CHARGING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100270860A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamaga, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,810,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.700
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, 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 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 charging device for a vehicle includes a connector configured such that a coupler for transmitting electric power from an external power supply to the vehicle is connectable to the connector, a charging circuit for transmitting electric power from the connector to a power storage device, a charging control unit for charging the power storage device by controlling the charging circuit while in an operating state, and for halting control of the charging circuit while in a halting state, and an activation control unit for keeping the charging control unit in the halting state until detecting that the connector receives electric power, in a case where connection of the coupler and the connector is detected, and for switching the charging control unit from the halting state to the operating state when it is detected that the connector receives electric power.

Claims

1. A charging device for a vehicle, the charging device being configured to be capable of charging by a power supply outside said vehicle a power storage device mounted on said vehicle for driving the vehicle, said vehicle being connectable to said power supply by a coupler capable of transmitting electric power from said power supply to said vehicle, said charging device comprising:

a connector provided to said vehicle and configured such that said coupler is connectable to the connector;

a power feeding unit mounted on said vehicle for transmitting said electric power from said connector to said power storage device;

a charging control unit mounted on said vehicle for charging said power storage device by controlling said power feeding unit while the charging control unit is in an operating state, and for halting control of said power feeding unit while the charging control unit is in a halting state; and

an activation control unit for keeping said charging control unit in said halting state until it is detected that said connector receives said electric power in a case where connection of said coupler and said connector is detected, and for switching said charging control unit from said halting state to said operating state when it is detected that said connector receives said electric power.

2. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 1, said charging device further comprising:

an informing unit mounted on said vehicle for giving information that said connector and said coupler are connected and information that said electric power is input to said connector, by operating in a first pattern in accordance with a first signal indicating connection of said coupler to said connector, and by operating in a second pattern in accordance with a second signal indicating reception of said electric power by said connector;

a signal transmission unit for transmitting said first signal while said coupler is connected to said connector; and

a signal selection unit configured to be capable of receiving said first signal and said second signal for outputting, while said signal selection unit receives said second signal, said second signal as received to said informing unit regardless of whether said signal selection unit receives said first signal, and for outputting, while said signal selection unit receives said first signal and does not receive said second signal, said first signal to said informing unit, wherein

said activation control unit transmits said second signal while said charging control unit is in said operating state.

3. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

when input of said electric power to said connector is detected before a predetermined first time has elapsed from the time when connection of said coupler and said connector is detected, said activation control unit waits to output of said second signal until a predetermined second time has elapsed from the time when input of said electric power to said connector is detected.

4. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said activation control unit halts transmission of said second signal when charging of said power storage device by said charging control unit is completed.

5. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said informing unit includes:

a lamp; and

a drive circuit for driving said lamp in accordance with said first and second signals,

said first pattern is a lighting pattern for said drive circuit to intermittently light up said lamp, and

said second pattern is a lighting pattern for said drive circuit to continuously light up said lamp.

6. The charging device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said coupler transmits electric power information indicating said electric power to said connector when said coupler and said power supply are connected, and

said activation control unit detects that said connector receives said electric power by receiving said electric power information via said connector.