HYBRID AMPERAGE REGULATION POWER SYSTEM

• US 20180043784A1
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Bryan Lewis
• Original Assignee: David Bryan Lewis
• Inventors: LEWIS, David Bryan, FRIES, David Patrick, UHLIG, Andrew Paul, NOVOA, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A power system includes an input node connected to a power source of a vehicle, an output node connected to a load of the vehicle, a super capacitor connected to the output node, a battery connected to a first node, and a contactor coupled between the battery and the super capacitor. The contactor is configured to be turned on to charge the super capacitor with power from the battery in a fast charge mode.

Claims

1. A power system, comprising:

an input node connected to a power source of a vehicle;

an output node connected to a load of the vehicle;

a super capacitor connected to the output node;

a battery connected to a first node; and

a contactor coupled between the battery and the super capacitor and configured to be turned on to charge the super capacitor with power from the battery in a fast charge mode.

2. The power system of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a liftgate.

3. The power system of claim 1, further comprising a converter that boosts power from one of the power source and the battery to charge the super capacitor in a slow charge mode.

4. The power system of claim 3, wherein the converter boosts the power from the power source when vehicle ignition power is on in the slow charge mode, and

wherein the converter boosts the power from the battery when the vehicle ignition power is off in the slow charge mode.

5. The power system of claim 3, wherein the converter boosts the power from the power source to charge the battery in a battery charge mode.

6. The power system of claim 5, further comprising a controller that operates that power system in one of the slow charge mode, the fast charge mode and the battery charge mode,

wherein the controller operates the power system in the slow charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is not being operated,

wherein the controller operates the power system in the fast charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is being operated, and

wherein the controller operates the power system in the battery charge mode when vehicle ignition power is on, the super capacitor does not need to be charged and the battery needs to be charged.

7. The power system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of switches controlled by the controller, the plurality switches comprises:

a first switch comprising a first input connected to the input node, a second input connected to the first node, and an output connected to an input of the converter;

a second switch comprising an input connected to an output of the converter, a first output connected to the output node, and a second output connected to the first node;

a third switch coupled between the first output of the second switch and the output node;

a fourth switch coupled between the second output of the second switch and the first node; and

a fifth switch coupled between the first node and a control terminal of the contactor.

8. The power system of claim 7, wherein, in the slow charge mode, the first input of the first switch is connected to the output of the first switch when the vehicle ignition power is on, and the second input of the first switch is connected to the output of the first switch when the vehicle ignition power is off,

wherein, in the slow charge mode, the input of the second switch is connected to the first output of the second switch, the third switch is turned on, and the fourth and fifth switches and the contactor are turned off when the vehicle ignition power is on.

9. The power system of claim 7, wherein, in the fast charge mode, the third and fourth switches are turned off and the fifth and the contactor are turned on.

10. The power system of claim 7, wherein, in the battery charge mode, the first input of the first switch is connected to the output of the first switch, the input of the second switch is connected to the second output of the second switch, the third and fifth switches and the contactor are turned off and the fourth switch is turned on.

11. A process of operating a power system, the power system comprising a power source of a vehicle, a battery, a super capacitor and a load, the method comprising:

determining whether the super capacitor needs to be charged;

determining whether the load is being operated; and

operating the power system in a fast charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is being operated,

wherein the operating the power system in the fast charge mode comprises charging the super capacitor with power from the battery.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the fast charge mode is terminated when a voltage of the super capacitor is not less than a voltage of the battery.

13. The process of claim 11, further comprising operating the power system in a slow charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is not being operated,

wherein the operating the power system in the slow charge mode comprises:

boosting power from the power source or the battery; and

charging the super capacitor with the boosted power.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the boosting the power comprises:

determining whether vehicle ignition power is on or off;

boosting the power from the power source when the vehicle ignition power is on; and

boosting the power from the battery when the vehicle ignition power is off.

15. The process of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether vehicle ignition power is on;

determining whether the battery needs to be charged; and

operating the power system in a battery charge mode when the vehicle ignition power is on, the super capacitor does not need to be charged and the battery needs to be charged,

wherein the operating the power system in the battery charge mode comprises;

boosting the power form the power source; and

charging the battery with the boosted power.

16. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium embodying a computer readable program having computer readable instructions which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a process of operating a power system, the power system comprising a power source of a vehicle, a battery, a super capacitor and a load, the instructions comprising:

instructions for determining whether the super capacitor needs to be charged;

instructions for determining whether the load is being operated; and

instructions for operating the power system in a fast charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is being operated,

wherein the instructions for operating the power system in the fast charge mode comprise instructions for charging the super capacitor with power from the battery.

17. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, the instructions further comprise instructions for terminating the fast charge mode when a voltage of the super capacitor is not less than a voltage of the battery.

18. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, the instructions further comprise instructions for operating the power system in a slow charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is not being operated,

wherein the instructions for operating the power system in the slow charge mode comprise:

instructions for boosting power from the power source or the battery; and

instructions for charging the super capacitor with the boosted power.

19. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions for boosting the power comprise:

instructions for determining whether vehicle ignition power is on or off;

instructions for boosting the power from the power source when the vehicle ignition power is on; and

instructions for boosting the power from the battery when the vehicle ignition power is off.

20. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, the instructions further comprising:

instructions for determining whether vehicle ignition power is on;

instructions for determining whether the battery needs to be charged; and

instructions for operating the power system in a battery charge mode when the vehicle ignition power is on, the super capacitor does not need to be charged and the battery needs to be charged,

wherein the instructions for operating in the battery charge mode comprise;

instructions for boosting the power form the power source; and

instructions for charging the battery with the boosted power.