Capacitor discharging during deactivation of electric vehicle drive system
US9656556B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/70
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drive system for an electric vehicle includes an input capacitor selectably coupled to a DC power source (e.g., battery) by a contactor. A variable voltage converter couples the input capacitor to a main link capacitor, and an inverter couples the main capacitor to a machine load (e.g., motor and/or generator). During a normal or emergency shutdown, the contactor is opened. In order to quickly discharge the input capacitor when the contactor opens, A) the converter operates in a boost mode to transfer charge from the input capacitor to the main capacitor until the input capacitor discharges to less than a threshold voltage, B) the converter deactivates to prevent transferring charge from the main capacitor to the input capacitor, and C) the main capacitor can then be discharged through the inverter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.