Charge control device for vehicle

• US 20090102433A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamaga, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0084 relating to control modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• 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 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A resistor is connected to first and second terminals included in a vehicle inlet. To the first terminal, a control pilot line used for transmitting a pilot signal is connected. In the case where the vehicle inlet is not connected to a connector, a switch is turned off. A voltage generation circuit sets the potential of the second terminal to a potential higher than a vehicle earth potential. In the case where the vehicle inlet is not connected to the connector and the control pilot line is broken, the potential generated on the control pilot line is substantially equal to the earth potential level. Based on the potential of the control pilot line, a control unit detects a break.

Claims

1. A charge control device for a vehicle mounted with a power storage device for driving said vehicle, said charge control device being capable of charging said power storage device with a supply electric power from a power supply outside said vehicle in a case where said vehicle and said power supply are connected by a coupler, said coupler outputting a supply electric power signal indicating information about said supply electric power in a case where said coupler is connected to said vehicle and said power supply,

said charge control device comprising:

a control line for transmitting said supply electric power signal;

a resistor having one end connected to said control line;

a potential setting circuit setting a potential of the other end of said resistor to a first potential in a case where said vehicle is connected to said coupler and setting the potential of said other end of said resistor to a second potential higher than said first potential in a case where said vehicle is not connected to said coupler; and

an abnormality detection unit detecting a break of said control line based on a potential of said control line in a case where said vehicle is not connected to said coupler.

2. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said abnormality detection unit detects occurrence of said break of said control line in a case where the potential of said control line is different from said second potential.

3. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, said charge control device further comprising a charge connector configured to be connectable to said coupler, wherein

said charge connector includes a terminal receiving said supply electric power signal by being connected to said control line,

said first potential is a vehicle earth potential, and

said potential setting circuit includes:

a connection circuit electrically connecting said other end of said resistor to said vehicle earth potential when said charge connector is connected to said coupler and disconnecting said other end of said resistor from said vehicle earth potential when said charge connector is not connected to said coupler; and

a pull-up circuit pulling up the potential of said other end of said resistor to said second potential when said charge connector is not connected to said coupler.

4. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 3, said charge control device further comprising a vehicle speed detection device detecting speed of said vehicle, wherein

said abnormality detection unit determines that said vehicle is not connected to said coupler and detects whether or not said break of said control line occurs in a case where said vehicle speed detection device detects that the speed of said vehicle is different from zero.

5. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in supply of said supply electric power by said power supply based on the potential of said control line in a case where said vehicle is connected to said coupler.

6. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, said charge control device further comprising:

a first AC rotating electric machine including a star-connected first polyphase winding as a stator winding;

a second AC rotating electric machine including a star-connected second polyphase winding as a stator winding;

a first inverter connected to said first polyphase winding for performing electric power conversion between said first AC rotating electric machine and said power storage device;

a second inverter connected to said second polyphase winding for performing electric power conversion between said second AC rotating electric machine and said power storage device;

a pair of electric power lines connected to a first neutral point of said first polyphase winding and to a second neutral point of said second polyphase winding, for providing said supply electric power from said power supply to said first neutral point and said second neutral point; and

a charge control unit controlling said first inverter and said second inverter such that the electric power provided from said pair of electric power lines to said first neutral point and said second neutral point is voltage-converted to charge said power storage device.

7. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said vehicle includes a drive unit configured to be capable of driving said vehicle using electric power stored in said power storage device, and

said charge control device further comprises:

a charger connected in parallel with said drive unit to said power storage device and configured to be capable of providing said supply electric power from said power supply to said power storage device; and

an electric power line provided between said charge connector and said charger for transmitting said supply electric power.

8. A charge control device for a vehicle mounted with a power storage device for driving said vehicle, said charge control device being capable of charging said power storage device with a supply electric power from a power supply outside said vehicle in a case where said vehicle and said power supply are connected by an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment), said EVSE outputting a pilot signal indicating information about said supply electric power in a case where said EVSE is connected to said vehicle and said power supply,

said charge control device comprising:

a control pilot line for transmitting said pilot signal;

a resistor having one end connected to said control pilot line;

a potential setting circuit setting a potential of the other end of said resistor to a first potential in a case where said vehicle is connected to said EVSE and setting the potential of said other end of said resistor to a second potential higher than said first potential in a case where said vehicle is not connected to said EVSE; and

an abnormality detection unit detecting a break of said control pilot line based on a potential of said control pilot line in a case where said vehicle is not connected to said EVSE.

9. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said abnormality detection unit detects occurrence of said break of said control pilot line in a case where the potential of said control pilot line is different from said second potential.

10. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 8, said charge control device further comprising a vehicle inlet configured to be connectable to said EVSE, wherein

said vehicle inlet includes a terminal receiving said pilot signal by being connected to said control pilot line,

said first potential is a vehicle earth potential, and

said potential setting circuit includes:

a connection circuit electrically connecting said other end of said resistor to said vehicle earth potential when said vehicle inlet is connected to said EVSE and disconnecting said other end of said resistor from said vehicle earth potential when said vehicle inlet is not connected to said EVSE; and

a pull-up circuit pulling up the potential of said other end of said resistor to said second potential when said vehicle inlet is not connected to said EVSE.

11. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 10, said charge control device further comprising a vehicle speed detection device detecting speed of said vehicle, wherein

said abnormality detection unit determines that said vehicle is not connected to said EVSE and detects whether or not said break of said control pilot line occurs in a case where said vehicle speed detection device detects that the speed of said vehicle is different from zero.

12. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

said abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in supply of said supply electric power by said power supply based on the potential of said control pilot line in a case where said vehicle is connected to said EVSE.

13. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 8, said charge control device further comprising:

a first AC rotating electric machine including a star-connected first polyphase winding as a stator winding;

a second AC rotating electric machine including a star-connected second polyphase winding as a stator winding;

a first inverter connected to said first polyphase winding for performing electric power conversion between said first AC rotating electric machine and said power storage device;

a second inverter connected to said second polyphase winding for performing electric power conversion between said second AC rotating electric machine and said power storage device;

a pair of electric power lines connected to a first neutral point of said first polyphase winding and to a second neutral point of said second polyphase winding, for providing said supply electric power from said power supply to said first neutral point and said second neutral point; and

a charge control unit controlling said first inverter and said second inverter such that the electric power provided from said pair of electric power lines to said first neutral point and said second neutral point is voltage-converted to charge said power storage device.

14. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said vehicle includes a drive unit configured to be capable of driving said vehicle using electric power stored in said power storage device, and

said charge control device further comprises:

a charger connected in parallel with said drive unit to said power storage device and configured to be capable of providing said supply electric power from said power supply to said power storage device; and

an electric power line provided between said vehicle inlet and said charger for transmitting said supply electric power.