JP4171449B2 - Power supply for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular power supply device used for running a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicular power supply device that can reliably protect a running battery even if some abnormality occurs in a control circuit.

  The power supply device can increase the output current by increasing the number of power supply modules in which batteries or unit cells are connected in series or in parallel, and can increase the output voltage by the number of series connected in series. In particular, in a power supply device used in applications requiring high output, for example, vehicles such as automobiles, bicycles, and tools, a structure in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series to increase output can be employed. For example, a high-current, high-output power source used in a power supply device for a vehicle that is driven by a motor, such as a hybrid car or a fuel cell vehicle, further includes a power supply module in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series. The output voltage is increased by connecting. This is to increase the output of the drive motor.

  Such a power supply device is provided with a safety circuit that monitors the state of the battery and reduces the output when an abnormality is detected in the battery or forcibly turns off the power supply. For example, when the heat generation of the battery, the amount of current, and the amount of voltage exceed a certain value, it is determined that the battery is abnormal and shifts to necessary processing. Such control is performed by a control circuit of the power supply device. For example, the control circuit is connected to a detection unit such as a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor, and normal / abnormal based on parameters such as a detection signal such as a current value and temperature sent from these detection units, and a detection time thereof. Determine.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a vehicle power supply device including a safety circuit. In the power supply device of this figure, a contactor 32 is connected to the output side of the traveling battery 31, and a motor 34 is connected to the contactor 32 via an inverter circuit 33. A large capacity capacitor 35 is connected to the inverter circuit 33 on the input side. When the ignition switch is turned on, the contactor 32 is turned on so that the output of the traveling battery 31 can be supplied to the motor 34. The contactor 32 is forcibly switched off when the ignition switch is switched off, or when it is necessary to shut off the output of the traveling battery 31 due to an abnormal state. The control circuit controls the contactor. The control circuit is connected to the detection unit, and performs necessary processing based on the detection signal transmitted from the detection unit. For example, when the temperature of the battery for traveling becomes higher than a predetermined value, processing is performed such as limiting the amount of current or forcibly stopping the use of the power source by opening the contactor. In this power supply device, as long as the control circuit operates normally, necessary processing such as opening and closing of the contactor can be performed to protect the traveling battery.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-341821

  However, due to some abnormality, error, malfunction or the like in the control circuit itself, there may occur a situation in which the abnormal signal cannot be shifted to a necessary operation while the abnormality signal remains normal even though the output from the sensor indicates an abnormal value. If such an abnormal state continues, for example, the contactor is not opened despite the battery temperature of the battery for running is high, a large current continues to be energized and becomes overloaded, shortening the life, The necessary output may not be continued. In a power supply device mounted on a vehicle, for example, it is particularly important that the influence of one failure is reduced to minimize the adverse effects caused by the failure. Even if the vehicle is in a state where it can run, even if one of the circuits breaks down so that it cannot run, or vice versa, even if it is in a state where it cannot run, it will cause adverse effects. Because. This problem can be solved by providing all the circuits in two systems and switching to another system if a failure occurs. However, this method is not practical because the manufacturing cost is doubled and the control is complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device for a vehicle including a safety circuit that can detect an abnormality and shift to a necessary process even when an abnormality occurs in a control circuit of a traveling battery.

In order to achieve the above-described problem, a power supply device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes at least one traveling battery 1 and a detection unit that detects a state of the traveling battery 1 to generate and output a detection signal. And a control unit for determining an abnormality of the traveling battery 1 based on a detection signal from the detection unit. In this vehicle power supply device, the control unit includes a main control circuit 71 and a sub-control circuit 72, and between the output side of the main control circuit 71 and the vehicle 20, A communication circuit for communicating with is connected. The main control circuit 71 performs an abnormality determination of the traveling battery 1 based on the detection signal output from the detection unit, generates a restriction signal, and the sub control circuit 72 outputs a restriction signal output from the main control circuit 71. Then, the detection signal is monitored to determine the validity of the restriction signal, and when an abnormality determination is recognized in the determination result, the sub-control circuit 72 sends an abnormality determination signal to the main control circuit 71 to transmit the battery for traveling. 1 protection operation is executed. Further, the main control circuit 71 sends a power output signal for requesting the vehicle 20 not to use the traveling battery 1 to the vehicle 20 side via the communication circuit based on the abnormality determination signal from the sub control circuit 72. . As a result, the sub-control circuit monitors the validity of the restriction signal generated by the main control circuit, and if it is not valid, the sub-control circuit changes to the main control circuit and performs the necessary measures. Even if it occurs, it is possible to reliably perform the protective operation, and it is possible to realize a vehicle power supply device that is excellent in reliability and safety.

  Furthermore, in another power supply apparatus for a vehicle of the present invention, the restriction signal expresses normal / abnormal distinction by a change in frequency. Thereby, the type of signal can be easily determined based on the frequency.

  Furthermore, in another power supply device for a vehicle according to the present invention, the detection unit includes a current sensor 48 that detects the current of the traveling battery 1, a voltage sensor 42 that detects the voltage of the traveling battery 1, and the traveling battery 1. It is at least one of a temperature sensor 44 that detects temperature and a time timer that measures the detection time of these sensors. Thereby, the state of the battery for traveling can be reliably determined based on parameters from various sensors.

  As described above, according to the vehicle power supply device of the present invention, even when some abnormality occurs in the main control circuit of the traveling battery, it is possible to shift to the protection operation of the traveling battery. It is configured to determine whether or not the determination of the main control circuit is appropriate on the sub control circuit side by providing the sub control circuit, and to perform necessary operations on the sub control circuit side if an abnormality is found. Because. Thereby, the power supply device for vehicles excellent in reliability and safety is realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a vehicle power supply device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the vehicle power supply device as follows. Moreover, the member shown by the claim is not what specifies the member of embodiment. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and the plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing.

  The vehicle power supply device shown in FIG. 2 is connected to a traveling battery 1 that is mounted on the vehicle and supplies electric power to a motor (not shown) that travels the vehicle, and an output side of the traveling battery 1. Detects the voltage of the battery module 2 of the battery 1 for traveling and the contactor 6, a control circuit 7 for controlling the contactor 6 to be turned on and off, and performing a predetermined protective operation for protecting the battery for traveling in the event of an abnormality The voltage detection circuit 3 is provided.

  The traveling battery 1 has a plurality of battery modules 2 connected in series to increase the output voltage. In the power supply device of FIG. 2, the traveling battery 1 is constituted by two sets of battery blocks 1A, and the entire battery module 2 is divided into two sets of battery blocks 1A. In order to detect the voltage of the battery module 2 constituting the two sets of battery blocks 1A, the detection unit 3 includes two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits (VT) 3A and 3B. Each voltage temperature detection circuit 3A, 3B is connected to the battery block 1A, and one voltage temperature detection circuit 3A detects the voltage of the battery module 2 of one battery block 1A. The power supply device of FIG. 2 includes two sets of the battery block 1A and the voltage detection circuit 3, but may be configured of three or more sets of battery blocks and a voltage temperature detection circuit.

  The traveling battery 1 has a plurality of battery modules 2 connected in series. The battery module 2 has a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series. For example, the battery module 2 has five nickel metal hydride batteries connected in series. This traveling battery 1 has a total of 250 nickel-metal hydride batteries connected in series, and an output voltage of 300V. The battery module does not necessarily connect five batteries in series. For example, four or less, or six or more secondary batteries can be connected in series. In addition, the secondary battery is not limited to a nickel metal hydride battery, and other rechargeable secondary batteries such as a lithium ion secondary battery and a nickel cadmium battery can be used. Furthermore, the battery for traveling does not necessarily need to connect 50 battery modules in series as a whole, and fewer or more battery modules can be connected in series.

  In the present embodiment, each of the 50 battery modules 2 is connected in series to form 25 battery modules 1A. Each battery block 1A detects the voltage of the battery module 2 by each voltage temperature detection circuit 3A, 3B.

  The voltage temperature detection circuit 3 includes two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B. Each of the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B includes a multiplexer (not shown) that switches the battery module 2 that detects the voltage, and this multiplexer. A voltage detection unit that detects a voltage at a connection point to be switched. The voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B detect the voltage of each battery module 2 by switching the battery modules 2 using a multiplexer.

  The multiplexer switches the connection point for detecting the voltage and detects the voltages of all the battery modules 2 in order. Therefore, the multiplexer connects the output side to the input side of the voltage detection unit, and sequentially switches the battery modules 2 detected by the voltage detection unit.

  By the way, ICs with a built-in multiplexer generally have 2 channels, 4 channels, 8 channels, and the number of channels is increased by a factor of two. In order to switch and detect the voltages of all the battery modules 2 constituting one battery block 1A, the multiplexer uses a channel having a larger number of channels than the number of battery modules 2 included in the battery block 1A. For this reason, there is a channel that is not used in the multiplexer 4.

  For example, when a 32-channel multiplexer switches 25 battery modules 2, channels 2 to 8 of the multiplexer are not used for measurement of the battery module 2.

  The power supply apparatus of FIG. 2 uses the remaining channels that are not used for voltage detection of the battery module 2 for detection of the input voltage and output voltage of the contactor 6. Therefore, this power supply apparatus does not require a dedicated detection circuit to detect the input voltage and output voltage of the contactor 6.

  The multiplexer has a multi-channel input terminal connected to the connection point of the battery modules 2 connected in series. The voltage at the connection point is the voltage across each battery module 2. Therefore, the voltage of the battery module 2 is detected from the voltage difference between the connection points at both ends.

  2 detects the output voltage of the contactor 6 with the control circuit 7, and detects the output voltage and the input voltage of the contactor 6 with the two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B. That is, the input voltage and output voltage of the contactor 6 are detected by three sets of detection circuits. The output voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the control circuit 7 and the two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B, and the input voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B. For example, the battery side voltage of the contactor 6 is measured by the voltage detection line 3b, and the external voltage of the contactor 6 is measured by the voltage detection line 7a. When these values are substantially equal, it can be determined that the contactor 6 is closed.

  This power supply device can detect welding of the contactor 6 even if any one of the three detection circuits cannot detect the voltage. For example, when the control circuit 7 cannot detect the output voltage of the contactor 6, the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B detect the output voltage and the input voltage of the contactor 6. When one voltage temperature detection circuit 3A, 3B cannot detect the voltage, the output voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the control circuit 7, and the input voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the other voltage temperature detection circuit 3A or 3B. Each voltage temperature detection circuit 3 </ b> A, 3 </ b> B connects the input terminal of the surplus channel to the positive input side and the negative input side of the contactor 6 so that the input voltage of the contactor 6 can be detected. Therefore, the input voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the other voltage temperature detection circuit 3A, 3B even if one of the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A, 3B cannot detect the voltage. However, the output voltage of the contactor 6 is detected in a state where both voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B normally detect the voltage. This is because the positive-side voltage temperature detection circuit 3A detects only the positive-side output voltage of the contactor 6, and the negative-side voltage temperature detection circuit 3B detects only the negative-side output voltage of the contactor 6. Since the output voltage is detected by both the voltage detection circuit 3 and the control circuit 7, even if one of the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B cannot detect the voltage, the output voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the control circuit 7. . Therefore, even if one of the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B cannot detect the voltage, the output voltage of the contactor 6 is detected by the control circuit 7, and the input voltage of the contactor 6 is not broken. , 3A. Therefore, even if any one of the two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B and one control circuit 7 cannot detect the voltage, the power supply apparatus of FIG. 2 outputs the output of the contactor 6 with the remaining two sets of detection circuits. The voltage and input voltage can be detected. The welding of the contactor 6 can be detected by detecting the input voltage and the output voltage of the contactor 6. This is because when the contactor 6 is turned off and the current is cut off, the detection voltage is lower than the input voltage when welding is not performed.

  Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams showing how the control circuit 7 controls the protection circuit based on detection data from various sensors. The block diagram shown in FIG. 3 is a control unit that controls a traveling battery based on these inputs, a detection unit 3 to which various sensors such as a voltage sensor 42 are connected, a current detection circuit 49 to which a current sensor 48 is connected. The circuit 7 includes a contactor delay circuit 62 that controls the contactor 6 as a protection circuit, and the contactor 6. Further, the control circuit 7 has a communication circuit (CAN) 52 for communicating with the vehicle 30 side and a power output off drive circuit (BPOR) 54 for requesting that the vehicle not use the traveling battery on the output side thereof. is doing. The detection unit 3 is a form of a detection unit, and includes a voltage sensor 42 that detects the voltage of the traveling battery, a temperature sensor 44 that detects the temperature of the traveling battery, and a PTC element that changes the resistance value according to the traveling battery temperature. 46, etc., and the battery voltage and temperature, or the time required for the measurement are calculated based on the outputs of these sensors. The calculation result is sent to the control circuit 7. Similarly, the current detection circuit 49 connected to the current sensor 48 generates a current detection signal and sends it to the control circuit 7. Although only one detection unit 3 is shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of voltage temperature detection circuits (VT) 3A and 3B shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 may be provided. The divided voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B are used for detecting the state of different batteries. However, even if any one of the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A fails, the other voltage temperature detection circuit 3B may maintain the detection of the battery state.

  In FIG. 4, the control circuit 7 which is a control unit has a sub control circuit 72 in addition to the main control circuit 71. The main control circuit 71 realizes the function of the control circuit 7 as a single unit. As will be described in detail below, the sub control circuit 72 determines the validity of the restriction signal generated by the main control circuit 71, and is necessary in place of the main control circuit 71 when it is determined that the restriction signal is not valid. It functions as a backup circuit that operates. The sub control circuit 72 can be configured as a hardware as a sub microcomputer (SMC) with respect to the main microcomputer (MMC) constituting the main control circuit 71, but can also be realized as software. In this specification, circuits such as a main control circuit and a sub-control circuit are used in a sense that includes not only hardware configuration but also software implementation.

  The operation of FIG. 4 will be described in more detail. The detection signals sent from the detection elements such as the current sensor 48, the temperature sensor 44, and the PTC element 46 are converted into two voltage temperature detection circuits (VT) 3A and 3B that are detection units. Are transmitted to the main control circuit 71 and the sub-control circuit 72, respectively. On the other hand, the outputs of the current sensor 48 and the shunt circuit 50 are also sent to the main control circuit 71 and the sub control circuit 72, respectively. Here, the shunt circuit 50 is used for accurately integrating and detecting the current input to and output from the power supply apparatus.

  The main control circuit 71 determines whether or not the traveling battery is normal based on the detection signals from the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B and the current detection circuit 49, and generates an abnormal signal. The abnormality signal is a signal indicating whether an abnormality has occurred in the state of the battery for traveling of the power supply device. Further, the abnormality signal can be set so that the processing in the main control circuit 71 differs depending on the degree of abnormality, such as when the degree of abnormality is minor or serious. For example, when the battery remaining amount between modules varies and the actual usable amount is reduced, the usage amount of the power supply is limited when the abnormality is minor. Such a power limit signal will be described later. On the other hand, when the abnormality is serious, such as when further discharging is performed even though the remaining battery level has reached almost zero, the following processing is performed. That is, communication is performed between the power supply device side and the vehicle 30 side through the communication circuit 52 to notify the current state of the traveling battery, and a power output off signal (BPOR signal) generated from the output terminal based on the abnormality signal ) Is sent to the vehicle 30 side by the power output off drive circuit 54. Further, the main control circuit 71 issues a contactor opening instruction, drives the contactor delay circuit 62, and opens the contactor 6 after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  On the other hand, in the sub control circuit 72 as well, as in the main control circuit 71, it is determined whether or not the state of the running battery is normal based on the detection signals from the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B and the current detection circuit 49. And the abnormal signal which shows whether abnormality has arisen in the state of the battery for driving | running | working of a power supply device is produced | generated.

  The above control circuit 7 determines whether or not control based on necessary control instructions (contactor release instruction, power limit instruction, etc.) of the control circuit 7 is being executed based on an abnormal signal indicating whether or not the state of the running battery is normal. If the control is not executed, a backup function for issuing a contactor opening instruction as a non-execution of control is provided. This configuration will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

In this example, the detection signals of the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B and the shunt circuit 50 are sent as serial data, but the detection signal of the current sensor 48 is directly detected by the main control circuit 71 and the sub control circuit 72 as analog signals. Therefore, it is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter. Further sub-control circuit 72 shown in FIG. 4, the voltage of the power source V _CC3, V _CC4 of the current sensor 48 and the shunt circuit 50 also by entering converted A / D, can be monitored in these power supply voltages .

  Next, the power limit signal in the main control circuit 71 will be described. The main control circuit 71 determines the state of the traveling battery based on the detection signals of these sensors, and generates an abnormal signal indicating whether the traveling battery is abnormal. For example, when a value exceeding a certain allowable value is detected, such as when the battery current detected by the current sensor 48 exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined as abnormal. If the abnormality is minor as described above, a power limit signal (Power Limit Signal) that limits the amount of power that can be used by the traveling battery to a predetermined value or less is generated based on the abnormality signal. The power limit signal is communicated to the vehicle 30 side through the communication port 53, for example. In addition, when an abnormality such as a failure occurs in one of the two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits (VT) 3A and 3B shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 7 performs power limitation. At the same time, a Caution signal indicating “caution” is sent to the vehicle 30 side. Similarly, when an abnormality occurs in either the current sensor 48 or the shunt circuit 50, the control circuit 7 performs power limitation and transmits a Caution signal.

  On the other hand, when the abnormality is serious, if both the voltage temperature detection circuits 3A and 3B are abnormal, or if both the current sensor 48 and the shunt circuit 50 are abnormal, the battery is immediately charged as described above. In order to stop the use of the battery, a power output off signal (BPOR) is output to the vehicle 30 and the contactor is opened after a predetermined time has elapsed to stop using the battery.

  Note that, as the predetermined protection operation executed in the event of an abnormality, in addition to the output power limitation that limits the output amount of the power supply as described above, the input power limitation that limits the input amount of power is also possible. Alternatively, the restriction target is not limited to electric power, and may be a restriction on current and voltage.

  Next, the power-off signal in the main control circuit 71 will be described. When the vehicle requests the battery not to use power as described later, the main control circuit 71 requests a power output off signal (BPOR signal) from the BPOR output port 55 to request that the vehicle not use power. Is sent to the vehicle 30 side via the power output off drive circuit (BPOR) 54, and a status signal indicating the status of the main control circuit 71 is sent to the status signal output port for the reset circuit 56 for resetting the hardware. 57.

  The main control circuit 71 transmits a state signal corresponding to an abnormality such as a microcomputer runaway from the state signal output port 57. This state signal is a pulse signal having a constant period when the main control circuit 71 is operating normally. If an abnormality occurs in the main control circuit 71, the state signal is abnormal and becomes a high or low constant value signal. The reset circuit 56 functions as a watch dog timer and monitors whether or not a predetermined pulse signal is continuously transmitted. When the pulse signal is stopped, the main control circuit 71 runs away. It is determined that an abnormality has occurred, a hardware reset signal is sent to the reset signal input port 58 of the main control circuit 71, and a hardware reset of the main control circuit 71 is executed. Similarly, this status signal is also sent to the status signal input port 59 of the contactor delay circuit 62 and the sub-control circuit 72, and the abnormality of the main control circuit 71 is also detected by these circuits.

  The contactor 6 is closed and opened in accordance with instructions from the control circuit 7 at various desired times. When the contactor 6 is in the closed state, the latch circuit 64 is maintained. A latch control signal is sent to the latch circuit 64, the latch state is released, and the contactor drive circuit 66 is controlled to release the contactor 6.

  On the other hand, the sub-control circuit 72 monitors the status signal at the status signal input port 59 to monitor whether the main control circuit 71 continues to operate. When some abnormality occurs in the main control circuit 71 and the state signal indicates an abnormality (for example, the HIGH or LOW level of the state signal continues for a certain period or longer), the contactor 6 is opened instead of the main control circuit 71. Can do.

  As will be described later, when the sub-control circuit 72 determines to open the contactor 6, the following procedure is performed. The latch release signal is sent from the latch release signal output port 60 to the contactor delay circuit 62. The contactor delay circuit 62 holds the latch state of the latch circuit 64 in a normal state, but when the latch release signal is received from the sub control circuit 72, the contactor delay circuit 62 releases the latch state of the latch circuit 64 after a certain delay time elapses. The contactor driving circuit 66 is driven to forcibly open the contactor 6. During this delay time, necessary processing is performed before the contactor 6 is released, such as stopping the power supply (P-RUN) from the power supply device.

  The power supply device of the present embodiment described above operates as follows. Whether the main control circuit 71 is outputting a necessary control instruction (contactor release instruction, power limit instruction, etc.) of the main control circuit 71 based on an abnormal signal indicating whether or not the battery for driving is normal. In the control circuit 72, the determination is made based on whether a restriction signal is output from the restriction signal output port 68 of the main control circuit 71. In this case, the same restriction signal is issued even if the contactor opening instruction and the power limit instruction are given.

  First, when the state of the battery for travel is serious or minor abnormality, when the restriction signal is input from the restriction signal output port 68 of the main control circuit 71 to the sub control circuit 72, the sub control circuit 72 Whether the state corresponds to an abnormal value of the restriction signal is determined in light of detection signals input from various sensors input to 72. According to the above example of the power limit signal (minor abnormality), the abnormal value of the regulation signal despite one of the two sets of voltage temperature detection circuits (VT) 3A and 3B shown in FIG. 4 being abnormal. Is not output, it is determined that the main control circuit 71 is out of order. Further, as a case where the abnormality is serious, an abnormal value of the restriction signal is output even though both the current sensor 48 and the shunt circuit 50 are abnormal. If not, it is determined that the main control circuit 71 is out of order. Then, the result of the determination is sent from the abnormality determination signal output port 70 to the main control circuit 71 as an abnormality determination signal (power limit determination signal). When the sub control circuit 72 determines that the main control circuit 71 is faulty, the sub control circuit 72 outputs a signal from the latch release signal output port 60 to turn off the contactor 6. As a result, a predetermined protection operation is executed.

  This operation will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S1, the main control circuit 71 (MMC) generates a restriction signal (P / L) based on the detection signal from the detection unit, and transmits the generated restriction signal to the sub control circuit 72 (SMC). . For example, when the result of the abnormality determination of the traveling battery based on the detection signal is normal and the power supply device can use power of 1.5 kW or more, the regulation signal outputs a normal value of 2 Hz as the regulation signal. When the result of the abnormality determination of the battery is abnormal and the output of the power supply device is limited to power of 1.5 kW or less, or when the contactor 6 is turned off, the restriction signal is set to an abnormal value of 6 Hz and output. Next, in step S2, the sub control circuit 72 determines whether the detection signal of the traveling battery received by the sub control circuit 72 itself corresponds to an abnormal value of the restriction signal, and outputs a power limit determination signal (P / L determination signal). It is generated and sent to the main control circuit 71. For example, when the determination result is valid (normal operation of the main control circuit 71), the power limit determination signal sets an output of 2 Hz as a normal value, and when the determination result is not valid, that is, an error is detected, As the control circuit 71 fails, 6 Hz is output as an abnormal value as a power limit determination signal. In step S3, the operation branches depending on whether the power limit determination signal is normal. If the power limit determination signal is normal, the operation is terminated. If the power limit determination signal is abnormal, the main control circuit 71 sets the power output off signal (BPOR signal) to an abnormal value, for example, 6 Hz. It is sent to the power output off drive circuit 54 (BPOR). On the other hand, on the sub-control circuit 72 side, a latch release signal is sent to the contactor delay circuit 62. In step S4, the contactor delay circuit 62 releases the latch state of the latch circuit 64 after a certain delay time such as 1.5 seconds elapses, drives the contactor drive circuit 66, and releases the contactor 6. As a result, even when the main control circuit 71 has a failure, the sub-control circuit 72 can execute the necessary operation, and the traveling battery is protected regardless of the malfunction of the main control circuit 71. Such a failure or operation failure of the main control circuit 71 may occur due to a hardware failure, or may be caused by a software operation failure or a software bug.

  As described above, the sub-control circuit 72 does not act as a substitute for all the operations of the main control circuit 71. The sub-control circuit 72 confirms the validity of the determination result of the main control circuit 71 and performs a necessary operation when it is not valid. Is realized. In this way, the sub control circuit 72 that executes only necessary functions can have a simpler circuit configuration than the main control circuit 71, and therefore can be realized at a lower cost than a backup circuit or the like that duplicates the main control circuit 71 itself. The operation control and wiring can be simplified. Further, as described above, the sub-control circuit 72 can be realized by software as well as by hardware. In this case, it can be realized at a lower cost without adding special hardware.

  The power supply device for a vehicle of the present invention can be suitably applied as a high-power, high-current power supply device such as a power supply device for a vehicle such as a hybrid car or an electric vehicle.

It is a block diagram which shows the state which connected the power supply device for vehicles which concerns on one embodiment of this invention to the vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the power supply device for vehicles which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a data flow in the control circuit of FIG. 2. It is a block diagram concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow in which a control circuit performs the protection operation of a battery.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery for driving | running; 1A ... Battery block 2 ... Battery module 3 ... Detection unit; 3A, 3B ... Voltage temperature detection circuit 3a ... 2nd output voltage detection circuit; 3b ... Input voltage detection circuit 6, 32 ... Contactor 7 ... Control Circuit; 7a ... First output voltage detection circuit 71 ... Main control circuit 72 ... Sub control circuit 10 ... Intermediate reference point 15 ... Communication line 30 ... Vehicle 31 ... Battery for traveling 33 ... Inverter circuit 34 ... Motor 35 ... Capacitor 42 ... Voltage Sensor 44 ... Temperature sensor 46 ... PTC element 48 ... Current sensor 49 ... Current detection circuit 50 ... Shunt circuit 52 ... Communication circuit 53 ... Communication port 54 ... Power output off drive circuit 55 ... BPOR output port 56 ... Reset circuit 57 ... Status signal Output port 58 ... Reset signal input port 59 ... Status signal input port 60 ... Latch release Signal output port 62 ... contactor delay circuit 64 ... latch circuit 66 ... contactor driver circuit 68 ... restriction signal output port 70 ... abnormality determination signal output port

Claims (3)

One or more traveling batteries (1);
A detection unit for detecting the state of the battery for traveling (1) and generating and outputting a detection signal;
A control unit for determining an abnormality of the battery for traveling (1) based on a detection signal from the detection unit;
A power supply device for a vehicle comprising:
The control unit includes a main control circuit (71) and a sub control circuit (72),
A communication circuit for communicating between the main control circuit (71) and the vehicle (20) is connected between the output side of the main control circuit (71) and the vehicle (20),
The main control circuit (71) performs an abnormality determination of the traveling battery (1) based on a detection signal output from the detection unit, and generates a restriction signal,
The sub control circuit (72) monitors the restriction signal output from the main control circuit (71) and the detection signal to determine the validity of the restriction signal, and the determination result indicates an abnormality. If recognized, the sub-control circuit (72) sends an abnormality determination signal to the main control circuit (71) to execute the protection operation of the traveling battery (1),
Further, the main control circuit (71), based on the abnormality determination signal from the sub-control circuit (72), the power output signal that requests the vehicle (20) not to use the traveling battery (1) Is sent to the vehicle (20) side via the communication circuit . The vehicle power supply device according to claim 1 ,
The vehicle power supply apparatus, wherein the restriction signal expresses normal / abnormal distinction by a change in frequency. The power supply device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The detection unit detects a current sensor (48) that detects a current of the traveling battery (1), a voltage sensor (42) that detects a voltage of the traveling battery (1), and detects a temperature of the traveling battery (1). A power supply device for a vehicle, characterized in that it is at least one of a temperature sensor (44) and a timer for measuring the detection time of these sensors.

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