Jump-starting method and device for implementing the method

• US 9,193,272 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fassnacht, Jochen, Norden, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): DO, THUAN V
• Application Number:
  US13/392,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 320/105
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables
• 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 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

Abstract

In a jump-starting method between an electric vehicle providing a jump-start and an electric vehicle receiving a jump-start, the electrical systems of the two electric vehicles are temporarily interconnected electrically during the time of the jump-starting.

Claims

1. A method for jump-starting a first electric vehicle by a second electric vehicle providing the jump-start, when no power supply system is available to start the first electric vehicle, wherein each of the first and second electric vehicles is provided with a step-up/step-down converter as a charging device, the method comprising:

temporarily interconnecting electrical systems of the first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start and the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start during a time of the jump-start, wherein a d.c. link busbar of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start is connected to a d.c. link busbar of the first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start.

2. The jump-starting method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

charge states of the first and second electric vehicles are determined at the beginning of the jump-starting method;

a first threshold value is specified for the charge state of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start; and

the jump-starting method is aborted when the charge state of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start falls below the first threshold value.

3. The jump-starting method as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start is equipped with a range extender;

a second threshold value for the charge state of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start charge is specified, the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value; and

the range extender of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start is started no later than when the charge state of the second electric vehicle falls below the second threshold value.

4. The jump-starting method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first threshold value is variable.

5. The jump-starting method as recited in claim 2, wherein the magnitude of the first threshold value is selected to correspond to a predetermined minimum driving range of the second electric vehicle.

6. The jump-starting method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

voltage values of the electrical systems of the two vehicles are measured at the beginning of the jump-starting method; and

the electrical system of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start is operated in a step-up converter mode when the voltage value of the first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start is greater than the voltage value of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start.

7. The jump-starting method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

voltage values of the electrical systems of the two vehicles are measured at the beginning of the jump-starting method; and

the electrical system of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start is operated in a step-down converter mode when the voltage value of the first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start is less than the voltage value of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start.

8. A method for jump-starting a first electric vehicle by a second electric vehicle providing the jump-start, when no power supply system is available to start the first electric vehicle, wherein each of the first and second electric vehicles is provided with an inverter as a charging device, the method comprising:

temporarily interconnecting electrical systems of the first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start and the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start during a time of the jump-start, wherein a d.c. link busbar of the second electric vehicle providing the jump-start is connected to a d.c. link busbar of the first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start, and wherein power supply connections of the electrical systems of the first and second electric vehicles are interconnected.

9. A system for providing a jump-start between a first electric vehicle receiving the jump-start and a second electric vehicle providing the jump-start, when no power supply system is available to start the first electric vehicle, comprising:

plug-and-socket connections provided in the two electric vehicles, wherein the plug-and-socket connections are protected against polarity reversal; and

a charging cable for connecting the two electric vehicles for the duration of the jump-start operation, wherein the charging cable is protected against polarity reversal.

10. The device as recited in claim 9, wherein the charging cable includes an interface via which the execution of the jump-start is controlled.

11. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein electrical systems of the two electric vehicles connected for the purpose of jump-starting each have at least one control unit for the control of the jump-start operation.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the control units are interconnected via the interface of the charging cable and communicate with one another through the interface for the control of the jump-start operation.