Vehicle charging system and vehicle charging method

• US 8,823,320 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Takikita, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US13/050,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/111, 180/65.1, 180/65.21
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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 vehicle charging system (1) includes: a connection cable (2) for supplying power from the external power source (12) such as a commercial power source; the drive battery (8); an auxiliary battery (9); and a drive battery charging device (3). The drive battery charging device (3) includes a power source circuit (7) connected to the external power source (12), the drive battery (8), and the auxiliary battery (9). Power from at least one of the external power source (12), the drive battery (8), and the auxiliary battery (9) is supplied to the control section (4). Operation of the control section (4) becomes possible with the supplied power. Accordingly, under control of the control section (4), a charge section (10) charges the drive battery (8) and the auxiliary battery (9) using power from the external power source (12).

Claims

1. A vehicle charging system, comprising:

a drive battery for supplying power to a running motor of a vehicle;

an auxiliary battery for supplying power to auxiliary equipment of the vehicle; and

a drive battery charging device for charging the drive battery by receiving power from an external power source, wherein;

the drive battery charging device comprises;

a control section; and

a power source circuit for supplying power to the control section; and

the power source circuit comprises;

a power converter which is connected to a plurality of power sources including the external power source, and supplies power from each of the plurality of power sources to the control section; and

a switch for switching ON/OFF of a connection between each of the plurality of power sources and the power converter,

wherein the control section detects amounts of power supplied from each of the plurality of power sources and selects at least one of the plurality of power sources as a power source to power the control section based on the detected amounts of power.

2. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources comprise the external power source, the auxiliary battery, and the drive battery.

3. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources comprise the drive battery and the external power source.

4. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources comprise the auxiliary battery and the external power source.

5. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein the switch performs the switching under a state in which the external power source has a highest priority.

6. A vehicle charging method for charging a charging system disposed in a vehicle,

wherein the charging system includes:

a drive battery for supplying power to a running motor of the vehicle;

an auxiliary battery for supplying power to auxiliary equipment of the vehicle; and

a drive battery charging device for charging the drive battery by receiving power from an external power source,

wherein the drive battery charging device includes;

a control section; and

a power source circuit for supplying power to the control section,

the vehicle charging method comprising;

connecting the power source circuit to a plurality of power sources including the external power source and supplying power from each of the plurality of power sources to the control section;

detecting an effective power source among the plurality of power sources;

switching a connection between each of the plurality of power sources and the control section so that the detected effective power source has a highest priority;

supplying power from the effective power source to power the control section; and

charging the drive battery by use of the power from the external power source under control of the control section,

wherein the detecting the effective power source comprises detecting amounts of power supplied from each of the plurality of power sources and selecting the effective power source among the plurality of power sources based on the detected amounts of power.