CHARGING DEVICE AND CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20100033140A1
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Otake, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/165
• 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 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/56 with switched windings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• 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 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 : using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 : Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• 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 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

Abstract

A test circuit first detects whether or not a relay unit is normal, and then examines an operation of leakage detecting circuit. This allows relay unit to interrupt an electric power supply path including power lines more securely if electrical leakage occurs in the electric power supply path. If welding in the contact of the relay unit is detected before starting charging of a power storage device included in an electrical device, a control device does not allow the charging of the power storage device, which can prevent a problem from occurring in the electrical device.

Claims

1. A charging device provided between a chargeable electrical device and an electric power source for supplying charging electric power to said electrical device, comprising:

an electric power supply path for supplying said charging electric power from said electric power source to said electrical device;

an interrupting circuit configured to be operable to interrupt said electric power supply path;

a leakage detecting circuit for detecting electrical leakage occurring in said electric power supply path; and

an examining circuit for detecting the interruption of said electric power supply path caused by said interrupting circuit and for examining said leakage detecting circuit after confirming the interruption of said electric power supply path caused by said breaking circuit.

2. A charging system, comprising:

an electrical device including a chargeable power storage device; and

a charging device for charging said power storage device by supplying charging electric power from an electric power source to said power storage device,

said charging device, including;

an electric power supply path for supplying said charging electric power from said electric power source to said electrical device;

an interrupting circuit configured to be operable to interrupt said electric power supply path;

a leakage detecting circuit for detecting electrical leakage occurring in said electric power supply path; and

an examining circuit for detecting the interruption of said electric power supply path caused by said breaking circuit and for examining said leakage detecting circuit after confirming the interruption of said electric power supply path caused by said breaking circuit.

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

said charging device further includes a first control circuit for causing said interrupting circuit to interrupt said electric power supply path during a non-charging period of said power storage device,

said breaking circuit is operable to end the interruption of said electric power supply path, and

said electrical device further includes;

a connecting circuit for electrically connecting and disconnecting said power storage device to and from said electric power supply path; and

a second control circuit for setting said connecting circuit at a disconnection state during the non-charging period of said power storage device, and for causing said breaking circuit to end the interruption of said electric power supply path and setting said connecting circuit at a connection state, during a charging period of said power storage device in a case where said second control circuit determines that said electric power supply path has a voltage indicating a voltage obtained when said electric power supply path is interrupted.

4. The charging system according to claim 3, wherein said electrical device is installed in a vehicle and outputs motive power of said vehicle.