Control pilot latch-out mechanism to reduce off-board energy consumption

• US 10,286,800 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: DeDona, Matthew Roger, Rutyna, Arthur M., Ferrel, Mark J., Wu, Bo, Heremans, Hilde Anne, Bell, Christopher W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kebede, Tessema
• Application Number:
  US14/049,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle connected to electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to wake-up an onboard charger based on a pilot signal. A controller is configured to interrupt the pilot signal to prevent the pilot signal from subsequently waking the charger to reduce power consumed by the charger while the vehicle is connected. The interruption may be triggered by a completion of a charge cycle, an extensive charge wait interval, or a charging system condition that prevents charging. The controller may discontinue interruption of the pilot signal in response to a wake-up source other than the pilot signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a charger;

a charge port including circuitry configured to interface with a control pilot of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to establish, when connected, a pilot signal between the charger and EVSE to wake-up the charger; and

a controller programmed to, responsive to an interrupt condition, open the pilot signal via a pilot latch out mechanism to interrupt the connection between the pilot signal and the controller to reduce power consumed by the charger by placing the controller into a sleep state and reconnect, responsive to a power sustaining relay signal waking the controller, the pilot signal via the pilot latch out mechanism to allow power to be provided to the controller and restore normal operation.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the interrupt condition is triggered by a completion of a charge cycle of a traction battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the interrupt condition is triggered by a charge wait interval that exceeds a predetermined period of time.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the interrupt condition is triggered by detection of a charging system condition that prevents charging.

5. A vehicle comprising:

a charger;

a charge port including circuitry configured to switchably connect the charger with a control pilot of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to establish a pilot signal between the charger and EVSE, when engaged, to wake-up the charger; and

at least one controller programmed to open the connection between the charger and control pilot via a pilot latch out mechanism in response to an interrupt condition to place the controller into sleep state and reduce power consumed by the charger while the charge port and EVSE are engaged and reconnect, responsive to a power sustaining relay signal waking the controller, the pilot signal via the pilot latch out mechanism to allow power to be provided to the controller and restore normal operation.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the interrupt condition is a completion of a charge cycle of a traction battery.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the interrupt condition is a charge wait interval that exceeds a predetermined period of time.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the interrupt condition is a detection of a charging system condition that prevents charging.

9. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to close the connection in response to a wake-up request other than the pilot signal.

10. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the at least one controller is configured to close the connection in response to a loss of power while the connection is open.

11. A method of waking up a charger in a vehicle comprising:

by a controller,

opening a connection of a pilot signal between the charger and electric vehicle supply equipment via a pilot latch out mechanism responsive to an interrupt condition to reduce power consumption by placing the controller into sleep state; and

responsive to a power sustaining relay signal waking the controller, closing the connection via the pilot latch out mechanism to restore normal operation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the interrupt condition is a completion of a charge cycle of a traction battery.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the interrupt condition is a charge wait interval that exceeds a predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the interrupt condition is detection of a charging system condition that prevents charging.