ADAPTER AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED THEREWITH, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE

• US 20130314034A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ang, Wanleng
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/22 characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• 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 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• 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 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 : Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 : with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 : in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

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.

Claims

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.

5. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the connection sensing circuit is a resistor.

6. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the connection sensing circuit includes a voltage source.

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:

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.

3. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the power supply instruction signal is set to a potential of the connection signal different from a potential used in the external charging.

4. The adapter according to claim 3, further comprising a connection sensing circuit that provides the power supply instruction signal on the path that transmits the connection signal when the first connection portion is connected to the inlet, wherein the connection sensing circuit sets the power supply instruction signal to a potential of the connection signal different from the potential used in the external charging.

7. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle includes a power conversion device for converting electric power received from the power generation device, and supplying the converted electric power to the inlet, and a first control device for controlling the power conversion device,

the adapter further comprising a second control device configured to be capable of outputting a signal to the first control device, wherein the second control device, with the first connection portion connected to the inlet, outputs the power supply instruction signal to the first control device to cause the first control device to control the power conversion device to supply electric power from the power generation device to the electrical equipment.

8. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein:

the vehicle includes a power conversion device for converting electric power received from the power generation device, and supplying the converted electric power to the inlet, and a control device for controlling the power conversion device; and

the control device controls the power conversion device in response to the power supply instruction signal to supply electric power from the power generation device to the electrical equipment.

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:

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.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a power conversion device for converting electric power received from the power generation device, and supplying the converted electric power to the inlet.

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:

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.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a power conversion device for converting electric power received from the power generation device, and supplying the converted electric power to the inlet.

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:

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.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle further includes a power conversion device for converting electric power received from the power generation device, and supplying the converted electric power to the inlet.

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:

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.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle further includes a power conversion device for converting electric power received from the power generation device, and supplying the converted electric power to the inlet.