Charging cable, charging control device and vehicle charging system

• US 8,198,855 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukui, Satoshi, Ishii, Kenichi, Kamaga, Ryuichi, Karami, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/498,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 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 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

Provided is a charging cable capable of detecting an abnormal state, such as a break, of a control line through which a pilot signal is transmitted, the charging cable including: a power cable through which an external power source feeds a power storage device; a signal generating circuit for generating a control signal to output to a vehicle; a control line L1 through which the control signal is transmitted to the vehicle; and a bypass circuit for changing a voltage applied from a vehicle side through the control line L1.

Claims

1. A charging cable comprising:

a power cable through which an external power source feeds a power storage device located in a vehicle;

a signal generating circuit configured to generate a control signal corresponding to a capacity of current feedable to the vehicle through the power cable;

a control line through which the control signal is transmitted from an output terminal of the signal generating circuit to the vehicle;

a feeding control portion configured to control a start or an end of the feeding to the vehicle through the power cable based on a voltage level of the control line that is controlled by the vehicle side; and

a bypass circuit located between the output terminal of the signal generating circuit and a ground configured to change voltage applied from the vehicle side to the control line, and configured to detect an abnormal state of the control line at the charging cable side based on a voltage level of the control line at the vehicle side.

5. A charging control device comprising:

a charging control portion configured to charge the power storage device when the vehicle is connected with the charging cable according to claim 1, the charging being based on the capacity of current indicated by the control signal transmitted through the control line, and

a state detecting portion configured to detect, when connection of the charging cable to the vehicle is detected and the voltage applied to the control line is changed by the bypass circuit, a state in which the control line is normal but the power cable is not connected to the external power source.

2. A vehicle charging system comprising:

a charging cable; and

a charging control device configured to carry out charging control of a power storage device located in a vehicle through the charging cable, wherein;

the charging cable includes;

a power cable through which an external power source feeds the power storage device located in the vehicle;

a signal generating circuit configured to generate a control signal corresponding to a capacity of current feedable to the vehicle through the power cable;

a control line through which the control signal is transmitted from an output terminal of the signal generating circuit to the vehicle;

a feeding control portion configured to control a start or an end of the feeding to the vehicle through the power cable based on a voltage level of the control line that is controlled by the vehicle side; and

a bypass circuit located between the output terminal of the signal generating circuit and a ground configured to change voltage applied from the vehicle side to the control line, and configured to detect an abnormal state of the control line at the charging cable side based on a voltage level of the control line at the vehicle side; and

the charging control device includes;

a charging control portion configured to charge the power storage device on the basis of the capacity of current indicated by the control signal transmitted through the control line; and

a state detecting portion configured to detect whether the control line at the charging cable side is in the abnormal state or not based on whether the voltage applied to the control line is changed by the bypass circuit.

3. The vehicle charging system according to claim 2, wherein:

the charging control device includes a level switching portion configured to change the voltage level of the control line in a stepwise manner; and

the state detecting portion detects a break of the control line at the charging cable side based on a new voltage level of the control line switched from the former voltage level by the level switching portion.

4. The vehicle charging system according to claim 2, wherein:

the charging control device includes a level switching portion configured to change the voltage level of the control line in a stepwise manner; and

the state detecting portion detects a break of the control line at the charging cable side based on a detection state of the control signal after the level switching portion changes the voltage level of the control line.