# US 12,224,606 B2 · Control apparatus and control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,606 B2 - Document ID: US12224606B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/915,853 - Filed: 2021-03-30 - Published: 2023-06-01 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-10 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Toshimitsu Kai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224606B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/62: against overcurrent - H02H 9/001: {limiting speed of change of electric quantities, e.g. soft switching on or off (progressive control of electronic switches for eliminating interferences H03K17/16)} - H02J 1/001: {Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks} - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - H02J 7/585: {Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries} - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - H02J 7/933: {the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters} - H02J 7/94: in response to battery current - H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage - H02H 1/043: {to inrush currents (H02H1/046 takes precedence; differential protection of transformers H02H7/045)} - H02H 7/16: for capacitors (for synchronous capacitors H02H7/06) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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) ## Abstract An object of the present technique is to favorably prevent an excess current upon initial charging of a capacitor for assisting power supply. A control unit is provided that controls a power system in which a power supply is connected to a load via a power supply line, a capacitor for assisting power supply is connected to the power supply line via a first switch, and the capacitor is configured to be charged while being subjected to current limitation due to intermittent driving by a switching power supply using the power supply as input. The control unit is configured to control the switching power supply so that an output voltage thereof becomes equal to a voltage of the power supply line and to control the first switch from an off-state to an on-state after charging of the capacitor is completed to connect the capacitor to the power supply line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus, comprising: a control unit configured to; control a power system that comprises: a power supply connected to a load via a power supply line; a capacitor configured to assist the power supply, wherein the capacitor is connected to the power supply line via a first switch, the capacitor is configured to be charged based on current limitation due to an intermittent driving operation by a switching power supply, and the switching power supply is configured to use the power supply as input; and a second switch between the switching power supply and the capacitor; control an output voltage of the switching power supply to become equal to a voltage of the power supply line; control the first switch from an off-state of the first switch to an on-state of the first switch after completion of a charging operation of the capacitor; control the second switch from an off-state of the second switch to an on-state of the second switch based on start of the charging operation of the capacitor; control the second switch from the on-state of the second switch to the off-state of the second switch based on the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor; and based on the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor, control output of the switching power supply from an on-state to an off-state after the second switch is controlled from the on-state of the second switch to the off-state of the second switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to based on the start of the charging operation of the capacitor by the switching power supply, control the output of the switching power supply from the off-state to the on-state after the second switch is controlled from the off-state of the second switch to the on-state of the second switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power system further includes a first voltage detecting unit configured to detect the voltage of the power supply line, and the control unit is further configured to control the output voltage of the switching power supply to become equal to the voltage of the power supply line based on a first detection result of the first voltage detecting unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the power system further includes a current converter configured to; input a current to a feedback line of the switching power supply; and output the current from the feedback line of the switching power supply, and the control unit is further configured to; calculate a current operation amount of the feedback line of the switching power supply based on the first detection result of the first voltage detecting unit; instruct the current converter to input the current operation amount to the feedback line; and instruct the current converter to output the current operation amount from the feedback line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power system further includes a second voltage detecting unit configured to detect a charge voltage of the capacitor, and the control unit is further configured to determine, based on a second detection result of the second voltage detecting unit, the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power system further includes a third switch between the power supply line and the switching power supply, and the control unit is further configured to; based on the start of the charging operation of the capacitor by the switching power supply, control the third switch from an off-state of the third switch to an on-state of the third switch; and based on the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor, control the third switch from the on-state of the third switch to the off-state of the third switch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power system further includes a hot-swap circuit configured to perform hot-swapping operation to switch from a first state where a first power supply as the power supply is connected to the power supply line to a second state where a second power supply as the power supply is connected to the power supply line or to a third state where the first power supply and the second power supply are connected in parallel, and the control unit is further configured to; control the hot-swap circuit to perform the hot-swapping operation after the first switch is controlled from the on-state of the first switch to the off-state of the first switch; control the capacitor to be charged; and control the first switch from the off-state of the first switch to the on-state of the first switch after the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: control the first switch from the on-state of the first switch to the off-state of the first switch in a case where the load does not require assistance by the capacitor; control the capacitor to be charged in a case where the load requires the assistance by the capacitor; and control the first switch from the off-state of the first switch to the on-state of the first switch after the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power system further includes: a fourth switch configured to connect the power supply to the power supply line; and a discharge circuit configured to discharge an electric charge of the capacitor, and the control unit is further configured to; based on occurrence of an abnormality in the load, control the fourth switch from an on-state of the fourth switch to an off-state of the fourth switch and control the first switch from the on-state of the first switch to the off-state of the first switch; and control the electric charge of the capacitor to be discharged by the discharge circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to be supplied power from the power supply via the power supply line and power from the capacitor in parallel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a battery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor is an EDLC (Electric double-layer capacitor). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load includes a motor constituting a robot. ### Claim 14 A control method of controlling a power system the control method comprising: controlling an output voltage of a switching power supply of the power system to become equal to a voltage of a power supply line of the power system, wherein the power system comprises: a power supply connected to a load via the power supply line; a capacitor configured to assist the power supply, wherein the capacitor is connected to the power supply line via a first switch, and the capacitor is configured to be charged based on current limitation due to an intermittent driving operation by the switching power supply that uses the power supply as input; and a second switch between the switching power supply and the capacitor; controlling the first switch from an off-state of the first switch to an on-state of the first switch after completion of a charging operation of the capacitor; controlling the second switch from an off-state of the second switch to an on-state of the second switch based on start of the charging operation of the capacitor by the switching power supply; controlling the second switch from the on-state of the second switch to the off-state of the second switch based on the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor; and based on the completion of the charging operation of the capacitor, controlling output of the switching power supply from an on-state to an off-state after the second switch is controlled from the on-state of the second switch to the off-state of the second switch.