METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING OF A HYBRID OR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20150061594A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: HOCKENSTROM, Anders, TORSTENSSON, Per, HADARTZ, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• 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 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• 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 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• 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: 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 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A method and system are provided for controlling a lock state of a charging cable connected to a power inlet of an electrical vehicle. The vehicle includes an energy storage device electrically connected to the power inlet, a lock unit for locking the charging cable to the power inlet, and a control unit for controlling a lock state of the lock unit.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a lock state of a charging cable connected to a power inlet of an electrical vehicle, the vehicle comprising an energy storage device electrically connected to the power inlet, a lock unit for locking the charging cable to the power inlet, and a control unit for controlling a lock state of the lock unit, the method comprising:

in the control unit, receiving an unlock request for unlocking a charging cable locked to the power inlet by the lock unit;

breaking an electrical connection between the charging cable and the energy storage device such that charging is aborted;

unlocking the cable from the power inlet within a first predetermined time after receiving the unlock request; and

,

if the cable is not removed from the power inlet within a second predetermined time after receiving the unlock request, locking the cable to the power inlet and forming an electrical connection between the charging cable and the energy storage device to restart charging.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising locking the cable to the power inlet if the vehicle is locked before the second predetermined time has lapsed.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising controlling the lock unit in the power inlet so that a charging cable is prevented from being connected if the vehicle is in an activated mode.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting if a charging cable is connected to the power inlet by measuring a parameter value of a connector element of the charging cable, wherein if the measured parameter value corresponds to a predetermined value, the cable is locked to the power inlet.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the measured parameter value is an electrical resistance.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprising, if it is detected that a charging cable is connected to the power inlet, locking the charging cable to the power inlet within a third predetermined time after the charging cable has been detected.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising starting charging of the energy storage device if a charging cable is locked to the power inlet.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising aborting charging and unlocking the cable from the power inlet if the vehicle is started while the cable is locked to the power inlet.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the unlock request for unlocking the charging cable is different from a request to unlock the vehicle.

10. A system for controlling a lock state of a charging cable connectable to a power inlet of an electrical vehicle comprising an energy storage device, the system comprising:

a control unit;

a power inlet electrically connected to the energy storage device and configured to receive the charging cable;

a lock unit configured to mechanically lock the charging cable to the power inlet;

wherein the control unit is configured to, when the charging cable is locked to the power inlet by the lock unit and an unlock request is received by the control unit;

break an electrical connection between the charging cable and the energy storage device such that charging is aborted;

unlock the cable from the power inlet within a first predetermined time after receiving the unlock request; and

if the cable is not removed from the power inlet within a second predetermined time after the unlock request is received, the control unit is configured to lock the cable to the power inlet and to form an electrical connection between the power supply and the energy storage device to restart charging.

11. The system according to claim 10 further comprising a remote unit for generating the unlock request based on a user input.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the remote unit is a vehicle key, an unlock button located inside or outside the vehicle, or a keyless unit for entry to the vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 10 further comprising a measurement element arranged in the power inlet and configured to receive a connector element of the charging cable wherein, if the measurement element is connected to the control unit, the control unit is configured to determine that a charging cable is detected at the power inlet of the vehicle if a parameter value of the connector element measured by the control unit corresponds to a predefined value.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the parameter value of the connector element is an electrical resistance value.

15. The system according to claim 10 wherein the control unit is configured to abort charging and unlocking the cable from the power inlet if the vehicle is started while the cable is locked to the power inlet.

16. A system for controlling a lock state of a charging cable connectable to a power inlet of an electric vehicle, the power inlet electrically connected to an energy storage device and configured to receive the charging cable, the system comprising:

a control unit;

a lock unit configured to mechanically lock the charging cable to the power inlet;

wherein the control unit is configured to, when the charging cable is connected to the power inlet and an unlock request is received by the control unit;

break an electrical connection between the charging cable and the energy storage device such that charging is aborted;

unlock the cable from the power inlet within a first predetermined time after receiving the unlock request; and

if the cable is not removed from the power inlet within a second predetermined time after the unlock request is received, lock the cable to the power inlet and form an electrical connection between the power supply and the energy storage device to restart charging.

17. The system according to claim 16 further comprising a remote unit for generating the unlock request based on a user input.

18. The system according to claim 16 further comprising a measurement element arranged in the power inlet and configured to receive a connector element of the charging cable wherein, if the measurement element is connected to the control unit, the control unit is configured to determine that a charging cable is detected at the power inlet of the vehicle if a parameter value of the connector element measured by the control unit corresponds to a predefined value.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the parameter value of the connector element is an electrical resistance value.

20. The system according to claim 16 wherein the control unit is configured to abort charging and unlocking the cable from the power inlet if the vehicle is started while the cable is locked to the power inlet.