IP Library Granted Patent US 10,457,160
Granted Patent B2
US 10,457,160 · App. 15/475,392 · Granted Oct 29, 2019

Power control device for vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,457,160
App. No.
15/475,392
Granted
Oct 29, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a power control device for a vehicle in which an electric motor for driving the vehicle to travel is supplied with power from a battery mounted on the vehicle and a fuel cell, a control unit sets a target charging rate (SOCt) of the battery in such a manner that the target charging rate decreases as a remaining fuel amount (Qf) of the fuel cell decreases after the power generation of the fuel cell is started during high-output/high-speed travelling and controls a power generation output (Pf) of the fuel cell based on a difference between the target charging rate (SOCt) and a current charging rate (SOC).

Claims (12)

1. A power control device for a vehicle in which an electric motor for driving the vehicle to travel is supplied with power from a battery and a power generation unit configured to consume fuel to generate power, the power control device comprising:

a remaining fuel amount detection unit configured to detect a remaining fuel amount of the power generation unit that supplies power to the electric motor driving the vehicle;

a power generation start determination unit configured to perform a power generation start determination of the power generation unit;

a power generation control unit configured to control a power generation output of the power generation unit; and

a charging rate detection unit configured to detect a current charging rate of the battery,

wherein the power generation control unit sets a target charging rate of the battery in such a manner that the target charging rate decreases as the remaining fuel amount decreases after the power generation start determination is performed, and controls the power generation output based on a difference between the target charging rate and the current charging rate, and

wherein the power generation control unit decreases the target charging rate in such a manner that the remaining fuel amount reaches an attainment target remaining fuel amount, which is a remaining fuel amount required when travelling of the vehicle ends, and the target charging rate reaches an attainment target charging rate, which is a charging rate remaining when traveling of the vehicle ends, simultaneously.

2. The power control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the power generation start determination unit calculates a vehicle speed equivalent value based on the power supplied to the electric motor from the battery, and performs the power generation start determination when the vehicle speed equivalent value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The power control device for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the power generation start determination unit calculates the vehicle speed equivalent value by smoothing the power supplied from the battery.

4. The power control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the power generation unit is a fuel cell.

5. The power control device for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the power generation unit is a fuel cell.

6. The power control device for a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the power generation unit is a fuel cell.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 1, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 055472/0944 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2017
From: KATO, RYOJI; ICHIKAWA, KOJI; TAKAHASHI, MASASHI; NAKANE, KAZUYOSHI; KAWASHIMA, KAZUHITO; WATANABE, TETSUYA; TASHIRO, KEISUKE
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA; MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 044712/0953 →