Vehicular power supply system

Abstract

To enable long-term air conditioning when a cabin is used as a living space.SOLUTION: A vehicular power supply system includes: a battery (3); and electrical components (7, 8) that can switch between connection and disconnection to the battery (3) by a predetermined operation by a user. The vehicular power supply system has an air conditioning mode of connecting the battery (3) to only the electrical component (7) necessary for air conditioning of the electrical components (7, 8).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply system for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that in an electric vehicle that uses electricity for at least part of its driving energy, the vehicle has an ACC on mode in which only the accessory power supply (ACC) is on, an IG on mode in which the accessory power supply and ignition power supply (IG) are on and all electrical equipment is usable, and an off mode in which the accessory power supply and ignition power supply are off, that the air conditioner can be used in the IG on mode, and that the power stored in the drive battery is used to operate the electric air conditioner as well as the drive motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6812771 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Nowadays, the way automobiles are used has become more diverse, and there is a demand for them to have the functionality and value of living space, such as a space for resting and sleeping, a workspace for teleworking, etc. Air conditioning inside the vehicle is essential to make the vehicle comfortable as a living space. As described in Patent Document 1, when the air conditioner is enabled in IG on mode, even when the passenger compartment is to be used as a living space, the vehicle will be on standby assuming that the vehicle will be driven, so the battery will supply power not only to electrical equipment necessary for air conditioning, but also to electrical equipment not necessary for air conditioning. This consumes extra battery power, shortening the time that the air conditioning can be used.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to enable air conditioning for a long period of time when the vehicle interior is used as a living space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle power supply system of the present invention is a vehicle power supply system equipped with a battery and electrical equipment that can be switched between connection and disconnection with the battery by a specified operation by a user, and is characterized in having an air conditioning mode that connects the battery only to those electrical equipment among the electrical equipment that are necessary for air conditioning. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, air conditioning for a long period of time is possible when the vehicle interior is used as a living space. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power supply system for an automobile according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining mode transition. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of an alarm electrical component. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A vehicle power supply system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle power supply system including a battery (3) and electrical components (7, 8) that can be switched between connection and disconnection with the battery (3) by a specified operation by a user, and is characterized by having an air conditioning mode in which the battery (3) is connected only to the electrical components (7, 8) that are necessary for air conditioning. This enables air conditioning for long periods of time when the passenger compartment is being used as a living space. EXAMPLES

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a power supply system 1 for an automobile, which is a vehicle according to an embodiment. In Fig. 1, solid lines indicate power supply lines from batteries 2 and 3, and dashed lines indicate harnesses and radio signals for transmitting signals and for passing current to operate switches. The automobile according to this embodiment is a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and includes a low-voltage battery 2 called an auxiliary battery, and a high-voltage battery 3 called a drive battery.

[0011] The low-voltage battery 2 is used as a power source for supplying power to auxiliary equipment, driving actuators, etc. A battery control electrical component 5 and a relay control electrical component 6 are connected to a power supply line 4 connected to the low-voltage battery 2. The power supply line 4 branches into three lines 4a to 4c, with the first line 4a connected to a vehicle running electrical component 7 and an air conditioning control electrical component 8 via a switch SW1, the second line 4b connected to an annunciation electrical component 9 and other accessory electrical components 10 via a switch SW2, and the third line 4c connected to the air conditioning control electrical component 8 and the annunciation electrical component 9 via a switch SW3.

[0012] The high-voltage battery 3 is used as a power source for driving a drive motor of the vehicle driving electrical equipment 7. The high-voltage battery 3 is also used as a power source for an electric air conditioner configured by an air conditioning control electrical equipment 8. A power supply line 11 connected to the high-voltage battery 3 is connected to the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 via a switch SW4, and is connected to the vehicle driving electrical equipment 7 via the switch SW4 and a switch SW5 downstream of the switch SW4. The high-voltage battery 3 is also connected to the power supply line 4 via a DC / DC converter 12. The power of the high-voltage battery 3 is stepped down by the DC / DC converter 12 and supplied to the auxiliary system power, and also charges the battery 2. The high-voltage battery 3 can be charged by an external charging facility 13. It is assumed that external charging can be performed using either a DC or AC power source as appropriate.

[0013] The vehicle driving electrical equipment 7 includes those that require electric power to generate and control driving force. It refers to the cranking motor of the internal combustion engine, a throttle valve, an injector, sensors for detecting water temperature, oxygen, etc., and an ECU that takes in and controls the information thereof. It also refers to the driving motor, an inverter / converter connected to the driving motor, sensors for detecting current, voltage, etc., and an ECU that takes in and controls the information thereof. The vehicle driving electrical equipment 7 also includes those that require electric power to operate and control the transmission that changes speed when transmitting driving force from the driving source to the shaft. It refers to actuators that change gears and change variable pulley diameters, sensors for acquiring rotation, torque, etc., and an ECU that takes in and controls the information thereof. The vehicle driving electrical equipment 7 also includes those that require electric power to generate and control braking force. It refers to brake boost actuators, pressure reducing valve opening and closing devices, sensors for acquiring wheel speed, brake fluid pressure, etc., and an ECU that takes in and controls the information thereof. The vehicle running electrical equipment 7 refers to electrical equipment for functions (such as an erroneous start suppression function and an automatic braking function) when starting or running.

[0014] The air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 includes components that require electricity to perform and control air conditioning. These include electric compressors, condenser fans, blower fans, etc. An electric air conditioner that uses an electric compressor and can perform air conditioning even when the engine is not running is configured. The air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 also refers to electrical equipment that receives button operations by the passengers and performs air conditioning accordingly. If an engine is provided, it is also possible to request engine start during the driving mode to promote the heating function. The air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 predicts the amount of power consumed based on the degree of use of the air conditioning and transmits this to the relay control electrical equipment 6.

[0015] The notification electrical equipment 9 includes components that require power to notify the occupants of vehicle conditions such as the interior temperature, remaining battery charge, and vehicle speed, as well as warnings in the event of a malfunction. It refers to indicators and displays specific to each function. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the notification electrical equipment 9 includes a display device 91 that serves as an instrument panel such as a speedometer in an instrument panel 90, and a display device 92 that displays information related to air conditioning (temperature, wind direction and strength, etc.).

[0016] The other accessory electrical equipment 10 refers to equipment such as audio equipment and car navigation systems that are not directly involved in the behavior of the vehicle.

[0017] The battery control electrical component 5 acquires and manages the SOC (State Of Charge) and the charge / discharge amount, which indicate the state of the high-voltage battery 3 , and transmits this information to the relay control electrical component 6 .

[0018] The relay control electrical equipment 6 controls the on / off of the switches SW1 to SW5. The relay control electrical equipment 6 receives a power start operation and an air conditioning mode switch operation. The power start operation is an operation that requires a user's key, and is used to transition between the shutdown mode, the ACC mode, and the driving mode, and to transition from the air conditioning mode to the shutdown mode, as described below. In this embodiment, the relay control electrical equipment 6 having a radio wave receiving function receives radio waves emitted by a key (not shown) and operates the power relay when a start button (not shown) is pressed (keyless push start). Note that the power relay may be operated by inserting a key directly into the keyhole and rotating it. The air conditioning mode switch operation is an operation to turn on and off an air conditioning mode switch (not shown), and is used to transition from the shutdown mode to the air conditioning mode, as described below.

[0019] Here, a mode transition in the automobile according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The automobile has a shutoff mode, an ACC mode, a drivable mode, and an air conditioning mode.

[0020] In the shutoff mode, all of the switches SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4 are turned off under the control of the relay control electrical equipment 6. Since SW4 is turned off, SW5 downstream of SW4 may be turned on or off. The shutoff mode corresponds to a state called IG off, and is a mode in which the engine and the drive motor are not in operation and the vehicle cannot travel. The connection between the low-voltage battery 2 and the high-voltage battery 3 and the electrical equipment 7 to 10 is cut off. When the start button is pressed in the shutoff mode, the vehicle transitions to the ACC mode. It is also possible to transition to the travel-enabled mode by pressing the start button while stepping on the brake. Also, when the air-conditioning mode switch is turned on in the shutoff mode, the vehicle transitions to the air-conditioning mode. Turning on the air-conditioning mode switch corresponds to the predetermined operation in the present invention. It is to be noted that the air-conditioning mode switch is not limited to a tangible switch, and may be any switch that allows the user's intention to be input, such as a button displayed on a display having a touch function. Also, instead of having an air-conditioning mode switch, for example, a long press of the start button in the shutoff mode may transition to the air-conditioning mode.

[0021] In the ACC mode, under the control of the relay control electrical equipment 6, the switch SW2 is turned on and the switches SW1, SW3, and SW4 are turned off. Since SW4 is turned off, SW5 downstream of it may be on or off. The ACC mode is a mode in which the engine and drive motor are not in operation and the vehicle cannot be driven, and only the ACC is turned on, connecting the low-voltage battery 2 to the notification electrical equipment 9 and other accessory electrical equipment 10. Pressing the start button in the ACC mode transitions to a driving enabled mode.

[0022] In the drive enable mode, switches SW1, SW2, SW4, and SW5 are turned on and switch SW3 is turned off under the control of the relay-controlled electrical equipment 6. The drive enable mode corresponds to a state called IG on, and is a mode in which the engine and drive motor are operating, allowing the vehicle to be driven, and connects the low-voltage battery 2 and high-voltage battery 3 to the electrical equipment 7 to 10. When the start button is pressed in the drive enable mode, the mode transitions to the cut-off mode.

[0023] In the air conditioning mode, under the control of the relay control electrical equipment 6, the switches SW3 and SW4 are turned on and the switches SW1, SW2, and SW5 are turned off. The air conditioning mode is a mode in which the engine and the drive motor are not operated and the vehicle cannot run. The low voltage battery 2 is connected to the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 and the notification electrical equipment 9, and the high voltage battery 3 is connected to the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8. In this way, the air conditioning mode is provided in which the high voltage battery 3 is connected only to the electrical equipment required for air conditioning. This allows the high voltage battery 3 to be used as a power source for the electric air conditioner. When the start button is pressed in the air conditioning mode, the mode transitions to the cutoff mode. Also, when the SOC of the high voltage battery 3 drops below a predetermined value in the air conditioning mode, the mode transitions to the cutoff mode.

[0024] In this way, the high-voltage battery 3 is not used as a power source for driving the drive motor of the vehicle driving electrical equipment 7, but has an air conditioning mode in which it is used as a power source for an electric air conditioner. For example, the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 recognizes that the air conditioning mode is in effect when power is being supplied from the switch SW3. In addition, in the air conditioning mode, the connection between the low-voltage battery 2 and the vehicle driving electrical equipment 7 and other accessory electrical equipment 10 is cut off, so there is no power consumption by audio equipment, car navigation systems, etc.

[0025] In the air-conditioning mode, the air-conditioning control electrical equipment 8 limits the rotation speed of at least one of the electric compressor and the condenser fan to a value lower than the rotation speed in the driving mode. For example, an upper limit is set for the rotation speed of at least one of the electric compressor and the condenser fan. The current flowing through the air-conditioning control electrical equipment 8 may be regulated. This reduces power consumption and ensures quietness. Note that a silent air-conditioning mode switch (not shown) may be provided, and the rotation speed of at least one of the electric compressor and the condenser fan may be limited only when the silent air-conditioning mode switch is turned on in the air-conditioning mode.

[0026] In addition, in the air conditioning mode, the notification electrical equipment 9 obtains information from the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 and notifies only information related to the air conditioning. In the example of Fig. 3, the display device 91, which serves as an instrument panel such as a speedometer, is on in the driveable mode and ACC mode, but is off in the air conditioning mode, whereas the display device 92, which displays information related to the air conditioning, is on in all of the driveable mode, ACC mode, and air conditioning mode. That is, in the air conditioning mode, the display device 91 is off and the display device 92 is on, and only information related to the air conditioning is notified using the display device 92.

[0027] In addition, in the air conditioning mode, the battery control electrical equipment 5 calculates and estimates the time until the SOC of the high-voltage battery 3 reaches a predetermined value. The notification electrical equipment 9 notifies the estimated time as one of the pieces of information related to the air conditioning. This time can be calculated by dividing the energy currently stored in the high-voltage battery 3 by the power consumption per unit time in the air conditioning mode. This allows the user to know how long the air conditioning mode can be continued. The user can compare the expected time for continuing the air conditioning mode with the estimated time and determine how much of the high-voltage battery 3 should be left. In the case of a plug-in hybrid vehicle, it becomes possible to determine when to operate the engine (not to further reduce the remaining amount of the high-voltage battery 3) or how much the high-voltage battery 3 should be charged by operating the engine. As described above, it is desirable that the notification electrical equipment 9 for the user to recognize the air conditioning state, such as the temperature and the operation of the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8, is an electrical equipment necessary for air conditioning, and the notification electrical equipment 9 is made ready to be activated in the air conditioning mode.

[0028] Fig. 4 shows a functional configuration of the control device 100. The functions of the control device 100 may be realized by a single device (e.g., an ECU (Electronic Control Unit)) or may be realized by multiple devices with divided functions (e.g., a battery control electrical component 5, a relay control electrical component 6, an ECU (not shown), etc., as shown in Fig. 1). The control device 100 includes a mode transition control unit 101, an air conditioning control unit 102, a notification control unit 103, a SOC acquisition unit 104, and a time estimation unit 105.

[0029] As described above, the mode transition control unit 101 performs control so as to execute mode transitions among the shutoff mode, the ACC mode, the travel enabled mode, and the air conditioning mode in response to user operations or the like. In the air conditioning mode, the air conditioning control unit 102 controls the air conditioning in response to a user operation. In addition, in the air conditioning mode, the air conditioning control unit 102 controls the rotation speed of at least one of the electric compressor and the condenser fan so as to be limited to a value lower than the rotation speed in the travelable mode. In the air conditioning mode, the notification control unit 103 notifies only information related to air conditioning using, for example, the display device 92 shown in FIG. The SOC acquisition unit 104 acquires the SOC that indicates the state of the high-voltage battery 3. When the SOC of the high-voltage battery 3 drops below a predetermined value during the air conditioning mode, the mode transition control unit 101 controls the transition to the cutoff mode. Note that, although the SOC is used as an index indicating the state of the high-voltage battery 3 in this embodiment, other indexes may be used. The time estimation unit 105 calculates and estimates the time until the SOC of the high-voltage battery 3 reaches a predetermined value in the air-conditioning mode. The notification control unit 103 notifies the time estimated by the time estimation unit 105 as one piece of information related to the air-conditioning.

[0030] As described above, the high-voltage battery 3 is not used as a power source for driving the drive motor of the vehicle driving electrical equipment 7, but has an air conditioning mode in which it is used as a power source for an electric air conditioner. This prevents excess consumption of power from the high-voltage battery 3, and enables long-term air conditioning when the passenger compartment is used as a living space. In addition, in the air conditioning mode, the engine and drive motor are not operating, so no engine noise is generated, resulting in quietness and ensuring a comfortable living space. In addition, in the air conditioning mode, the engine is not operating, so no exhaust gas is generated, and the environment around the vehicle can be kept clean. Furthermore, if the SOC of the high-voltage battery 3 falls below a predetermined value during air conditioning mode, the system transitions to cut-off mode, thereby preventing the high-voltage battery 3 from becoming unable to drive the drive motor when the system subsequently transitions to driving mode.

[0031] In this embodiment, a plug-in hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and a drive motor is used as an example, but other hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles may be used as long as they are equipped with a drive battery. Compared to other hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles have a large capacity high-voltage battery, making it possible to use the air conditioning mode for a long period of time. Electric vehicles also have a large capacity high-voltage battery, but the remaining charge of the high-voltage battery itself is used as energy for driving, so there is a trade-off between the value of the car as a mobile object and the occupancy time (the longer the time in air conditioning mode, the shorter the mileage). Plug-in hybrid vehicles can run on fuel, so it is possible to achieve both mileage and occupancy time. In this embodiment, the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 cannot be used in the ACC mode, but the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 may be used in the ACC mode. Also, the air conditioning control electrical equipment 8 may be used with only the low-voltage battery 2.

[0032] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, each embodiment merely shows a specific example of the implementation of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to each embodiment. Various modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1: Automobile, 2: Low voltage battery, 3: High voltage battery, 4, 11: Power supply line, 5: Battery control electrical equipment, 6: Relay control electrical equipment, 7: Vehicle driving electrical equipment, 8: Air conditioning control electrical equipment, 9: Notification electrical equipment, 10: Other accessory electrical equipment, 12: DC / DC converter, 13: External charging equipment

Claims

1. A power supply system for a vehicle including a battery and an electrical component that can be switched between connection and disconnection with the battery by a predetermined operation by a user, 1. A power supply system for a vehicle, comprising: an air conditioning mode in which the battery is connected only to electrical components required for air conditioning among the electrical components.

2. a running mode in which the battery is connected to an electrical component necessary for running among the electrical components; The electrical equipment required for the air conditioning includes an electric compressor and a condenser fan, 2. The power supply system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in the air conditioning mode, a rotation speed of at least one of the electric compressor and the condenser fan is limited to a value lower than that in the travelable mode.

3. 3. The power supply system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the indicator representing the state of the battery reaches a predetermined value during the air conditioning mode, the power supply system transitions to the cutoff mode.

4. 3. The power supply system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, in the air conditioning mode, a time until the index representing the state of the battery reaches a predetermined value is estimated and notified.

5. The vehicle is a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, 3. The power supply system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a driving battery.

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