Plug-in vehicle with secondary DC-DC converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9969276-B2
Application number	US-201314049717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2013
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery, a charger, and two DC-DC converters. A first DC-DC converter is connected between the traction battery and the auxiliary battery through a main contactor. A second DC-DC converter is connected between the charger and the auxiliary battery. The charger is configured to charge the auxiliary battery via the second DC-DC converter when the charger is receiving power. The second DC-DC converter is configured to charge the auxiliary battery when the first DC-DC converter is disconnected from the traction battery. The second DC-DC converter can charge the auxiliary battery independent of the charger charging the traction battery. The second DC-DC converter may be configured to generally maximize power conversion efficiency in a range of power outputs associated with charging the auxiliary battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a traction battery;
an auxiliary battery;
one or more electrical loads connected to the auxiliary battery;
a charger;
a first DC-DC converter electrically connected with the auxiliary battery and configured to be selectively electrically connected with the traction battery; and
a second DC-DC converter electrically connected between the auxiliary battery and the charger, wherein the charger is configured to charge the auxiliary battery via the second DC-DC converter for a predetermined time before enabling power to the electrical loads when the charger is receiving power and the first DC-DC converter is disconnected from the traction battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the charger is further configured to be selectively electrically connected with the traction battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the charger is further configured to charge the auxiliary battery via the second DC-DC converter when the charger is disconnected from the traction battery.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the charger is further configured to provide power to the first DC-DC converter when the charger is connected to the traction battery and the first DC-DC converter is connected to the traction battery.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the charger is further configured to adjust a voltage output level of the second DC-DC converter.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second DC-DC converter is configured to generally maximize power conversion efficiency in a range of power outputs associated with charging the auxiliary battery.

7. A method of charging an auxiliary battery comprising:
in response to electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) being connected to a vehicle charge port to provide power to an on-board charger and a first DC-DC converter being disconnected from a traction battery, charging the auxiliary battery via a second DC-DC converter electrically connected between the auxiliary battery and the on-board charger for a predetermined time before activating electrical loads connected to the auxiliary battery.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein operating the second DC-DC converter includes adjusting a voltage output level of the second DC-DC converter.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising operating the first DC-DC converter to charge the auxiliary battery when the first DC-DC converter is switchably connected to the traction battery.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising operating the second DC-DC converter to charge the auxiliary battery when the on-board charger is not switchably connected to the traction battery.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dedona Matthew Roger
• Rutyna Arthur M
• Ferrel Mark J
• Wu Bo
• Heremans Hilde Anne
• Bell Christopher W

Classifications

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• B60L2240/80

  Time limits · CPC title

• B60L50/16

  with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion · CPC title

• B60L53/16 Primary

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L1/00 Primary

  Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00) · CPC title