LOCK DEVICE, CONTROLLER, AND ELECTRIC KEY SYSTEM

• US 20140165676A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: INOUE, Tomohiro, KOJIMA, Koichi
• Application Number:
  US14/103,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20140165676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/256
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/18 to effect movement of a bolt or bolts E05B81/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/28 Locks for glove compartments, console boxes, fuel inlet covers or the like
• 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: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

A power port lock device locks a locking subject to restrict removal of a charge cable from a power port arranged in a vehicle or restrict connection of the charge cable to the power port. The lock device includes a lock mechanism that locks and unlocks the locking subject. A door monitoring unit monitors a locking state of a vehicle door. A detection unit detects an operation to a door locking-unlocking unit which is operated to lock or unlock the vehicle door. A lock control unit controls operation of the lock mechanism based on a monitoring result of the door monitoring unit and a detection result of the detection unit.

Claims

1. A lock device for locking a locking subject with a lock mechanism to restrict removal of a charge cable from a power port arranged in a vehicle or restrict connection of the charge cable to the power port, the lock device comprising:

a door monitoring unit that monitors a locking state of a vehicle door;

a detection unit that detects an operation to a door locking-unlocking unit which is operated to lock or unlock the vehicle door; and

a lock control unit that controls at least one of locking and unlocking of the locking subject based on a monitoring result of the door monitoring unit and a detection result of the detection unit.

2. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lock control unit is configured to

lock the locking subject if the vehicle door is locked when a locking operation is performed on the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged outside the vehicle door, and

unlock the locking subject if the vehicle door is unlocked when an unlocking operation is performed on the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged outside the vehicle door.

3. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lock control unit is configured to

lock the locking subject if the vehicle door is locked when a locking operation is performed on the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged inside the vehicle, and

unlock the locking subject if the vehicle door is unlocked when an unlocking operation is performed on the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged inside the vehicle.

4. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lock control unit is configured to

lock the locking subject if the vehicle door is locked when a locking operation is performed with a mechanical key on a key cylinder serving as the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged in the vehicle door, and

unlock the locking subject if the vehicle door is unlocked when an unlocking operation is performed with the mechanical key on the key cylinder.

5. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lock control unit is configured to

lock the locking subject if the vehicle door is locked when a locking operation is performed on the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged on an electronic key, and

unlock the locking subject if the vehicle door is unlocked when an unlocking operation is performed on the door locking-unlocking unit that is arranged on the electronic key.

6. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the locking subject includes the charge cable.

7. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the locking subject includes a lid that closes the power port.

8. A controller coupled to a power port lock mechanism to control the power port lock mechanism, wherein the power port lock mechanism locks an power port arranged in a vehicle in response to a power port lock drive signal to restrict removal of a charge cable from the power port or restrict connection of the charge cable to the power port, and the power port lock mechanism unlocks the power port in response to a power port unlock drive signal to permit removal of the charge cable from the power port or permit connection of the charge cable to the power port, the controller comprising:

instructions configured to receive a door lock state signal indicating that a vehicle door is locked, a door unlock state signal indicating that the vehicle door is unlocked, a vehicle door locking operation notification signal, and a vehicle door unlocking operation notification signal;

instructions configured to provide the power port lock mechanism with the power port lock drive signal when the door lock state signal and the vehicle door locking operation notification signal, which follows the door lock state signal, are received; and

instructions configured to provide the power port lock mechanism with the power port unlock drive signal when the door unlock state signal and the vehicle door unlocking operation notification signal, which follows the door unlock state signal, are received.

9. An electronic key system comprising:

an electronic key that performs wireless communication;

a verification ECU that verifies the electronic key through wireless communication;

a power port lock mechanism responsive to a power port lock drive signal and a power port unlock drive signal, wherein the power port lock mechanism locks a power port arranged in a vehicle in accordance with the power port lock drive signal to restrict removal of a charge cable from the power port or restrict connection of the charge cable to the power port, and the power port lock mechanism unlocks the power port in accordance with the power port unlock drive signal to permit removal of the charge cable from the power port or permit connection of the charge cable to the power port; and

a controller coupled to the power port lock mechanism to control the power port lock mechanism, wherein the controller includes

instructions configured to receive a door lock state signal indicating that a vehicle door is locked, a door unlock state signal indicating that the vehicle door is unlocked, a vehicle door locking operation notification signal, and a vehicle door unlocking operation notification signal,

instructions configured to provide the power port lock mechanism with the power port lock drive signal when, after the verification ECU verifies the electronic key, the door lock state signal and the vehicle door locking operation notification signal, which follows the door lock state signal, are received, and

instructions configured to provide the power port lock mechanism with the power port unlock drive signal when, after the verification ECU verifies the electronic key, the door unlock state signal and the vehicle door unlocking operation notification signal, which follows the door unlock state signal, are received.