Power charging assembly and method that includes a low voltage electrical device operable with pulse width modulation (PWM) control
First Claim
1. A power charging assembly used in an electrical propulsion system for a hybrid electric vehicle to electrically charge at least one electrical load, comprising:
- a negative contactor device outputting a return electrical signal to a battery and receiving a return electrical signal from the at least one electrical load;
a positive contactor device receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load; and
a low-voltage electrical device means adapted for receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power charging assembly and methods are provided to provide a pre-charge low-current state, a steady-state, high-current charging state, and an unconnect state for an electrical load of an electrical propulsion system in a hybrid electrical vehicle (HEV). The power charging assembly includes a positive contactor device, a negative contactor device, and a non-contactor device means. The rate at which that electrical load is pre-charged may be effectively controlled by using a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal received by the non-contactor device means. A current-only carrying positive or negative contactor may be configured with the non-contactor device means to further prevent electrical arcing of the contacts of the positive and the negative contactor during power charging assembly operation.
39 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A power charging assembly used in an electrical propulsion system for a hybrid electric vehicle to electrically charge at least one electrical load, comprising:
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a negative contactor device outputting a return electrical signal to a battery and receiving a return electrical signal from the at least one electrical load; a positive contactor device receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load; and a low-voltage electrical device means adapted for receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21)
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3. A power charging assembly used in an electrical propulsion system for a hybrid electric vehicle to electrically charge at least one electrical load, comprising:
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a negative contactor device outputting a return electrical signal to a battery and receiving a return electrical signal from the at least one electrical load; a positive contactor device receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load; and a non-contactor device means adapted for receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load, wherein the non-contactor device means is at least one solid-state electrical device, and wherein the at least one solid-state electrical device receives a variable pulse-width modulated (PWM) electrical signal, and the at least one electrical load electrically charges in proportion to the received PWM electrical signal.
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11. A method for electrically connecting to electrically charge at least one electrical load from a battery using a power charging assembly disposed in a power system of a hybrid electric vehicle, said power charging assembly including a positive contactor device and a negative contactor device, said method comprising:
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providing a low-voltage electrical device means; electrically connecting the battery with the at least one electrical load using the negative contactor device; electrically connecting the battery with the at least one electrical load using the low-voltage electrical device means, whereby a pre-charging state occurs to charge the at least one electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. A method for electrically connecting to electrically charge at least one electrical load from a battery using a power charging assembly disposed in a power system of a hybrid electric vehicle, said power charging assembly including a positive contactor device and a negative contactor device, said method comprising:
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providing a non-contactor device means; electrically connecting the battery with the at least one electrical load using the negative contactor device; electrically connecting the battery with the at least one electrical load using the non-contactor device means, whereby a pre-charging state occurs to charge the at least one electrical load, wherein the step of providing the non-contacting device means includes the non-contactor device means comprising at least one solid-state electrical device, and wherein the step of providing the at least one solid-state electrical device further includes the at least one solid-state electrical device receiving a variable pulse-width modulation (PWM) electrical signal, and the at least one electrical load being electrically charged in proportion to the received variable PWM electrical signal.
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18. A method for electrically unconnecting at least one electrical load from a battery using a power charging assembly disposed in a power system of a hybrid electric vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a positive contactor device, a negative contactor device, and a low-voltage electrical device means; electrically connecting the battery with the at least one electrical load using the non-contactor device means; electrically disconnecting the battery from the at least one electrical load using the positive contactor device; electrically disconnecting the battery from the at least one electrical load using the non-contactor device means; and electrically disconnecting the battery form the at least one electrical load using the negative contactor device. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An electric vehicle propulsion system including a power charging assembly, said power charging assembly comprising:
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a negative contactor device outputting a return electrical signal to a battery and receiving a return electrical signal from the at least one electrical load; a positive contactor device receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load; and a low-voltage electrical device means adapted for receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load.
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22. A power charging assembly comprising:
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a negative contactor device outputting a return electrical signal to a battery and receiving a return electrical signal from at least one electrical load; a positive contactor device receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load; and an electrical device means adapted for receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load, wherein the electrical device means receives a variable pulse-width modulated (PWM) electrical signal, and the at least one electrical load electrically charges in proportion to the received PWM electrical signal.
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23. A power charging assembly comprising:
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a negative contactor device outputting a return electrical signal to a battery and receiving a return electrical signal from at least one electrical load; a positive contactor device receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load; and a low-voltage electrical device means adapted for receiving an electrical signal from the battery and outputting an electrical signal to the electrical load.
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Specification