VEHICLE CHARGING APPARATUS

• US 20120306439A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Shinji, Takada, Kazuyoshi, Sakoda, Shimpei
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• 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 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• 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: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0085 Partially controlled bridges
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle includes a power reception terminal, a charger and a non-contact power reception unit. The power reception terminal is configured to be electrically connectable to an AC power supply. The charger is configured to convert AC electric power inputted from the power reception terminal to a predetermined DC voltage. The non-contact power reception unit is configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission unit of an AC power supply to receive electric power from the AC power supply in a non-contact manner. The non-contact power reception unit is connected to a power conversion circuit of the charger,

Claims

1. A vehicle charging apparatus for charging a power storage device mounted on a vehicle by an AC power supply external to the vehicle, comprising:

a power reception terminal configured to be electrically connectable to said AC power supply;

a charger configured to convert AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal to a predetermined DC voltage; and

a non-contact power reception unit configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission unit of said AC power supply to receive electric power from said AC power supply in a non-contact manner,

said non-contact power reception unit being connected to a power conversion circuit of said charger.

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

said charger includes

a first rectification unit configured to be capable of rectifying the AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal,

an inverter connected to said first rectification unit,

an insulating transformer connected to said inverter, and

a second rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said insulating transformer, and

said non-contact power reception unit is connected to either said first rectification unit or said second rectification unit.

3. The vehicle charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

one rectification unit of said first and second rectification units is formed of a rectification element having more excellent high-frequency rectification property than that of a rectification element constituting the other rectification unit, and

said non-contact power reception unit is connected to said one rectification unit.

4. The vehicle charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said non-contact power reception unit is connected to said second rectification unit, and

said vehicle charging apparatus further comprises a voltage conversion device provided between said non-contact power reception unit and said second rectification unit.

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

said charger includes

a first rectification unit configured to be capable of rectifying the AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal,

an inverter connected to said first rectification unit,

an insulating transformer connected to said inverter, and

a second rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said insulating transformer,

said non-contact power reception unit includes

a power reception coil configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission coil provided at said power transmission unit, and

a third rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said power reception coil, and

said third rectification unit is connected between said first rectification unit and said inverter.

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

said charger includes

a first rectification unit configured to be capable of rectifying the AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal,

an inverter connected to said first rectification unit,

an insulating transformer connected to said inverter, and

a second rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said insulating transformer,

said non-contact power reception unit includes

a power reception coil configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission coil provided at said power transmission unit, and

a third rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said power reception coil,

said second rectification unit includes first and second upper-and-lower arms connected in parallel between a positive electrode output line and a negative electrode output line of said charger,

each arm of said first upper-and-lower arm includes a switching element,

a secondary coil of said insulating transformer is connected between an intermediate point of said first upper-and-lower arm and an intermediate point of said second upper-and-lower arm,

said charger further includes a reactor connected between the intermediate point of said first upper-and-lower arm and said positive electrode output line, and

said third rectification unit is connected to the positive electrode output line and the negative electrode output line of said charger.

7. The vehicle charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said charger includes

a first rectification unit configured to be capable of rectifying the AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal,

an inverter connected to said first rectification unit,

an insulating transformer connected to said inverter, and

a second rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said insulating transformer,

said non-contact power reception unit includes

a power reception coil configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission coil provided at said power transmission unit, and

a third rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said power reception coil,

said second rectification unit includes first and second upper-and-lower arms connected in parallel between a positive electrode output line and a negative electrode output line of said charger,

each arm of said first upper-and-lower arm includes a switching element,

a secondary coil of said insulating transformer is connected between an intermediate point of said first upper-and-lower arm and an intermediate point of said second upper-and-lower arm,

said charger further includes a reactor connected between one output end of said third rectification unit and the intermediate point of said first upper-and-lower arm, and

the other output end of said third rectification unit is connected to the negative electrode output line of said charger.

8. The vehicle charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said charger includes

a first rectification unit configured to be capable of rectifying the AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal,

an inverter connected to said first rectification unit,

an insulating transformer connected to said inverter, and

a second rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said insulating transformer,

said non-contact power reception unit includes

a power reception coil configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission coil provided at said power transmission unit, and

a third rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said power reception coil,

said second rectification unit includes first and second upper-and-lower arms connected in parallel between a positive electrode output line and a negative electrode output line of said charger,

each arm of said first upper-and-lower arm includes a switching element,

a secondary coil of said insulating transformer is connected between an intermediate point of said first upper-and-lower arm and an intermediate point of said second upper-and-lower arm,

said third rectification unit is connected to the positive electrode output line and the negative electrode output line of said charger, and

said charger further includes a switching device for breaking electrical connection between the secondary coil of said insulating transformer and the intermediate point of said second upper-and-lower arm, and electrically connecting said secondary coil to said positive electrode output line, when said non-contact power reception unit is used for charging.

9. The vehicle charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said charger includes

a first rectification unit configured to be capable of rectifying the AC electric power inputted from said power reception terminal,

an inverter connected to said first rectification unit,

an insulating transformer connected to said inverter, and

a second rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said insulating transformer,

said non-contact power reception unit includes

a power reception coil configured to be magnetically coupled to a power transmission coil provided at said power transmission unit, and

a third rectification unit configured to rectify an output of said power reception coil,

said second rectification unit includes first and second upper-and-lower arms connected in parallel between a positive electrode output line and a negative electrode output line of said charger,

each arm of said first upper-and-lower arm includes a switching element,

a secondary coil of said insulating transformer is connected between an intermediate point of said first upper-and-lower arm and an intermediate point of said second upper-and-lower arm,

said charger further includes a switching device for breaking electrical connection between the secondary coil of said insulating transformer and the intermediate point of said second upper-and-lower arm, and electrically connecting said secondary coil to one output end of said third rectification unit, when said non-contact power reception unit is used for charging, and

the other output end of said third rectification unit is connected to the negative electrode output line of said charger.

10. The vehicle charging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said non-contact power reception unit further includes an electromagnetic shielding material for integrally shielding said power reception

coil and said third rectification unit from electromagnetic waves.