JP2005312234A - Electric power supply device and electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric power supply device that can continue the drive of an electric motor even if a drive circuit breaks down, and to provide an electric vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The electric power supply device comprises: an inverter 100 that is constituted of an electric parallel circuit composed of the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103; a first switch element 104 that is connected between a power supply terminal A that receives power from a high-voltage power supply 112 and a power supply terminal P1 of the inverter 100; a second switch element 105 that is connected between the power supply terminal A and a power supply terminal P2 of the inverter 100; and an inverter control circuit 101 that controls electrical operations of the first drive circuit 102, the second drive circuit 103, the first switch element 104 and the second switch element 105. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric power source device that drives drive wheels and the like of an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle.

  The electric motor connected to each of the four wheels of the electric vehicle is driven and controlled by the drive circuit of the inverter device.

JP-A-11-187506

  The electric motor connected to each of the four wheels of the electric vehicle is driven and controlled by the drive circuit. When a failure occurs in the drive circuit that drives one of the four wheels, this failure is dealt with. Since the driving force of the driving wheels disappears and the balance of the vehicle running with the driving force of four wheels is lost, the driving force of the remaining three wheels is re-controlled after the failure. In the period from the failure of the driving device to the re-control of the three-wheel driving force, there has been a problem that a state in which the driving force is not balanced as a vehicle occurs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electric power source apparatus and an electric vehicle that can continue to drive an electric motor even if a drive circuit fails.

  An electric motor, and a drive circuit for driving the electric motor, the drive circuit including a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit which are electrically parallel circuits, and an input terminal of the power source and a first drive circuit A first switch element connected between the first power supply terminal and a second switch element connected between the input terminal of the power supply and the second power supply terminal of the drive circuit, A drive circuit, a second drive circuit, and a control circuit for controlling the electrical operation of the first switch element and the second switch element, and the electric motor has a double winding insulated from each other in each phase; And one end of the winding is connected to the output of the first drive circuit, the other end of the winding is connected to the output of the second drive circuit, and the control circuit is connected to the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit. Detects a failure that has occurred and is connected to the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit where the failure has occurred. Together occupy become the first switching element or the second off the switching elements are, allowed to drive the electric motor in the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit in which a fault is not occurring.

  Even if the drive circuit breaks down, the drive of the electric motor can be continued.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof is omitted.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration when an electric vehicle is driven using the electric power source of the first embodiment. The configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. To do.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an electric power source (electric power source device) 120 is used for an electric vehicle that controls traveling by using each drive wheel 110, and a three-phase AC electric motor is used as the electric motor 106. Although the case is shown, the case where it has this electric power source 120 and a motor | power_engine (not shown) is also demonstrated. In addition, the vehicle control circuit 111 receives failure information from the inverter control circuit 101 of the failed electric power source 120 and controls the plurality of electric power sources 120, or the driving power distribution between the electric power source 120 and the prime mover. A command is issued to the inverter control circuit 101 of the driving power source 120 or the inverter control circuit 101 and the prime mover. The electric power source 120 is supplied with power from the high voltage power source 112.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric power source 120. The electric power source 120 includes an inverter (drive circuit) 100 configured by an electric parallel circuit including a first drive circuit 102 and a second drive circuit 103, and a power supply terminal (power supply) that receives power from the high-voltage power supply 112. Input terminal) A and the power switch terminal (first power supply terminal) P1 of the inverter 100, the first switch element 104, the power supply terminal A and the power supply terminal of the inverter 100 (second power supply terminal). The second switch element 105 connected between P2, the first drive circuit 102, the second drive circuit 103, the first switch element 104, and the second switch element 105 are electrically operated. It has an inverter control circuit (control circuit) 101 to be controlled, and further has an electric motor 106 driven by the inverter 100. Here, each of the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103 forms a drive circuit of a three-phase inverter as an example of the drive circuit, and includes power supply terminals P, N and three-phase output terminals U, V, W, each output terminal U, V, W is an output terminal U1, V1, W1 (output of the first drive circuit) and U2, V2, W2 (output of the second drive circuit) of the inverter 100 ) Is connected to each.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the electric motor 106 has a double winding (L _U1 , L _U2 , L _V1 , L _V2 , L _W1 , L _W2 ) that is insulated from each other as a three-phase AC motor. One winding is connected to the output terminals U1, V1, and W1 of the inverter 100, and the other winding is connected to the output terminals U2, V2, and W2 of the inverter 100. Note that the semiconductor elements constituting the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103 may be controlled by the same predrive circuit (not shown).

  The inverter control circuit 101 detects a failure that has occurred in the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 and is connected to the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which the failure has occurred. The first switch element 104 or the second switch element 105 is turned off, and control is performed so that the electric motor 106 is driven by the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which no failure has occurred. Further, the vehicle control circuit 111 is notified from the terminal D that a failure has occurred, and a control signal from the vehicle control circuit 111 is received from the terminal C.

  The vehicle control circuit 111 receives failure information from the inverter control circuit 101 of the failed electric power source 120 and controls each of the plurality of electric power sources 120 or the driving power distribution of the electric power source 120 and the prime mover to control the driving force distribution. A command is issued to the inverter control circuit 101 of the power source 120 or the inverter control circuit 101 and the prime mover.

  Further, the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111 may turn off the first switch element 104 and the second switch element 105 after re-controlling the driving power of the electric power source or the prime mover in which no failure has occurred. It has a control function.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  First, when there is no failure such as destruction or short circuit of the inverter 100 or the power cable or connector connected to the inverter 100, both the first switch 104 and the second switch 105 are turned on. The electric motor 106 is driven in a predetermined manner using both the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103.

  When a failure occurs in the inverter 100 due to an electrical short circuit for some reason, for example, destruction due to a defect of a semiconductor element, water immersion inside the device, power supply cable or connector covering destruction or water short circuit, etc. The control circuit 101 detects a failure that has occurred in the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103. It is easy to incorporate an abnormality detection means such as an overcurrent detection circuit in the inverter control circuit 101, the first drive circuit 102, and the second drive circuit 103.

  If the inverter control circuit 101 detects a failure, the first switch element 104 or the second switch element 105 connected to the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which the failure has occurred promptly. The driving of the electric motor 106 is continued in the first driving circuit 102 or the second driving circuit 103 in which no failure has occurred.

  Then, the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111 promptly sets the driving force of the electric power source 120 or the prime mover so that the vehicle can continue to travel with the driving force of the electric power source 120 or the prime mover in which no electrical failure has occurred. Calculate and re-control. Then, both the first switch element 104 and the second switch element 105 of the electric power source 120 in which the electrical failure has occurred are turned off, and the operation of the electric power source 120 in which the failure has occurred is stopped.

  As a result, even if a failure such as a short circuit breakage occurs in the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103, the electric motor 106 connected to the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103 is driven. The operation can be continued in the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which no failure has occurred. That is, if it is a short time for performing re-control to be described later, for example, about 1 second, only one of the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103 reveals a thermal and electrical problem in the inverter 100. Therefore, the predetermined operation of the electric motor 106 can be continued.

  During this time, the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111 restores the necessary driving force in order to continue running the electric vehicle with only the other three wheels except for the one wheel driven by the failed electric power source 120. Performs calculation and control for distribution. In general, this re-control can be performed within a short time as described above within about 1 second. After the completion of the re-control, the driving of the electric motor 106 connected to the inverter 100 in which the failure has occurred is terminated.

  Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the inverter 100, the driving force of the four wheels does not change suddenly or unexpectedly, and the stability of the vehicle behavior is not impaired. In order to continue running of the electric vehicle with only three wheels in the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111 after the failure occurs, as the running of the electric vehicle is running with driving force of four wheels, It is possible to re-control with a value obtained by calculating the necessary driving force and shift to traveling with three wheels. As a result, the behavior of the electric vehicle is not disturbed.

  Note that it is not always necessary to stop the output of the drive wheel in which the failure has occurred by the recontrol. The first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which no failure has occurred can continuously output an output. At that time, the magnitude of the steady output is half that when both the first drive circuit 102 and the second drive circuit 103 are used. In general, however, vehicles are not always running at maximum power. Therefore, it is possible to make the electric vehicle run more stably by using the output of the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which no failure has occurred and the original output of the remaining three wheels.

  Further, by turning off the first switch element 104 or the second switch element 105 connected to the failed first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103, a short circuit to the high voltage power source 112, etc. The effect can be prevented.

  Further, each phase of the electric motor 106 is constituted by a double winding insulated from each other, one winding is connected to the output of the first driving circuit 102 and the other winding is connected to the second driving circuit 103. Therefore, power running can be continued by the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 on the non-failed side. In addition, since there is no spare drive circuit such as a redundant system, that is, a drive circuit that is not used in the configuration of the above drive circuit, an increase in cost and an increase in size can be suppressed.

  The configuration of the first embodiment is fundamentally different from the configuration in which the drive circuits are electrically connected in parallel in order to simply increase the current capacity as follows.

  When the drive circuits are simply electrically connected in parallel, if a short circuit failure or the like occurs in one drive circuit, an adverse effect occurs in the other drive circuit, and the electrical operation is impaired. However, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the drive circuit is divided into the first and second configurations, and the high voltage power source 112 is not directly connected to the first and second drive circuits, and the first The high voltage power supply 112 is connected via the switch element 104 and the second switch element 105.

  Also, the outputs of the two drive circuits are not simply connected in parallel with each other but are electrically insulated. As a result, even if a short circuit failure occurs in one drive circuit, no adverse effect occurs in the other drive circuit.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the first driving circuit 102 and the second driving circuit 103 are formed on different substrates by forming the first driving circuit 102 and the second driving circuit 103. When a short circuit failure occurs, the substrates on which the first and second drive circuits are formed are different, so that mechanical force and damage associated with the failure do not reach the other substrate. As a result, it is possible to further prevent the failure of one drive circuit from adversely affecting the other drive circuit.

Furthermore, since the vehicle control circuit 111 controls the plurality of electric power sources 120, or the driving power distribution between the electric power sources 120 and the prime mover, and issues a command to each inverter control circuit 101, one electric power source. Even if a short circuit failure or the like occurs in the source 120, it is easy to perform the calculation for recontrolling each driving force for the other plurality of electric power sources 120 more quickly and with high accuracy. For this reason, the stability of the vehicle can be further maintained.
If the vehicle control circuit 111 and the inverter control circuit 101 are integrated, the cost can be further reduced.

  In the first embodiment, by using the first and second switch elements as relays, it is easy to sufficiently reduce the conduction resistance of the first and second switch elements. The operation of the second drive circuit is not hindered, and heat generation in the first and second switch elements can be minimized.

  Next, the configuration of the electric power source 130 according to the second embodiment will be described first with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric power source 130 of the second embodiment. First, the configuration of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The electric motor 200 is driven by the first driving circuit 102 and the second driving circuit 103. Each phase of the electric motor 200 is output from the first driving circuit 102 via the third switch element 201. Are connected to the output terminals U1, V1, and W1 of the inverter 100, and are connected to the output terminals U2, V2, and W2 of the inverter 100 that are the outputs of the second drive circuit 103 via the fourth switch element 202. It is said.

  In the electric motor 200 connected to the first and second drive circuits, it is not necessary to use a double winding in which the motor winding is electrically insulated as shown in FIG.

  Configurations other than those described above are the same as in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

  When the inverter control circuit 101 detects a failure occurring in the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103, the inverter control circuit 101 is connected to the first drive circuit 102 or the second drive circuit 103 in which the failure has occurred. Not only the first switch element 104 or the second switch element 105 but also the third switch element 201 or the fourth switch element 202 is turned off, and the first drive circuit 102 or the second The electric motor 200 is driven by the drive circuit 103.

  In addition, after the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111 re-controls the driving power of the electric power source 130 or the prime mover in which no electrical failure has occurred, only the first switch element 104 and the second switch element 105 can be used. First, both the third switch element 201 and the fourth switch element 202 are turned off.

  Other operations are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as described in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to use a double winding in which the motor winding is electrically insulated, and an increase in the cost of the motor portion can be suppressed. In the second embodiment, the same effect as described in the first embodiment is also produced.

  Furthermore, by using the first to fourth switch elements as relays, it is easy to sufficiently reduce the conduction resistance of the first to fourth switch elements. The operation of this relay is controlled by the inverter control circuit 101, the vehicle control. The circuit 111 is controlled. Therefore, the operation of the first and second drive circuits is not hindered, and heat generation in the first to fourth switch elements can be minimized.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric power source 140 according to the third embodiment. The configuration of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  5, instead of the first switch element 104 and the second switch element 105 shown in FIG. 2, the booster circuit 300 is connected between the power supply terminals A and B and the power supply terminals P1, N1, and P2, N2 of the inverter 100. The connection point is different.

  Next, the configuration of the booster circuit 300 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. FIG. 6 uses a boost chopper type circuit used as a conventional booster circuit, and the output side diode used in this conventional boost chopper type circuit is replaced with two transistors 301 and 302. The output terminals P1 and P2 of the two transistors 301 and 302 are connected to the power supply terminals P1 and P2 of the inverter 100, respectively.

  The two transistors 301 and 302 are controlled by the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111, and the original operation as the power boosting circuit is performed by a power control circuit (not shown).

  That is, in the third embodiment, the first switch element 104 and the second switch element 105 in the first embodiment replace the transistors 301 and 302. The transistors 301 and 302 constitute a booster circuit 300 that varies the power supply voltage applied to the inverter 100, and the operation of the transistors 301 and 302 is controlled by the inverter control circuit 101 or the vehicle control circuit 111. The point to do is different. Although the booster circuit 300 is used in the third embodiment, a step-down circuit may be used when the power supply voltage is high. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  With the configuration of the third embodiment, all the effects described in the first embodiment are similarly generated, and the following new effects are also generated.

  As the first switch element and the second switch element, the semiconductor elements in the step-down / boost circuit portion are used, so there is no need to use new parts or elements for the first switch element and the second switch element, and the cost increases. Can also be suppressed. If the power supply voltage is high instead of the booster circuit 300, the same effect can be obtained by using a step-down circuit.

  If the configuration of the third embodiment is also adopted with respect to the second embodiment, in addition to all the effects described in the second embodiment, the effects described in the third embodiment. Also occurs in the same way.

  In the above description, an inverter is used as a drive circuit for the electric motor 106. However, the present invention is not applied only to the inverter. For example, the configuration according to the present invention can be equally applied to a motor driving circuit using circuit means such as a matrix converter, or an H bridge circuit or a driver circuit as a DC motor driving circuit. Even in this case, the above-described effects occur.

  Furthermore, the configuration according to the present invention is not applied only to the electric motor 106 that drives the drive wheels 110 of the electric vehicle. The configuration of each embodiment described above can be used not only for driving an electric vehicle but also for braking or steering.

  That is, the configuration according to the present invention can be equally applied to a configuration in which braking or steering of an electric vehicle is performed using an electric motor and the driving of the electric motor is controlled by a drive circuit such as an inverter. In particular, when these electric power sources are used for braking or steering of an electric vehicle, the stability of the driving force is required more than when driving the driving wheels. It is absolutely necessary to avoid losing the balance of braking force and steering force due to sudden interruption of the electric driving force.

  As described above, even if some failure occurs in the drive circuit, the output of the electric power source corresponding to the drive circuit in which the failure has occurred can be maintained until re-control by the control circuit is possible. For this reason, recontrol and redistribution of the driving force can be performed smoothly, and the stability of the vehicle behavior is not impaired.

  Each of the above explanations has been described by taking a configuration having a plurality of electric power sources in an electric vehicle as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and even in the case where there is one electric power source, the drive circuit is not limited to this configuration. Even if a failure such as a short-circuit failure occurs, the drive of the connected electric motor can be continued for a short time or about half of the output.

  During this time, the control circuit can reliably perform a countermeasure operation in the event of a failure such as a fail-safe operation that has been determined in advance. Alternatively, this control circuit can gradually reduce the output of the drive circuit in accordance with a predetermined procedure and smoothly stop the electric motor.

  Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the drive circuit, the driving force of the electric motor does not change suddenly or unexpectedly, and the stability of the operation of the electric motor is not impaired.

  Furthermore, even in an electric vehicle that travels with an electric power source and a prime mover, the output of the electric power source can be maintained for a short time or about half of the output, thereby enabling the vehicle to travel with the motor output after a failure occurs. Transition while maintaining stability.

  In addition, the above description has been given by taking the running, braking, or steering of an electric vehicle as an example, but the present invention is not limited to these and can be applied to the operation of an electric motor.

The block diagram which shows the whole structure in the case of driving an electric vehicle using the electric power source of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the electric drive source of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the double winding structure of the electric motor of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the electric drive source of 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the electric drive source of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the booster circuit of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Inverter control circuit 102 1st drive circuit 103 2nd drive circuit 104 1st switch 105 2nd switch 106,200 Electric motor 111 Vehicle control circuit 120,130,140 Electric power source 201 3rd switch 202 1st 4 switches 301, 302 Transistors A, B, P1, N1, P2, N2 Power supply terminals L _U1 , L _U2 , L _V1 , L _V2 , L _W1 , L _W2 windings

Claims (13)

An electric motor and a drive circuit for driving the electric motor;
The drive circuit comprises a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit that are electrically parallel circuits,
A first switch element connected between the input terminal of the power supply and the first power supply terminal of the drive circuit; and connected between the input terminal of the power supply and the second power supply terminal of the drive circuit. A second switch element;
A control circuit for controlling electrical operation of the first drive circuit, the second drive circuit, the first switch element, and the second switch element;
The electric motor has double windings insulated from each other in each phase, one of the windings is connected to the output of the first drive circuit, and the other of the windings is connected to the second drive circuit. Connect to the output,
The control circuit detects a failure occurring in the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit and is connected to the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit in which the failure has occurred. The first switch element or the second switch element is turned off, and the electric motor is driven by the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit in which the failure has not occurred. Electric power source device. An electric motor and a drive circuit for driving the electric motor;
The drive circuit comprises a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit that are electrically parallel circuits,
A first switch element connected between the input terminal of the power supply and the first power supply terminal of the drive circuit; and connected between the input terminal of the power supply and the second power supply terminal of the drive circuit. A second switch element;
A control circuit for controlling electrical operation of the first drive circuit, the second drive circuit, the first switch element, and the second switch element;
Connecting the electric motor to the output of the first drive circuit via a third switch element and connecting to the output of the second drive circuit via a fourth switch element;
The control circuit detects a failure occurring in the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit and is connected to the first drive circuit or the second drive circuit in which the failure has occurred. The first switch element and the third switch element or the second switch element and the fourth switch element are turned off, and the first drive circuit or the second switch element in which the failure has not occurred An electric power source device, wherein the electric motor is driven by a drive circuit.   The electric power source device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit are formed on different substrates.   The electric power source device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electric motor drives, brakes, or steers the vehicle.   The electric power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second switch elements are relays.   The electric power source device according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 4, wherein the first to fourth switch elements are relays.   The first switch element and the second switch element are semiconductor elements, and the semiconductor element is provided in a step-down / boost circuit that varies a voltage applied to the drive circuit, and the operation of the semiconductor element is controlled by the control The electric power source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is also performed from a circuit.   The drive circuit is an inverter device that drives an AC motor as the electric motor, or a matrix converter device, or the drive circuit is an H-bridge circuit that drives a DC motor as the electric motor. Or an electric power source device according to claim 1, wherein the electric power source device is a driver circuit.   One or a plurality of the electric power source devices according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 8 are mounted, or one or a plurality of the electric power sources according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to 8 are mounted. A power source device and a prime mover are mounted, and when the failure occurs, the control circuit re-controls the driving force of the electric power source device or the prime mover in which the failure does not occur, and the first switch An electric vehicle characterized in that both the element and the second switch element are turned off.   One or a plurality of the electric power source devices according to any one of claims 2 to 8 are mounted, or one or a plurality of the electric power source devices according to any one of claims 2 to 8. And when the failure occurs, the control circuit re-controls the driving power of the electric power source device or the prime mover in which the failure does not occur, and the first switch element. An electric vehicle characterized in that the second switch element, the third switch element, and the fourth switch element are both turned off.   A plurality of the electric power source devices according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 8, or one or a plurality of the electric power source devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 8 and a prime mover. A vehicle control circuit that controls driving force distribution and issues a command to the control circuit, after the vehicle control circuit re-controls the driving force of the electric power source device or the prime mover in which the failure has not occurred; An electric vehicle characterized in that both the first switch element and the second switch element are turned off.   A plurality of electric power source devices according to any one of claims 2 to 8, or one or a plurality of electric power source devices according to any one of claims 2 to 8 and control of driving force distribution of a prime mover. And a vehicle control circuit that issues a command to the control circuit, wherein the vehicle control circuit re-controls the driving force of the electric power source device or the prime mover in which the failure has not occurred, An electric vehicle characterized in that a switch element, the second switch element, and the third switch element and the fourth switch element are both turned off.   The first switch element and the second switch element are semiconductor elements, and the semiconductor element is provided in a step-down / boost circuit that varies a voltage applied to the drive circuit, and the operation of the semiconductor element is controlled by the vehicle. The electric vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, wherein control is also performed from a control circuit.

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