ADAPTER AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED THEREWITH, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An adapter connected to a vehicle capable of external charging to charge a power storage device mounted therein with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable, the adapter being used to receive electric power from a power generation device mounted in the vehicle and supply the received electric power to electrical equipment external to the vehicle, the adapter comprising:
- a first connection portion that corresponds in geometry to an inlet allowing the charging cable to be connected thereto and is connectable to the inlet;
a second connection portion that is electrically connected to the first connection portion, and also corresponds in geometry to a power supply plug of the electrical equipment and allows the power supply plug to be connected thereto; and
a connection sensing circuit that provides a connection signal, which in the external charging is transmitted on a path to indicate that the charging cable has a connector connected to the inlet, on the path when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet,the connection sensing circuit setting the connection signal to a potential to cause the vehicle to recognize that the adapter has been connected, the potential being different from that applied when the connector of the charging cable is connected to the inlet.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an adapter including a first connection portion that corresponds in geometry to an inlet and a second connection portion that corresponds in geometry to a power supply plug of electrical equipment external to a vehicle. The adapter includes a second control device capable of outputting a signal to a first control device of the vehicle. When the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, the second control device outputs a power supply instruction signal, which is indicative of an instruction to supply electric power, to the first control device to cause the first control device to control a power conversion device of the vehicle to supply electric power from the power conversion device to the electrical equipment.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An adapter connected to a vehicle capable of external charging to charge a power storage device mounted therein with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable, the adapter being used to receive electric power from a power generation device mounted in the vehicle and supply the received electric power to electrical equipment external to the vehicle, the adapter comprising:
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a first connection portion that corresponds in geometry to an inlet allowing the charging cable to be connected thereto and is connectable to the inlet; a second connection portion that is electrically connected to the first connection portion, and also corresponds in geometry to a power supply plug of the electrical equipment and allows the power supply plug to be connected thereto; and a connection sensing circuit that provides a connection signal, which in the external charging is transmitted on a path to indicate that the charging cable has a connector connected to the inlet, on the path when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, the connection sensing circuit setting the connection signal to a potential to cause the vehicle to recognize that the adapter has been connected, the potential being different from that applied when the connector of the charging cable is connected to the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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2. An adapter connected to a vehicle capable of external charging to charge a power storage device mounted therein with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable the adapter being used to receive electric power from a power generation device mounted in the vehicle and supply the received electric power to electrical equipment external to the vehicle, the adapter comprising:
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a first connection portion that corresponds in geometry to an inlet allowing the charging cable to be connected thereto and is connectable to the inlet; and a second connection portion that is electrically connected to the first connection portion, and also corresponds in geometry to a power supply plug of the electrical equipment and allows the power supply plug to be connected thereto, the adapter transmitting a power supply instruction signal, which is indicative of an instruction to supply electric power to the electrical equipment, to the vehicle by utilizing a path that transmits a connection signal indicating that a connector of the charging cable is connected to the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle allowing a power storage device mounted therein to be charged with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable, the vehicle allowing an adapter to be connected thereto to supply electric power to external electrical equipment, the vehicle comprising:
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a power generation device; an inlet for connecting a connector of the charging cable in external charging; and a control device, the adapter including a first connection portion connectable to the inlet, a second connection portion allowing a power supply plug of the electrical equipment to be connected thereto, and a connection sensing circuit that provides a connection signal, which in the external charging is transmitted on a path to indicate that the charging cable has the connector connected to the inlet, on the path when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, the connection sensing circuit setting the connection signal to a potential that is different from that applied when the connector of the charging cable is connected to the inlet, the control device determining according to the potential of the connection signal whether the adapter has been connected to the inlet, and if the adapter has been connected to the inlet, then the control device allowing electric power to be supplied from the power generation device to the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A vehicle allowing a power storage device mounted therein to be charged with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable, the vehicle allowing an adapter to be connected thereto to supply electric power to external electrical equipment, the vehicle comprising:
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a power generation device; an inlet for connecting a connector of the charging cable in external charging; and a control device, the adapter including a first connection portion connectable to the inlet, and a second connection portion allowing a power supply plug of the electrical equipment to be connected thereto, the control device being operative in response to a power supply instruction signal, which is indicative of an instruction to supply electric power to the electrical equipment, transmitted from the adapter through a path, which transmits a connection signal indicating that the charging cable has the connector connected to the inlet, to supply electric power from the power generation device to the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of supplying electrical equipment external to a vehicle via an adapter with electric power received from a power generation device mounted in the vehicle, the vehicle being capable of external charging to charge a power storage device mounted therein with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable, the vehicle including an inlet for connecting the charging cable in the external charging, the adapter including a first connection portion that corresponds in geometry to the inlet and is connectable to the inlet, a second connection portion allowing a power supply plug of the electrical equipment to be connected thereto, and a connection sensing circuit that provides a connection signal, which in the external charging is transmitted on a path to indicate that the charging cable has a connector connected to the inlet, on the path when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting the first connection portion to the inlet; connecting the power supply plug to the second connection portion; when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, controlling the connection sensing circuit to set the connection signal to a potential that is different from that applied when the connector of the charging cable is connected to the inlet; determining according to the potential of the connection signal whether the adapter has been connected to the inlet; and if the adapter has been connected to the inlet, supplying electric power from the power generation device to the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of supplying electrical equipment external to a vehicle via an adapter with electric power received from a power generation device mounted in the vehicle, the vehicle being capable of external charging to charge a power storage device mounted therein with electric power supplied from an external power supply via a charging cable, the vehicle including an inlet for connecting the charging cable in the external charging, the adapter including a first connection portion that corresponds in geometry to the inlet and is connectable to the inlet, and a second connection portion that is electrically connected to the first connection portion and also allows a power supply plug of the electrical equipment to be connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting the first connection portion to the inlet; connecting the power supply plug to the second connection portion; when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, receiving a power supply instruction signal output from the adapter and indicative of an instruction to supply electric power to the electrical equipment; and supplying electric power from the power generation device to the inlet in response to the power supply instruction signal indicative of the instruction to supply electric power to the electrical equipment. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification