Charge control device for vehicle

• US 7,688,024 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamaga, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruiz; Johali A Torres
• Application Number:
  US12/285,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0084 relating to control modules
• 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 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 53/18 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 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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 10/62 Hybrid 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A resistor is connected to first and second terminals included in a vehicle inlet. To the first terminal, a control pilot line used for transmitting a pilot signal is connected. In the case where the vehicle inlet is not connected to a connector, a switch is turned off. A voltage generation circuit sets the potential of the second terminal to a potential higher than a vehicle earth potential. In the case where the vehicle inlet is not connected to the connector and the control pilot line is broken, the potential generated on the control pilot line is substantially equal to the earth potential level. Based on the potential of the control pilot line, a control unit detects a break.

Claims

1. A charge control device for a vehicle mounted with a power storage device for driving the vehicle, the charge control device being capable of charging the power storage device with a supply electric power from a power supply outside the vehicle in a case where the vehicle and the power supply are connected by a coupler, the coupler outputting a supply electric power signal indicating information about the supply electric power in a case where the coupler is connected to the vehicle and the power supply,

the charge control device comprising:

a control line for transmitting the supply electric power signal;

a resistor having one end connected to the control line;

a potential setting circuit setting a potential of the other end of the resistor to a first potential in a case where the vehicle is connected to the coupler and setting the potential of the other end of the resistor to a second potential higher than the first potential in a case where the vehicle is not connected to the coupler; and

an abnormality detection unit performing a detection of a break of the control line based on a potential of the control line in a case where the vehicle is not connected to the coupler.

2. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, the charge control device further comprising a charge connector provided in a charge port of the vehicle, and configured to be connectable to the coupler, wherein the charge connector includes a terminal being connected to the control line and receiving the supply electric power signal,

the first potential is a vehicle earth potential, and

the potential setting circuit includes:

a connection circuit electrically connecting the other end of the resistor to the vehicle earth potential when the charge connector is connected to the coupler and disconnecting the other end of the resistor from the vehicle earth potential when the charge connector is not connected to the coupler; and

a pull-up circuit pulling up the potential of the other end of the resistor to the second potential when the charge connector is not connected to the coupler.

3. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 2, the charge control device further comprising a vehicle speed detection device detecting speed of the vehicle, wherein

the abnormality detection unit determines that the vehicle is not connected to the coupler and performs the detection of a break of the control line in a case where the vehicle speed detection device detects that the speed of the vehicle is different from zero.

4. The charge control device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in supply of the supply electric power by the power supply based on whether the potential of the control line changes in a case where the vehicle is connected to the coupler.