CONTROL SYSTEM, CONTROL DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD

• US 20140285147A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sawada, Junichi, Ishibashi, Yoshihito, Tajima, Shigeru, Kamada, Rui
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A control system includes a first device configured to receive a first voltage, and convert the first voltage to a second voltage that varies according to a variation of the received first voltage. The control system also includes a second device configured to receive the second voltage and to change a charging rate of an energy storage device according to a variation of the received second voltage.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a first device configured to receive a first voltage, and convert the first voltage to a second voltage that varies according to a variation of the received first voltage; and

a second device configured to receive the second voltage and to change a charging rate of an energy storage device according to a variation of the received second voltage.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a control unit configured to combine and convert a plurality of first voltages received from a plurality of different power generation apparatuses into the second voltage.

3. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second devices that are battery units, the plurality of battery units being connected to the first device.

4. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the first devices configured to receive a plurality of respective first voltages, the plurality of first devices including a high voltage input power supply circuit and a low voltage input power supply circuit,

wherein each of the high voltage input power supply circuit and the low voltage input power supply circuit are configured to convert the respective first voltages to second voltages that vary according to a variation of the respective first voltages.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein the second device is configured to receive a combination of the plurality of second voltages, and change the charging rate of the energy storage device according to a variation of the received combination of second voltages.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the second device is a battery unit including a charger circuit configured to receive the second voltage, a battery as the energy storage device, and a discharger circuit connected to the battery.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a control unit including:

a battery configured to be charged by the second voltage;

a processor configured to communicate with the second device and to output a control signal for activation and discharging of the energy storage device; and

a main switch configured to enable a supply of power from the battery to the processor when the main switch is in an on state.

8. The control system according to claim 7,

wherein the control unit further includes a second switch configured to enable a third voltage to be supplied from the energy storage device to the control unit when the second switch is in an on state, and

a third switch connected to the second switch and configured to supply a fourth voltage that is based on a the third voltage to an external device when the third switch is in an on state.

9. A method of charging an energy storage device, the method comprising:

receiving a first voltage;

converting the first voltage to a second voltage that varies according to a variation of the received first voltage; and

changing a charging rate of an energy storage device according to a variation of the received second voltage.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising combining and converting a plurality of first voltages received from a plurality of different power generation apparatuses into the second voltage.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of respective first voltages from at least a high voltage input power supply circuit and a low voltage input power supply circuit; and

converting the respective first voltages to second voltages that vary according to a variation of the respective first voltages.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving a combination of the plurality of second voltages, and changing the charging rate of the energy storage devices according to a variation of the received combination of second voltages.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising changing charging rates of a plurality of different energy storage devices based on cooperative control between a control unit that outputs the second voltage and the plurality of energy storage devices, said cooperative control based in part on varying power needs of the different energy storage devices.

14. A charging unit comprising:

a device configured to receive a voltage, and to change a charging rate of an energy storage device according to a variation of the received voltage supplied to the device.

15. The charging unit according to claim 14, wherein the device is configured to receive the voltage from a control unit that is connected to a plurality of different power generation apparatuses.

16. The charging unit according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of devices that are battery units.

17. The charging unit according to claim 14, wherein the device is a battery unit including a charger circuit configured to receive the voltage, a battery connected to the charger circuit, and a discharger circuit connected to the battery.

18. The charging unit according to claim 14, wherein the device is a battery unit including:

a battery configured to be charged by at least a portion of the voltage;

a processor; and

a first switch connected between the battery and the processor and configured to enable a supply of power from the battery to the processor when the first switch is in an on state, the first switch being operable upon a control signal received from a control unit.

19. The charging unit according to claim 18, wherein the control unit further includes:

a discharger circuit;

a second switch connected between the battery and the discharger circuit;

a charger circuit connected between the battery and a third switch; and

a fourth switch connected to the discharger circuit,

wherein the processor is configured to, upon receipt of a charging control signal from the control unit, turn off the second and the fourth switches and then turn on the third switch, thereby enabling a supply of the voltage to the battery, and

wherein the processor is configured to, upon receipt of a discharging control signal from the control unit, turn off the third switch thereby disabling charging of the battery, and then turn on the second and fourth switches, thereby enabling a discharge of the voltage from the battery through the discharge circuit.

20. A method of charging an energy storage device, the method comprising:

receiving a voltage; and

changing a charging rate of the energy storage device according to a variation of the received voltage.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising receiving a combination of a plurality of voltages, and changing the charging rate of the energy storage devices according to a variation of the received combination of voltages.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein changing the charging rate is further based on power needs of the energy storage device.

23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising changing charging rates of a plurality of different energy storage devices based on cooperative control between a control unit that outputs the voltage and the plurality of energy storage devices, said cooperative control based in part on varying power needs of the different energy storage devices.

24. An electric vehicle comprising:

a first control system including;

a first device configured to receive a first voltage, and convert the first voltage to a second voltage that varies according to a variation of the received first voltage, and

a second device configured to receive the second voltage and to change a charging rate of an energy storage device according to a variation of the received second voltage;

a conversion apparatus that converts power supplied from the energy storage device into a form usable by a component of the electric vehicle; and

a second control system configured to process information relating to vehicle control on the basis of information relating to the energy storage device.

25. An electric vehicle comprising:

a charging unit including a device configured to receive a voltage, and to change a charging rate of an energy storage device according to a variation of the received voltage supplied to the device;

a conversion apparatus that converts power supplied from the energy storage device into a form usable by a component of the electric vehicle; and

a second control system configured to process information relating to vehicle control on the basis of information relating to the energy storage device.