Charging apparatus for vehicle and controlling method thereof

• US 8,581,544 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Dong Ok
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US12/952,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20120056581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables

Abstract

An apparatus for charging a portable device battery with a vehicle battery is provided. The apparatus includes a storage, a voltage monitor for monitoring voltage of the vehicle battery, a portable device connector, and a charging controller. The storage stores a charging table in which charging quantity ratios of the portable device battery to voltage bandwidths of the vehicle battery are written. The charging controller controls the connector so that the portable battery is charged to a desired value of voltage that corresponds to the monitored voltage in the charging table. With this apparatus, it is possible to charge conveniently, among others.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted charging apparatus for charging a portable device battery with a vehicle battery, comprising:

a storage storing a charging table in which charging quantity ratios of the portable device battery to voltage bandwidths of the vehicle battery are written;

a voltage monitor monitoring voltage of the vehicle battery at a predetermined time interval;

a portable device connector receiving the portable device and charging the portable device battery by using voltage of the vehicle battery; and

a charging controller sensing the portable device received by the portable device connector and controlling the portable device connector so that the portable device battery is charged using voltage of the vehicle battery to a voltage value that corresponds to the monitored voltage of the vehicle battery in the charging table.

2. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging controller further controls the portable device connector to charge the portable device battery until voltage of the vehicle battery becomes lowered to a critical voltage.

3. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprises an output unit,

wherein the charging controller outputs voltage of the vehicle battery through the output unit.

4. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage monitor includes:

a voltage measuring device measuring voltage of the vehicle battery; and

an analog-to-digital converter converting the measured voltage into a digital value.

5. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprises an audio video navigation linker,

wherein the charging controller is associated with an audio video navigation system through audio video navigation to output the voltage of the vehicle battery.

6. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 2, further comprises an output unit,

wherein the charging controller outputs voltage of the vehicle battery through the output unit.

7. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the voltage monitor includes:

a voltage measuring device measuring voltage of the vehicle battery; and

an analog-to-digital converter converting the measured voltage measured into a digital value.

8. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 2, further comprises an audio video navigation linker,

wherein the charging controller is associated with an audio video navigation system through an audio video navigation linker to output voltage of the vehicle battery.

9. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the audio video navigation linker activates the audio video navigation system using a first control signal from the charging controller, and deactivates the audio video navigation system using a second control signal from the charging controller.

10. The vehicle-mounted charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein the charging controller activates the audio video navigation system until the voltage being applied to the portable device battery is shielded.

11. A method for charging a portable device battery with a vehicle battery, comprising:

monitoring voltage of the vehicle battery using a voltage monitor;

retrieving a charging quantity ratio corresponding to the monitored voltage of the vehicle battery from a charging table in which charging quantity ratios to voltage bandwidths of the vehicle battery are written, when the portable device is sensed by a charging controller; and

charging the portable device battery with the vehicle battery through a portable device connector until the portable device battery is charged to a voltage value to meet the retrieved charging quantity ratio.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprises enabling the monitored voltage of the vehicle battery to be output audibly, visually, or both.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprises enabling the monitored voltage of the vehicle battery to be output audibly, visually, or both by associating with an audio video navigation system through an audio video navigation linker.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the audio video navigation system is activated until the charging is stopped.