POWER CONTROL SYSTEM WITH ONE POWER DIVIDER

Abstract

A power control system is provided for supplying power to an output terminal and a battery from a first power source. The first power source transmits electrical power at a predetermined voltage and phase to an on-board charging module, which regulates the power for charging a battery. The power control system includes a power divider module located between the first power source and the on-board charging module, the divider being operable to transmit electrical power in one of several phases.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The information contained in this section serves only to provide a general overview of the context of the disclosure. The work of the inventors mentioned herein, as far as it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that were not considered prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor implicitly acknowledged as prior art with respect to the present disclosure.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a power distribution system for charging a battery and supplying power to an output terminal. For example, an electric vehicle includes a battery for supplying a motor to propel the vehicle and electrical vehicle components such as a car radio, lights, an air conditioner, and the like. Some electric vehicles include one or more output terminals that users can use to supply power to personal electrical devices such as mobile phones and tablets.

[0003] The electric vehicle also includes an input port for receiving power from a charger connected to a power supply station to charge the battery. The input port can be configured to accept alternating current (“AC”) at 120 volts or 240 volts, and the voltage can be supplied in different phases. The charging power is regulated and controlled by an onboard charging module (“OBCM”). Currently, the OBCM disconnects the power supply to the output ports in the electric vehicle while the battery is charging to facilitate regulation and control of the battery power supply when the charger is connected to the input port.

[0004] Some electrical devices that can be connected to a vehicle's output terminal are designed to accept 120 volts AC, while others are designed to accept 240 volts. Some electrical devices may be designed to accept power from a single phase, while others are designed to accept power from three phases. Therefore, if an electrical device designed to accept 120 volts is connected to a vehicle's output terminal that is being charged by a 240-volt source, the electrical device may be damaged. Conversely, connecting an electrical device designed to accept 240 volts to a vehicle's output terminal that is being charged by a 120-volt source may result in the electrical device not receiving power.Furthermore, such electrical devices can be designed to operate with power of different waveforms.

[0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to have a power distribution system where the output terminals can be operated to distribute power when the battery is charging. It is further desirable to adjust the power waveform to match a given electrical device. SUMMARY

[0006] One aspect of the disclosure relates to a power control system for supplying power from a first power source to an output terminal and a battery, the battery being designed to power a motor. The first power source transmits electrical power in the form of alternating current. The power control system includes an onboard charging module with a first processing unit designed to process the electrical power from the first power source to charge the battery. The first processing unit includes non-volatile memory that stores written instructions for the execution of the onboard charging module. The power control system further includes a power divider module arranged between the first power source and the onboard charging module, the power divider module being operable to provide electrical power in one of several phases.

[0007] Implementations of the revelation may have one or more of the following optional features. According to some implementations, the multiple phases include a single phase and three phases.

[0008] According to some examples, the divider module comprises a first switching unit and a second switching unit.

[0009] According to some examples, the power control system further includes a first input line, a second input line, a third input line, and a fourth input line, which is a neutral line. The first, second, third, and fourth input lines connect the first power source to the battery via an AC / DC converter. The power control system may also include a first output line, a second output line, a third output line, and a fourth output line. The fourth output line is a neutral line.According to such an aspect, one end of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line is connected to a corresponding one of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line, and the other end of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line is connected to the output terminal.

[0010] According to some examples, the first switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line, and the second switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line.

[0011] According to some examples, the power control system also includes an AC / AC converter. In one such example, the second switching unit can be located within the AC / AC converter. In another example, the AC / AC converter is classified as either a step-down converter, a step-up converter, or a single-ended converter with a primary inductor and either uninsulated or insulated.

[0012] Another aspect of the revelation relates to an electric vehicle with a battery, an input terminal, and an output terminal. The battery is designed to provide the electric vehicle with power. The input terminal is designed to receive electrical power from a first power source, and the output terminal is designed to supply power to a load. The electric vehicle includes a first input line, a second input line, a third input line, and a fourth input line. The fourth input line is a neutral line, and the first, second, third, and fourth input lines electrically connect the input terminal to the battery via an AC / DC converter.The electric vehicle comprises a first output line, a second output line, a third output line, and a fourth output line. The fourth output line is a neutral line, and one end of each of the first, second, third, and fourth output lines is connected to a corresponding connection of the first, second, third, and fourth input lines, respectively. The other end of each of these lines is connected to the output terminal. The electric vehicle further comprises an on-board charging module and a power distribution module. The on-board charging module includes a first processing unit designed to process the electrical power from the first power source to charge the battery.The first processing unit includes non-volatile memory that stores written instructions for executing the onboard charging module. The power divider module is located between the first power source and the onboard charging module and can transfer the electrical power in one of several phases.

[0013] According to some implementations, the divider module comprises a first switching unit and a second switching unit. According to such an implementation, the first switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line, and the fourth input line, and the second switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line, and the fourth output line.

[0014] According to some implementations, the divider module includes a sensing unit designed to measure a value of current and / or voltage.

[0015] According to some implementations, the divider module includes a second processing unit designed to receive the measured current and / or voltage values ​​in order to actuate the first and second switching units. In such an implementation, the first processing unit of the onboard charging module transmits battery charging information to the second processing unit of the divider module. The second processing unit then processes this charging information to control the first and second switching units, directing electrical power in one of the multiple phases to the output terminal and the battery.

[0016] According to some implementations, the electric vehicle also includes an AC / AC converter. In such an implementation, the second switching unit can be located within the AC / AC converter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The drawings described here serve only to illustrate selected configurations and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure; they show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a vehicle showing a vehicle power control system coupled to a first power source; Fig. 2 a schematic view of the in Fig. 1 performance control system shown; Fig. 3 a schematic view of the in Fig. 1 power control system shown, which delivers a single power phase from a three-phase source to the output terminal; Fig. 4 a schematic view of the in Fig. 1 power control system shown, which supplies a single-phase voltage from a single-phase voltage source to the output terminal; Fig. 5 a schematic view of the in Fig. 1 power control system shown, which supplies a three-phase voltage from a single-phase voltage source to the output terminal; Fig. 6 a schematic view of the in Fig. 1. Power control system shown, which operates independently of the mains and supplies a single-phase voltage from the battery to the output terminal; and Fig. 7 a schematic view of the in Fig. 1 shown power control system, which operates independently of the mains and supplies a three-phase voltage from the battery to the output terminal.

[0018] The corresponding reference symbols in all drawings denote the corresponding parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Exemplary configurations are now explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These exemplary configurations are provided to make this disclosure thorough and to fully convey to those skilled in the art the scope of the disclosure in this field. Specific details, such as examples of certain components, devices, and processes, are given to enable a comprehensive understanding of the configurations of this disclosure. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that certain details need not be used, that exemplary configurations can be embodied in many different forms, and that the specific details and exemplary configurations should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

[0020] The terminology used here serves only to describe certain exemplary configurations and is not to be understood as a limitation. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a / an" and "the" can also include the plural forms. The terms "includes," "comprising," "exhibit," and "have" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of features, steps, processes, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, processes, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The procedural steps, processes, and operations described here are not to be interpreted as requiring them to be carried out in the specific order described or depicted, unless this order is explicitly stated. Additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0021] When an element or layer is described as "on," "interacting with," "connected with," "attached to," or "coupled with" another element or layer, it may be directly on top of, in interaction with, connected to, coupled with, or attached to that other element or layer, or there may be intervening elements or layers. Conversely, when an element is described as "directly on," "directly interacting with," "directly connected with," "directly attached to," or "directly coupled with" another element or layer, there must be no intervening elements or layers. Other terms used to describe the relationship between elements are to be interpreted similarly (e.g., "between" as opposed to "directly between," "adjacent" as opposed to "directly adjacent," etc.).As used here, the term “and / or” encompasses all combinations of one or more of the listed elements.

[0022] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., may be used here to describe different elements, components, areas, layers, and / or sections. These elements, components, areas, layers, and / or sections are not intended to be restricted by these terms. These terms may only be used to distinguish one element, component, area, layer, or section from another. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms do not imply any sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.Thus, a first element, a first component, a first area, a first layer or a first section described below could be referred to as a second element, second component, second area, second layer or second section without deviating from the lessons of the exemplary configurations.

[0023] In this application, including the definitions below, the term "module" may be replaced by the term "circuit". The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or include: an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that executes code; a memory (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that stores code executed by the processor; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-a-chip.

[0024] The term "code," as used above, can include software, firmware, and / or microcode, and can refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, and / or objects. The term "shared processor" includes a single processor that executes some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "group processor" includes a processor that, in combination with additional processors, executes some or all of the code from one or more modules. The term "shared memory" includes a single memory that stores some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "group memory" includes memory that, in combination with additional memory, stores some or all of the code from one or more modules. The term "memory" can be a subset of the term "computer-readable medium."The term "computer-readable medium" excludes transitory electrical and electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium and can therefore be considered tangible and non-transient storage. Non-restrictive examples of non-transient storage include tangible computer-readable media, including non-volatile memory, magnetic storage, and optical storage.

[0025] The devices and methods described in this application can be implemented in whole or in part by one or more computer programs executed by one or more processors. The computer programs comprise processor-executable instructions stored on at least one non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium. The computer programs may also contain and / or access stored data.

[0026] A software application (i.e., a software resource) can refer to computer software that causes a computing device to perform a task. Depending on the context, a software application may be called an "application," "app," or "program." Examples of applications include system diagnostic applications, system administration applications, system maintenance applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, messaging applications, media streaming applications, social networking applications, and gaming applications.

[0027] Nontransitory memory can be physical devices used to temporarily or permanently store programs (e.g., instruction sequences) or data (e.g., program state information) for use by a computing device. Nontransitory memory can be volatile and / or non-volatile addressable semiconductor memory. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, flash memory and read-only memory (ROM) / programmable read-only memory (PROM) / erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) / electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) (typically used, for example, for firmware such as boot programs). Examples of volatile memory include random-access memory (RAM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), phase-change memory (PCM), and floppy disks or tapes.

[0028] These computer programs (also referred to as programs, software, software applications, or code) comprise machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in a higher-level procedural and / or object-oriented programming language and / or in assembly / machine language. As used here, the terms "machine-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" refer to any computer program product, non-volatile computer-readable medium, any device and / or apparatus (e.g., magnetic disks, optical disks, memory, programmable logic devices (PLDs)) used to deliver machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor that includes a machine-readable medium receiving machine instructions as a machine-readable signal.The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to deliver machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor.

[0029] Various implementations of the systems and techniques described herein can be realized in digital electronic and / or optical circuit arrangements, integrated circuit arrangements, specially designed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system comprising at least one programmable processor, which may be of a specific or general design and is coupled such that it receives data and instructions from and sends data and instructions to a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

[0030] The processes and logic sequences described in this description can be executed by one or more programmable processors, also known as data processing hardware, which run one or more computer programs to perform functions by processing input data and generating output data. The processes and logic sequences can also be executed by specialized logic circuit arrangements, such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). Processors suitable for executing a computer program include, for example, general-purpose and specialized microprocessors, and one or more processors of any type of digital computer. Generally, a processor receives instructions and data from read-only memory, random-access memory, or both.The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more storage devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also includes one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic, magneto-optical, or optical disks, or is operationally coupled to them to receive data from or send data to them, or both. However, a computer need not have such devices. Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and storage devices, including, for example, semiconductor memory devices such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks or removable hard disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs.The processor and memory can be supplemented by or integrated into special logic circuit arrangements.

[0031] To enable interaction with a user, one or more aspects of the disclosure can be implemented on a computer that has a display device, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor, an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, or a touchscreen, to display information to the user, and optionally a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, through which the user can input information to the computer. Other types of devices can also be used to enable interaction with a user; for example, feedback to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual, auditory, or tactile feedback; and user input can be received in any form, including auditory, verbal, or tactile input.Furthermore, a computer can interact with a user by sending and receiving documents to a device used by the user, for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser.

[0032] The present disclosure relates to a power control system 10 for supplying power from a first power source 16 to an output terminal 12 and a battery 14. The output terminal 12 is designed to be detachably connected to an electrical load, and the battery 14 can be designed to supply power to a fixed load. The first power source 16 transmits electrical power in the form of alternating current at a predetermined voltage to a power input terminal 18, which is electrically connected to an on-board charging module 20 that regulates the power for charging the battery 14. The first power source 16 can be designed to provide charging according to industry standards.For example, the first power source 16 could be a commercially developed charging station designed to supply electrical power at 120 volts or 240 volts, or it could be a household electrical outlet designed to supply power at 120 volts or 240 volts.

[0033] The on-board charging module 20 comprises a first processing unit 22, which is designed to process the electrical power from the first power source 16 to charge the battery 14. The first processing unit 22 includes a non-volatile memory 22a, which stores written commands for the execution of the on-board charging module 20. The power control system 10 further comprises a divider module 24, which is arranged between the power input terminal 14 and the on-board charging module 20. The divider module 24 is designed to direct electrical power from the first power source 16 to the output terminal 12. For example, the divider module 24 can be designed to supply power to an output terminal 12, which is located in a vehicle 26 and to which the load (not shown) can be connected.The output connector 12 can be a standard three-prong socket 12 for use in the United States or a two-prong socket for use in Europe. It should be noted that the output connector 12 can be designed to conform to any industry standard without deviating from the scope of the attached claims.

[0034] Not all power sources deliver the same electrical power. For example, some power sources may deliver 110 volts, while others deliver 120 volts, 220 volts, or 240 volts. In addition to voltage, some power sources deliver single-phase current, while others deliver three-phase current. Similarly, electrical devices may have different power configurations, with some designed to accept power at 120 volts in a single phase, while others require 220 volts in three phases. The divider module 24 is designed to transfer electrical power in a desired phase to the output terminal 12 and may further be designed to increase or decrease the voltage, thus supplying the output terminal 12 with a predetermined phase and voltage to accommodate the power configuration of the electrical device.

[0035] The power control system 10 can be implemented in any platform or device that uses a battery 14 to supply power to the device. For illustrative purposes, the power control system 10 is described in the context of an electric vehicle 26, as shown in Fig. Figure 1 is shown. However, it should be noted that the power control system 10 may be implemented in other devices / platforms, such as a boat, a motorcycle, a residential or commercial building, and the like, which have a battery 14 to supply power to the device / platform and an output terminal 12 to supply power to an electrical device 28, such as a laptop, an electric vehicle, a mobile device, or the like.

[0036] Fig. Figure 1 shows the vehicle 26, which is connected to the first power source 16. Specifically, the first power source 16 includes a charger 30, which is connected to the power input terminal 18 to provide power for charging the battery 14. The first power source 16 is shown as an example of a commercial charging station; however, it should be noted that the first power source 16 could also be a household electrical outlet. It should be noted that the first power source 16 can be any power source designed to connect to the power input terminal 18, and that the examples described here are not limiting.

[0037] The vehicle 26 is an electric vehicle 26 with a battery 14 designed to power a motor 32 for propelling the vehicle 26. For example, the motor 32 can be an electric motor 32 designed to generate up to 200 hp to propel the vehicle 26. Any battery 14 designed to be charged with currently known or subsequently developed electrical power can be modified for use here, including, for example, lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and the like. The capacity of the battery 14 need not be limiting and can include batteries 14 with a capacity of more than 30 kilowatt-hours (kWh). The battery 14 is further designed to power the various electronic components within the vehicle 26.Such electronic components are well-known and include, for example, lights, windscreen wipers, car radios, heating and air conditioning systems, and the like.

[0038] With reference to Fig. The power control system 10 comprises an on-board charging module 20 and a divider module 24. In some configurations, the on-board charging module 20 and the divider module 24 are integrated as a single module. In other configurations, the on-board charging module 20 and the divider module 24 are separate units. The on-board charging module 20 is designed to regulate the power from the first power source 16 via the power input terminal 18 to charge the battery 14. For example, the on-board charging module 20 may include electronic circuits and components designed to filter noise, maintain the power supplied to the battery 14 at a predetermined voltage, maintain a predetermined waveform, and perform other processes to supply the battery 14 with optimal power for charging.For example, the on-board charging module 20 can include a power factor correction circuit designed to regulate the power into / out of the power source 16 and into the one or more power output terminals 12 within the vehicle 26.

[0039] The onboard charging module 20 includes power electronic switches, such as power MOSFET switches, which can be turned on and off to control the switching rate of the electrical power, increase or decrease the voltage, and change the waveform of the electrical power supplied to the battery 14. The onboard charging module 20 can also be configured to provide galvanic isolation between the electrical device 28 and the battery 14. For example, the onboard charging module 20 can also include an isolated DC / DC converter 36, which may include a transformer (not shown). The operation of the transformer provides galvanic isolation between the electrical device 28 and the battery 14.

[0040] The on-board charging module 20 can include a first processing unit 22, which is designed to actuate the electronic components, such as the MOSFET switches, to process the electrical power from the first power source 16 to charge the battery 14. The first processing unit 22 includes a non-volatile memory 22a for storing written instructions for the execution of the electronic components, whereby the instructions can be updated as needed.

[0041] With further reference to Fig. The power control system 10 comprises a divider module 24 located between the power input terminal 18 and the on-board charging module 20. As described above, the power input terminal 18 is designed to receive electrical power from the first power source 16. The power input terminal 18 includes a first input line 38a, a second input line 38b, a third input line 38c, and a fourth input line 38d. The first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, and the third input line 38c are designed to supply electrical power with different phases, and the fourth input line 38d is a neutral line that provides a return path to the first power source 16 to generate a voltage difference between the corresponding first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, and the third input line 38c.According to some embodiments, a fifth input line 38e is provided, which provides a connection to ground. A filter 40 can be coupled to the first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, the third input line 38c, and the fourth input line 38d to remove noise received through the power input terminal 18 from the first power source 16.

[0042] The power control system 10 further comprises a first output line 42a, a second output line 42b, a third output line 42c, and a fourth output line 42d. One end of the first output line 42a, the second output line 42b, the third output line 42c, and the fourth output line 42d is connected to a corresponding first input line 38a, second input line 38b, third input line 38c, and fourth output line 38d. The other end of the first output line 42a, the second output line 42b, the third output line 42c, and the fourth output line 42d is connected to the output terminal 12.The first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, the third input line 38c, the fourth input line 38d, the first output line 42a, the second output line 42b, the third output line 42c, and the fourth output line 42d can be formed from a single electrically conductive wire or a cable consisting of several electrically conductive wires. For illustration, the vehicle 26 is shown with a single output terminal 12; however, it should be noted that the vehicle 26 can have more than one output terminal 12. Furthermore, according to some aspects, the power control system 10 can include a fifth output line 42e, which is designed to supply electrical power to ground.

[0043] The divider module 24 comprises a first switching unit 44 and a second switching unit 46. The first switching unit 44 is operationally coupled to the first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, the third input line 38c, and the fourth input line 38d. The second switching unit 46 is operationally coupled to the first output line 42a, the second output line 42b, the third output line 42c, and the fourth output line 42d. The first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 are designed to selectively open and close the first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, the third input line 38c, the fourth input line 38d, the first output line 42a, the second output line 42b, the third output line 42c and the fourth output line 42d in order to provide, as appropriate, the transmission of electrical power to the on-board charging module 20 and to the output terminal 12.

[0044] According to one aspect, the first switching unit 44 comprises a first input switch 48a, a second input switch 48b, a third input switch 48c, and a fourth input switch 48d, each connected to a corresponding first input line 38a, second input line 38b, third input line 38c, and fourth input line 38d, respectively. Likewise, the second switching unit 46 comprises a first output switch 50a, a second output switch 50b, a third output switch 50c, and a fourth output switch 50d, each connected to a corresponding first output line 42a, second output line 42b, third output line 42c, and fourth output line 42d, respectively. The switches can be a bidirectional switch constructed from two MOSFET switches or two transistors connected back-to-back, a relay switch, or the like.According to one aspect, the power control system 10 can include a fifth output switch 50e designed to open and close the fifth output line 42e in order to selectively apply power to ground.

[0045] The first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 can be controlled by the first processing unit 22 of the on-board charging module 20. Furthermore, the divider module 24 includes a second processing unit 52, which is designed to control the operation of the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46. The divider module 24 can include a sensor 54, which is designed to detect the electrical power in each of the first input line 38a, second input line 38b, third input line 38c, fourth input line 38d, first output line 42a, second output line 42b, third output line 42c, and fourth output line 42d. The sensor 54 can be designed to detect several characteristics of the electrical power, including current, voltage, and phase.Information from sensor 54 can be processed by the on-board charging module 20 or the second processing unit 52 to control the operation of the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46. Accordingly, the power control system 10 is designed to detect the electrical power received from the power input terminal 18 and to supply the electrical power at a desired voltage and phase to the output terminal 12.

[0046] Fig. Figure 2 shows a case in which the electrical power from the first power source 16, received through the power input terminal 18, is 220 volts in three phases, and the desired output at the output terminal 12 is also 220 volts in three phases. In such a case, the sensor 54 detects that the first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, and the third input line 38c are carrying 220 volts in different phases. Depending on the case, either the first processing unit 22 or the second processing unit 52 processes the information from the sensor 54 and closes the first input switch 48a, the second input switch 48b, the third input switch 48c, the fourth input switch 48d, the first output switch 50a, the second output switch 50b, the third output switch 50c, and the fourth output switch 50d.In such a configuration, the on-board charging module processes 220 volts in three phases to charge battery 14 and deliver 220 volts in three phases to output terminal 12.

[0047] Fig. Figure 3 shows a case in which the electrical power from the first power source 16 is supplied at 220 volts in three phases, and the desired output at the output terminal 12 is 220 volts in a single phase. In such a case, the sensor 54 detects that the first input line 38a, the second input line 38b, and the third input line 38c carry 220 volts in different phases. Depending on the case, the first processing unit 22 or the second processing unit 52 processes the information from the sensor 54 and configures the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 so that three phases at 220 volts are supplied for charging the battery, while 220 volts are supplied at the output terminal 12 in a single phase.For example, the first input switch 48a, the second input switch 48b, the third input switch 48c, the fourth input switch 48d, the first output switch 50a and the fourth output switch 50d can be closed, and the second output switch 50b and the third output switch 50c can be open.

[0048] Fig. Figure 4 shows a case in which the electrical power from the first power source 16 is supplied at 110 volts and in a single phase, and the desired output at the output terminal 12 is 110 volts in a single phase. In such a case, the sensor 54 detects that the first input line 38a carries 110 volts and that no electrical power is transmitted along the second input line 38b and the third input line 38c, or that the power in the second input line 38b and the third input line 38c has the same phase as the power transmitted along the first input line 38a. The first processing unit 22 or the second processing unit 52 processes the information from the sensor 54 and configures the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 so that a single phase with a voltage of 110 volts is supplied for charging the battery 14 and for the output terminal 12.For example, the first input switch 48a, the fourth input switch 48d, the first output switch 50a and the fourth output switch 50d are closed, and the second input switch 48b, the third input switch 48c, the second output switch 50b and the third output switch 50c are open.

[0049] Fig. Figure 5 shows an aspect where the electrical power from the first power source 16 is supplied at 110 volts in a single phase, and the desired output at the output terminal 12 is 220 volts in three phases. According to this aspect, the output terminal 12 can be configured to charge another electric vehicle. In such a case, the sensor 54 detects that the first input line 38a is transmitting 110 volts and that no electrical power is being transmitted along the second input line 38b and the third input line 38c. The first processing unit 22 or the second processing unit 52 processes the information from the sensor 54 and configures the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 so that a single phase at 110 volts is supplied for charging the battery and 120 volts in three phases are supplied to the output terminal 12.For example, the first input switch 48a, the fourth input switch 48d, the first output switch 50a, the second output switch 50b, the third output switch 50c, and the fourth output switch 50d are closed, and the second input switch 48b and the third input switch 48c are open. According to this aspect, the second switching unit 46 can further be configured to increase the power and modify the phases in each of the first output line 42a, the second output line 42b, and the third output line 42c. For example, as shown in... Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the second switching unit 46 is arranged within an AC / AC converter 56. The AC / AC converter 56 can be designed to regulate the power from the first power source 16 and / or the battery 14. Any AC / AC converter 56 currently known or subsequently developed can be modified for use here, including, for example, a step-down converter, a step-up-step-down converter, a single-ended converter with a primary inductor, a switching capacitor AC / AC converter, and a back-to-back AC / AC converter. Furthermore, it should be noted that the AC / AC converter 56 can be a non-isolated AC / AC converter or an isolated AC / AC converter with a transformer.

[0050] Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 shows a case in which the battery 14 supplies power to the output terminal 12 to power an electrical device 28; that is, the first power source 16 is not connected to the power input terminal 18, and the vehicle 26 operates independently of the mains power supply. In such a case, the divider module 24 can be designed to supply voltage with a predetermined voltage and phase to the output terminal 12. Referring first to Fig. 6 The first processing unit 22 or the second processing unit 52 processes the information from the sensor 54 and configures the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 to supply a single phase of 110 volts to the output terminal 12. For example, the first input switch 48a, the second input switch 48b, the third input switch 48c, and the fourth input switch 48d are open, so that electrical power is transferred from the battery 14 to the second switching unit 46, in which the first output switch 50a and the fourth output switch 50d are closed, and the second output switch 50b and the third output switch 50c are open. In such a case, the power control system 10 does not need to use an AC / AC converter 56, since the on-board charging module 20 can be designed to increase or decrease the voltage.However, it should be noted that the power control system 10 can use the AC / AC converter as shown in . Fig. 6 is shown.

[0051] With reference to Fig.The power control system 10 is designed to supply power from the battery 14 to the output terminal 12 at 220 volts in three phases. In such a case, the first processing unit 22 or the second processing unit 52 processes the information from the sensor 54 and configures the first switching unit 44 and the second switching unit 46 so that three phases at 220 volts are supplied to the output terminal 12. For example, the first input switch 48a, the second input switch 48b, the third input switch 48c, and the fourth input switch 48d are open, thereby transferring electrical power from the battery 14 to the second switching unit 46, in which the first output switch 50a, the second output switch 50b, the third output switch 50c, and the fourth output switch 50d are closed.According to such an aspect, it may be necessary to increase the power from battery 14, in which case either the AC / AC converter 56 or the on-board charging module 20 may be designed to increase the voltage.

[0052] Accordingly, the disclosure provides a power control system 10 designed to supply an output terminal 12 with power that may differ from the power transmitted from the first power source 16 or from the power required to charge the battery 14. Accordingly, the power control system 10 is adaptable to handle charging stations with different power transmission characteristics and to supply power to various electrical devices 28, including another electric vehicle. For example, if the electrical device 28 is a laptop computer designed for US outlets, the power control system 10 is designed to deliver power at 120 volts in a single phase to the output terminal, irrespective of the characteristics of the power transmitted from the first power source 16.If, on the other hand, the electrical device 28 is a laptop computer designed for European sockets, the power control system 10 is designed to supply power at 220 volts or 230 volts in three phases to the output terminal. As explained above, the power control system 10 can be adapted to include multiple output terminals 12. Depending on certain aspects, each of the output terminals 12 can be designed to supply different power, e.g., 110 volts single-phase, 220 volts three-phase, 110 volts three-phase, in which case the power control system 10 would have additional output lines and output switches.

[0053] Several implementations have been described. However, it is understood that various modifications can be made without deviating from the concept and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations fall within the scope of the following claims. For example, according to some examples, the power control system 10 is described as converting 220 volts in three phases to 220 volts in a single phase, or transferring 110 volts in a single phase from the first power source 16 to the output terminal 12. It should be noted that the exact voltage is given as an example, and the voltage and phase transferred from the first power source 16 may be based on an industry or national standard that differs from the one described, so that the voltages and phases do not limit the scope of the attached claims.

[0054] The foregoing description serves only for illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive and does not limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular configuration are generally not restricted to that particular configuration but may be exchanged and used in a selected configuration, even if this is not expressly shown or described. This configuration may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be considered a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are to fall within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

[1] Power control system for supplying power to an output terminal and a battery, wherein the battery is designed to supply power to a motor, wherein the power control system supplies power from a first power source to the output terminal and the battery, wherein the first power source transmits electrical power in the form of an alternating current, wherein the power control system comprises: an on-board charging module comprising a first processing unit designed to process electrical power from the first power source to charge the battery, wherein the first processing unit comprises a non-volatile memory that stores written instructions for the execution of the on-board charging module; and a divider module arranged between the first power source and the on-board charging module, wherein the divider module is operable to provide electrical power in one of several phases. [2] Power control system according to claim 1, wherein the divider module comprises a first switching unit and a second switching unit. [3] Power control system according to claim 2, further comprising a first input line, a second input line, a third input line and a fourth input line, wherein the fourth input line is a neutral line, wherein the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line connect the first power source to the battery. [4] Power control system according to claim 3, further comprising a first output line, a second output line, a third output line and a fourth output line, wherein the fourth output line is a neutral line, and wherein one end of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line is connected to a corresponding one of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line, and the other end of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line is connected to the output terminal. [5] Power control system according to claim 4, wherein the first switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line, and wherein the second switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line. [6] Power control system according to claim 5, further comprising an AC / AC converter. [7] Power control system according to claim 6, wherein the second switching unit is arranged inside the AC / AC converter. [8] Electric vehicle comprising a battery for providing power for a propulsion force of the electric vehicle, an input terminal for receiving electrical power from a first power source and an output terminal for supplying power to a load, wherein the electric vehicle comprises: a first input line, a second input line, a third input line and a fourth input line, wherein the fourth input line is a neutral line, wherein the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line connect the input terminal to the battery; a first output line, a second output line, a third output line and a fourth output line, wherein the fourth output line is a neutral line, wherein one end of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line is connected to a corresponding one of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line, and the other end of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line is connected to the output terminal; an on-board charging module comprising a first processing unit designed to process the electrical power from the first power source to charge the battery, wherein the first processing unit comprises a non-volatile memory that stores written instructions for the execution of the on-board charging module; and a divider module arranged between the first power source and the on-board charging module, wherein the divider module can be operated to transfer the electrical power in one of several phases. [9] Electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the divider module comprises a first switching unit and a second switching unit and wherein the first switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first input line, the second input line, the third input line and the fourth input line, and the second switching unit is designed to selectively open and close each of the first output line, the second output line, the third output line and the fourth output line. [10] Electric vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the first processing unit of the on-board charging module transmits charging information from the battery to the second processing unit of an AC / AC converter, wherein the second processing unit processes the charging information to control the first switching unit and the second switching unit such that electrical power is transferred to the output terminal and the battery in one of the several phases selected.

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