Abstract: A wiring substrate in which a plating layer is sufficiently plated on a surface metal layer and which has an excellent reliability is provided. A wiring substrate includes an insulating base; a heat dissipation member disposed in the insulating base, the heat dissipation member partially exposed from the insulating base, the heat dissipation member containing Cu; a surface metal layer disposed on a surface of the insulating base, the surface metal layer contacting and covering the heat dissipation member, the surface metal layer containing Mo as a main component, the surface metal layer including a surface portion containing Cu; and a plating layer disposed on the surface metal layer, wherein Cu contained in the heat dissipation member and Cu contained in the surface portion are bonded to each other.

Abstract: A wiring substrate in which a plating layer is sufficiently plated on a surface metal layer and which has an excellent reliability is provided. A wiring substrate includes an insulating base; a heat dissipation member disposed in the insulating base, the heat dissipation member partially exposed from the insulating base, the heat dissipation member containing Cu; a surface metal layer disposed on a surface of the insulating base, the surface metal layer contacting and covering the heat dissipation member, the surface metal layer containing Mo as a main component, the surface metal layer including a surface portion containing Cu; and a plating layer disposed on the surface metal layer, wherein Cu contained in the heat dissipation member and Cu contained in the surface portion are bonded to each other.

Abstract: In a battery cooling structure, a battery case housing a large number of battery modules is formed into the shape of a rectangular tube having a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet, and V-shaped cooling air guide channels having a decreasing flow-path cross sectional area are provided on inner faces of air guide plates that define upper and lower faces of the rectangular tube. The flow of cooling air is deflected by these V-shaped cooling air guide channels toward a central part on the downstream side, thus effectively cooling the battery modules disposed in the central part, for which the cooling effect is poor to make uniform the temperature of the battery modules, resulting in a suppressed variation in capacity and lifetime. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide a bypass passage in the battery case, it is possible to simplify the structure of the battery case, reduce the dimensions, and improve the degree of freedom in the layout.

Abstract: In a battery cooling structure, a battery case housing a large number of battery modules is formed into the shape of a rectangular tube having a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet, and V-shaped cooling air guide channels having a decreasing flow-path cross sectional area are provided on inner faces of air guide plates that define upper and lower faces of the rectangular tube. The flow of cooling air is deflected by these V-shaped cooling air guide channels toward a central part on the downstream side, thus effectively cooling the battery modules disposed in the central part, for which the cooling effect is poor to make uniform the temperature of the battery modules, resulting in a suppressed variation in capacity and lifetime. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide a bypass passage in the battery case, it is possible to simplify the structure of the battery case, reduce the dimensions, and improve the degree of freedom in the layout.

Abstract: A battery charging control method is disclosed, which can reduce the charging time a low-temperature battery without providing an additional heating system. The method includes executing a first pulsed charging and discharging operation when the battery temperature T is lower than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 0° C.), wherein the amount of charging is equal to the amount of discharging; and switching from the first pulsed charging and discharging operation to a second pulsed charging and discharging operation when the battery temperature exceeds the first predetermined temperature, wherein in the second pulsed charging and discharging operation, the amount of discharging is less than the amount of charging. Therefore, it is possible to accomplish not only heating but also charging. When the battery temperature T exceeds a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 10° C.), a normal charging operation is performed.

Abstract: A battery charging control unit which controls electric power and supplies it to a battery via a charger. The battery charging control unit includes: a charging capacity insufficiency detection unit, a charging capacity restoring determination unit, and a supplemental charging unit. The charging capacity insufficiency detection unit detects an insufficiency in charging capacity of the battery based on the previous charging condition of the battery. The charging capacity restoring determination unit determines if the insufficiency in charging capacity of the battery will be restored by carrying out a supplemental charging process on the battery.

Abstract: A battery charging control method is disclosed, which can reduce the charging time a low-temperature battery without providing an additional heating system. The method includes executing a first pulsed charging and discharging operation when the battery temperature T is lower than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 0° C.), wherein the amount of charging is equal to the amount of discharging; and switching from the first pulsed charging and discharging operation to a second pulsed charging and discharging operation when the battery temperature exceeds the first predetermined temperature, wherein in the second pulsed charging and discharging operation, the amount of discharging is less than the amount of charging. Therefore, it is possible to accomplish not only heating but also charging. When the battery temperature T exceeds a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 10° C.), a normal charging operation is performed.

Abstract: A reduction in charging time is achieved while suppressing any deterioration in the lifetime of the battery. A battery temperature increase margin is determined from the battery temperature at charge commencement and the upper limit value of the battery temperature. Moreover, the target charging capacity is determined from the initial state of charge at charge commencement and the target state of charge at charge completion. Furthermore, a value of an upper limit of the battery temperature increase is determined from these. Then, the battery charge current maximum value is set by map referral based on the value of an upper limit of the battery temperature increase such that the temperature of the battery during charging does not exceed the upper limit value. A driver performs the battery charging using a charge current value that has been set on the basis of the battery charge maximum value.

Abstract: A battery charging control unit which controls electric power and supplies it to a battery via a charger. The battery charging control unit includes: a charging capacity insufficiency detection unit, a charging capacity restoring determination unit, and a supplemental charging unit. The charging capacity insufficiency detection unit detects an insufficiency in charging capacity of the battery based on the previous charging condition of the battery. The charging capacity restoring determination unit determines if the insufficiency in charging capacity of the battery will be restored by carrying out a supplemental charging process on the battery.

Abstract: In a battery charging device, an ECU (30) has: an ordinary charge control section (34) adapted to charge a battery (12) in an ordinary charge mode; an under charge control section (36) adapted to charge a battery (12) in an under charge mode; and mode switching controller (38) which switch the output paths of the ordinary charge control section (34) and the under charge control section (36), thereby to select one of the charge modes.

Abstract: A battery discharge gas control system, which releases a hydrogen gas generated from the battery assembly when the battery assembly is charged and discharged, is capable of keeping the battery structure highly resistant to water or humidity. The battery discharge gas control system has a battery having a gas release port, a passage connected to the gas release port, a control valve connected to the passage, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the passage, and a control circuit for opening the control valve to release a gas generated by the battery from the passage, depending on the pressure in the passage as detected by the pressure sensor. During a period of time in which no hydrogen gas is generated or a generated hydrogen gas is not plenty enough to be released while the battery is being charged or discharged, the passage is closed for thereby keeping the battery structure highly resistant to water or humidity.