Brake control apparatus for electric motor vehicle
First Claim
1. Apparatus for operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provide electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said apparatus comprising:
- a charge state detector for detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source and for providing a charge state signal indicative of said charge state at a particular charging current;
a current detector for detecting said particular charging current and providing a current signal indicative thereof; and
at least one electric load element coupled to divert said charging current from said rechargeable power source;
said control unit being coupled to receive said charge state signal and said current signal, and controlling said charging current by adjusting diversion of said charging current from said rechargeable power source through said at least one electric load element, in response to said charge state signal at said particular charging current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a brake control apparatus for an electric motor vehicle that can control a charging current depending on a charging state of a dc power supply to avoid overcharging it. In regenerative braking, according to the invention, the charging state of a battery is detected by a charging state detector, which sends a detection signal to a control unit. When the state of charge of the battery exceeds a predetermined level, the control unit controls operating parameters of an inverter so that the charging current to the battery is decreased. If, however, insufficient torque results, the control unit turns on an electric load to increase the control torque. If further load absorption is needed, the control unit turns on electric braking means.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. Apparatus for operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provide electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said apparatus comprising:
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a charge state detector for detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source and for providing a charge state signal indicative of said charge state at a particular charging current; a current detector for detecting said particular charging current and providing a current signal indicative thereof; and at least one electric load element coupled to divert said charging current from said rechargeable power source; said control unit being coupled to receive said charge state signal and said current signal, and controlling said charging current by adjusting diversion of said charging current from said rechargeable power source through said at least one electric load element, in response to said charge state signal at said particular charging current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. Method of operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provide electric power to said electric motor and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a state of charge of said rechargeable power source and providing a charge state signal indicative of said charge state at a particular charging current; detecting said particular charging current and providing a current signal indicative thereof; controlling said charging current by diverting said charging current from said rechargeable power source to an electric load element and adjusting diverted charging current in response to said charge state signal at said particular charging current signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provided electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said apparatus comprising:
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a charge state detector for detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source and for providing a charge state signal indicative thereof; and a current detector for detecting said charging current and providing a current signal indicative of magnitude thereof; said control unit being coupled to receive said charge state signal and said current signal, and comprising means for limiting said charging current flowing to said rechargeable power source by activating a first electric load element to divert at least a portion of said charging current from said rechargeable power source if said charge state signal exceeds a first predetermined value at a time when said charging current exceeds a second predetermined value.
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25. Apparatus for operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provided electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said apparatus comprising:
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a charge state detector for detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source and for providing a charge state signal indicative thereof; and a current detector for detecting said charging current and providing a current signal indicative of magnitude thereof; said control unit being coupled to receive said charge state signal and said current signal, and comprising means for controlling operating parameters of said power supply unit to decrease said charging current output by said power supply unit whenever said charge state signal exceeds a predetermined level, means for comparing a braking torque of said motor with a required braking torque value, and means for activating a first electric load element to divert at least a portion of said charging current from said rechargeable power source when said braking torque is less than said required value.
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26. Method of operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provided electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source, and providing a charge state signal indicative thereof; detecting said charging current and providing a current signal indicative of magnitude thereof; and limiting said charging current flowing to said rechargeable power source by activating a first electric load element to divert at least a portion of said charging current from said rechargeable power source if said charge state signal exceeds a first predetermined value at a time when said charging current exceeds a second predetermined value.
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27. Method of operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provided electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source, and providing a charge state signal indicative thereof; and detecting said charging current and providing a current signal indicative of magnitude thereof; controlling operating parameters of said power supply unit to decrease said charging current output by said power supply unit whenever said charge state signal exceeds a predetermined level; comparing a braking torque of said motor with a required braking torque value; and activating a first electric load element to divert at least a portion of said charging current from said rechargeable power source when said braking torque is less than said required value.
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28. Apparatus for operating an electric motor system having a motor, a power supply unit coupled to provided electric power to said motor, a control unit which controls said power supply unit and a rechargeable power source coupled to provide electric power to said power supply unit, said power supply unit being operable to output an electric charging current to said rechargeable power source when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, said apparatus comprising:
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a charge state detector for detecting a charge state of said rechargeable power source and for providing a charge state signal indicative thereof; and a current detector for detecting said charging current and providing a current signal indicative thereof; said control unit being coupled to receive said charge state signal and said current signal, and comprising means for limiting said charging current by controlling operating parameters of said power supply unit when said power supply unit is driven by said motor, and means for activating a first electric load element to divert said charging current from said rechargeable power source when a braking torque of said motor is less than a required value.
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Specification