Power source unit

• US 6,794,846 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsuji, Kimitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tibbits, Pia
• Application Number:
  US10/291,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/138, 363/29, 363/30, 363/31, 363/131, 363/132
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33584 Bidirectional converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A power source unit includes an inverter connected to a power transfer device, a first battery that can be charged and discharged through the inverter and a second battery that can be charged and discharged through the inverter. The second battery has a power voltage lower than that of the first battery. The power source unit further includes a power conversion device connected to the inverter, providing a transforming function, and a switching device provided between the power conversion device and the first and second batteries. The switching device switches a connection between the power conversion device and the first battery, and the power conversion device and the second battery. The inverter is connected to the first and the second batteries through the power conversion device.

Claims

1. A power source unit comprising:

an inverter connect to a power transfer device;

a first battery that can be charged and discharged through the inverter;

a second battery that can be charged and discharged through the inverter, the second battery having a power voltage lower than a power voltage of the first battery;

a power conversion device that comprises a transformer, a first bridge circuit connected to a primary side of the transformer, and a second bridge circuit connected to a secondary side of the transformer and connected to the inverter, the power conversion device providing a power converting function; and

a switching device provided between the first bridge circuit and the first and second batteries, the switching device switching a connection between the power conversion device and the first battery, and the power conversion device and the second battery.

2. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the power conversion device further comprises a transformer, a first bridge circuit connected to a primary side of the transformer, and a second bridge circuit connected to a secondary side of the transformer.

3. The power source unit according to claim 2, wherein the switching device further comprises a switching circuit that switches the connection between the power conversion device and the first battery, and the power conversion device and the second battery.

4. The power source unit according to claim 3, wherein the switching device further comprises a coil connected between the first battery and the second battery through the switching circuit.

5. The power source unit according to claim 4, wherein the switching device further comprises at least two switching elements disposed between the first bridge circuit, and the first and the second batteries so as to switch a power transfer operation between the power transfer device and the first battery, and the power transfer device and the second battery.

6. The power source unit according to claim 5, wherein the at least two switching elements further comprise field effect transistors.

7. The power source unit according to claim 5, wherein the coil is connected between the first battery and the second battery through the switching circuit such that the power conversion device and the switching device provide one of a step-up chopper function and a step-down chopper function between the first battery and the second battery for power transfer therebetween.

8. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the power transfer d vice further comprises a motor generator; and

the inverter allows rectification of an alternating output of the motor generator to charge the first or second batteries so that the motor generator can also be supplied with alternating current.

9. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the power source unit is provided in a hybrid vehicle driven by the power transfer device for a running operation.