Patent ID: 6847127

Claim:
A system for controlling power distribution of a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle, comprising: a fuel cell used as a main power source; a battery used as an auxiliary power source; a bi-directional DC/DC converter connected to the battery to allow for the input of power to and output from the battery; an inverter electrically connected to the bi-directional DC/DC converter and the fuel cell; a motor connected to the inverter and which converts electrical energy into rotational mechanical energy for driving the vehicle; and a controller for estimating a required vehicle power and controlling power transmission between the fuel cell, the battery, the bi-directional DC/DC converter, and the inverter based on the estimated required vehicle power and states of the fuel cell and of the battery; wherein the controller, according to a present required vehicle power and a battery charge state, selectively performs control into one of a plurality of modes including: a fuel cell mode, in which the energy of the fuel cell is transmitted through the inverter to drive the motor; a battery discharge mode, in which energies of the fuel cell and the battery are simultaneously transmitted through the inverter to drive the motor; a battery charge mode, in which part of the energy output from the fuel cell is transmitted through the inverter to drive the motor, and another part of the energy output from the fuel cell is transmitted through the bi-directional DC/DC converter to charge the battery; and a regeneration mode, in which restored braking energy is transmitted through the bi-directional DC/DC converter to charge the battery.