Power supply unit

• US 8,030,882 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Ito, Hiroo, Suzuki, Sadanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/138,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A power supply unit that allows a main battery and an auxiliary battery to be charged by a system power supply is disclosed. The first and second bridge circuits of the power supply unit are each formed of four switching elements. The transformer of the power supply unit has a primary winding connected to the first bridge circuit, and a secondary winding connected to the second bridge circuit. The DC/DC converter of the power supply unit allows the auxiliary battery to be connected to the first and second circuits. The controller of the power supply unit controls the switching elements of the first bridge circuit, the switching elements of the second bridge circuit, and the switching element of the DC/DC converter such that power that has been charged to the main battery is output as an AC voltage having voltage and frequency for electric appliances.

Claims

1. A power supply unit that is provided with a main battery and an auxiliary battery which supplies a voltage lower than the main battery, the power supply unit allowing the main battery and the auxiliary battery to be charged by a system power supply, the power supply unit comprising:

a first circuit including the main battery, switching elements, a coil and a first bridge circuit, the first bridge circuit being formed by four switching elements and connected to the main battery via the switching elements and the coil, wherein the switching elements contain a first switching element that is connected to the first bridge circuit and the main battery via the coil and a second switching element that is connected in parallel to the main battery and the coil;

a second circuit including a connecting portion for the system power supply and a second bridge circuit that is connected to the connecting portion and includes two H bridge circuits, each H bridge circuit being formed by four switching elements;

a transformer connecting the first circuit and the second circuit to each other in an electrically insulated state, the transformer having a primary winding connected to the first bridge circuit and a secondary winding connected to the second bridge circuit;

a DC/DC converter that allows the auxiliary battery to be connected to the first and second circuits, the converter including a switching element; and

a controller that controls the switching elements of the first bridge circuit, the switching elements of the second bridge circuit, and the switching element of the DC/DC converter such that power that has been charged to the main battery and the auxiliary battery is output as an AC voltage having voltage and frequency for electric appliances.

2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary battery is connectable to the first and second circuits via the transformer.

3. The power supply unit according to claim 2, wherein the secondary winding is a first secondary winding, and wherein the transformer further includes a second secondary winding that induces an AC voltage based on the voltage supplied to the primary winding of the transformer.

4. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary battery is electrically and directly connectable to the first and second circuits without the transformer in between.

5. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the first bridge circuit includes an H bridge circuit.

6. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is mounted on a vehicle.

7. A power supply unit that is mounted on a vehicle and provided with a main battery and an auxiliary battery which supplies a voltage lower than the main battery, the power supply unit allowing the main battery and the auxiliary battery to be charged by a system power supply, the power supply unit comprising;

a first circuit including the main battery, switching elements, a coil and a first bridge circuit, the first bridge circuit being formed by four switching elements and connected to the main battery via the switching elements and the coil, wherein the switching elements contain a first switching element that is connected to the first bridge circuit and the main battery via the coil and a second switching element that is connected in parallel to the main battery and the coil;

a second circuit including a connecting portion for the system power supply and a second bridge circuit that is connected to the connecting portion and include two H bridge circuits, each H bridge circuit being formed by four switching elements;

a transformer connecting the first circuit and the second circuit to each other, the transformer having a primary winding connected to the first bridge circuit and a secondary winding connected to the second bridge circuit;

a DC/DC converter that allows the auxiliary battery to be connected to the first and second circuits, the converter including a switching element;

a controller that controls the switching elements of the first bridge circuit, the switching elements of the second bridge circuit, and the switching element of the DC/DC converter such that power that has been charged to the main battery and the auxiliary battery is output as an AC voltage having voltage and frequency for electric appliances; and

a filter that is connected to the connecting portion and the second bridge circuit.