Boost Converter Apparatus And Method

• US 20160079850A1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Cresswell, Justin Edward, Condron, Dean Edward, Ananda Murthy, Deepak Gulur
• Application Number:
  US14/485,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20160079850A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/327 against abnormal temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• 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

Abstract

A boost circuit includes a transistor that switches on and off a boost converter. A temperature from a sensor is received and the temperature is the temperature of the boost circuit. The transistor is selectively switched on and off to cut the current to a boost supply based upon temperature.

Claims

1. A method of operating a boost circuit, the boost circuit including a transistor that switches on and off a boost converter, the method comprising:

receiving a temperature from a sensor, the temperature being the temperature of the boost circuit;

selectively switching the transistor on and off to cut the current to a boost supply based upon temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the boost circuit is disposed in a vehicle with an engine, and the engine may be hot and the current is turned off.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein as the temperature becomes higher, the current to the boost supply is limited by switching the transistor off sooner.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein switching the transistor off allows current to flow to the boost circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein other parameters besides temperature are used to determine the switching.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the other parameters comprise the amount of depression on the gas pedal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transistor comprises a MOSFET.

8. An apparatus for operating a boost circuit, the boost circuit including a transistor that switches on and off a boost converter, the method comprising:

an interface with an input and an output, the input configured to receive a temperature from a sensor, the temperature being the temperature of the boost circuit;

a controller coupled to the interface, the controller configured to selectively switch the transistor on and off to cut the current to a boost supply based upon the temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the boost circuit is disposed in a vehicle with an engine, and the engine may be hot and the current is turned off.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein as the temperature becomes higher, the current to the boost supply is limited by switching off the transistor sooner.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein switching the transistor off allows the current to flow to the boost circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller utilizes other parameters to determine the switching.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the other parameters comprise the amount of depression on the gas pedal.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transistor comprises a MOSFET.