Vehicle control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254751-B2
Application number	US-201214118156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2012
Priority date	May 17, 2011
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

[Problem] To enable effectively utilizing electrical energy of a vehicle and effectively preventing early deterioration of the second electricity storage unit. [Solution] Provided is a vehicle control device for supplying electricity to an electrical load component of a vehicle. The vehicle control device comprises: a first electricity storage unit ( 3 ) capable of holding electricity over a long period of time; a second electricity storage unit ( 6 ) capable of more rapid charge and discharge than the first electricity storage unit ( 3 ); an ignition switch detection means ( 24 ) for detecting an operational state of an ignition switch of the vehicle; a voltage detection means ( 10 ) for detecting a voltage of the second electricity storage unit ( 6 ); and a discharge means ( 25 ) for, when the ignition switch detection means ( 24 ) detects that a turn-off operation of the ignition switch is performed, and the voltage detection means ( 10 ) detects that the voltage of the second electricity storage unit ( 6 ) is equal to or greater than a preset reference value, discharging electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit ( 6 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle control device for supplying electricity to an electrical load component of a vehicle, comprising:
a first electricity storage unit including a lead battery and capable of holding electricity over a long period of time;
a second electricity storage unit serving as an electricity storage unit for storing electricity generated by an alternator at least during deceleration of the vehicle, the second electricity storage unit comprising a capacitor constructed by series-connecting a plurality of electrical double layer capacitor cells, and capable of being charged and discharged more rapidly than the first electricity storage unit;
an ignition switch detecting device for detecting an operational state of an ignition switch of the vehicle;
a first voltage detecting device for detecting a voltage of the first electricity storage unit;
a second voltage detecting device for detecting a voltage of the second electricity storage unit;
a discharging device for discharging electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit, to a vehicle body of the vehicle;
a connection line connecting the first electricity storage unit and the second electricity storage unit together and having a relay; and
a control unit for controlling the discharging device and the relay,
wherein the control unit is configured to control the discharging device and the relay, in such a manner that, when it is detected that a detection value of the first voltage detecting device is less than a preset standard value and the voltage of the second electricity storage unit detected by the second voltage detecting device is equal to or greater than a preset reference value, at a point of time at which the ignition switch is switched from an ON state to an OFF state, electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit is supplied to and stored in the first electricity storage unit, and, when it is detected that the detection value of the first voltage detecting device is equal to or greater than the preset standard value, and the voltage of the second electricity storage unit detected by the second voltage detecting device is equal to or greater than the preset reference value, at the point of time, electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit is discharged to the vehicle body.

2. The vehicle control system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to, when it is detected that the voltage of the second electricity storage unit detected by the second voltage detecting device becomes less than the preset reference value, stop the discharge of electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit, and the supply of the electricity to the first electricity storage unit.

3. The vehicle control system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to, when it is detected that a detection value of the first voltage detecting device becomes equal to or greater than a preset upper limit reference value, in the course of allowing electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit to be supplied to and stored in the first electricity storage unit, stop the charge of the first electricity storage unit, and start the discharge of electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit.

4. The vehicle control system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the electrical load component comprises a first electrical load component having a relatively small electrical load capacity, and a second electrical load component having a relatively large electrical load capacity.

5. The vehicle control system as defined in claim 4 , wherein
the first electrical load component is at least one selected from the group consisting of a navigation unit, an audio unit, a meter unit, and a vehicle interior illumination unit; and
the second electrical load component is at least one selected from the group consisting of an engine starting starter, a power steering unit, and an ABS/DSC unit.

6. The vehicle control system as defined in claim 5 , which further comprises an automatic stop control device for automatically stopping an engine when a given engine automatic stop condition is satisfied, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to, when the engine is in an automatically stopped state, supply electricity stored in the first electricity storage unit to the second electrical load component, and supply electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit to the first electrical load component.

7. The vehicle control system as defined in claim 5 , which is configured to, in a normal travel state of the vehicle, and when the voltage of the second electricity storage unit detected by the voltage detecting device is equal to or greater than the preset reference value, supply electricity stored in the second electricity storage unit to the first electricity storage unit, the first electrical load component, and the second electrical load component.

Assignees

• Yamashita Takeharu
• Takahashi Masayoshi
• Mazda Motor

Inventors

• Yamashita Takeharu
• Takahashi Masayoshi

Classifications

• B60Y2400/114

  Super-capacities · CPC title

• B60Y2400/3086

  Electric voltages sensors · CPC title

• B60K6/28 Primary

  characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title

• H02J7/34

  Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60Y2400/112

  Batteries · CPC title