Vehicle power supply system

A vehicle power supply system comprising:

• a generator, which is driven by an engine to generate electric power;
• a main power source, to which an ordinary load, such as a lamp or an audio device, is connected;
• an auxiliary power source, which is connected to the generator, wherein the auxiliary power source recovers regenerative electric power, which is generated by the generator at time of deceleration of a vehicle, and the auxiliary power source stores electric power that is generated by the generator through driving of the generator by the engine;
• a first supply circuit, which connects the auxiliary power source to the main power source and the ordinary load through a DC/DC converter;
• a second supply circuit, which is in parallel with the first supply circuit and which connects the auxiliary power source to the main power source and the ordinary load through a switch;
• and
• a control means for controlling operation of the DC/DC converter and operation of the switch, wherein the control means is enabled to select one of:
• a first control state, in which the DC/DC converter is driven, and the switch is opened;
• and
• a second control state, in which the DC/DC converter is stopped, and the switch is closed.

A vehicle power supply system comprising:

• a generating means for generating regenerative energy at time of decelerating a vehicle;
• a high-performance main power storage means for directly storing the regenerative energy, which is generated by the generating means, and for supplying electric power to an electrical load, which is mounted on the vehicle;
• an auxiliary power storage means for receiving and storing the electric power supplied from the main power storage means, wherein the auxiliary power storage means has a greater discharge characteristics at a low temperature than the main power storage means;
• and
• a starting device power source switching means for selecting one or both of the main power storage means and the auxiliary power storage means as a power source based on an engine starting temperature to supply electric power to a starting device for starting an engine at time of starting the engine, wherein the engine starting temperature is an engine temperature or an engine related temperature, which is measured at the time of starting the engine.

A vehicle power supply system comprising:

• a generating means for generating regenerative energy at time of decelerating a vehicle;
• a high-performance main power storage means for directly storing the regenerative energy, which is generated by the generating means, and for supplying electric power to an electrical load, which is mounted on the vehicle;
• an auxiliary power storage means for receiving and storing the electric power supplied from the main power storage means, so that the auxiliary power storage means is charged, wherein the auxiliary power storage means has superior discharge characteristics at a low temperature over the main power storage means;
• an automatic engine stopping/starting control device, which automatically controls stopping and restarting of an engine;
• and
• a starting device power source switching means for selecting one of the auxiliary power storage means and the main power storage means as a power source to supply electric power to a starting device for starting the engine, wherein the starting device power source switching means selects the auxiliary power storage means at time of starting the engine first time and selects the main power storage means at time of restarting the engine through use of the automatic engine stopping/starting control device.

A vehicle power supply system comprising:

• a generator, which is driven by an engine to generate electric power;
• a first battery, which is charged with electric power generated by the generator;
• a second battery, which has an output voltage lower than that of the first battery, wherein the second battery supplies electric power to a starter at time of starting the engine;
• a charging circuit, which supplies electric power from one of the generator and the first battery to the second battery;
• and
• an assist circuit, which provides power assistance from the first battery to the starter in addition to power supply from the second battery to the starter.