System and method for using solar cell

• US 9,944,189 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Jung, Hae Yoon, Kim, Won Jung, Eo, Moon Jung, Park, Sung Geun, Kim, Sang Hak, Song, Mi Yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie
• Application Number:
  US14/918,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/667 Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A system for using a solar cell includes a solar cell module configured to convert sunlight into electric energy, an engine operating circuit configured to convert mechanical energy generated by an engine operation of a vehicle into electric energy and provide the electric energy, a solar cell circuit configured to provide the electric energy generated through the solar cell module, a battery configured to be charged by electric energy provided by the solar cell circuit or the engine operating circuit, a load, and a controller of a vehicle. The controller is configured to control a connection of the circuits to the battery or to the load depending on a measured state of charge of the battery, driving of the vehicle, and acceleration of the vehicle. A method for using a solar cell is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for using a solar cell, comprising:

a solar cell module configured to convert sunlight into electric energy;

an engine operating circuit configured to convert mechanical energy generated by an engine operation of a vehicle into electric energy and provide the electric energy;

a solar cell circuit configured to provide the electric energy generated through the solar cell module;

a battery configured to be charged by electric energy provided by the solar cell circuit or the engine operating circuit;

a load; and

a controller of a vehicle, the controller configured to control a connection of the circuits to the battery or to the load depending on a measured state of charge of the battery, driving of the vehicle, and acceleration of the vehicle,

wherein the battery is selectively connected to the solar cell circuit for charging, and the load is selectively connected to the solar cell circuit for transferring the electric energy of the solar cell circuit to the load without connection of the battery to the solar cell depending on a driving condition of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the solar cell circuit to provide the electric energy generated from the solar cell module to the load depending on a driving request of the load when the state of charge of the battery is equal to or greater than a first setting value when the engine of the vehicle stops.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to connect the solar cell circuit to the battery to charge the battery when the state of charge of the battery is smaller than the first setting value or when there is no driving request of the load when the engine of the vehicle stops.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to connect the engine operating circuit to charge the battery when the vehicle is accelerated.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to connect the solar cell circuit to charge the battery when the vehicle is decelerated or is driven at a constant speed.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to measure power generated from the solar cell module and to connect the engine operating circuit to charge the battery when the power generated from the solar cell module is smaller than a second setting value.

7. A method for using a solar cell, comprising:

a) determining whether an engine of a vehicle is operated;

b) determining a driving request of a load stored in a controller when the engine of the vehicle is stopped;

c) operating the load by supplying electric energy of a solar cell circuit to the load without connection of a battery to the solar cell when the driving request of the load is present; and

d) charging the battery up to a maximum state of charge by connecting the solar cell circuit to the battery when there is no driving request of the load.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step a) of determining whether the engine of the vehicle is operated includes:

a1) determining whether the vehicle is accelerated;

a2) charging the battery by connecting an engine operating circuit to the battery, when the vehicle is accelerated; and

a3) charging the battery by connecting the solar cell circuit to the battery when the vehicle is driven at a constant speed or decelerated.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

step a3) further includes;

measuring power generated from the solar cell module and connecting the engine operating circuit to charge the battery when the generated power is smaller than a second setting value.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein step b) of determining the driving request of the load includes:

b1) determining whether an inside temperature of the vehicle is equal to or greater than 30°

C. when the state of charge of the battery is equal to or greater than a first setting value;

b2) operating an air conditioner when the inside temperature of the vehicle is equal to or greater than 30°

C. and the state of charge of the battery is equal to or greater than the first setting value;

b3) determining whether it rains outside the vehicle; and

b4) opening a sun roof when it does not rain outside the vehicle.