Patent ID: 7909124
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) power system, comprising: a vehicle electrical system (VES) comprising: a first DC voltage source; a first group of electrical loads comprising a first electrical load coupled across the first DC voltage source; a second DC voltage source coupled in series with the first DC voltage source at a common node that is at approximately ground potential; and a second group of electrical loads comprising a second electrical load coupled across the second DC voltage source; an inverter-controller unit (ICU), coupled across the first DC voltage source and the second DC voltage source, the ICU designed to generate AC power based on the first DC voltage source and the second DC voltage source; and an AC electric motor/generator unit (MGU) coupled to the ICU and designed to receive the AC power generated by the ICU, and wherein the AC electric motor/generator unit (MGU) further comprises: a first motor winding; a second motor winding; and a neutral point where the first motor winding is coupled to the second motor winding; and a coupling entity that electrically couples the neutral point to the common node, wherein coupling the first DC voltage source and the second DC voltage source to the neutral point of the Motor/Generator Unit (MGU) via coupling entity allows the Motor/Generator Unit (MGU) to perform a charge balancing function to maintain charge stored at the first DC voltage source and the second DC voltage source at substantially the same levels so that respective voltages (V