Relay device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10998713-B2
Application number	US-201716092635-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a relay device that can switch conduction of a current flow path between power storage units on and off, and can suppress a decrease in the output of the power storage units if an abnormality occurs. A relay device includes: a conductive path between a first power storage unit and a second power storage unit, the conductive path serving as a path through which a current flows; a switch unit that is switched between an ON state in which a current can flow through the conductive path, and an OFF state in which the conductive path is in a predetermined no current flow state; a coil that is connected in series to MOSFETs constituting the switch unit, and has an inductance component; and a control unit configured to switch off the switch unit if a value detected by a current detection unit is a predetermined abnormal value.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A relay device comprising:
a conductive path between a first power storage unit and a second power storage unit, the conductive path serving as a path through which a current flows;
a switch unit that is connected to the conductive path, and is configured to be switched between an ON state in which the current can flow through the conductive path, and an OFF state in which the conductive path is in a predetermined no current flow state;
an inductance unit that is connected in series to the switch unit, and has an inductance component;
a detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the conductive path;
a control unit configured to switch off the switch unit at least when a value detected by the detection unit is a predetermined abnormal value; and
a protective circuit unit configured to suppress a back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off, the protective circuit unit having a first circuit unit and a second circuit unit, each end of the first circuit unit and second circuit unit are connected to each other in parallel, wherein the inductance unit is interposed between the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit, wherein the protective circuit unit is configured to reflux the back electromotive force to from the inductance unit into one of either the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch unit includes: a first semiconductor switch provided with a first element unit that is switched between an ON state and an OFF state, and a first diode unit connected in parallel to the first element unit; and a second semiconductor switch provided with a second element unit that is switched between an ON state and an OFF state, and a second diode unit that is connected in parallel to the second element unit and is arranged inversely with respect to the first diode unit.

3. The relay device according to claim 2 , wherein the inductance unit is connected between the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch, the inductance unit being connected in series to the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch.

4. The relay device according to claim 3 , wherein the protective circuit unit is configured to suppress the back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off in a state in which the current is flowing through the conductive path in a first direction from any one of the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit to the other one, and to suppress the back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off in a state in which the current is flowing through the conductive path in a second direction, which is a reverse direction of the first direction.

5. The relay device according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of series configuration units, in each of which the switch unit and the inductance unit are connected in series to each other, are connected in parallel to each other between the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit.

6. The relay device according to claim 2 , wherein the protective circuit unit is configured to suppress the back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off in a state in which the current is flowing through the conductive path in a first direction from any one of the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit to the other one, and to suppress the back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off in a state in which the current is flowing through the conductive path in a second direction, which is a reverse direction of the first direction.

7. The relay device according to claim 2 , wherein a plurality of series configuration units, in each of which the switch unit and the inductance unit are connected in series to each other, are connected in parallel to each other between the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit.

8. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the protective circuit unit is configured to suppress the back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off in a state in which the current is flowing through the conductive path in a first direction from any one of the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit to the other one, and to suppress the back electromotive force that is generated in the inductance unit when the switch unit is switched off in a state in which the current is flowing through the conductive path in a second direction, which is a reverse direction of the first direction.

9. The relay device according to claim 8 , wherein a plurality of series configuration units, in each of which the switch unit and the inductance unit are connected in series to each other, are connected in parallel to each other between the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit.

10. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of series configuration units, in each of which the switch unit and the inductance unit are connected in series to each other, are connected in parallel to each other between the first power storage unit and the second power storage unit.

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Yasunori Hiromichi
• Maekawa Kosei

Classifications

• H02J2105/33

  exchanging power with road vehicles · CPC title

• H02H3/16

  responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass (with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 {; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105}) · CPC title

• H02H9/02

  responsive to excess current {(current limitation for voltage regulators G05F1/573; disconnection after limiting H02H3/025)} · CPC title

• B60L3/04

  Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions (protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H) · CPC title

• B60L3/0046 Primary

  relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title