Lock device for power supplying plug

• US 8,816,815 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Katagiri, Toshiharu, Kahara, Keiji, Kurumizawa, Naoto, Hirashita, Takahiro, Kuramochi, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US13/542,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20130015951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.65, 701/22, 701/49, 439/304
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• 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

A lock device for a power supplying plug arranged in a vehicle that performs wireless communication with an electronic key. The lock device includes a charge ECU that restricts unauthorized removal of the power supplying plug from an inlet of the vehicle. The vehicle includes antennas that transmit a wireless signal. A first one of the antennas relates to permission for removal of the power supplying plug. A second one of the antennas relates to unlocking or permission for unlocking of a door. A charge ECU stops transmitting the wireless signal from the first antenna when the vehicle is parked and the second antenna transmits the wireless signal. The charge ECU stops the transmission of the wireless signal related to the unlocking of the door when the wireless signal related to removal of the power supplying plug is transmitted.

Claims

1. A lock device for a power supplying plug fitted to and removed from an inlet arranged in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a verification function, which transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from an electronic key and unlocks or permits unlocking of a door, and a plurality of antennas used to transmit wireless signals requesting the electronic key for responses, the lock device comprising:

a control unit that restricts an unauthorized removal of the power supplying plug from the inlet and permits an authorized removal of the power supplying plug from the inlet using the verification function;

wherein the controller;

transmits a first wireless signal that requests the electronic key for a first response related to the permission of the authorized removal of the power supplying plug from a first one of the plurality of antennas,

transmits a second wireless signal that requests the electronic key for a second response related to the unlocking or permission of unlocking of the door from a second one of the plurality of antennas,

stops transmitting the first wireless signal related to the permission of the authorized removal of the power supplying plug from the first one of the plurality of antennas when the second wireless signal related to the unlocking of the door is transmitted from the second one of the plurality of antennas in a state in which the vehicle is parked, and

stops transmitting the second wireless signal related to the unlocking or permission of unlocking of the door when the first wireless signal related to the permission of the authorized removal of the power supplying plug is transmitted.

2. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle further includes a switch connected to the control unit and operated to remove the power supplying plug from the inlet, and when the control unit receives a signal indicating operation of the switch, the control unit stops transmitting the second wireless signal related to the unlocking or permission of unlocking of the door and transmits the first wireless signal related to the permission of the authorized removal of the power supplying plug.

3. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further includes a timer activated for a fixed period that is set based on time required for a removal of the power supplying plug when the removal of the power supplying plug from the net is permitted, and when the power supplying plug is not removed from the net within the fixed time period of the timer, the control unit restricts the removal of the power supplying plug from the inlet.