In-vehicle charging system

• US 8,660,731 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Haraki, Toshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US13/461,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 320/109, 320/132, 180/65.29, 903/903
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• 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

In an in-vehicle charging system, a charging display function is improved while versatility of the system is ensured, and usability is improved by enhancing charging display content. An EV controller (4) calculates a charge amount and outputs the calculated charge amount and a state of charge of a battery (2) to a communication line (9). A meter device (6) calculates a time required for completing charging of a battery based on the charge amount and the state of charge of the battery received via the communication line (9), and then calculates an end time based on the required time to display the end time on a display (5) while controlling colored lighting that indicates a remaining required time in accordance with the set time determined in advance.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle charging system comprising:

an EV controller connected to a battery and a charger which are mounted in a vehicle;

a meter device which includes a display having a function of colored lighting and providing segment display;

a vehicle body controller which includes a notifier; and

a communication line mounted in the vehicle to be connected to the EV controller, the meter device, and the vehicle body controller,

wherein the EV controller calculates a charge amount and outputs the calculated charge amount and a state of charge of the battery to the communication line;

wherein the meter device calculates a time required for completing charging of the battery based on the charge amount and the state of charge of the battery received via the communication line and calculates an end time based on the required time to display the end time on the display while controlling the colored lighting that indicates a remaining required time in accordance with the set time determined in advance;

wherein the meter device has a function of setting whether acoustic notification is possible or not so as to output a notification request signal to the vehicle body controller via the communication line when it is set that the acoustic notification is possible; and

wherein the meter device includes a knob operated by a user to change setting relating to whether the notification is possible or not and a set time for switching colors in the lighting color control by operation of the knob, the meter device illuminating the end time displayed on the display with a backlight in warm colors which are switched depending on the set time when the battery is charged and completing a time display in non-warm colors when the charging is completed.

2. The in-vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein

the EV controller outputs model information to the communication line in addition to the charge amount and the state of charge of the battery, and

the meter device stores in advance a plurality of charging characteristics maps which are different depending on a type of the battery, selects one of the charging characteristics maps in accordance with the model information received from the EV controller, and calculates the required time based on the charging characteristics map.