Motor vehicle with electric energy accumulator and charging cable as well as method for operating a motor vehicle

• US 9,630,519 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Elias, Bjrn, Peer, Reinhard, Enthaler, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US14/762,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20150352970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2028/003 inhibiting the starter motor, e.g. by controlling ignition or park lock circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/60 Navigation input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1), comprising an electrical energy storage device (2) chargeable via an external charging device (3), and a charging cable (4) for connecting the motor vehicle (1) to the charging device (3), wherein the motor vehicle (1) further comprises a detection device for wireless detection of the presence of the charging cable (4) in at least one region of the motor vehicle (1) and a control unit (10, 11) communicating with the detection device. The control unit is designed, in particular upon start-up of the motor vehicle (1), to inform a driver and/or to block vehicle operation when the detection result indicates the absence of a charging cable (4).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an electric energy accumulator adapted for charging via an external charging device;

a charging cable adapted for connection of the motor vehicle with the charging device;

a detection device configured for wireless determination of a presence of the charging cable in at least one area of the motor vehicle;

a control unit communicating with the detection device and configured to inform a driver and/or to block vehicle operation, when a determination result indicates an absence of the charging cable; and

an unlocking device rendered operational for freeing the vehicle operation, following a blockage, in accordance with a defined driver-side control action.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control unit is rendered operational, when starting the motor vehicle.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the charging cable includes a transmitting apparatus, said detection device comprising at least one receiving apparatus for receiving a signal from the transmitting apparatus.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 3, wherein the transmitting apparatus comprises a receiving unit for request signals of the detection device and/or for energy for the transmitting apparatus.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 3, wherein the transmitting apparatus is configured as a RFID tag.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a structural unit which includes at least one further device for realizing functions of the charging cable, said transmitting apparatus being integrated in the structural unit.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein the further device is configured for realizing communication and/or safety functions.

8. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one output device for optical and/or acoustic and/or haptic output of a message to inform the driver about the absence of the charging cable.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a navigation system having a destination memory and being configured to save an actual position of the motor vehicle as a memory entry indicating a position of the charging cable, when the determination result indicates the absence of the charging cable and during a most recent operation of the motor vehicle the determination result indicates the presence of the charging cable.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 9, wherein the navigation system is configured for designation of the memory entry in one of two ways, a first way in which the memory entry indicates the position of the charging cable and the charging device, when a charging process is involved which precedes an actual startup of the motor vehicle without further operation of the motor vehicle, a second way in which the memory entry indicates solely the position of the charging cable.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured to determine a presence of at least one further item which is removably stowable in the motor vehicle in at least one area of the motor vehicle, said control unit being configured to inform the driver and/or to block the vehicle operation, when a determination result indicates an absence of the item.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the further item is a safety vest and/or a first aid kit and/or a warning triangle and/or a driver'"'"'s license.

13. A method for operating a motor vehicle, comprising:

determining by a detection device whether a charging cable, adapted for connecting an electric energy accumulator with an external charging device, is present in at least one area of the motor vehicle;

informing a driver and/or blocking vehicle operation, when a determination result by the detection device indicates an absence of the charging cable; and

freeing the vehicle operation, after being blocked as a consequence of the absence of the charging cable, through active intervention by the driver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the detection device is rendered operational, when starting the motor vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising issuing a warning to the driver, when the determination result indicates the absence of the charging cable.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the warning is realized optically and/or haptically and/or acoustically.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising saving an actual position of the motor vehicle by a navigation system as a memory entry indicating a position of the charging cable, when the determination result indicates the absence of the charging cable and during a most recent operation of the motor vehicle the determination result indicates the presence of the charging cable.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising designating the memory entry in one of two ways, a first way in which the memory entry indicates the position of the charging cable and the charging device, when a charging process is involved which precedes an actual startup of the motor vehicle without further operation of the motor vehicle, a second way in which the memory entry indicates solely the position of the charging cable.