VEHICLE POWER SOURCE

• US 20170341528A1
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Inventors: KINOSHITA, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,447,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• 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 2250/02 Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2002 using different starting modes, methods, or actuators depending on circumstances, e.g. engine temperature or component wear
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/14 by regenerative braking
• 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 includes a generator motor coupled to an engine, a first power storage, a second power storage, a conduction switch, and a switch controller. The first and the second power storages are coupled, in parallel, to the generator motor. The conduction switch is subject to change between a conductive state and a cut-off state of the generator motor and the second power storage. The switch controller changes the conduction switch from the conductive state to the cut-off state, on a condition that the generator motor is controlled in a powered state. The switch controller changes the conduction switch from the cut-off state to the conductive state, on a condition that the second power storage discharges in excess of a threshold, with the conductive switch changed to the cut-off state.

Claims

1. A vehicle power source, comprising:

a generator motor configured to be coupled to an engine;

a first power storage configured to be coupled to the generator motor;

a second power storage configured to be coupled, in parallel with the first power storage, to the generator motor;

a conduction switch subject to change between a conductive state and a cut-off state, the conductive state involving coupling the generator motor to the second power storage, and the cut-off state involving separating the generator motor from the second power storage; and

a switch controller configured to change the conduction switch from the conductive state to the cut-off state, on a condition that the generator motor is controlled in a powered state,

the switch controller being configured to change the conduction switch from the cut-off state to the conductive state, on a condition that the second power storage discharges in excess of a threshold, with the conductive switch changed to the cut-off state.

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

the condition that the second power storage discharges in excess of the threshold includes either a condition that a discharge current of the second power storage is higher than a current threshold, or a condition that a terminal voltage of the second power storage is lower than a voltage threshold, or both.

3. The vehicle power source according to claim 1, wherein

the second power storage is coupled to a group of electric loads that includes a large-capacity load whose power consumption is larger than an electric power threshold, and

the switch controller further changes the conduction switch from the cut-off state to the conductive state, on a condition that the large-capacity load is on operation, with the conduction switch changed to the cut-off state.

4. The vehicle power source according to claim 2, wherein

the second power storage is coupled to a group of electric loads that includes a large-capacity load whose power consumption is larger than an electric power threshold, and

the switch controller further changes the conduction switch from the cut-off state to the conductive state, on a condition that the large-capacity load is on operation, with the conduction switch changed to the cut-off state.

5. The vehicle power source according to claim 1, wherein

internal resistance of the first power storage is lower than internal resistance of the second power storage.

6. The vehicle power source according to claim 2, wherein

internal resistance of the first power storage is lower than internal resistance of the second power storage.

7. The vehicle power source according to claim 3, wherein

internal resistance of the first power storage is lower than internal resistance of the second power storage.

8. The vehicle power source according to claim 4, wherein

internal resistance of the first power storage is lower than internal resistance of the second power storage.