Nissan Motor Company Limited

Sony Corporation

Jatco Corporation

Renault S.a.s.

Masahiko Tahara

Tomoyuki Koike

Akifumi Koishi

Atsushi Tezuka

Munemitsu Watanabe

Terumasa Tsuchiya

Kenji Katori

Yoshimasa Nishihiro

Go Sudo

Takurou Hirano

Yasuhiro Watanabe

Kazutoshi Nomoto

Hiromoto Shimizu

Yuji Hirabayashi

Yuuichi Hosaka

Masaharu Mochizuki

Kazuhiko Otsuka

Yuzo Ishikawa

Shiho Ocran

The power supply device includes a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, a starter generator, a DC-DC converter, a changeover switch, and a controller. When an abnormality or a failure has occurred in the DC-DC converter, the controller controls the changeover switch to connect the starter generator to the other battery without via the DC-DC converter and controls the output of the starter generator corresponding to the connected other battery.

Power supply device for vehicle and control method for the same

A vehicle includes: a low voltage battery constituted by a lithium-ion battery, the low voltage battery supplying an electric power to an electric component mounted to a vehicle; a high voltage battery constituted by a lithium-ion battery, the high voltage battery having an output voltage higher than an output voltage of the low voltage battery; a first rotating electrical machine that operates by an electric power supplied from the high voltage battery, the first rotating electrical machine generating a torque for driving the vehicle; and a second rotating electrical machine for starting the engine. The second rotating electrical machine operates by an electric power supplied from the high voltage battery.

Vehicle

A sub-battery () having an internal resistance lower than that of a main battery () is connected to a power supply circuit () connected to the main battery (). In this case, the sub-battery () is connected to the power supply circuit () after the voltage Eof the power supply circuit () is adjusted to the voltage Eof the sub-battery () by controlling the power generation voltage Eof an alternator () connected to the power supply circuit ().

Vehicle power supply control method and vehicle power supply control device

A power supply system that is mountable on a vehicle includes a lithium-ion storage battery connected to an electrical load via two paths being a first path and a second path, a power generator capable of charging the lithium-ion storage battery, a first switch provided on the first path, an electrical resistance element provided on the second path, and a controller configured to control on/off of the power generator and perform on/off control of the first switch. According to a voltage increase request from the electrical load, the controller is configured to turn of the first switch such that a power supply to the lithium-ion storage battery through the first path from the power generator is cut.

Power supply system and method for controlling same

A power supply system that is mountable on a vehicle has a lead-acid storage battery connected to an electrical load, a lithium-ion storage battery having different charge and discharge characteristics form the lead-acid storage battery, and connected in parallel with the lead-acid storage battery with respect to the electrical load, a power generator configured to charge the lead-acid storage battery and the lithium-ion storage battery, and a controller configured to drive the power generator based on a relationship between a discharge current of the lead-acid storage battery and a discharge current of the lithium-ion storage battery.

A vehicle power supply control method includes switching, when a constant voltage is required of a power supply circuit in generating electric power by a power generator, the power supply circuit being connected to a primary storage battery and configured to be connected to a secondary storage battery that has a lower internal resistance than that of the primary storage battery, between connection of the secondary storage battery to the power supply circuit and disconnection of the secondary storage battery from the power supply circuit depending on the required constant voltage, current output to the power supply circuit by the power generator, and a state of charge of the secondary storage battery.

A vehicle traveling control method includes detecting a remaining fuel amount in a fuel tank including a fuel chamber in which a suction port of a fuel pump is disposed for sucking fuel to be supplied to an engine, the fuel tank being configured to generate negative pressure for sucking fuel to the fuel chamber by ejecting a part of fuel sucked by the fuel pump into the fuel chamber via a fuel line, permitting, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, inertial traveling during which a vehicle travels, with the engine kept stopped, operating, when the detected remaining fuel amount is less than a first threshold, the fuel pump despite the engine stopped owing to the inertial traveling, and prohibiting stop of the engine when the detected remaining fuel amount is less than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold.

Vehicle traveling control method and vehicle traveling control device

A power supply system control device for controlling a power supply system including an electric generator, a first electricity storage configured to be charged with and to discharge electric power generated by the electric generator, a second electricity storage configured to be charged with and to discharge the generated electric power, two paths connecting between the first electricity storage and the second electricity storage, a switching unit including a first switch configured to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state of one of the paths, and a second switch configured to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the other of the paths, and an electric load of a vehicle that is connected to the first electricity storage side of the switching unit.

Power supply system control device and power supply system control method

A power supply system in a vehicle having an idling stop function for executing an automatic stop and an automatic restart on an engine has a power generator, a first storage unit that can be charged with and can discharge generated power generated by the power generator, a second storage unit that can be charged with and can discharge the generated power, two paths connecting the first storage unit and the second storage unit, a switching unit including a first switch for switching one path of the two paths between a conductive condition and a non-conductive condition, and a second switch for switching another path of the two paths between a conductive condition and a non-conductive condition, and an engine restarter connected to either the first storage unit side or the second storage unit side of the switching unit in order to start the engine during the automatic restart.

Power supply system

An electric circuit used in a vehicle having an idling stop function of automatically stopping and automatically restarting an engine includes an electric generator, a first electricity storage capable of charging and discharging electric power generated by the electric generator, a second electricity storage connected in parallel to the first electricity storage, capable of charging and discharging the generated electric power, and having high durability against repetitive charge and discharge compared to the first electricity storage, an engine restarter, which is connected to the first electricity storage and the second electricity storage, configured to crank the engine at a time of the automatic restart, and a switch, which is connected between the engine restarter and the first electricity storage, configured to block a flow of current between the engine restarter and the first electricity storage. The switch includes at least a semiconductor switch.

Electric circuit

A method of operating a fuel cell power generator, and a fuel cell power generator to be operated by the method, which method enables feeding of a diluted fuel having an optimum concentration to a power generation unit even without measuring an absolute concentration typically using a sensor are provided. Specifically, how an output voltage of the power generation unit varies depending on a flow rate of a diluted fuel is monitored. Thus, the diluted fuel may be adjusted to have an optimum concentration always, even without measuring an absolute concentration typically using a sensor. According to this operation method, output characteristics and electrical efficiencies can be maximized according to a load and conditions of a fuel cell power generator.

Methods of operating fuel cell power generators, and fuel cell power generators

A fuel cell and an electronic apparatus with same mounted thereon are provided. The fuel cell includes a power generation unit provided with a conduit for an oxidant gas containing at least oxygen, a heat radiation unit connected to the power generation unit so as to radiate heat from the power generation unit, a gas flow means for causing the oxidant gas to flow in the conduit, and a cooling means driven independently from the gas flow means so as to cool the heat radiation unit. By independently controlling the driving of the gas flow means and the cooling means, the fuel cell can be driven in such a manner that the temperature of the power generation unit and the amount of water remaining in the power generation unit are regulated into preferable conditions. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a fuel cell and an electronic apparatus with the same mounted thereon in which power generation can be performed stably and various apparatuses are contained therein in a compact form.

Fuel cell and electronic apparatus with the same mounted thereon

The present invention relates to a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an electricity generator which has an oxygen electrode, a fuel electrode, and a solid polymer type electrolyte membrane disposed between the oxygen electrode and the fuel electrode, and a method for controlling the fuel cell.

Fuel cell apparatus and method for controlling fuel

Fuel cell apparatus and method for feeding a fuel for fuel cell. Optimal power generation for the output demanded by a fuel cell can be achieved. A fuel mixer can adjust the methanol concentration of a mixed solution, and it adjusts the concentration of the mixed solution to an optimal methanol concentration for a load. Information on the methanol concentration detected by a concentration sensor is sent to a controller and referred to when the fuel mixer adjusts the methanol concentration of the mixed solution. The concentration sensorprovided immediately before the fuel cell can achieve power generation while detecting the substantial methanol concentration of the mixed solution fed to the fuel cell.

Fuel cell apparatus and method for feeding a fuel for fuel cell

Elements which exhibit good thermal conductivity are disposed in contact with permanent magnets of an electric motor. These elements absorb heat from the magnets and reduce the rate at which the temperature of the magnets increases. The elements can be provided with fins and the like to increase the rate at which heat is released from the elements.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Masahiko Tahara