PLUG-IN VEHICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100204865A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/28 Door position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/30 Preventing theft during charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• 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 90/16 : 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A plug-in vehicle management system enables charging of a plug-in vehicle from a power supply station through an electric power line and power line communication between the power supply station and the vehicle. When a vehicle-side connector and a station-side connector are connected to enable the power-line communication between a vehicle-side power line communication section and a station-side power line communication section, a vehicle-side security control section and a station-side security control section cooperate so that one of a vehicle-side input/output section and a station-side input/output section receives an input signal and transmit it to the other of the vehicle-side input/output section and the station-side input/output section.

Claims

1. A plug-in vehicle management system, which performs charging of a plug-in vehicle by a power supply station through a power supply line, the plug-in vehicle management system comprising:

a vehicle-side connector provided at a vehicle-side part of the power supply line;

a battery provided in the plug-in vehicle to be charged through the power supply line;

a station-side connector provided at a station-side part of the power supply line and connectable to the vehicle side connector;

a commercial power source for supplying the station-side part of the power supply line with commercial voltage;

a vehicle-side power line communication section provided in the plug-in vehicle for performing power line communication with the power supply station through the power supply line;

a vehicle-side security control section provided in the plug-in vehicle and connected to the vehicle-side power line communication section for controlling a vehicle-side input/output section provided in the plug-in vehicle;

a station-side power line communication section provided in the power supply station for performing the power line communication with the plug-in vehicle through the power supply line; and

a station-side security control section provided in the power supply station and connected to the station-side power line communication section for controlling a station-side input/output section provided in the power supply station,

wherein the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to receive an input signal at one of the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section and transmit an output signal to the other of the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section, when the vehicle-side connector and the station-side connector are connected to provide the power line communication between the vehicle-side power line communication section and the station-side power line communication section.

2. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes an intrusion sensor provided in the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an alarm section provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to drive the alarm section, when the intrusion sensor detects unauthorized manipulation on the plug-in vehicle.

3. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes an intrusion sensor and a camera provided in the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an image monitor provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section is configured to control the camera to take an image inside the vehicle and the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display the image taken by the camera on the image monitor, when the intrusion sensor detects unauthorized manipulation on the plug-in vehicle.

4. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes an intrusion sensor provided in the plug-in vehicle 4;

the station-side input/output section includes a light provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to activate the light, when the intrusion sensor detects unauthorized manipulation on the plug-in vehicle.

5. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes a charge detection sensor for detecting an amount of electric charge of the battery of the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an image monitor provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display the amount of charge detected by the charge detection sensor on the image monitor.

6. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes a fuel detection sensor for detecting an amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank of the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an image monitor provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display the amount of fuel detected by the fuel detection sensor on the image monitor.

7. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes a lock condition detection sensor for detecting door lock condition of the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an image monitor provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display the door lock condition detected by the lock condition detection sensor on the image monitor.

8. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes a control computer provided in the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an image monitor provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display vehicle information managed by the control computer on the image monitor.

9. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes a camera provided in the plug-in vehicle for taking at least one of an inside image and an outside image of the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an image monitor provided in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display the at least one of inside image and outside image taken by the camera on the image monitor.

10. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes a monitor system having a display section and operable by a user of the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes a condition sensor or a condition detection monitor for detecting a station condition, which includes at least one of gas supply main cock condition, light condition, foyer condition, window condition, air-conditioner condition in the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to display the power supply station condition detected by the condition sensor or the condition detection monitor on the display section of the monitor system.

11. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle-side input/output section includes an alarm provided in the plug-in vehicle;

the station-side input/output section includes an intrusion sensor provided at a foyer or a window of the power supply station for detecting unauthorized intrusion into the power supply station; and

the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to drive the alarm when the unauthorized intrusion is detected by the intrusion sensor.

12. A plug-in vehicle management system, which performs charging of a plug-in vehicle by a power supply station through a power supply line, the plug-in vehicle management system comprising:

a vehicle-side connector provided at a vehicle-side part of the power supply line;

a battery provided in the plug-in vehicle to be charged through the power supply line;

a station-side connector provided at a station-side part of the power supply line and connectable to the vehicle side connector;

a commercial power source for supplying the station-side part of the power supply line with commercial voltage;

a vehicle-side power line communication section provided in the plug-in vehicle for performing power line communication with the power supply station through the power supply line;

a vehicle-side security control section provided in the plug-in vehicle and connected to the vehicle-side power line communication section;

a station-side power line communication section provided in the power supply station for performing the power line communication with the plug-in vehicle through the power supply line;

a station-side security control section provided in the power supply station and connected to the station-side power line communication section;

an electronic certification key provided for the vehicle for locking and unlocking a door of the plug-in vehicle by performing electronic certification;

an electronic certification control section provided at a foyer of the power supply station for checking whether the electronic certification key is an authorized one; and

an electrically-driven lock provided at the foyer of the power supply station and unlockable when the electronic certification key is confirmed to be the authorized one by the electronic certification control section,

wherein the vehicle-side security control section or the station-side security control section is configured to detect whether the vehicle-side connector is connected to the station-side connector, and

wherein the station-side security control section is configured to unlock the electrically-driven lock, when the vehicle-side security control section or the station-side security control section detects connection of the connectors and the electronic certification control section confirms that the electronic certification key is the authorized one at time of performing unlock manipulation on the electrically-driven lock provided at the power supply station or the electronic certification key for unlocking the foyer.

13. The plug-in vehicle management system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a condition sensor for detecting a station condition, which includes at least one of gas supply main cock condition, light condition, foyer condition, window condition, air-conditioner condition in the power supply station,

wherein the vehicle-side security control section or the station-side security control section is configured to detect disconnection of the vehicle-side connector from the station-side connector, and

wherein the condition sensor is configured to detect the power supply station condition when the disconnection is detected by the vehicle-side security control section or the station-side security control section.

14. A plug-in vehicle management system, which performs charging of a plug-in vehicle by a power supply station through a power supply line, the plug-in vehicle management system comprising:

a vehicle-side connector provided at a vehicle-side part of the power supply line;

a battery provided in the plug-in vehicle to be charged through the power supply line;

a station-side connector provided at a station-side part of the power supply line and connectable to the vehicle side connector;

a commercial power source for supplying the station-side part of the power supply line with commercial voltage;

a vehicle-side power line communication section provided in the plug-in vehicle for performing power line communication with the power supply station through the power supply line;

a vehicle-side security control section provided in the plug-in vehicle and connected to the vehicle-side power line communication section;

a station-side power line communication section provided in the power supply station for performing the power line communication with the plug-in vehicle through the power supply line;

a station-side security control section provided in the power supply station and connected to the station-side power line communication section;

an electronic certification key provided for the vehicle for locking and unlocking a door of the plug-in vehicle by performing electronic certification;

an electronic certification control section provided in each of the power supply station and the plug-in vehicle for checking whether the electronic certification key is an authorized one; and

a vehicle anti-theft control section provided in the vehicle for allowing starting of a vehicle drive motor or a hybrid engine only when the electronic certification control section confirms that the electronic certification key is the authorized one,

wherein the vehicle-side security control section is configured to detect connection of the vehicle-side connector to the station-side connector and disconnection of the vehicle-side connector from the station-side connector,

wherein the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to allow charging of the battery by the commercial power source through the power supply line, when the electronic certification control section of the power supply station confirms that the electronic certification key is the authorized one at time of detection of the connection by the vehicle-side security control section,

wherein the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to inhibit charging the battery by the commercial power source through the power supply line, when the electronic certification control section of the power supply station fails to confirm that the electronic certification key is the authorized one at time of detection of the connection by the vehicle-side security control section, and

wherein the vehicle-side security control section and the station-side security control section are configured to cooperate to inhibit starting the drive motor or the hybrid engine, when the electronic certification control section of the plug-in vehicle fails to confirm that the electronic certification key is the authorized one at time of detection of the disconnection by the vehicle-side security control section.