IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,515,546
Granted Patent B2
US 12,515,546 · App. 18/505,230 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Power conversion device for electric vehicles and operation method thereof

Inventors: Min Seong Choi (Hwaseong-si, KR); Sun Ho Lee (Uiwang-si, KR); Hyun-Wook Seong (Anyang-si, KR); Dong Gyun Woo (Hwaseong-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B60L53/22H02M1/42H02M7/217
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,515,546
App. No.
18/505,230
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment power conversion device for electric vehicles includes a battery, a relay circuit connected to a charging/discharging outlet through first power lines, a power factor correction circuit connected to the relay circuit through second power lines between the relay circuit and the battery, a discharging outlet connected to branch lines branched from each of the second power lines, and a controller configured to control the relay circuit and the power factor correction circuit such that power from the battery is supplied to a load using asymmetric power or to a load using symmetric power connected to the discharging outlet.

Claims (44)

1 . A power conversion device comprising:

a battery;

a relay circuit connected to a charging/discharging outlet through a plurality of first power lines;

a power factor correction circuit connected to the relay circuit through a plurality of second power lines between the relay circuit and the battery;

a discharging outlet connected to branch lines branched from each of the second power lines; and

a controller configured to control the relay circuit and the power factor correction circuit such that power from the battery is suppliable to a load configured to use asymmetric power or to a load configured to use symmetric power via the discharging outlet,

wherein the branch lines comprise first to third branch lines respectively connected to the plurality of second power lines, and

wherein the discharging outlet comprises a positive (+) terminal connected to the first branch line, a negative (−) terminal connected to the second branch line, and a neutral terminal connected to the third branch line.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a positive (+) voltage is suppliable to a first power line of the plurality of second power lines, a negative (−) voltage is suppliable to a second power line of the plurality of second power lines, and a zero voltage is suppliable to a third power line of the plurality of second power lines.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the load configured to use asymmetric power is connected to the positive (+) terminal and the neutral terminal.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the load configured to use asymmetric power is connected to the negative (−) terminal and the neutral terminal.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the load configured to use symmetric power is connected to the positive (+) terminal, the negative (−) terminal, and the neutral terminal.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:

wherein the relay circuit comprises:

an L 1 relay connected to a first power line of the plurality of second power lines;

an L 1 -L 2 relay and an L 2 relay connected in parallel to a second power line of the plurality of second power lines; and

an L 3 relay and a neutral point relay connected in parallel to a third power line of the plurality of second power lines, and

wherein the power factor correction circuit comprises:

a first leg connected to the first power line;

a second leg connected to the second power line; and

a third leg connected to the third power line.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein, in a case in which the load configured to use asymmetric power is connected to the discharging outlet, the controller is configured to:

turn off the L 1 relay, the L 1 -L 2 relay, the L 2 relay, the L 3 relay, and the neutral point relay; and

control the first to third legs such that a positive (+) voltage is suppliable to the first power line or a negative (−) voltage is suppliable to the second power line.

8 . The device of claim 6 , wherein, in a case in which the load configured to use asymmetric power is connected to the discharging outlet, the controller is configured to:

turn on the L 1 relay, the L 1 -L 2 relay, and the neutral point relay;

turn off the L 2 relay and the L 3 relay; and

control the first to third legs such that a positive (+) voltage is suppliable to the first power line or a negative (−) voltage is suppliable to the second power line.

9 . The device of claim 8 ,

wherein the charging/discharging outlet comprises an L 1 terminal connected to the L 1 relay and the L 1 -L 2 relay through a first power line of the plurality of first power lines and a second neutral terminal connected to the neutral point relay through a second power line of the plurality of first power lines, and

wherein, in a case in which a vehicle exterior load is connected to the L 1 terminal and the second neutral terminal, the positive (+) voltage suppliable to the first power line of the plurality of second power lines is suppliable to the L 1 terminal or the negative (−) voltage suppliable to the second power line of the plurality of second power lines is suppliable to the L 1 terminal such that power is simultaneously suppliable to the load configured to use asymmetric power and the vehicle exterior load.

10 . The device of claim 6 , wherein, in a case in which the load configured to use symmetric power is connected to the discharging outlet, the controller is configured to:

turn off the L 1 relay, the L 1 -L 2 relay, the L 2 relay, the L 3 relay, and the neutral point relay; and

perform pulse width modulation control on the first to third legs such that a positive (+) voltage is suppliable to the first power line of the plurality of second power lines, a negative (−) voltage is suppliable to the second power line of the plurality of second power lines, and a zero voltage is suppliable to the third power line of the plurality of second power lines.

11 . The device of claim 6 , wherein, in a case in which the load configured to use symmetric power is connected to the discharging outlet, the controller is configured to:

turn on the L 1 relay and the neutral point relay;

turn off the L 1 -L 2 relay, the L 2 relay, and the L 3 relay; and

perform pulse width modulation control on the first to third legs such that a positive (+) voltage is suppliable to the first power line of the plurality of second power lines, a negative (−) voltage is suppliable to the second power line of the plurality of second power lines, and a zero voltage is suppliable to the third power line of the plurality of second power lines.

12 . The device of claim 11 ,

wherein the charging/discharging outlet comprises an L 1 terminal connected to the L 1 relay and the L 1 -L 2 relay through a first power line of the plurality of first power lines and a second neutral terminal connected to the neutral point relay through a second power line of the plurality of first power lines, and

in a case in which a vehicle exterior load is connected to the L 1 terminal and the second neutral terminal, the positive (+) voltage suppliable to the first power line of the plurality of second power lines is suppliable to the L 1 terminal and the zero voltage suppliable to the third power line of the plurality of second power lines is suppliable to the second neutral terminal, such that power is simultaneously suppliable to the load configured to use symmetric power and the vehicle exterior load.

13 . A vehicle comprising:

the device of claim 1 ,

wherein the vehicle is an electrical vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2023
From: CHOI, MIN SEONG; LEE, SUN HO; SEONG, HYUN-WOOK; WOO, DONG GYUN
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065506/0001 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2023-0102184 · Aug 4, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250042279A1 · Feb 6, 2025
References Cited (6)
US 5977658A · Hoole · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 11926229B2 · Minamii · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20200195037A1 · Woo · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200361323A1 · Chon · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210376741A1 · Escudero Rodriguez · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220410740A1 · Jun · 2022 [cited by examiner]