IP Library Granted Patent US 12,466,263
Granted Patent B2
US 12,466,263 · App. 18/186,223 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Power generation control system, power generation control method, and aircraft

Inventor: Takeshi Matsumoto (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
B60L3/0046B64C29/0025B64D27/24B64D27/34B64D27/357B64D31/16G05B9/03H02J7/1423H02J7/143B60L2200/10B64D27/026H02J2310/44
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,263
App. No.
18/186,223
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation control system 70 according to the present embodiment includes power generation devices 40 a and 40 b configured to generate electrical power by using engines 44 a and 44 b based on a target power generation amount, and to supply the generated electrical power to a load (i.e., rotors 20 and 29 ), flight controllers 92 a and 92 b configured to decide a target power feed amount, which represents an electrical power amount to be supplied to the load, based on a state of the load, and control sections 91 a and 91 b configured to control the power generation devices by evaluating reliability of the target power generation amount, selecting a calculation method of the target power generation amount based on a result of the evaluation, and calculating the target power generation amount by using a target power feed amount decided by the flight controllers according to the calculation method.

Claims (39)

1 . A power generation control system comprising:

a power generation device configured to generate electrical power by using an engine, based on a target power generation amount, and to supply the generated electrical power to a load;

a first determination unit configured to decide a target power feed amount, which represents an electrical power amount to be supplied to the load, based on a state of the load;

a first control section configured to control the power generation device by evaluating reliability of the target power generation amount, selecting a calculation method of the target power generation amount based on a result of the evaluation, and calculating the target power generation amount by using the target power feed amount decided by the first determination unit according to the calculation method;

a second determination unit configured to decide a target power feed amount, which represents an electrical power amount to be supplied to the load, based on a state of the load, independently of the first determination unit; and

a second control section configured to control the power generation device by calculating the target power generation amount by using the target power feed amount decided by the second determination unit, wherein

the first control section is configured to evaluate the reliability of the target power generation amount by receiving the target power generation amount calculated by the second control section from the second control section.

2 . The power generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first control section is configured to select a normal control mode by receiving the target power generation amount from the second control section when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, and to calculate the target power generation amount by using at least one of the target power feed amount decided by the first determination unit and the target power feed amount decided by the second determination unit in the normal control mode.

3 . The power generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first control section is configured to select a fail control mode 1 by not receiving the target power generation amount from the second control section when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, and to calculate the target power generation amount by using the target power feed amount decided by the first determination unit and a reference power generation amount in the fail control mode 1 .

4 . The power generation control system according to claim 2 , wherein

the first control section is configured to select a fail control mode 1 by not receiving the target power generation amount from the second control section when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, and to calculate the target power generation amount by using the target power feed amount decided by the first determination unit and a reference power generation amount in the fail control mode 1 .

5 . The power generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first control section is further configured to evaluate the reliability of the target power generation amount, depending on whether the target power generation amount calculated by the first control section matches the target power generation amount received from the second control section.

6 . The power generation control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a battery configured to store electrical power that is supplied from the power generation device, and to supply the stored electrical power to the load, wherein

the first control section is configured to calculate the target power generation amount by additionally using a state of charge of the battery.

7 . The power generation control system according to claim 2 , further comprising a battery configured to store electrical power that is supplied from the power generation device, and to supply the stored electrical power to the load, wherein

the first control section is configured to calculate the target power generation amount by additionally using a state of charge of the battery.

8 . The power generation control system according to claim 6 , wherein

the first control section is configured to decide a target charge amount, which represents an electrical power amount to be charged based on the state of charge of the battery, and to calculate the target power generation amount by additionally using the target charge amount.

9 . The power generation control system according to claim 6 , wherein the power generation device comprises a control unit configured to control power generation based on the target power generation amount, and

the control unit is configured to receive the target power generation amount from the first control section, to evaluate the reliability of the target power generation amount, and to use the received target power generation amount or to newly calculate a target power generation amount based on a result of the evaluation.

10 . The power generation control system according to claim 9 , wherein

the control unit is configured to select a normal control mode or a fail control mode 1 by receiving the target power generation amount from the first control section when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, and to use the received target power generation amount in the normal control mode or the fail control mode 1 .

11 . The power generation control system according to claim 10 , wherein

the control unit is configured to receive the target power generation amount from the second control section, in response to not receiving the target power generation amount from the first control section, and to use the target power generation amount received from the second control section.

12 . The power generation control system according to claim 9 , wherein

the control unit is configured, when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, to select a fail control mode 2 or a fail control mode 3 , if the target power generation amount is not received from any of the first control section and the second control section.

13 . The power generation control system according to claim 10 , wherein

the control unit is configured, when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, to select a fail control mode 2 or a fail control mode 3 , if the target power generation amount is not received from any of the first control section and the second control section.

14 . The power generation control system according to claim 12 , wherein

the control unit is configured, when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, to select the fail control mode 2 if the state of charge of the battery is equal to or larger than a certain amount, and to decide the target power generation amount by using a reference power generation amount in the fail control mode 2 .

15 . The power generation control system according to claim 12 , wherein

the control unit is configured, when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, to select the fail control mode 3 if the state of charge of the battery is less than a certain amount, and to use a maximum power generation amount that can be generated, as the target power generation amount in the fail control mode 3 .

16 . The power generation control system according to claim 14 , wherein

the control unit is configured, when evaluating the reliability of the target power generation amount, to select the fail control mode 3 if the state of charge of the battery is less than a certain amount, and to use a maximum power generation amount that can be generated, as the target power generation amount in the fail control mode 3 .

17 . An aircraft comprising the power generation control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the load is a propulsion system configured to generate a propulsive force for flying.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2023
From: MATSUMOTO, TAKESHI
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063053/0310 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-050947 · Mar 25, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230303259A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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