Charging a battery using a circuit having shared loads

• US 20080218121A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Degner, Michael W., Tamor, Michael A., Gale, Allan R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 including control of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through a power supply circuit, includes coupling the charger to the circuit, determining whether another appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current, determining a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, charging the battery at the maximum charge rate if no other appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and charging the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if another appliance in the circuit is drawing current.

Claims

1. A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through a power supply circuit, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the charger to the circuit;

(b) determining whether another appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current;

(c) determining a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger;

(d) charging the battery at the maximum charge rate if no other appliance in the circuit is drawing current; and

(e) charging the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if another appliance in the circuit is drawing current.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a first outlet at which the charger is coupled to the circuit and a second outlet at which an appliance other than the charger can be coupled to the circuit, each outlet including a neutral terminal that is connected mutually at a first terminal, and a ground terminal that is connected mutually at a second terminal, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of:

determining whether a first voltage is present between the neutral terminal and the ground terminal of the first outlet;

performing step (d) if the first voltage is zero; and

performing step (e) if the first voltage is not zero.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a first outlet at which the charger is coupled to the circuit and a second outlet at which an appliance other than the charger can be coupled to the circuit, each outlet including a neutral terminal that is connected mutually at a first terminal, and a ground terminal that is connected mutually at a second terminal, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of:

determining whether a first voltage is present between the neutral terminal and the ground terminal of the first outlet;

performing step (d) if the first voltage is zero; and

performing step (e) if a voltage difference between the first terminal and the second terminal is greater than a reference voltage difference.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

determining a length of a reference period during which the battery can be charged before repeating step (b);

continuing to charge the battery while the reference period is unexpired;

discontinuing the step of charging the battery when the reference period expires; and

repeating steps (b) through (e) after the discontinuing step.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining repeatedly the current state of charge of the battery;

comparing repeatedly a reference state of charge to the current state of charge;

continuing to charge the battery while the current state of charge is less than the reference state of charge;

determining a length of a reference period during which the battery can be charged before repeating step (b);

continuing to charge the battery while the reference period is unexpired;

discontinuing the step of charging the battery when the reference period expires or the current state of charge is equal to or greater than the reference state of charge.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

repeating steps (b) through (e) after the discontinuing step.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a current sensor for indicating a magnitude of current in the circuit, and wherein step (b) further includes the steps of:

using the current sensor to determine a magnitude of current drawn by an appliance other than the charger in the circuit;

performing step (d) if the current sensor indicates that no current is being drawn in the circuit by an appliance other than the charger; and

performing step (e) if the current sensor indicates that current is being drawn in the circuit by an appliance other than the charger.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

periodically determining the current state of charge of the battery;

comparing a reference state of charge to the current state of charge; and

discontinuing the step of charging the battery when the current state of charge is equal to or greater than the reference state of charge.

9. A system for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

a power supply circuit including a first outlet at which a charger is coupled to the circuit and a second outlet at which an appliance other than the charger can be coupled to the circuit;

first and second instruments for measuring circuit operating variables that indicate whether an appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current; and

a charger in communication with the measuring instruments, coupled to the battery, and configured to vary the time rate at which the battery is charged depending on a magnitude of the operating variable of the circuit measured by the measuring instruments that indicates whether current is being drawn by said appliance.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the charger is further configured to determine a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, charge the battery at the maximum charge rate if no appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and charge the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if an appliance in the circuit is drawing current.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first outlet and second outlet each includes a neutral terminal connected mutually at a first terminal, and a ground terminal connected mutually at a second terminal;

the first instrument measures a first voltage between the neutral terminal and ground terminal of the first outlet;

the charger is further configured to determine a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, to charge the battery at the maximum charge rate if a magnitude of the first voltage is zero, and to charge the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if the magnitude of the first voltage is not zero.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the charger is further configured to determine a length of a reference period during which the battery can be charged, to continue charging the battery while the reference period is unexpired, and to discontinue charging the battery when the reference period expires.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the charger is further configured to determine the current state of charge of the battery, to charge the battery while the current state of charge is less than a reference state of charge, and to discontinue charging the battery when the current state of charge is equal to or greater than the reference state of charge.

14. A system for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

a power supply circuit including a first outlet at which a charger is coupled to the circuit and a second outlet at which an appliance other than the charger can be coupled to the circuit;

an instrument for measuring current drawn by an appliance in the circuit other than the charger; and

a charger in communication with the instrument, coupled to the battery, and configured to vary the time rate at which the battery is charged depending on whether current is being drawn by said appliance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the charger is further configured to determine a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, to charge the battery at the maximum charge rate if no appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and to charge the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if an appliance in the circuit is drawing current.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the charger is further configured to determine a length of a reference period during which the battery can be charged, to continue charging the battery while the reference period is unexpired, and to discontinue charging the battery when the reference period expires.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the charger is further configured to determine repeatedly the current state of charge of the battery, to charge the battery while the current state of charge is less than a reference state of charge, and to discontinue charging the battery when the current state of charge is equal to or greater than the reference state of charge.