Power conversion apparatus

• US 11,273,722 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Issued: 03/15/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Paul
• Application Number:
  US16/663,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• 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 53/11 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 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• 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

Abstract

A power conversion apparatus includes: a DC connector connectable to a DC power inlet of a vehicle; an AC inlet connectable to a connector of an AC power cable; and a rectifier circuit located between the AC inlet and the DC connector. The rectifier circuit is configured to convert AC power input from the AC inlet side to DC power and output the DC power to the DC connector side.

Claims

1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

a DC connector connectable to a DC power inlet of a vehicle;

an AC inlet connectable to a connector of an AC power cable;

a first power conversion circuit located between the AC inlet and the DC connector, and configured to convert AC power input from the AC inlet side to DC power and output the DC power to the DC connector side;

an insulating circuit located between the AC inlet and the DC connector; and

an interrupter configured to interrupt a current between the AC inlet and the DC connector, when the interrupter detects an abnormality of the current between the AC inlet and the DC connector.

2. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first power conversion circuit is located on the DC connector side relative to the insulating circuit,

the interrupter includes:

a first switch configured to switch conduction and cut-off of a current between the insulating circuit and the DC connector;

a first current sensor configured to detect a current flowing between the first power conversion circuit and the DC connector; and

a first controller configured to control the first switch, and

the first controller is configured to bring the first switch into an open state to thereby cut off the current, when the abnormality of the current is detected by the first current sensor while electric power is being input to the AC inlet.

3. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising

a second power conversion circuit located between the AC inlet and the insulating circuit, and configured to perform prescribed power conversion, wherein

the interrupter includes:

a second switch configured to switch conduction and cut-off of a current between the AC inlet and the insulating circuit;

a second current sensor configured to detect a current flowing between the second power conversion circuit and the AC inlet; and

a second controller configured to control the second switch, and

the second controller is configured to bring the second switch into an open state to thereby cut off the current, when the abnormality of the current is detected by the second current sensor while electric power is being input to the DC connector.

4. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the insulating circuit is an insulating transformer including a first coil and a second coil located on the AC inlet side relative to the first coil,

the interrupter includes:

a switch configured to switch conduction and cut-off of a current flowing through the first coil or the second coil; and

a controller configured to control the switch,

the switch is connected in series to the first coil or the second coil, and

the controller is configured to bring the switch into an open state to thereby cut off the current, when the abnormality of the current is detected by the interrupter.

5. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first power conversion circuit is configured to convert DC power input from the DC connector side to AC power and output the AC power to the AC inlet side.

6. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising

an electrical outlet configured to output AC power generated through the first power conversion circuit from DC power input to the DC connector.

7. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

a DC connector connectable to a DC power inlet of a vehicle;

an AC inlet connectable to a connector of an AC power cable; and

a first power conversion circuit located between the AC inlet and the DC connector, and configured to convert AC power input from the AC inlet side to DC power and output the DC power to the DC connector side, wherein

the AC power cable is a charging cable of a power feeding facility configured to supply electric power for charging a vehicle-mounted battery to the vehicle, and

the AC inlet includes;

a power terminal connectable to a power line of the charging cable;

a CPLT signal terminal connectable to a CPLT signal line of the charging cable; and

a ground terminal connectable to a ground line of the charging cable.

8. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an insulating circuit located between the AC inlet and the DC connector; and

an interrupter configured to interrupt a current between the AC inlet and the DC connector, when the interrupter detects an abnormality of the current between the AC inlet and the DC connector.

9. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the first power conversion circuit is located on the DC connector side relative to the insulating circuit,

the interrupter includes:

a first switch configured to switch conduction and cut-off of a current between the insulating circuit and the DC connector;

a first current sensor configured to detect a current flowing between the first power conversion circuit and the DC connector; and

a first controller configured to control the first switch, and

the first controller is configured to bring the first switch into an open state to thereby cut off the current, when the abnormality of the current is detected by the first current sensor while electric power is being input to the AC inlet.

10. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising

a second power conversion circuit located between the AC inlet and the insulating circuit, and configured to perform prescribed power conversion, wherein

the interrupter includes:

a second switch configured to switch conduction and cut-off of a current between the AC inlet and the insulating circuit;

a second current sensor configured to detect a current flowing between the second power conversion circuit and the AC inlet; and

a second controller configured to control the second switch, and

the second controller is configured to bring the second switch into an open state to thereby cut off the current, when the abnormality of the current is detected by the second current sensor while electric power is being input to the DC connector.

11. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the insulating circuit is an insulating transformer including a first coil and a second coil located on the AC inlet side relative to the first coil,

the interrupter includes:

a switch configured to switch conduction and cut-off of a current flowing through the first coil or the second coil; and

a controller configured to control the switch,

the switch is connected in series to the first coil or the second coil, and

the controller is configured to bring the switch into an open state to thereby cut off the current, when the abnormality of the current is detected by the interrupter.

12. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the first power conversion circuit is configured to convert DC power input from the DC connector side to AC power and output the AC power to the AC inlet side.

13. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising

an electrical outlet configured to output AC power generated through the first power conversion circuit from DC power input to the DC connector.