Power supply device

Abstract

We provide user-friendly power supply devices. [Solution] The power supply unit 1 is provided on the upper surface 31 of the housing 11 and includes a frame 21B that holds electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C, input terminals 41 to 43 that are connected to the input / output terminals T1, T4, and T5 of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C held in the frame 21B, respectively, a switch 44 that is turned on or off depending on the difference in the shape of the bottoms 2AA to 2CA of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C held in the frame 21B, a relay 45 that is connected to any of the input terminals 41 to 43 and is turned on or off based on the state of the switch 44, a DC-DC conversion module 72 that transforms the DC power of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C input via the input terminals 41 to 43 based on the state of the relay 45, and a DC-AC conversion module 73 that converts DC power to AC power. The inclination angle θ of the upper surface 31 is 3° or more and 7° or less.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device that transforms DC power output from a battery for an electric assist bicycle that is mounted, or converts it to AC power, and supplies the power to an electrical device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the power supply device described in Patent Document 1 includes a holding unit that holds a battery for an electric assist bicycle removed from the electric assist bicycle, and when the battery for the electric assist bicycle is held by the holding unit, an input terminal that connects to the input / output terminals of the battery for the electric assist bicycle, an inverter that converts DC power from the battery for the electric assist bicycle input via the input terminal to AC power, and an output terminal that supplies the AC power converted by the inverter to an electrical device.

[0003] By the way, batteries for electric assist bicycles are currently generally provided by approximately three companies and have five input / output terminals. Let the three companies be Company A, Company B, and Company C for the sake of argument. The configuration of the five input / output terminals is common between Company A and Company B, but Company C is different from Company A and Company B. However, since the power supply device described in Patent Document 1 does not accommodate the differences in the configuration of the input / output terminals, its versatility is low.

[0004] In this regard, in the power supply device described in Non-Patent Document 1, the user switches a battery changeover switch according to the manufacturer of the attached battery for the electric assist bicycle, so as to accommodate the differences in the configuration of the input / output terminals.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Saibashi 01 Product Information," [online], Terminal Official Website, [Searched July 8, 2024], Internet (URL: https: / / saibasi.com / product) [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In order to use the power supply device described in Non-Patent Document 1 as an emergency power supply or outdoor power supply, etc., the following procedure must be followed.

[0008] (1) Installation of the electric assist bicycle battery into the power supply unit (2) Switching the battery switch according to the manufacturer of the electric assist bicycle battery. (3) Connecting electrical equipment to the various output terminals of the power supply unit (4) Turn on the power switch of the power supply unit. (5) Turn on the power switch of each electrical appliance.

[0009] In other words, the power supply unit must be placed on the floor or ground, and after attaching the electric assist bicycle battery to the power supply unit, the battery selector switch must be flipped. Moreover, the only symbols indicating the manufacturer are written next to the battery selector switch.

[0010] Therefore, users often find it difficult to determine whether or not to switch the battery, and may have to do so in an awkward position. Furthermore, users may not even know which manufacturer's battery their electric assist bicycle uses.

[0011] However, if the above steps (1) to (5) are not followed, for example, the inrush current may damage the internal circuitry of the power supply unit, or the safety circuit may activate and forcibly cut off the power to the power supply unit.

[0012] Furthermore, the power supply unit described in Non-Patent Document 1 has a momentary maximum output of 500W (within 0.1 seconds) and a temporary maximum output of 300W (within 10 minutes). However, in emergencies or outdoor situations, a high output may be needed for a relatively long period of time, so it cannot be said to be very practical.

[0013] Furthermore, the power supply device described in Non-Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the battery for the electric assist bicycle is mounted in a recess that is almost rectangular in shape and has a flat bottom. Therefore, if this power supply device is used outdoors, moisture such as rainwater is likely to accumulate in the recess, making it highly likely that the electric assist bicycle battery and the power supply device will malfunction.

[0014] In other words, the power supply device described in Non-Patent Document 1 cannot be said to be user-friendly for emergency power supplies or outdoor power supplies.

[0015] The present invention aims to provide a power supply device that is easy for users to use, such as for emergency power supplies or outdoor power supplies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The power supply device according to the present invention comprises: a holding portion provided on one side of the housing for holding an electric assist bicycle battery; a plurality of input terminals connected to a plurality of input / output terminals of the electric assist bicycle battery held in the holding portion; a switch that is turned on or off depending on the difference in the shape of the bottom of the electric assist bicycle battery held in the holding portion; a relay connected to any of the plurality of input terminals and turned on or off based on the state of the switch; a voltage transformer that transforms the DC power of the electric assist bicycle battery input via the plurality of input terminals based on the state of the relay; and a power conversion unit that converts the DC power into AC power, wherein the inclination angle of the housing surface is 3° or more and 7° or less.

[0017] In the power supply device according to the present invention, the holding portion is composed of a frame into which the bottom portion of the battery for an electric assist bicycle fits, and a drain hole for draining is formed on the side facing the side with a lower inclination of the surface of the frame.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is user-friendly for users as an emergency power supply, an outdoor power supply, etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view seen from the left front showing an example of the external configuration of the power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view seen from the right rear of the power supply device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a left side view of the power supply device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a bottom view showing an example of a battery for an electric assist bicycle compatible with the power supply device shown in FIG. 1, where (A) is the bottom view of the battery manufactured by Company A, (B) is the bottom view of the battery manufactured by Company B, and (C) is the bottom view of the battery manufactured by Company C. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the power supply device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of the output power characteristics of the power supply device when using a battery for an electric assist bicycle manufactured by Company A. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of the output power characteristics of the power supply device when using a battery for an electric assist bicycle manufactured by Company C.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1. One Embodiment [External Configuration of Power Supply Device 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front left showing an example of the external configuration of a power supply unit 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the power supply unit 1 from the rear right. Figure 3 is a left side view of the power supply unit 1.

[0021] The power supply unit 1 is generally composed of a housing 11 and a circuit board and components (not shown) housed inside the housing 11. The housing 11 is formed by combining an upper case 21, a lower case 22, a front panel 23, and a rear panel 24, and has a roughly trapezoidal shape. The housing 11 is made of polycarbonate resin or ABS resin, which has characteristics such as high impact resistance, weather resistance, and low water absorption.

[0022] The upper case 21 is constructed by integrally forming a main body 21A that is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the front, and a frame 21B that is roughly square-shaped when viewed from above. The frame 21B forms a holding part that holds the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C, which will be described later, by fitting the bottom parts 2AA to 2CA of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C into it.

[0023] Assuming that the power supply unit 1 will be used outdoors, the upper surface 31 of the main body 21A that constitutes the upper case 21 has a slope, as shown in Figure 3, in order to quickly drain rainwater and the like from the upper surface 31 and prevent them from entering the inside of the housing 11.

[0024] In Figure 3, if H (mm) is the vertical distance (height) between the rear end 31A and the front end 31B of the upper surface 31, L (mm) is the horizontal distance (horizontal distance) between the rear end 31A and the front end 31B of the upper surface 31, and θ (°) is the angle of inclination between the horizontal plane passing through the rear end 31A of the upper surface 31 and the horizontal plane passing through the front end 31B of the upper surface 31, then the gradient G (%) of the upper surface 31 is expressed by equations (1) and (2).

[0025] G = H ÷ L × 100 (%) ... (1) G = 100 × tanθ ... (2)

[0026] Therefore, the angle of inclination θ is expressed by equation (3). θ = tan -1 (G ÷ 100) ... (3)

[0027] Typically, the slope G applied to the floor surface of a wooden deck or to sewer pipes for draining rainwater and sewage is preferably around 1-3%. This is based on the fact that the minimum slope G at which water can flow on its own is about 0.5%, and that if the slope G is 3% or higher, there is a high possibility that only water will flow away, leaving waste and other debris inside the sewer pipe.

[0028] Substituting 1 to 3 (%) for G in equation (3), the inclination angle θ becomes 0.573° to 1.718°. However, it is difficult from a design standpoint to form the inclination angle θ of the upper surface 31 to about 1°, and in this embodiment, it is sufficient to quickly drain only water from the upper surface 31, so the gradient G does not need to be 3% or less. Therefore, it is preferable that the lower limit of the inclination angle θ of the upper surface 31 be 3° or more.

[0029] On the other hand, if the inclination angle θ of the upper surface 31 is too large, the following problems may arise. (i) A gap is created between the bottom part 2AA~2CA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C and the top surface 31 of the upper case 21, making it difficult to attach the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C to the top surface 31, and the installation state of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C becomes unstable. (ii) The contact between the input / output terminals T1, T4, and T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C (see Figure 5) and the input terminals 41~43 of the power supply unit 1 (see Figures 1 and 5) becomes unstable. (iii) There is wasted space inside the enclosure 11.

[0030] Based on the above, it is preferable that the inclination angle θ and the gradient G satisfy equations (4) and (5), respectively. 3°≦θ≦7°···(4) 5.241% ≤ G ≤ 12.28% ···(5) Figure 3 shows an example where the slope angle θ is 5° and the gradient G is 8.749%.

[0031] The inner circumference of the frame 21B that constitutes the upper case 21 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is approximately equal to the outer circumference of the bottom of the largest of the compatible electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C. The width and height of the frame 21B are preferably such that any of the compatible electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C can be stably installed.

[0032] Figure 4 is a bottom view showing an example of an electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C that power supply unit 1 can handle, with (A) being a bottom view of a battery manufactured by company A, (B) being a bottom view of a battery manufactured by company B, and (C) being a bottom view of a battery manufactured by company C.

[0033] As can be seen from Figure 4, the shapes of the bottoms 2AA and 2BA of electric assist bicycle batteries 2A and 2B are almost similar, while the shape of the bottom 2CA of electric assist bicycle battery 2C is different. A recess 2CC is formed in the bottom 2CA of electric assist bicycle battery 2C.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4(A), the bottom 2AA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A has a first insertion port 2AB1, a second insertion port 2AB2, a third insertion port 2AB3, a fourth insertion port 2AB4, and a fifth insertion port 2AB5 into which input and output terminals for supplying power to the electric assist bicycle and power supply unit 1, or for charging by a charger, are inserted.

[0035] Similarly, the bottom 2BA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2B has first to fifth insertion slots 2BB1 to 2BB5 formed therein, as shown in Figure 4(B). Also, the bottom 2CA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C has first to fifth insertion slots 2CB1 to 2CB5 formed therein, as shown in Figure 4(C).

[0036] Power supply unit 1 has an output DC voltage of 23.5 to 29.9V and is compatible with electric assist bicycle batteries with a capacity of 2.9 to 16.0Ah (2A to 2C).

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, drain holes 21BA are formed on the rear side of the frame 21B to quickly drain rainwater and other liquids that have entered the upper surface area 31C surrounded by the frame 21B. The number, shape, and dimensions of the drain holes 21BA are not particularly limited, as long as they do not interfere with the installation of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C.

[0038] The upper surface region 31C has through holes 32, 33, and 34 from which input terminals 41, 42, and 43, which are inserted into the first insertion ports 2AB1, 2BB1, and 2CB1, the fourth insertion ports 2AB4, 2BB4, and 2CB4, and the fifth insertion ports 2AB5, 2BB5, and 2CB5, respectively, for electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C, protrude. The input terminals 41, 42, and 43 are attached to a circuit board (not shown) and constitute the battery connection section 71 shown in Figure 5.

[0039] Furthermore, a through-hole 35 is formed in the upper surface region 31C through which a push button 44A, which constitutes a switch 44 pressed by the bottom 2AA or 2BA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B, protrudes.

[0040] The amount of protrusion of the push button 44A from the upper surface area 31C is less than the depth of the recess 2CC formed in the bottom 2CA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C. In other words, the push button 44A is pressed when the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B is installed, but not when the electric assist bicycle battery 2C is installed. The switch 44 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown) and constitutes the battery connection part 71 shown in Figure 5.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower case 22 is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the front. Circuit boards and components are mounted on the top surface of the lower case 22, although these are not shown. The lower case 22 has a front panel 23 attached near the front end 22A and a rear panel 24 attached near the rear end 22B.

[0042] The front panel 23 is equipped with a main switch 51, a power outlet (connector) 52, a segment display 54, a green LED (Light Emitting Diode) 55, a yellow LED 56, a red LED 57, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection ports 58-60.

[0043] The main switch 51 is turned on to activate the DC-AC conversion module 73, which will be described later, when an electrical device is connected to the outlet 52 and used. As shown in Figure 5, the outlet 52 is a connector for supplying 100V AC power to electrical devices. To the left of the main switch 51 and the outlet 52, a vent 53 is formed to allow outside air to enter the inside of the housing 11.

[0044] The segment display 54 consists of two sets of three-digit seven-segment displays arranged side by side. The left three-digit seven-segment display displays the voltage of the electric assist bicycle battery (2A~2C) when the main switch 51 is off, and displays the AC voltage when the main switch 51 is on and an electrical device is connected to the outlet 52.

[0045] Meanwhile, the 7-segment display on the right displays the power consumption of an electrical device when the main switch 51 is turned on and an electrical device is connected to the outlet 52.

[0046] The green LED 55, yellow LED 56, and red LED 57 light up or flash when the main switch 51 is turned on and an electrical device is connected to the outlet 52. Specifically, the green LED 55 lights up when the AC load is 250W or less, the yellow LED 56 flashes when the AC load is between 250W and 500W, and the red LED 57 lights up when the AC load is 500W or more.

[0047] USB connectors 58-60 are connectors for supplying 5V, 9V, 15V, or 20V DC power to electrical devices. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, USB connectors 58 and 59 are USB Type-A connectors and supply 5V DC power to electrical devices. On the other hand, USB connector 60 is a USB Type-C connector and supplies 5V, 9V, 15V, or 20V DC power to electrical devices.

[0048] As shown in Figure 2, the rear panel 24 is equipped with a fan 61 for cooling the circuit board and components inside the enclosure 11, and a fuse 62 for protecting the circuit board and components inside the enclosure 11.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, legs 63 are attached near the four corners of the lower surface 22C of the lower case 22 to ensure that the power supply unit 1 is stably placed on the floor or ground, and to protect the power supply unit 1 from external disturbances such as shocks.

[0050] [Electrical configuration of power supply unit 1] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the power supply unit 1. The power supply unit 1 is generally composed of a battery connection section 71, a DC-DC conversion module 72, a DC-AC conversion module 73, and a display module 74.

[0051] The battery connection section 71 consists of input terminals 41 to 43, a switch 44, a relay 45, and a capacitor 46.

[0052] Input terminals 41 to 43 are connected to input / output terminals T1, T4, and T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A to 2C, which is held in the frame 21B, respectively.

[0053] One end of the switch 44 is connected to the input terminal 41, and the other end is connected to one end of the relay coil 45A that constitutes the relay 45.

[0054] Switch 44 is always in a closed state (on). Switch 44 is turned off when either the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B is held in the frame 21B, and the push button 44A is pressed on the bottom 2AA or 2BA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B.

[0055] On the other hand, when the electric assist bicycle battery 2C is held in the frame 21B, a recess 2CC is provided in the bottom 2CA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C, so the push button 44A of the switch 44 is not pressed, and the switch 44 remains in a closed state (on).

[0056] Relay 45 consists of a relay coil 45A and a relay contact 45B. The other end of relay coil 45A is connected to input terminal 42 and to one end of relay contact 45B. The other end of relay contact 45B is connected to input terminal 43 and is grounded.

[0057] When the electric assist bicycle battery 2C is held in the frame 21B, the switch 44 is in a closed state (on), so the relay coil 45A is energized and the relay contact 45B is closed (on). As a result, the input / output terminals T4 and T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C are connected (loop connected). Therefore, after the electric assist bicycle battery 2C checks the loop connection internally, it outputs DC power from between the input / output terminals T1 and T5.

[0058] Capacitor 46 is connected across the relay coil 45A that constitutes the relay 45, and eliminates the effects of surge voltage generated in the relay coil 45A.

[0059] The DC-DC conversion module 72 consists of a DC-DC conversion circuit 81, a drive circuit 82, a protection circuit 83, a control circuit 84, and a power supply unit 85.

[0060] The DC-DC conversion circuit 81 is composed of MOSFETs and the like, and boosts (transforms) the 23.5-29.9V DC supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A-2C via the battery connection section 71 to 180V DC.

[0061] Normally, when converting a DC voltage to a 100V AC voltage, it is common to boost the voltage to the maximum value of the instantaneous AC voltage, i.e., approximately 141V, which is √2 times the effective value of 100V. However, voltage loss may occur during this conversion process. Therefore, in this embodiment, the DC-DC conversion circuit 81 boosts (transforms) the 23.5~29.9V DC supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C to a 180V DC.

[0062] The drive circuit 82 drives the DC-DC conversion circuit 81. The protection circuit 83 protects the DC-DC conversion circuit 81 by stopping its operation if the DC voltage supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C via the battery connection part 71 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0063] Furthermore, the protection circuit 83 stops the output of 100V AC power from the outlet 52 if the DC voltage supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C falls below 23.5V. In addition, the protection circuit 83 stops the output of 5V, 9V, 15V, or 20V DC power from the USB connection parts 58~60 if the DC voltage supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C falls below 20.5V. This prevents over-discharge of the battery 2A~2C before the protection circuit built into the battery 2A~2C is activated.

[0064] The control circuit 84 samples the output DC voltage and output DC current of the DC-DC conversion circuit 81, controls the DC-DC conversion circuit 81 so that the output DC voltage and output DC current are within predetermined values, and supplies a display signal to the display module 74.

[0065] The power supply unit 85 generates a constant voltage of 3.3V based on the 23.5~29.9V DC voltage supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C via the battery connection section 71, and supplies DC power to the drive circuit 82, protection circuit 83, and control circuit 84. In addition, the power supply unit 85 generates a constant voltage of 5V based on the 23.5~29.9V DC voltage supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C, and supplies DC power to electrical devices via the USB connection sections 58 and 59, as well as generating constant voltages of 5V, 9V, 15V, and 20V and supplying DC power to electrical devices via the USB connection section 60.

[0066] The DC-AC conversion module 73 consists of a drive circuit 91, a DC-AC conversion circuit 92, a protection circuit 93, a control circuit 94, and a power supply unit 95.

[0067] The drive circuit 91 generates a sine wave signal and supplies it to the DC-AC conversion circuit 92. The DC-AC conversion circuit 92 amplifies the sine wave signal supplied from the drive circuit 91 using the 180V DC current supplied from the DC-DC conversion circuit 81, and then converts it to AC with a frequency of 60Hz and a voltage of 100V using pulse width modulation (PWM).

[0068] The protection circuit 93 protects the DC-AC conversion circuit 92 by flashing the yellow LED 56 that constitutes the display module when the output power of the electrical product connected to the outlet 52 exceeds 250W, or by stopping the operation of the DC-AC conversion circuit 92 when the output power exceeds 550W.

[0069] The control circuit 94 samples the output AC voltage and output AC current of the DC-AC conversion circuit 92 and controls the DC-AC conversion circuit 92 to adjust the output AC voltage if the output AC voltage changes from 100V, and to adjust the output AC current if the output AC current changes, while also supplying a display signal to the display module 74.

[0070] The power supply unit 95 generates a constant voltage of 5V based on the 23.5~29.9V DC voltage supplied from the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C via the battery connection section 71, and supplies DC power to the drive circuit 92, protection circuit 93, and control circuit 94.

[0071] The display module 74 consists of a segment display 54, a green LED 55, a yellow LED 56, and a red LED 57.

[0072] Since the display examples for the segment display 54, green LED 55, yellow LED 56, and red LED 57 have already been explained, that explanation will be omitted here.

[0073] [How to use Power Supply Unit 1] (I) When connecting electrical devices to USB connectors 58-60 (1) The user installs one of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C by fitting it into the frame 21B of the upper case 21 of the housing 11 that constitutes the power supply unit 1.

[0074] As a result, the input terminals 41 to 43 constituting the battery connection section 71 are connected to the input / output terminals T1, T4, and T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A to 2C, respectively. Therefore, the control circuit 84 of the DC-DC conversion module 72 supplies a display signal to the display module 74 that corresponds to the voltage value of the installed electric assist bicycle battery 2A to 2C.

[0075] Based on the display signal, the display module 74 displays the voltage value of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C on the left three-digit 7-segment display of the segment display 54, and displays "000" on the right three-digit 7-segment display.

[0076] When either the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B is installed in the frame 21B, the push button 44A is pressed on the bottom 2AA or 2BA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B, causing the switch 44 to be in the open state (off).

[0077] Therefore, the relay 45 is deactivated, and the relay contact 45B is opened (off).

[0078] The input / output terminal T1 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B is connected to a DC-DC conversion module 72, etc., via the input terminal 41 of the battery connection unit 71. On the other hand, the input / output terminal T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A or 2B is grounded via the input terminal 43 of the battery connection unit 71.

[0079] In contrast, when the electric assist bicycle battery 2C is installed in the frame 21B, a recess 2CC is provided in the bottom 2CA of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C, so the push button 44A of the switch 44 is not pressed, and the switch 44 remains in the closed state (on).

[0080] Therefore, in relay 45, power continues to flow to the relay coil 45A, and the relay contact 45B remains closed (on), so the input / output terminals T4 and T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C are connected (loop connected).

[0081] As a result, the electric assist bicycle battery 2C checks the loop connection internally and then outputs DC power between input / output terminal T1 and input / output terminal T5.

[0082] In other words, the input / output terminal T1 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C is connected to the DC-DC conversion module 72, etc., via the input terminal 41 of the battery connection unit 71. On the other hand, the input / output terminals T4 and T5 of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C are grounded via the input terminals 42 and 43 of the battery connection unit 71 and the relay 45.

[0083] (2) The user can charge the battery in an electrical device or operate the electrical device by connecting it to any of the USB connection ports 58 to 60. In this case, the user can turn the power of each electrical device on or off regardless of when it is connected to the USB connection ports 58 to 60.

[0084] (3) When the user wants to stop charging the battery or operating the electrical device, the user should disconnect the electrical device from the USB connection ports 58-60. (4) When the user finishes using the power supply unit 1, the user removes one of the installed electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C from the frame 21B.

[0085] (II) When connecting electrical equipment to outlet 52 (1) The user installs one of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C into the frame 21B of the upper case 21 of the housing 11 that constitutes the power supply unit 1. The subsequent operation is the same as the operation in (A)(1) above, so the explanation is omitted.

[0086] (2) The user turns on the main switch 51 of the power supply unit 1.

[0087] As a result, the control circuit 84 of the DC-DC conversion module 72, which constitutes the power supply unit 1, emits an electronic sound, such as a "beep," to indicate that the main switch 51 has been turned on, and also supplies an operating signal to the fan 61 to operate for, for example, about 4 seconds.

[0088] Furthermore, the control circuit 94 of the DC-AC conversion module 73 supplies a display signal to the display module 74 that corresponds to the AC voltage value output from the DC-AC conversion circuit 92.

[0089] Based on the display signal, the display module 74 displays the AC voltage value on the left three-digit 7-segment display and "000" on the right three-digit 7-segment display of the segment display 54. This enables power to be supplied to the electrical equipment from the outlet 52 of the power supply unit 1.

[0090] (3) The user plugs the power plug of the electrical device to be used into outlet 52.

[0091] (4) The user turns on the power switch of the electrical device. As a result, the control circuit 94 supplies the display module 74 with display signals corresponding to the AC voltage value and power consumption value output from the DC-AC conversion circuit 92.

[0092] Based on the display signal, the display module 74 displays the AC voltage value on the left three-digit 7-segment display and the power consumption value on the right three-digit 7-segment display of the segment display 54.

[0093] (5) When the user finishes using the power supply unit 1, the user removes one of the installed electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C from the frame 21B and then turns off the main switch 51.

[0094] Figure 6 shows an example of the output power characteristics of power supply unit 1 when using a 2A electric assist bicycle battery manufactured by Company A and connecting an electrical device to outlet 52. Figure 7 shows an example of the output power characteristics of power supply unit 1 when using a 2C electric assist bicycle battery manufactured by Company C and connecting an electrical device to outlet 52.

[0095] Figures 6 and 7 show the discharge time measured from a fully charged state to a cutoff voltage of 21.0V when the output power is 500W. The battery capacity of the 2A electric assist bicycle battery is 8.7Ah, and the battery capacity of the 2C electric assist bicycle battery is 8.0Ah.

[0096] As can be seen from Figures 6 and 7, the discharge time of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A is 17 minutes and 54 seconds, and the discharge time of the electric assist bicycle battery 2C is 16 minutes and 52 seconds. Therefore, power supply unit 1 is sufficiently easy to use even in emergencies and outdoors.

[0097] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the following effects can be obtained according to this embodiment. (a) When the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C are installed in the frame 21B, the switch 44 remains in a closed state (on) or in an open state (off) depending on the difference in the shape of the bottoms 2AA to 2CA of the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C.

[0098] Therefore, users do not need to switch the battery selection switch as in the past, and they can use power supply unit 1 even if they do not know which manufacturer their electric assist bicycle battery (2A~2C) is from.

[0099] (b) The inclination angle θ of the upper surface 31 on which the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C are installed in the frame 21B is 3° or more and 7° or less. In addition, a drain hole 21BA is formed on the rear side of the frame 21B to quickly drain rainwater and the like that has entered the upper surface area 31C surrounded by the frame 21B.

[0100] Therefore, when the power supply unit 1 is used outdoors, rainwater and other moisture that falls on the upper surface 31 flows down along the slope or is drained out through the drain hole 21BA, making it less likely for moisture to accumulate in the upper surface area 31C, and thus reducing the likelihood of malfunction of the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C or the power supply unit 1 compared to conventional systems.

[0101] 2. Application Examples Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included.

[0102] [First Application Example] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C are mounted vertically on the upper surface 31 of the main body portion 21A that constitutes the upper case 21 of the power supply unit 1, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the configurations shown in (i) to (iii) may also be adopted.

[0103] (i) A configuration in which a 2A-2C battery for electric assist bicycles is mounted horizontally on the side of the power supply unit 1. (ii) By housing a weight inside the power supply unit 1, the center of gravity of the entire power supply unit 1, which is equipped with an electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C, is lowered. (iii) The lower case 22 constituting the power supply unit 1 has holes near the four corners, and the power supply unit 1 can be fixed to the ground by inserting pegs or the like into each hole.

[0104] This configuration prevents the power supply unit 1, which is equipped with an electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C, from tipping over, and minimizes the intrusion of rainwater and other liquids into the frame 21B.

[0105] [Second Application Example] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which electric assist bicycle batteries 2A to 2C are simply attached to the power supply unit 1, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the configurations shown in (iv) to (vii) may also be adopted.

[0106] (iv) Configuration for detecting and notifying when power supply unit 1 tips over. (v) Configuration for detecting and notifying of poor contact between the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C and the power supply unit 1. (vi)A configuration in which power supply to other electrical equipment is stopped based on the detection of a poor contact in (v). (vii) A configuration that enhances the contact between the electric assist bicycle battery 2A~2C and the frame 21B by attaching a rubber material such as silicone resin to the frame 21B.

[0107] With this configuration, even if the power supply unit 1, to which the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A~2C are attached, falls over, the user can immediately notice the fall and take appropriate action, and malfunctions of the power supply unit 1, the electric assist bicycle batteries 2A~2C, and other electrical equipment can be prevented, as well as poor contact and the ingress of rainwater into the frame 21B can be prevented. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0108] 1…Power supply unit, 2A, 2B, 2C…Battery for electric assist bicycle, 2AA, 2BA, 2CA…Bottom, 2AB1, 2BB1, 2CB1…First insertion slot, 2AB2, 2BB2, 2CB2…Second insertion slot, 2AB3, 2BB3, 2CB3…Third insertion slot, 2AB4, 2BB4, 2CB4…Fourth insertion slot, 2AB5, 2BB5, 2CB5…Fifth insertion slot, 2CC…Recess, 1 1...Housing, 21...Upper case, 21A...Main body, 21B...Frame, 21BA...Drain hole, 22...Lower case, 22A,31B...Front end, 22B,31A...Rear end, 22C...Bottom surface, 23...Front panel, 24...Rear panel, 31...Top surface, 31C...Top surface area, 32,33,34,35...Through-holes, 41,42,43...Input terminals, 44...Switch, 44A...Push button, 45...Relay, 45A...Relay coil, 45B...Relay contact, 46...Capacitor, 51...Main switch, 52...Outlet, 53...Ventilation vent, 54...Segment display, 55...Green LED, 56...Yellow LED, 57...Red LED, 58, 59, 60...USB connection, 61...Fan, 62...Fuse, 63...Feet, 71...Battery connection, 72...DC-DC conversion module (voltage transformer), 73...DC-AC conversion module (power conversion unit), 74...Display module, 81...DC-DC conversion circuit, 82, 91...Drive circuit, 83, 93...Protection circuit, 84, 94...Control circuit, 85, 95...Power supply unit, 92...DC-AC conversion circuit, G...Slope, H...Height, L...Distance, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5...Input / output terminals, θ...Incline angle.

Claims

1. A retaining part is provided on one side of the housing to hold the battery for the electric assist bicycle, Multiple input terminals connected to multiple input / output terminals of the electric assist bicycle battery held in the holding part, A switch that is turned on or off depending on the difference in the shape of the bottom of the electric assist bicycle battery held in the holding part, A relay connected to one of the aforementioned plurality of input terminals, which is turned on or off based on the state of the switch, A transformer unit that transforms the DC power of the electric assist bicycle battery input via the plurality of input terminals based on the state of the relay, A power conversion unit that converts the aforementioned DC power into AC power, Equipped with, The inclination angle of the surface of the housing is 3° or more and 7° or less. power supply.

2. In the power supply device according to claim 1, The holding portion consists of a frame into which the bottom portion of the electric assist bicycle battery is fitted. A drain hole for drainage is formed on the side of the frame facing the side with the lower incline. power supply.

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