Power supply system and electronic device

• US 7,538,451 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nomoto, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04888 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04947 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/008 using hydrogen as energy vector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An output from a generator section is controlled by a current converter section to be a constant current. Charging and discharging of a power storage section is controlled by a charge/discharge control circuit. Thereby, even in a case where a current value required by a load is high, the case can be dealt with in the manner that, while an output current from the generator section is being maintained constant, the output from the generator section and an output from the power storage section can be caused to function in cooperation with each other. Further, charging and discharging of the power storage section can be performed by a simplified device.

Claims

1. A power supply system for supplying power to a load, comprising:

a generator section for performing power generation;

a current converter section that is connected to the generator section and that controls an output from the generator section to be a constant current, thereby to supply the power to the load;

a charging and discharging control circuit that is coupled to an output from the current converter section and that charges a power storage section in a next stage;

the power storage section that is connected to the charging and discharging control circuit and that performs charging and discharging; and

a control section for controlling the output from the current converter section and an output from the charging and discharging control circuit,

wherein

when a current value necessary to operate the load is lower than or equal to a current value of the constant current, the power is supplied to the load from the generator section, and the power storage section is charged; and

when the current value necessary to operate the load is higher than the current value of the constant current, the power is supplied to the load from both the generator section and the power storage section.

2. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the generator section is a fuel cell or a solar cell.

3. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power storage section is a secondary cell.

4. A power supply system according to claim 3, wherein the secondary cell is any of a lead battery cell and a lithium-ion secondary cell.

5. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the output from the current converter section and the output from the power storage section are each restricted in a current direction to a predetermined direction by current-direction restricting means that restricts the current direction.

6. A power supply system according to claim 5, wherein the current-direction restricting means is a diode.

7. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power storage section includes a voltage converter section that controls an output voltage from the power storage section.

8. A power supply system for supplying power to a load, comprising:

a generator section for performing power generation;

a current converter section that is connected to the generator section and that controls an output from the generator section to be a constant current, thereby to supply the power to the load;

a charging and discharging control circuit that is coupled to an output from the current converter section and that charges a power storage section in a next stage;

the power storage section that is connected to the charging and discharging control circuit and that performs charging and discharging; and

a control section for controlling the output from the current converter section and an output from the charging and discharging control circuit,

wherein

when a current value necessary to operate the load is lower than or equal to a current value of the constant current, the power is supplied to the load in a current value higher than the current value necessary to operate the load.

9. A power supply system for supplying power to a load, comprising:

a generator section for performing power generation;

a current converter section that is connected to the generator section and that controls an output from the generator section to be a constant current, thereby to supply the power to the load;

a charging and discharging control circuit that is coupled to an output from the current converter section and that charges a power storage section in a next stage;

the power storage section that is connected to the charging and discharging control circuit and that performs charging and discharging; and

a control section for controlling the output from the current converter section and an output from the charging and discharging control circuit,

wherein

when a current value necessary to operate the load is higher than a current value of the constant current, charging of the power storage section is stopped.

10. An electronic device connected to a power supply system comprising:

a generator section for performing power generation;

a current converter section that is connected to the generator section and that controls an output from the generator section to be a constant current, thereby to supply the power to the load;

a charging and discharging control circuit that is coupled to an output from the current converter section and that charges a power storage section in a next stage;

the power storage section that is connected to the charging and discharging control circuit and that performs charging and discharging; and

a control section for controlling the output from the current converter section and an output from the charging and discharging control circuit,

wherein

when a current value necessary to operate the load is lower than or equal to a current value of the constant current, the power is supplied to the load from the generator section, and the power storage section is charged; and

when the current value necessary to operate the load is higher than the current value of the constant current, the power is supplied to the load from both the generator section and the power storage section.