Power supply device

Abstract

A power supply device (50) is for a vehicle that comprises a first power supply (24) and a second power supply (80) that supply power to actuator control devices (30, 40) that control onboard actuators. The power supply device comprises: a common supply path (Ls) that supplies power from the first power supply and power from the second power supply to the actuator control devices; and a backup control device (70). An electrical path between the supply path and the first power supply has a switch (26) that opens / closes the electrical path. The backup control device is configured to execute monitoring processing and status reporting processing. The monitoring processing is processing that monitors the voltage at the portion of the electrical path that is between the switch and the supply path. The status reporting processing includes processing that reports the results of the voltage monitoring to the actuator control devices.

Description

Power supply device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power supply device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a power supply device in which electric power from a main battery is supplied to a microcomputer via a main harness, and electric power from a sub-battery can also be supplied to the microcomputer via a sub-harness. The microcomputer determines an abnormality of the main battery based on a detection result of a voltage of the main harness.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a power supply device in which electric power from a main battery and electric power from a sub-battery are supplied to a microcomputer via the same electric path.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-218111Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-002615

[0005] As described in Patent Document 2, when the power supply path for the main battery and the power supply path for the sub-battery are the same, the presence or absence of an abnormality in the main battery cannot be determined only by the microcomputer monitoring the voltage of the path through which the power of the main battery is supplied.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a power supply device is provided. The power supply device is applied to a vehicle including a first power source and a second power source that supply electric power to an actuator control device that controls an in-vehicle actuator. The second power source is a backup power source that supplies electric power to the actuator control device when an abnormality occurs in power supply from the first power source to the actuator control device. The power supply device includes a common supply path that supplies electric power from the first power source and electric power from the second power source to the actuator control device, and a backup control device. A switch for opening and closing the electric path is provided in the electric path between the supply path and the first power source. The backup control device is configured to execute a monitoring process and a status notification process. The monitoring process is a process of monitoring a voltage of a portion of the electric path between the switch and the supply path. The status notification process includes a process of notifying the actuator control device of a monitoring result of the voltage.

[0007] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle steering system according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the steering system shown in Figure 1. This is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the reaction force main microcontroller shown in Figure 2. This is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the auxiliary microcontroller shown in Figure 2. This is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the reaction force main microcontroller shown in Figure 2. This is a time chart showing the effects of the embodiment. This is a time chart showing the effects of the embodiment. This is a time chart showing the operation of a comparative example. This is a time chart showing the operation of a comparative example.

[0008] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The steering device 10 includes a steering wheel 12, a steering shaft 14 that rotates integrally with the steering wheel 12, and a reaction force motor 16. The reaction force motor 16 is configured to apply a reaction force to the steering shaft 14 that opposes the operation of the steering wheel 12.

[0009] The steering system 10 includes a steering motor 20. The steering motor 20 is configured to steer the wheels 22, which act as steering wheels. The reaction force ECU 30 and the steering ECU 40 are control devices that control the steering wheel 12 and the wheels 22, respectively. The reaction force ECU 30 and the steering ECU 40 are configured to be supplied with power from the power supply unit 50.

[0010] "Details of the Power System" Figure 2 shows the configuration of the reaction force ECU 30, steering ECU 40, and power supply unit 50. The battery 24 can supply power via the main power line Lb, and also via the start switch 26 and the start line Lig, which act as switches. The start switch 26 is a switch that enables the vehicle to run. The start switch 26 can be switched from either the ON state or the OFF state to the other by the operation of the vehicle user. If the onboard main engine includes a rotating electric machine, the start switch 26 may be a switch that is linked to the ON / OFF of the system main relay. However, the system main relay is configured to switch between the power conversion circuit that supplies power to the rotating electric machine as the onboard main engine and the DC voltage source.

[0011] The reaction force ECU 30 includes a reaction force main control device 30a and a reaction force sub-control device 30b. The reaction force main control device 30a includes a reaction force main inverter 32a and a reaction force main microcontroller 34a. The reaction force sub-control device 30b includes a reaction force sub-inverter 32b and a reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b. The reaction force main inverter 32a and the reaction force sub-inverter 32b apply an AC voltage to the terminals of the reaction force motor 16 provided by the reaction force actuator. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a operates the reaction force main inverter 32a to control the steering wheel 12, which is the object to be controlled. Note that the reaction force main inverter 32a and the reaction force sub-inverter 32b may be configured to apply an AC voltage to different stator coils of a reaction force motor that shares a rotor.

[0012] The steering ECU 40 includes a steering main control device 40a and a steering sub-control device 40b. The steering main control device 40a includes a steering main inverter 42a and a steering main microcontroller 44a. The steering sub-control device 40b includes a steering sub-inverter 42b and a steering sub-microcontroller 44b. The steering main inverter 42a and the steering sub-inverter 42b apply AC voltage to the terminals of the steering motor 20 provided by the steering actuator. Note that the steering main inverter 42a and the steering sub-inverter 42b may be configured to apply AC voltage to different stator coils of a steering motor that shares a rotor.

[0013] The power supply unit 50 includes a device for controlling the state of the auxiliary power supply 80, which is the object of control. The auxiliary power supply 80 is an energy storage device that stores charge from the battery 24. The auxiliary power supply 80 is, as an example, a lithium-ion capacitor.

[0014] The power supply unit 50 includes a switching element 52 that opens and closes the connection between the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a and the main power line Lb. The power supply unit 50 also includes a switching element 54 that opens and closes the connection between the main power line Lb and the auxiliary power supply 80 via the switching element 52. The power supply unit 50 includes a diode 56 that connects the auxiliary power supply 80 to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a. The diode 56 is a rectifier element whose forward direction is from the positive terminal of the auxiliary power supply 80 to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a. The power supply unit 50 also includes a diode 58 that connects the startup line Lig to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a. The diode 58 is a rectifier element whose forward direction is from the battery 24 to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a.

[0015] The cathodes of diodes 56 and 58 are short-circuited and connected to the supply path Ls. Diode D1, which outputs current to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a, is connected to the supply path Ls. As a result, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a is supplied with power from the battery 24 or the auxiliary power supply 80 via the supply path Ls and diode D1. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a is configured to detect the voltage Vig1 at the anode of diode D1. Diode D4, which outputs current to the steering main microcontroller 44a, is connected to the supply path Ls. As a result, the steering main microcontroller 44a is supplied with power from the battery 24 or the auxiliary power supply 80 via the supply path Ls and diode D4. The steering main microcontroller 44a is configured to detect the voltage Vig3 at the anode of diode D4.

[0016] The reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b is connected to the main power line Lb via diode D2. This allows the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b to receive power from the battery 24 via diode D2. Furthermore, the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b is connected to the startup line Lig via diode D3. This allows the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b to receive power from the battery 24 via diode D3 and the startup switch 26. The reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b is configured to detect the voltage Vig2 in the portion of the startup line Lig between diode D3 and the startup switch 26.

[0017] The reaction force sub-inverter 32b is connected to the main power line Lb. This supplies power from the battery 24 to the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b. The steering sub-microcontroller 44b is connected to the main power line Lb via diode D5. This supplies power from the battery 24 to the steering sub-microcontroller 44b via diode D5. The steering sub-microcontroller 44b is also connected to the startup line Lig via diode D6. This supplies power from the battery 24 to the steering sub-microcontroller 44b via diode D6 and the startup switch 26. The steering sub-microcontroller 44b is configured to detect the voltage Vig4 in the portion of the startup line Lig between diode D6 and the startup switch 26.

[0018] The steering sub-inverter 42b is connected to the main power line Lb. This supplies power to the steering sub-inverter 42b from the battery 24. The power supply unit 50 includes an auxiliary microcontroller 70 as a backup control device. The auxiliary microcontroller 70 includes a PU 72 and a storage device 74. The PU 72 is a software processing unit such as a CPU. The storage device 74 may be an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory or a storage medium such as a disk. The PU 72 performs various processes by executing programs stored in the storage device 74.

[0019] In other words, PU 72 detects the voltage and current of the auxiliary power supply 80 and monitors the state of the auxiliary power supply 80. PU 72 controls the supply of power from the battery 24 to the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a by opening and closing the switching element 52. PU 72 also controls the exchange of power between the auxiliary power supply 80 and the battery 24 by opening and closing the switching element 54. Furthermore, PU 72 controls the supply of power from the auxiliary power supply 80 to the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a by opening and closing the switching element 60, which acts as a second switch.

[0020] "Control of power supply by auxiliary power supply 50" The voltage of the auxiliary power supply 80 is set to be lower than the voltage of the battery 24 under normal conditions. Therefore, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a are normally supplied with a voltage corresponding to the voltage of the anode of diode 58. In other words, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a are normally supplied with power from the battery 24. However, if there is an abnormality in the power supply of the battery 24, the voltage of the anode of diode 58 becomes lower than the voltage of the anode of diode 56. In that case, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a are supplied with a voltage corresponding to the voltage of the anode of diode 56. In other words, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a are supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply 80.

[0021] The auxiliary microcontroller 70's PU 72 monitors the battery voltage Vb via the main power line Lb. When the battery 24 is functioning normally, the PU 72 operates the switching elements 52 and 60 so that switching element 52 is in the closed state and switching element 60 is in the open state. This supplies power from the battery 24 to the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a. On the other hand, if an abnormality occurs in the battery 24, the PU 72 closes the switching element 60. This supplies power from the auxiliary power supply 80 to the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a.

[0022] "Communication System Settings" The reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b can communicate via local line 90. The steering main microcontroller 44a and the steering sub-microcontroller 44b can communicate via local line 92. In addition, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a can communicate via local line 94. The reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b and the steering sub-microcontroller 44b can communicate via local line 96. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the auxiliary microcontroller 70 can communicate via local line 98. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b are each connected to the gateway 104 via bus line 100. In addition, the steering main microcontroller 44a and the steering sub-microcontroller 44b are connected to the gateway 104 via bus line 102.

[0023] With this configuration, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b can communicate with equipment other than the steering system within the vehicle via the bus line 100. In addition, the steering main microcontroller 44a and the steering sub-microcontroller 44b can communicate with equipment other than the steering system within the vehicle via the bus line 102.

[0024] On the other hand, the auxiliary microcontroller 70 is limited to communicating with other electronic devices in the vehicle via the local line 98. "Backup Termination Conditions" If the auxiliary microcontroller 70 has not received permission to terminate the backup from the reaction force main control device 30a, it will perform a backup in the event of a battery 24 malfunction. Figure 3 shows the procedure for sending permission to terminate the backup. The process shown in Figure 3 is repeatedly executed by the reaction force main microcontroller 34a, for example, at a predetermined cycle. In the following, the step number of each process will be represented by a number preceded by "S".

[0025] In the series of processes shown in Figure 3, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines whether the following condition (A) is met (S10). Condition (A) is the condition that an FLG signal has been received via the bus line 100. The FLG signal is a signal indicating that the start switch 26 is in the off state. The FLG signal is generated by electronic equipment other than the steering system in the vehicle.

[0026] If the reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines that it has received the FLG signal (S10: YES), it determines whether the following condition (B) has been met (S12). Condition (B) is the condition that the steering main microcontroller 44a has received the FLG signal. The process in S12 is to determine whether the reaction force main microcontroller 34a has received notification via the local line 94 that the steering main microcontroller 44a has received the FLG signal.

[0027] If the reaction force main microcontroller 34a receives notification (S12: YES), it receives voltages Vig2 and Vig4 (S14). Specifically, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a receives voltage Vig2 detected by the reaction force sub-microcontroller 34b via the local line 90. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a also receives voltage Vig4 detected by the steering sub-microcontroller 44b, which is transmitted by the steering main microcontroller 44a via the local line 94.

[0028] The reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines whether the logical AND of the following conditions (C) and (D) is true (S16). Condition (C) is the condition that the voltage Vig2 is less than or equal to the threshold Vth. The threshold Vth is set to the upper limit of the voltage in the event of an abnormality in the power supply by the battery 24.

[0029] Condition (D) is that the voltage Vig4 is less than or equal to the threshold Vth. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines that the start switch is off if the logical AND of condition (C) and condition (D) is true (S16: YES). The reaction force main microcontroller 34a then sends a backup termination permission to the auxiliary microcontroller 70 via the local line 98 (S20).

[0030] The reaction force main microcontroller 34a terminates the series of processes shown in Figure 3 when it completes the process in S20, or when it makes a negative determination in the processes of S10, S12, and S16. Incidentally, the processes in S10 to S18 correspond to the open state determination process, which determines that the start switch 26 is in the open state. The process in S20 corresponds to the termination notification process, which notifies the user if the open state determination process determines that the switch is in the open state.

[0031] "Notification of backup status" The PU 72 of the auxiliary microcontroller 70 sequentially determines the power supply status of the auxiliary power supply 80 and notifies the reaction force main microcontroller 34a.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the procedure for processing this notification. The process shown in Figure 4 is achieved by the PU 72 repeatedly executing a program stored in the storage device 74, for example, at a predetermined period.

[0033] In the series of processes shown in Figure 4, the PU 72 first acquires the voltage Vb of the battery 24 (S30). The PU 72 determines whether the voltage Vb is less than or equal to the threshold Vth (S32). The process in S32 corresponds to the second monitoring process. If the PU 72 determines that the voltage Vb is less than or equal to the threshold Vth (S32: YES), it assigns "1" to the backup flag Fb (S34). Then, the PU 72 closes the switching element 60 (S36). As a result, power from the auxiliary power supply 80 is supplied to the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a. The process in S36 corresponds to the backup process.

[0034] On the other hand, if PU72 determines that the voltage Vb is greater than the threshold Vth (S32: NO), it assigns "0" to the backup flag Fb (S38). When PU72 completes the processes in S36 and S38, it determines whether or not it has received permission to terminate the backup (S40). If PU72 has received permission to terminate the backup (S40: YES), it executes a process to turn off the auxiliary microcontroller 70 (S42).

[0035] On the other hand, if PU72 has not received permission to terminate backup (S40: NO), it determines whether the voltage Vig of the portion of the startup line Lig between the startup switch 26 and the supply path Ls is lower than the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80 (S44). The process in S44 corresponds to a monitoring process that monitors the voltage of the portion of the startup line Lig between the startup switch 26 and the supply path Ls. If PU72 determines that it is lower than the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80 (S44: YES), it increments the counter T (S46). On the other hand, if PU72 determines that the voltage Vig is greater than or equal to the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80 (S44: NO), it initializes the counter T (S48).

[0036] When PU72 completes the processes in S46 and S48, it determines whether the counter T is greater than or equal to the threshold Tth (S50). The threshold Tth is set to a time longer than the time expected to be required from when the start switch 26 is turned off until permission to end the backup is received.

[0037] If PU72 determines that the threshold Tth is greater than or equal to (S50: YES), it assigns "1" to the IG supply flag Fig (S52). On the other hand, if PU72 determines that the threshold Tth is less than or equal to (S50: NO), it assigns "0" to the IG supply flag Fig (S54). The IG supply flag Fig indicates the result of monitoring the voltage Vig of the supply path Ls by PU72.

[0038] When PU72 completes the processes in S52 and S54, it sends the backup flag Fb and the IG supply flag Fig to the reaction force main control device 30a (S56). The process in S54 corresponds to the status notification process, which notifies the monitoring result of the voltage Vig1.

[0039] Furthermore, when PU72 completes the processes in S42 and S56, it temporarily terminates the series of processes shown in Figure 4. "Processing during backup" The reaction force main microcontroller 34a executes processing in response to the backup status notification from PU72 of the auxiliary microcontroller 70.

[0040] Figure 5 shows the procedure for this process. In the series of processes shown in Figure 5, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a first receives the backup flag Fb and the IG supply flag Fig (S60). The reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines whether the backup flag Fb is "1" or not (S62). If the PU 62 determines that the backup flag Fb is "1" (S62: YES), it executes the current limiting process (S64). That is, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a drives the reaction force main inverter 32a while limiting the current of the reaction force main inverter 32a. The reaction force main microcontroller 34a also instructs the steering main microcontroller 44a to perform the current limiting process. As a result, the steering main microcontroller 44a operates the steering main inverter 42a while limiting the current of the steering main inverter 42a.

[0041] The reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines whether the IG supply flag Fig is "1" when it completes the process in S64 or when it makes a negative determination in the process in S62 (S68). If the reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines that the IG supply flag Fig is "1" (S68: YES), it lights up the warning lamp 110 shown in Figure 1 (S70).

[0042] Furthermore, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a terminates the series of processes shown in Figure 5 when it completes the process in S70 or when it makes a negative determination in the process in S68. <Operation and Effects of this Embodiment> Figure 6 shows the process when an abnormality occurs in the power supply by the battery 24. As shown in Figure 6, an abnormality occurs in the power supply by the battery 24 after time t1, and the voltages Vb and Vig become zero. However, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a cannot detect the abnormality in the power supply by the battery 24 based on the voltage Vig1.

[0043] Therefore, PU72 assigns "1" to the backup flag Fb and transmits that value to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a. As a result, the reaction force main microcontroller 34a and the steering main microcontroller 44a operate the reaction force main inverter 32a and the steering main inverter 42a while limiting the current.

[0044] Even if the voltage Vig becomes lower than the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80, the PU 72 waits for a specified time corresponding to the threshold Tth before setting the IG supply flag Fig to "1" and transmitting it to the reaction force main microcomputer 34a. Then, when the specified time elapses, the PU 72 sets the IG supply flag Fig to "1" and transmits it to the reaction force main microcomputer 34a. Thereby, the reaction force main microcomputer 34a turns on the warning lamp 110.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows processing when the start switch is switched to an off state. As shown in FIG. 7, when the start switch is switched to the off state at time t1, the voltage Vig becomes lower than the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80. However, the PU 72 does not immediately set the IG supply flag Fig to "1", and waits only for the specified time corresponding to the threshold Tth. At time t2 before the specified time elapses, a backup end permission is notified from the reaction force main microcomputer 34a. Therefore, the PU 72 executes processing for stopping the auxiliary microcomputer 70.

[0046] FIGS. 8 and 9 exemplify processing of a comparative example of the present embodiment. This comparative example does not execute processing of temporarily waiting for setting the IG supply flag Fig to "1" after the voltage Vig becomes lower than the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows processing when an abnormality occurs in power supply by the battery 24. As shown in FIG. 8, when an abnormality occurs in power supply by the battery 24 after time t1 and the voltages Vb and Vig become zero, the PU 72 assigns "1" to the backup flag Fb and transmits the value to the reaction force main microcomputer 34a.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows processing when the start switch is switched to an off state. As shown in FIG. 9, when the start switch is switched to the off state at time t1, the voltage Vig becomes lower than the voltage Va of the auxiliary power supply 80, so the PU 72 assigns "1" to the IG supply flag Fig and transmits it to the reaction force main microcomputer 34a. As a result, there is a possibility that the reaction force main microcomputer 34a turns on the warning lamp 110 unintentionally.

[0049] <Other Embodiments> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0050] "Regarding the Open State Determination Process" - It is not mandatory for the open state determination process to determine that the start switch is in the off state when the logical AND of conditions (A) to (D) is true. For example, the open state determination process may determine that the start switch is in the off state when only one of the four conditions (A) to (D) is true. Alternatively, the open state determination process may determine that the start switch is in the off state when only two of the four conditions are true. Alternatively, the open state determination process may determine that the start switch is in the off state when only three of the four conditions are true.

[0051] "Regarding status notification processing" In the above embodiment, when PU 72 receives a termination permission notification, it is not limited to sending the IG supply flag Fig set to "1" to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a. For example, PU 72 may send the IG supply flag Fig set to "1" to the reaction force main microcontroller 34a after a specified time has elapsed. However, in that case, if the reaction force main microcontroller 34a has determined that the start switch 26 is in the open state, it will not perform the process of lighting the warning lamp 110 based on the IG supply flag Fig set to "1".

[0052] - It is not mandatory for PU72 to wait for a specified time before immediately transmitting the IG supply flag Fig, which is set to "1", when the voltage Vig falls below the voltage Va. If the IG supply flag Fig, which is set to "1", is transmitted immediately when the voltage Vig falls below the voltage Va, then the reaction force main microcontroller 34a can be configured as follows: That is, after receiving the IG supply flag Fig, which is set to "1", the reaction force main microcontroller 34a should be configured to wait for a predetermined time before executing the process of lighting the warning lamp 110. If the reaction force main microcontroller 34a determines that the start switch 26 is in the closed state within the predetermined time, it should not light up the warning lamp 110.

[0053] "Regarding the target of backup status notification" - It is not mandatory that the target of backup status notification by the auxiliary microcontroller 70 is the reaction force main microcontroller 34a. The target of backup status notification by the auxiliary microcontroller 70 may be, for example, the steering main microcontroller 44a. In that case, the local line 98 is configured to connect the auxiliary microcontroller 70 and the steering main microcontroller 44a. Alternatively, for example, the target of notification for the backup flag Fb may be the steering main microcontroller 44a, and the target of notification for the IG supply flag Fig may be the reaction force main microcontroller 34a. In that case, a local line is added to connect the auxiliary microcontroller 70 and the steering main microcontroller 44a.

[0054] "Regarding Actuator Control Devices" - The actuator control devices supplied with power from both the battery 24 as the first power source and the auxiliary power source 80 as the second power source are not limited to the reaction force main control device 30a and the steering main control device 40a. For example, the actuator control devices may be the reaction force main control device 30a, the steering main control device 40a, the reaction force sub-control device 30b, and the steering sub-control device 40b. In other words, the common supply path that supplies power from the first power source and the second power source to the actuator control devices is not limited to the path illustrated in Figure 2. The supply path may be a path connected to the reaction force main control device 30a, the steering main control device 40a, the reaction force sub-control device 30b, and the steering sub-control device 40b.

[0055] - It is not essential that the actuator control device includes a control device that controls an actuator equipped with a reaction force motor 16 and a control device that controls an actuator equipped with a steering motor 20. For example, the actuator control device may be a control device that controls an actuator that assists steering in a steering system in which a steering wheel 12 and a wheel 22 as a steering wheel are mechanically connected.

[0056] - It is not mandatory for the actuator control device to have an inverter. "Regarding the second power supply" - It is not mandatory for the second power supply to be a lithium-ion capacitor. For example, the second power supply may be a lithium-ion secondary battery.

[0057] "Regarding Backup Control Devices" - Backup control devices are not limited to those that perform various processes using a PU. For example, a backup control device may include a dedicated hardware circuit, such as an ASIC, that performs at least a part of the processes performed in the above embodiment. That is, a backup control device may include any of the following processing circuits (a) to (c): (a) A processing circuit comprising a processing device that performs all of the above processes according to a program, and a program storage device such as a memory device that stores the program. (b) A processing circuit comprising a processing device and a program storage device that perform a part of the above processes according to a program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that performs the remaining processes. (c) A processing circuit comprising a dedicated hardware circuit that performs all of the above processes. Here, there may be multiple software execution devices comprising a processing device and a program storage device, or multiple dedicated hardware circuits.

Claims

1. A power supply device applicable to a vehicle equipped with a first power supply and a second power supply that supply power to an actuator control device that controls an on-board actuator, wherein the second power supply is a backup power supply that supplies power to the actuator control device when there is an abnormality in the power supply to the actuator control device by the first power supply, and comprises a common supply path that supplies power from the first power supply and the second power supply to the actuator control device, and a backup control device, wherein a switch is provided in the electrical path between the supply path and the first power supply to open and close the electrical path, the backup control device is configured to perform monitoring processing and status notification processing, the monitoring processing is a process of monitoring the voltage of the portion of the electrical path between the switch and the supply path, and the status notification processing includes a process of notifying the actuator control device of the voltage monitoring result.

2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator control device is configured to perform an open state determination process, the open state determination process is a process that, when the switch is switched to an open state, determines that the switch is in an open state based on a signal from a device other than the backup control device within a predetermined time after the switch is switched, and the backup control device does not notify the actuator control device that the voltage has dropped until a specified time longer than the predetermined time has elapsed since the monitored voltage dropped.

3. The power supply device according to claim 2, wherein the actuator control device is configured to perform termination notification processing, the termination notification processing is a process of notifying the backup control device that it is in the open state when it is determined by the open state determination processing, and the backup control device does not notify the actuator control device that the voltage has dropped when the termination notification processing is performed.

4. The power supply device according to claim 3, wherein the backup control device notifies the actuator control device that the voltage has dropped if the termination notification process is not performed during the period from when the monitored voltage drops until the specified time has elapsed.

5. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the supply path is connected to the cathode of a diode whose forward direction is from the first power supply to the supply path, and to the cathode of a diode whose forward direction is from the second power supply to the supply path.

6. The power supply device according to claim 2, wherein the switch is a first switch, the monitoring process is a first monitoring process, the on-board actuator is supplied with power from the first power supply via a bypass route that bypasses the first switch, the backup control device comprises a second switch that opens and closes the connection between the second power supply and the on-board actuator, the backup control device is configured to perform a second monitoring process and a backup process, the second monitoring process is a process of monitoring the voltage of the bypass route, the backup process is a process of switching the second switch to a closed state when the voltage of the bypass route decreases, and the status notification process includes a process of notifying that the voltage has decreased before the specified time has elapsed since the voltage decreased.

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