Power supply connector, vehicle, and method for identifying power supply connector

• US 9,126,486 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinomura, Shigeki, Ono, Tomoya, Kosetsu, Shintaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUKHARI, AQEEL H
• Application Number:
  US13/702,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20140217813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 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 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• 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: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 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]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A vehicle is provided with a connection signal line having electric potential is changed when a connector of a power charging cable is attached to a control pilot line through which a pilot signal CPLT is transmitted from the power charging cable. The charging connector is attached to a vehicle in place of the power charging cable. The power supply connector includes a first connection portion connected to the connection signal line and a second connection portion connected to the first connection portion and the control pilot line.

Claims

1. A power supply connector to be attached to a vehicle that is provided with a connection signal line having electric potential modified when a connector of a power charging cable is attached and a control pilot line to which a pilot signal is transmitted from said power charging cable, the power supply connector being configured to output electric power from the vehicle to an external device, the power supply connector comprising:

a first connection portion configured to be connected to said connection signal line; and

a second connection portion configured to be connected to said first connection portion and said control pilot line, wherein

the electric potentials of the first connection portion and the second connection portion change synchronously.

2. The power supply connector according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch provided between said first connection portion and said second connection portion; and

a second switch provided between said first connection portion and ground.

3. The power supply connector according to claim 2, wherein said first switch is opened when said second switch is closed, and said first switch is closed when said second switch is opened.

4. The power supply connector according to claim 2, wherein said first switch is closed when said second switch is closed, and said first switch is opened when said second switch is opened.

5. The power supply connector according to claim 2, wherein said second switch is of a normally-closed type.

6. The power supply connector according to claim 2, further comprising:

a third switch connected in series with second switch between said first connection portion and ground, wherein

said third switch is operated by a user when at least said power supply connector is to be detached from said vehicle.

7. The power supply connector according to claim 1, further comprising a switch provided between said first connection portion and said second connection portion.

8. The power supply connector according to claim 1, further comprising a switch provided between said first connection portion and ground.

9. A power supply connector to be attached to a vehicle that is provided with a connection signal line having electric potential modified when a connector of a power charging cable is attached and a control pilot line to which a pilot signal is transmitted from said power charging cable, the power supply connector being configured to output electric power from the vehicle to an external device, the power supply connector comprising:

a first connection portion configured to be connected to said connection signal line; and

a second connection portion configured to be connected to said first connection portion and said control pilot line, wherein

when attached to the vehicle, a change pattern of the electric potential of said connection signal line and a change pattern of the electric potential of said control pilot line become the same.

10. The power supply connector according to claim 9, further comprising:

a first switch provided between said first connection portion and said second connection portion; and

a second switch provided between said first connection portion and ground.

11. The power supply connector according to claim 9, further comprising a switch provided between said first connection portion and said second connection portion.

12. The power supply connector according to claim 9, further comprising a switch provided between said first connection portion and ground.

13. A power supply connector to be attached to a vehicle that is provided with a connection signal line having electric potential modified when a connector of a power charging cable is attached and a control pilot line to which a pilot signal is transmitted from said power charging cable, the power supply connector being configured to output electric power from the vehicle to an external device, the power supply connector comprising:

a first connection portion configured to be connected to said connection signal line;

a second connection portion configured to be connected to said first connection portion and said control pilot line; and

a switch provided between said first connection portion and said second connection portion.

14. A power supply connector to be attached to a vehicle that is provided with a connection signal line having electric potential modified when a connector of a power charging cable is attached and a control pilot line to which a pilot signal is transmitted from said power charging cable, the power supply connector being configured to output electric power from the vehicle to an external device, the power supply connector comprising:

a first connection portion configured to be connected to said connection signal line;

a second connection portion configured to be connected to said first connection portion and said control pilot line; and

a switch provided between said first connection portion and ground.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

a connection signal line having electric potential modified when a connector of a power charging cable is attached;

a control pilot line to which a pilot signal is transmitted from said power charging cable; and

an identifying device which identifies that a power supply connector is attached in accordance with a change pattern of electric potential of said connection signal line and a change pattern of electric potential of said control pilot line, the power supply connector being configured to output electric power from the vehicle to an external device.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said power supply connector includes:

a first connection portion configured to be connected to said connection signal line; and

a second connection portion configured to be connected to said first connection portion and said control pilot line, and

the vehicle further comprises;

a changing device which changes the electric potential of said connection signal line.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said changing device changes the electric potential of said connection signal line in a predetermined pattern.

18. A method for identifying a power supply connector to be attached to a vehicle that is provided with a connection signal line having electric potential modified when a connector of a power charging cable is attached and a control pilot line to which a pilot signal is transmitted from said power charging cable, the power supply connector being configured to output electric power from the vehicle to an external device, the method for identifying the power supply connector comprising the steps of:

detecting a change pattern of electric potential of said connection signal line;

detecting a change pattern of electric potential of said control pilot line; and

identifying that the power supply connector is attached in accordance with a change pattern of electric potential of said connection signal line and a change pattern of electric potential of said control pilot line.