Vehicle equipped with electrical storage device, and charging cable

• US 7,886,857 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujitake, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walters; John D
• Application Number:
  US12/457,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20090301801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2.1, 180/65.265, 180/65.27, 180/65.275, 180/65.285, 180/65.29, 903/906, 903/907, 320/137, 320/165
• US Class Current: 180/65.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A vehicle includes a charging inlet for connection with a ground line and a pair of power lines used to charge an electrical storage device from outside the vehicle; a terminal of the charging inlet for connection with the ground line; and a GND relay that connects the terminal to a body earth of the vehicle. Desirably, the vehicle further includes an ECU that controls charging of the electrical storage device. Before charging of the electrical storage device is started after the pair of power lines and the ground line are connected to the charging inlet, the ECU opens the GND relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an electrical storage device that is able to be charged from outside the vehicle;

a connecting portion for connection with a pair of power lines used to charge the electrical storage device from outside the vehicle, and a ground line;

a terminal that is provided at the connecting portion, and is connected with the ground line;

a relay that connects the terminal to a body ground of the vehicle; and

a control unit that controls charging of the electrical storage device, wherein the control unit opens the relay after the pair of power lines and the ground line are connected to the connecting portion and before charging of the electrical storage device is started, and determines, with the relay open, whether there is a disconnection in the ground line based on whether a voltage between at least one of the pair of power lines and the ground line is able to be detected normally.

2. The vehicle in which the electrical storage device is mounted according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line based on a detection result obtained by a voltage sensor that detects the voltage between at least one of the pair of power lines and the ground line.

3. The vehicle in which the electrical storage device is mounted according to claim 1, further comprising:

a current sensor that is used to control charging of the electrical storage device, wherein when charging of the electrical storage device is temporarily interrupted to calibrate the current sensor after the charging is started, the control unit opens the relay and determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

4. The vehicle in which the electrical storage device is mounted according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electric motor that receives electric power from the electrical storage device to generate power for propelling the vehicle.

5. The vehicle in which the electrical storage device is mounted according to claim 4, further comprising:

an internal combustion engine that generates power for propelling the vehicle together with the electric motor.

6. A charging cable for supplying electricity to a vehicle in which an electrical storage device is mounted and which is configured such that the electrical storage device is able to be charged from outside the vehicle, comprising:

a pair of power lines for charging the electrical storage device from outside the vehicle;

a ground line for grounding a body ground of the vehicle;

a power line breaking relay that is provided in the power lines;

a ground line breaking relay that is provided in the ground line; and

a control unit that controls the power line breaking relay and the ground line breaking relay, wherein

the control unit opens the ground line breaking relay after the pair of power lines and the ground line are connected to the vehicle and before charging of the electrical storage device is started, and determines, with the ground line breaking relay open, whether there is a disconnection in the ground line based on whether a voltage between at least one of the pair of power lines and the ground line is able to be detected normally.

7. The charging cable according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle further comprises:

a current sensor that is used to control charging of the electrical storage device, wherein

when charging of the electrical storage device is temporarily interrupted to calibrate the current sensor after the charging is started, the control unit opens the ground line breaking relay and determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.

8. The charging cable according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle comprises:

an electric motor that receives electric power from the electrical storage device to generate power for propelling the vehicle.

9. The charging cable according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle further comprises:

an internal combustion engine that generates power for propelling the vehicle together with the electric motor.

10. The charging cable according to claim 6, further comprising:

a voltage sensor that detects the voltage between at least one of the pair of power lines and the ground line, wherein

the voltage sensor outputs a detection result to the control unit.