The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 16, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 04, 2012
Kimiyasu Kakiuchi, Osaka, JP;
Hisazumi Watanabe, Osaka, JP;
Masato Wagatsuma, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A vehicle power unit is operable to, when not driving the starter, charge first and second capacitors. A controller is operable to, when driving the starter, cause the battery to supply power to the starter if a total voltage of first and second capacitor voltages is smaller than a predetermined total voltage. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, form a parallel circuit of the battery and the first capacitor, and connect the second capacitor in series to the parallel circuit if the total voltage is not smaller than the predetermined total voltage at a beginning of use of the vehicle. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, disconnect the battery from the starter. The vehicle power unit reduces a load applied to the battery when driving the starter, accordingly extending a life time of the battery.