Charging device for electric drivable vehicle

• US 8,502,499 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Original Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Inventors: Yuan, Ye, Xiao, Xiaofeng, Zhan, Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US13/131,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/661 Phosphorus acids or esters thereof not having P—C bonds, e.g. fosfosal, dichlorvos, malathion or mevinphos
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A charging device for an electrically-drivable vehicle comprises a power-supply connector (100), a power-receiving connector (200), a safety-charging-signal-generating unit provided in the charging device, a CAN control module receiving a safety-charging signal generated by the safety-charging-signal-generating unit. The charging device may be configured to be chargeable to the electrically-drivable vehicle when the charging terminal and the charging-terminal-accommodating chamber are connected to each other. The power-supply connector and the power-receiving connector are engaged with the CAN module detecting the safety-charging signal. The personal safety during maintenance or other unexpected accidents is enhanced.

Claims

1. A charging device for an electrically-drivable vehicle, comprising:

a power-supply connector provided on a power-supply end and including a charging terminal or a charging-terminal-accommodating chamber;

a power-receiving connector provided on a power-receiving end and including the other of the charging terminal or the charging-terminal-accommodating chamber;

a safety-charging-signal-generating unit provided in the charging device;

a CAN (Controlled Area Network) control module configured to receive a safety-charging signal generated by the safety-charging-signal-generating unit;

wherein the charging device is configured to be chargeable to the electrically-drivable vehicle when the charging terminal and the charging-terminal-accommodating chamber are connected to each other, the power-supply connector and the power-receiving connector being engaged with the CAN module configured to detect the safety-charging signal.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the power-supply connector further comprises:

an insulating seat with the charging terminal or the charging-terminal-accommodating chamber being formed therein; and

a shell of the power-supply connector connected with the insulating seat.

3. The charging device according to claim 2, wherein the power-receiving connector is formed with a hollow chamber with the other of the charging terminal or the charging-terminal-accommodating chamber being configured therein.

4. The charging device according to claim 3, wherein the CAN control module comprises:

a first CAN control unit configured on the power-receiving end; and

a second CAN control unit configured on the power-supply end.

5. The charging device according to claim 4, wherein the safety-charging-signal-generating unit further comprises:

a signal terminal configured on the power-supply connector or the power-receiving connector; and

a signal terminal-accommodating-chamber configured on the other of the power-supply connector or the power-receiving connector.

6. The charging device according to claim 5, the signal terminal further comprises:

a CAN terminal; and

a safety-signal terminal;

wherein the signal terminal-accommodating-chamber further comprises;

a CAN terminal-accommodating-chamber; and

a safety signal terminal-accommodating-chamber;

wherein, when the CAN terminal engages with the CAN terminal-accommodating-chamber, the first CAN control unit communicates with the second CAN control unit; and

when the safety-signal terminal engages with the safety signal terminal-accommodating-chamber, the safety-signal terminal triggers a charging signal to the first CAN control unit and the second CAN control unit to charge the vehicle.

7. The charging device according to claim 6, wherein a length of the safety-signal terminal is shorter than that of the CAN terminal.

8. The charging device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first relay module configured on the power-supply end; and

a second relay module configured on the power-receiving end;

wherein the first relay module and the second relay module are conducted when the charging signal is received by a respective one of the first CAN control unit and the second CAN control unit, thus conducting a charging circuit to charge the vehicle.

9. The charging device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a charging lock unit to lock the power-supply connector and the power-receiving connector when inserted.

10. The charging device according to claim 9, wherein the charging lock unit comprises:

a locking groove configured on the power-receiving connector; and

a buckling member configured on the power-supply connector, wherein the buckling member has a first end and a second end is pivotably fixed on the power-supply connector with the first end capable of buckling to the locking groove.

11. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a micro switch is connected in series to the second end of the buckling member, and when the second end of the buckling member is pressed, the micro switch is engaged triggering a stopping signal to the CAN control module to disengage the charging circuit of the electric power drivable vehicle and disengage the first relay module and the second relay module.

12. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the power-receiving connector further comprises:

a sealing cover threadedly connected to the power-receiving connector to seal an open end of the power-receiving connector.

13. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a guiding groove is formed at a lower part of the power-receiving connector with a guiding bump being formed at a lower part of the power-supply connector, so that the power-supply connector and the power-receiving connector are guided by the engagement of the guiding groove and the guiding bump during inserting.