Electrical connecting device for hybrid and electric vehicles and associated method for charging

• US 9,124,104 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Niemann, Holger, Wuensch, Volkmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): CURTIS, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/620,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 324/119, 324/120, 324426-428, 320/48, 320107-109, 320/150, 701/22, 307/9, 307/1, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• 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 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3828 using current integration
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 electrical connecting device having an output connection, which is designed to be detachably connected to a charging connection of an accumulator device of a vehicle operated using current, the electrical connecting device also including a supply connection that is designed to be detachably connected to a network connection of an alternating current low-voltage interconnected network. The connecting device is characterized in that the electrical connecting device includes an alternating current/direct current converter, which is suitable for converting the alternating voltage of the supply connection to an electric DC voltage suitable for the accumulator device. A method is also described for charging an accumulator device of a vehicle operated by current using an electrical connecting device.

Claims

1. An electrical connecting device, comprising:

an output connection which is configured to be detachably connected to a charging connection of an accumulator device of a vehicle operated using current; and

a supply connection that is configured to be detachably connected to a network connection of an alternating current low-voltage interconnected network;

wherein the electrical connecting device includes an alternating current/direct current converter system, which is configured to convert alternating voltage of the supply connection to an electric DC voltage suitable for the accumulator device;

wherein the alternating current/direct current converter system is configured to output a DC voltage of an adjustable level;

wherein the output connection further has a data interface, which is configured for connection to a data interface of a charging connection that is connectable to the output connection, the alternating current/direct current converter system including a controller that receives at least one of sensor data and control data from the data interface of the charging connection via the data interface of the output connection, the sensor data describing at least one of a charging state of the accumulator device and other operating state data of the vehicle of the accumulator device, and the control data describing at least one of a setpoint charging voltage, a setpoint charging behavior and other charging parameters, which are provided for implementation by the alternating current/direct current converter system.

2. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the output connection is configured to be connected to the charging connection of the accumulator device of one of a hybrid or an electric passenger motor vehicle.

3. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the alternating current/direct current converter system includes at least one of the following:

a memory in which a value is stored which defines a level of the DC voltage as a setpoint value, an input into which the level of the DC voltage is able to be entered as a setpoint value for the alternating current/direct current converter system, a switch whose setting defines the level of the DC voltage as a setpoint value, and a potentiometer whose setting defines the level of the DC voltage as a setpoint value.

4. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one cable, and a cable drum which is designed for complete accommodation of the cable, wherein the alternating current/direct current converter system is accommodated completely in the cable drum, and the at least one cable connects the output connection to the supply connection via the alternating current/direct current converter system.

5. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to ascertain, whether the output connection is plugged into a charging connection connectible to it, and whether the electrical connecting device is in a completely rolled-up state.

6. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller outputs one of sensor data or control data to the data interface of the charging connection via the data interface of the output connection, the sensor data describing a plugged-in state of the output connection or other state data of the electrical connecting device, and the control data describing one of a travel operation blocking command, a charge-beginning command, a compensation charging command, or other charging data or travel operation data.

9. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller receives the sensor data.

10. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller receives the control data.

7. A method for charging an accumulator device of a vehicle operated using current, using an electrical connecting device, the method comprising:

converting an alternating voltage of an alternating current low-voltage interconnected network to a DC voltage, which is suitable for charging or compensation charging an accumulator device using an alternating current/direct current converter system;

supplying the DC voltage to a charging connection of the vehicle via an output connection of the electrical connecting device, the electrical connecting device including the alternating current/direct current converter system and the electrical connecting device inclusive of the alternating current/direct current converter system being provided outside the vehicle during charging, and during the charging, the output connection is connected detachably to the charging connection;

detecting one of a plugged-in state or an unrolled state of the electrical connecting device;

and blocking a travel operation of the vehicle at least one of;

i) if it is ascertained by the detecting that the electrical connecting device is connected to a charging connection of the vehicle, or ii) if it is ascertained by the detecting step that the electrical connecting device is in a not completely rolled-up state,

wherein the detecting is carried out by the electrical connecting device, and the blocking includes;

generating and transmitting a blocking command to one of the vehicle or to a travel control of the vehicle, using the electrical connecting device.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the blocking command is transmitted via a data interface which is provided by the electrical connecting device, and which, during the detaching or during the plugging in of the output connection, is separated or connected to a data interface of the charging connection because of a mechanical connection between the data interface of the electrical connecting device and the output connection.