SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A RELAY OF AN AUXILIARY BATTERY

• US 20180099578A1
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Published: 04/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Ho Joong, Lee, Dong Jun, Kwon, Na Lae, Kim, Jee Heon, Choi, Won Kyoung
• Granted Patent: US 10,220,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A method for controlling a relay of an auxiliary battery by a controller includes deciding whether or not a low direct current (DC) to DC converter (LDC) supplies power required in an electronic load in a state of charge (SOC) maintaining mode of the auxiliary battery. As a result of the decision, a turn-on state of the relay in which power of the auxiliary battery is supplied to the electronic load is maintained when the LDC does not supply the power required in the electronic load. As a result of the decision, the relay is turned off so that power of the auxiliary battery is not supplied to the electronic load when the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a relay of an auxiliary battery by a controller, the method comprising:

deciding, by the controller, whether or not a low direct current (DC) to DC converter (LDC) supplies power required in an electronic load in a state of charge (SOC) maintaining mode of the auxiliary battery; and

controlling, by the controller, turn-on/off states of the relay depending on a result of the decision.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling of the turn-on/off states of the relay includes:

maintaining the turn-on state of the relay in which power of the auxiliary battery is supplied to the electronic load when the LDC does not supply the power required in the electronic load as a result of the decision; and

turning off the relay so that the power of the auxiliary battery is not supplied to the electronic load when the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load as a result of the decision.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the controlling of the turn-on/off states of the relay further includes, after the turning-off of the relay:

confirming whether or not the electronic load using a high voltage is operated;

maintaining an output voltage of the LDC when the electronic load using the high voltage is operated as a result of the confirmation; and

setting the output voltage of the LDC to a minimum voltage when the electronic load using the high voltage is not operated as a result of the confirmation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the controlling of the turn-on/off states of the relay further includes, after the turning-off of the relay:

deciding whether or not the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load;

maintaining the turn-off state of the relay when the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load as a result of the decision as to whether or not the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load; and

allowing an output voltage of the LDC to coincide with an output voltage of the auxiliary battery and turning on the relay, when the LDC does not supply the power required in the electronic load as a result of the decision as to whether or not the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load.

5. A system for controlling a relay of an auxiliary battery, the system comprising:

the auxiliary battery;

a low direct current (DC) to DC converter (LDC) configured to supply power to an electronic load of a vehicle;

a relay configured to supply or block power from the auxiliary battery to the electronic load; and

a controller configured to decide whether or not the LDC supplies power required in the electronic load in a state of charge (SOC) maintaining mode of the auxiliary battery to control turn-on/off states of the relay.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:

maintain the turn-on state of the relay in which the power of the auxiliary battery is supplied to the electronic load when the LDC does not supply the power required in the electronic load; and

turn off the relay so that the power of the auxiliary battery is not supplied to the electronic load when the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to maintain an output voltage of the LDC when the electronic load using a high voltage is operated in a state in which the relay is turned off.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to set an output voltage of the LDC to a minimum voltage when the electronic load using a high voltage is not operated in a state in which the relay is turned off.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to maintain the turn-off state of the relay when the LDC supplies the power required in the electronic load in a state in which the relay is turned off.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to allow an output voltage of the LDC to coincide with an output voltage of the auxiliary battery and turns on the relay, when the LDC does not supply the power required in the electronic load in a state in which the relay is turned off.