Vehicle abnormality detection apparatus and vehicle

• US 8,698,346 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamaga, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/811,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• 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 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/0241 the fault being an overvoltage
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle having an electricity accumulator for driving a vehicle, a charging inlet for receiving power supplied from a power supply provided on the outside of the vehicle, a circuit for charging the electricity accumulator with power from the power supply, and power lines for connecting the charging inlet and the charging circuit. An abnormality detector of vehicle having a circuit for applying a test voltage to the power lines, and an ECU as a short circuit detecting section. When the voltage value of the power line deviates from a predetermined normal range including the test voltage value although the test voltage is applied to the power line from the voltage application circuit, the ECU detects short circuit of the power line. The ECU specifies a short circuit mode corresponding to the detected short circuit among a plurality of short circuit modes based on the voltage value of the power line.

Claims

1. An abnormality detection apparatus for a vehicle, said vehicle including:

a power storage device for driving said vehicle;

a charging inlet for receiving electric power supplied from a power supply provided externally to said vehicle;

a charging circuit for charging said power storage device with said electric power from said power supply; and

at least one electric power line for connecting said charging inlet and said charging circuit, and

said abnormality detection apparatus comprising;

a voltage application circuit for applying a test voltage to said at least one electric power line; and

a short circuit detection unit for detecting short circuit of said at least one electric power line in a case where a voltage value of said at least one electric power line, while said voltage application circuit applies said test voltage to said at least one electric power line, is out of a predetermined normal range including a value of said test voltage, and for determining, based on said voltage value, which of a plurality of short circuit modes is a short circuit mode corresponding to said short circuit as detected,

wherein said voltage application circuit includes;

a first node to which a first voltage is applied;

a second node to which a second voltage lower than said first voltage is applied; and

a voltage source connected to said first and second nodes for causing a voltage intermediate between said first voltage and said second voltage to be generated as said test voltage,

said plurality of short circuit modes includes;

a first mode corresponding to a state where said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said first node; and

a second mode corresponding to a state where said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said second node, and

said short circuit detection unit determines that said short circuit mode corresponding to said short circuit is said first mode in a case where said voltage value of said at least one electric power line is larger than an upper limit of said normal range and is within a first range including a value of said first voltage, and determines that said short circuit mode corresponding said short circuit is said second mode in a case where said voltage value of said at least one electric power line is smaller than a lower limit of said normal range and is within a second range including a value of said second voltage.

2. The abnormality detection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one electric power line includes:

a first electric power line; and

a second electric power line,

said voltage source applies, as said test voltage, a first test voltage and a second test voltage different from each other to said first electric power line and said second electric power line, respectively,

said plurality of short circuit modes further includes a third mode corresponding to a state where said first electric power line is short-circuited to said second electric power line, and

said short circuit detection unit determines that said short circuit mode corresponding to said short circuit is said third mode in a case where both of respective voltage values of said first electric power line and said second electric power line are within a third range different from said normal range, said first range and said second range.

3. The abnormality detection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said voltage source includes:

a first resistance circuit electrically connected between said first node and said at least one electric power line;

a second resistance circuit electrically connected between said second node and said at least one electric power line;

a first connection unit configured to be capable of switching between a connection state of electrically connecting said at least one electric power line to said first node via said first resistance circuit and a state of breaking electrical connection between said at least one electric power line and said first node; and

a second connection unit configured to be capable of switching between a connection state of electrically connecting said at least one electric power line to said second node via said second resistance circuit and a state of breaking electrical connection between said at least one electric power line and said second node, and

said short circuit detection unit sets both of said first connection unit and said second connection unit in respective connection states, and accordingly obtains said voltage value of said at least one electric power line.

4. The abnormality detection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

said charging inlet is connected to said power supply by a coupler,

said coupler includes a breaking circuit for breaking a transmission path of said electric power from said power supply to said charging inlet, and

in a case where said short circuit detection unit detects that said charging inlet is connected to said coupler, said short circuit detection unit controls said breaking circuit so that said transmission path is broken and sets both of said first connection unit and said second connection unit in respective connection states.

5. An abnormality detection apparatus for a vehicle, said vehicle including:

a power storage device for driving said vehicle;

a charging inlet for receiving electric power supplied from a power supply provided externally to said vehicle;

a charging circuit for charging said power storage device with said electric power from said power supply; and

first and second electric power lines for connecting said charging inlet and said charging circuit, and

said abnormality detection apparatus comprising;

a first node to which a first voltage is applied;

a second node to which a second voltage lower than said first voltage is applied;

a first resistance circuit electrically connected between said first node and said first electric power line;

a second resistance circuit electrically connected between said second node and said first electric power line;

a third resistance circuit electrically connected between said first node and said second electric power line;

a fourth resistance circuit electrically connected between said second node and said second electric power line; and

a short circuit detection unit for detecting whether short circuit occurs to said first electric power line and said second electric power line each, by determining respective voltage ranges including a first voltage value of said first electric power line and a second voltage value of said second electric power line, respectively, among a plurality of voltage ranges defined by dividing in advance a voltage range from said first voltage to said second voltage,

a first resistive voltage division ratio determined by respective resistance values of said first and second resistance circuits being larger than a second resistive voltage division ratio determined by respective resistance values of said third and fourth resistance circuits, and

said plurality of voltage ranges including;

a first normal range defined as a range including a value determined by said first voltage and said second voltage as well as said first resistive voltage division ratio;

a second normal range defined as a range including a value determined by said first voltage and said second voltage as well as said second resistive voltage division ratio;

a first abnormal range defined as a range from an upper limit of said first normal range to a value of said first voltage, and including a voltage value corresponding to at least one electric power line of said first and second electric power lines while said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said first node;

a second abnormal range defined as a range from a value of said second voltage to a lower limit of said second normal range, and including a voltage value corresponding to at least one electric power line while said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said second node; and

a third abnormal range defined as a range between said first normal range and said second normal range and including said first and second voltage values while said first electric power line is short-circuited to said second electric power line.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a power storage device for driving said vehicle;

a charging inlet for receiving electric power supplied from a power supply provided externally to said vehicle;

a charging circuit for charging said power storage device with said electric power from said power supply;

at least one electric power line for connecting said charging inlet and said charging circuit;

a voltage application circuit for applying a test voltage to said at least one electric power line; and

a short circuit detection unit for detecting short circuit of said at least one electric power line in a case where a voltage value of said at least one electric power line, while said voltage application circuit applies said test voltage to said at least one electric power line, is out of a predetermined normal range including a value of said test voltage, and for determining, based on said voltage value, which of a plurality of short circuit modes is a short circuit mode corresponding to said short circuit as detected,

wherein said voltage application circuit includes;

a first node to which a first voltage is applied;

a second node to which a second voltage lower than said first voltage is applied; and

a voltage source connected to said first and second nodes for causing a voltage intermediate between said first voltage and said second voltage to be generated as said test voltage,

said plurality of short circuit modes includes;

a first mode corresponding to a state where said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said first node; and

a second mode corresponding to a state where said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said second node, and

said short circuit detection unit determines that said short circuit mode corresponding to said short circuit is said first mode in a case where said voltage value of said at least one electric power line is larger than an upper limit of said normal range and is within a first range including a value of said first voltage, and determines that said short circuit mode corresponding said short circuit is said second mode in a case where said voltage value of said at least one electric power line is smaller than a lower limit of said normal range and is within a second range including a value of said second voltage.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

said at least one electric power line includes:

a first electric power line; and

a second electric power line,

said voltage source applies, as said test voltage, a first test voltage and a second test voltage different from each other to said first electric power line and said second electric power line, respectively,

said plurality of short circuit modes further includes a third mode corresponding to a state where said first electric power line is short-circuited to said second electric power line, and

said short circuit detection unit determines that said short circuit mode corresponding to said short circuit is said third mode in a case where both of respective voltage values of said first electric power line and said second electric power line are within a third range different from said normal range, said first range and said second range.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

said voltage source includes:

a first resistance circuit electrically connected between said first node and said at least one electric power line;

a second resistance circuit electrically connected between said second node and said at least one electric power line;

a first connection unit configured to be capable of switching between a connection state of electrically connecting said at least one electric power line to said first node via said first resistance circuit and a state of breaking electrical connection between said at least one electric power line and said first node; and

a second connection unit configured to be capable of switching between a connection state of electrically connecting said at least one electric power line to said second node via said second resistance circuit and a state of breaking electrical connection between said at least one electric power line and said second node, and

said short circuit detection unit sets both of said first connection unit and said second connection unit in respective connection states, and accordingly obtains said voltage value of said at least one electric power line.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

said charging inlet is connected to said power supply by a coupler,

said coupler includes a breaking circuit for breaking a transmission path of said electric power from said power supply to said charging inlet, and

in a case where said short circuit detection unit detects that said charging inlet is connected to said coupler, said short circuit detection unit controls said breaking circuit so that said transmission path is broken and sets both of said first connection unit and said second connection unit in respective connection states.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a power storage device for driving said vehicle;

a charging inlet for receiving electric power supplied from a power supply provided externally to said vehicle;

a charging circuit for charging said power storage device with said electric power from said power supply;

first and second electric power lines for connecting said charging inlet and said charging circuit;

a first node to which a first voltage is applied;

a second node to which a second voltage lower than said first voltage is applied;

a first resistance circuit electrically connected between said first node and said first electric power line;

a second resistance circuit electrically connected between said second node and said first electric power line;

a third resistance circuit electrically connected between said first node and said second electric power line;

a fourth resistance circuit electrically connected between said second node and said second electric power line; and

a short circuit detection unit for detecting whether short circuit occurs to said first electric power line and said second electric power line each, by determining respective voltage ranges including a first voltage value of said first electric power line and a second voltage value of said second electric power line, respectively, among a plurality of voltage ranges defined by dividing in advance a voltage range from said first voltage to said second voltage,

a first resistive voltage division ratio determined by respective resistance values of said first and second resistance circuits being larger than a second resistive voltage division ratio determined by respective resistance values of said third and fourth resistance circuits, and

said plurality of voltage ranges including;

a first normal range defined as a range including a value determined by said first voltage and said second voltage as well as said first resistive voltage division ratio;

a second normal range defined as a range including a value determined by said first voltage and said second voltage as well as said second resistive voltage division ratio;

a first abnormal range defined as a range from an upper limit of said first normal range to a value of said first voltage, and including a voltage value corresponding to at least one electric power line of said first and second electric power lines while said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said first node;

a second abnormal range defined as a range from a value of said second voltage to a lower limit of said second normal range, and including a voltage value corresponding to at least one electric power line while said at least one electric power line is short-circuited to said second node; and

a third abnormal range defined as a range between said first normal range and said second normal range and including said first and second voltage values while said first electric power line is short-circuited to said second electric power line.