Power supply equipment for motor vehicle with battery and capacitor

• US 6,861,767 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hanyu, Tomoyuki, Morooka, Yasuo, Amano, Masahiko, Miyazaki, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/941,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.28, 320/166, 290/31, 290/32, 607/06, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0896 Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• 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

Abstract

Power supply equipment for a motor vehicle, includes a motor generator, an inverter for driving the motor generator, a battery and a capacitor of an electrical double layer. The capacitor is directly connected to a DC side of the inverter and the battery is connected in parallel with the capacitor via a first switching unit. When an engine is started up, the power stored in the capacitor is used, and the switching units are turned off to separate the battery from the start-up of the engine.

Claims

1. Power supply equipment for a motor vehicle, comprising a motor generator, an inverter for driving said motor generator, a battery and a capacitor of an electrical double layer,

wherein said capacitor is directly connected to a DC side of said inverter and said battery is connected in parallel with said capacitor via first switching means,

further comprising control means for turning off said first switching means in the start-up of an engine to separate said battery from sadi capacitor and for turning on said first switching means after the start-up of the engine to connect said battery to said capacitor, and

further comprising:

a series circuit of a resistor and second switching means being connected in parallel with said first switching means.

2. The power supply equipment for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said control means determines which of said first and second switching means should be turned on, depending on a difference in voltage between said capacitor and said battery when said battery and said capacitor are connected by said first or second switching means.

3. Power supply equipment for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a motor generator;

an inverter for driving said motor generator;

a battery;

a capacitor of an electrical double layer,

wherein said capacitor is directly connected to a DC side of said inverter and said battery is connected in parallel with said capacitor via first switching means for controlling an electrical connection between the battery and the capacitor; and

a second capacitor connected in parallel with said first-mentioned capacitor between said inverter and said capacitor for eliminating high frequency ripples.

4. Power supply equipment for a motor vehicle, comprising a motor generator, an inverter for driving said motor generator, a battery and a capacitor of an electrical double layer,

wherein said capacitor is directly connected to a DC side of said inverter and said battery is connected in parallel with said capacitor via first switching means, and

wherein:

said first switching means comprises a diode conductible at all times so as to allow an electrical current to flow from said inverter to said battery.

5. Power supply equipment for a motor vehicle, comprising a motor generator, an inverter for driving said motor generator, a battery and a capacitor of an electrical double layer,

wherein said capacitor is directly connected to a DC side of said inverter and said battery is connected in parallel with said capacitor via first switching means, and

wherein:

said first switching means comprises a diode conductible at all times so as to allow an electrical current to flow from said battery to said inverter.

6. Power supply equipment for a motor vehicle, comprising a motor generator, an inverter for driving said motor generator, a battery and a capacitor of an electrical double layer,

wherein said battery has a plurality of different voltage terminals, including a positive higher voltage terminal and a positive lower voltage terminal;

said capacitor being directly connected to a DC side of said inverter;

said capacitor being connected on its higher voltage side to the higher voltage terminal of said battery via first switching means; and

said capacitor being connected on its higher voltage side to the lower voltage terminal of said battery via second switching means.