# US 11,909,253 B2 · Power supply circuit

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,909,253 B2
- Document ID: US11909253B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/592,549
- Filed: 2022-02-04
- Published: 2022-08-18
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-16
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Manabu Mitani; Akinori Kita; Sadao Shinohara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909253B2

## CPC

- H02J 9/002: {in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine}
- H02J 1/086: {for providing alternative feeding paths between load or loads and source or sources when the main path fails}
- H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence)
- H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices}
- H02J 7/443: {using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors (identification by mechanical connections H02J7/751)}
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery}
- H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially
- H02J 2207/50: Charging of capacitors, supercapacitors, ultra-capacitors or double layer capacitors
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

## Abstract

A power supply circuit supplies power from a first battery to a first load. The first load includes a capacitor that needs to be charged before activation. The power supply circuit includes: a main circuit that supplies power from the first battery to the first load; and a backup circuit having a precharge circuit for charging the capacitor and that supplies power from the first battery to the first load. When charging the capacitor, power is supplied from the first battery to the first load by using the backup circuit. After charging of the capacitor is completed, power is supplied from the first battery to the first load by using the main circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power supply circuit for supplying power from a first power source and a second power source to a first load, wherein the first power source and the second power source are in a parallel configuration, wherein the load includes a capacitor that needs to be charged before activation, the power supply circuit comprising:
a first circuit configured to supply power from the first power source to the load and from the second power source to the load; and
a second circuit configured to supply power from the first power source to the load and from the second power source to the load;
wherein:
the first circuit and the second circuit are provided in parallel with each other;
only one of either the first circuit or the second circuit is provided with a precharge circuit configured to charge the capacitor;
when charging the capacitor, power is supplied from the first power source and the second power source to the load via a circuit that is provided with the precharge circuit provided to only one of the first circuit and the second circuit; and
after charging of the capacitor is completed, power is supplied from the first power source and the second power source to the load via a circuit that is not provided with the precharge circuit provided to only one of the first circuit and the second circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein:
the first circuit is the circuit that is not provided with the precharge circuit;
the second circuit is the circuit that is provided with the precharge circuit; and
when the capacitor is charged in a case in which an abnormality has occurred in the first circuit, power is supplied from the first power source to the load by using the second circuit, and after charging of the capacitor is completed, power is supplied from the second power source to the load by using the second circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a selector configured to connect the precharge circuit to one of the first circuit or the second circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The power supply circuit according to claim 3, further comprising a monitoring unit configured to monitor at least one of a frequency of use or a usage time, of the first circuit and the second circuit,
wherein the monitoring unit connects the precharge circuit to one of the first circuit or the second circuit according to at least one of the frequency of use or the usage time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The power supply circuit according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality is a short-circuit of an electric wire of the first circuit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The power supply circuit according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality is a short-circuit of a bus bar of the first circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The power supply circuit according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality is a blowout of a fuse in the first circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The power supply circuit according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality is a failure of a switch in the first circuit.