CONTROL DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20130229052A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Kitanaka, Hidetoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,340,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/18 fed from dc supply lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A control device for an electric vehicle includes a converter circuit that converts a voltage input from an external power supply to a direct current having a predetermined value and outputs the direct current to a power storage unit, an inverter circuit that receives an arbitrary power supply from the external power supply or the power storage unit and converts power to an alternating current having a predetermined value, a converter control unit that controls the converter circuit based on a detection result of an abnormal state of the converter circuit and generates a protection status signal based on the detection result, and a inverter control unit that executes emergency control with respect to the inverter circuit, when the protection status signal is input, which indicates that the converter circuit is in an abnormal state.

Claims

1. A control device for an electric vehicle comprising:

a first power conversion unit that converts a voltage input from an external power supply to a direct current having a predetermined value and outputs the direct current to a power storage element;

a second power conversion unit that receives an arbitrary power supply from the external power supply or the power storage element and converts power to an alternating current having a predetermined value;

an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormal state of the first power conversion unit;

a first control unit that controls the first power conversion unit based on a detection result of the abnormality detection unit and generates a protection status signal based on the detection result; and

a second control unit that executes emergency control with respect to the second power conversion unit, when the protection status signal is input, which indicates that the first power conversion unit is in an abnormal state.

2. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second power conversion unit is an inverter device that controls a motor that drives the electric vehicle.

3. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second power conversion unit is an auxiliary power-supply device for supplying power to an auxiliary machine such as an air conditioning system or a lighting equipment in an electric vehicle.

4. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit executes control to shut down an operation of the second power conversion unit, as the emergency control.

5. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit executes control to decrease an acceleration of an electric vehicle, as the emergency control.

6. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the second control unit executes control to decrease a torque generated by the motor, as the emergency control.

7. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the protection status signal indicates that the first power conversion unit is returned to a normal state, the second control unit causes an operation of the second power conversion unit to return to an original operating condition.

8. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when having detected an abnormal state of the first power conversion unit, the first control unit changes the protection status signal to an H level.

9. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a master controller having a power-running accelerator lever that selects at least a power-running ON position and a power-running OFF position in order to manipulate acceleration of the electric vehicle, wherein

when the first power conversion unit becomes an abnormal state and is shut down, the first power conversion unit is restarted by setting the power-running accelerator lever to the power-running OFF position.

10. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a master controller having a brake lever that selects at least a brake ON position and a brake OFF position in order to manipulate a braking force of the electric vehicle, wherein

when the first power conversion unit becomes an abnormal state and is shut down, the first power conversion unit is restarted by setting the brake lever to the brake OFF position.

11. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit has such a configuration that when the first power conversion unit is in an energized and active state, and the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormal state, the protection status signal indicates the abnormal state of the first power conversion unit.

12. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the first power conversion unit includes an opening/closing unit between an external power supply and the first power conversion unit, and

the first control unit has such a configuration that when the opening/closing unit is in an ON state and the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormal state, the protection status signal indicates the abnormal state of the first power conversion unit.

13. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a master controller having any one of a power-running accelerator lever that selects at least a power-running ON position and a power-running OFF position in order to manipulate acceleration of the electric vehicle, and a brake lever that selects at least a brake ON position and a brake OFF position in order to manipulate a brake force of the electric vehicle, wherein

when a predetermined slight abnormality occurs in the first power conversion unit, the first power conversion unit is restarted by setting the power-running accelerator lever to the power-running OFF position or setting the brake lever to the brake OFF position, or when predetermined a severe abnormality occurs in the first power conversion unit, the first power conversion unit is restarted by manipulating a reset switch provided separately.

14. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit includes a cut-out unit that cuts out the protection status signal input from the first control unit based on a cut-out signal input separately, so that the second power conversion unit is controlled to operate normally regardless of the protection status signal.

15. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power storage unit and the second power conversion unit are connected in parallel to an output side of the first power conversion unit, with an input side thereof connected to the external power supply, and when the second power conversion unit receives a power supply from the external power supply, the power supply is received via the first power conversion unit.

16. The control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first power conversion unit and the second power conversion unit are connected in parallel to the external power supply, and the power storage unit is connected to an output side of the first power conversion unit, and when the second power conversion unit receives a power supply from the power storage unit, the power supply is received via the first power conversion unit.