Energy transfer unit, charge unit, and power supply unit

The charge unit for charging a plurality of objects to be charged comprising:

• an energy transfer unit to be connected to a plurality of energy storage means, the energy transfer unit comprising a plurality of series-connected circuits each including a winding and switching means connected in series to each other, the plurality of series-connected circuits connected in parallel to the plurality of energy storage means, respectively,
• wherein the plurality of windings are magnetically coupled to each other;
• the plurality of switching means are switching-controlled in synchronous with each other;
• and
• the plurality of series-circuits are connected in parallel to both ends of each of the plurality of objects to be charged respectively.

A power supply unit comprising:

• an energy transfer unit to be connected to a plurality of energy storage means, the energy transfer unit comprising a plurality of series-connected circuits each including a winding and switching means connected in series to each other, the plurality of series-connected circuits connected in parallel to the plurality of energy storage means, respectively,
• wherein the plurality of windings are magnetically coupled to each other;
• the plurality of switching means are switching-controlled in synchronous with each other;
• and
• the plurality of energy storage means are composed of either a capacitor or a secondary battery respectively, and
• the storage energy in predetermined one of the energy storage means are distributed into other energy storage means.

A charge unit capable of charging storage means formed by connecting a plurality of storage elements in series, the charge unit comprising:

• a transformer having a first winding and a plurality of second windings provided to correspond to the plurality of storage elements respectively, the first winding magnetically coupled to the plurality of second windings;
• and
• switching means connected in series to the first winding of the transformer and the storage means, the switching means for charging the storage means and exciting the transformer by supplying a current via the first winding of the transformer when the switching means as controlled into an ON state;
• wherein a current generated based on an exciting energy of the transformer excited in an ON period of the switching means are output from the plurality of second windings to the plurality of corresponding storage elements in an OFF period of the switching means respectively.

An energy transfer unit to be connected to first to N-th energy storage means, the energy transfer unit comprising:

• N of first current paths, where N is a natural number, the N of first current paths each comprising at least a first winding and first switching means connected in series to each other, the first to N-th first current paths being connected in parallel to the first to N-th energy storage means respectively, the N of first windings being magnetically coupled to each other, and the N of first switching means being switching-controlled in synchronous with each other respectively;
• and
• N of second current paths each comprising at least a second winding and second switching means connected in series to each other, and the first to N-th second current paths being connected in parallel to the first to N-th energy storage means respectively,
• wherein the N of second windings in the first to N-th second current paths are magnetically coupled to each other, and turn ratios of the second windings to the corresponding first windings in the first to N-th first current paths are set equal mutually, and
• the N of second switching means are controlled synchronously and switched into an ON state in an OFF period of the first switching means.

The charge unit comprising:

• an energy transfer unit to be connected to first to N-th energy storage means, the energy transfer unit comprising:
• N of first current paths, where N is a natural number, the N of first current paths each comprising at least a first winding and first switching means connected in series to each other, the first to N-th first current paths being connected in parallel to the first to N-th energy storage means respectively, the N of first windings being magnetically coupled to each other, and the N of first switching means being switching-controlled in synchronous with each other respectively;
• and
• N of second current paths each comprising at least a second winding and second switching means connected in series to each other, and the first to N-th second current paths being connected in parallel to the first to N-th energy storage means respectively,
• wherein the N of second windings in the first to N-th second current paths are magnetically coupled to each other, and turn ratios of the second windings to the corresponding first windings in the first to N-th first current paths are set equal mutually;
• the N of second switching means are controlled synchronously and switched into an ON state in an OFF period of the first switching means;
• and
• the first current paths and the second current paths are connected in parallel to both ends of each of N of charged objects as the energy storage means respectively.

A power supply unit comprising:

• an energy transfer unit to be connected to first to N-th energy storage means, the energy transfer unit comprising:
• N of first current paths, where N is a natural number, the N of first current paths each comprising at least a first winding and first switching means connected in series to each other, the first to N-th first current paths being connected in parallel to the first to N-th energy storage means respectively, the N of first windings being magnetically coupled to each other, and the N of first switching means being switching-controlled in synchronous with each other respectively;
• and
• N of second current paths each comprising at least a second winding and second switching means connected in series to each other, and the first to N-th second current paths being connected in parallel to the first to N-th energy storage means respectively,
• wherein the N of second windings in the first to N-th second current paths are magnetically coupled to each other, and turn ratios of the second windings to the corresponding first windings in the first to N-th first current paths are set equal mutually;
• the N of second switching means are controlled synchronously and switched into an ON state in an OFF period of the first switching means;
• and
• wherein the energy storage means is either a capacitor or a secondary battery arranged on an output side, and storage energy in predetermined one or plural energy storage means are distributed into remaining energy storage means.

A voltage uniforming unit for uniforming inter-terminal voltages of a plurality of storage elements connected in series into a substantially equal voltage mutually by supplying an energy to the storage elements respectively, the series-connected unit comprising:

• a transformer having an input winding connected to a DC power supply, the transformer having a plurality of output windings wound at substantially the same number of turns mutually;
• a switching means series-connected to the input winding;
• a plurality of uni-directional elements connected between the cutout windings and the storage elements respectively to supply storage energy of the transformer to the storage elements;
• and
• a voltage detecting means for detecting respective inter-terminal voltages of the plurality of series-connected storage elements.

A voltage uniforming unit for uniforming inter-terminal voltages of a plurality of series-connected storage elements into a substantially equal voltage mutually by supplying an energy to the storage elements respectively, the series-connected unit comprising:

• a transformer having an input winding connected to a DC power supply, and the transformer having a plurality of output windings wound at substantially the same number of turns mutually;
• a switching means series-connected to the input winding of the transformer;
• a plurality of uni-directional elements connected between the output windings of the transformer and the storage elements respectively to supply storage energy of the transformer to the storage elements;
• and
• a current detecting means for detecting currents supplied to the storage elements via the uni-directional elements.