Indication system for vehicle and vehicle having the same

• US 8,896,434 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2010
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2010
• 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): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/522,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 340/455, 340/636.1, 320/109, 701/22
• US Class Current: 340/455
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• 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 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• 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: 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 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

Abstract

A charging port includes an inlet, a charging-in-progress lamp, and a communication-in-progress lamp. The inlet is configured to be connectable with a charging cable. During external charging by a charger, the charging-in-progress lamp indicates that external charging is being performed. Specifically, while the charging-in-progress lamp receives from a charging ECU a signal which indicates that external charging is being performed, the charging-in-progress lamp is lit. The communication-in-progress lamp is provided adjacently to the charging-in-progress lamp for indicating, while PLC-based communication by means of the charging cable is in progress, that PLC is being performed. Specifically, the communication-in-progress lamp is lit while the communication-in-progress lamp receives from the charging ECU a signal indicating that PLC is being performed.

Claims

1. An indication system for a vehicle chargeable by a power supply external to the vehicle,

said vehicle including:

a rechargeable power storage device;

a charging port connectable with a charging cable for supplying electric power from said power supply to said vehicle;

a charger receiving electric power supplied from said power supply for charging said power storage device; and

a communication unit using said charging port and said charging cable as a communication channel for communicating with a communication device external to the vehicle, and

said indication system comprising;

a first indication unit for indicating that charging of said power storage device by said charger is in progress; and

a second indication unit provided near said first indication unit for indicating that communication with said communication device external to the vehicle by said communication unit is in progress,

said vehicle further includes a radio communication unit for communicating by radio with a radio communication device external to the vehicle, and

said indication system further comprises an indication control unit for changing a manner of indication by said second indication unit depending on whether communication by said radio communication unit is possible or not.

2. The indication system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second indication units are provided at said charging port.

3. The indication system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second indication units are provided at said charging cable.

4. The indication system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second indication units are configured by a common indication device, and

said indication system further comprises an indication control unit for changing a manner of indication by said indication device depending on whether charging of said power storage device by said charger is in progress or communication with said communication device external to the vehicle by said communication unit is in progress.

5. The indication system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit operable by a user for forcing termination of communication with said communication device external to the vehicle by said communication unit.

6. The indication system for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a control unit for terminating charging of said power storage device by said charger in response to operation of said input unit, when a remaining capacity of said power storage device is larger than a predetermined value at the time when said input unit is operated.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a rechargeable power storage device;

a charger for charging said power storage device by a power supply external to the vehicle;

an electric motor generating drive power for the vehicle to travel, from electric power stored in said power storage device; and

an indication system for a vehicle, the indication system further comprising;

a first indication unit for indicating that charging of said power storage device by said charger is in progress; and

a second indication unit provided near said first indication unit for indicating that communication with said communication device external to the vehicle by said communication unit is in progress,

said vehicle further includes a radio communication unit for communicating by radio with a radio communication device external to the vehicle, and

said indication system further comprises an indication control unit for changing a manner of indication by said second indication unit depending on whether communication by said radio communication unit is possible or not.