Apparatus for monitoring and controlling charging of a battery for a hybrid or electric vehicle

• US 5,623,194 A
• Filed: 12/27/1994
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Mikulic, Leopold, Knorzer, Gunther, Boll, Wolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US08/364,209
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/5, 320/30, 320/35, 320/39, 320/48, 320/22
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/34 Robot, hybrid, recreational or emergency vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a charge information system to support the operator of an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, including the input of desired parameters for charging and operating the vehicle. The charge information system according to the invention comprises an input unit for putting the desired parameters into a computing unit which determines the required remaining charging time and displays it. Defining quantities are, among others, the charging efficiency or the desired range.

Claims

1. Charge information system for an electric or hybrid vehicle having a vehicle battery, comprising:

a battery charger;

a unit for determining charge condition of said battery;

an input unit for entering charging and operating parameters of the charging operation; and

a computing unit coupled to receive inputs from said battery charger and said unit for determining charge condition, as well as charging and operating parameters from said input unit, said computing unit comprising;

means for determining a desired charge Q_des as a function of the input charging parameters;

means for determining a charging diagram I_t for the course of a charging current I over time, based on the input charging parameters and an actual charge condition Q_act ;

means for determining a required remaining charging time t_R for the implementation of the charging operation, based on the selected charging diagram I_t ; and

means for controlling a display unit by means of a signal for the remaining charging time t_R.

2. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein said input unit further comprises means for inputting a data release command;

and wherein said computing unit further comprises means responsive to said data release command for transmitting to said battery charger, a set of charging command data which correspond to a most recently entered set of charging parameters, whereby a corresponding charging operation is initiated.

3. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein one of said charging parameters is a desired charging efficiency.

4. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein said computing unit further comprises means to determine and display an achievable driving range as a function of the charging parameters, based on a defined relationship between charging reserves and the driving range.

5. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein:

one of said charging parameters is a desired range of the vehicle; and

the computing unit further comprises means to calculate required charging efficiency, based on a defined relationship between the charging reserves and the driving range.

6. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein said computing unit further comprises means to determine and display a required or achievable charging efficiency, as a function of the input charging parameters.

7. Charging information system according to claim 5, wherein said computing unit further comprises means to determine and display a required or achievable charging efficiency, as a function of the input charging parameters.

8. Charge information system according to claim 4, wherein said charging parameters further comprise information concerning deviations from the standard conditions, including at-least one of a medium driving speed and a directional speed, on which the relationship between the charging reserves and the range is based.

9. Charge information system according to claim 8, wherein the computing unit further comprises means to determine and display a directional speed as a function of a given driving range and present or desired charging reserves.

10. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein one of said charging parameters is a maximal charging current.

11. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein the computing unit further comprises means to determine maximal parking duration based on present or desired charging reserves and a defined self-discharging.

12. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein said input unit further comprises means for inputting at least one of:

a start time and an end for the charging operation.

13. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein further comprising a data display and data input which may be carried out outside the vehicle by data transmission.

14. Charge information system according to claim 1, wherein said computing unit further comprises means to determine and display at least one of:

consumed electric energy and the corresponding energy costs.

15. A charge information system according to claim 14 wherein said computing unit further comprises means for debiting the displayed energy costs.