Electric power conversion systems – Current conversion – Including automatic or integral protection means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-27
2004-02-17
Berhane, Adolf (Department: 2838)
Electric power conversion systems
Current conversion
Including automatic or integral protection means
C307S064000, C307S086000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06693806
ABSTRACT:
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2001-296436 filed in JAPAN on Sep. 27, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to an electric power source for supplying an electric power from a battery to an electric power line extending at an outside of the electric power source with boosting a voltage generated by the battery so that the electric power of boosted voltage is supplied to the electric power line.
It is well known that an electric power source for supplying an electric power from a battery to an electric power line extending at an outside of the electric power source with boosting a voltage generated by the battery so that the electric power of boosted voltage is supplied to the electric power line, is electrically connected to the electric power line when the electric power line is active, that is, a voltage of the electric power line is kept at a desirable normal value.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power source for supplying an electric power from a battery to an electric power line extending at an outside of the electric power source with boosting a voltage generated by the battery so that the electric power of boosted voltage is supplied to the electric power line, by which electric power source an excessive amount of the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source is restrained even when the electric power source is electrically connected to the active electric power line.
According to the present invention, an electric power source for supplying an electric power from a battery to an electric power line extending at an outside of the electric power source with boosting a voltage generated by the battery so that the electric power of boosted voltage is supplied to the electric power line, comprises, a main switch device operable to switch on and off the electric power supply from the electric power source to the outside of the electric power source, and a voltage booster operable to boost the voltage generated by the battery to generate the electric power of boosted voltage, wherein the main switch device prevents the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source and the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source in a case in which the boosted voltage to be supplied to the electric power line is less than a target voltage not less than a voltage of the electric power line, while allowing the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source when the boosted voltage to be supplied to the electric power line is not less than the target voltage.
Since the main switch device prevents the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source and the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source in a case in which the boosted voltage to be supplied to the electric power line is less than a target voltage not less than a voltage of the electric power line, while allowing the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source and preventing the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source when the boosted voltage to be supplied to the electric power line is not less than the target voltage, an excessive amount of the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source is restrained even when the electric power source is electrically connected to the electric power line being active.
If the electric power source further comprises a detector operable to detect whether or not an electric communication is formed between the electric power source and the electric power line so that the electric power of boosted voltage is allowed to be supplied from the electric power source to the electric power line, and the voltage booster is allowed to boost the voltage generated by the battery to generate the electric power of boosted voltage when the electric communication is formed between the electric power source and the electric power line and is prevented from boosting the voltage generated by the battery to generate the electric power of boosted voltage when the electric communication is not formed between the electric power source and the electric power line, so that the voltage booster starts to boost the voltage after the electric communication is formed between the electric power source and the electric power line, an electric power charged in the battery and/or the voltage booster can be maintained effectively. The voltage booster may include a capacitor for storing the electric power of boosted voltage to be supplied into the electric power line. If the main switch device prevents the electric power supply from the electric power source to the outside of the electric power source (for example, a human body or an electrically grounded member at the outside of the electric power source) and the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source in at least one of a case in which the electric communication is not formed between the electric power source and the electric power line and the case in which the boosted voltage to be supplied to the electric power line is less than the target voltage, while allowing the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source and preventing the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source when the electric communication is formed between the electric power source and the electric power line and the boosted voltage to be supplied to the electric power line is not less than the target voltage, the electric power charged in the battery and/or the voltage booster can be maintained effectively and the excessive amount of the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source is restrained even when the electric power source is electrically connected to the electric power line being active.
It is preferable that the target voltage is more than the voltage of the electric power line. The electric power source may further comprise a supplemental switch device operable to switch on and off the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source, and a voltage step-down circuit operable to decrease a voltage of the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source to be electrically charged into the battery, and the voltage step-down circuit decreases a voltage of the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source when the supplemental switch device allows the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source and the voltage booster is prevented from boosting the voltage.
If the main switch device includes a diode operable to prevent the electric power supply from the electric power line into the electric power source and allow the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source, it is preferable for easily keeping the boosted voltage at a suitable degree that boosting the voltage by the voltage booster is stopped in response to detecting that the diode allows the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source. It is preferable for easily setting the target voltage at a suitable degree that the boosted voltage is equal to the target voltage when the diode allows the electric power supply into the electric power line from the electric power source, when the boosted voltage is kept within a range including the target voltage suitable for the voltage of the electric power source.
The detector may detect a mechanical connection for the electric communication between the electric power source and the electric power li
Berhane Adolf
Hitachi Maxell Ltd.
LandOfFree
Electric power source does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electric power source, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electric power source will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3303325