Vehicle power control apparatus and vehicle power control method

• US 9,136,720 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Naruse, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US13/921,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/526 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A control unit of a vehicle power control apparatus performs an operation described below. The control unit fluctuates a voltage of an alternating-current power output from a discharging terminal with a power supplier when the control unit detects that a receiving terminal of an alternating-current load or a charging terminal is connected to the discharging terminal, or that a supply terminal of an alternating-current power supply or the discharging terminal is connected to the charging terminal. Also, the control unit directs a notifying portion to perform a notifying operation when the control unit detects that a voltage of alternating-current power input to the charging terminal is fluctuating in the same manner that a voltage of alternating-current power output from the discharging terminal is fluctuating.

Claims

1. A vehicle power control apparatus comprising:

a secondary battery;

a charging terminal that is able to be connected to a supply terminal of a predetermined alternating-current power supply;

a charger configured to convert alternating-current power input from the charging terminal to direct-current power and charge the direct-current power to the secondary battery;

a discharging terminal that is able to be connected to a receiving terminal of a predetermined alternating-current load and the charging terminal;

a power supplier configured to convert the direct-current power from the secondary battery to alternating-current power and output the alternating-current power from the discharging terminal;

a notifying portion configured to perform a notifying operation indicating that the charging terminal is improperly connected to the discharging terminal; and

a control unit configured to control the charger, the power supplier, and the notifying portion,

wherein the control unit is configured to fluctuate a voltage of the alternating-current power output from the discharging terminal with the power supplier when the control unit detects that the receiving terminal of the alternating-current load or the charging terminal is connected to the discharging terminal, or that the supply terminal of the alternating-current power supply or the discharging terminal is connected to the charging terminal, and the control unit is configured to direct the notifying portion to perform the notifying operation when the control unit detects that the voltage of alternating-current power input to the charging terminal is fluctuating in the same manner that the voltage of the alternating-current power output from the discharging terminal is fluctuating.

2. A control method of power for a vehicle, the vehicle including a secondary battery, a charging terminal that is able to be connected to a supply terminal of a predetermined alternating-current power supply, a charger configured to convert alternating-current power input from the charging terminal to direct-connect power and charge the direct-current power to the secondary battery, a discharging terminal that is able to be connected to a receiving terminal of a predetermined alternating-current load and the charging terminal, and a power supplier configured to convert the direct-current power from the secondary battery to alternating-current power and output the alternating-current power from the discharging terminal,

the control method comprising:

detecting that the receiving terminal of the alternating-current load or the charging terminal is connected to the discharging terminal, or that the supply terminal of the alternating-current power supply or the discharging terminal is connected to the charging terminal;

fluctuating a voltage of the alternating-current power output from the discharging terminal;

detecting that the voltage of alternating-current power input to the charging terminal is fluctuating in the same manner that the voltage of the alternating-current power output from the discharging terminal is fluctuating; and

performing a notifying operation indicating that the charging terminal is improperly connected to the discharging terminal.