Dc-dc converter for electric vehicle
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsCheolwoo PAK, Woosup KIM
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A direct-current to direct-current (DC-DC) converter is provided for use in an electric vehicle. The DC-DC converter is configured to be used as either a resonant converter or a PWM converter in the electric vehicle. For example, the DC-DC converter may operate as a resonant converter in which a current is sequentially applied through a first conversion unit, a resonant tank, a transformation unit, and a second conversion unit. The DC-DC converter may further operate as a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter in which a current is sequentially applied through the second conversion unit, the transformation unit, and a third conversion unit.
Claims20
A direct-current to direct-current (DC-DC) converter comprising:
- a first converter;
- a resonant tank coupled to the first converter;
- a second converter;
- a third converter;
- and
- a transformer having a first side coupled to the resonant tank and the third converter, and a second side coupled to the second converter,
- wherein, based on a first direct current (DC) being input to the DC-DC converter:
- the first converter is configured to receive the first DC and convert the received first DC into a first alternating current (AC);
- the resonant tank is configured to receive the first AC from the first converter and adjust a frequency of the first AC;
- the transformer is configured to receive and transform the first AC with the adjusted frequency into a second AC having a charging voltage for a main battery of an electric vehicle, and output the second AC to the second converter;
- and
- the second converter is configured to convert the second AC having the charging voltage for the main battery into a second DC for charging the main battery;
- and
- wherein, based on a third DC being input from the main battery:
- the second converter is configured to receive the third DC from the main battery and convert the third DC into a third AC;
- the transformer is configured to receive and transform the third AC into a fourth AC having a specific voltage, and output the fourth AC to the third converter;
- and
- the third converter is configured to receive the fourth AC and convert the fourth AC into a fourth DC to be supplied to one or more devices located in the electric vehicle.
A method of reversibly operating a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter, comprising:
- based on a first direct current (DC) being input to the DC-DC converter in a first direction,
- converting, using a first converter, the first direct current (DC) to a first alternating current (AC);
- adjusting, using a resonant tank, a frequency of the first AC;
- transforming, using a transformer, the first AC with the adjusted frequency into a second AC;
- and
- converting, using a second converter, the second AC into a second DC, and based on a third DC being input to the DC-DC converter in a second direction reverse to the first direction,
- converting, using the second converter, the third DC into a third AC;
- transforming, using the transformer, the third AC to a fourth AC;
- and
- converting, using a third converter, the fourth AC to a fourth DC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.