Patent ID: 8154254
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: B60L,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A power supply system supplying electric power to a load device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a power storage mechanism configured to be charged; and a control device that is configured to carry out temperature increase control of said power storage mechanism in response to a temperature increase start instruction indicating start of temperature increase for said power storage mechanism, said temperature increase start instruction including a plurality of types of temperature increase start signals different from each other in a signal source, and said control device including a mode selection unit that is configured to select one control mode from among a plurality of control modes set in advance, in accordance with a type of said temperature increase start signal, and a temperature increase control unit that is configured to carry out temperature increase control of said power storage mechanism in accordance with said control mode selected by said mode selection unit, wherein said power storage mechanism includes a plurality of power storage units each configured to be charged, said power supply system further comprises a power line configured to be capable of supplying and receiving electric power between said load device and said power supply system, and a plurality of voltage conversion units provided between said plurality of power storage units and said power line, respectively, and each being configured to perform a voltage conversion operation between corresponding said power storage unit and said power line, and said temperature increase control unit includes a power storage unit temperature determination unit that is configured to determine whether each of temperatures of said plurality of power storage units is lower than a corresponding lower limit value of said temperature, and a voltage conversion control unit that is configured to control said voltage conversion operation of said plurality of voltage conversion units such that a temperature of said power storage unit of which temperature has been determined as being lower than said temperature lower limit value is raised and electric power is supplied and received between said power storage unit, of which temperature is to be raised, and remaining said power storage unit or outside of said vehicle, in accordance with said control mode selected by said mode selection unit.