High voltage shut down system and method for electric vehicle

• US 9,783,059 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Do Hoon, Kim, Zeung Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Cass, Jean-Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/711,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• 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 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A high voltage shut down system and method for an electric vehicle are provided, which perform a high voltage shut down function in connection with a collision detection signal (airbag expansion signal) generated from an airbag controller even when a vehicle is being charged. The high voltage shut down system a third power supply controller which is in an operable state for transmitting power when the vehicle starts and is charged. An airbag control unit is operated by receiving power through the third power supply controller, and is configured to generate an airbag expansion signal when detecting an occurrence of a collision of the vehicle. A high voltage controller is configured to perform a high voltage shut down function in response to receiving the airbag expansion signal.

Claims

1. A system for shutting down a high voltage for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a memory configured to store program instructions;

a first power supply controller electrically connected to a first power supply relay;

a second power supply controller electrically connected to a second power supply relay activated in connection with an operation of the first power supply relay to supply power to the second power supply controller;

a battery charger electrically connected to the second power supply controller via the second power supply relay such that the second power supply controller is activated using the battery charger;

a collision detection unit electrically connected to the third power supply controller;

a high voltage controller electrically connected to the collision detection unit; and

a controller configured to execute the program instructions, the program instructions when executed configured to;

operate the collision detection unit configured to detect a collision occurring while charging a vehicle; and

operate the high voltage controller configured to shut down a first voltage when a collision is detected by the collision detection unit, and

wherein the program instructions when executed are further configured to;

operate the first power supply controller which becomes operable for transmitting power when the vehicle starts;

operate an airbag configured to receive power via the first power supply controller; and

operate an event data recorder (EDR) configured to receive power via the first power supply controller, and

wherein the airbag is connected to the first power supply controller when the vehicle starts, and is selectively connected to the second power supply controller while the vehicle is being charged.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions when executed are further configured to:

operate the second power supply controller configured to transmit operative power to the collision detection unit when the vehicle is charged.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second power supply controller is configured to receive power from the battery charger when the vehicle is charged and in an operable state.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the collision detection unit includes an airbag control unit configured to generate an airbag expansion signal when detecting a collision of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second power supply controller is configured to receive power through the second power supply relay which is configured to be activated by the battery charger to be operated when the vehicle is charged.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the second power supply controller is configured to receive power through the second power supply relay when the vehicle starts, and the second power supply relay is configured to be activated and operated by the first power supply relay which is activated and operated when the vehicle starts.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first power supply relay is activated when the vehicle starts to activate the second power supply relay and supply power to the first power supply controller.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the EDR is connected to the first power supply controller when the vehicle starts, and is selectively connected to the second power supply controller while the vehicle is being charged.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear collision detection unit configured to detect a rear collision of the vehicle occurring while the vehicle is being charged,

wherein when the rear collision detection unit detects a rear collision, the high voltage controller shuts down a first voltage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the rear collision detection unit receives operative power by the second power supply controller to be operable when the vehicle is charged.

11. A method of shutting down a high voltage for an electric vehicle, comprising:

operating, by a controller, a second power supply controller through a battery charger when a vehicle is charged;

operating, by the controller, the second power supply controller to supplying power to an airbag controller; and

operating, by the controller, a high voltage controller, to shut down a first voltage in connection with an airbag expansion signal generated when the airbag controller detects a collision of the vehicle,

wherein the second power supply controller is electrically connected to a second power supply relay; and

the second power supply relay is electrically connected to the battery charger such that the second power supply controller is electrically connected to the battery charger and activated using the battery charger, and

wherein a first power supply controller is operable together with the second power supply controller when the vehicle starts, the method further comprising;

shutting down, by the first power supply controller, a first voltage; and

operating, by the first power supply controller, an airbag and an EDR using power received through the first power supply controller when the airbag expansion signal is generated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein an airbag and an event data recorder (EDR) are disconnected to the second power supply controller and are inactivated when the airbag expansion signal is generated.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein an airbag and an EDR are connected to the second power supply controller, the method further comprises:

operating, by the controller, the second power supply controller in response to the airbag expansion signal.