Charging device for electric vehicle

• US 20090079389A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohtomo, Yosuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,427,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/112 Batteries
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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

The present invention provides a charging device for an electric vehicle with which optimal charging can be performed reliably when charging a storage device of the electric vehicle, without performing fast charging and normal charging at the same time.

Claims

1. A charging device for an electric vehicle, which charges a storage device for supplying electric power to an electric motor for driving the electric vehicle, and includes a first charging circuit for charging electric power supplied from an external power source to said storage device via an on-board charger and a second charging circuit for charging electric power supplied from an external charger to said storage device without passing through said on-board charger, said charging device comprising:

a first connection terminal connected to said first charging circuit, which establishes a connection with said external power source;

a second connection terminal connected to said second charging circuit, which establishes a connection with said external charger and has a different shape to said first connection terminal; and

charging system switching means for charging said storage device from only one of said first charging circuit and said second charging circuit and preventing simultaneous charging from both said first charging circuit and said second charging circuit.

2. The charging device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when said external power source is connected to said first connection terminal and said external charger is connected to said second connection terminal, said charging system switching means activates the connection terminal connected first such that said charging device is charged by the charging circuit having the connection terminal connected first.

3. The charging device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when said external power source is connected to said first connection terminal and said external charger is connected to said second connection terminal, said charging system switching means activates the charging circuit having a shorter total charging time, from among said first charging circuit and said second charging circuit, such that said charging device is charged by the charging circuit having the shorter total charging time.

4. The charging device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said charging system switching means are constituted by an aggregate connection terminal in which said first connection terminal and said second connection terminal are disposed collectively such that said charging system switching means are incapable of connecting a power source terminal of said external power source to said first connection terminal and connecting a power supply terminal of said external charger to said second connection terminal simultaneously.

5. The charging device for an electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a power source plug having said power source terminal covers said second connection terminal when said power source terminal is connected to said first connection terminal, and a power supply plug having said power supply terminal covers said first connection terminal when said power supply terminal is connected to said second connection terminal.