Energy conversion system for a vehicle

• US 8,232,669 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Chingchi, Degner, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/537,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 320/108, 363/16, 363/17, 363/25
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

An energy conversion system transfers energy between an energy source, or storage unit, and an electric device via a first port and a second port and at least one of receives and provides energy via a third port.

Claims

1. An energy conversion system for a vehicle comprising:

an energy storage unit;

an electric device; and

an energy conversion arrangement including a first port at a first DC voltage electrically connected with the unit, a second port at a second DC voltage electrically connected with the device, and a plurality of additional ports, the arrangement being configured to selectively (i) transfer energy from the unit to the device, (ii) transfer energy from the device to the unit, (iii) output a DC voltage, of a first polarity, different in magnitude than the first and second DC voltages via some of the additional ports and (iv) output a DC voltage, of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, different in magnitude than the first and second DC voltages via other of the additional ports.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the arrangement comprises a direct current to direct current converter.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the arrangement includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding are configured to be selectively connected in series.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the arrangement includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding are configured to be selectively connected in parallel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy conversion arrangement further includes a third port having a terminal, and wherein the terminal is electrically connected with a circuit configured to convert an alternating current from the terminal into a direct current.

6. An automotive vehicle including an energy storage unit and an electric device comprising:

an energy converter (i) including a first port electrically connected with the unit, a second port electrically connected with the device, and a plurality of additional ports, and (ii) configured to transfer energy from the unit at a first DC voltage to the device at a second DC voltage, to transfer energy from the device to the unit, to output a DC voltage, of a first polarity, different in magnitude than the first and second DC voltages via some of the additional ports, and to output a DC voltage, of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, different in magnitude than the first and second DC voltages via other of the additional ports.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the energy converter is a direct current to direct current energy converter.