Control apparatus for vehicle

• US 8,244,422 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujitake, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISBY, KEITH J
• Application Number:
  US12/673,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 180/65.265, 180/65.29, 180/65.275, 180/65.27, 903/907, 903/904, 903/903, 903/902, 320/109, 320/107, 307/10.1, 318/139
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

In the case where a connector of a charging cable is connected to a charging connector provided on a hybrid vehicle, a connector signal CNCT indicating that the connector of the charging cable is connected to the charging connector provided on the hybrid vehicle is input to a power supply ECU and an HV_ECU having an operating frequency higher than that of the power supply ECU. When the connector signal CNCT is input, the power supply ECU activates the HV_ECU. The HV_ECU controls the electrical system of the hybrid vehicle so as to charge a battery pack. The HV_ECU stops the charging when the input of the connector signal CNCT is stopped during charging of the battery pack.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with an electrical system having a battery storing electric power supplied from an external power supply through an EVSE, said control apparatus comprising:

a first control unit that receives an input of a connector signal indicating that said EVSE is connected to the vehicle when said EVSE is connected to the vehicle; and

a second control unit that has an operating frequency higher than an operating frequency of said first control unit and receives an input of said connector signal when said EVSE is connected to the vehicle, wherein

said first control unit activates said second control unit when said connector signal is input, and

said second control unit

controls, in an activated state, said electrical system to charge said battery, and

controls said electrical system to stop charging said battery when the input of said connector signal is stopped.

2. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said second control unit

transmits, during charging of said battery, a charging signal to said first control unit indicating that said battery is being charged, and

stops transmitting said charging signal when charging of said battery is stopped, and

said first control unit deactivates said second control unit when said charging signal is stopped.

3. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said first control unit

activates said second control unit by using an IG signal to output an IG_ON command, and

deactivates said second control unit by using the IG signal to output an IG_OFF command.

4. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said second control unit is an HV_ECU controlling charging of said battery, and

said first control unit is a power supply ECU controlling activation and deactivation of said HV_ECU.

5. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first control unit and said second control unit are mounted in said vehicle.

6. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a plug-in hybrid vehicle.