Abstract: A vehicle power unit is operable to, when not driving the starter, charge first and second capacitors. A controller is operable to, when driving the starter, cause the battery to supply power to the starter if a total voltage of first and second capacitor voltages is smaller than a predetermined total voltage. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, form a parallel circuit of the battery and the first capacitor, and connect the second capacitor in series to the parallel circuit if the total voltage is not smaller than the predetermined total voltage at a beginning of use of the vehicle. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, disconnect the battery from the starter. The vehicle power unit reduces a load applied to the battery when driving the starter, accordingly extending a life time of the battery.

Abstract: An electric power storage unit includes plural storage element blocks, an external bus bar for electrically connecting the storage element blocks, a base made of metal for fixing the storage element blocks, and a cover fixed to the base for accommodating the storage element blocks. Each of the storage element blocks includes plural electric power storage elements connected electrically to each other, and a case made of heat-conductive insulating resin for holding the electric power storage elements. This electric power storage unit reduces variation of cooling of the electric power storage elements, hence having high reliability.

Abstract: A vehicle power source device includes a battery, a charging circuit, a capacitor, a switch, a voltage detection circuit, a current detection circuit, a control circuit, and a recording unit. The charging circuit is connected to the battery and the capacitor. A first terminal of the switch is connected to the positive electrode of the capacitor, a second terminal is connected to the positive electrode of the battery, and a third terminal is connected to a starter. The voltage detection circuit is connected in parallel to the capacitor, and detects capacitor voltage Vc. The current detection circuit is connected between the charging circuit and the positive electrode of the capacitor, and detects the capacitor charge current Ic. The control circuit is connected to the charging circuit, the switch, the starter, the voltage detection circuit, the current detection circuit, and the recording unit.

Abstract: A vehicle power unit is operable to, when not driving the starter, charge first and second capacitors. A controller is operable to, when driving the starter, cause the battery to supply power to the starter if a total voltage of first and second capacitor voltages is smaller than a predetermined total voltage. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, form a parallel circuit of the battery and the first capacitor, and connect the second capacitor in series to the parallel circuit if the total voltage is not smaller than the predetermined total voltage at a beginning of use of the vehicle. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, disconnect the battery from the starter. The vehicle power unit reduces a load applied to the battery when driving the starter, accordingly extending a life time of the battery.

Abstract: An electricity accumulating device includes capacitors connected in series, balanced voltage adjusting portions connected to the capacitors respectively, and a control circuit connected to the balanced voltage adjusting portions. The control circuit performs the following operations: measuring two voltages at different times from each other across each capacitor during the non-charge-or-discharge period of the capacitors by using the balanced voltage adjusting portions; calculating the absolute value of the difference between the two voltages; determining the balanced voltage of each of the capacitors according to the absolute value; and controlling the balanced voltage adjusting portions to make the voltage across each capacitor a balanced voltage.

Abstract: There is provided a capacitor unit including plural capacitors, each including end face electrode at one end face and side face electrode having a polarity different from end face electrode at a side face, arranged side by side; bus bar connected to end face electrode of capacitor, and partially connected to side face electrode of adjacent capacitor unit; and a circuit substrate arranged at the one end face sides or the other end face sides of plural capacitors; wherein bus bar and the circuit substrate are electrically connected through conductive portion arranged from bus bar towards the circuit substrate.

Abstract: An electricity accumulating device includes capacitors connected in series, balanced voltage adjusting portions connected to the capacitors respectively, and a control circuit connected to the balanced voltage adjusting portions. The control circuit performs the following operations: measuring two voltages at different times from each other across each capacitor during the non-charge-or-discharge period of the capacitors by using the balanced voltage adjusting portions; calculating the absolute value of the difference between the two voltages; determining the balanced voltage of each of the capacitors according to the absolute value; and controlling the balanced voltage adjusting portions to make the voltage across each capacitor a balanced voltage.

Abstract: There is provided a capacitor unit including plural capacitors, each including end face electrode at one end face and side face electrode having a polarity different from end face electrode at a side face, arranged side by side; bus bar connected to end face electrode of capacitor, and partially connected to side face electrode of adjacent capacitor unit; and a circuit substrate arranged at the one end face sides or the other end face sides of plural capacitors; wherein bus bar and the circuit substrate are electrically connected through conductive portion arranged from bus bar towards the circuit substrate.

Abstract: An electric power storage unit includes plural storage element blocks, an external bus bar for electrically connecting the storage element blocks, a base made of metal for fixing the storage element blocks, and a cover fixed to the base for accommodating the storage element blocks. Each of the storage element blocks includes plural electric power storage elements connected electrically to each other, and a case made of heat-conductive insulating resin for holding the electric power storage elements. This electric power storage unit reduces variation of cooling of the electric power storage elements, hence having high reliability.

Abstract: A detector for detecting a state of an electrical storage device includes capacitor blocks formed of a capacitor-voltage equalizing circuit and a capacitor-voltage detecting circuit both coupled to respective capacitors, and a capacitor-block state outputting circuit outputting states of the capacitors by using the signals supplied from the capacitor-voltage detecting circuits. The signals from the capacitor-voltage detecting circuits are transmitted via an optical switch, which works as an electrical indirect coupler, to the capacitor-block state outputting circuit. This structure allows isolating high-voltage oriented wirings completely from signal oriented wirings, so that high reliability can be ensured.

Abstract: A detector for detecting a state of an electrical storage device includes capacitor blocks formed of a capacitor-voltage equalizing circuit and a capacitor-voltage detecting circuit both coupled to respective capacitors, and a capacitor-block state outputting circuit outputting states of the capacitors by using the signals supplied from the capacitor-voltage detecting circuits. The signals from the capacitor-voltage detecting circuits are transmitted via an optical switch, which works as an electrical indirect coupler, to the capacitor-block state outputting circuit. This structure allows isolating high-voltage oriented wirings completely from signal oriented wirings, so that high reliability can be ensured.

Abstract: A capacitor device has a plurality of capacitors, each including a capacitor element having a positive electrode and a negative electrode in a confronting arrangement through a separator, and a metal case encasing the capacitor element and an electrolyte. The plurality of capacitors include a plurality of first capacitors, each using the metal case as a negative electrode, and a plurality of second capacitors, each using the metal case as a positive electrode. The capacitor device is characterized by a structure that a pair of the first capacitor and the second capacitor form a capacitor unit by having their metal cases coupled with a metal plate, a plurality of capacitor units form a subunit by being connected in series or parallel, and a plurality of subunits form a main unit by being connected in series or parallel. The invention helps facilitate connections when coupling the plurality of capacitor units, and substantially reduces a space required for the connections.

Abstract: Capacitor unit and capacitor control system used in high output power source are reduced in size. A capacitor unit controlled by the capacitor control system is divided into capacitor blocks formed of a specified number of capacitors connected in series, and each capacitor block is provided with a detector. Plural detectors are connected to a microcomputer by way of an analog switch.

Abstract: A capacitor device has a plurality of capacitors, each comprising a capacitor element having a positive electrode and a negative electrode in a confronting arrangement through a separator, and a metal case encasing the capacitor element and an electrolyte. The plurality of capacitors comprise a plurality of first capacitors, each using the metal case as a negative electrode, and a plurality of second capacitors, each using the metal case as a positive electrode. The capacitor device is characterized by a structure that a pair of the first capacitor and the second capacitor form a capacitor unit by having their metal cases coupled with a metal plate, a plurality of capacitor units form a subunit by being connected in series or parallel, and a plurality of subunits form a main unit by being connected in series or parallel. The invention helps facilitate connections when coupling the plurality of capacitor units, and substantially reduces a space required for the connections.

Abstract: Capacitor unit and capacitor control system used in high output power source are reduced in size. A capacitor unit (1) controlled by the capacitor control system is divided into capacitor blocks (3) formed of a specified number of capacitors (2) connected in series, and each capacitor block (3) is provided with a detector (4). Plural detectors (4) are connected to a microcomputer (6) by way of an analog switch (5).