Abstract: Said method is used for detecting, in an electric storage battery (10) having a plurality of battery cells (1, 2, 3, 4), a self-discharge defect in a cell (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein: a charge balancing of the battery cells (1, 2, 3, 4) is at least partially carried out, a relaxation of the battery cells (1, 2, 3, 4) is performed, a charge balance during the balancing and relaxation (?i) of said cell (i) is calculated for each battery cell (i), and any self-discharge defects of said cell (i) are detected for each battery cell (i) depending on the charge balance calculated for said cell (i) during the balancing and relaxation (?i).

Abstract: A method for estimating an insulation resistance between a point of a high-voltage circuit including a high-voltage motor vehicle battery and a ground of the vehicle includes measuring a voltage value at terminals of a measurement circuit that includes a capacitive element connected to the battery and calculating a standard deviation value based on the measured voltage value and based on a theoretical voltage value estimated from a model of the measurement circuit. The model is a function of a capacitance value of the capacitive element. The method also includes calculating an averaged deviation value from the standard deviation value and previous deviation values and estimating an updated insulation resistance value in accordance with the averaged deviation value.

Abstract: A method for estimating insulation resistance between a terminal of a battery and an electrical ground, including: connecting a measuring circuit to one terminal of the battery, the measuring circuit including a resistance of known value and a capacitance; application of a known input signal having an input voltage; measurement of an output voltage between the ground and a point located between the resistance of known value and the capacitance; determination of a complex impedance of a dipole of the capacitance and the insulation resistance or determination of parameters of a differential equation; and determination of the insulation resistance from the parameters of the differential equation or the complex impedance.

Abstract: A system for managing a battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a plurality of control circuits connected in parallel with a battery cell and at least one electrical connection between a first control circuit of a first cell and a second control circuit of a second cell. Each control circuit is capable of emitting a signal representing physical parameters of its respective battery cell. There is a control unit to control the state of the battery on the basis of the signals representative of the physical parameters. There is a power bus electrically connecting said battery cells to one another in series and each control circuit delivers the representative signal via the power bus after reception of a synchronization signal received.

Abstract: An accumulator battery system includes series-connected accumulators with potentials across stages powering corresponding controllers that measure potential differences between terminals of accumulators. A first analog-to-digital converter encodes the potential measured between terminals of an accumulator. A first output delivers a first digital sequence corresponding to the encoded potential difference, logic levels of which are defined by at least two potentials across the first-stage accumulator terminals. A decoder decodes a potential measured by the first control-device from the first digital sequence. A second analog-to-digital converter selectively encodes a potential difference measured between terminals of a second-stage accumulator of the second stage and two potentials of the digital sequence received on the input.

Abstract: An accumulator battery system includes series-connected accumulators with potentials across stages powering corresponding controllers that measure potential differences between terminals of accumulators. A first analog-to-digital converter encodes the potential measured between terminals of an accumulator. A first output delivers a first digital sequence corresponding to the encoded potential difference, logic levels of which are defined by at least two potentials across the first-stage accumulator terminals. A decoder decodes a potential measured by the first control-device from the first digital sequence. A second analog-to-digital converter selectively encodes a potential difference measured between terminals of a second-stage accumulator of the second stage and two potentials of the digital sequence received on the input.

Abstract: A system for managing a battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a plurality of control circuits connected in parallel with a battery cell and at least one electrical connection between a first control circuit of a first cell and a second control circuit of a second cell. Each control circuit is capable of emitting a signal representing physical parameters of its respective battery cell. There is a control unit to control the state of the battery on the basis of the signals representative of the physical parameters. There is a power bus electrically connecting said battery cells to one another in series and each control circuit delivers the representative signal via the power bus after reception of a synchronization signal received.

Abstract: A method for estimating an insulation resistance between a point of a high-voltage circuit including a high-voltage motor vehicle battery and a ground of the vehicle includes measuring a voltage value at terminals of a measurement circuit that includes a capacitive element connected to the battery and calculating a standard deviation value based on the measured voltage value and based on a theoretical voltage value estimated from a model of the measurement circuit. The model is a function of a capacitance value of the capacitive element. The method also includes calculating an averaged deviation value from the standard deviation value and previous deviation values and estimating an updated insulation resistance value in accordance with the averaged deviation value.

Abstract: A device for detecting an insulation fault of a direct voltage source that can induce electrocution, including: first and second input terminals for the voltage source; first and third resistive dipoles connected in series between an electric ground and the second input terminal, the first resistive dipole having a resistance at least ten times higher than that of the third dipole; a second resistive dipole and a switch connected in series between the first input terminal and the electric ground; and a detection circuit connected to the terminals of the third dipole, configured to alternately open and close the switch, measure the voltage at the terminals of the third dipole, and determine the amplitude of an insulation fault according to the measured voltages.

Abstract: A method for estimating insulation resistance between a terminal of a battery and an electrical ground, including: connecting a measuring circuit to one terminal of the battery, the measuring circuit including a resistance of known value and a capacitance; application of a known input signal having an input voltage; measurement of an output voltage between the ground and a point located between the resistance of known value and the capacitance; determination of a complex impedance of a dipole of the capacitance and the insulation resistance or determination of parameters of a differential equation; and determination of the insulation resistance from the parameters of the differential equation or the complex impedance.

Abstract: A device for detecting an insulation fault of a direct voltage source that can induce electrocution, including: first and second input terminals for the voltage source; first and third resistive dipoles connected in series between an electric ground and the second input terminal, the first resistive dipole having a resistance at least ten times higher than that of the third dipole; a second resistive dipole and a switch connected in series between the first input terminal and the electric ground; and a detection circuit connected to the terminals of the third dipole, configured to alternately open and close the switch, measure the voltage at the terminals of the third dipole, and determine the amplitude of an insulation fault according to the measured voltages.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid power unit with power bypass for an automobile including at least two driving wheels, wherein the power unit includes a thermal engine, at least two electric machines, and an infinitely variable transmission mechanically connecting the thermal engine, the two electric machines, and the driving wheels. In the method, an initially stopped thermal engine is brought, in an independent manner and in plural operation phases, to a rotation speed that is sufficient for participating in propulsion of the vehicle, the vehicle moving under action of the electric machines.

Abstract: A method of controlling a switched-mode power supply and corresponding power supply including a switching cell including two series-connected configurable on/off switches; in which the switching cell is configured cyclically: for a duration T1, in an on state, in which a first on/off switch is closed and the second on/off switch is open; and, for a duration T2, in an off state, in which the second on/off switch is closed and the first on/off switch is open. The switching cell is also configured in a transition state, in which the first on/off switch and the second on/off switch are open: for a duration Tm1 between the off state and the on state; and for a duration Tm2 between the on state and the off state; and the durations T1 and/or T2 of the on and off states are determined according to the durations Tm1 and/or Tm2, respectively, of the transition states.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid power unit with power bypass for an automobile including at least two driving wheels, wherein the power unit includes a thermal engine, at least two electric machines, and an infinitely variable transmission mechanically connecting the thermal engine, the two electric machines, and the driving wheels. In the method, an initially stopped thermal engine is brought, in an independent manner and in plural operation phases, to a rotation speed that is sufficient for participating in propulsion of the vehicle, the vehicle moving under action of the electric machines.

Abstract: A noise estimating device includes a plurality of sensors and an estimating section. The sensors are configured and arranged to be positioned in a plurality of prescribed locations on a vehicle body of a vehicle. The sensors are configured and arranged to detect vibrations of the vehicle body. The estimating section is configured to estimate an external vibration value based on the vibrations detected by the sensors and transfer characteristics between the sensors and a vibration input location where an external vibration enters the vehicle body. The estimating section is further configured to estimate a noise within a vehicle interior space based on the external vibration value and a transfer characteristic between the vibration input location and a reference region in the vehicle interior space.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is comprised of a controller which is arranged to select an optimal mode adapted to a driving point of a vehicle from an optimal mode map of defining a plurality of running modes of the vehicle, to detect a generation of a mode transition in the optimal mode map, and to hold a current running mode selected before the transition for a holding time period when the generation of the mode transition is detected.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission for a hybrid vehicle mounting thereon an engine and a pair of electric motor/generators operates in a plurality of driving modes including EV mode in which the vehicle is powered by only the pair of motor/generators and EIVT mode in which the vehicle is powered by both the pair of motor/generators and the engine. The driving mode is shifted continuously and smoothly through a mode-shift transition process, in which the operating state is regulated to decrease the relative torque and/or the relative rotational speed between the contact elements of an engine clutch before engaging or disengaging the engine clutch.

Abstract: A noise estimating device includes a plurality of sensors and an estimating section. The sensors are configured and arranged to be positioned in a plurality of prescribed locations on a vehicle body of a vehicle. The sensors are configured and arranged to detect vibrations of the vehicle body. The estimating section is configured to estimate an external vibration value based on the vibrations detected by the sensors and transfer characteristics between the sensors and a vibration input location where an external vibration enters the vehicle body. The estimating section is further configured to estimate a noise within a vehicle interior space based on the external vibration value and a transfer characteristic between the vibration input location and a reference region in the vehicle interior space.

Abstract: An active vibration controller has: a sensor configured to measure a physical quantity related to vibration of a vehicle body; an actuator arranged on a floor panel of the vehicle body and configured to deform itself to thereby deform the floor panel; and a control unit configured to control the actuator according to the measured physical quantity in such a way as to reduce noise caused by the vibration of the vehicle body. The actuator is installed on a member of the floor panel whose rigidity is greater than an average rigidity of the entire floor panel.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is comprised of a controller which is arranged to select an optimal mode adapted to a driving point of a vehicle from an optimal mode map of defining a plurality of running modes of the vehicle, to detect a generation of a mode transition in the optimal mode map, and to hold a current running mode selected before the transition for a holding time period when the generation of the mode transition is detected.