An automotive battery module having dual voltage is disclosed, including a housing and a plurality of battery cells connected to form battery cell blocks disposed in the housing. A battery control unit is provided disposed in the housing and is configured to control operation of a battery system. The battery system includes at least one switching device operably connected to a first battery cell block in a first connection arrangement. The first battery cell block is configured to deliver a first voltage. The switching device is also operably connected to a second battery cell block in a second connection arrangement. The second battery cell block is configured to deliver a second voltage. A plurality of terminals are provided on the housing and electrically coupled to the battery control unit and plurality of battery cells, providing an external electrical connection to deliver the first voltage and the second voltage.

In a case of a normal operation, a battery controller (22) assumes a normal operation mode and permits charging and discharging of a battery module (21). Upon receiving a discharge command from a vehicle body controller (17) for completely discharging the battery module (21), the battery controller (22) assumes a discharge mode to discharge the battery module (21) to reach a safe voltage level and store discharge information. Upon reading out the discharge information, the battery controller (22) assumes a discharge prohibition mode to prohibit charging and discharging of the battery module (21).

To provide an electric vehicle capable of reducing heat generation of the switching elements while achieving energy saving, the electric vehicle includes: an engine 11; a first generator 12 driven by the engine; a first rectifier circuit 14 connected to the output of the first generator; a first DC line 16 to receive the DC output of the first rectifier circuit; a driving motor 10 connected to the first DC line; a power converter 20 configured to convert voltage of the first DC line; a second DC line 34 to receive the DC output subjected to voltage conversion by the power converter; an auxiliary device 33 connected to the second DC line; and a controller 40 configured to control the power converter. The controller is configured to, in response to the voltage V.sub.i of the first DC line becoming equal to or less than a first threshold V.sub.c, control the output power P.sub.o of the power converter to a rated power P.sub.1, and in response to the voltage becoming larger than the first threshold, control the output power P.sub.o to be smaller than the rated power.

A brake force control apparatus allocates all of required brake force to a target front wheel friction brake force when the required brake force is equal to or smaller than a maximum regeneration brake force. The apparatus decreases the target regeneration brake force by a first predetermined amount at a first time point at which a front wheel acceleration varies from a value larger than a first acceleration threshold to a value equal to or smaller than the first acceleration threshold. The apparatus increases the target regeneration brake force in such a manner that the target regeneration brake force coincides with the required brake force, if the front wheel acceleration becomes larger than a second acceleration threshold in a period from the first time point to a second time point at which a predetermined time elapses from the first time point.

A topology structure of a power battery pack for a diesel-electric hybrid locomotive includes a plurality of components. A chopper unit is connected in parallel to a support capacitor, an AC/DC module, a DC/AC module, a reactor unit and a power battery system. The power battery system includes several groups of power modules. The power module includes a contactor unit, a current sensor, a fuse, a power battery, and a voltage sensor. The contactor unit, the current sensor and the power battery are connected in series. Two ends of the voltage sensor are respectively disposed at two ends of the power battery. A locomotive microcomputer is connected to a DUC controller and a power battery management system. The DUC controller is connected to the DC/AC module, the chopper unit and the contactor unit. The power battery management system is connected to the contactor unit.

A method of braking in an electrically powered vehicle, said vehicle including a drive system which includes a multi-phase motor electric motor, said motor comprising at least one stator group; said stator group comprising a first stator arrangement including three coils (e2, e4, e6) and a second stator arrangement including threes coils, (e2* e4* e6*) being angularly offset from said first coil arrangement, and where, said first arrangement is connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, including a low side switches (32, 34, 36) and/or high side switches (31, 33, 35) for each of the said coils respectively, adapted to selectively allow current to flow through said respective coils of said first stator arrangement from a power source, and where said second arrangements is connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, including a low side switches (32*, 34, *36*) and/or high side switches (31*, 33*, 35*) for each of the said coils respectively, adapted to selectively allow current to flow through said respective coils of said second stator arrangement from a power source, said method comprising: for one or more of each group: for either or both of said second or first arrangements, i) setting any two of said switches in said low side circuitry to a closed state and the other switch in an open state, and setting all the switches in the high side to an open state; and/or ii) setting any two of said switches in said high side circuitry to a closed state and setting the other switch to an open state, and setting all the switches on the low side to an open state.

A method of braking in an electrically powered vehicle, said vehicle including a drive system which includes a multi-phase motor electric motor, said motor comprising at least one stator group; said stator group comprising a first stator arrangement including three coils (e2, e4, e6) and a second stator arrangement including threes coils, (e2* e4* e6*) being angularly offset from said first coil arrangement, and where, said first arrangement is connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, including a low side switches (32, 34, 36) and/or high side switches (31, 33, 35) for each of the said coils respectively, adapted to selectively allow current to flow through said respective coils of said first stator arrangement from a power source, and where said second arrangements is connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, including a low side switches (32*, 34, *36*) and/or high side switches (31*, 33*, 35*) for each of the said coils respectively, adapted to selectively allow current to flow through said respective coils of said second stator arrangement from a power source, said method comprising: for one or more of each group: for either or both of said second or first arrangements, i) setting any two of said switches in said low side circuitry to a closed state and the other switch in an open state, and setting all the switches in the high side to an open state; and/or ii) setting any two of said switches in said high side circuitry to a closed state and setting the other switch to an open state, and setting all the switches on the low side to an open state.

A power supply system includes: a first power storage device; a second power storage device having a lower voltage than the first power storage device; a DC-DC converter including a choke coil, a first switching element, a diode connected in parallel with the first switching element, and a second switching element; a semiconductor relay configured to switch a connection state between a second end of the choke coil and the second power storage device; and a controller configured to perform PWM control of the first switching element and the second switching element to control ON and OFF of the semiconductor relay. When an ON time of the second switching element is controlled to become zero and a current flowing out from the second power storage device exceeds a first reference current, the controller reduces a duty ratio of an ON time of the first switching element.

A power supply system includes: a first power storage device; a second power storage device having a lower voltage than the first power storage device; a DC-DC converter including a choke coil, a first switching element, a diode connected in parallel with the first switching element, and a second switching element; a semiconductor relay configured to switch a connection state between a second end of the choke coil and the second power storage device; and a controller configured to perform PWM control of the first switching element and the second switching element to control ON and OFF of the semiconductor relay. When an ON time of the second switching element is controlled to become zero and a current flowing out from the second power storage device exceeds a first reference current, the controller reduces a duty ratio of an ON time of the first switching element.

A printing apparatus includes a transport device for moving an object to be printed-on through a printing region of the printing apparatus in a predefined transport direction. A first printing head is configured for depositing a viscous printing material, the first printing head being slidable along a first sliding axis, which is perpendicular to the transport direction, by a first printing-head moving apparatus. A second printing head is configured for depositing the viscous printing material, the second printing head being slidable along a second sliding axis, which is parallel to the first sliding axis and is offset in the transport direction, by a second printing-head moving apparatus. The first and second sliding axes can each be moved in the transport direction by a moving apparatus that is controllable by a control apparatus.