Abstract: A hybrid vehicle can travel using outputs from an engine and a second motor-generator. A first motor-generator can generate electric power for charging a plurality of DC power supplies using the output from the engine during vehicle traveling or during a vehicle stop. A power supply system includes a power converter connected across the DC power supplies and an electric power line connected in common to the first and second motor-generators. A control device generates operation commands for the first and second motor-generators and the engine so as to ensure driving request power based on a vehicle traveling condition and charging/discharging request power for the DC power supplies as a whole. The setting of the charging/discharging request power is switched in accordance with an operation mode of the power converter.

Abstract: A power supply system includes first and second DC power supplies and a power converter. The power converter includes first and third semiconductor elements electrically connected between respective nodes of a first node and a second node and a power line, second and fourth semiconductor elements electrically connected between respective nodes of the first node and the second node and a second power line, a fifth semiconductor element electrically connected between the first and second nodes, and first and second reactors. The first reactor is electrically connected in series with the first DC power supply, between the first node and the second power line. The second reactor is electrically connected in series with the second DC power supply, between the second power line and the second node. A control device controls on and off of the switching element included in the semiconductor element.

Abstract: A core has first to third magnetic leg portions. First and second windings wound on the first and second magnetic leg portions, respectively, are connected in series to constitute a first reactor. A third winding wound on the third magnetic leg portion constitutes a second reactor. A magnetic field produced from the first reactor and a magnetic field produced from the second reactor reinforce each other in the second magnetic leg portion, but weaken each other in the first magnetic leg portion. In accordance with increase in currents, the operation of the first and second reactors changes from a magnetically uncoupled mode in which the first and second reactors operate in a magnetically non-interfering state to a magnetically coupled mode in which the first and second reactors operate in a magnetically interfering state.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller. When a brake operation amount has increased, the controller calculates an estimated input value at the time when a main battery is charged in response to an increase in the brake operation amount, on the basis of a current speed and an amount of increase in brake operation amount. The controller discharges the main battery for charging an auxiliary battery at a current value that is calculated on the basis of the estimated input value by controlling an operation of a DC-DC converter before charging the main battery in response to an increase in the brake operation amount. Thus, it is possible to cancel a bias of salt concentration that is developed during charging by a bias of salt concentration that is developed during discharging, so, after the main battery has been charged, it is possible to suppress development of a bias of the salt concentration and suppress an increase in the internal resistance value of the main battery.

Abstract: A secondary battery is implemented as an assembly of a plurality of battery modules. An ECU calculates a deterioration indicator quantitatively indicating a degree of deterioration of a battery module for each of the plurality of battery modules, and detects as a module to be replaced, a battery module of which deterioration indicator has reached a prescribed replacement level. The ECU further extracts a module to additionally be replaced, which should be replaced simultaneously with the module to be replaced above, from battery modules of which deterioration indicator has not reached the replacement level, among the plurality of battery modules.

Abstract: A power source system (5) includes a direct current power source (10), a direct current power source (20), and a power converter (50) having a plurality of switching elements (S1-S4) and reactors (L1, L2). The power converter (50) performs a direct current voltage conversion between the direct current power sources (10, 20) and a power source line (PL) in parallel by controlling the switching elements (S1-S4). Each of the switching elements (S1-S4) is disposed to be included in both a power conversion path formed between the direct current power source (10) and the power source line (PL), and a power conversion path formed between the direct current power source (20) and the power source line (PL).

Abstract: An electrical source control apparatus controls a vehicle traveling by using a source system including a first source performing input/output of first power and a second source performing input/output of second power, capacity of the second source is smaller than that of the first source and output of the second source is larger than that of the first source. The apparatus has a controller programmed to select a first driving mode which prioritizes a fuel efficiency over a driving performance and a second driving mode which prioritizes the driving performance over the fuel efficiency based on a characteristic required for the vehicle from driving modes having different ratios of the first power with respect to a required power required for the source system, and control the first and second sources such that the input/output of the first power is performed in accordance with the ratio of the selected driving mode.

Abstract: The power supply system includes a first DC power source, a second DC power source, and a power converter having a plurality of switching elements and reactors. The power converter is configured to be switchable, by the control of the plurality of switching elements, between a parallel connection mode in which DC voltage conversion is executed with the DC power sources connected in parallel with a power line and a series connection mode in which DC voltage conversion is executed with the DC power sources connected in series with the power line. Each of the switching elements is arranged to be included both in a power conversion path between the first DC power source and the power line PL and a power conversion path between the second DC power source and the power line.

Abstract: An operation mode selection unit selects an operation mode of a power converter and generates a mode selection signal indicating the result of selection, in accordance with a load condition and a power supply condition. An operation mode switching control unit generates a mode control signal designating an operation mode of the power converter. When the operation mode currently selected by the mode control signal is different from an operation mode indicated by the mode selection signal, the operation mode switching control unit adjusts a power distribution ratio between a plurality of DC power supplies or an output voltage on an electric power line so as not to change abruptly, and then permits a transition of operation mode.

Abstract: A power converter has a series direct connection mode of keeping on/off of a plurality of switching elements to maintain the state where first and second DC power supplies different in amount of voltage change with respect to input/output of the same amount of electric power are connected in series with an electric power line connected to a load, and a voltage controlling mode of controlling an output voltage on the electric power line to be a voltage command value by controlling on/off of the plurality of switching elements. In the voltage controlling mode, between time tx and ta, the sum of voltages of the first and second DC power supplies is matched with the voltage command value by controlling the output voltage by means of charging/discharging between the first and second DC power supplies. After time ta, the series direct connection mode is applied.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle can travel using outputs from an engine and a second motor-generator. A first motor-generator can generate electric power for charging a plurality of DC power supplies using the output from the engine during vehicle traveling or during a vehicle stop. A power supply system includes a power converter connected across the DC power supplies and an electric power line connected in common to the first and second motor-generators. A control device generates operation commands for the first and second motor-generators and the engine so as to ensure driving request power based on a vehicle traveling condition and charging/discharging request power for the DC power supplies as a whole. The setting of the charging/discharging request power is switched in accordance with an operation mode of the power converter.

Abstract: An electrical source control apparatus controls a vehicle which travels by using an electrical source system including a first electrical source and a second electrical source. The electrical source control apparatus has: a controlling device for controlling the first and second electrical sources to set a residual power level of the first electrical source equal to first target amount and to set a residual power level of the second electrical source equal to second target amount, and a setting device for setting the first and second target amounts such that each of the first and second target amounts becomes smaller as a speed of the vehicle becomes larger. The setting device sets the first and second target amounts such that a rate of change of the second target amount to the speed is larger than a rate of change of the first target amount to the speed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller. When a brake operation amount has increased, the controller calculates an estimated input value at the time when a main battery is charged in response to an increase in the brake operation amount, on the basis of a current speed and an amount of increase in brake operation amount. The controller discharges the main battery for charging an auxiliary battery at a current value that is calculated on the basis of the estimated input value by controlling an operation of a DC-DC converter before charging the main battery in response to an increase in the brake operation amount. Thus, it is possible to cancel a bias of salt concentration that is developed during charging by a bias of salt concentration that is developed during discharging, so, after the main battery has been charged, it is possible to suppress development of a bias of the salt concentration and suppress an increase in the internal resistance value of the main battery.

Abstract: An operation mode selection unit selects an efficiency priority mode for minimizing the overall loss in a power supply system based on a load request voltage obtained in accordance with the condition of a load and on the conditions of DC power supplies, and generates a mode selection signal in accordance with the selection result. When SOC and/or output power have/has reached power supply restriction values in any DC power supply, an operation mode modification unit generates a final mode selection instructing signal so as to modify selection of the efficiency priority mode by the mode selection signal to select an operation mode in which power distribution between the DC power supplies can be controlled.

Abstract: A degradation determination device includes: a measuring unit measuring an open-circuit voltage characteristic indicating an open-circuit voltage variation with respect to a lithium ion secondary battery capacity variation; and a determining unit determining a degradation state due to wear and precipitation of lithium using a parameter for identifying the open-circuit voltage characteristic that substantially coincides with the measured open-circuit voltage characteristic.

Abstract: An electrical power converter is configured to perform an electrical power conversion with two electricity storage apparatuses, the electrical power converter has: four switching elements which are electrically connected in series and which are housed in the electrical power converter such that the four switching elements are located at four corners of a planar quadrangular region respectively; a first conductive path which electrically connects a first and second switching elements among the four switching elements; and a second conductive path which electrically connects a third and fourth switching elements among the four switching elements, wherein the second conductive path intersects with the first conductive path in a planar view.

Abstract: A system for controlling precipitation and dissolution of a reaction-related substance that is a substance relating to a battery reaction in a secondary battery and that includes a first electrical storage device, a second electrical storage device and a controller. The first electrical storage device is the secondary battery. The second electrical storage device is different from the first electrical storage device. The controller is configured to control an exchange of electric power between the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device. The controller is configured to, when the reaction-related substance has precipitated on a negative electrode of the first electrical storage device, charge the second electrical storage device with at least part of electric power that is discharged from the first electrical storage device. Thus, the controller raises a potential of the negative electrode to a potential higher than a potential of the reaction-related substance.

Abstract: A magnetic component has a core on which windings are wound. The windings are electrically connected in series to constitute a coil of a first reactor. The winding constitutes a coil of a second reactor. The core has a leg portion on which the winding is wound, a leg portion on which the winding is wound, and a leg portion on which the winding is wound. When a current flows through the windings, magnetic fluxes produced from the windings, respectively, and flowing through the winding counteract each other. Furthermore, when a current flows through the winding, induced voltages produced from the windings, respectively, by the magnetic flux produced by the winding counteract each other.

Abstract: A secondary battery system comprises a secondary battery which receives regenerative electric power from a motor, a heat storage unit (heat storage device) which converts a part of electric power stored in the secondary battery or the regenerative electric power from the motor into heat and stores the heat, and which supplies the stored heat to the secondary battery when a temperature of the secondary battery is less than a low-temperature-side threshold value which is set in advance when the electric power is extracted from the secondary battery, and an electric power distribution controller (ECU) which distributes the regenerative electric power from the motor to the secondary battery and the heat storage unit (heat storage device) when the temperature of the secondary battery is less than the low-temperature-side threshold value when the secondary battery receives the regenerative electric power from the motor.

Abstract: An MPU performs a degradation diagnosis based on an open circuit voltage characteristic of a rechargeable lithium ion battery indicating how the battery varies in open circuit voltage as the battery varies in capacity to obtain a capacity ratio of a positive electrode, a capacity ratio of a negative electrode, and a deviated capacity of the battery. The MPU applies the capacity ratio of the positive electrode and the capacity ratio of the negative electrode to a predetermined map for degradation attributed to wear to estimate a deviated capacity resulting from degradation attributed to wear and separates the deviated capacity into the deviated capacity resulting from degradation attributed to wear and a deviated capacity resulting from deposition of lithium. The MPU uses at least the deviated capacity resulting from deposition of lithium to determine whether a rechargeable lithium ion battery subject to determination of degradation is reusable and/or recyclable.