Charge/Start System and Electric Vehicle Applying the Same

• US 20110127957A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Tshaw-Chuang, Li, Shao-Yu, Chiang, Wen-Shu, Wu, Min-Chuan
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A charge/start system applied in an electric vehicle is provided. The charge/start system includes a charge/start device coupled to an external power source, an on-car electric source coupled to the charge/start device and a battery unit coupled to the charge/start device for storing and providing power. In charge mode, under control of the charge/start device, anyone of the external power source and the on-car electric source provides power to the battery unit for charging the battery unit through the charge/start device. In starting mode, under control of the charge/start device, the battery unit provides power to the on-car electric source for activating the on-car electric source through the charge/start device.

Claims

1. A charge/start system applied in an electric vehicle, comprising:

a charge/start device coupled to an external power source;

an on-car electric source coupled to the charge/start device; and

a battery unit coupled to the charge/start device for storing and providing power;

wherein;

in charge mode, under control of the charge/start device, one of the external power source and the on-car electric source provides power to the battery unit for charging the battery unit through the charge/start device;

in start mode, under control of the charge/start device, the battery unit provides power to the on-car electric source through the charge/start device, for activating the on-car electric source.

2. The charge/start system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first magnetic contactor controlled by the charge/start device for conducting or breaking a first current flow between the external power source and the battery unit; and

a second magnetic contactor controlled by the charge/start device for conducting or breaking a second current flow between the on-car electric source and the battery unit.

3. The charge/start system according to claim 2, wherein, the charge/start device comprises:

an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) module for receiving and conducting the first and the second current flows;

a filter coupled to the IGBT module for filtering voltage of the first and the second current flows;

a bi-direction DC-DC converter for bucking/boosting voltage of the first and the second current flows;

a charge/start controller for detecting an output voltage of the IGBT module and an output voltage of the bi-direction DC-DC converter to control the IGBT module and the bi-direction DC-DC converter for controlling paths of the first current flow and the second current flow; and

a first and a second current sensor for respectively sensing a current flowing between the second magnetic contactor and the IGBT module.

4. The charge/start system according to claim 3, wherein if the charge/start controller detects that an output voltage of the battery unit is lower than a predetermined voltage, the charge/start controller activates the charge mode.

5. The charge/start system according to claim 4, wherein,

if the charge/start controller detects that the external power source is electrically connected to the electric vehicle, the charge/start controller performs charge control, so that the battery unit is charged by the external power source;

the IGBT module converts AC power outputted from the external power source into DC power for charging the battery unit; and

if a voltage of the external power source is higher than a charge voltage for charging the battery unit, the bi-direction DC-DC converter performs a buck conversion.

6. The charge/start system according to claim 4, wherein the on-car electric source comprises a fuel cell, and

in charge mode, under control of the charge/start device, the fuel cell provides power to the battery unit for charging the battery unit through the charge/start device.

7. The charge/start system according to claim 4, wherein the on-car electric source comprises a start motor and an internal combustion engine generator, and

in charge mode, under control of the charge/start device, electric power generated by the internal combustion engine generator is outputted to the battery unit through the charge/start device for charging the battery unit, and the IGBT module rectifies AC power outputted by the internal combustion engine generator into DC power.

8. The charge/start system according to claim 7, wherein,

in start mode, under control of the charge/start device, the battery unit provides power to the on-car electric source through the charge/start device for activating the start motor of the on-car electric source.

9. The charge/start system according to claim 8, wherein the internal combustion engine generator is a rotation engine generator or a linear engine generator.

10. The charge/start system according to claim 1, wherein the battery unit further has a battery management system coupled to the charge/start device for performing charge control.

11. The charge/start system according to claim 3, wherein the bi-direction DC-DC converter is a buck converter or a boost converter.

12. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a charge/start system; and

a motor, the charge/start system providing power to the motor;

wherein the charge/start system comprises;

a charge/start device coupled to an external power source;

an on-car electric source coupled to the charge/start device; and

a battery unit coupled to the charge/start device for storing and providing power;

wherein;

in charge mode, under control of the charge/start device, one of the external power source and the on-car electric source provides power to the battery unit for charging the battery unit through the charge/start device;

in start mode, under control of the charge/start device, the battery unit provides power to the on-car electric source through the charge/start device, for activating the on-car electric source.

13. The electric vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

a first magnetic contactor controlled by the charge/start device for conducting or breaking a first current flow between the external power source and the battery unit; and

a second magnetic contactor controlled by the charge/start device for conducting or breaking a second current flow between the on-car electric source and the battery unit.

14. The electric vehicle according to claim 13, wherein, the charge/start device comprises:

an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) module for receiving and conducting the first and the second current flows;

a filter coupled to the IGBT module for filtering voltage of the first and the second current flows;

a bi-direction DC-DC converter for bucking/boosting voltage of the first and the second current flows;

a charge/start controller for detecting an output voltage of the IGBT module and an output voltage of the bi-direction DC-DC converter to control the IGBT module and the bi-direction DC-DC converter for controlling paths of the first and the second current flows; and

a first and a second current sensor for respectively sensing a current flowing between the second magnetic contactor and the IGBT module.

15. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein if the charge/start controller detects that an output voltage of the battery unit is lower than a predetermined voltage, the charge/start controller activates the charge mode.

16. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein,

if the charge/start controller detects that the external power source is electrically connected to the electric vehicle, the charge/start controller performs charge control, so that the battery unit is charged by the external power source;

the IGBT module converts AC power outputted from the external power source into DC power for charging the battery unit; and

if voltage of the external power source is higher than a charge voltage for charging the battery unit, the bi-direction DC-DC converter performs a buck conversion.

17. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the on-car electric source comprises a fuel cell,

in charge mode, under the control of the charge/start device, the fuel cell provides power to the battery unit for charging the battery unit through the charge/start device.

18. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the on-car electric source comprises a start motor and an internal combustion engine generator, and

in charge mode, under control of the charge/start device, electric power generated by the internal combustion engine generator is outputted to the battery unit through the charge/start device for charging the battery unit, and the IGBT module rectifies AC power outputted by the internal combustion engine generator into DC power.

19. The electric vehicle according to claim 18, wherein,

in start mode, under control of the charge/start device, the battery unit provides power to the on-car electric source through the charge/start device for activating the start motor of the on-car electric source.

20. The electric vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the internal combustion engine generator is a rotation engine generator or a linear engine generator.

21. The electric vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the battery unit further has a battery management system coupled to the charge/start device for performing charge control.

22. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the bi-direction DC-DC converter is a buck converter or a boost converter.