Charging system for vehicle

• US 6,794,847 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aoki, Shigeru, Kaizuka, Masaaki, Takahashi, Kazunari, Hosoda, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/059,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/132, 320/163, 318/434, 363/98
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1492 by means of controlling devices between the generator output and the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 with transmission for changing gear ratio

Abstract

The charging system for a vehicle includes: a motor generator which operates as a generator to generate an alternating current when the motor generator is driven by an internal combustion engine, and operates as a motor when an alternating current is supplied thereto; a switching circuit for converting the alternating current generated by the motor generator into a direct current; a first accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by the switching circuit; a second accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by the switching circuit and having a smaller accumulation voltage than that of the first accumulator; a first opening/closing unit interposed between the first accumulator and the switching circuit; a second opening/closing unit interposed between the second accumulator and the switching circuit; and, a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the first and second opening/closing units.

Claims

1. A charging system for a vehicle, comprising:

a motor generator which operates as a generator to generate an alternating current when said motor generator is driven by an internal combustion engine, and operates as a motor when the alternating current is supplied thereto;

a switching circuit for converting the alternating current generated by said motor generator into a direct current;

a first accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by said switching circuit;

a second accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by said switching circuit and having a smaller accumulation voltage than that of said first accumulator;

a first opening/closing unit interposed between said first accumulator and said switching circuit;

a second opening/closing unit interposed between said second accumulator and said switching circuit; and

,

a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of said first and second opening/closing units.

2. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first opening/closing unit comprises:

a first transistor having a collector connected to a positive terminal of said first accumulator and an emitter connected to a positive-side input/output terminal of said switching circuit; and

a diode disposed in parallel to said first transistor for allowing a current to flow therethrough in a direction from said positive-side input/output terminal of said switching circuit toward said positive terminal of said first accumulator, and,

wherein said second opening/closing unit comprises;

a second transistor having a collector connected to said positive-side input/output terminal of said switching circuit; and

a reverse current preventive diode connected between the emitter of said second transistor and said positive terminal of said second accumulator for preventing a current from flowing in a direction from the positive terminal of said second accumulator toward said emitter of said second transistor.

3. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises:

a drive mode for driving said motor generator using said first accumulator;

a first accumulating mode for accumulating electric power generated by said motor generator in said first accumulator; and

a second accumulating mode for accumulating electric power generated by said motor generator in said second accumulator, and

wherein, in said drive mode, said first opening/closing unit is held in a closed state and said second opening/closing unit is held in an opened state,

further wherein, in said first accumulating mode, said first and second opening/closing units are both held in an opened state, and,

further wherein, in said second accumulating mode, said first opening/closing unit is held in an opened state and said second opening/closing unit is held in a closed state.

4. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage detect unit for detecting the accumulated voltages of said first and second accumulators,

wherein said control unit controls the electric energization rate of said switching circuit according to the deviation of the detected voltage detected by said voltage detect unit from a previously set reference voltage.

5. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a smoothing condenser connected between the positive-side input/output terminal of said switching circuit and a grounding terminal,

wherein said control unit includes a pre-charge mode for opening and closing said first opening/closing unit with a previously set electric energization rate so as to charge said smoothing condenser.

6. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a smoothing condenser connected between the positive-side input/output terminal of said switching circuit and a grounding terminal,

wherein said control unit includes a discharge mode for opening and closing said second opening/closing unit with a previously set electric energization rate so as to discharge said smoothing condenser.

7. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a current detect unit for detecting an input current to said switching circuit,

wherein said control unit controls the electric energization rate of said first opening/closing unit according to the deviation of a detected current value detected by said current detect unit from a previously set reference current value.

8. A charging system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a current detect unit for detecting an input current to said switching circuit,

wherein said control unit controls the electric energization rate of said second opening/closing unit according to the deviation of a detected current value detected by said current detect unit from a previously set reference current value.