Vehicle architectures, electrical systems, and control algorithms for arbitrating vehicle charging

• US 10,457,158 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Namou, Andrew J., Jones, Brandon R., Cesiel, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US15/619,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20180354383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and 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

Disclosed are control algorithms and system architectures for arbitrating vehicle charging, e.g., for electric vehicles with rechargeable battery packs, wired and wireless charging capabilities, and control logic for governing such charging. A method is disclosed for managing charging of electrical storage units of motor vehicles at vehicle charging stations. The method includes determining if a wireless charging interface of the motor vehicle is available for wireless power transfer, and determining whether or not the vehicle charging station has an electrical connector coupled to a wired charging interface of the motor vehicle. Responsive to the charging station having an electrical connector coupled to the wired charging interface, the method initiates a wired (conductive) charge power mode. Conversely, if the wireless charging interface is available for power transfer and an electrical connector is not coupled to the wired charging interface, the method responsively initiates a wireless (inductive) charge power mode.

Claims

1. A method for managing charging of an electrical storage unit of a motor vehicle at a vehicle charging station, the motor vehicle having wireless and wired charging interfaces both electrically connected to the electrical storage unit, the method comprising:

determining, via a vehicle controller, if the wireless charging interface of the motor vehicle is available for wireless power transfer, including determining if the wireless charging interface is present, malfunctioning, and/or operatively aligned for wireless power transfer;

determining, via the vehicle controller, whether or not the vehicle charging station has an electrical connector and/or the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface of the motor vehicle, the electrical connector including a button configured to physically secure the electrical connector to the wired charging interface;

responsive to the electrical connector being coupled to the wired charging interface, determining a duration of time during which the button is depressed;

responsive to a determination that the vehicle charging station has the electrical connector and/or the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface, initiating a wired charge power mode; and

responsive to a determination that the wireless charging interface is available for power transfer and a determination that the duration of time the button is depressed is greater than a calibrated time period, initiating a wireless charge power mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether or not the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface includes determining whether a charge port door (CPD) of the motor vehicle is in an open state or a closed state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the CPD includes a CPD sensor operable to transmit to the vehicle controller a signal indicative of the CPD being in the open state or the closed state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether or not the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface includes detecting a temporary fault introduced by the electrical connector to an electrical circuit connecting the wired charging interface to the electrical storage unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein depressing and releasing the button of the electrical connector activates an electrical switch that triggers the temporary fault.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a voltage of the electrical connector,

wherein initiating the wireless charge power mode is further responsive to a determination that the detected voltage of the electrical connector is approximately equal to a first calibrated voltage value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein initiating the wired charge power mode is further responsive to a determination that the detected voltage of the electrical connector is approximately equal to a second calibrated voltage value different from the first calibrated voltage value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to initiating the wired charge power mode, configuring vehicle charging controls and diagnostic parameters to conductive charging limits.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to initiating the wireless charge power mode, configuring vehicle charging controls and diagnostic parameters to inductive charging limits.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging station includes a wireless charging platform, wherein determining if the wireless charging interface is operatively aligned and thereby available for wireless power transfer includes determining a location of the wireless charging interface relative to the charging platform, and wherein initiating the wireless charge power mode is further responsive to a determination that the location of the wireless charging interface is aligned with the charging platform to perform wireless power transfer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless and wired charging interfaces are electrically connected in parallel to the electrical storage unit, and wherein the wired charging interface is communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller via a Controller Area Network (CAN) interface, and the wireless charging interface is communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller via a non-CAN high voltage direct current (HVDC) interface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the wireless charge power mode is further responsive to a determination that the vehicle charging station does not have the electrical connector and/or a determination that the vehicle charging station has the electrical connector and the electrical connector is not coupled to the wired charging interface.

13. An electric-drive vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a plurality of road wheels attached to the vehicle body;

a traction motor attached to the vehicle body and operable to drive at least one of the road wheels and thereby propel the electric-drive vehicle;

a traction battery pack attached to the vehicle body and electrically coupled to the traction motor;

a charge port electrically coupled to the traction battery pack and configured to electrically mate with an electrical connector of an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS);

a wireless charging receiver component electrically coupled to the traction battery pack and configured to operably couple with a wireless charging platform of the EVCS; and

a vehicle controller attached to the vehicle body and programmed to;

determine if the wireless charging receiver component is available, including determining if the wireless charging receiver component is present, malfunctioning, and/or operatively aligned for wireless power transfer;

determine if the charge port is electrically mated with the electrical connector of the EVCS, the electrical connector including a button configured to physically secure the electrical connector to the charge port;

responsive to the electrical connector being mated with the charge port, determine a duration of time during which the button is depressed;

responsive to a determination that the charge port is electrically mated with the electrical connector, initiate a conductive charge fixed power mode; and

responsive to a determination that that the wireless charging receiver component is available for power transfer and a determination that the duration of time the button is depressed is greater than a calibrated time period, initiate an inductive charge fixed power mode.

14. A non-transitory, computer readable medium storing instructions for execution by an onboard vehicle controller of a motor vehicle with an electrical storage unit, the motor vehicle having wireless and wired charging interfaces both electrically connected to the electrical storage unit and both configured to operably couple with a vehicle charging station, the instructions causing the vehicle controller to perform steps comprising:

determining if the wireless charging interface of the motor vehicle is available for wireless power transfer, including determining if the wireless charging interface is present, malfunctioning, and/or operatively aligned for wireless power transfer;

determining whether or not the vehicle charging station has an electrical connector and/or the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface of the motor vehicle, the electrical connector including a button configured to physically secure the electrical connector to the wired charging interface;

responsive to the electrical connector being coupled to the wired charging interface, determining a duration of time during which the button is depressed;

responsive to a determination that the vehicle charging station has the electrical connected and/or the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface, initiating a wired charge power mode; and

responsive to a determination that the wireless charging interface is available for power transfer and a determination that the duration of time the button is depressed is greater than a calibrated time period, initiating a wireless charge power mode.

15. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether or not the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface includes determining whether a charge port door (CPD) of the motor vehicle is in an open state or a closed state.

16. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether or not the electrical connector is coupled to the wired charging interface includes detecting a temporary fault introduced by the electrical connector to an electrical circuit connecting the wired charging interface to the electrical storage unit.

17. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions causing the vehicle controller to detect a voltage of the electrical connector, wherein initiating the wireless charge power mode is further responsive to a determination that the detected voltage of the electrical connector is approximately equal to a first calibrated voltage value.

18. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions causing the vehicle controller to, responsive to initiating a wired charge power mode, configure vehicle charging controls and diagnostic parameters to conductive charging limits.

19. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions causing the vehicle controller to, responsive to initiating a wireless charge power mode, configure vehicle charging controls and diagnostic parameters to inductive charging limits.

20. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the vehicle charging station includes a wireless charging platform, and wherein the wireless charging interface is operatively aligned and thereby available for power transfer upon determining a location of the wireless charging interface is aligned with the charging platform.