Load driving apparatus, vehicle incorporating the same, and control method for load driving apparatus

1. A load driving apparatus capable of driving a rotating electric machine having a rotational shaft coupled to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a power storage device,

a boosting device configured to allow boosting of a voltage from said power storage device,

a driving device receiving an output voltage from said boosting device to drive said rotating electric machine, and

a control device controlling said boosting device such that a voltage boosting rate by said boosting device is restricted to be below a prescribed value when said rotating electric machine is driven to start said internal combustion engine.

2. The load driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said prescribed value is determined such that said output voltage is substantially equal to the voltage from said power storage device.

3. The load driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control device stops said boosting device when said internal combustion engine is started.

4. The load driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control device controls said boosting device such that said voltage boosting rate is restricted to be below said prescribed value when an output power from said power storage device is lower than a threshold value.

5. The load driving apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said threshold value is determined based on power required to drive said internal combustion engine by said rotating electric machine.

6. The load driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control device controls said boosting device such that said voltage boosting rate is restricted to be below said prescribed value when a temperature of said power storage device is lower than a prescribed temperature.

7. The load driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control device controls said boosting device such that said voltage boosting rate is restricted to be below said prescribed value when a temperature of said internal combustion engine is lower than a prescribed temperature.

8. The load driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said power storage device is formed of a lithium-ion secondary battery.

9. A vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine,

a rotating electric machine having a rotational shaft connected to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine, and

a load driving apparatus capable of driving said rotating electric machine,

said load driving apparatus including

a power storage device,

a boosting device configured to allow boosting of a voltage from said power storage device,

a driving device receiving an output voltage from said boosting device to drive said rotating electric machine, and

a control device controlling said boosting device such that a voltage boosting rate by said boosting device is restricted to be below a prescribed value when said rotating electric machine is driven to start said internal combustion engine.

10. A control method for a load driving apparatus capable of driving a rotating electric machine having a rotational shaft coupled to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine, said load driving apparatus including

a power storage device,

a boosting device configured to allow boosting of a voltage from said power storage device, and

a driving device receiving an output voltage from said boosting device to drive said rotating electric machine,

said control method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a request to drive said rotating electric machine to start said internal combustion engine is made or not, and

restricting a voltage boosting rate by said boosting device to be below a prescribed value when determination is made that a request to start said internal combustion engine has been made.

11. The control method for a load driving apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said prescribed value is determined such that said output voltage is substantially equal to the voltage from said power storage device.

12. The control method for a load driving apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said boosting device is stopped when determination is made that a request to start said internal combustion engine has been made in said step of restricting the voltage boosting rate.

13. The control method for a load driving apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining whether an output power of said power storage device is lower than a threshold value,

wherein said voltage boosting rate is restricted to be below the prescribed value in said step of restricting said voltage boosting rate when determination is made that said output power is lower than said threshold value.

14. The control method for a load driving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said threshold value is determined based on power required to start said internal combustion engine by said rotating electric machine.

15. The control method for a load driving apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining whether a temperature of said power storage device is lower than a prescribed temperature,

wherein said voltage boosting rate is restricted to be below the prescribed value in said step of restricting the voltage boosting rate when determination is made that the temperature of said power storage device is lower than said prescribed temperature.

16. The control method for a load driving apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining whether a temperature of said internal combustion engine is lower than a prescribed temperature,

wherein said voltage boosting rate is restricted to be below the prescribed value in said step of restricting said voltage boosting rate when determination is made that the temperature of said internal combustion engine is lower than said prescribed temperature.