Control system, control device and cable connection state determining method

• US 8,368,350 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwanaga, Takehito, Uchida, Takehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/563,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 320/109
• 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 2270/36 of vehicles
• 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: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/305 target power to auxiliaries
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle-side connector included at one end of a cable through which a power source outside a vehicle feeds a power storage device, includes a signal pin, a resistive element R2 connected to the signal pin at one end, a switch connected in series to the resistive element R2 at one end and grounded at the other end, and a resistive element R3 connected in parallel to the switch. The switch changes from an ON state to an OFF state upon depression of a depression portion located on the vehicle-side connector. The vehicle includes a resistive element R4 whose one end is connectable to the signal pin and other end is grounded and a control device which determines a state of connection of the cable on the basis of a signal voltage value input from a signal line electrically connected to the signal pin.

Claims

1. A control system for supplying power from a power source outside a vehicle to a power storage device located in the vehicle, the control system comprising:

a cable through which the power source outside the vehicle feeds the power storage device, the cable including at both ends a power source-side connector for connecting with the power source outside the vehicle and a vehicle-side connector for connecting with the vehicle, the vehicle-side connector including a signal pin, a series resistive element connected to the signal pin at one end, a switch connected in series to the series resistive element at one end and grounded at the other end, and a parallel resistive element connected in parallel to the switch and connected in series to the series resistive element, the switch changing from an ON state to an OFF state upon depression of a depression portion located on the vehicle-side connector by a user, at a time when the vehicle-side connector is connected to the vehicle, or at a time when the vehicle-side connector is disconnected off the vehicle;

a resistive element located in the vehicle, the resistive element being electrically connectable to the signal pin at one end and grounded at the other end; and

a control device located in the vehicle, the control device determining a state of the control system on the basis of a signal voltage value input from a signal line electrically connectable to the signal pin.

2. A control system for supplying power from a power source outside a vehicle to a power storage device located in the vehicle, the control system comprising:

a cable through which the power source outside the vehicle feeds the power storage device, the cable including at both ends a first connector for connecting with the power source outside the vehicle and a second connector for connecting with the vehicle, the second connector including a first signal pin, a first resistive element connected to the first signal pin at one end, a switch connected in series to the first resistive element at one end and grounded at the other end, and a second resistive element connected in parallel to the switch and connected in series to the series resistive element, the switch changing from an ON state to an OFF state upon depression of a depression portion located on the second connector by a user, at a time when the second connector is connected to the vehicle, or at a time when the second connector is disconnected off the vehicle;

a third connector located in the vehicle, the third connector including a second pin electrically connectable to the first pin, and a third resistive element connected at one end to the second signal pin and grounded at other end; and

a control device located in the vehicle, the control device including a fourth resistive element connected at one end to a signal line electrically connected to the second signal pin and connected at the other end to a power source at a vehicle side, and a control portion for determining a state of the control system on the basis of a signal voltage value input from the signal line.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein:

the cable includes;

a signal generating portion between the first connector and the second connector, the signal generating portion generating a pulse signal according to a state of power feed to the vehicle; and

a signal line electrically connected to a third signal pin located in the second connector, the signal line transmitting the pulse signal generated at the signal generating portion;

the third connector includes a fourth signal pin electrically connectable to the third signal pin; and

the control device includes the control portion for determining a state of the control system on the basis of the pulse signal input from a signal line electrically connected to the fourth signal pin.

4. A control device for supplying power from a power source outside a vehicle to a power storage device located in the vehicle, the control device comprising:

a storage portion storing a plurality of voltage values generated by combinations of first to fourth resistive elements included in a control system, the control system including;

a cable through which the power source outside the vehicle feeds the power storage device, the cable including at both ends a first connector for connecting with the power source outside the vehicle and a second connector for connecting with the vehicle;

a third connector located in the vehicle; and

a control device, the second connector including;

a first signal pin;

a first resistive element, the first resistive element being connected to the first signal pin at one end;

a switch connected in series to the first resistive element at one end and grounded at the other end; and

the second resistive element, the second resistive element being connected in parallel to the switch and connected in series to the series resistive element, the switch changing from an ON state to an OFF state upon depression of a depression portion located on the second connector by a user, at a time when the second connector is connected to the vehicle, or at a time when the second connector is disconnected off the vehicle, the third connector including a second signal pin electrically connectable to the first signal pin and the third resistive element, the third resistive element being connected at one end to the second signal pin and grounded at other end, and the control device including the fourth resistive element, the fourth resistive element being connected at one end to a signal line electrically connected to the second signal pin and connected at the other end to a power source at a vehicle side; and

a control portion for determining a state of the switch and/or a connection state of whether the second connector is connected to the third connector, on the basis of the plurality of voltage values stored in the storage portion and a voltage value input from the signal line.

5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein:

the cable includes;

a signal generating portion between the first connector and the second connector, the signal generating portion generating a pulse signal according to a state of power feed to the vehicle; and

a signal line electrically connected to a third signal pin located in the second connector, the signal line transmitting the pulse signal generated at the signal generating portion;

the third connector includes a fourth signal pm electrically connectable to the third signal pin; and

the control portion determines a state of the control system on the basis of the pulse signal input from a signal line electrically connected to the fourth signal pin.

6. The control device according to claim 4, wherein respective resistance values of the resistive elements are set at mutually different voltage values that are input from the signal line, depending on a state of connection of the cable to the vehicle or a state of depression of the depression portion.

7. A method for determining a state of connection of a cable to a vehicle, the cable being for supplying power from a power source outside the vehicle to a power storage device located in the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting to an input portion a signal voltage supplied from a signal line connectable to the cable, through which the power source outside the vehicle feeds the power storage device, the signal line being electrically connectable to a signal pin located in a vehicle-side connector of the cable, the vehicle-side connector including a series resistive element connected to the signal pin at one end, a switch connected in series to the series resistive element at one end and grounded at the other end, and a parallel resistive element connected in parallel to the switch and connected in series to the series resistive element, the switch changing from an ON state to an OFF state upon depression of a depression portion located on the vehicle-side connector by a user, at a time when the vehicle-side connector is connected to the vehicle, or at a time when the vehicle-side connector is disconnected off the vehicle, the vehicle having a resistive element electrically connected at one end to the signal line and grounded at the other end;

determining a state of connection of the cable to the vehicle and/or whether the depression portion is depressed by the user, on the basis of a value of the signal voltage input in the inputting step; and

controlling the vehicle on the basis of a result of the determination in the determining step.