CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-059178 filed on Mar. 27, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The technology relates to a vehicle electric power supply apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle.

A vehicle electric power supply apparatus to be included in a vehicle has been proposed that includes an electric power generator (e.g. an alternator) coupled to an engine of the vehicle. For example, reference is made to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2014-36557. JP-A No. 2014-36557 discloses an electric power supply apparatus having a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery coupled to each other in a parallel manner. The lead-acid battery and the lithium-ion battery are each an electric power storage. This configuration makes it possible to charge not only the lead-acid battery but also the lithium-ion battery with use of regenerative electric power. Therefore, it is possible to increase the regenerative electric power upon vehicle deceleration, and enhance a fuel consumption performance of the vehicle accordingly.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the technology provides a vehicle electric power supply apparatus that includes: a first electric power supply system including an electric power generator and a first electric power storage, in which the electric power generator is configured to be driven to revolve by an engine of the vehicle, and the first electric power storage is coupled to the electric power generator; a second electric power supply system including a starter motor and a second electric power storage, in which the starter motor is configured to start operation of the engine, and the second electric power storage is coupled to the starter motor; an electric power fuse provided on an electrically-conducting path, in which the electrically-conducting path is configured to couple the first electric power supply system and the second electric power supply system to each other; a switch configured to be controlled in one of an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state, in which the electrically-conductive state is a state in which the electric power fuse and the first electric power storage are coupled to each other, and the cutoff state is a state in which the electric power fuse and the first electric power storage are isolated from each other; a starter relay configured to be controlled in one of an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state, in which the electrically-conductive state is a state in which the starter motor and the second electric power storage are coupled to each other, and the cutoff state is a state in which the starter motor and the second electric power storage are isolated from each other; an occupant operated unit configured to be operated by an occupant when the occupant starts the operation of the engine; a starter control unit configured to output an ON signal when the occupant operated unit is operated, in which the ON signal allows the starter relay to be controlled in the electrically-conductive state; and a switch control unit configured to output an OFF signal when the occupant operated unit is operated, in which the OFF signal allows the switch to be controlled in the cutoff state.

An aspect of the technology provides a vehicle electric power supply apparatus that includes: a first electric power supply system including an electric power generator and a first electric power storage, in which the electric power generator is configured to be driven to revolve by an engine of the vehicle, and the first electric power storage is coupled to the electric power generator; a second electric power supply system including a starter motor and a second electric power storage, in which the starter motor is configured to start operation of the engine, and the second electric power storage is coupled to the starter motor; an electric power fuse provided on an electrically-conducting path, in which the electrically-conducting path is configured to couple the first electric power supply system and the second electric power supply system to each other; a switch configured to be controlled in one of an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state, in which the electrically-conductive state is a state in which the electric power fuse and the first electric power storage are coupled to each other, and the cutoff state is a state in which the electric power fuse and the first electric power storage are isolated from each other; a starter relay configured to be controlled in one of an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state, in which the electrically-conductive state is a state in which the starter motor and the second electric power storage are coupled to each other, and the cutoff state is a state in which the starter motor and the second electric power storage are isolated from each other; an occupant operated unit configured to be operated by an occupant when the occupant starts the operation of the engine; and circuitry configured to output an ON signal when the occupant operated unit is operated, in which the ON signal allows the starter relay to be controlled in the electrically-conductive state; and output an OFF signal when the occupant operated unit is operated, in which the OFF signal allows the switch to be controlled in the cutoff state.

