EP1974435A2

EP1974435A2 - Electrical management device for vehicle power supply

Info

Publication number: EP1974435A2
Application number: EP07718140A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Serge Loudot
Original assignee: Renault SAS
Current assignee: Renault SAS
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2007-01-03
Publication date: 2008-10-01
Also published as: CN101385216A; FR2896211A1; US20090218983A1; IL192821A0; FR2896211B1; CN101385216B; WO2007083046A2; WO2007083046A3; US8089242B2; IL192821A; JP2009524388A; JP5159637B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical management device for vehicle power supply. The electrical management device for vehicle power supply comprises a single converter (CO) so as to minimize the number of components required to simultaneously control two energy sources, such as a photovoltaic source (2; 11) and a thermoelectric source (3; 12), on board a motor vehicle which comprises at least one electrical energy storage battery (1).

Description

POWER MANAGEMENT DEVICE FOR POWER SUPPLY

ELECTRICAL VEHICLE

The present invention relates to an electrical management device for vehicle power supply.

The possibility of supplying electrical energy in a motor vehicle when its engine is stopped has many advantages, among which:

- the provision of electrical services, the engine being stopped, including during long-term parking;

- maintaining the charge of the battery;

- the possibility of keeping more electronic devices in standby (multimedia in particular); and

- other benefits still. On the other hand, if this energy intake comes from sources

'free', that is to say without consumption of a fuel, such as solar collectors or thermo generators (which use part of the heat lost by the engine for example), this energy supply improves the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

Known Solutions

Unusual applications exist where solar panels are installed on the roof of the vehicle and thus ensure ventilation of the passenger compartment when the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight. This makes it possible to maintain the temperature inside the passenger compartment at a level similar to that of the outside, thus bringing about appreciable thermal comfort when the vehicle is taken. On the other hand, there have been some communications on prototype trucks equipped with thermo generator bismuth telluride on the crankcase or on the exhaust. This would have been described for the purpose of having an auxiliary power source associated with improved energy efficiency.

In US-A-5,479,557, there is described a system in which the solar cell energy is used to power either the ventilation of the vehicle parked vehicle or to maintain the battery charge. Both functions are not considered simultaneously. No other source of energy (thermoelectric for example) is envisaged.

In US-A-2002/000243 there is described a system providing a functionality identical to that described in US-A-5,479,557, but with the use of a DC / DC converter as an interface between the solar generator and the DC motor of the passenger compartment ventilation or the battery to maintain charge. In document US-A-2002/000785 there is described a system providing a functionality identical to that described in document US-A-2002/000243, but the DG / DG converter first supplies the 42 Volt battery on which the necessary power is taken from the fan motor. In US-A-5.779.81 7, there is described a system providing a functionality identical to that described in US-A-5,479,557 with switching between solar cells according to whether we supply ventilation or that 'the battery charge is maintained. No electronic control of power is envisaged, the commutations are made by relays.

Main features of the invention

A first object of the invention is to simultaneously or independently manage two sources of continuous energy of different nature, typically solar cells and thermo-generators, each of these sources possibly being of any technology (for example: technology based monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon for solar cells, and technology based on thermoelectric couples such as Te-Bi, Zn-Sb, or Skutterudite for the thermo generator).

According to another object of the invention, this management carried out by a particular DC / DC converter makes it possible to absorb the maximum power that each source can supply at each instant under variable environmental conditions. Such management, given the low efficiency of these generators, provides optimal operation for an automotive application.

Advantages of the proposed solution

The solution ensures an additional energy supply with the following advantages:

- Fuel economy: indeed, all or part of the electrical energy produced does not come from the engine or a fuel cell, but from the combustion of a fuel,

- maintenance of electricity generation without fuel and emissions,

- use of electrical appliances and accessories or recharge their batteries when the engine is stopped,

- maintaining the battery charge during prolonged parking (several weeks),

- maintenance when the vehicle is in the state of thermal engine stopped, and during prolonged parking, certain electrical services,

- keeping some electronic equipment, thermal comfort, multimedia resources, etc. on hold. ,

- The converter that serves as an interface allows each source to overcome the constraint of providing a voltage compatible with the battery voltage. Thus, each source is dimension born at its optimum power / volume. Indeed, during the serial / parallel arrangement of elementary elements which constitute each generator, the number of elements in series is no longer conditioned by the battery. We size the power (that is to say the number of elements, the volume, and therefore the cost) just needed.

- the possibility of having a source independent of the main network of the vehicle makes it possible to supply various devices during the test period or the period of tuning during which the main network is likely to be disturbed and to thus cause malfunctions of these devices.

The management of different types of sources ensures a better availability of energy. On the other hand, when both sources are available, the useful power is increased.

To this end, the present invention relates to an electrical management device for vehicle power supply, characterized in that it comprises a single converter so as to minimize the number of components necessary to simultaneously control two energy sources, such as a photovoltaic source and a thermoelectric source, on board a motor vehicle which comprises at least one electric energy storage battery. According to one aspect of the invention, the converter comprises means for executing a control law dependent on the maximum electrical power of each source to maintain a determined level of charge of said electric storage battery. According to one aspect of the invention, the means of the converter for executing a control law uses circuits insensitive to variations in the voltage of said electric storage battery.

According to one aspect of the invention, the means of the converter for executing a control law comprises a power control management means from the thermoelectric source. to maintain it at maximum power and a reference voltage management means.

According to one aspect of the invention, said electric storage battery is chosen from at least the central battery of the vehicle, and / or a specialized battery, so that the management device operates even if the engine of the vehicle is stopped, and even if all consumer electrical circuits are cut.

According to one aspect of the invention, the converter is equipped with a first converter resource for preventing the battery, whose high potential would be higher than that of a source of electrical energy, to discharge on said source .

According to one aspect of the invention, said first resource of the converter is constituted by two diodes whose cathodes are connected in common and the anodes are respectively connected to the high potential of each first or second energy source, the common connection of the cathodes being connected to the battery.

According to one aspect of the invention, the converter is equipped with a second resource for producing an electrical configuration signal in voltage and / or current output, the first and the second source of electrical energy.

According to one aspect of the invention, the converter comprises two inputs respectively connected to a first filter connected to the highest potential of the first energy source and to a second filter connected to the highest potential of the second energy source. .

According to one aspect of the invention, each filter is a "gamma" filter composed respectively of a series inductor, and a parallel capacitor. According to one aspect of the invention, the two filters are calculated so that the inductances are constituted by the connection cables themselves.

According to one aspect of the invention, the converter comprises a controller and a means for combining the currents coming from the two sources.

According to one aspect of the invention, the current combining means comprises a transformer with two cores and three coils.

a first coil connected to the input of the converter connected to the output of the filter of the second source,

a second coil connected to the input of the converter connected to the filter output of the first source, and

a third coil connected to the output of the current combining means.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first coil comprises a second terminal which is connected to a switching terminal of a switching means controlled by the output signal from an output of the controller, and in that the second coil comprises a second terminal which is connected to a switching terminal of a switching means controlled by the output signal from an output of the controller.

According to one aspect of the invention, each of the switches is constituted by a MOS type power transistor whose gate is connected to the corresponding control signal terminal of the controller, the drain is connected to a second terminal of one of the first or second windings of the transformer and the source is connected to the low potential line of the circuit of the invention.

According to one aspect of the invention, a first high potential terminal of the third winding of the transformer is connected to the anode of a conduction diode whose cathode is respectively connected to the battery as well as to a first terminal of a storage capacitor whose second terminal is itself connected to the low potential line of the circuit.

According to one aspect of the invention, the controller comprises two independent control loops implanted so as to optimally determine the control of each transistor or switching means.

According to one aspect of the invention, each regulation loop cooperates:

with a reference voltage generator intended to place the regulation in a mode at least close to the supply of a maximum electrical power,

with one or the other of the input terminal of the controller to take the instantaneous voltage at the output of the filter associated with the first thermoelectric source; or the input terminal of the controller to take the instantaneous output voltage of the filter associated with the second photovoltaic cell source.

According to one aspect of the invention, each of the inputs of the controller is connected to a generator circuit of an average value of the instantaneous measurement voltage of one or the other of the two sources, the output of the average voltage generator circuit. being connected to the input terminal of the relevant control loop.

According to one aspect of the invention, each regulation loop comprises a subtracter circuit of the signals representing the regulation threshold of the regulation of the input terminal, the value at which the subtractor circuit subtracts the instantaneous or average value of the voltage from the input voltage. source transmitted to the input terminal, then a correction circuit which comprises a control pulse train generator for a switching means. According to one aspect of the invention, the pulse train generator is provided with means for determining the frequency, the duty cycle, the amplitude and the waveform of the pulse train. According to one aspect of the invention, the corrector circuit comprises means for varying its duty cycle.

According to one aspect of the invention, the controller is equipped with a calibration circuit of the reference voltage which produces a stopping at regular intervals of a switching means to update the reference voltage applied to the terminal.

According to one aspect of the invention, the calibration circuit also comprises a means for producing a switching off of the MOS transistor after a phase of progressive reduction of the conduction duration until its cancellation.

According to one aspect of the invention, the management device comprises a temperature sensor, the controller cooperating with a circuit for calculating the reference voltage Vo / 2 directly deduced from the temperature by means of a temperature conversion function. in a reference voltage of the form Vo / 2.

According to one aspect of the invention, for the second source of electrical energy with solar cells, a temperature sensor and / or a sunshine sensor are used to correct the reference voltage VO-ε by means of a calibration circuit of the control reference voltage of the second source.

According to other aspects of the invention:

the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second source with photovoltaic cells comprises a single-input memory indexed on the value representative of a measurement of the temperature,

the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second source with photovoltaic cells comprises a single-input memory indexed on the value representative of a measurement of the irradiation, the calibration circuit of the reference voltage. of the regulation of the second photovoltaic cell source comprises a memory with two inputs respectively indexed on the value representative of a measurement of temperature and the representative value of a measure of sunshine.

According to one aspect of the invention, the memory produces an offset value E of the reference voltage and said offset value is produced at the negative input of a subtractor whose positive input is connected to a generator circuit of the voltage VO characteristic of the maximum power of the photovoltaic cell generator, the generator circuit of the voltage VO characteristic of the maximum power of the photovoltaic cell generator cooperating with a switching or connecting means for photovoltaic cells, so that the current and the voltage delivered by the photovoltaic generator operates in desired characteristics.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be better understood from the description and the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a management device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an electrical management device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph on which the voltage and power characteristics of a source of a first type used in the electrical management device of the invention have been reported; FIG. 4 is a graph on which the voltage and power characteristics of a source of a second type used in the electrical management device of the invention have been reported;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a circuit used in the electrical management device of the second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another circuit used in the electrical management device of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a series of four graphs of four control parameters of the device of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a graph making it possible to explain the operation of another control circuit of the device of the invention; and

- Figure 9 is a block diagram of another circuit used in the electrical management device of the second embodiment of the invention.

detailed description

According to the invention, there are several ways to simultaneously manage two separate auxiliary energy sources (solar and thermoelectric). The simplest and least efficient way is described in FIG. 1. In Figure 1, there is shown a first embodiment of the device of the invention. The vehicle, not shown, comprises a battery 1. This battery can be the central battery of the vehicle, normally powered by an alternator driven by the engine of the traditional vehicle. In a variant, the battery 1 is a specialized battery, which is connected via a circuit not shown in FIG. 1 to the on-board network. In either case, whether the battery 1 is the central battery of the vehicle or that it is a specialized battery, the management device of the invention operates even if the engine of the vehicle is stopped, and even if all consumer electrical circuits are cut. The management device of the invention comprises a single converter, identified by the letter C, which is connected by two separate inputs on the one hand to a first source of energy 2, on the other hand to a second source of electrical power 3. In a preferred embodiment, the first source of electrical energy is composed of a thermo generator. The second source of electrical energy is composed of a plurality of photovoltaic cells, for example arranged on the roof of the vehicle.

The converter C of the invention is equipped with one or more means, or cooperates with them, depending on whether they are integrated in the converter or simply electrically connected to the outside thereof. The first resource of the converter makes it possible to prevent the battery or the other source, whose high potential would be higher than that of a source of electrical energy, from being discharged on said source. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this means consists of the two diodes 5 and 6.

A second resource (not shown) of the converter C makes it possible to produce an electrical configuration signal in voltage and / or current output, of the first and second sources of electrical energy. Particularly in the case of a stack of photovoltaic cells (case of the second source 3), it is possible on the basis of such a configuration signal to adapt by switching groups of photovoltaic cells in series and or in parallel with so that, in the case of photovoltaic cells, choose determined values of current and voltage available at the corresponding input of the converter C, these determined values corresponding to an optimal operation of both the converter C and the battery 1 when it is recharged . The same electrical configuration resource is made for the first source 2 thermo generator. In the first embodiment of the device of the invention shown in Figure 1, the single converter comprises a first 5 and a second 6 diodes. The anode of the first diode 5 is connected to a high potential point of the source 2 composed by a thermo generator. The anode of the second diode is connected to a high potential point of the source 3 composed of a stack of photovoltaic cells. The cathodes of the first 5 and second 6 diodes are connected together to the output of the single converter C, so that it is connected to the high potential terminal of the battery 1. The low potential terminal of the battery 1 is connected at the same time to the low voltage terminals respectively of the first 2 and the second 3 sources of electrical energy.

This topology, however, has disadvantages described below.

The photovoltaic and thermoelectric sources must be configured to provide a voltage compatible with that of the battery. This limits the optimization possibilities of arrangement of the elementary cells (in series and / or in parallel) for a required power and an allocated volume.

The sources of energy are poorly used. Indeed, the absence of piloting means that they can not be used at their maximum power point in all conditions (level of sunshine for solar cells and temperature difference for thermo generators).

In a second embodiment, the invention makes it possible to manage solar and thermoelectric energy sources at their maximum of available power whatever the environmental conditions (sunshine and temperature difference) which have a major influence on this maximum power. The circuit of FIG. 2 details the diagram of the converter used.

The device of FIG. 2 comprises, as in the case of FIG. 1, a vehicle battery 10 whose lowest potential is connected to the lowest potential respectively of a first electric source 1 1 constituted by a thermo generator and of a second electrical source 12 constituted by a stack of photovoltaic cells.

Interleaved between the two sources 1 1 and 12 on the one hand and the battery 10 on the other hand, is disposed the converter of the second embodiment of the invention. It comprises a conversion part proper CO having two inputs respectively connected, on the one hand, to a first F1 filter connected to the most positive potential of the first energy source 11 and, on the other hand, to a second F2 filter connected to the most positive potential of the second energy source 12. In a particular embodiment each filter is a "gamma" filter composed respectively of a series inductor such as inductors 13 or 15, and of a parallel capacitor like the capacitors 14 and 16. In a particular embodiment, the two filters F1 and F2 are calculated so that the inductors 13 and 15 are constituted by the connection cables themselves.

Furthermore, the actual converter CO comprises a controller 29 which comprises at least two input terminals respectively B connected to the output of the filter F1 protecting the first source 1 1 and C connected to the output of the filter F2 protecting the second source 12 The controller 29 has at least two output terminals D and E, respectively, which will be described hereinafter. The controller CO then comprises a means A for combining the currents coming from the two sources 1 1 and 12. Preferably, the means for combining the currents A comprises a transformer with two cores and three coils:

a first coil 21 connected to the input of the converter CO connected to the output of the filter F2 of the second source of 12, a second coil 22 connected to the input of the converter CO connected to the output of the filter F1 of the first source 1 1, and

a third coil 24 connected to the output of the means for combining currents A.

The coils 21 and 22 are magnetically coupled by a core 20 and the coils 22 and 24 are coupled by a core 23, the two cores 20 and 23 can be associated in a single magnetic circuit in the manner of three-phase transformers. The first coil 21 comprises a second terminal which is connected to a switching terminal of a switching means 25 controlled by the output signal from the output D of the controller 29. The second coil 22 has a second terminal which is connected to a switching terminal of a switching means 26 controlled by the output signal coming from the output E of the controller 29.

Depending on the style of the corresponding output signal state of the controller 29, each of the switches 25 or 26 may be turned ON or OFF. Each switch 25 or 26 has a control terminal connected respectively to the output D and the output E of the controller 29. Each switch 25 or 26 finally has a second switching terminal which is connected to the low potential line of the circuit of the controller. 'invention.

In a preferred embodiment each of the switches 24 or 25 is constituted by a MOS type power transistor whose gate is connected to the corresponding control signal terminal of the controller 29, the drain is connected to a second terminal of a first or second winding of the transformer A and the source is connected to the low potential line of the circuit of the invention.

A first high potential terminal of the third winding 24 of the transformer A is connected to the anode of a a conduction diode 27 whose cathode is respectively connected to the output of the circuit of the invention intended to be connected to the battery 10 as well as to a first terminal of a storage capacitor 28 whose second terminal is itself connected to the low potential line of the circuit of the invention.

Finally, the controller 29 is referenced from the point of view of the electrical voltages, by a connection line F to the low potential line of the circuit of the invention. The positive supply line for polarizing the internal circuit of the controller 29 has not been shown. However, the controller 29 includes means for generating a positive bias supply voltage and a circuit that converts input signals to inputs B and C as control signals on these outputs D and E.

The advantages of the second embodiment of the invention are as follows. First, the two sources (thermo generator and solar cells) are connected to a single converter that ensures their simultaneous management.

The filter inductors 13 and 15 are in practice the wiring inductances between the sources and the converter. Indeed, the functional and architectural constraints make that the sources are generally distant from the converter (the solar cells are typically on the roof of the vehicle whereas the thermo generators are rather on the crankcase or the exhaust). We take advantage of this constraint to eliminate inductive elements (potentially voluminous and expensive) of the circuit.

The rest of the elements (excluding the battery) are physical components that are part of the converter.

This topology allows you to allocate certain components to both generators. Among them are:

the transformer A, the secondary winding of which is shared; the output diode 27;

the filtering capacity 28 at the output.

In this configuration, the auxiliary sources, which are the thermo generator 1 1 and the solar cells 12, charge the battery and / or power accessories while the engine of the vehicle and any other source consuming fuel can be stopped (parking or hybrid operating in electric mode for example).

Implementation

The basic operating principle imposed by the controller 29 is that of the switching power supply with energy recovery or "flyback" converter. The magnetic circuit 20, 23 is magnetized alternately by one, 1 1, and the other, 12, sources, thanks to alternative operating sequences of the electronic switches 25 and 26. Figure 1 details the sequencing of the control signals from the controller 29 and applied to the gate electrodes of the MOS transistors 25 and 26.

The magnetic circuit is alternately magnetized by each transistor 25 or 26 for a duration resulting from the regulation obtained from the measured average voltage of their respective filtering capacitance (14 and 16). The operation can be continuous or discontinuous depending on whether the magnetic flux in the secondary winding can cancel or not. FIG. 3 shows the voltage and power characteristics of a thermo generator electrical source for two temperature gradients. For a first temperature gradient T1, the power characteristic 30 and the voltage characteristic 31 are shown. The characteristic in tension is of the form:

V = VO - rx I in which VO is the voltage of the open circuit thermoelectric generator, r is the internal resistance of the thermoelectric generator and I is the current delivered by the thermoelectric generator source on a receiver circuit. The power output by such a generator is given by a relation of the form:

P = V x I

P = I x (VO - rxl) which has a maximum for the value IO = V0 / 2r.

For another temperature gradient T2, the pair of power characteristics 32 and voltage 33 of the same generator is shown. The variation between the two gradients is established by the open-circuit voltage VO = VO (T) where T is the temperature gradient of the generator.

The control of the electrical management device of the invention is executed on a maximum power law so that the current delivered by the thermoelectric generator source is therefore of the form: IO (T) = V0 (T) / (2) xr) which can therefore be determined a priori and recorded in the controller 29.

In Figure 4, there is shown the characteristics in voltage and power of a photovoltaic cell power source for two different sunshine.

For a first level of sunshine, there is a pair of characteristics in power 34 and in voltage 35, then for a second level of sunshine we have a pair of characteristics in power 36 and in voltage 37.

The value VO is directly related to the avalanche voltage of the photovoltaic cells, and the voltage delivered by the photovoltaic generator, at given sunlight, remains substantially constant as long as the current output does not exceed a limit value dependent on the solar radiation of the cells. PV. The power being the result of the product V x I of the measured voltage and current flow is itself linear up to the maximum current value.

Given the electrical characteristics of each source, the conduction duration of each transistor (or its duty cycle) is regulated by a regulator circuit of the internal duty cycle to the controller 29 to be on the operating point at maximum power of each generator, is :

- VO / 2 for the thermo generator, as shown in Figure 3 which shows the current / power characteristics of a thermo generator for two different temperature gradients (the temperature difference applied to the thermo generator is more solid line than with dots).

- VO-ε for solar cells, where E is a relatively small fraction of VO so that it stays just at the point of maximum power when the voltage starts to drop, as shown in Figure 4.

Since the electrical management device of the invention works with two electrical sources of different characteristics, its controller 29 must comprise two independent control loops whose characteristics are specified in order to optimally determine the control of each transistor or switching means. 25, 26.

Figure 5 shows the block diagram of one or other of these loops. An input terminal 39 of either of the two loops implemented in the controller 29 (FIG. 2) is connected to a reference voltage generator for placing the control in a mode at least close to the supply of the control. 'maximum electric power. As a result, as explained above, the reference voltage applied to the input 39 of the control loop is:

• VO / 2 for the control loop on the first source 1 1 thermo generator; • VO-ε for the control loop on the second source 12 with photovoltaic cells.

A second input terminal 40 of one or the other regulation loop is respectively connected: to the input terminal C of the controller 29 to take the instantaneous voltage at the output of the filter F1 associated with the first heat source. generator ;

to the input terminal B of the controller 29 to take the instantaneous voltage at the output of the filter F2 associated with the second photovoltaic cell source.

In a particular embodiment, each of the inputs B or C of the controller 29 is connected to a generator circuit of an average value of the instantaneous measuring voltage of one or the other of the two sources. The output of the average voltage generator circuit is then connected to the input terminal 40 of the control loop concerned.

Each regulation loop then comprises a subtracter circuit 38 of the signals representative of the adjustment threshold of the regulation of the input terminal 39, at which value the subtractor circuit 38 subtracts the instantaneous or average value of the voltage of the source transmitted to the input terminal 40. The output value is then addressed to a correction circuit 41 which comprises a control pulse train generator for MOS transistor gate or more generally any switching means 25 or 26 depending on whether the regulation is devolved to the first source 1 1 or the second source 12.

The pulse train generator is provided with means for determining the frequency, the duty cycle, the amplitude and the waveform of the pulse train. In a preferred embodiment, frequency, amplitude and waveform are kept constant while the corrector 41 includes means for varying the duty cycle, ie the ON conduction time of the transistor whose gate is connected to the output terminal D of the controller 29 connected to the output 42 of the control loop for the thermoelectric generator for the MOS transistor 25 or to the output terminal E of the control loop for the generator photovoltaic for the MOS 26 transistor.

FIG. 7 shows four timing diagrams of an exemplary operation of the circuit of FIG. 2, the controller 29 of which is equipped with two control loops similar to the loop of FIG. 5. Curve 50 of the upper graph represents the variation of the magnetic flux in the secondary winding at the output of the transformer A. The curve is constituted by a sequence of saw teeth, periodic to the switching frequency of the switching means 25 and 26. The curve 51 of the following graph represents the evolution of the current in the output diode which is a periodic function in rectangular slots, periodic to the switching frequency of the switching means 25 and 26.

The curve 52 of the following graph shows the evolution of the current in one or the other of the switching means 25 or 26 when they are composed of a MOS transistor and which is a periodic function in trapezoidal slots, periodic to the frequency switching means 25 and 26.

Curve 53 of the following graph shows the evolution of the gate control voltage of each MOS transistor 25 or 26 which is a periodic function in rectangular slots, periodic to the switching frequency of the switching means 25 and 26.

During the conduction period determined by the regulation loop described with reference to FIG. 5 of the controller 29, each transistor concerned is placed in the ON conduction state (graph 53). In response, the current flowing through the drain-source path of the conductive transistors, with the understanding that only one could to be made conductive, increases. As a result, the magnetic energy is stored in the primary windings of the transformer A (increasing portions of the curve 50). Then, when the circuit (or the primary circuits) is (are) open, the current is canceled in the primary (graph 52) and the energy stored in the primary is restored in the secondary winding (down part graph 50) at the same time, the secondary current can flow into the output diode which blocks the secondary during the magnetic charge period. It is thus possible to produce a voltage across the capacitor 28 output of the device of the invention, so that it can participate in recharging the battery 1.

The conduction time of the transistor (i.e., the time during which it is 'ON' (driver) may be independent of the demagnetization time (ie the time between its switching 'OFF' (blocked) and the 'ON' ignition of the other transistor) or act directly on the duty cycle (ratio of the time when the transistor is 'ON' (conductive) to the duration of a period).

Voltage Vo is highly variable for the thermo generator, with environmental conditions. This is mainly due to temperature differences. It is therefore appropriate to calibrate the setpoint voltages applied to the input terminal 39 of the subtractor 38 of the control loop assigned to the control of the first source 11. For this, the controller 29 is equipped with a calibration circuit of the reference voltage (not shown) which produces a stop at regular intervals of the MOS transistor 25 which controls the thermo generator until the corresponding filtering capacitor 14 is charged. at the voltage Vo. This voltage is measured by the calibration circuit, and then the reference voltage applied to the terminal 39 is updated. At this moment, the calibration circuit produces an activation signal which enables the restart of the switching procedure and transfer of the power of the generator concerned on the control loop.

In order for the energy contained in the filtering inductance 13 not to overload the capacitance 14 and to cause errors, the calibration circuit also comprises a means for producing a switching off of the MOS transistor 25 after a phase of progressive reduction of the capacitance 14. duration of conduction until its cancellation ("soft stop") as shown in Figure 8.

In another embodiment of the electrical management device of the invention, there is a temperature sensor. The controller CO then cooperates with a circuit for calculating the reference voltage Vo / 2 directly deduced from the temperature by means of a function of converting the temperature into a reference voltage of the form VO / 2. In FIG. 9, the calibration circuit comprises an input terminal 56 on which is applied a signal representative of the temperature of the thermo generator source 1 1 which is converted by an input signal conversion means into an address for reading a previously programmed table containing for each conversion value of the temperature signal, a value of the control reference voltage VO / 2 available at its reading terminal 58 which can then be connected to the input terminal 39 (Figure 5) of the control loop assigned to the first source 1 1 thermo generator. With regard to the second solar cell power source, if a temperature sensor and / or a sun sensor are available, the reference voltage VO-ε can be corrected by these measurements in order to to be more precisely on the point of operation at maximum power. The voltage setpoint, connected to the input terminal 39 of the regulation loop assigned to the second photovoltaic cell power source 12 would be from a calibration circuit of the control reference voltage of the second source shown in Figure 6.

The regulating reference voltage calibration circuit of the second source comprises at least one input terminal 43 of a signal representative of the temperature of the photovoltaic cells, and / or an input terminal 45 of a signal of detection of the sunlight of the photovoltaic sensors.

In a first variant, the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second photovoltaic cell source 12 comprises a single input memory 44 indexed on the value representative of a measurement of the temperature (input 43).

In a second variant, the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second photovoltaic cell source 12 comprises a single-input memory 44 indexed on the value representative of a measurement of the irradiation (input 45).

In a third variant, the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second photovoltaic cell source 12 comprises a memory with two inputs respectively indexed on the value representative of a measurement of the temperature (input 43) and on the representative value of a measure of sunshine (entry 45).

The reading value of the memory 44 is available on its read input 46 which produces an offset value E of the reference voltage va and said offset value is produced at the negative input of a subtractor 48 whose positive input is connected to a circuit 47 generating the voltage characteristic of the maximum power of the photovoltaic cell generator 12. The output of the subtractor 48 is connected to the output terminal of the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the control of the second source to photovoltaic cells and is therefore transmitted to the reference input terminal 39 of the control loop assigned to the control of the second photovoltaic cell source.

In a particular embodiment, the circuit 47 generating the voltage characteristic of the maximum power of the photovoltaic cell generator 12 cooperates with a switching or connecting means for photovoltaic cells, so that the current and the voltage delivered by the Photovoltaic generator operates in desired characteristics which are not directly concerned by the present invention.

Of course, it is possible to realize the described means with other means. In particular, as has been mentioned, the memories 44 or 57 of the calibration circuits of the reference voltages may be replaced by calculating circuits in which functions representative of the desired calibration values are programmed.

Claims

1 - Electrical management device for vehicle power supply, characterized in that it comprises a single converter (CO) so as to minimize the number of components necessary to simultaneously control two energy sources, such as a photovoltaic source ( 2; 1 1) and a thermoelectric source (3; 12) on board a motor vehicle which comprises at least one electric energy storage battery (1). 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the converter (CO) comprises means for executing a control law dependent on the maximum electrical power of each source (1 1, 12) for maintaining a determined level of charge of said electric storage battery (1). 3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the converter means (CO) for executing a control law, uses circuits insensitive to variations in the voltage of said electric storage battery (1).

4 - Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the converter means (CO) for executing a control law comprises power control management means from the thermoelectric source (3; 12) to maintain power maximum and a reference voltage management means.

5 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electric storage battery (1) is selected from at least the central battery of the vehicle, and / or a specialized battery, so that the management device operates even if the engine of the vehicle is stopped, and even if all consumer electrical circuits are cut.

6 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the converter (C) is equipped with a first resource (5, 6; 27) converter to prevent the battery (1), whose high potential would be higher than that of a source of electrical energy (1, 2; 1 1, 12), discharges on said source.

7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said first resource of the converter (CO) is constituted by two diodes (5, 6) whose cathodes are connected in common and the anodes are respectively connected to the high potential of each first ( 2) or second (3) energy sources, the common connection of the cathodes being connected to the battery (1). 8 - Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the converter (CO) is equipped with a second resource for producing an electrical configuration signal voltage and / or current output, the first and or the second source of 'electric energy. 9 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the converter (CO) comprises two inputs respectively connected to a first filter (F1) connected to the highest potential of the first energy source (1 1) and a second filter (F2) connected to the highest potential of the second energy source (1 2).

10 - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that each filter (F1, F2) is a "gamma" filter composed respectively of a series inductance (13) or (1 5), and a parallel capacitor (14 and 1 6). 1 1 - Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the two filters (F1 and F2) are calculated so that the inductances (13) and (1 5) are constituted by the connection cables themselves.

12 - Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the converter (CO) comprises a controller (29) and means (A) for combining the currents from the two sources (1 1 and 12). 13 - Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the means for combining the currents (A) comprises a transformer with two cores and three coils:

a first coil (21) connected to the input of the converter (CO) connected to the output of the filter (F2) of the second source (12),

a second coil (22) connected to the input of the converter (CO) connected to the output of the filter (F1) of the first source (1 1), and --- a third coil (24) connected to the output of the current combining means (A).

14 - Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first coil (21) comprises a second terminal which is connected to a switching terminal of a switching means (25) controlled by the output signal from an output (D) of the controller (29), and in that the second coil (22) has a second terminal which is connected to a switching terminal of a switching means (26) controlled by the output signal from a output (E) of the controller (29). 15 - Device according to claim 14, characterized in that each of the switches (24, 25) is constituted by a MOS type power transistor whose gate is connected to the corresponding control signal terminal of the controller (29), the drain is connected to a second terminal of one of the first or second windings of the transformer (A) and the source is connected to the low potential line of the circuit of the invention.

16 - Device according to claim 13, characterized in that a first high potential terminal of the third winding (24) of the transformer (A) is connected to the anode of a conduction diode (27) whose cathode is respectively connected to the battery (10) as well as to a first terminal of a capacitor (28) storage whose second terminal is itself connected to the low potential line of the circuit.

17 - Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the controller (29) comprises two independent control loops implanted so as to optimally determine the control of each transistor or each switching means (25, 26).

18 - Device according to claim 1 7, characterized in that each control loop cooperates: - with a reference voltage generator for placing the control in a mode at least close to the supply of a maximum electrical power,

with one or the other of the input terminal (C) of the controller (29) to take the instantaneous voltage at the output of the filter (F1) associated with the first thermoelectric source; or the input terminal (8) of the controller (29) to take the instantaneous voltage at the output of the filter (F2) associated with the second photovoltaic cell source.

19 - Device according to claim 1 8, characterized in that each of the inputs (B) or (C) of the controller (29) is connected to a generator circuit of a mean value of the instantaneous measurement voltage of one or the other of the two sources, the output of the average voltage generator circuit being connected to the input terminal (40) of the control loop concerned. 20 - Device according to claim 1 9, characterized in that each control loop comprises a subtractor circuit (38) of signals representative of the regulation threshold of the regulation of the input terminal (39), value at which the subtractor circuit (38) subtracts the instantaneous or average value of the voltage from the source transmitted to the input terminal (40), then a correction circuit (41) which comprises a control pulse train generator for a switching means ( 25 or 26). 21 - Device according to claim 1 9, characterized in that the pulse train generator is provided with means for determining the frequency, the duty cycle, the amplitude and the waveform of the pulse train. 22 - Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the corrector circuit (41) comprises means for varying its duty cycle.

23 - Device according to one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the controller (29) is equipped with a calibration circuit of the reference voltage which produces a stop at regular intervals of a switching means (25). ) to update the reference voltage applied to the terminal (39).

24 - Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the calibration circuit also comprises a means for producing a switching off of the MOS transistor (25) after a phase of progressive reduction of the conduction time until its cancellation.

25 - Device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor, the controller (CO) cooperating with a calculation circuit of the reference voltage Vo / 2 directly deduced from the temperature by means of a function of converting the temperature into a reference voltage of the form Vo / 2.

26 - Device according to one of claims 18 to 24, characterized in that, for the second solar cell power source, a temperature sensor and / or a sun sensor are implemented to correct the voltage reference VO-ε by means of a calibration circuit of the control reference voltage of the second source. 27 - Device according to claim 26, characterized in that the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second photovoltaic cell source (12) has a single-input memory (44) indexed to the value representative of a temperature measurement (43), in that the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second photovoltaic cell source (12) has a single input memory (44) indexed to the value representative of a measurement of sunlight (45), and in that the calibration circuit of the reference voltage of the regulation of the second source to photovoltaic cells (12) comprises a memory with two inputs respectively indexed on the value representative of a measurement of the temperature (43) and on the value representative of a measurement of the sun exposure (45).

28 - Device according to claim 27, characterized in that the memory (44) produces an offset value E of the reference voltage (VO) and said offset value is produced at the negative input of a subtractor (48) whose positive input is connected to a voltage generating circuit (47) characteristic of the maximum power of the photovoltaic cell generator (12), the voltage generating circuit (47) characteristic of the power maximum of the photovoltaic cell generator (12) cooperating with a switching means or connecting photovoltaic cells, so that the current and the voltage delivered by the photovoltaic generator operates in desired characteristics.