Charging control apparatus for vehicle and vehicle

• US 8,618,767 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishii, Kenichi, Kamaga, Ryuichi, Karami, Masahiro, Fukui, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/676,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/109, 320/103, 320/127, 320/129, 320/141, 320/143, 320/145, 320/148, 320/163, 320/157
• US Class Current: 320/104
• 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 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0084 relating to control modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• 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 53/18 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: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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 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 switch of a connecting circuit is connected between a signal line branched from an input terminal for a pilot signal in a charging inlet and a ground line connected to a vehicle earth, and is turned on/off in response to a control signal from a CPU. The CPU causes the switch to be turned on when a connector is not connected to the charging inlet, and detects a break in a control pilot line based on whether or not a change in the potential of the pilot signal occurs at that time.

Claims

1. A charging control apparatus for a vehicle configured to be capable of charging a vehicle-mounted power storage device for driving the vehicle from a power supply external to the vehicle, comprising:

an EVSE controller provided outside said vehicle and configured to be capable of generating a pilot signal whose pulse width is modulated based on a magnitude of a rated current that can be supplied to said vehicle through a charging cable for supplying electric power from said power supply to said vehicle, and sending said pilot signal to said vehicle;

a resistance circuit mounted on said vehicle, connected to a control pilot line through which said pilot signal from said EVSE controller is communicated, and configured to be capable of changing a potential of said pilot signal stepwise;

a connecting circuit mounted on said vehicle and configured to be capable of electrically connecting said control pilot line to a vehicle earth;

a vehicle inlet provided at said vehicle and configured to be capable of connecting to said charging cable;

a voltage generating circuit configured to be ca able of generating a voltage at said control pilot line; and

a break detecting device for detecting a break in said control pilot line, based on whether or not a change in the potential of said control pilot line occurs when said connecting circuit electrically connects said control pilot line to said vehicle earth, in the case where said charging cable is not connected to said vehicle inlet.

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

wherein

said connecting circuit is configured to be capable of electrically connecting, to said vehicle earth, a terminal that receives said pilot signal from said EVSE controller in said vehicle inlet.

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

said connecting circuit includes

a branched line branched from a portion connecting said terminal and said control pilot line in said vehicle inlet, and

a switch connected between said branched line and said vehicle earth.

4. The charging control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connection signal generating circuit configured to be capable of generating a connection signal indicating connection between said charging cable and said vehicle;

an opening/closing detecting device for detecting an open or close state of a lid of said vehicle inlet; and

a vehicle speed detecting device for detecting a speed of said vehicle, wherein

said break detecting device determines whether or not said charging cable is connected to said vehicle inlet based on at least one of said connection signal and each detection signal from said opening/closing detecting device and said vehicle speed detecting device, and detects a break in said control pilot line when determining that said charging cable is not connected to said vehicle inlet.

5. A vehicle configured to be capable of charging a power storage device for driving the vehicle from a power supply external to the vehicle, comprising:

a control pilot line configured to be capable of transmitting a pilot signal whose pulse width is modulated based on a magnitude of a rated current that can be supplied to the vehicle through a charging cable for supplying electric power from said power supply to the vehicle;

a resistance circuit connected to said control pilot line and configured to be capable of changing a potential of said pilot signal stepwise; and

a connecting circuit configured to be capable of electrically connecting said control pilot line to a vehicle earth;

a vehicle inlet configured to be capable of connecting to said charging cable;

a voltage generating circuit configured to be capable of generating a voltage at said control pilot line; and

a break detecting device for detecting, a break in said control pilot line, based on whether or not a change in the potential of said control pilot line occurs when said connecting circuit electrically connects said control pilot line to said vehicle earth, in the case where said charging cable is not connected to said vehicle inlet.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5,

wherein

said connecting circuit is configured to be capable of electrically connecting, to said vehicle earth, a terminal that receives said pilot signal from outside the vehicle in said vehicle inlet.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

said connecting circuit includes

a branched line branched from a portion connecting said terminal and said control pilot line in said vehicle inlet, and

a switch connected between said branched line and said vehicle earth.

8. The vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

an opening/closing detecting device for detecting an open or close state of a lid of said vehicle inlet; and

a vehicle speed detecting device for detecting a speed of the vehicle, wherein

said break detecting device determines whether or not said charging cable is connected to said vehicle inlet, based on at least one of a connection signal indicating connection between said charging cable and the vehicle as well as each detection signal from said opening/closing detecting device and said vehicle speed detecting device, and detects a break in said control pilot line when determining that said charging cable is not connected to said vehicle inlet.

9. The vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising

a charger for converting the electric power supplied from said power supply to a voltage level of said power storage device and charging said power storage device.