Power supply device and method of controlling the same

A method for controlling a power supply device including a rechargeable battery having a cathode terminal and an anode terminal, the power supply device including a high potential output terminal and a low potential output terminal connected to an apparatus for power supply thereto, a cathode side relay arranged between the cathode terminal of the rechargeable battery and the high potential output terminal, and an anode side relay arranged between the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery and the low potential output terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting the cathode side relay in an open state;
• setting the anode side relay in an open state;
• measuring potential at each of the cathode terminal and the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery to measure voltage between the terminals of the rechargeable battery;
• measuring potential at each of the high potential output terminal and the low potential output terminal to measure voltage supplied to the apparatus;
• obtaining a difference between the potential at the high potential output terminal measured by the supply voltage measurement unit and the potential at the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery measured by the terminal voltage measurement unit to measure a first voltage between a second side of the cathode side relay that is closer to the high potential output terminal and a first side of the anode side relay that is closer to the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery while maintaining the cathode side relay and the anode side relay in the open state, the first relay fusion determination unit determining that the cathode side relay is fused when the measured first voltage is greater than a first threshold value;
• obtaining a difference between the potential at the cathode terminal of the rechargeable battery measured by the terminal voltage measurement unit and the potential at the low potential output terminal measured by the supply voltage measurement unit to measure a second voltage between a second side of the anode side relay that is closer to the low potential output terminal and a first side of the cathode side relay that is closer to the cathode terminal of the rechargeable battery while maintaining the cathode side relay and the anode side relay in the open state, the second relay fusion determination unit determining that the anode side relay is fused when the measured second voltage is greater than a second threshold value, wherein the first and second voltage are measured simultaneously;
• determining whether or not the cathode side relay is fused based on the measured first voltage;
• and
• determining whether or not the anode side relay is fused based on the measured second voltage.

A product for use with a computer for controlling a power supply device including a rechargeable battery having a cathode terminal and an anode terminal, the power supply device including a high potential output terminal and a low potential output terminal connected to an apparatus for power supply thereto, a cathode side relay arranged between the cathode terminal of the rechargeable battery and the high potential output terminal, and an anode side relay arranged between the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery and the low potential output terminal, the product comprising a computer-readable medium encoded with program logic which when executed by the computer causes the computer to perform steps including:

• setting the cathode side relay in an open state;
• setting the anode side relay in an open state;
• measuring potential at each of the cathode terminal and the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery to measure voltage between the terminals of the rechargeable battery;
• measuring potential at each of the high potential output terminal and the low potential output terminal to measure voltage supplied to the apparatus;
• obtaining a difference between the potential at the high potential output terminal measured by the supply voltage measurement unit and the potential at the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery measured by the terminal voltage measurement unit to measure a first voltage between a second side of the cathode side relay that is closer to the high potential output terminal and a first side of the anode side relay that is closer to the anode terminal of the rechargeable battery while maintaining the cathode side relay and the anode side relay in the open state, the first relay fusion determination unit determining that the cathode side relay is fused when the measured first voltage is greater than a first threshold value;
• obtaining a difference between the potential at the cathode terminal of the rechargeable battery measured by the terminal voltage measurement unit and the potential at the low potential output terminal measured by the supply voltage measurement unit to measure a second voltage between a second side of the anode side relay that is closer to the low potential output terminal and a first side of the cathode side relay that is closer to the cathode terminal of the rechargeable battery while maintaining the cathode side relay and the anode side relay in the open state, the second relay fusion determination unit determining that the anode side relay is fused when the measured second voltage is greater than a second threshold value;
• determining whether or not the cathode side relay is fused based on the measured first voltage;
• and
• determining whether or not the anode side relay is fused based on the measured second voltage.