CHARGING CABLE, CHARGING CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20100007306A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: KARAMI, Masahiro, FUKUI, Satoshi, KAMAGA, Ryuichi, ISHII, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,198,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 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 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

Provided is a charging cable capable of detecting an abnormal state, such as a break, of a control line through which a pilot signal is transmitted, the charging cable including: a power cable through which an external power source feeds a power storage device; a signal generating circuit for generating a control signal to output to a vehicle; a control line L1 through which the control signal is transmitted to the vehicle; and a bypass circuit for changing a voltage applied from a vehicle side through the control line L1.

Claims

1. A charging cable comprising:

a power cable through which an external power source feeds a power storage device located in a vehicle;

a signal generating circuit for generating a control signal corresponding to a capacity of current feedable to the vehicle through the power cable;

a control line through which the control signal is transmitted to the vehicle;

a feeding control portion for controlling the feeding through the power cable on the basis of a voltage level of the control line; and

a bypass circuit for changing voltage applied from a vehicle side through the control line.

2. A vehicle charging system comprising:

a charging cable; and

a charging control device for carrying out charging control of a power storage device located in a vehicle through the charging cable, wherein;

the charging cable includes;

a power cable through which an external power source feeds the power storage device located in the vehicle;

a signal generating circuit for generating a control signal corresponding to a capacity of current feedable to the vehicle through the power cable;

a control line through which the control signal is transmitted to the vehicle;

a feeding control portion for controlling the feeding through the power cable on the basis of a voltage level of the control line; and

a bypass circuit for changing voltage applied from a vehicle side through the control line; and

the charging control device includes;

a charging control portion for charging the power storage device on the basis of the control signal transmitted through the control line; and

a state detecting portion for detecting an abnormal state of the charging cable on the basis of a signal level of the control line.

3. The vehicle charging system according to claim 2, wherein:

the charging control device includes a level switching portion capable of changing the signal level of the control line in a stepwise manner; and

the state detecting portion detects a break of the control line on the basis of a new signal level of the control line switched from the former signal level by the level switching portion.

4. The vehicle charging system according to claim 2, wherein:

the charging control device includes a level switching portion capable of changing the signal level of the control line in a stepwise manner; and

the state detecting portion detects a break of the control line on the basis of a detection state of the control signal after the level switching portion changes the signal level of the control line.

5. A charging control device comprising:

a charging control portion for charging a power storage device located in a vehicle when the vehicle is connected with a charging cable enabling feeding of the vehicle by an external power source located outside the vehicle, the charging being based on a control signal transmitted through a control line connected to the vehicle together with the charging cable; and

a state detecting portion for, when connection of the charging cable to the vehicle is detected and a voltage is applied to the control line from a vehicle side, distinguishing between an abnormal state of the control line and a state in which the control line is normal but the external power source is not connected to the charging cable.