Power supply system with charge balancing
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorWerner Roessler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power supply system includes a first charge storage. A series circuit with a plurality of n charge storage modules is connected between load terminals. A second charge storage includes load terminals. A charge transfer arrangement includes at least one charge transfer unit coupled between one of the charge storage modules and the load terminals of the second charge storage. The charge transfer arrangement is configured to transfer upon request electrical charge from the one charge storage module to the second charge storage.
Claims32
A power supply system, comprising:
- a first charge storage comprising a series circuit with a plurality of n charge storage modules, connected between load terminals, wherein n>1;
- a second charge storage comprising load terminals;
- and
- a unidirectional charge transfer arrangement comprising a plurality of charge transfer units coupled between corresponding ones of the plurality of n charge storage modules and the load terminals of the second charge storage, wherein each charge transfer unit is configured to transfer upon request electrical charge from the corresponding ones of the plurality of n charge storage modules to only the second charge storage, and wherein the unidirectional charge transfer arrangement is configured to balance charging states of the plurality of n charge storage modules.
An automotive electric system, comprising:
- a power supply system, comprising:
- a first charge storage comprising a series circuit with a plurality of n charge storage modules, connected between load terminals, wherein n>1;
- a second charge storage comprising load terminals;
- and
- a unidirectional charge transfer arrangement comprising a plurality of charge transfer units coupled between corresponding ones of the plurality of n charge storage modules and the load terminals of the second charge storage, the charge transfer unit configured to discharge upon request electrical charge from the corresponding ones of the plurality of n charge storage modules to only the second charge storage, wherein the unidirectional charge transfer arrangement is configured to balance charging states of the plurality of n charge storage modules;
- at least one first load connected to the load terminals of the first charge storage;
- and
- at least one second load connected to the load terminals of the second charge storage.
A method of operating a power supply comprising:
- powering an automotive motor with a first charge storage, wherein the first charge storage comprises a plurality of series connected energy storage modules;
- powering a plurality of peripheral automotive loads with a battery;
- and
- balancing charging states of the plurality of series connected energy storage modules, balancing comprising transferring charge from an energy storage module of the plurality of series connected energy storage modules in the first charge storage to the battery using a plurality of charge transfer arrangements, wherein each charge transfer arrangement is configured only to discharge energy storage modules in the first charge storage unidirectionally to the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.