Power supply apparatus for vehicles that selects between conductive and non-conductive power transfer

• US 9,278,625 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Obayashi, Kazuyoshi, Sakamoto, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIAO, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/328,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20120153717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/06 using only one supply
• 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 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/28 Door position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• 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 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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 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 90/16 : 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 power supply apparatus for vehicles is provided. This apparatus includes a battery mounted on a vehicle as well as first and second power transferring means and a power conversion unit. The first power transferring means transfers power between the battery and a first power supply section placed outside the vehicle, in a state where the battery is electrically connected to the power supply section. The second power transferring means transfers power between the battery and the power supply section placed outside the vehicle, in a state where the battery is electromagnetically connected to a second power supply section. The power conversion unit is used commonly in both the first and second power transferring means and used for transferring the power between the battery and the first power supply section and for transferring the power between the battery and the second power supply section.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus for vehicles, comprising:

a battery mounted on a vehicle;

first power transferring means comprising a connector for transferring power between the battery and a first power supply section placed outside the vehicle when the battery is electrically connected to the first power supply section through the connector and a charger-side connector is connected to the first power supply section,

the connector being disposed in an opening of the vehicle that is opened and closed with a charging lid;

second power transferring means for transferring power between the battery and a second power supply section placed outside the vehicle when the battery is electromagnetically connected to the second power supply section;

a power conversion unit used commonly in both the first and second power transferring means and used for transferring the power between the battery and the first power supply section and for transferring the power between the battery and the second power supply section; and

a control section for controlling transferring of power through the first power transferring means and the second power transferring means, the control section being configured to;

detect whether the connector connected to the first power transferring means is electrically connected to the charger-side connector connected to the first power supply section,

stop power transfer through the second power transferring means in response to detecting the electrical connection between the connector and the charger-side connector during the power transfer through the second power transferring means,

after stopping the power transfer through the second power transferring means, allow the power conversion unit and the first power transferring means to transfer power from the first power supply section to the battery, and

stop the power transfer through the second power transferring means and instruct the first power transferring means to be ready to transfer power from the first power supply section to the battery based on a detection that at least one of the charging lid and a vehicle door is opened during the power transfer through the second power transferring means.

2. The power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power conversion unit is configured to interactively transfer the power from the battery to each of the first and second power supply sections and from each of the first and second power supply sections to the battery.

3. The power supply apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is provided with a motor section driven by power of which mode is converted from the power of the battery, and the power conversion unit is used in common to convert the mode of the power of the battery.

4. The power supply apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control section is configured to further detect that the first power transferring means has electrically disconnected the battery from the first power supply section during an operation of the first power transferring means,

the control section is configured to stop the operation of the first power transferring means and is configured to allow the second power supply section to operate when detecting the electrical disconnection between the battery and the first power supply section.

5. The power supply apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a display that displays operation states of the first and second power transferring means,

wherein the control section is configured to control the display to show which of the first or second power transferring means is in operation, depending on which of the first and second power transferring means is currently being controlled by the control section.

6. The power supply apparatus of claim 5, wherein the display is provided on a part of the vehicle.

7. The power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is provided with a motor section driven by power of which mode is converted from the power of the battery, and the power conversion unit is used in common to convert the mode of the power of the battery.

8. The power supply apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control section is configured to further detect that the first power transferring means has electrically disconnected the battery from the first power supply section during an operation of the first power transferring means, and

the control section is configured to stop the operation of the first power transferring means and is configured to allow the second power supply section to operate when detecting the electrical disconnection between the battery and the first power supply section.

9. The power supply apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a display that displays operation states of the first and second power transferring means,

wherein the control section controls the display to show which of the first or second power transferring means is in operation, depending on which of the first and second power transferring means is currently being controlled by the control section.

10. The power supply apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display is provided on a part of the vehicle.

11. The power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second power transferring means is a non-contact power transfer unit, and

the power supply apparatus initially supplies power from the second power supply section to the battery through the second power transferring means.

12. A power supply apparatus for vehicles, comprising

a battery mounted on a vehicle;

first power transferring means comprising a connector for transferring power between the battery and a first power supply section placed outside the vehicle when the battery is electrically connected to the first power supply section through the connector and a charger-side connector is connected to the first power supply section,

the connector being disposed in an opening of the vehicle that is opened and closed with a charging lid;

second power transferring means for transferring power between the battery and a second power supply section placed outside the vehicle when the battery is electromagnetically connected to the second power supply section; and

a control section that controls the first and second power transferring means, the control section being configured to;

detect whether the connector connected to the first power transferring means is electrically connected to the charger-side connector connected to the first power supply section,

stop power transfer through the second power transferring means in response to detecting the electrical connection between the connector and the charger-side connector during the power transfer through the second power transferring means,

after stopping the power transfer through the second power transferring means, allow the first power transferring means to transfer power from the first power supply section to the battery, and

stop the power transfer through the second power transferring means and instruct the first power transferring means to be ready to transfer power from the first power supply section to the battery based on a detection that at least one of the charging lid and a vehicle door is opened during the power transfer through the second power transferring means.

13. The power supply apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control section further detects that the first power transferring means has electrically disconnected the battery from the first power supply section during an operation of the first power transferring means, and

stops the operation of the first power transferring means and allows the second power supply section to operate when detecting the electrical disconnection between the battery and the first power supply section.

14. The power supply apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a first power conversion unit capable of transferring the power between the battery and the first power supply section through the first power transferring means under the control of the control section; and

a second power conversion unit capable of transferring the power between the battery and the second power supply section through the second power transferring means under the control of the control section.