# US 10,122,271 B2 · Voltage conversion device and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,271 B2 - Document ID: US10122271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/703,991 - Filed: 2017-09-14 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-12 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ryota Kitamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122271B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 3/28: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC - H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)} - H02M 3/33592: {having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a synchronous freewheeling circuit at the secondary side of an isolation transformer} - H02M 1/0025: {Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A voltage conversion device can smoothly switch between a state of performing voltage control and a state of performing current control while maintaining the stability of operation of a voltage conversion unit. A control unit (10) of the voltage conversion device (1) selectively switches the control mode of the voltage conversion unit (3) to a current control mode or a voltage control mode and performs a control process of each control mode. In the voltage control mode, the control unit (10) determines a target current for voltage control according to a voltage deviation and performs the same feedback control process as the current control mode by using the target current to control the voltage conversion unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A voltage conversion device comprising: a voltage conversion unit connected to a power source and configured to be able to output power obtained by converting a voltage of power input from the power source; and a control unit configured to be able to selectively perform a control process of a current control mode in which the voltage conversion unit is operated to control an input current or an output current of the voltage conversion unit, and a control process of a voltage control mode in which the voltage conversion unit is operated to control an input voltage or an output voltage of the voltage conversion unit, wherein the control unit is configured to perform, in the current control mode, a feedback control process for a current control according to a current deviation, which is a deviation between a measured value of the input current of the voltage conversion unit and a first target current, to operate the voltage conversion unit such that the current deviation approaches zero, and the control unit is configured to calculate, in the voltage control mode, the current deviation by using a second target current for voltage control which is a current determined according to a voltage deviation, which is a deviation between a measured value of the input voltage of the voltage conversion unit and a target voltage, and to perform the feedback control process for the current control according to the current deviation calculated by the control unit in the voltage control mode to operate the voltage conversion unit such that the voltage deviation approaches zero. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate, in the voltage control mode, an operational amount for allowing the voltage deviation to approach zero by performing a feedback control process for voltage control according to the voltage deviation, and to determine the second target current for voltage control by using the operational amount calculated by the control unit in the voltage control mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The voltage conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the operational amount calculated by the control unit in the voltage control mode is a correction amount of an output current of the power source, and the control unit is configured to determine the second target current for voltage control by correcting, by the correction amount, a measured value of the output current of the power source or a current value defined in correspondence with a measured value of an output voltage of the power source on the basis of pre-created current-voltage characteristic data indicating a relationship between the output current and the output voltage of the power source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The voltage conversion device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is a power source having current-voltage characteristics such that an output voltage thereof decreases as an output current thereof increases, and the control unit is configured to calculate the correction amount for increasing the output current of the power source when a measured value of the input voltage or the output voltage of the voltage conversion unit is greater than the target voltage, and to calculate the correction amount for decreasing the output current of the power source when the measured value of the input voltage or the output voltage of the voltage conversion unit is smaller than the target voltage, in the voltage control mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a power source having current-voltage characteristics such that a voltage change rate, which is a rate of change of an output voltage thereof with respect to a change of an output current thereof, changes according to the output current, and the control unit is configured to perform a control process of the voltage control mode in a region, within an operating range of the power source, in which the voltage change rate is greater than a current change rate which is a rate of change of the output current of the power source with respect to a change of the output voltage thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a fuel cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus comprising the voltage conversion device according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The voltage conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the power source is a power source having current-voltage characteristics such that a voltage change rate, which is a rate of change of an output voltage thereof with respect to a change of an output current thereof, changes according to the output current, and the control unit is configured to perform a control process of the voltage control mode in a region, within an operating range of the power source, in which the voltage change rate is greater than a current change rate which is a rate of change of the output current of the power source with respect to a change of the output voltage thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The voltage conversion device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is a power source having current-voltage characteristics such that a voltage change rate, which is a rate of change of an output voltage thereof with respect to a change of an output current thereof, changes according to the output current, and the control unit is configured to perform a control process of the voltage control mode in a region, within an operating range of the power source, in which the voltage change rate is greater than a current change rate which is a rate of change of the output current of the power source with respect to a change of the output voltage thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The voltage conversion device according to claim 4, wherein the power source is a power source having current-voltage characteristics such that a voltage change rate, which is a rate of change of an output voltage thereof with respect to a change of an output current thereof, changes according to the output current, and the control unit is configured to perform a control process of the voltage control mode in a region, within an operating range of the power source, in which the voltage change rate is greater than a current change rate which is a rate of change of the output current of the power source with respect to a change of the output voltage thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The voltage conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the power source is a fuel cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The voltage conversion device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is a fuel cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The voltage conversion device according to claim 4, wherein the power source is a fuel cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The voltage conversion device according to claim 5, wherein the power source is a fuel cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) An apparatus comprising the voltage conversion device according to claim 2. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) An apparatus comprising the voltage conversion device according to claim 3. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) An apparatus comprising the voltage conversion device according to claim 4. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) An apparatus comprising the voltage conversion device according to claim 5. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) An apparatus comprising the voltage conversion device according to claim 6. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The voltage conversion device according to claim 8, wherein the power source is a fuel cell.