JP6733002B2 - Power supply adapter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power supply adapter that sequentially supplies power to a load from a plurality of battery power supplies.

In order to supply the electric power from the power source to the electric device which is the load, some kind of power supply adapter including an input side port and an output side port may be provided, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-242242.

Such a power supply adapter is generally configured with one input and one output.

There are also known devices that have multiple output outlets such as so-called table taps that are connected to wall outlets of commercial power supplies, but the input side is a single system, and multiple output outlets are connected in parallel. It's just connected.

JP 2008-22050 A

When a battery power source having a limited capacity is used as a power source instead of a commercial power source, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of battery power sources for long-term power feeding. Then, it is necessary to reconnect the plurality of battery power supplies to the load and sequentially supply power from the plurality of battery power supplies, which is troublesome.

In the power supply adapter according to the present invention, a plurality of battery power supply connection ports into which plugs from a plurality of battery power supplies are respectively inserted and a power supply outlet are provided in the case, and the power supply adapter is connected to the battery power supply connection port. The power supply adapter is used outdoors to sequentially supply power from a plurality of battery power supplies to the power supply outlet in a predetermined order . The case has an inverted L shape in which one side of the lower end is recessed as a recess, and the battery power supply connection port is arranged on the side wall surface or the ceiling surface of the recess .

According to the above power supply adapter, if a plurality of battery power supplies are connected to the power supply adapter in advance, it is possible to supply power to the load for a long time through the power supply outlet, and it is necessary to reconnect the battery power supply. Is unnecessary.

Further, for example, when used outdoors, the battery power supply connection port into which the plug from the battery power supply is inserted is covered from above, so that it is not directly exposed to rain. Further, even when the power supply adapter is placed on the floor surface, the power cable extending from the plug does not interfere, and for example, the case can be placed close to some wall portion.

Explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the electric power feeding adapter which concerns on this invention. The perspective view from the front side of a power feeding adapter. The perspective view from the rear surface side of a power feeding adapter. (A) Side view and (b) rear view showing the state where it was hung from a battery case with a handle. The circuit explanatory view showing the circuit composition of a power supply adapter. The flowchart which shows the main routine of switching control. The flowchart which shows the detail of the monitoring control of each input system. The flowchart which shows the routine of a switching time calculation process.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which power is supplied from a plurality of (for example, four) portable battery power supplies 2 to a load 3 via the power supply adapter 1 as an example of a usage mode of the power supply adapter 1 according to the present invention. It is a figure.

The battery power source 2 is, for example, one in which a battery, preferably a rechargeable/rechargeable secondary battery, is housed inside a battery case 12 having a caster 11 at the bottom for easy movement. An inverter circuit (not shown) is provided inside the battery case 12 so as to output AC 100V. Further, a controller is provided for controlling the inverter circuit and monitoring the battery temperature, and has a sleep function for suspending the system when the system is not used for a certain period of time (that is, power is not supplied to the load).

On the back surface of the battery case 12, there is provided a telescopic handle 13 that is pulled out and used only when moving (see FIG. 4). This telescopic handle has a structure in which a pair of vertical bars 13a is connected to a horizontal bar 13b at the upper end. It can be stored so that the height position is almost aligned with the upper end surface.

The power supply adapter 1 has a plurality of battery power supply connection ports 21 on the input side, and the plurality of battery power supplies 2 are connected to the respective battery power supply connection ports 21 via power supply cables 4. The power supply adapter 1 also has a power supply outlet 22 on the output side, and is connected to the load 3 via the output cable 5. Then, the power supply adapter 1 sequentially switches the plurality of battery power supplies 2 connected to the battery power supply connection port 21 in a predetermined order, and continuously supplies power to the power supply outlet 22 or the load 3. For example, 100 V AC is output from the power outlet 22. In the illustrated example, an electric vehicle 15 equipped with a secondary battery 16 is connected as the load 3, and FIG. 1 shows a state in which the secondary battery 16 is charged using a plurality of battery power sources 2 in the field, for example. Is shown. Of course, the load 3 is not limited to the electric vehicle 15, and various kinds of household electric appliances can be connected. In the illustrated example, the power supply adapter 1 is provided with a single power supply outlet 22, but it is also possible to provide a plurality of power supply outlets 22 so that a plurality of home appliances and the like can be supplied with power at the same time.

2 and 3 show the outer shape of the power feeding adapter 1 of the embodiment. The power supply adapter 1 of this embodiment is a portable one that can be carried by a user, and as shown in the drawing, the case 20 has a basic shape in the shape of a rectangular box, and has a lower end on the rear surface side. It has an inverted L shape in which one side is receded as a rectangular recess 24. That is, the recess 24 is formed by the side wall surface 24a and the ceiling surface 24b that are retracted from the back surface 20a of the case 20. The battery power supply connection port 21 to which the plug 4a at the tip of the power cable 4 is connected is arranged on either or both of the side wall surface 24a and the ceiling surface 24b of the recess 24. In the illustrated example, four battery power supply connection ports 21 are arranged side by side in a row on the ceiling surface 24b, and a main switch 25 for switching whether or not to supply power is arranged on the side wall surface 24a. ..

As described above, the recessed portion 24 is provided in the lower portion of the case 20, and the battery power supply connection port 21 is arranged on the side wall surface 24a or the ceiling surface 24b thereof. Since the battery power supply connection port 21 into which is inserted is covered from above, rain does not hit directly. Further, even when the power supply adapter 1 is placed on the floor surface, the power cable 4 extending from the plug 4a does not interfere, and for example, the back surface 20a of the case 20 can be placed close to some wall portion.

The front surface 20b of the case 20 is provided with a power outlet 22 on the output side. The power supply outlet 22 is formed so as to partially project from the front surface 20b of the case 20, and an insertion port (not shown) into which a plug (not shown) at the tip of the output cable 5 is inserted on the lower surface of the projecting portion. ) Has been placed. In this way, by providing the plug insertion port on the lower surface side, rain does not hit directly.

A handle 26 for a user to carry the power feeding adapter 1 is attached to the upper end of the back surface 20a of the case 20. The handle 26 includes a pair of mounting portions 26a protruding from the rear surface 20a of the case 20 along a direction orthogonal to the rear surface 20a, and a horizontal bar 26b connecting the mounting portions 26a to each other. The size of the handle 26 is set so that the rectangular gap 27 formed between the handle 26 and the back surface 20a of the case 20 is slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of the telescopic handle 13 of the battery power supply 2. There is. That is, the handle 26 can be used by the user to carry the power supply adapter 1 by grasping it with the hand, and as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, it can be hooked on the telescopic handle 13 of the battery power supply 2. Can be used to hang the power supply adapter 1. Thus, for example, when used in combination with the battery power source 2 having the telescopic handle 13 as shown outdoors, the installation location of the power feeding adapter 1 can be easily secured, and dirt and the like which may be concerned when placed on the ground The problem of can be avoided.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration inside the power feeding adapter 1. The power supply adapter 1 of the illustrated example outputs an AC 100V current input from the battery power supply 2 side to the power supply outlet 22 without changing the frequency or voltage, and n (for example, 4) A switching unit 30 including a plurality of relays 31 corresponding to the input system, a voltage detection unit 32 that detects a voltage of each input system, and a control unit 33 that controls switching of each relay 31 of the switching unit 30 are provided. There is. The detection signal of the voltage detection unit 32 is input to the control unit 33, and whether or not the battery power supply 2 is connected to each battery power supply connection port 21, more specifically, the battery power supply 2 having a remaining capacity capable of supplying power to the load 3 It is determined whether or not is connected. As will be described later, the control unit 33 skips the battery power source 2 having no remaining capacity, but basically switches the battery power source 2 on a time basis, and sequentially from a plurality of battery power sources 2 according to a predetermined order. Power is supplied. In addition, in the example of FIG. 5, an output side voltage detection unit 34 is further provided in order to detect the output voltage on the side of the power supply outlet 22.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the switching control executed by the control unit 33. First, in step 1, the switching time set separately in the routine of FIG. 8 is read. Next, in step 2, the detected voltage of the first input system (abbreviated as system 1 etc. in the figure) is read, and in step 3, whether a voltage equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is generated in the first input system. Determine whether or not. If a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold value is generated, the process proceeds to step 4 to monitor and control the first input system. In step 4, the battery power supply 2 connected to the first input system is used, as will be described later.

If the voltage of the first input system is 0 or less than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 5 and the next detected voltage of the second input system is read. It is determined whether or not it occurs in the 2 input system. If the voltage equal to or higher than the threshold value is generated, the process proceeds to step 7 to monitor and control the second input system. In this step 7, the battery power source 2 connected to the second input system is used.

When the voltage of the second input system is 0 or less than the threshold value, the same processing is further performed on the third input system, and the same processing is performed on the last input system (nth input system) shown in steps 8 to 10. ) Repeat.

The flowchart of FIG. 7 shows details of the monitoring control of each input system such as steps 4, 7, and 10. Since this processing is substantially the same for each input system, the system number is shown as X in the flowchart. Hereinafter, the first input system in step 4 will be described as an example. When this monitoring control is started, first, in step 11, the relay 31 of the first input system is turned on. As a result, the power supply to the load 3 from the battery power supply 2 connected to the first input system is started. At the same time, in step 12, the timer is started.

Next, in step 13, it is determined whether or not the input voltage from the first input system is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, and further, in step 14, whether or not the voltage on the output side is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value. .. That is, in steps 13 and 14, the voltage during power supply is monitored. It should be noted that the voltage thresholds in the voltage determination in steps 3, 6, 9, 13, 14 and the like do not necessarily have to be the same value, and they are set appropriately. When the voltage drop or shortage is detected in steps 13 and 14, the process proceeds to step 18. In step 18, the relay 31 of the first input system is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine described above.

Further, in step 15, the switching time set separately in the routine of FIG. 8 is read, and in step 16, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer has reached this switching time. Until it is determined in step 16 that the switching time has been reached, the processes of steps 13 to 16 are repeated, and the power supply from the battery power supply 2 connected to the first input system is continued.

When the value of the timer reaches the switching time, the process proceeds from step 16 to step 17, and it is determined whether another input system has a voltage equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. If the voltage of any of the input systems is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the process proceeds from step 17 to step 18, the relay 31 of the first input system is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine. If the battery power supply 2 is connected to the next second input system and the voltage of the battery power supply 2 is sufficient, the monitoring control of the second input system in step 7 is started. Power is supplied from the battery power supply 2 of the second input system according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. If the remaining capacity of the battery power supply 2 connected to the second input system is 0 and the battery power supply 2 connected to the third input system still has the remaining capacity, The second input system is skipped in steps 5 and 6 described above, and the power supply from the battery power supply 2 connected to the third input system is started. The same applies when the battery power supply 2 is not connected to some of the battery power supply connection ports 21.

On the other hand, in step 17, when there is no other input system having a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold value, the determination result in step 17 is NO, the process proceeds to step 19 and the timer is restarted. That is, the reason for NO in step 17 is that the battery power supply 2 of the first input system has the remaining capacity, but there is no other effective battery power supply 2 having the remaining capacity. By restarting, power supply from the battery power supply 2 of the first input system is continued.

FIG. 8 shows a switching time calculation processing routine that is executed for each minute calculation cycle in parallel with the main routine. First, in step 21, the number of battery power supplies 2 connected to the battery power supply connection port 21 is confirmed. This is determined by whether or not a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold value is generated in each battery power supply connection port 21, as described in the main routine. Next, in step 22, it is determined whether or not the number of connected battery power supplies 2 (more specifically, the number of battery power supplies 2 having a remaining capacity) has changed. The number change occurs, for example, when the battery power source 2 is removed from the battery power source connection port 21, a new battery power source 2 is added, or the remaining capacity of the already connected battery power source 2 decreases. If there is no change in the number, the routine is finished as it is, and the switching time set at that time is held. If the number has changed in step 22, the process proceeds to step 23, the switching time is newly calculated, and the set switching time is updated. Specifically, the sleep time set in the sleep function of the battery power supply 2 is divided by the number of battery power supplies 2 at that time to obtain the switching time. In the first time after the start of control, the switching time is initialized from the number at that time.

As an example, if the sleep time of each battery power source 2 is 40 minutes and the number is 4, the switching time is 10 minutes. Therefore, by the processing of steps 15 and 16 in FIG. 7 described above, the first input system to the fourth input system are sequentially switched at 10-minute intervals, and for example, the fourth input system is connected. The battery power supply 2 also does not enter the sleep state because power supply is started before the sleep time is reached. Therefore, the reset operation for canceling the sleep state is unnecessary.

In the process of FIG. 8, the number of battery power sources 2 to which the plug 4a is simply connected is detected regardless of whether or not a voltage is generated (that is, whether or not there is a remaining capacity). Good.

Further, the above switching time is the maximum power of each battery power supply 2 (when there is no deterioration and is fully charged, when the power supplied to the load 3 from one battery power supply 2 during this switching time is The capacity of each battery power source 2 is fully charged, and the capacity of one battery power source 2 is consumed multiple times. That is, assuming that the four battery power sources 2 are fully charged, after the battery power sources 2 of the first input system are used in this order, the battery power sources 2 of the second, third, and fourth input systems are used in that order. The battery power supply 2 of the first input system is used again, and if the use of the first to fourth input systems is one cycle, the power is supplied over a plurality of cycles. By using each battery power source 2 in a plurality of times in this way, the plurality of battery power sources 2 are used almost evenly, and a specific battery power source 2 (for example, always connected to the first input system) is used. It is possible to prevent early deterioration of only the battery power supply 2). In other words, the user does not need to consider which battery power supply 2 should be connected to which battery power supply connection port 21. In addition, while power is being supplied over a plurality of cycles in this way, if one of the battery power supplies 2 is completely discharged, the battery power supply 2 is skipped and power is supplied by the remaining battery power supplies 2 as described above. Is continued. Therefore, it is not necessary to connect or disconnect the battery power supply 2 to/from the battery power supply connection port 21 during power supply.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Power supply adapter 2... Battery power supply 3... Load 20... Case 21... Battery power supply connection port 22... Power supply outlet 24... Recessed part 26... Handle 30... Switching part 32... Voltage detection part 33... Control part

Claims (4)

A plurality of battery power connection ports into which plugs from a plurality of battery power sources are respectively inserted and a power outlet are provided in the case,
A power supply adapter used in the field, which sequentially supplies power of a plurality of battery power supplies connected to the battery power supply connection port to the power supply outlet in a predetermined order,
The case has a reverse L-shape in which one side of a lower end is recessed as a recess, and the battery power supply connection port is arranged on a side wall surface or a ceiling surface of the recess. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein the case includes a handle. The power supply adapter according to claim 2, wherein the battery power source includes an extendable handle, and the handle is hooked on the extendable handle for use. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power supply outlet is provided on the opposite side of the case from the battery power supply connection port.

Images