Inverter system

• US 7,902,692 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Darroman, Yann, Alvarez-Troncosco, Ignacio
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/677,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/11
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle system for use in powering an AC load. The system may included an inverter system operating in cooperation with a power distribution system. The power distribution system may be configured to provide a stabilized power output to the inverter system. The inverter system be configured to inverter the stabilized power output to an output suitable for powering the AC load.

Claims

1. A vehicle power system for use in a vehicle having a battery configured to output an unstablized DC voltage to an unstablized power bus, the unstabilized DC voltage varying within a broad voltage range depending on operating conditions of the vehicle, and one or more insensitive loads connected to the unstabilized power bus, the one or more insensitive loads being operable throughout the broad voltage range, the system comprising:

a voltage stabilization module having a converter operable to stabilize the unstabilized DC voltage output from the battery into a stabilized DC voltage and to output the stabilized DC voltage to a stabilized power bus, the stabilized DC voltage being substantially constant regardless of the vehicle operating conditions;

the voltage stabilization module being operable to output the stabilized DC voltage to one or more sensitive loads connected to the stabilized power bus, the one or more sensitive loads being operable within a narrow voltage range and throughout any voltage variations in the stabilized voltage bus, the operation of the one or more sensitive loads being disrupted, rendering the one or more sensitive loads inoperable, in the event voltage variations are outside of the narrow voltage range and within the broad voltage range; and

the voltage stabilization module including a bypass operable to automatically bypass the converter such that the unstabilized DC voltage is provided to the stabilized voltage bus without passing through the converter in the event the unstabilized voltage is within the narrow voltage range.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inverter connected to the stabilized power bus, the inverter being operable to convert the DC voltage of the stabilized power bus to an AC voltage suitable for powering U.S. appliances, and wherein the bypass is separate from the converter.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inverter connected to the stabilized power bus, the inverter being operable to convert the DC voltage of the stabilized power bus to an AC voltage suitable for powering European appliances.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller operable to control the bypass between a first state and a second state depending on whether the unstabilized DC voltage is within the narrow voltage range, the first state corresponding with the unstabilized DC voltage being within the narrow voltage range and the unstabilized DC voltage bypassing the converter, the second state corresponding within the unstabilized DC voltage being outside of the narrow voltage range and the unstabilized DC voltage being stabilized by the converter.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller determines the unstabilized voltage to be outside of the narrow voltage range and actuates the bypass to the second state when vehicle operating conditions indicate at least one of:

(a) battery discharging during vehicle acceleration;

(b) battery charging during vehicle deceleration; and

(c) automatic engine stop/start at vehicle standstill.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller determines whether the unstabilized voltage is within the narrow voltage range without measuring the unstabilized voltage.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller determines whether the unstabilized voltage is within the narrow range based at least in part on vehicle acceleration and deceleration.