Electric vehicle with transient current management for DC-DC converter
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a power converter; and
a controller configured to enable the converter to supply current greater than a threshold during a first time period and, upon expiry of the first time period, to operate the converter to supply current with the current supplied from the converter being limited from exceeding the threshold during a longer duration second time period, the threshold being independent of the current supplied from the converter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric or hybrid electric vehicle includes a battery coupled to a traction motor and a DC-DC power converter for managing transient current demands of vehicle accessories such as an electrical power assisted steering (EPAS) motor or antilock braking system (ABS) with a controller coupled to the power converter that generates a first duty cycle signal to supply current at a first level for a first time period to accommodate transient current for an EPAS, ABS, or other short duration event, and a second duty cycle signal that limits the current to a second level lower than the first level for a second time period upon expiry of the first time period to manage temperature of the converter. The controller may also generate a duty cycle signal based on measured or estimated transistor temperature of the DC-DC converter to lower the current limit when transistor temperature exceeds a threshold.
61 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vehicle comprising:
-
a power converter; and a controller configured to enable the converter to supply current greater than a threshold during a first time period and, upon expiry of the first time period, to operate the converter to supply current with the current supplied from the converter being limited from exceeding the threshold during a longer duration second time period, the threshold being independent of the current supplied from the converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for controlling a vehicle having a battery-powered traction motor and a power converter coupled to the battery, comprising:
-
in response to a demand for the converter to supply current greater than a threshold, enabling the converter to supply current greater than the threshold during a first time period; upon expiry of the first time period, operating the converter to supply current with the current supplied from the converter being limited from exceeding the threshold during a longer duration second time period; and wherein the threshold is independent of the current supplied from the converter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for controlling a vehicle having a traction energy source and a power converter, comprising:
-
in response to a demand for the converter to supply current greater than a threshold, enabling the converter to use energy from the energy source to supply current greater than the threshold during a first time period; upon expiry of the first time period, operating the converter to use energy from the energy source to supply current with the current supplied from the converter being limited from exceeding the threshold during a second time period longer in duration than the first time period; and wherein the threshold is independent of the current supplied from the converter. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification