Vehicle power source apparatus

• US 9,656,569 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Takikita, Mamoru, Matsuda, Youhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US14/350,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20150021986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 101, 307 107, 324509
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/18 for batteries; for accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A vehicle power source apparatus is provided with a driving battery mounted in a vehicle, an auxiliary apparatus battery that supplies electric power to an auxiliary apparatus of the vehicle, a DC power conversion unit that supplies electric power from the driving battery to the auxiliary apparatus battery, a control unit that controls the DC power conversion unit, a driving battery harness that connects the driving battery with the DC power conversion unit and is protected by a shield, an auxiliary apparatus battery negative-side harness that connects the DC power conversion unit with the negative side of the auxiliary apparatus battery, and a voltage sensor that detects a connection abnormality in the auxiliary apparatus battery negative-side harness.

Claims

1. A vehicle power source apparatus comprising:

a driving battery mounted in a vehicle;

an auxiliary apparatus battery that supplies electric power to an auxiliary apparatus of the vehicle;

a DC power conversion unit that supplies electric power from the driving battery to the auxiliary apparatus battery;

a control unit that controls the DC power conversion unit;

a first connection means that connects the driving battery with the DC power conversion unit and is protected by a shield;

a second connection means that connects the DC power conversion unit with the negative side of the auxiliary apparatus battery;

a detection means that detects a connection abnormality in the second connection means; and

a case that contains the DC power conversion unit, the control unit, and the detection means,

wherein the shield surrounds only the first connection means, and

wherein the detection means detects a connection abnormality by determining whether or not an output current from a positive side of the auxiliary apparatus battery returns to the case through the shield.

2. The vehicle power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means measures a voltage of the case so as to detect a connection abnormality.

3. The vehicle power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means measures a current flowing in the second connection means so as to detect a connection abnormality.

4. The vehicle power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means measures a current flowing in the shield of the first connection means so as to detect a connection abnormality.

5. The vehicle power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means measures a temperature of the shield of the first connection means so as to detect a connection abnormality.

6. The vehicle power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detection means detects a connection abnormality, the control unit stops the output of the DC power conversion unit.

7. The vehicle power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output of the DC power conversion unit so that the detection means does not detect a connection abnormality.