Vehicle equipped with electrical storage device, and charging cable

• US 20090301801A1
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujitake, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.290
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A vehicle includes a charging inlet for connection with a ground line and a pair of power lines used to charge an electrical storage device from outside the vehicle; a terminal of the charging inlet for connection with the ground line; and a GND relay that connects the terminal to a body earth of the vehicle. Desirably, the vehicle further includes an ECU that controls charging of the electrical storage device. Before charging of the electrical storage device is started after the pair of power lines and the ground line are connected to the charging inlet, the ECU opens the GND relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an electrical storage device;

a connecting portion for connection with a first power line, a second power line and a ground line, wherein the first power line and the second power line are used to charge the electrical storage device from outside the vehicle;

a terminal that is provided at the connecting portion, and is connected with the ground line; and

a ground relay that connects the terminal to a body earth of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit that controls charging of the electrical storage device, wherein

before charging of the electrical storage device is started after the first power line, the second power line and the ground line are connected to the connecting portion, the control unit opens the ground relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a current sensor that is used to control charging of the electrical storage device, wherein

when charging of the electrical storage device is temporarily interrupted to calibrate the current sensor after the charging is started, the control unit opens the ground relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electric motor that receives electric power from the electrical storage device to generate power for propelling the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising:

an internal combustion engine that generates power for propelling the vehicle together with the electric motor.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first voltmeter that measures a voltage between the first power line and the ground line; and

a second voltmeter that measures a voltage between the second power line and the ground line.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle body; and

a charging cable that includes the first power line, the second power line and the ground line, wherein the charging cable connects an external power supply to the vehicle body for charging the electrical storage device.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the ground relay is provided for the vehicle body.

9. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the ground relay is provided for the charging cable.

10. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the first voltmeter and the second voltmeter are provided for the charging cable.

11. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the first voltmeter and the second voltmeter are provided for the vehicle body.

12. The vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:

a charging relay that connects or disconnects the first power line and the second power line to or from the electrical storage device, wherein

before charging is started, the control unit opens the charging relay and closes the ground relay and then determines Whether the first power line and second power line of the charging cable are connected to the external power supply and the vehicle body.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

after it is determined that the first power line and second power line of the charging cable are connected to the external power supply and the vehicle body, the ground relay is opened, and then it is determined whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

14. A charging cable comprising:

a pair of power lines for charging an electrical storage device of a vehicle from outside the vehicle;

a ground line for grounding a body earth of the vehicle;

a power line breaking relay that is provided in the pair of power lines; and

a ground line breaking relay that is provided in the ground line.

15. The charging cable according to claim 14, further comprising:

a control unit that controls the power line breaking relay and the ground line breaking relay, wherein

before charging of the electrical storage device is started after the pair of power lines and the ground line are connected to the vehicle, the control unit opens the ground line breaking relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

16. The charging cable according to claim 15, wherein

the vehicle further includes a current sensor that is used to control charging of the electrical storage device, and

when charging of the electrical storage device is temporarily interrupted to calibrate the current sensor after the charging is started, the control unit opens the ground line breaking relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

17. The charging cable according to claim 14, wherein

the vehicle includes an electric motor that receives electric power from the electrical storage device to generate power for propelling the vehicle.

18. The charging cable according to claim 17, wherein

the vehicle further includes an internal combustion engine that generates power for propelling the vehicle together with the electric motor.