Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120062029 | DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A power control unit (PCU) case accommodates an electric circuit of a PCU that includes a first capacitor and is operated by a storage battery. In the electric circuit, a first bus bar is connected to a part in the vicinity of the anode of the first capacitor, and a second bus bar is connected to a part in the vicinity of the cathode of the first capacitor. A discharge mechanism is formed by connecting in series a switch activated by an explosive actuator and a discharging resistor. The discharge mechanism is integrally fixed to the PCU case. When a collision of the vehicle is detected, the discharge mechanism short-circuits the first bus bar and the second bus bar with each other through the activation of the switch. Accordingly, the discharge mechanism is connected in series with the first capacitor, so that the discharging resistor discharges the first capacitor. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063044 | DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A discharge device for a vehicle includes a discharging circuit that connects a second capacitor and a discharging resistor in parallel through activation of a forced connection device. When a collision of the vehicle is detected, the discharge device forcibly stops electricity supply from the storage battery to the electric circuit including the second capacitor, and activates the forced connection device to forcibly discharge the second capacitor. A pair of connecting terminals of the forced connection device are arranged to be pressed against each other with an insulating member disposed therebetween. The forced connection device includes a gas generator for generating combustion gas directed to the insulating member. When an abnormality is detected, the forced connection device short-circuits the connecting terminals with each other through activation of the gas generator. The second capacitor and the discharge device are provided integrally. | 03-15-2012 |
20120293138 | POWER CONTROL UNIT AND CONTROL METHOD FOR POWER CONTROL UNIT - A power control unit is provided with a converter; a filter capacitor that is connected onto one side of converter; a smoothing capacitor that is connected onto the other side of converter; an MG-ECU that is operated to control converter with power supplied from filter capacitor; and a casing that houses these constituent elements therein. In order to electrically discharge filter capacitor and smoothing capacitor, an MG-ECU controls converter in such a manner as to alternately repeat ON/OFF of an npn-type transistor for a lower arm of an IPM and ON/OFF of an npn-type transistor for an upper arm of IPM, and further, to set a time of ON of npn-type transistor for the upper arm longer than that of ON of npn-type transistor for the lower arm. | 11-22-2012 |
20130310215 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a second MG, a PCU, a battery, and an EHC. The PCU is connected to the battery via a positive line and a negative line. The PCU is connected to the first MG via a 3-phase power line. The PCU is connected to the second MG via a 3-phase power line. The EHC has one end connected to a positive branch line branching off from a W-phase power line among the 3-phase power lines between the PCU and first MG. The EHC has the other end connected to a negative branch line branching off from a negative line between the PCU and battery. | 11-21-2013 |
20140095005 | VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD OF VEHICLE - A vehicle uses electric power from a mounted power storage device to drive a motor generator by a PCU to generate traction driving force. The vehicle can execute, as a function to discharge residual electric charge from a capacitor in PCU, MG discharging in which current is applied to the motor generator while preventing generation of torque for discharging, and PCU discharging through the conduction loss of switching elements in the PCU for discharging. In an event of detecting collision of the vehicle, an HV-ECU executes PCU discharging by priority, and executes MG discharging when the voltage of the capacitor is high. | 04-03-2014 |
20140132190 | VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD OF VEHICLE - A vehicle converts DC power from a power storage device into AC power by an inverter to run by driving a three-phase motor generator. A switching unit is provided at a path electrically connecting the motor generator and the inverter. The switching unit includes a relay corresponding to each phase. Each relay is configured to connect a coil of a corresponding phase in the motor generator to a corresponding driving arm in the inverter, or to a connection node of capacitors connected in series between direct current side terminals of the inverter. When short-circuit failure is detected at a switching element of any one of the phases in the inverter, an ECU switches the relay of the corresponding phase in the switching unit to the side of the connection node. | 05-15-2014 |
20140167696 | LOCK DEVICE - A lock device includes an inlet arranged in a vehicle and having an inlet housing into which a charge cable is insertable. A lock mechanism is capable of locking the charge cable to the inlet. The lock device includes a lock mechanism attachment portion arranged in the inlet housing and enabling attachment of the lock mechanism to the inlet housing. | 06-19-2014 |
20150239359 | VEHICLE CHARGING UNIT - A vehicle charging unit includes a lid box inserted into a first hole in the body of a vehicle from outside of the vehicle and attached to the body, and an inlet fixed to the lid box. The lid box includes an attachment portion, a bottom having a second hole formed therein, and a sidewall. The bottom has a stud bolt protruding toward inside of the vehicle in a state in which the lid box is attached to the body. The inlet includes a barrel portion capable of receiving a charge connector from outside of the vehicle and a collar portion positioned around the barrel portion. The barrel portion is inserted into the second hole from inside of the vehicle and the collar portion is fixed with the stud bolt, whereby the inlet is fixed to the lid box. | 08-27-2015 |