Vehicle power supply apparatus

• US 8,860,244 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Hattori, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kessie, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/059,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/112, 307/113, 307/116, 307/125, 307/130, 307/141
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle power supply apparatus which includes a battery charged by a generator and supplies, to a plurality of loads, electric power discharged by the battery and electric power generated by the generator. The apparatus includes an electric double layer capacitor connected in parallel to the battery, and a connection circuit for switching connection and disconnection between respective homopolar terminals of the battery and the electric double layer capacitor. The connection circuit is connected to charge the electric double layer capacitor based on a potential difference between terminals of the connection circuit. The plurality of loads include loads each of which generates a rush current of a predetermined value or more and each of which is fed electric power outputted by the electric double layer capacitor.

Claims

1. A vehicle power supply apparatus which comprises a battery charged with electric power generated by a generator operated in conjunction with an engine and through which electric power discharged by the battery and electric power generated by the generator are supplied to a plurality of loads, the vehicle power supply apparatus comprising:

an electric double layer capacitor connected in parallel to the battery;

a connection circuit configured to switch connection and disconnection between respective homopolar terminals of the battery and the electric double layer capacitor;

a potential difference detecting section configured to detect a potential difference between terminals of the connection circuit;

a time measuring section configured to measure a time elapsed since start of the engine;

a capacitor voltage detecting section configured to detect an output voltage from the electric double layer capacitor;

a capacitor voltage determining section configured to determine whether or not the output voltage detected by the capacitor voltage detecting section falls within a predetermined voltage range; and

an indicating section configured to indicate a determination result upon determination by the capacitor voltage determining section that the detecting output voltage falls within the predetermined voltage range after measurement of a predetermined time by the time measuring section,

wherein the connection circuit is connected to charge the electric double layer capacitor based on the potential difference detected by the potential difference detecting section, and

wherein the loads comprise loads each of which generates a rush current of a predetermined value or more and each of which is fed electric power outputted by the electric double layer capacitor.

2. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein electric power is also directly supplied from the battery to some of the loads each of which generates the rush current.

3. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the loads, each of which generates the rush current, comprise a starter of the engine.

4. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a switch configured to switch connection and disconnection between the starter and the battery;

wherein the switch is connected only when the starter is activated.

5. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the electric double layer capacitor is contained in an electric connection box in which a branch circuit from the battery to the load and a fuse are contained.

6. A vehicle power supply apparatus which comprises a battery charged with electric power generated by a generator operated in conjunction with an engine and through which electric power discharged by the battery and electric power generated by the generator are supplied to a plurality of loads, the vehicle power supply apparatus comprising:

an electric double layer capacitor connected to the battery through a backflow prevention circuit so as to be charged;

a switch configured to switch connection and disconnection between the electric double layer capacitor and one or a plurality of the loads;

a battery voltage detecting section configured to detect an output voltage from the battery;

a battery voltage determining section configured to determine whether or not the voltage detected by the battery voltage detecting section is lower than a predetermined voltage;

a time measuring section configured to measure a time elapsed since start of the engine;

a capacitor voltage detecting section configured to detect an output voltage from the electric double layer capacitor;

a capacitor voltage determining section configured to determine whether or not the output voltage detected by the capacitor voltage detecting section falls within a predetermined voltage range; and

an indicating section configured to indicate a determination result upon determination by the capacitor voltage determining section that the detected output voltage falls within the predetermined voltage range after measurement of a predetermined time by the time measuring section,

wherein upon determination by the battery voltage determining section that the detected voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, the switch is connected.

7. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the switch is operated in conjunction with the indicating section.

8. The vehicle power supply apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the electric double layer capacitor is contained in an electric connection box in which a branch circuit from the battery to the load and a fuse are contained.