Power controller for a vehicle

• US 6,979,977 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Amano, Masahiko, Masaki, Ryoso, Morooka, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tibbits, Pia
• Application Number:
  US10/866,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/116, 320/163, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 363/89, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0896 Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• 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

Abstract

A power controller for a vehicle controls the supply of power to an electrical load when the vehicle'"'"'s engine is stopped or a key switch is turned off, so as to prevent lowering of the remaining capacity of a main battery. The control system has a control portion which controls operation of a power generator and an electrical load mounted on an automotive vehicle. The control system also includes remaining capacity measuring means for measuring the remaining capacity of a battery. The control portion drives a predetermined power load when the engine is stopped or when a key switch is held OFF, and operation of the power load is stopped when a remaining capacity of the battery measured by the remaining capacity measuring means becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. Control apparatus for a power source system in an automotive vehicle, having a motor generator connected mechanically to an engine, and an inverter apparatus connected electrically to said motor generator, comprising:

a high voltage power source system comprising a first battery connected electrically to said inverter apparatus;

a voltage conversion apparatus connected electrically to said first battery, for converting an output voltage of said first battery to a designated voltage;

a low voltage power source system comprising a low voltage battery which is connected to an electric load and supplies said electric load with a voltage lower than a voltage of said first battery; and

a power source control apparatus for controlling at least an operation of said voltage conversion apparatus;

wherein,

when said engine stops or a key switch is turned off, if electric power can be supplied from said first battery to said low voltage power source system, said power source control apparatus causes electric power to be supplied from said first battery through said voltage conversion apparatus to said low voltage power source system, and if electric power cannot be supplied from said first battery to said low voltage power source system, said power source control does not cause electric power from said low voltage battery to be supplied as an electric power to said low voltage power supply system.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if electric power from said low voltage battery cannot supply an electric power for said low voltage power supply system, said power source control apparatus electrically isolates the load from the low voltage power supply system.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in response to a remaining capacity of said first battery, said power source control apparatus judges whether electric power can be supplied from said first battery to said low voltage power supply system, and controls operation of said voltage conversion apparatus correspondingly.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said power source control apparatus operates said voltage conversion apparatus until a remaining capacity of said first battery reaches a predetermined lower limit.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in response to a remaining capacity of said first battery, said power source control apparatus judges whether electric power can be supplied from said first battery to said low voltage power supply system, and controls operation of said voltage conversion apparatus correspondingly.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power source control apparatus operates said voltage conversion apparatus until a remaining capacity of said first battery reaches a predetermined lower limit.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in response to a remaining amount of said second battery, said power supply control apparatus judges whether an electric load can be isolated electrically from said low voltage power supply system.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said power supply control apparatus supplies an electric power to said low voltage power supply system by an electric power from said second battery until a remaining capacity of said second battery reaches a predetermined lower limit of remaining capacity.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in response to a remaining capacity of said second battery, said power supply control apparatus judges whether an electric load can be isolated electrically from said low voltage power supply system.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said power supply control apparatus supplies an electric power to said low voltage power supply system by an electric power from said second battery until a remaining capacity of said second battery reach a predetermined lower limit of remaining capacity.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first battery is a voltage system of 42 V or higher;

and

said second battery is a voltage system of 14 V.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage conversion apparatus is composed of a DC/AC converter.