Electric motored vehicle and method for controlling electrically charging the same

• US 8,810,206 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ang, Wanleng
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/497,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/138
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/42 Voltage source inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• 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 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4225 using a non-isolated boost converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A charger (200) electrically charges a main battery via (10) an electric power conversion path extending through an isolation transformer (260) and providing electrical isolation between an external power supply (400) and the main battery (10) when first and second relays (RL1, RL2) are turned off and a relay (RL3) is turned on. In contrast, the charger (200) electrically charges the main battery (10) via an electric power conversion path bypassing the isolation transformer (260) and providing electrical connection between the external power supply (400) and the main battery (10) when the first and second relays (RL1, RL2) are turned on and the third relay (RL3) is turned off. The charger (200) can thus selectively apply employing the isolation transformer (260) to ensure electrical isolation in externally electrically charging the battery, and bypassing the isolation transformer (260) to give priority to high efficiency in externally electrically charging the battery, as the relays (RL1-RL3) are turned on/off as controlled.

Claims

1. An electric motored vehicle comprising:

a power storage device for storing electric power input/output to/from a vehicle driving electric motor; and

a charger for electrically charging said power storage device by an external power supply, said charger including;

a first electric power conversion path extending through an isolation scheme to provide electrical isolation between said external power supply and said power storage device, and receiving electric power from said external power supply and converting the received electric power through said isolation scheme to electric power to electrically charge said power storage device, said isolation scheme having a primary side and a secondary side and transmitting electrical energy with said primary side and said secondary side electrically isolated from each other;

a second electric power conversion path bypassing said isolation scheme and providing electrical connection between said external power supply and said power storage device, and receiving electric power from said external power supply and converting the received electric power to electric power to electrically charge said power storage device; and

a first switch operative in externally electrically charging said power storage device for selectively forming one of said first electric power conversion path and said second electric power conversion path.

2. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical load operating on electric power of said power storage device; and

a second switch connected between said power storage device and said electrical load, wherein said charger selects one of said first electric power conversion path and said second electric power conversion path, as corresponding to said second switch being turned on/off.

3. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said first switch is controlled to allow said charger to have said first electric power conversion path selected when said second switch is turned on and to have said second electric power conversion path selected when said second switch is turned off.

4. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said isolation scheme is configured of an isolation transformer transmitting electrical energy between said primary side and said secondary side through electromagnetic induction.

5. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 4, wherein:

said charger further includes

a first power converter for receiving electric power from said external power supply and converting the received electric power to direct current voltage for output between a first power supply line and a first ground line,

a second power converter for converting said direct current voltage to alternate current voltage for output to said isolation transformer at said primary side when said first electric power conversion path is selected,

a third power converter for converting alternate current voltage of said isolation transformer on said secondary side to voltage for output between a second power supply line and a second ground line to electrically charge said power storage device when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and

a smoothing inductor connected between said second power supply line and said power storage device;

said second power converter and said third power converter are each configured with a plurality of switching devices included therein;

said third power converter does not operate when said second electric power conversion path is selected; and

when said second electric power conversion path is selected, said second power converter operates such that some of said plurality of switching devices and said smoothing inductor configure a non isolation type chopper circuit receiving said direct current voltage from said first power converter and converting said direct current voltage to voltage applied to electrically charge said power storage device.

6. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 5, wherein:

said first switch has

a first switch element connected between said primary side of said isolation transformer and said second power supply line,

a second switch element connected between said first ground line and said second ground line, and

a third switch element inserted and thus connected in a conduction path associated with said primary side of said isolation transformer;

said first switch element and said second switch element are turned off when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said first switch element and said second switch element are turned on when said second electric power conversion path is selected; and

said third switch element is turned on when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said third switch element is turned off when said second electric power conversion path is selected.

7. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 5, wherein:

said first switch has

a first switch element connected between one line associated with said primary side of said isolation transformer and said second power supply line,

a second switch element connected between the other line associated with said primary side of said isolation transformer and said second ground line, and

a third switch element inserted and thus connected in a conduction path associated with said primary side of said isolation transformer;

said first switch element and said second switch element are turned off when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said first switch element and said second switch element are turned on when said second electric power conversion path is selected;

said third switch element is turned on when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said third switch element is turned off when said second electric power conversion path is selected; and

when said second electric power conversion path is selected, said second power converter operates to configure said non isolation type chopper circuit and also electrically connect said first ground line and said second ground line together.

8. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 4, wherein:

said charger further includes

a first power converter for receiving electric power from said external power supply and converting the received electric power to direct current voltage in accordance with a voltage command value for output between a first power supply line and a first ground line,

a second power converter configured with a plurality of switching devices included therein for converting said direct current voltage to alternate current voltage for output to said isolation transformer at said primary side when said first electric power conversion path is selected,

a third power converter for converting alternate current voltage of said isolation transformer on said secondary side to voltage for output between a second power supply line and a second ground line to electrically charge said power storage device when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and

a smoothing inductor connected between said second power supply line and said power storage device;

when said second electric power conversion path is selected, said first switch electrically connects between said first power supply line and said second power supply line and between said first ground line and said second ground line;

said second power converter and said third power converter do not operate when said second electric power conversion path is selected; and

when said second electric power conversion path is selected, said voltage command value for said first power converter is set to correspond to the voltage applied to electrically charge said power storage device.

9. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first switch has:

a first switch element connected between said first power supply line and said second power supply line, and turned off when said first electric power conversion path is selected and turned on when said second electric power conversion path is selected; and

a second switch element connected between said first ground line and said second ground line and turned off when said first electric power conversion path is selected and turned on when said second electric power conversion path is selected.

10. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said isolation scheme includes:

a capacitor;

a third switch provided between opposite polar terminals of said capacitor and said primary side; and

a fourth switch provided between said opposite polar terminals of said capacitor and said secondary side.

11. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said charger further includes a first power converter configured to receive electric power from said external power supply, convert the received electric power to direct current electric power and output the direct current electric power to said isolation scheme at said primary side for electrically charging said power storage device;

said power storage device is electrically connected to said isolation scheme at said secondary side in said externally electrically charging said power storage device; and

said first switch is arranged to bypass said third switch and said fourth switch to electrically connect said primary side of said isolation scheme and said secondary side of said isolation scheme together.

12. The electric motored vehicle according to claim 11, wherein:

said first switch is fixed at an off state when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said first switch is fixed at an on state when said second electric power conversion path is selected;

said third switch is turned on/off alternately with and complementarily to said fourth switch when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said third switch is fixed at the off state when said second electric power conversion path is selected; and

said fourth switch is turned on/off alternately with and complementarily to said third switch when said first electric power conversion path is selected, and said fourth switch is fixed at the off state when said second electric power conversion path is selected.

13. A method for controlling an electric motored vehicle including a power storage device for storing electric power input/output to/from a vehicle driving electric motor, and a charger for electrically charging said power storage device by an external power supply, said charger being configured to have electric power conversion paths extending from said external power supply to said power storage device switched as a first switch is controlled, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of a first charging mode and a second charging mode depending on said electric motored vehicle'"'"'s status, said first charging mode allowing said external power supply and said power storage device to be electrically isolated from each other in electrically charging said power storage device, said second charging mode allowing said external power supply and said power storage device to be electrically connected to each other in electrically charging said power storage device;

controlling, when said first charging mode is selected, said first switch to form a first electric power conversion path extending through an isolation scheme, and receiving electric power from said external power supply and converting the received electric power through said isolation scheme to electric power to electrically charge said power storage device, said isolation scheme having a primary side and a secondary side and transmitting electrical energy with said primary side and said secondary side electrically isolated from each other; and

controlling, when said second charging mode is selected, said first switch to form a second electric power conversion path bypassing said isolation scheme, and receiving electric power from said external power supply and converting the received electric power to electric power to electrically charge said power storage device.

14. The method for controlling an electric motored vehicle according to claim 13, said electric motored vehicle further including an electrical load operating on electric power of said power storage device and a second switch connected between said power storage device and said electrical load, wherein the step of selecting is performed to select one of said first charging mode and said second charging mode, as corresponding to said second switch being turned on/off.

15. The method for controlling an electric motored vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the step of selecting is performed to select said first charging mode when said second switch is turned on and to select said second charging mode when said second switch is turned off.