VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20100127665A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitsutani, Noritake
• Granted Patent: US 8,058,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• 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 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• 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 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• 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

Abstract

A charger is operable in a normal mode such that output power matches a provided electric power command value CHPW, and limits the output power to a limit value PS in a saving mode if the electric power command value CHPW exceeds the limit value PS. A charging ECU performs feedback-control for compensating for the electric power command value CHPW such that a charging power monitor value PM sensed by a charging power sensing unit matches a target value PR, and in addition, limits an increase in the electric power command value CHPW such that the electric power command value CHPW does not significantly deviate from the target value PR. As a result, in a vehicle charging system on which an add-on charger having a power saving function is mounted, stabilization of the behavior when the add-on charger returns from a saving operation to a normal operation is allowed.

Claims

1. A vehicle charging system for charging a vehicle-mounted power storage device, comprising:

a charger configured to be supplied with electric power from a power supply external to a vehicle for charging said power storage device, and operable in a normal mode such that output power matches a provided electric power command value, and limiting the output power to a limit value in a saving mode if said electric power command value exceeds said limit value;

a charging power sensing unit for sensing charging power supplied to said power storage device; and

a charging control device for generating said electric power command value and outputting said electric power command value to said charger,

said charging control device performing feedback-control for compensating for said electric power command value based on the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit, such that the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit matches a target value, and in addition, limiting an increase in said electric power command value such that said electric power command value does not significantly deviate from said target value.

2. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein

if said charging control device detects that the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit changes from around said target value to around said limit value within a prescribed time period, said charging control device limits said electric power command value to prevent said electric power command value from increasing while the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit remains at around said limit value.

3. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein

said charger includes

a sensor for detecting whether or not a saving operation condition that designates the possibility of overheating of said charger is satisfied,

a control unit for determining switching of an operation mode between said saving mode and said normal mode, based on an output of said sensor, and

an electric power limiting unit for limiting the electric power from said power supply and supplying the electric power to said power storage device as said charging power under control of said control unit, and

said charging control device determines that the operation mode of said charger is shifted from said normal mode to said saving mode if said charging control device detects that the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit changes from around said target value to around said limit value within a prescribed time period, and recognizes that said operation mode returns from said saving mode to said normal mode when the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit starts to increase from around said limit value toward around said target value afterward.

4. The vehicle charging system according to claim 3, wherein

in said saving mode, said control unit uses said limit value as an internal electric power command value to cause said electric power limiting unit to limit the charging power if said electric power command value is larger than said limit value, and at the time of return from said saving mode to said normal mode, said control unit limits a degree of an increase in said internal electric power command value when said internal electric power command value is matched with said electric power command value.

5. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein

if said charging control device detects that the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit remains at around said limit value and a state in which said electric power command value is apart from the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit by a first threshold value or more continues for a first time period, said charging control device determines that an operation mode of said charger is said saving mode, and

if said charging control device detects that the charging power sensed by said charging power sensing unit does not remain at around said limit value and a state in which said electric power command value is apart from said target value by a second threshold value or more continues for a second time period, said charging control device determines that said charger fails.

6. The vehicle charging system according to claim 5, wherein

said charging control device returns said electric power command value to around said target value if said charging control device determines that the operation mode of said charger is said saving mode, and sets said electric power command value to zero and stops charging if said charging control device determines that said charger fails.