Malfunction determining apparatus and malfunction determining method for charging system

• US 8,487,636 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitsutani, Noritake, Fujitake, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): ISLA RODAS, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US12/674,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 324/508
• US Class Current: 324/538
• 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 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/56 with switched windings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• 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 50/16 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 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in 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: B60L 53/30 : Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 : Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 : having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 : Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 : using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 : with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• 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 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

An ECU executes a program including a step of determining that a pilot wire for transferring a pilot signal CPLT, which is output when a charging cable is connected to a plug-in hybrid vehicle and an external power source, to the ECU is broken, when output of the pilot signal CPLT is currently stopped and a voltage VAC of the external power source (absolute value of voltage VAC) detected by a voltmeter provided within the plug-in hybrid vehicle is greater than zero.

Claims

1. A malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system that charges a battery mounted on a vehicle by electric power supplied from a power source external to said vehicle to said battery via an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) when said vehicle and said power source are coupled to each other by said EVSE, wherein said EVSE outputs a pilot signal, which indicates a capacity of current able to be supplied, when connected to said vehicle and said power source, the malfunction determining apparatus comprising:

a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of said power source within said vehicle; and

a control unit that determines whether or not a malfunction exists, in accordance with an output state of said pilot signal and the voltage detected, wherein

said control unit determines that a malfunction exists in said EVSE if said pilot signal is not being output and the voltage detected is larger than a threshold value.

2. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined condition is satisfied, said control unit determines whether or not a malfunction exists, in accordance with the output state of said pilot signal and the voltage detected.

3. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 2, wherein said condition is at least one of a condition in which supply of electric power between said battery and said voltage sensor is stopped, a condition in which said EVSE is connected to the vehicle, and a condition in which a charge on a capacitor provided between said battery and said voltage sensor is zero.

4. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said EVSE is provided with a relay that opens/closes a path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle,

said charging system outputs a command for operating said relay, and

if said pilot signal is being output and the voltage detected is smaller than a threshold value, said control unit determines that a malfunction exists in said EVSE at any of the path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle, said relay, and a path for transferring said command.

5. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said EVSE is provided with a relay that opens/closes a path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle,

said charging system outputs a command for operating said relay, and

if said pilot signal is being output and the voltage detected is zero, said control unit determines that a malfunction exists in said EVSE at any of the path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle, said relay, and a path for transferring said command.

6. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a charger mounted thereon to control electric power charged to said battery.

7. A malfunction determining method for a charging system that charges a battery mounted on a vehicle by electric power supplied from a power source external to said vehicle to said battery via an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) when said vehicle and said power source are coupled to each other by said EVSE, wherein said EVSE outputs a pilot signal, which indicates a capacity of current able to be supplied, when connected to said vehicle and said power source, the malfunction determining method comprising the steps of:

detecting a voltage of said power source using a voltage sensor provided within said vehicle; and

determining whether or not a malfunction exists, in accordance with an output state of said pilot signal and the voltage detected, wherein

the step of determining whether or not a malfunction exists includes a step of determining that a malfunction exists in said EVSE if said pilot signal is not being output and the voltage detected is larger than a threshold value.

8. The malfunction determining method for a charging system according to claim 7, wherein the step of determining whether or not a malfunction exists includes a step of determining whether or not a malfunction exists, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, in accordance with the output state of said pilot signal and the voltage detected.

9. The malfunction determining method for a charging system according to claim 8, wherein said condition is at least one of a condition in which supply of electric power between said battery and said voltage sensor is stopped, a condition in which said EVSE is connected to the vehicle, and a condition in which a charge on a capacitor provided between said battery and said voltage sensor is zero.

10. The malfunction determining method for a charging system according to claim 7, wherein:

said EVSE is provided with a relay that opens/closes a path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle,

said charging system outputs a command for operating said relay, and

the step of determining whether or not a malfunction exists includes a step of determining that a malfunction exists in said EVSE at any of the path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle, said relay, and a path for transferring said command, if said pilot signal is being output and the voltage detected is smaller than a threshold value.

11. The malfunction determining method for a charging system according to claim 7, wherein:

said EVSE is provided with a relay that opens/closes a path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle,

said charging system outputs a command for operating said relay, and

the step of determining whether or not a malfunction exists includes a step of determining that a malfunction exists in said EVSE at any of the path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle, said relay, and a path for transferring said command, if said pilot signal is being output and the voltage detected is zero.

12. The malfunction determining method for a charging system according to claim 7, wherein said vehicle has a charger mounted thereon to control electric power charged to said battery.

13. A malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system that charges a battery mounted on a vehicle by electric power supplied from a power source external to said vehicle to said battery via an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) when said vehicle and said power source are coupled to each other by said EVSE, wherein said EVSE outputs a pilot signal, which indicates a capacity of current able to be supplied, when connected to said vehicle and said power source, the malfunction determining apparatus comprising:

a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of said power source within said vehicle; and

determining means for determining whether or not a malfunction exists, in accordance with an output state of said pilot signal and the voltage detected, wherein

said determining means includes means for determining that a malfunction exists in said EVSE if said pilot signal is not being output and the voltage detected is larger than a threshold value.

14. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 13, wherein said determining means includes means for determining whether or not a malfunction exists in accordance with the output state of said pilot signal and the voltage detected, when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

15. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 14, wherein said condition is at least one of a condition in which supply of electric power between said battery and said voltage sensor is stopped, a condition in which said EVSE is connected to the vehicle, and a condition in which a charge on a capacitor provided between said battery and said voltage sensor is zero.

16. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 13, wherein:

said EVSE is provided with a relay that opens/closes a path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle,

said charging system outputs a command for operating said relay, and

said determining means includes means for determining that a malfunction exists in said EVSE at any of the path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle, said relay, and a path for transferring said command, if said pilot signal is being output and the voltage detected is smaller than a threshold value.

17. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 13, wherein:

said EVSE is provided with a relay that opens/closes a path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle,

said charging system outputs a command for operating said relay, and

said determining means includes means for determining that a malfunction exists in said EVSE at any of the path for supplying electric power from said power source to said vehicle, said relay, and a path for transferring said command, if said pilot signal is being output and the voltage detected is zero.

18. The malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system according to claim 13, wherein said vehicle has a charger mounted thereon to control electric power charged to said battery.

19. A malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system that charges a power storage device mounted on a vehicle by electric power supplied from a power source external to said vehicle to said power storage device via a coupling instrument when said vehicle and said power source are coupled to each other by said coupling instrument, wherein said coupling instrument outputs a signal, which indicates a capacity of current able to be supplied, when connected to said vehicle and said power source, the malfunction determining apparatus comprising:

a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of said power source within said vehicle; and

a control unit, wherein

said control unit determines that a malfunction exists in said coupling instrument if said signal is not being output and the voltage detected is larger than a threshold value.

20. A malfunction determining method for a charging system that charges a power storage device mounted on a vehicle by electric power supplied from a power source external to said vehicle to said power storage device via a coupling instrument when said vehicle and said power source are coupled to each other by said coupling instrument, wherein said coupling instrument outputs a signal, which indicates a capacity of current able to be supplied, when connected to said vehicle and said power source, the malfunction determining method comprising the steps of:

detecting a voltage of said power source using a voltage sensor provided within said vehicle; and

determining exists in said coupling instrument if said signal is not being output and the voltage detected is larger than a threshold value.

21. A malfunction determining apparatus for a charging system that charges a power storage device mounted on a vehicle by electric power supplied from a power source external to said vehicle to said power storage device via a coupling instrument when said vehicle and said power source are coupled to each other by said coupling instrument, wherein said coupling instrument outputs a signal, which indicates a capacity of current able to be supplied, when connected to said vehicle and said power source, the malfunction determining apparatus comprising:

a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of said power source within said vehicle; and

means for determining that a malfunction exists in said coupling instrument if said signal is not being output and the voltage detected is larger than a threshold value.