APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING SYSTEM OF VEHICLE

• US 20100299008A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• 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 8,301,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 2240/80 Time limits
• 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 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: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/248 Current for loading or unloading
• 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

Until a vehicle system is activated, a switching circuit outputs a pilot signal to an OR circuit. As a result, lowering of the potential of the pilot signal caused by a resistance circuit is avoided, and the pilot signal is provided in a non-pulsed manner. A power supply CPU is activated in accordance with any one of a connector signal and the non-pulsed pilot signal. When the vehicle system is activated, the switching circuit switches an output destination of the pilot signal to the resistance circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for activating a system of 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:

a signal generating circuit configured to be capable of generating a connection signal indicating connection between said vehicle and a charging cable through which electric power is supplied from said power supply to said vehicle;

an EVSE controller provided outside said vehicle and configured to be capable of generating a pilot signal whose pulse width is modulated based on a magnitude of a rated current that can be supplied to said vehicle through said charging cable and sending said pilot signal to said vehicle;

an activation controller mounted on said vehicle for activating the system of said vehicle in accordance with a system activation operation by a user when travel of the vehicle is requested, and for activating said system in accordance with any one of said connection signal and said pilot signal when charging of said power storage device from said power supply is requested; and

a signal manipulating circuit mounted on said vehicle and configured to be capable of notifying said EVSE controller to provide said pilot signal in a non-pulsed manner until said system is activated by said activation controller, by manipulating a potential of said pilot signal.

2. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

a pulse cycle of said pilot signal is shorter than an operation cycle of said activation controller.

3. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

by manipulating the potential of said pilot signal in accordance with the connection between said charging cable and said vehicle as well as a state of said vehicle, said signal manipulating circuit notifies said EVSE controller of said connection and said state of the vehicle, and in addition, notifies said EVSE controller to provide said pilot signal in the non-pulsed manner until said system is activated by said activation controller.

4. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

said signal manipulating circuit includes

a resistance circuit configured to be capable of changing the potential of said pilot signal in stages in accordance with the connection between said charging cable and said vehicle as well as said state of the vehicle, and

a switching circuit placed between an input terminal of said pilot signal in said vehicle and said resistance circuit as well as said activation controller, for outputting, to said activation controller, said pilot signal input from said input terminal without passing through said resistance circuit until said system is activated by said activation controller, and switching, to said resistance circuit, an output destination of said pilot signal input from said input terminal, when said system is activated by said activation controller.

5. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said switching circuit switches, to said activation controller, the output destination of said pilot signal input from said input terminal, when charging of said power storage device from said power supply stops.

6. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising:

an abnormality detecting unit for detecting that said pilot signal is abnormal, when a state in which said pilot signal does not oscillate and the potential of said pilot signal is generated continues for a prescribed time period after the output destination of said pilot signal is switched to said resistance circuit by said switching circuit.

7. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

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 is mounted on said vehicle.

11. The apparatus for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

an abnormality detecting unit for detecting that said pilot signal is abnormal, when a state in which said pilot signal does not oscillate and the potential of said pilot signal is generated continues for a prescribed time period after the output destination of said pilot signal is switched to said resistance circuit by said switching circuit.

8. A method for activating a system of 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 the steps of:

activating the system of said vehicle in accordance with a system activation operation by a user when travel of the vehicle is requested;

activating said system in accordance with any one of a connection signal indicating connection between said vehicle and a charging cable through which electric power is supplied from said power supply to said vehicle, and a pilot signal which is generated by an EVSE controller provided outside the vehicle and whose pulse width is modulated based on a magnitude of a rated current that can be supplied to said vehicle through said charging cable, when charging of said power storage device from said power supply is requested; and

notifying said EVSE controller to provide said pilot signal in a non-pulsed manner until said system is activated, by manipulating a potential of said pilot signal in said vehicle.

9. The method for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

in the step of activating said system in accordance with any one of said connection signal and said pilot signal, said connection signal and said pilot signal are sampled at a prescribed cycle, and

a pulse cycle of said pilot signal is shorter than said prescribed cycle.

10. The method for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

notifying said EVSE controller of permission for oscillation of said pilot signal by manipulating the potential of said pilot signal, when said system is activated; and

detecting that said pilot signal is abnormal, when a state in which said pilot signal does not oscillate and the potential of said pilot signal is generated continues for a prescribed time period after said system is activated.

12. The method for activating a system of a vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

notifying said EVSE controller of permission for oscillation of said pilot signal by manipulating the potential of said pilot signal, when said system is activated; and

detecting that said pilot signal is abnormal, when a state in which said pilot signal does not oscillate and the potential of said pilot signal is generated continues for a prescribed time period after said system is activated.