DEVICE

• US 20150239411A1
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Kaoru, Tsunesada, Akinobu, Sakata, Hideki, Ohsumi, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,855,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries

Abstract

A first power storage portion stores power generated by a generator in a vehicle, and supplies power to a motor for starting an engine and an electric device in the vehicle. A second power storage portion is connected to the first power storage portion in parallel, and stores power generated by the generator, and supplies power to the electric device in the vehicle. The first power storage portion and the second power storage portion are connected each other in parallel. A first switch is inserted in a path between the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion. A diode is connected in parallel with the first switch such that a cathode side thereof is connected to the second power storage portion side. A second switch is provided between the path and the second power storage portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle power source device comprising:

a first power storage portion which stores power generated by a generator in a vehicle, and supplies power to a motor for starting an engine and an electric device in the vehicle;

a second power storage portion which is connected to the first power storage portion in parallel, and stores power generated by the generator, and supplies power to the electric device in the vehicle;

a first switch which is inserted in a path between the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion;

a diode which is connected in parallel with the first switch such that a cathode side thereof is connected to the second power storage portion side;

a second switch which is provided between the path and the second power storage portion; and

a controlling portion which controls the first switch and the second switch,

wherein the controlling portion carries out the OFF state of the first switch and the second switch at the time of starting, and after that the controlling portion turns on the second switch, and the first switch in this order.

2. The vehicle power source device according to claim 1,

wherein the controlling portion measures a current flowing through the second power storage portion in the OFF state of the first switch and the second switch at the time of starting, and after that turns on the second switch, and in this state measures a current flowing through the second power storage portion, and determines as to whether or not the second switch is normal based on a change of the measured currents.

3. The vehicle power source device according to claim 2,

wherein the controlling portion measures an electrical potential difference between the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion in the OFF state of the first switch and the second switch at the time of starting, and after that turns on the first switch, and in this state measures an electrical potential difference between the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion, and determines as to whether or not the first switch is normal based on a change of the measured electrical potential differences.

6. The vehicle power source device according to claims 1,

wherein the first power storage portion includes a lead battery, and the second power storage portion includes a nickel hydride storage battery.

4. A vehicle power source device comprising:

a first power storage portion which stores power generated by a generator in a vehicle, and supplies power to a motor for starting an engine and an electric device in the vehicle;

a second power storage portion which is connected to the first power storage portion in parallel, and stores power generated by the generator, and supplies power to the electric device in the vehicle;

a first switch which is inserted in a path between the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion;

a diode which is connected in parallel with the first switch such that a cathode side thereof is connected to the second power storage portion side;

a second switch which is provided between the path and the second power storage portion; and

a controlling portion which controls the first switch and the second switch based on at least a remaining capacity of the second power storage portion,

wherein the controlling portion carries out the ON state of the second switch and the OFF state of the first switch, in a state that power is not supplied from the generator to the vehicle power source device, when the remaining capacity of the second power storage portion is more than a predetermined minimum capacity.

7. The vehicle power source device according to claim 4,

wherein the first power storage portion includes a lead battery, and the second power storage portion includes a nickel hydride storage battery.

5. A vehicle power source device comprising:

a first power storage portion which stores power generated by a generator in a vehicle, and supplies power to a motor for starting an engine and an electric device in the vehicle;

a second power storage portion which is connected to the first power storage portion in parallel, and stores power generated by the generator, and supplies power to the electric device in the vehicle;

a first switch which is inserted in a path between the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion;

a diode which is connected in parallel with the first switch such that a cathode side thereof is connected to the second power storage portion side;

a second switch which is provided between the path and the second power storage portion; and

a controlling portion which controls the first switch and the second switch based on remaining capacities of the first power storage portion and the second power storage portion,

wherein the controlling portion carries out the ON state of the first switch and the OFF state of the second switch, in a state that power is supplied from the generator to the vehicle power source device, when the remaining capacity of the first power storage portion is less than a predetermined minimum capacity of the first power storage portion, and the remaining capacity of the second power storage portion is more than a predetermined minimum capacity.

8. The vehicle power source device according to claim 5,

wherein the first power storage portion includes a lead battery, and the second power storage portion includes a nickel hydride storage battery.