Adapter and vehicle for performing power feeding using adapter

• US 9,090,169 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• 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, Oki, Ryouji
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US14/001,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• 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 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

An adapter includes a signal generation unit and a leakage generation circuit. The signal generation unit provides a signal instructing power feeding to a vehicle when the adapter is connected to a plug of a charging cable used for external charging with electric power from an external power supply. When the plug and the adapter are not completely fitted to each other, the leakage generation circuit electrically connects the power transmission path to a ground to cause a leakage state. In the vehicle, in response to a signal instructing power feeding, a power conversion device is driven to supply electric power from the vehicle to an external electrical device through the charging cable. Then, when the leakage state is caused by the leakage generation circuit, power feeding to the electrical device is stopped.

Claims

1. An adapter used for supplying electric power from a power source including a power storage device mounted in a vehicle to an electrical device external to the vehicle through a charging cable, the vehicle being capable of performing external charging that allows the power storage device to be charged using electric power supplied from an external power supply through the charging cable,

in response to a signal instructing power feeding that is generated by connection between the adapter and the charging cable, the vehicle performing power feeding to the electrical device,

the adapter comprising:

a first connection unit capable of connecting a power supply plug connected to the external power supply in the charging cable during external charging;

a second connection unit electrically connected to the first connection unit and capable of connecting a power supply plug of the electrical device; and

a leakage generation circuit causing a leakage state in a power transmission path connecting the first connection unit and the second connection unit when the adapter and the charging cable are incompletely fitted to each other.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the leakage generation circuit is configured to cause the leakage state by electrical connection between at least one power transmission path of the power transmission paths and a ground when the adapter and the charging cable are incompletely fitted to each other.

3. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein

the charging cable includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the charging cable stops outputting the signal instructing the power feeding to the vehicle when the leakage state is detected.

4. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the charging cable further includes a cut-off circuit for cutting off power feeding to the adapter when the leakage state is detected.

5. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the vehicle stops power feeding to the charging cable when the leakage state is detected.

6. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein

the leakage generation circuit includes a switching unit configured to switch between connection and disconnection between the power transmission path and the ground, and

the switching unit causes all of the power transmission paths to be disconnected from the ground when the adapter and the charging cable are completely fitted to each other, and causes the at least one power transmission path to be electrically connected to the ground when the adapter and the charging cable are incompletely fitted to each other.

7. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein

the charging cable includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the charging cable stops outputting the signal instructing the power feeding to the vehicle when the leakage state is detected.

8. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein

the vehicle includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the vehicle stops power feeding to the charging cable when the leakage state is detected.

9. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein the switching unit is operated by an operation member provided in the power supply plug of the charging cable when the adapter and the charging cable are connected to each other.

10. The adapter according to claim 6, further comprising:

a locking unit configured to engage with the power supply plug of the charging cable when the adapter and the charging cable are completely fitted to each other; and

an operation unit configured to operate the locking unit for releasing the engagement between the power supply plug and the adapter, wherein

the switching unit causes the at least one power transmission path to be electrically connected to the ground in accordance with an operation of the operation unit by a user.

11. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein

the charging cable includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the charging cable stops outputting the signal instructing the power feeding to the vehicle when the leakage state is detected.

12. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein

the vehicle includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the vehicle stops power feeding to the charging cable when the leakage state is detected.

13. The adapter according to claim 9, wherein

the charging cable includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the charging cable stops outputting the signal instructing the power feeding to the vehicle when the leakage state is detected.

14. The adapter according to claim 10, wherein

the charging cable includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the charging cable stops outputting the signal instructing the power feeding to the vehicle when the leakage state is detected.

15. The adapter according to claim 10, wherein

the vehicle includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the vehicle stops power feeding to the charging cable when the leakage state is detected.

16. The adapter according to claim 9, wherein

the vehicle includes a leakage detection circuit for detecting the leakage state, and

the vehicle stops power feeding to the charging cable when the leakage state is detected.

17. A vehicle capable of performing external charging that allows a power storage device mounted therein to be charged using electric power supplied from an external power supply through a charging cable and capable of feeding electric power to an external electrical device by connection of an adapter to the charging cable, the vehicle comprising:

a power source including the power storage device;

an inlet for connecting the charging cable during external charging;

a power conversion device for converting electric power from the power source to supply the converted electric power to the inlet; and

a control device for controlling the power conversion device,

the adapter including

a first connection unit capable of connecting a power supply plug connected to the external power supply in the charging cable during external charging,

a second connection unit electrically connected to the first connection unit and capable of connecting a power supply plug of the electrical device, and

a leakage generation circuit causing a leakage state to occur in a power transmission path connecting the first connection unit and the second connection unit when the adapter and the charging cable are incompletely fitted to each other,

in response to reception of a signal instructing power feeding that is generated by connection between the adapter and the charging cable, the control device driving the power conversion device to supply the electric power from the power source to the electrical device, and

the control device stopping power feeding to the electrical device when the leakage state is detected.