Systems and methods for supplying power in a hybrid vehicle using capacitors, a battery and one or more DC/DC converters
First Claim
1. A system for controlling connections between a battery of a hybrid vehicle and at least one of a capacitor of the vehicle and electrical loads of the vehicle, the electrical loads including essential loads and nonessential loads, the system comprising:
- a battery monitoring circuit configured to determine a state of charge of the battery; and
a battery protection circuit configured to;
monitor the state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is off; and
disconnect the nonessential loads from the battery while maintaining a connection between the essential loads and the battery when the state of charge of the battery is less than a first state of charge threshold, wherein the battery protection circuit is configured to reconnect the nonessential loads to the battery when an engine start is likely to occur within a first predetermined period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for discharging or charging a capacitor of a hybrid vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a target state of charge (SOC) module and a capacitor charge/discharge module. The target SOC module determines a target state of charge of the capacitor based on a speed of the vehicle. The capacitor charge/discharge module determines whether a state of charge of a capacitor is greater than a target state of charge. The capacitor charge/discharge module dissipates power from the capacitor to at least one of a battery of the vehicle and an electrical load of the vehicle when the state of charge of the capacitor is greater than the target state of charge.
36 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for controlling connections between a battery of a hybrid vehicle and at least one of a capacitor of the vehicle and electrical loads of the vehicle, the electrical loads including essential loads and nonessential loads, the system comprising:
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a battery monitoring circuit configured to determine a state of charge of the battery; and a battery protection circuit configured to; monitor the state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is off; and disconnect the nonessential loads from the battery while maintaining a connection between the essential loads and the battery when the state of charge of the battery is less than a first state of charge threshold, wherein the battery protection circuit is configured to reconnect the nonessential loads to the battery when an engine start is likely to occur within a first predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for controlling connections between a battery of a hybrid vehicle and at least one of a capacitor of the vehicle and electrical loads of the vehicle, the electrical loads including essential loads and nonessential loads, the system comprising:
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a battery monitoring circuit configured to determine a state of charge of the battery; and a battery protection circuit configured to; monitor the state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is off; disconnect the nonessential loads from the battery while maintaining a connection between the essential loads and the battery when the state of charge of the battery is less than a first state of charge threshold; determine whether the state of charge of the battery is less than a second state of charge threshold, wherein the second state of charge threshold is less than the first state of charge threshold; and send a message to an owner of the vehicle to request an engine start when the state of charge of the battery is less than the second state of charge threshold.
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9. A system for controlling connections between a battery of a hybrid vehicle and at least one of a capacitor of the vehicle and electrical loads of the vehicle, the electrical loads including essential loads and nonessential loads, the system comprising:
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a battery monitoring circuit configured to determine a state of charge of the battery; a battery protection circuit configured to; monitor the state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is off; and disconnect the nonessential loads from the battery while maintaining a connection between the essential loads and the battery when the state of charge of the battery is less than a first state of charge threshold; a DC/DC converter configured to control flow of current between the battery, the capacitor, and at least one of a starter of the vehicle and a generator of the vehicle; and a disconnect circuit configured to disconnect the nonessential loads and the DC/DC converter from the battery based on a signal sent by the battery protection circuit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling connections between a battery of a hybrid vehicle and at least one of a capacitor of the vehicle and electrical loads of the vehicle, the electrical loads including essential loads and nonessential loads, the method comprising:
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monitoring a state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is off; determining whether the state of charge of the battery is less than a first state of charge threshold; disconnecting the nonessential loads from the battery while maintaining a connection between the essential loads and the battery when the state of charge of the battery is less than the first state of charge threshold; determining whether an engine start is likely to occur; and reconnecting the nonessential loads to the battery when an engine start is likely to occur within a first predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling connections between a battery of a hybrid vehicle and at least one of a capacitor of the vehicle and electrical loads of the vehicle, the electrical loads including essential loads and nonessential loads, the method comprising:
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monitoring a state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is off; determining whether the state of charge of the battery is less than a first state of charge threshold; disconnecting the nonessential loads from the battery while maintaining a connection between the essential loads and the battery when the state of charge of the battery is less than the first state of charge threshold; determining whether the state of charge of the battery is less than a second state of charge threshold, wherein the second state of charge threshold is less than the first state of charge threshold; and sending a message to an owner of the vehicle to request an engine start when the state of charge of the battery is less than the second state of charge threshold.
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Specification