CHARGING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE

• US 20100268406A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Yuki, Kamaga, Ryuichi, Ito, Takahiro, Karami, Masahiro
• Application Number:
  US12/747,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• 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

Abstract

An EVSE controller generates a pilot signal and sends the pilot signal to a vehicle. A resistance circuit is connected to a control pilot line through which the pilot signal is transmitted, and is configured to be capable of reducing the potential of the pilot signal to a prescribed potential in accordance with a state of the vehicle. A pull-down resistance and a switch are serially connected between the control pilot line and a ground line. A CPU turns on the switch when sensing an abnormality in the pilot signal.

Claims

1. A charging control apparatus for a vehicle configured to be capable of charging a vehicle-mounted power storage device for driving the vehicle from a power supply external to the vehicle, comprising:

an EVSE controller provided outside said vehicle and configured to be capable of generating a pilot signal whose potential is manipulated on said vehicle side to allow recognition of a state of said vehicle, and sending said pilot signal to said vehicle;

a potential manipulating circuit mounted on said vehicle, connected to a control pilot line through which said pilot signal from said EVSE controller is transmitted, and configured to be capable of reducing the potential of said pilot signal to a prescribed potential in accordance with the state of said vehicle; and

a resistance element provided between said control pilot line and a ground node and closer to said EVSE controller with respect to a predetermined area where a break in said control pilot line can be detected, and for lowering a potential of said control pilot line to said prescribed potential when an abnormality in said pilot signal is sensed in said vehicle.

2. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said pilot signal is provided to said vehicle through a charging cable for supplying electric power from said power supply to said vehicle, and

said resistance element is provided in proximity to a vehicle inlet of said vehicle to which said charging cable is connected.

3. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a switch connected between said control pilot line and said ground node and in series with said resistance element, and turned on when the abnormality in said pilot signal is sensed in said vehicle.

4. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a relay provided at a charging cable for supplying electric power from said power supply to said vehicle, and turned on/off in accordance with a provided command, wherein

said EVSE controller includes a first voltage detecting device for detecting the potential of said pilot signal, and outputs a connection command to said relay when the potential detected by said first voltage detecting device is lowered to said prescribed potential.

5. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second voltage detecting device for detecting, in said vehicle, a voltage of a power line for inputting the electric power from said power supply; and

an abnormality detecting device for detecting the break in said control pilot line and non-feeding from said power supply, based on the voltage detected by said second voltage detecting device and said pilot signal.

6. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

said abnormality detecting device determines that the break in said control pilot line is occurring, when there is no input of said pilot signal and the voltage of said power supply is detected by said second voltage detecting device.

7. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

said abnormality detecting device determines that there is no feeding from said power supply, when there is no input of said pilot signal and the voltage of said power supply is not detected by said second voltage detecting device.

8. A vehicle configured to be capable of charging a power storage device for driving the vehicle from a power supply external to the vehicle, comprising:

a control pilot line for transmitting a pilot signal generated outside the vehicle and whose potential is manipulated in the vehicle to allow recognition of a state of the vehicle outside the vehicle;

a potential manipulating circuit connected to said control pilot line and configured to be capable of reducing the potential of said pilot signal to a prescribed potential in accordance with the state of the vehicle; and

a resistance element provided between said control pilot line and a ground node and closer to a terminal for inputting said pilot signal from outside the vehicle with respect to a predetermined area where a break in said control pilot line can be detected, and for lowering a potential of said control pilot line to said prescribed potential when an abnormality in said pilot signal is sensed.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

said pilot signal is provided to the vehicle through a charging cable for supplying electric power from said power supply to the vehicle, and

said resistance element is provided in proximity to a vehicle inlet to which said charging cable is connected.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising

a switch connected between said control pilot line and the ground node and in series with said resistance element, and turned on when the abnormality in said pilot signal is sensed.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising:

a voltage detecting device for detecting a voltage of a power line for inputting electric power from said power supply; and

an abnormality detecting device for detecting the break in said control pilot line and non-feeding from said power supply, based on the voltage detected by said voltage detecting device and said pilot signal.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

said abnormality detecting device determines that the break in said control pilot line occurring, when there is no input of said pilot signal and the voltage of said power supply is detected by said voltage detecting device.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

said abnormality detecting device determines that there is no feeding from said power supply, when there is no input of said pilot signal and the voltage of said power supply is not detected by said voltage detecting device.

14. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising

a charger for converting electric power supplied from said power supply to a voltage level of said power storage device and charging said power storage device.