Charging device for vehicle

• US 9,718,368 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Masuda, Tomokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US14/766,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 320104, 320109, 320155
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• 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: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

There is provided a charging device for a vehicle, which carries out timer charging in which the charging device, is set in a standby state without charging until charging start time comes when the charging start time is set. The charging device includes a charger that charges an electrical storage device of the vehicle with electric power supplied from a device outside the vehicle, a cable lock mechanism (260) that locks a charging cable in a state where the charging cable is connected to an inlet, and an electronic control unit (170) that determines whether to carry out timer charging or carry out instant charging without carrying out the timer charging on the basis of a state of a switch associated with operation of the cable lock mechanism (260).

Claims

1. A charging device for a vehicle, the vehicle configured to carry out timer charging in which the charging device is set in a standby state without charging until a charging start time arrives when the charging start time is set, the charging device comprising:

a charger configured to charge an electrical storage device of the vehicle with electric power supplied from a device outside the vehicle;

a lock mechanism configured to inhibit movement of an engaging portion of a connector of a charging cable when the engaging portion engages an inlet provided in the vehicle so as to lock the charging cable and the connector in a connected state to the inlet, the connector being provided at an end portion of the charging cable; and

an electronic control unit configured to determine whether to carry out the timer charging or to carry out instant charging without carrying out the timer charging based on a state of a switch provided on the vehicle to operate the lock mechanism, the electronic control unit also being configured to control the charger.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the instant charging when the switch is operated within a predetermined period of time from when the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

3. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the timer charging when the switch is not operated within a predetermined period of time from when the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the instant charging when the switch is not operated within a predetermined period of time from when the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

5. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the timer charging when the switch is operated within a predetermined period of time from when the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

6. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to use the switch as a timer cancellation switch when the charging cable is not connected to the inlet, the electronic control unit also being configured to use the switch as a switch for changing a locked state of the lock mechanism when the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

7. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to use the switch as a timer determination switch when the charging cable is not connected to the inlet, the electronic control unit being configured to use the switch as a switch, for changing a locked state of the lock mechanism when the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

8. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to use the switch as a switch for causing the lock mechanism to lock the charging cable to the inlet immediately after the charging cable is connected to the inlet, the electronic control unit also being configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the timer charging when the switch is operated within a predetermined period of time from when the lock mechanism is set to a locked state for the first time after the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

9. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to use the switch as a switch for causing the lock mechanism to lock the charging cable to the inlet immediately after the charging cable is connected to the inlet, the electronic control unit also being configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the instant charging when the switch is not operated within a predetermined period of time from when the lock mechanism is set to a locked state for the first time after the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

10. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to use the switch as a switch for causing the lock mechanism to lock the charging cable to the inlet immediately after the charging cable is connected to the inlet, the electronic control unit also being configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the instant charging when the switch is operated within a predetermined period of time from when the lock mechanism is set to a locked state for the first time after the charging cable is connected to the inlet.

11. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to use the switch as a switch for causing the lock mechanism to lock the charging cable to the inlet immediately after the charging cable is connected to the inlet, the electronic control unit also being configured to control the charger such that the charger carries out the timer charging when the switch is not operated within a predetermined period of time from when the lock mechanism is set to a locked state for the first time after the charging cable is connected to the inlet.