CHARGING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100295507A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• 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: Ishii, Kenichi, Fukui, Satoshi, Karami, Masahiro, Kamaga, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,258,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• 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 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An oscillator provided in a charging cable outputs a non-oscillating signal when the potential of a pilot signal is around V(1), and outputs an oscillating signal when the potential of the pilot signal is lowered to V(2). A pull-down resistance element provided in the plug-in hybrid vehicle is connected between a control pilot line and a vehicle earth, and changes the potential of the pilot signal from V(1) to V(2). A switch is connected in series between the pull-down resistance element and the vehicle earth. When the charging cable is connected to the vehicle, the switch is turned off and the pull-down resistance element is separated from the vehicle earth.

Claims

1. A charging control apparatus for a vehicle including a charging system for charging a power storage device with electric power supplied from a power supply external to the vehicle through a charging cable, said vehicle receiving a pilot signal from an oscillator provided in said charging cable when said charging cable connects said power supply and said vehicle, said oscillator causing said pilot signal to oscillate in a pulse width based on magnitude of a rated current that can be supplied to said vehicle, in response to a change in a potential of said pilot signal from an initial potential to an oscillation potential,

said charging control apparatus comprising:

a control pilot line to which said pilot signal is input when said charging cable is connected to said vehicle;

a resistance element connected between said control pilot line and a vehicle earth, for changing the potential of said pilot signal from said initial potential to said oscillation potential;

a switching unit connected either between said control pilot line and said resistance element or between said resistance element and said vehicle earth, and switched to any one of a separated state where said resistance element is separated from any one of said control pilot line and said vehicle earth, and a connected state where said resistance element is connected to said control pilot line and said vehicle earth; and

a control unit for starting activation of said charging system based on a potential of said control pilot line, wherein

said control unit controls said switching unit to said separated state at least upon connecting said charging cable and said vehicle.

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

said control unit controls said switching unit to said separated state upon connecting said charging cable and said vehicle, and controls said switching unit to said connected state upon completion of the activation of said charging system.

3. The charging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit further determines whether or not said charging cable is connected to said vehicle, based on presence or absence of said pilot signal.

4. The charging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said vehicle receives a connection signal whose output changes in accordance with a state of connection between said charging cable and said vehicle, and

said control unit further detects an abnormality in said connection signal based on a result of comparison between said connection signal and said pilot signal.

5. The charging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said vehicle receives a connection signal whose output changes in accordance with a state of connection between said charging cable and said vehicle, and

said control unit further detects at least any one of stop of electric power feed to said power supply and restart of electric power feed to said power supply, based on the potential of said control pilot line, when it is deter reined that said charging cable is connected to said vehicle, based on said connection signal.

6. The charging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said pilot signal is input to said control pilot line when a reserved charging time set in a timer for reserving vehicle charging comes, while said charging cable is connected to said vehicle and connected to said power supply with said timer interposed.