Charging device for vehicle

• US 8,810,060 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamaga, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/740,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• 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 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• 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 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• 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 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, 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: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• 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: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• 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

Abstract

A charging device for a vehicle includes a connector configured such that a coupler for transmitting electric power from an external power supply to the vehicle is connectable to the connector, a charging circuit for transmitting electric power from the connector to a power storage device, a charging control unit for charging the power storage device by controlling the charging circuit while in an operating state, and for halting control of the charging circuit while in a halting state, and an activation control unit for keeping the charging control unit in the halting state until detecting that the connector receives electric power, in a case where connection of the coupler and the connector is detected, and for switching the charging control unit from the halting state to the operating state when it is detected that the connector receives electric power.

Claims

1. A charging device for a vehicle, the charging device being configured to charge a power storage device mounted on the vehicle with a power supply outside said vehicle, said vehicle being connectable to said power supply by a coupler that transmits electric power from said power supply to said vehicle, said charging device comprising:

a connector provided to said vehicle and configured such that said coupler is connectable to the connector;

a power feeding unit mounted on said vehicle that transmits said electric power from said connector to said power storage device;

a charging control unit mounted on said vehicle that charges said power storage device by controlling said power feeding unit while the charging control unit is in an operating state, and for halting control of said power feeding unit while the charging control unit is in a halting state;

an activation control unit for keeping said charging control unit in said halting state until it is detected that said electric power is available through said connector in a case where connection of said coupler and said connector is detected, and for switching said charging control unit from said halting state to said operating state when it is detected that said electric power is available through said connector, wherein

said coupler transmits a communications signal, which indicates that said electric power is available, to said connector when said coupler and said power supply are connected, and

said activation control unit detects that said electric power is available by receiving said communications signal via said connector; and

a lighting unit mounted on the vehicle that includes a lamp that can be viewed by a user and that can be illuminated, wherein;

the lighting unit receives a first signal via the connector that indicates that the connector is connected to the coupler,

the lighting unit receives a second signal via the activation control unit when the charging control unit is in the operating state that indicates that electric power is available via the connector,

the lighting unit determines if the second signal is received within a first predetermined period of time after the first signal is received,

the lamp illuminates according to a first pattern that indicates that the connector is connected to the coupler when the lighting unit receives the first signal and then immediately illuminates upon receiving the second signal according to a second pattern that indicates that electric power is available via the connector if the second signal is received after the first predetermined period of time, and

the lamp illuminates according to the first pattern when the lighting unit receives the first signal until a second predetermined period of time has elapsed from when the second signal is received and then illuminates according to the second pattern if the second signal is received within the first predetermined period of time.

2. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said activation control unit halts transmission of said second signal when charging of said power storage device by said charging control unit is completed.

3. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first pattern is a lighting pattern to intermittently light up said lamp, and

said second pattern is a lighting pattern to continuously light up said lamp.