Device for operating a charging unit, charging system

• US 10,566,832 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mack, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US14/924,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20160126759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• 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

Abstract

A device for operating a charging unit that is connected/is connectable to a supply network and to a rechargeable energy store. A control unit and at least one sensor connected to the control unit are provided, the control unit being connected to a control input of the charging unit to switch on the charging unit as a function of a measured value of the at least one sensor for charging the energy store, or to switch it off for interrupting an electrical connection between the supply network and the energy store.

Claims

1. A device for operating a charging unit, comprising:

a control unit; and

at least one sensor connected to the control unit to measure at least one of;

a supply voltage of a supply network, or a supply current of the supply network, wherein the supply network is a vehicle electrical system within a motor vehicle, and wherein the vehicle electrical system is supplied with energy by a vehicle rechargeable energy store of the motor vehicle, and wherein the vehicle rechargeable energy store is situated within the motor vehicle;

wherein the control unit is connectable to a control input of the charging unit, the charging unit being connectable to the supply network and to a rechargeable energy store to charge the energy store via the at least one of the supply voltage of the supply network or the supply current of the supply network, the control unit configured to;

(i) switch on the charging unit to charge the energy store via the at least one of the supply voltage of the supply network or the supply current of the supply network, and (ii) switch off, as a function of at least one measured value of the at least one sensor indicating an energy level of the supply network has fallen below a predetermined energy level, the charging unit to interrupt an electrical connection between the supply network and the energy store so that the at least one of the supply voltage of the supply network or the supply current of the supply network can no longer charge the energy store to protect the vehicle rechargeable energy store of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the vehicle rechargeable energy store is separate from the energy store.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is assignable to the supply network.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a voltage sensor for detecting the supply voltage of the supply network.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a timer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to an actuator switch.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a separate control device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is integrate-able into the charging unit.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes at least one signaling device for signaling whether the charging unit is switched on or switched off.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a current sensor for detecting the supply current of the supply network.

11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit includes at least one signaling device for signaling whether the charging unit is switched on or switched off, and wherein the signaling device is a wireless radio device, and the signaling is transmitted via radio to an on-board computer of the vehicle.

12. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch off, as the function of the at least one measured value, protects the rechargeable energy store of the vehicle from being exhausted.

13. A charging system for electrically charging an energy store, comprising:

a supply network, wherein the supply network is a vehicle electrical system within a motor vehicle, and wherein the vehicle electrical system is supplied with energy by a vehicle rechargeable energy store of the motor vehicle, and wherein the vehicle rechargeable energy store is situated within the motor vehicle;

a charging unit connected to the supply network; and

a device for operating a charging unit, including;

a control unit; and

at least one sensor connected to the control unit to measure at least one of;

a supply voltage of the supply network, or a supply current of the supply network;

wherein the control unit is connectable to a control input of the charging unit, the charging unit being connectable to the supply network and to a rechargeable energy store to charge the energy store via the at least one of the supply voltage of the supply network or the supply current of the supply network, the control unit configured to;

(i) switch on the charging unit to charge the energy store via the at least one of the supply voltage of the supply network or the supply current of the supply network, and (ii) switch off, as a function of at least one measured value of the at least one sensor indicating an energy level of the supply network has fallen below a predetermined energy level, the charging unit for interrupting to interrupt an electrical connection between the supply network and the energy store so that the at least one of the supply voltage of the supply network or the supply current of the supply network can no longer charge the energy store to protect the vehicle rechargeable energy store of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the vehicle rechargeable energy store is separate from the energy store.

14. The charging system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the charging unit and the control unit includes at least one signaling device for signaling an operating state of the charging unit.

15. The charging system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the charging unit and the control unit includes at least one signaling device for signaling whether the charging unit is switched on or switched off.

16. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor includes a voltage sensor for detecting the supply voltage of the supply network.

17. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor includes a current sensor for detecting the supply current of the supply network.

18. The charging system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the charging unit and the control unit includes at least one signaling device for signaling whether the charging unit is switched on or switched off, and wherein the signaling device is a wireless radio device, and the signaling is transmitted via radio to an on-board computer of the vehicle.

19. The charging system as recited in claim 13, wherein the switch off, as the function of the at least one measured value, protects the rechargeable energy store of the vehicle from being exhausted.