Multiple power source system and apparatus, motor driving apparatus, and hybrid vehicle with multiple power source system mounted thereon

A multiple power source system that supplies an electric power to a three-phase motor, said three-phase motor having Δ-connected windings,

• said multiple power source system comprising:
• a first direct current power source that is chargeable;
• a power control circuit that is disposed between said first direct current power source and the Δ-connected windings of said three-phase motor and has switching elements, which are switched on and off to supply an electric power output from said first direct current power source to said three-phase motor;
• a second direct current power source outputting the voltage that is lower than that of said first direct current power source, and a unit that prevents the first direct current power source from being charged with electric power output from said second direct current power source while said switching elements are switched off wherein one terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a terminal of said first direct current power source having an identical polarity, and the other terminal of said second direct current power source is connected to one terminal of the Δ-connected windings in said three-phase motor;
• and
• a charge unit that controls switch-on and -off operations of a specific switching element that is connected to a specific winding, to which one terminal of said second direct current power source is not directly connected, in order to step up a voltage using the specific winding of said three-phase motor when a lack of power supplied from said first direct current power source is detected, before said first direct current power source drives said three phase-phase motor, thereby causing said first direct current power source to be charged with an electric power output from said second direct current power source.

An apparatus comprising an engine that is directly driven by means of a fuel and outputs a power to an output shaft, a three-phase motor that is connected with said output shaft of said engine and has Y-connected windings, and a multiple power source system that supplies an electric power to said three-phase motor,

• said multiple power source system comprising:
• a first direct current power source that outputs an electric power for driving said three-phase motor;
• a power control circuit that is disposed between said first direct current power source and the Y-connected windings of said three-phase motor and has switching elements, which are switched on and off to supply the electric power output from said first direct current power source to said three-phase motor;
• and
• a second direct current power source that is different from said first direct current power source and is used to control said apparatus,
• wherein one terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a terminal of said first direct current power source having an identical polarity, and
• the other terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a neutral point of the Y-connected windings in said three-phase motor,
• said apparatus further comprising:
• a start control unit that drives said three-phase motor to start said engine;
• and
• a start-time charge unit that, when a remaining charge of said first direct current power source is insufficient for driving said three-phase motor to start said engine, controls switching-on and -off operations of a specific switching element, which is connected to a specific winding selected among the Y-connected windings of said three-phase motor, at a time of starting said three-phase motor, in order to step up a voltage using the specific winding, thereby causing said first direct current power source to be charged with an electric power output from said second direct current power source.

A vehicle comprising a three-phase motor that drives a compressor of an air conditioner and has Y-connected windings, and a multiple power source system that functions as a power source of said three-phase motor,

• said multiple power source system comprising:
• a first direct current power source that is a high-power capacitor to drive said three-phase motor;
• a power control circuit that is disposed between said first direct current power source and the Y-connected windings of said three-phase motor and has switching elements, which are switched on and of f to supply an electric power output from said first direct current power source to said three-phase motor;
• and
• a second direct current power source that is used to control said vehicle,
• wherein one terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a terminal of said first direct current power source having an identical polarity, and
• the other terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a neutral point of the Y-connected windings in said three-phase motor,
• said vehicle further comprising:
• a start control unit that starts said three-phase motor with an electric charge accumulated in said first direct current power source;
• and
• a start-time charge unit that, when the electric charge accumulated in said first direct current power source is insufficient for starting said three-phase motor, controls switching-on and -off operations of a specific switching element, which is connected to a specific winding selected among the Y-connected windings of said three-phase motor, at a time of starting said three-phase motor, in order to step up a voltage using the specific winding, thereby causing said first direct current power source to be charged with an electric power output from said second direct current power source.

A motor driving apparatus that drives a three-phase motor with an electric power output from a multiple power source system,

• said three-phase motor having Y-connected windings,
• said multiple power source system comprising:
• a first direct current power source;
• a power control circuit that is disposed between said first direct current power source and the Y-connected windings of said three-phase motor and has switching elements, which are switched on and off to supply an electric power output from said first direct current power source to said three-phase motor;
• and
• a second direct current power source that is different from said first direct current power source,
• wherein one terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a terminal of said first direct current power source having an identical polarity, and
• the other terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a neutral point of the Y-connected windings in said three-phase motor,
• said motor driving apparatus further comprising:
• a first motor drive unit that causes said power control circuit to drive said three-phase motor by means of said first direct current power source;
• and
• a second motor drive unit that independently switches on and off the switching elements that are connected to power lines of the connection of said first direct current power source with said second direct current power source, and unipolar driving said three-phase motor by means of said second direct current power source.

A motor driving apparatus that drives a three-phase motor with an electric power output from a multiple power source system,

• said three-phase motor having Δ-connected windings,
• said multiple power source system comprising:
• a first direct current power source;
• a power control circuit that is disposed between said first direct current power source and the Δ-connected windings of said three-phase motor and has switching elements, which are switched on and off to supply an electric power output from said first direct current power source to said three-phase motor;
• and
• a second direct current power source that is different from said first direct current power source,
• wherein one terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a terminal of said first direct current power source having an identical polarity, and
• the other terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with one terminal of the Δ-connected windings,
• said motor driving apparatus further comprising:
• a first motor drive unit that causes said power control circuit to drive said three-phase motor by means of said first direct current power source;
• and
• a second motor drive unit that independently switches on and off switching elements, to which the other terminal of said second direct current power source is not directly connected, among the switching elements that are connected to power lines of the connection of said first direct current power source with said second direct current power source, and irregular unipolar driving said three-phase motor by means of said second direct current power source.

A hybrid vehicle comprising an engine that is mounted thereon and directly driven with a fuel, a three-phase motor that works as a power source to drive said hybrid vehicle, a multiple power source system that supplies an electric power to said three-phase motor, and a motor driving apparatus that drives said three-phase motor,

• said three-phase motor having Y-connected windings,
• said multiple power source system comprising:
• a first direct current power source;
• a power control circuit that is disposed between said first direct current power source and the Y-connected windings of said three-phase motor and has switching elements, which are switched on and off to supply an electric power output from said first direct current power source to said three-phase motor;
• and
• a second direct current power source that is different from said first direct current power source,
• wherein one terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a terminal of said first direct current power source having an identical polarity, and
• the other terminal of said second direct current power source is connected with a neutral point of the Y-connected windings in said three-phase motor,
• said motor driving apparatus comprising:
• a first motor drive unit that causes said power control circuit to drive said three-phase motor by means of said first direct current power source;
• and
• a second motor drive unit that independently switches on and off the switching elements that are connected to power lines of the connection of said first direct current power source with said second direct current power source, and unipolar driving said three-phase motor by means of said second direct current power source,
• said three-phase motor being connected with either one of a drive shaft of said hybrid vehicle and a rotating shaft of said engine,
• said drive shaft being driven according to a driving state of said hybrid vehicle with at least one of a power output from said engine and a power output from said three-phase motor.