In-vehicle control device

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted control device (60) is used in a vehicle-mounted system (100) and controls a charging operation performed by a charging unit (20) and a discharging operation performed by a discharging unit (30). The in-vehicle control device (60) has a control unit (61) that controls the charging unit (20) and the discharging unit (30). The control unit (61) is capable of executing a first control for causing the charging unit (20) to perform a charging operation and causing the discharging unit (30) to perform a discharging operation, and a second control for causing the charging unit (20) not to perform a charging operation and causing the discharging unit (30) to perform a discharging operation. The control unit (61) executes the first control when a voltage condition in which the voltage of the power path (80) is equal to or less than a failure determination voltage is satisfied and a failure determination condition different from the voltage condition is not satisfied.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle-mounted control device. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply device having a backup function. When a power supply unit (AC power supply) is in operation, the power supply device supplies power to a load circuit using power provided from an AC-DC conversion power supply, and when the power supply unit (AC power supply) is stopped, the power supply device supplies power to the load circuit using power stored in a storage unit (battery).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-24288 Summary of the invention

[0005] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] In a vehicle-mounted system that supplies power from a power supply unit to a load in a vehicle, it is desirable to immediately supply power from a power storage unit different from the power supply unit when a power failure occurs in which the power supply from the power supply unit stops. Therefore, it is desirable to supply power from the power storage unit as early as possible during a period when the possibility of power failure becomes high. However, if a method is adopted in which power is supplied from the power storage unit in advance during a period when power failure is not confirmed, the risk of interruption of power supply to the load during power failure is suppressed, but due to erroneous judgment caused by noise, etc., the discharge from the power storage unit is likely to increase, and the charge amount of the power storage unit is likely to decrease.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a technology that facilitates early supply of electric power to a load and easily suppresses a decrease in the charge level of a power storage unit when a power failure occurs.

[0008] Means for solving problems

[0009] As one of the present disclosures, a vehicle-mounted control device is used in a vehicle-mounted system, the vehicle-mounted system comprising: a power supply unit; a power storage unit, which is different from the power supply unit; a power path, which is a path for supplying power from the power supply unit to a load; a charging unit, which performs a charging operation of supplying current to the power storage unit based on the power supplied from the power supply unit; and a discharging unit, which performs a discharging operation of causing current to flow to the load side based on the power supplied from the power storage unit, the vehicle-mounted control device controls the charging operation performed by the charging unit and the discharging operation performed by the discharging unit.

[0010] The vehicle-mounted control device includes a control unit that controls the charging unit and the discharging unit.

[0011] The control unit is capable of executing a first control and a second control, wherein the first control causes the charging unit to perform the charging action and causes the discharging unit to perform the discharging action, and the second control causes the charging unit not to perform the charging action but causes the discharging unit to perform the discharging action. The control unit executes the first control when the voltage condition that the voltage of the power path is below the failure judgment voltage is met and a failure judgment condition different from the voltage condition is not met.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] The disclosed technology makes it easy to supply power to the load as soon as possible and to suppress the decrease in the charge level of the power storage unit when the power supply fails. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an in-vehicle system including the in-vehicle control device according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the flow of backup response control performed by the vehicle-mounted control device according to the first embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram conceptually explaining how electric power is supplied from the power supply unit to the load in a state where the charging operation and the discharging operation are stopped.

[0017] Figure 4 This is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating how electric power is supplied from the power supply unit to the load in the charging operation state.

[0018] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram conceptually explaining how a charging operation and a discharging operation are performed in a state where the supply of electric power from the power supply unit via the first switch unit is stopped.

[0019] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram conceptually explaining a state in which a discharge operation is performed in a state in which the power supply from the power supply unit via the first switch unit and the charging operation are stopped. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure]

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and illustrated.

[0022] [1] A vehicle-mounted control device for use in a vehicle-mounted system, the vehicle-mounted system comprising: a power supply unit; a power storage unit that is different from the power supply unit; a power path that is a path for supplying power from the power supply unit to a load; a charging unit that performs a charging operation of supplying current to the power storage unit based on the power supplied from the power supply unit; and a discharging unit that performs a discharging operation of causing current to flow to the load side based on the power supplied from the power storage unit, the vehicle-mounted control device controlling the charging operation performed by the charging unit and the discharging operation performed by the discharging unit.

[0023] The vehicle-mounted control device includes a control unit for controlling the charging unit and the discharging unit.

[0024] The control unit is capable of executing a first control and a second control, wherein the first control causes the charging unit to perform the charging action and causes the discharging unit to perform the discharging action, and the second control causes the charging unit not to perform the charging action but causes the discharging unit to perform the discharging action. The control unit executes the first control when the voltage condition that the voltage of the power path is below the failure judgment voltage is met and a failure judgment condition different from the voltage condition is not met.

[0025] The vehicle-mounted control device described in [1] can discharge the power storage unit and supply power to the load as soon as possible when the voltage of the power path is below the failure judgment voltage, even if the failure judgment condition is not satisfied. Therefore, the vehicle-mounted control device can suppress the risk of interruption of power supply to the load when the power supply fails. On the other hand, when the voltage of the power path is below the failure judgment voltage, if the failure judgment condition is not satisfied, the charging operation of the charging unit can be continued, so even if the discharge of the power storage unit increases due to noise, etc., the decrease in the charging level of the power storage unit can be suppressed.

[0026] [2] The vehicle-mounted control device according to [1], wherein:

[0027] The failure determination condition includes that the voltage of the power path is lower than the failure determination voltage for a certain period of time.

[0028] The control unit executes the second control when a time during which the voltage of the power path is equal to or lower than the failure determination voltage continues for the certain time.

[0029] The vehicle-mounted control device described in [2] can continue the charging operation of the charging unit if the failure determination condition is not satisfied when the voltage of the power path is below the failure determination voltage, so that even if the discharge of the storage unit increases due to noise, etc., the decrease in the charging level of the storage unit can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the voltage of the power path continues to be below the failure determination voltage for a certain period of time, that is, when the possibility of power failure further increases, the vehicle-mounted control device performs the second control to stop the charging operation, thereby suppressing the influence caused by the state of the power path from affecting the storage unit side due to the charging operation.

[0030] [3] The vehicle-mounted control device according to [2], wherein:

[0031] The vehicle-mounted system is provided with a switch unit in the power path.

[0032] the charging unit supplies current to the power storage unit based on power supplied from a first power path of the power path that is closer to the power supply unit than the switch unit,

[0033] The discharge unit performs the discharge operation so that the current flows to a second power path in the power path that is closer to the load side than the switch unit.

[0034] When the switch unit is in an on state, power is bidirectionally allowed to flow between the first power path and the second power path, and when the switch unit is in an off state, power is at least cut off from the second power path to the first power path.

[0035] After the above-mentioned voltage condition is met, the above-mentioned switch unit is set to the above-mentioned disconnected state until a certain period of time has passed since the above-mentioned power path was below the above-mentioned failure judgment voltage; after the above-mentioned voltage condition is met, the above-mentioned switch unit is set to the above-mentioned connected state on the condition that the voltage of the above-mentioned power path exceeds the above-mentioned failure judgment voltage before a certain period of time has passed since the above-mentioned power path was below the above-mentioned failure judgment voltage; after the above-mentioned voltage condition is met, when the above-mentioned power path has been below the above-mentioned failure judgment voltage for the above-mentioned certain period of time, the above-mentioned switch unit is set to the above-mentioned disconnected state and the above-mentioned charging action is stopped.

[0036] The vehicle-mounted control device described in [3], when the voltage of the power path becomes less than the failure determination voltage, turns the switch unit into an off state before a certain time has passed when the voltage is less than the failure determination voltage, so that the current does not flow from the second power path to the first power path. Therefore, when the voltage of the power path becomes less than the failure determination voltage due to power failure, the discharge current can be reliably cut off from the power storage unit to the load while supplying the discharge current to the first power path. On the other hand, after the above voltage condition is satisfied, the above vehicle-mounted control device switches the switch unit into an on state on the condition that the power path exceeds the failure determination voltage again before a certain time has passed when the voltage is less than the failure determination voltage, thereby restoring the power supply from the power supply unit to the load. Therefore, even when the voltage of the power path temporarily becomes less than the failure determination voltage due to noise, etc., it is possible to quickly restore to normal operation when the voltage recovers in advance. Moreover, even if such a discharge operation based on a temporary voltage drop is repeated, it is easy to perform a charging operation each time, so that the decrease in the charging level of the power storage unit can be suppressed. Moreover, after the above-mentioned voltage condition is met, the vehicle-mounted control device sets the switch unit to the disconnected state and stops the charging action when the power path is below the failure judgment voltage for a certain period of time. Therefore, when the possibility of power failure further increases, the influence caused by the state of the first power path can be suppressed from affecting the second power path side, and the discharge current based on the storage unit can be supplied to the load.

[0037] [4] The vehicle-mounted control device according to [1], wherein:

[0038] The failure determination condition includes that current flows from the charging unit side to the power line side,

[0039] The control unit performs the second control when current flows from the charging unit side to the electric power path side.

[0040] The vehicle-mounted control device described in [4] can continue the charging operation of the charging unit if the failure judgment condition is not satisfied when the voltage of the power path is below the failure judgment voltage. Therefore, even if the discharge of the storage unit increases due to noise, etc., the decrease in the charging degree of the storage unit can be suppressed. On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted control device performs the second control to stop the charging operation when the current flows from the charging unit side to the power path side, thereby suppressing the influence caused by the state of the power path from affecting the storage unit side due to the charging operation. For example, when a ground fault occurs in the power path and the voltage of the power path becomes below the failure judgment voltage due to the ground fault, if the charging operation is continued, a large current may flow into the grounded part. However, if the second control is performed when the current flows from the charging unit side to the power path side, such a problem is not likely to occur.

[0041] [5] The vehicle-mounted control device according to [4], wherein:

[0042] The vehicle-mounted system is provided with a switch unit in the power path.

[0043] the charging unit supplies current to the power storage unit based on power supplied from a first power path of the power path that is closer to the power supply unit than the switch unit,

[0044] The discharge unit performs the discharge operation so that the current flows to a second power path in the power path that is closer to the load side than the switch unit.

[0045] When the switch unit is in an on state, power is bidirectionally allowed to flow between the first power path and the second power path, and when the switch unit is in an off state, power is at least cut off from the second power path to the first power path.

[0046] The control unit executes the first control on the condition that the voltage condition is satisfied and the current does not flow from the charging unit side to the power road side. When the voltage condition is satisfied and the current flows from the charging unit side to the power road side, the switch unit is set to the disconnected state and the second control is executed.

[0047] The vehicle-mounted control device described in [5] performs the first control on the condition that the current does not flow from the charging unit side to the power path side when the voltage of the power path becomes below the failure judgment voltage. Therefore, when the voltage of the power path becomes below the failure judgment voltage, the charging operation can be performed on the basis of confirming that the possibility of grounding is low. On the other hand, when the voltage of the power path becomes below the failure judgment voltage, when the current flows from the charging unit side to the power path side, that is, when the possibility of grounding is high, the switch unit is turned off and the second control is performed, which can prevent the current from flowing from the second power path to the first power path and supply the discharge current based on the storage unit to the load.

[0048] [6] The vehicle-mounted control device according to [1], wherein:

[0049] The failure determination condition includes that the voltage of the power path becomes equal to or lower than a reference voltage which is smaller than the failure determination voltage.

[0050] The control unit executes the second control when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the reference voltage.

[0051] The vehicle-mounted control device described in [6] can continue the charging operation of the charging unit if the failure determination condition is not satisfied when the voltage of the power path is below the failure determination voltage, so that even if the discharge of the storage unit increases due to noise, etc., the decrease in the charging degree of the storage unit can be suppressed. On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted control device can stop the charging operation and perform the discharging operation when the voltage of the power path becomes below a reference voltage smaller than the failure determination voltage, so that when the possibility of power failure is higher, the influence caused by the state of the power path can be suppressed from affecting the storage unit side due to the charging operation.

[0052] <First Embodiment>

[0053] 1. Overview of in-vehicle systems

[0054] Figure 1 An in-vehicle system 100 is shown. Figure 1 The vehicle-mounted system 100 mainly includes a vehicle-mounted power supply system 3 and a load 11. The vehicle-mounted power supply system 3 is also referred to as the power supply system 3 in the following description. The vehicle-mounted system 100 is a system in which the load 11 is operated by supplying power to the load 11 through the power supply system 3. Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , the load 11 is illustrated as an example of a vehicle-mounted load, but other loads may be provided in the vehicle-mounted system 100 .

[0055] The load 11 is an electrical component mounted on the vehicle. The load 11 operates by receiving power supplied via the power path 80. The type of the load 11 is not limited. As the load 11, various known vehicle-mounted components can be used. The load 11 can have multiple electrical components or a single electrical component. The load 11 is a load that is required to operate even when the power supply from the power supply unit 10 to itself is cut off, for example, a load that performs an action required to stop the vehicle (a shift-by-wire control system, an electronically controlled brake system, etc.).

[0056] The power supply system 3 is a system that supplies power to the load 11. The power supply system 3 uses the power supply unit 10 or the power storage unit 13 as a power supply source to supply power to the load 11. The power supply system 3 can supply power from the power supply unit 10 to the load 11, and when the power supply from the power supply unit 10 is interrupted due to a fault, for example, the power storage unit 13 can supply power to the load 11.

[0057] 2. Overview of the power supply system

[0058] The power supply system 3 includes a power supply unit 10, a power storage unit 13, a charging unit 20, a discharging unit 30, a vehicle-mounted control device 60, a power path 80, a first switch unit 12, a first voltage detection unit 51, a second voltage detection unit 52, a third voltage detection unit 53 and conductive paths 83, 84, etc.

[0059] The power supply unit 10 is a vehicle-mounted power supply that supplies power to the load 11, and functions as a main power supply that supplies power to the load 11. The power supply unit 10 is configured as a well-known vehicle-mounted battery such as a lead-acid battery, for example. The power supply unit 10 may also be configured by a storage battery other than a lead-acid battery, and may also replace the storage battery or have a power supply unit other than the storage battery on the basis of the storage battery. The positive electrode of the power supply unit 10 is electrically connected to the first power path 81, for example, in a structure that short-circuits the first power path 81 that is a part of the power path 80. The negative electrode of the power supply unit 10 is electrically connected to the ground, for example, in a structure that short-circuits the ground. The power supply unit 10 applies a DC voltage of a constant value to the first power path 81. The voltage applied by the power supply unit 10 to the first power path 81 may also vary slightly from the above-mentioned constant value.

[0060] The power storage unit 13 is a power source different from the power supply unit 10. The power storage unit 13 is a power source that becomes a power supply source at least when the power supply from the power supply unit 10 is interrupted, and functions as a backup power supply that supplies power to the load 11 when the power supply based on the power supply unit 10 is insufficient. The power storage unit 13 is composed of a well-known power storage unit such as an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC). The power storage unit 13 can be composed of a capacitor other than an electric double layer capacitor, or can be provided with other power storage units (batteries, etc.) instead of or on the basis of the capacitor. The positive electrode of the power storage unit 13 is electrically connected to the conductive path 83 in a structure short-circuited with the conductive path 83. The negative electrode of the power storage unit 13 is electrically connected to the ground in a structure short-circuited with the ground. The output voltage of the power storage unit 13 (the voltage applied by the power storage unit 13 to the conductive path 83) can be greater than the output voltage of the power supply unit 10 (the voltage applied by the power supply unit 10 to the first power path 81) or less than the output voltage of the power supply unit 10.

[0061] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, voltage refers to a voltage relative to a ground potential (e.g., 0 V), and is a potential difference from the ground potential. For example, the voltage applied to the first power path 81 refers to the potential difference between the potential of the first power path 81 and the ground potential. The voltage applied to the conductive path 83 refers to the potential difference between the potential of the conductive path 83 and the ground potential.

[0062] The power path 80 is a path for transmitting power from the power supply unit 10, and is a path for supplying power from the power supply unit 10 to the load 11. Figure 1In the example, the power path 80 has a first power path 81 provided on the power supply unit 10 side relative to the first switch unit 12, and a second power path 82 provided on the load 11 side relative to the first switch unit 12. The first power path 81 is a power path in the power path 80 that is closer to the power supply unit 10 side than the first switch unit 12 (switch unit). A voltage that is the same as or substantially the same as the output voltage of the power supply unit 10 is applied to the first power path 81. One end of the first power path 81 is electrically connected to the positive pole of the power supply unit 10 in a structure that is short-circuited with the positive pole of the power supply unit 10. The other end of the first power path 81 is electrically connected to one end of the first switch unit 12. A relay or a fuse may also be provided on the first power path 81. The second power path 82 is a power path in the power path 80 that is closer to the load 11 side than the first switch unit 12 (switch unit). One end of the second power path 82 is electrically connected to the other end of the first switch unit 12. In Figure 1 In the example, the second power path 82 is short-circuited to one end of the load 11.

[0063] The first switch section 12 is composed of, for example, one or more FETs (Field Effect Transistor). The first switch section 12 is equivalent to an example of a "switch section". The first switch section 12 is provided in the power path 80. The first switch section 12 can be composed of FETs that are arranged in reverse to each other, or can be composed of other semiconductor switches that cut off the power supply in both directions. In this case, the first switch section 12 bidirectionally allows the power supply between the first power path 81 and the second power path 82 when it is in the on state, and bidirectionally cuts off the power supply between the first power path 81 and the second power path 82 when it is in the off state. The first switch section 12 can also be composed of a single FET having a parasitic diode whose anode is connected to the first power path 81 and whose cathode is connected to the second power path 82. In this case, the first switch section 12 bidirectionally allows the power supply between the first power path 81 and the second power path 82 when it is in the on state, and cuts off the flow of current from the second power path 82 to the first power path 81 through itself when it is in the off state, and allows the flow of current from the first power path 81 to the second power path 82. In short, when the first switch unit 12 is in the OFF state, the flow of current from the second power path 82 to the first power path 81 is blocked.

[0064] The charging unit 20 is provided between the first power path 81 and the power storage unit 13. The charging unit 20 performs a charging operation of supplying a current to the power storage unit 13 based on the power supplied from the power supply unit 10 via the first power path 81. Figure 1In the example, the charging unit 20 has a second switch unit 21 and a resistor unit 22. The second switch unit 21 may be composed of two FETs (Field Effect Transistors) arranged in opposite directions to each other, or may be composed of other semiconductor switches capable of bidirectionally cutting off the flow of electricity. The resistor unit 22 may be, for example, a well-known resistor. Figure 1 In the example, the second switch section 21 and the resistor section 22 are connected in series with each other. The second switch section 21 is arranged at a position closer to the power supply section 10 than the resistor section 22. When the charging voltage of the storage section 13 is lower than the voltage of the first power path 81, when the charging operation is performed in a manner that the second switch section 21 is turned on, the charging current flows from the first power path 81 to the storage section 13. When the second switch section 21 is in the off state, the charging stops, the current does not flow from the first power path 81 to the conductive path 83, and the current does not flow from the conductive path 83 to the first power path 81. In the representative example of the present embodiment, the output voltage applied to the first power path 81 when the power supply section 10 is fully charged is greater than the output voltage applied to the conductive path 83 when the storage section 13 is fully charged.

[0065] The discharge unit 30 is provided between the power storage unit 13 and the second power path 82. The discharge unit 30 performs a discharge operation based on the power supplied from the power storage unit 13 in a manner that the current flows to the load 11 side via the second power path 82. The discharge unit 30 includes: a conductive path 31, a voltage conversion circuit 32, and a cut-off unit 14. The conductive path 31 is a conductive path that forms a path for supplying a discharge current to the load 11 side. One end of the conductive path 31 can be electrically connected to the second power path 82 via a conductive path 84 described later. One end of the voltage conversion circuit 32 is electrically connected to the power storage unit 13 via a conductive path 83, and is short-circuited with the conductive path 83 and the positive electrode of the power storage unit 13. The other end of the voltage conversion circuit 32 is electrically connected to the other end of the conductive path 31 in a short-circuited manner. The voltage conversion circuit 32 performs a voltage conversion operation in a manner that the input voltage based on the power storage unit 13 is stepped up or stepped down and an output voltage is applied to the conductive path 31. The voltage conversion circuit 32 is, for example, a DCDC converter (for example, a step-up DCDC converter), which steps up the input voltage (specifically, the voltage of the conductive path 83) based on the power storage unit 13 and applies an output voltage to the conductive path 31. The discharge unit 30 performs a discharge operation by performing a voltage conversion operation by the voltage conversion circuit 32, and stops the discharge operation by stopping the voltage conversion operation by the voltage conversion circuit 32.

[0066] The conductive path 84 is provided between the second power path 82 and the discharge unit 30. The cut-off unit 14 is provided between the conductive path 84 and the conductive path 31. The cut-off unit 14 may be composed of, for example, FETs arranged in opposite directions to each other, or may be composed of other semiconductor switches that cut off the conduction in both directions. In this case, the cut-off unit 14 bidirectionally allows conduction between the second power path 82 and the conductive path 31 (specifically, conduction between the second power path 82 and the voltage conversion circuit 32) when the cut-off unit 14 is in the on state, and bidirectionally cuts off the conduction between the second power path 82 and the conductive path 31 when the cut-off unit 14 is in the off state.

[0067] In a typical example, the cutoff unit 14 is configured to cut off the current flow in both directions when it is in the off state. In this example, the cutoff unit 14 switches between a cutoff state (off state) in which the current flows from the conductive path 31 to the second power path 82 through itself and a permitted state (on state) in which the current flows.

[0068] The first voltage detection unit 51, the second voltage detection unit 52, and the third voltage detection unit 53 are each configured as a known voltage detection circuit. The first voltage detection unit 51 detects the voltage of the power path 80 (more specifically, the first power path 81), and provides the control unit 61 with a voltage signal that can determine the voltage of the power path 80. The second voltage detection unit 52 provides the control unit 61 with a voltage signal that can determine the voltage of the conductive path 83, that is, the output voltage of the power storage unit 13. The third voltage detection unit 53 provides the control unit 61 with a voltage signal that can determine the voltage of the conductive path 31.

[0069] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 is a device that controls the charging operation of the charging unit 20 and the discharging operation of the discharging unit 30. The vehicle-mounted control device 60 includes a control unit 61.

[0070] The control unit 61 is a device that controls the charging unit 20 and the discharging unit 30. In the representative example described below, the control unit 61 also controls the first switch unit 12 and the cutoff unit 14. The control unit 61 is configured as an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), for example. Signals provided from the first voltage detection unit 51, the second voltage detection unit 52, and the third voltage detection unit 53 are input to the control unit 61. Based on these signals, the control unit 61 determines the voltage of the power path 80 (more specifically, the first power path 81), the output voltage of the storage unit 13, and the voltage of the conductive path 31 (that is, the output voltage of the discharging unit 30).

[0071] When controlling the charging unit 20, the control unit 61 provides, for example, a PWM signal that periodically outputs an on signal for turning on the second switch unit 21 of the charging unit 20, and controls the duty ratio of the PWM signal. Furthermore, the control unit 61 adjusts the charging current provided to the power storage unit 13 by adjusting the PWM signal provided to the second switch unit 21. In addition, the control method of the charging current by the control unit 61 is not limited to this example, and other well-known methods may also be used.

[0072] For example, the control unit 61 can cause the voltage conversion circuit 32 to perform a voltage conversion operation so that the voltage applied to the conductive path 31 becomes a target voltage.

[0073] The following description relates to the operation of the vehicle-mounted control device 60 .

[0074] When a predetermined start condition is met, the control unit 61 starts Figure 2 Such backup response control. The above-mentioned starting condition may be, for example, that the start switch of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle system 100 is switched from the off state to the on state. In this case, the start switch may be, for example, an ignition switch or a power switch provided in the electric vehicle. The above-mentioned starting condition may also be a condition other than the above-mentioned condition, for example, it may be receiving a predetermined signal from an external ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or other conditions.

[0075] The control unit 61 starts Figure 2 In the case of control, it is determined in step S1 whether the voltage of the power path 80 (specifically, the voltage of the first power path 81) is less than or equal to the low voltage threshold value Vth1. The low voltage threshold value Vth1 is equivalent to the first threshold value. The low voltage threshold value Vth1 is a value greater than 0V. The low voltage threshold value Vth1 is a value smaller than the output voltage when the power supply unit 10 is fully charged, and is a value greater than the failure determination voltage Vth2 described later.

[0076] When the control unit 61 determines in step S1 that the voltage of the first power path 81 is not less than the low voltage threshold value Vth1, the process proceeds to step S2. When the first switch unit 12 is in the on state immediately before the start of step S2, the control unit 61 maintains the on state of the first switch unit 12 in step S2, and when the first switch unit 12 is in the off state immediately before the start of step S2, the control unit 61 turns the first switch unit 12 into the on state in step S2. When the voltage of the first power path 81 is not less than the low voltage threshold value Vth1, the first switch unit 12 is in the on state, and power can be supplied from the power supply unit 10 to the load 11.

[0077] After step S2, the control unit 61 causes the process to proceed to step S3. If the discharge unit 30 is in a state of discharging stop immediately before step S3 is started, the control unit 61 maintains the discharge stop state in step S3, and if the discharge unit 30 is in a state of discharging immediately before step S3 is started, the control unit 61 switches to the discharge stop state in step S3. The discharge stop state refers to a state in which no current is supplied from the discharge unit 30 to the second power path 82. The discharge stop state may also be a state in which the cut-off unit 14 is in an open state (cut-off state) when the voltage conversion circuit 32 performs a voltage conversion operation in a manner of applying an output voltage to the conductive path 31. The discharge stop state may also be a state in which the voltage conversion circuit 32 stops in a manner of not performing a voltage conversion operation and the conductive path 83 and the conductive path 31 are electrically cut off.

[0078] After step S3, the control unit 61 causes the processing to proceed to step S4 to determine whether a predetermined charging condition is met. The charging condition is, for example, "the output voltage of the storage unit 13 (the voltage of the conductive path 83) is less than the threshold voltage Vth4". The threshold voltage Vth4 is equivalent to the fourth threshold. The threshold voltage Vth4 is a value greater than 0V. For example, the threshold voltage Vth4 is preferably a value lower than the low voltage threshold Vth1. However, the threshold voltage Vth4 may be a value higher than the low voltage threshold Vth1, or may be the same as the low voltage threshold Vth1. In addition, the charging condition is not limited to the above example, and for example, it may be "the voltage of the first power path 81 is higher than the voltage of the conductive path 83". In the representative example described below, "the voltage of the conductive path 83 is less than the threshold voltage Vth4" is the above charging condition, and the threshold voltage Vth4 is a value lower than the low voltage threshold Vth1.

[0079] If the control unit 61 determines in step S4 that the above-mentioned charging condition is satisfied, the processing proceeds to step S5. If the control unit 61 determines in step S4 that the above-mentioned charging condition is not satisfied, the processing proceeds to step S6. If the control unit 61 is in a charging action state immediately before step S5, the charging action state is maintained in step S5. If the control unit 61 is in a charging stop state immediately before step S5, the charging action state is set in step S5. If the control unit 61 is in a charging stop state immediately before step S6, the charging stop state is maintained in step S6. If the control unit 61 is in a charging action state immediately before step S6, the charging stop state is set in step S6. Figure 1 In the example of , the charging operation state is a state in which the second switch unit 21 is maintained in the on state. The charging stop state is a state in which the second switch unit 21 is maintained in the off state. When the charging stop state is set in step S6, the Figure 3In this way, power is supplied from the power supply unit 10 to the load 11 in the state where the charging operation is stopped. In the charging operation state, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is higher than the voltage of the conductive path 83, a charging current based on the power from the power supply unit 10 is supplied to the power storage unit 13. Therefore, when the charging operation state is set in step S5, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is higher than the voltage of the conductive path 83, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, power can be supplied from the power supply unit 10 to the power storage unit 13 and simultaneously to the load 11. The control unit 61 returns the process to step S1 after step S5 or step S6.

[0080] When the control unit 61 determines in step S1 that the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than or equal to the low voltage threshold value Vth1, the process proceeds to step S7. If the first switch unit 12 is in the OFF state immediately before the start of step S7, the control unit 61 maintains the OFF state of the first switch unit 12 in step S7, and if the first switch unit 12 is in the ON state immediately before the start of step S7, the control unit 61 turns the first switch unit 12 into the OFF state in step S7.

[0081] After step S7, the control unit 61 causes the process to proceed to step S8. If the control unit 61 is in the discharge operation state immediately before step S8, the discharge operation state is maintained in step S8. If the discharge of the discharge unit 30 is stopped immediately before step S8, the control unit 61 switches to the discharge operation state in step S8. The discharge operation state is a state in which the discharge unit 30 performs a discharge operation, and is a state in which the discharge unit 30 supplies a discharge current to the second power path 82 based on the power from the storage unit 13. Specifically, the discharge operation state is a state in which the cutoff unit 14 is in the on state and the voltage conversion circuit 32 performs voltage conversion in a manner of applying a target voltage to the conductive path 31. The target voltage may be a low voltage threshold value Vth1, a value greater than the low voltage threshold value Vth1, or a value less than the low voltage threshold value Vth1. The target voltage is, for example, a value greater than the failure determination voltage Vth2. If the discharge operation state is in the above-mentioned state when the first switch unit 12 is maintained in the off state, a current is supplied from the voltage conversion circuit 32 to the second power path 82 based on the power supplied from the storage unit 13.

[0082] After step S8, the control unit 61 advances the process to step S9 to determine whether the above-mentioned charging condition is satisfied. If the control unit 61 determines in step S9 that the above-mentioned charging condition is satisfied, the process advances to step S10, and if it determines that the above-mentioned charging condition is not satisfied, the process advances to step S11. If the control unit 61 is in the charging operation state immediately before step S10, the charging operation state is maintained in step S10, and if the charging stop state is immediately before step S10, the charging operation state is set in step S10. If the control unit 61 is in the charging stop state immediately before step S11, the charging stop state is maintained in step S11, and if the charging operation state is immediately before step S11, the charging stop state is set in step S11. Thus, in the representative example, the control unit 61 causes the discharge unit 30 to perform a discharge operation when the voltage of the power path 80 (more specifically, the first power path 81) is lower than the low voltage threshold value Vth1, and causes the charging unit 20 to perform a charging operation when the output voltage of the storage unit 13 (the voltage of the conductive path 83) is lower than the threshold voltage Vth4. The control by the control unit 61 causing the charging unit 20 to perform a charging operation and causing the discharge unit 30 to perform a discharging operation corresponds to an example of the first control. When the charging operation state is set in step S10, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is higher than the voltage of the conductive path 83, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, electric power can be supplied from the power supply unit 10 to the power storage unit 13 , and electric power can be supplied to the load 11 based on the electric power from the power storage unit 13 .

[0083] When the control unit 61 is set to the discharge operation state in step S8 and is set to the charging operation state in step S10, during the period of performing the discharge operation of the discharge unit 30 and the charging operation of the charging unit 20 in parallel, the control unit 61 controls so that the power supplied by the charging unit 20 to the storage unit 13 becomes greater than the power supplied by the discharge unit 30 by discharging. The specific control method is not limited. For example, the control unit 61 may calculate the power per unit time supplied by the discharge unit 30 by discharging, and cause the charging unit 20 to perform the charging operation so that the power per unit time supplied by the charging unit 20 to the storage unit 13 becomes greater than the calculated value. The "power per unit time supplied by the discharge unit 30 by discharging" can be calculated based on, for example, the voltage of the conductive path 31 and the current flowing in the conductive path 31. The "power per unit time supplied by the charging unit 20 to the storage unit 13" can be calculated based on, for example, the voltage of the path between the charging unit 20 and the conductive path 83 and the current flowing in the path.

[0084] After step S10 or step S11, the control unit 61 causes the processing to enter step S12, and in step S12, it is determined whether the voltage of the power path 80 (specifically, the voltage of the first power path 81) is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2. The failure determination voltage Vth2 is equivalent to the second threshold. The failure determination voltage Vth2 is a value greater than 0V. The failure determination voltage Vth2 is a value less than the low voltage threshold Vth1. The failure determination voltage Vth2 is a value less than the threshold voltage Vth4. If the control unit 61 determines in step S12 that the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, the processing enters step S13, and if it is determined that the voltage of the first power path 81 is not less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, the processing returns to step S1.

[0085] When the control unit 61 advances the processing to step S13, it determines in step S13 whether a predetermined failure determination condition is satisfied. The failure determination condition is, for example, "the voltage of the first power path 81 has been below the failure determination voltage Vth2 for a certain period of time." When the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that the failure determination condition is satisfied, it advances the processing to step S14, and when it determines that the failure determination condition is not satisfied, it returns the processing to step S1. In the present embodiment, when the voltage condition that the voltage of the power path 80 (specifically, the voltage of the first power path 81) is below the failure determination voltage Vth2 and the failure determination condition different from the voltage condition is not satisfied (when it is determined as No in step S13), the control unit 61 performs the above-mentioned first control when the charging condition is satisfied. Specifically, the first control is performed when it is determined as "Yes" in step S12 and "No" in step S13 immediately after step S10, and when the first control is performed, Figure 5 Power is supplied in the same manner.

[0086] If the control unit 61 is in a charging stop state immediately before step S14 is about to start, the charging stop state is maintained in step S14. If it is in a charging action state immediately before step S14 is about to start, the charging stop state is set in step S14. "Control so that the charging unit 20 does not perform a charging action and the discharge unit 30 performs a discharge action" is equivalent to an example of the second control. In a representative example, after the voltage condition that the voltage of the first power path 81 is below the failure judgment voltage Vth2 is satisfied, and when the time when the voltage of the first power path 81 is below the failure judgment voltage Vth2 continues for a certain period of time, the control unit 61 performs the second control in step S14 to stop the charging action of the charging unit 20, and to cause the discharge unit 30 to perform a discharge action, and to maintain the first switch unit 12 in the disconnected state. In this way, when the second control is performed in step S14, as shown in FIG. Figure 6As shown, in a state where the power supply from the power supply unit 10 to the load 11 is stopped and the power supply from the power supply unit 10 to the power storage unit 13 is stopped, power is supplied from the power storage unit 13 to the load 11 .

[0087] Thus, in step S14, the control unit 61 controls the charging operation to stop while performing the discharge operation, but in addition to or instead of stopping the charging operation, a report signal reporting that the power supply unit 10 has failed may be output to an external device (for example, an ECU other than the vehicle-mounted control device 60). In this example, the external device may also report an abnormality (for example, a report that a power failure has occurred) to the person in the vehicle cabin through sound or display when receiving the report signal.

[0088] In the above representative example, after the "voltage condition that the voltage of the first power path 81 is below the failure determination voltage Vth2" is satisfied, the control unit 61 maintains the first switch unit 12 in the off state until a certain period of time has passed since the voltage of the first power path 81 is below the failure determination voltage Vth2 (i.e., during the period when the determination is yes in step S1 and step S12 and the determination is no in step S13 repeatedly). Therefore, the first power path 81 and the second power path 82 can be electrically disconnected in advance during the period when failure may occur.

[0089] In a representative example, after the voltage condition "the voltage of the first power path 81 is below the failure determination voltage Vth2" is satisfied, the control unit 61 sets the first switch unit 12 to the on state on the condition that the voltage of the first power path 81 exceeds the failure determination voltage Vth2 before a certain time has passed since the first power path 81 was below the failure determination voltage Vth2. For example, when the voltage of the first power path 81 exceeds the low voltage threshold value Vth1 during the period when the judgment of yes in step S1 and step S12 and no in step S13 is repeatedly performed, the first switch unit 12 is set to the on state in step S2. Therefore, even if the voltage of the first power path 81 temporarily falls below the failure determination voltage Vth2, it is possible to return to normal operation when the voltage of the first power path 81 recovers to exceed the low voltage threshold value Vth1 before the above-mentioned certain time has passed.

[0090] The above description relates to the effects of the vehicle-mounted control device 60 .

[0091] When the voltage of the power path 80 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 can discharge the power storage unit 13 and supply power to the load 11 as soon as possible even if the failure determination condition is not satisfied. Therefore, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 can suppress the risk of interruption of power supply to the load 11 when the power supply fails. On the other hand, when the voltage of the power path 80 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, if the failure determination condition is not satisfied, the charging operation of the charging unit 20 can be continued, so even if it is assumed that the voltage of the power path 80 temporarily decreases due to noise or the like and the discharge of the power storage unit 13 increases, the decrease in the charging degree of the power storage unit 13 can be suppressed.

[0092] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 performs the second control to stop the charging operation when the voltage of the power path 80 is below the failure determination voltage Vth2 for a certain period of time, that is, when the possibility of power failure further increases, thereby suppressing the influence caused by the state of the power path 80 from affecting the power storage unit 13 due to the charging operation. For example, when the voltage of the first power path 81 drops below the failure determination voltage Vth2 due to grounding, if the charging operation time is too long, the energy stored in the power storage unit 13 may be lost due to discharge from the power storage unit 13 to the grounded part, but if the charging operation is stopped when the time below the failure determination voltage Vth2 continues for a certain period of time, the above-mentioned discharge is suppressed thereafter.

[0093] When the voltage of the first power path 81 becomes less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 can turn off the first switch unit 12 (switch unit) before a certain time has passed since the voltage has been less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, so that the current does not flow from the second power path 82 to the first power path 81. Therefore, when the voltage of the first power path 81 becomes less than the failure determination voltage Vth2 due to a power failure, the discharge current can be reliably cut off while the discharge current is supplied from the power storage unit 13 to the load 11 and then returned to the first power path 81. On the other hand, after the above voltage condition is satisfied, when the first power path 81 exceeds the failure determination voltage Vth2 again before a certain time has passed since the voltage has been less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 can switch the first switch unit 12 to the on state, thereby restoring the power supply from the power supply unit 10 to the load 11. Therefore, even when the voltage of the first power path 81 temporarily becomes less than the failure determination voltage Vth2 due to noise or the like, normal operation can be quickly restored if the voltage is restored in advance. Furthermore, even if such a discharge operation based on a temporary voltage drop is repeated, it is easy to perform a charging operation each time, so it is possible to suppress a decrease in the degree of charge of the power storage unit 13. Furthermore, after the above voltage condition is satisfied, if the time when the first power path 81 is below the failure determination voltage has passed for a certain period of time, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 sets the first switch unit 12 to an OFF state to stop the charging operation, so that when the possibility of power failure further increases, it is possible to suppress the influence caused by the state of the first power path 81 from affecting the second power path 82 side, and supply the discharge current based on the power storage unit 13 to the load 11.

[0094] <Second Embodiment>

[0095] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the second embodiment is the same as the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the first embodiment except for the failure determination condition. The vehicle-mounted system 100 using the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the second embodiment is the same as the vehicle-mounted system 100 using the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the first embodiment except for the failure determination condition. Figure 1 In addition, the backup response control performed by the control unit 61 of the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the second embodiment is the same as the backup response control performed by the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the first embodiment, except for the specific determination method of step S13. Figure 1 , Figure 2 A vehicle-mounted control device 60 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0096] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the second embodiment performs Figure 2In the case of backup response control, in step S13, "current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side" is used as a failure judgment condition. That is, when the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that "current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side", it determines in step S13 that the failure judgment condition is satisfied, and the processing proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, when the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that "current does not flow from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side", it determines in step S13 that the failure judgment condition is not satisfied, and the processing returns to step S1. When the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that the failure judgment condition is satisfied (that is, when the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side), the above-mentioned second control is performed in step S14.

[0097] Whether the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side can be determined by various methods. For example, when the second switch unit 21 is in the on state, the voltages at both ends of the resistor unit 22 are respectively detected. When the voltage of the terminal on the first power path 81 side in the resistor unit 22 is lower than the voltage of the terminal on the conductive path 83 side, the control unit 61 determines that "the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side". Alternatively, a current sensor may be provided in a structure connected in series with the second switch unit 21 and the resistor unit 22 in a path in which the second switch unit 21 and the resistor unit 22 are provided in series. In this case, the control unit 61 may also obtain the detection value of the above-mentioned current sensor, and when a current of a certain value or more flows in the direction from the charging unit 20 toward the first power path 81, it may be determined that "the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side".

[0098] In the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the second embodiment, the first switch unit 12 (switch unit) is also provided in the power path 80. The charging unit 20 supplies current to the storage unit 13 based on the power supplied from the first power path 81 (the power path on the power source unit 10 side of the first switch unit 12 in the power path 80). And the discharge unit 30 performs a discharge operation in a manner that current flows in the second power path 82 (the power path on the load 11 side of the first switch unit 12 in the power path 80). And, when the first switch unit 12 is in the on state, the power flow between the first power path 81 and the second power path 82 is allowed in both directions, and when the first switch unit 12 is in the off state, at least the power flow from the second power path 82 to the first power path 81 is cut off. In addition, when the first switch unit 12 is in the off state, it is preferable that the power flow between the first power path 81 and the second power path 82 is cut off in both directions, but it is also possible to have a structure in which the power flow from the first power path 81 to the second power path 82 is allowed when the first switch unit 12 is in the off state.

[0099] In the second embodiment, the control unit 61 can perform the first control on the condition that the voltage condition (the voltage condition that the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2) is satisfied and the current does not flow from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side. Specifically, after step S10, if the control unit 61 determines "yes" in step S12 and determines "no" in step S13, the first switch unit 12 is set to the off state to perform the first control in a manner that the charging unit 20 performs a charging operation and the discharging unit 30 performs a discharging operation. On the other hand, if the voltage condition that the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2 is satisfied and the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side, the control unit 61 sets the first switch unit 12 to the off state and performs the second control. Specifically, if the control unit 61 determines "yes" in step S12 and determines "yes" in step S13, the first switch unit 12 is set to the off state and the charging unit 20 does not perform a charging operation and the discharging unit 30 performs a discharging operation.

[0100] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the present embodiment can also continue the charging operation of the charging unit 20 if the failure determination condition is not satisfied when the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2. Therefore, even if the discharge of the power storage unit 13 increases due to noise or the like, the decrease in the charging degree of the power storage unit 13 can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure determination voltage Vth2, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 performs the second control to stop the charging operation when the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side. The vehicle-mounted control device 60 can suppress the influence caused by the state of the power path 80 from affecting the power storage unit 13 side due to the charging operation by such control. For example, when a ground fault occurs in the power path 80 and the voltage of the power path 80 becomes less than the failure determination voltage Vth2 due to the ground fault, if the charging operation is continued, a large current may flow into the ground fault portion. However, if the second control is performed when the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side, such a problem is less likely to occur.

[0101] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the present embodiment performs the first control on the condition that the current does not flow from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side when the voltage of the first power path 81 becomes less than the failure judgment voltage Vth2. Therefore, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure judgment voltage Vth2, the charging operation can be performed on the basis of confirming that the possibility of grounding is low. On the other hand, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the failure judgment voltage Vth2, when the current flows from the charging unit 20 side to the power path 80 side, that is, when the possibility of grounding is high, the first switch unit 12 is turned off and the second control is performed, which can prevent the current from flowing from the second power path 82 to the first power path 81 and from the storage unit 13 to the first power path 81, and supply the discharge current based on the storage unit 13 to the load 11.

[0102] <Third Embodiment>

[0103] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the third embodiment is the same as the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the first embodiment except for the failure determination condition. The vehicle-mounted system 100 using the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the third embodiment is the same as the vehicle-mounted system 100 using the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the first embodiment except for the failure determination condition. Figure 1 In addition, the backup response control performed by the control unit 61 of the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the third embodiment is the same as the backup response control performed by the vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the first embodiment, except for the specific determination method of step S13. Figure 1 , Figure 2 A vehicle-mounted control device 60 according to the third embodiment will be described.

[0104] The vehicle-mounted control device 60 of the third embodiment performs Figure 2In the case of backup response control, in step S13, "the voltage of the first power path 81 becomes less than the reference voltage Vth3 which is smaller than the failure determination voltage Vth2" is used as the failure determination condition. The reference voltage Vth3 corresponds to the third threshold value. The reference voltage Vth3 is a value greater than 0. The reference voltage Vth3 is a value less than the threshold voltage Vth4. When the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that "the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the reference voltage Vth3", it determines in step S13 that the failure determination condition is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, when the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that "the voltage of the first power path 81 is greater than the reference voltage Vth3", it determines in step S13 that the failure determination condition is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S1. When the control unit 61 determines in step S13 that the failure determination condition is satisfied (that is, when the voltage of the first power path 81 is less than the reference voltage Vth3), in step S14, the second control described above is performed, so that the charging unit 20 does not perform the charging operation and the discharging unit 30 performs the discharging operation.

[0105] <Other Implementation Methods>

[0106] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the features of the embodiments described above or later can be combined in all ways within the scope of non-contradiction. In addition, any feature of the embodiments described above or later can be omitted if it is not explicitly stated as a necessary feature. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can also be changed as follows.

[0107] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the control unit 61 performs the first control when the above-mentioned charging condition is met when the voltage condition that the voltage of the power path 80 is lower than the failure judgment voltage Vth2 and the failure judgment condition different from the voltage condition is not met, but the first control can also be always performed when the above-mentioned voltage condition is met and the above-mentioned failure judgment condition is not met.

[0108] In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle-mounted control device 60 includes at least the control unit 61 , but the vehicle-mounted control device 60 may also include the entire power supply system 3 .

[0109] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the power supply system 3 includes a power supply unit 10 and a storage unit 13, but in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the vehicle-mounted control device 60 has a structure having the entire power supply system 3, the power supply system 3 can also be changed to a structure obtained by removing only the power supply unit 10 from the structure of the above-mentioned power supply system 3, or can be changed to a structure obtained by removing only the storage unit 13 from the structure of the above-mentioned power supply system 3, or can be changed to a structure obtained by removing both the power supply unit 10 and the storage unit 13 from the structure of the above-mentioned power supply system 3.

[0110] In the above-mentioned embodiment, as an example of the cut-off portion 14, a switch element of a predetermined structure that switches between a state of allowing bidirectional energization and a state of cutting off bidirectional energization is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Figure 1 The cut-off portion 14 may be formed of a single FET having a parasitic diode whose anode is connected to the conductive path 31 in a short-circuited manner and whose cathode is connected to the second power path 82 in a short-circuited manner. Alternatively, Figure 1 The cut-off portion 14 may be changed to a diode whose anode is electrically connected to the conductive path 31 so as to be short-circuited and whose cathode is electrically connected to the conductive path 84 so as to be short-circuited.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the first switch unit 12 is illustrated as an example of an element provided in the power path 80, but the first switch unit 12 may be changed to another type of element capable of interrupting the flow of current from the load 11 side to the power supply unit 10 side. Figure 1 In the structure, the first switch unit 12 may be changed to a diode. In this case, the anode of the diode may be electrically connected to the first power path 81 in a short-circuited manner, and the cathode may be electrically connected to the second power path 82 in a short-circuited manner.

[0112] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the charging unit 20 is a structure having the second switch unit 21 and the resistor unit 22, but other structures may be used. For example, the charging unit 20 may be composed of a voltage conversion circuit (such as a DCDC converter). In this case, the voltage conversion circuit may also use the voltage applied to the first power path 81 as an input voltage to perform a step-up operation or a step-down operation, and perform a charging operation (voltage conversion operation) by applying an output voltage to the conductive path 83.

[0113] In the above-described embodiment, the discharge unit 30 is configured to include the voltage conversion circuit 32, but may be configured not to include the voltage conversion circuit 32. For example, the discharge unit 30 may be changed to a switching element.

[0114] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all aspects and should not be construed as restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope of the claims or within the scope equivalent to the claims.

[0115] Description of Reference Numerals

[0116] 3: In-vehicle power supply system

[0117] 10: Power supply

[0118] 11: Load

[0119] 12: First switch unit

[0120] 13: Power storage unit

[0121] 14: Cutting part

[0122] 20: Charging unit

[0123] 21: Second switch unit

[0124] 22: Resistor

[0125] 30: Discharge unit

[0126] 31: Conductive path

[0127] 32: Voltage conversion circuit

[0128] 51: First voltage detection unit

[0129] 52: Second voltage detection unit

[0130] 53: Third voltage detection unit

[0131] 60: Vehicle-mounted control device

[0132] 61: Control Department

[0133] 80: Power Path

[0134] 81: First Power Path

[0135] 82: Second power path

[0136] 83: Conductive Path

[0137] 84: Conductive Path

[0138] 100: In-vehicle system.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted control device for a vehicle-mounted system, the vehicle-mounted system comprising: a power supply unit; a power storage unit, which is different from the power supply unit; a power path, which is a path for supplying power from the power supply unit to a load; a charging unit, which performs a charging operation of supplying current to the power storage unit based on the power supplied from the power supply unit; and a discharging unit, which performs a discharging operation of causing current to flow to the load side based on the power supplied from the power storage unit, wherein the vehicle-mounted control device controls the charging operation performed by the charging unit and the discharging operation performed by the discharging unit. The vehicle-mounted control device includes a control unit that controls the charging unit and the discharging unit. The control unit is capable of executing a first control and a second control, wherein the first control causes the charging unit to perform the charging action and causes the discharging unit to perform the discharging action, and the second control causes the charging unit not to perform the charging action and causes the discharging unit to perform the discharging action, and the control unit executes the first control when a voltage condition that the voltage of the power path is below a failure judgment voltage is satisfied and a failure judgment condition different from the voltage condition is not satisfied.

2. The vehicle-mounted control device according to claim 1, wherein: The failure determination condition includes that the voltage of the power path is lower than the failure determination voltage for a certain period of time. The control unit executes the second control when a time period during which the voltage of the power path is equal to or lower than the failure determination voltage continues for the certain time period.

3. The vehicle-mounted control device according to claim 2, wherein: The vehicle-mounted system is provided with a switch unit in the power path, the charging unit supplies a current to the power storage unit based on the power supplied from a first power path of the power paths that is closer to the power supply unit than the switching unit, The discharge unit performs the discharge operation so that the current flows to a second power path in the power path that is closer to the load side than the switch unit. When the switch unit is in an on state, power flow between the first power path and the second power path is bidirectionally allowed, and when the switch unit is in an off state, power flow from the second power path to the first power path is at least cut off. After the voltage condition is met, the switch unit is set to the disconnected state until a certain time has passed since the power path was below the failure judgment voltage; after the voltage condition is met, the switch unit is set to the connected state on the condition that the voltage of the power path exceeds the failure judgment voltage before a certain time has passed since the power path was below the failure judgment voltage; after the voltage condition is met, when the certain time has passed since the power path was below the failure judgment voltage, the switch unit is set to the disconnected state and the charging action is stopped.

4. The vehicle-mounted control device according to claim 1, wherein: The failure determination condition includes current flowing from the charging unit side to the power path side, The control unit performs the second control when current flows from the charging unit side to the electric power path side.

5. The vehicle-mounted control device according to claim 4, wherein: The vehicle-mounted system is provided with a switch unit in the power path, the charging unit supplies a current to the power storage unit based on the power supplied from a first power path of the power paths that is closer to the power supply unit than the switching unit, The discharge unit performs the discharge operation so that the current flows to a second power path in the power path that is closer to the load side than the switch unit. When the switch unit is in an on state, power flow between the first power path and the second power path is bidirectionally allowed, and when the switch unit is in an off state, power flow from the second power path to the first power path is at least cut off. The control unit performs the first control on the condition that the voltage condition is satisfied and the current does not flow from the charging unit side to the power path side, and sets the switch unit to the disconnected state and performs the second control when the voltage condition is satisfied and the current flows from the charging unit side to the power path side.

6. The vehicle-mounted control device according to claim 1, wherein: The failure determination condition includes that the voltage of the power path becomes equal to or lower than a reference voltage which is smaller than the failure determination voltage. The control unit executes the second control when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the reference voltage.

Images