# US 10,122,208 B2 · Power device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,208 B2 - Document ID: US10122208B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/428,296 - Filed: 2017-02-09 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-20 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Akira Higashide; Hiroki Matsushita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122208B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - G01R 19/16576: {comparing DC or AC voltage with one threshold (G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533 and G01R19/1659 take precedence)} - G01R 31/3835: involving only voltage measurements - H02H 9/004: {in connection with live-insertion of plug-in units (involving communication with a central processing unit G06F13/40)} - H02J 1/001: {Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks} - H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells - H02J 7/56: Active balancing, e.g. using capacitor-based, inductor-based or DC-DC converters - H02J 7/60: including safety or protection arrangements - H02J 7/685: {using connection detecting circuits (H02J7/68 takes precedence)} - H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads} - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 7/62: against overcurrent - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Disclosed is a power device including a connector, a power supply unit, a switch unit, a connector-side voltage detector, a connection determiner, and a switch controller. A battery is detachably connected to the connector. The power supply unit is provided between the connector and external equipment. The switch unit is provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off state unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit. The connector-side voltage detector detects a voltage of the connector-side of the switch unit. The connection determiner determines whether the battery is connected to the connector on the basis of the connector-side voltage. The switch controller controls the switch unit such that electric power is supplied unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit when the battery is connected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power device comprising: a connector detachably connected to a battery; a power supply unit provided between the connector and external equipment to supply electric power to the external equipment; a switch unit provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit; a connector-side voltage detector configured to detect a voltage of the connector side of the switch unit; a connection determiner configured to determine whether or not the battery is connected to the connector on the basis of the connector side voltage detected by the connector-side voltage detector; and a switch controller configured to control the switch unit such that electric power is supplied unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit when the connection determiner determines that the battery is connected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit-side voltage detector configured to detect a power supply unit-side voltage of the switch unit, wherein the switch unit is provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states bidirectionally between the connector and the power supply unit, and the switch controller determines whether or not the connector-side voltage detected by the connector-side voltage detector and the power supply unit-side voltage detected by the power supply unit-side voltage detector satisfy a predetermined relationship, and controls the switch unit such that electric power is supplied bidirectionally between the power supply unit and the connector depending on a result of the determination. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power device according to claim 2, further comprising a voltage controller configured to change the power supply unit-side voltage such that the relationship is satisfied if the switch controller determines that the relationship is not satisfied. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The power device according to claim 2, further comprising a power supply unit-side voltage detector configured to detect the power supply unit-side voltage of the switch unit, wherein, when the connection determiner determines that the battery is connected, the switch controller determines whether or not the connector-side voltage detected by the connector-side voltage detector and the power supply unit-side voltage detected by the power supply unit-side voltage detector satisfy a predetermined first relationship, and controls the switch unit such that electric power is supplied unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit depending on a result of the determination. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The power device according to claim 4, further comprising a voltage controller configured to change the power supply unit-side voltage such that the first relationship is satisfied if the switch controller determines that the first relationship is not satisfied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power device according to claim 5, wherein the switch unit is provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states bidirectionally between the connector and the power supply unit, and the switch controller determines whether or not the connector-side voltage detected by the connector-side voltage detector and the power supply unit-side voltage detected by the power supply unit-side voltage detector satisfy a predetermined second relationship, and controls the switch unit such that electric power is supplied bidirectionally between the power supply unit and the connector depending on a result of the determination. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power device according to claim 6, wherein the voltage controller changes the power supply unit-side voltage such that the second relationship is satisfied if the switch controller determines that the second relationship is not satisfied. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power device according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit has a first switch provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states bidirectionally between the connector and the power supply unit, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit, the switch controller supplies electric power unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit by setting the first switch in the power cut-off state and setting the second switch in the power supply state, and the switch controller supplies electric power bidirectionally between the power supply unit and the connector by setting the first switch in the power supply state and setting the second switch in the power cut-off state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power device according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit has a first switch provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states unidirectionally from the power supply unit to the connector, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit, the switch controller supplies electric power unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit by setting the first switch in the power cut-off state and setting the second switch in the power supply state, and the switch controller supplies electric power bidirectionally between the power supply unit and the connector by setting the first and second switches in the power supply state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of groups of the connectors and the switch units are provided, and the switch controller controls the switch units corresponding to all of the connectors connected to the battery such that electric power is supplied unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit if the connection determiner determines that the battery is connected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of groups of the connectors and the switch units are provided, and if the connection determiner determines that the battery is connected, the switch controller determines whether or not the power supply unit-side voltage is higher for the connector-side voltages and the power supply unit-side voltages of the switch units corresponding to all of the connectors connected to the battery, and controls the switch units corresponding to all of the connectors connected to the battery such that electric power is supplied unidirectionally from the connector to the power supply unit depending on a result of the determination. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The power device according to claim 11, wherein the switch unit is provided to change over between power supply and power cut-off states unidirectionally from the power supply unit to the connector, and the switch controller receives operation for selecting a group for which charging is preferentially performed out of the plurality of groups, controls the switch unit of the group selected through the operation such that electric power is supplied unidirectionally from the power supply unit to the connector, and controls the switch unit of the group not selected through the operation such that electric power is cut off.