EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20140035512A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: KAMACHI, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 9,166,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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
• 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

An external power supply apparatus of an electric vehicle, includes: a battery; an inverter configured to convert DC power of the battery to AC power and configured to output the AC power; a first outlet socket disposed in the electric vehicle and through which an output of the inverter is supplied; a relay connected downstream from the first outlet socket as viewed from the inverter; a charging port connected downstream from the relay as viewed from the inverter and exposed to the outside of the electric vehicle; an adapter including a second outlet socket and being to be connected to the charging port; and, when it is detected that the adapter is connected to the charging port, a controlling unit setting the relay to an ON state to allow the output of the inverter to be supplied through the charging port.

Claims

1. An external power supply apparatus of an electric vehicle, the external power supply apparatus comprising:

a battery for driving the electric vehicle;

an inverter which is configured to convert DC power of the battery to AC power, and which is configured to output the AC power;

a first outlet socket which is disposed in the electric vehicle, and through which an output of the inverter is supplied;

a relay which is connected downstream from the first outlet socket as viewed from the inverter, and which is configured to turn ON/OFF the output of the inverter;

a charging port which is connected downstream from the relay as viewed from the inverter, and which is exposed to the outside of the electric vehicle;

an adapter which includes a second outlet socket, and which is to be connected to the charging port; and

a controlling unit which is configured to control the relay,

when it is detected that the adapter is connected to the charging port, the controlling unit configured to set the relay to an ON state to allow the output of the inverter to be supplied through the charging port.

2. The external power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a charging gun, which is configured to supply electric power of a home power supply through a charging cable, is connectable to the charging port, and

one end of the adapter has a shape which is compatible with the charging gun, and the other end of the adapter includes the second outlet socket.

3. The external power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

when it is detected that the adapter is connected to the charging port, the controlling unit inhibits the vehicle from travelling.

4. The external power supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

a charging gun, which is configured to supply electric power of a home power supply through a charging cable, is connectable to the charging port, and

one end of the adapter has a shape which is compatible with the charging gun, and the other end of the adapter includes the second outlet socket.

5. An external power supply apparatus of an electric vehicle, the external power supply apparatus comprising:

a battery for driving the electric vehicle;

an inverter which is configured to convert DC power of the battery to AC power, and which is configured to output the AC power;

a first outlet socket which is disposed in the electric vehicle, and through which an output of the inverter is supplied;

a relay which is connected downstream from the first outlet socket as viewed from the inverter, and which is configured to turn ON/OFF the output of the inverter;

a second outlet socket which is connected downstream from the relay as viewed from the inverter, and which is exposed to the outside of the electric vehicle; and

a controlling unit which is configured to control the relay,

when it is detected that an electric apparatus is connected to the second outlet socket, the controlling unit configured to set the relay to an ON state to allow the output of the inverter to be supplied through the second outlet socket.