CHARGING CONNECTOR AND CHARGING CABLE UNIT

• US 20110291612A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujitake, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 9,013,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• 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 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• 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 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle and a power source are connected to each other at the time of charging by a charging cable including a signal line for transmitting a pilot signal for communication of information and a power line for transmitting electric power. The pilot signal has voltage changeable between a high level and a low level having a lower potential than the high level. The charging connector is provided with a power terminal to be supplied with the electric power from the power line, a signal terminal receiving the pilot signal transmitted from the signal line, and a light emitting diode having one end coupled to a signal of the signal line and the other end coupled to a node of a higher potential than the low level, with the forward direction thereof from the other end to the one end.

Claims

1. A charging connector providing connection between a vehicle and a power source outside of said vehicle for charging a power storage device equipped in the vehicle, said vehicle and said power source being connected to each other at the time of charging by a charging cable including a signal line for transmitting a pilot signal for communication of information and a power line for transmitting electric power, said pilot signal having voltage changeable between a high level and a low level having a lower potential than said high level,

said charging connector, comprising:

a power terminal to be supplied with the electric power from said power line;

a signal terminal receiving said pilot signal transmitted from said signal line; and

a load having one end coupled to a signal of said signal line and the other end coupled to a node of a higher potential than said low level, and including a rectifier element with the forward direction thereof from said other end to said one end.

2. The charging connector according to claim 1, wherein

said load is provided in said connector, serving as a light for illuminating a connection portion provided on said vehicle, and

said rectifier element is a light emitting diode.

3. The charging connector according to claim 2, further comprising:

an operation unit for operating a lock between said charging connector and the connection portion provided on said vehicle; and

a switch for connecting said signal line and said load in accordance with the operation of said operation unit, wherein

said operation unit is operable in a lock state and a release state, and

said switch connects said signal line and said load in said release state, and electrically separates said load from said signal line in said lock state.

4. A charging cable unit providing connection between a vehicle and a power source outside of said vehicle for charging a power storage device equipped in the vehicle, comprising:

a charging cable including a signal line for transmitting a pilot signal for communication of information and a power line for transmitting electric power, the charging cable providing connection between said vehicle and said power source at the time of charging, said pilot signal having voltage changeable between a high level and a low level serving as lower potential than said high level; and

a charging connector connected to one end of said charging cable, the charging connector being connectable to a connection portion provided on the vehicle,

said charging connector, including;

a power terminal to be supplied with the electric power from said power line;

a signal terminal receiving said pilot signal transmitted from said signal line; and

a load having one end coupled to a signal of said signal line and the other end coupled to a node of a higher potential than said low level, and including a rectifier element with the forward direction thereof from said other end to said one end.

5. The charging cable unit according to claim 4, wherein

said load is provided on said connector, serving as a light for illuminating said connection portion provided on said vehicle, and

said rectifier element is a light emitting diode.

6. The charging cable unit according to claim 5, further comprising:

a connection unit to be connected to said power source outside of said vehicle; and

a breaker provided between said connection unit and said charging connector and connected to said charging cable in series.

7. The charging cable unit according to claim 6, wherein said breaker includes:

a signal generating circuit generating said pilot signal;

a first resistor element connected between the output side of said signal generating circuit and said signal line; and

a voltage detector for detecting a potential of the high level of said signal line,

said charging connector further includes;

a second resistor element connected in parallel to said load;

an operation unit for operating a lock between said charging connector and the connection portion provided on said vehicle; and

a switch for connecting said signal line and said load and said second resistor element connected in parallel in accordance with the operation of said operation unit,

said operation unit is operable in a lock state and a release state, and

said switch connects said signal line and said load in said release state, and electrically separates said load from said signal line in said lock state.