JP2005237064A - Vehicle controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle controller that can sufficiently utilize the performance of a battery without causing a trouble to a person. <P>SOLUTION: A voltage value of a high-voltage battery of each battery pack is obtained (S1 to S3), and priority is determined in the order from the lowest in the remaining power of the battery pack that the voltage value indicates (S4). A second battery pack ranked in the first priority in the lowest remaining power is selected as a traveling battery, and there can be established a system that the second battery pack can be connected to a traveling motor in traveling (S5). When the remaining power of the first-ranked second battery pack is not higher than a set value (S6), it is determined whether a usable battery exists or not (S7), and when it is determined that the usable battery exists, a third battery pack ranked in the second priority is selected as the traveling battery, thus allowing a system that the third battery pack can be connected to the traveling motor in traveling (S8) to be established, and the procedure is returned to the step S6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle controller that manages a battery used in an electric vehicle.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, an electric vehicle equipped with a plurality of high-voltage batteries 101, 101 is known.

  As such an electric vehicle, as shown in (a) of FIG. 6, one in which the high-voltage batteries 101 and 101 are connected in parallel and supplied to the traveling motor 112 via the motor driver 111 is known. . Thereby, it is comprised so that battery capacity can be enlarged and mileage can be extended.

  With such a configuration, it is necessary to always charge both batteries 101, 101 evenly during charging.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), when the changeover switch 121 is provided between each high-voltage battery 101, 101 and the motor driver 111, and the remaining amount of one high-voltage battery 101 is exhausted, A configuration for extending the travel distance by manually switching to another high voltage battery 101 is conceivable.

  However, in such a conventional case, there is a place that relies on the user's feeling when switching the battery, and it is difficult to fully utilize the performance of the high voltage battery 101. Moreover, the trouble of operating the changeover switch 121 is also required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle controller that can fully utilize the performance of the battery without bothering the user. It is.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the vehicle controller according to claim 1 of the present invention, the remaining capacity of each battery is acquired in the vehicle controller of the vehicle on which a plurality of batteries for supplying electric power to the driving motor are mounted. Remaining capacity acquisition means, priority order assigning means for assigning priorities in ascending order of remaining capacity, traveling battery setting means for setting a battery with higher priority as a traveling battery for supplying power during traveling, and the traveling battery Battery switching means for setting the battery in the next order as the travel battery when the remaining capacity of the battery set to is equal to or less than a preset value.

  That is, the remaining capacity of each battery provided in the vehicle is acquired, and priorities are given in the order of decreasing remaining capacity. Then, a battery having a high priority, that is, a battery with a small remaining capacity is set as a traveling battery for supplying power during traveling, and if the remaining capacity of the battery is predetermined and less than a set value, Is set as the traveling battery.

  For this reason, during running, the battery with the smallest remaining capacity is used preferentially, and when the remaining capacity reaches the set value, the battery with the next smallest remaining capacity is used.

  Further, in the vehicle controller according to claim 2, the regenerative battery selection means for selecting the battery to be charged by the regenerative current generated by the motor as a regenerative battery based on the remaining capacity of each battery, and the traveling Regenerative current switching means for supplying the regenerative current from the motor to the battery selected as the regenerative battery when the battery set as the regenerative battery is not selected as the regenerative battery. Yes.

  That is, when a battery that is nearly fully charged is used as a battery for traveling, supplying the regenerative current from the motor to the battery for charging may cause overcharging.

  Therefore, when the battery to be charged by the regenerative current from the motor is selected as a regenerative battery based on the remaining capacity, and the battery set as the traveling battery is not selected as the regenerative battery Supplies the regenerative current from the motor to the battery selected as the regenerative battery, thereby preventing the overcharge described above.

  In this case, the recovery efficiency of the regenerative current is increased by returning the regenerative current to the battery selected as the regenerative battery. At this time, the amount of flowing current is increased as compared with the case where the regenerative current is returned to the battery near full charge.

  Furthermore, the vehicle controller according to claim 3 is provided with display means for displaying the remaining capacity of each battery based on the remaining capacity of each battery.

  That is, the remaining capacity of each battery is displayed on the display means. For this reason, the battery used at the time of driving | running | working and the remaining capacity reduced can be specified.

  As described above, the vehicle controller according to claim 1 of the present invention preferentially uses a battery with a small remaining capacity during traveling, and when the remaining capacity reaches a set value, the remaining capacity is next. Less battery can be used.

  Thus, the battery can be switched and used without bothering the user, and the travel distance can be extended. At this time, since the remaining capacity of the battery used first is switched to the next battery after reaching the set value, the performance of each battery is compared with the case of switching to the next battery while leaving the remaining capacity. Can be fully utilized and the occurrence of the memory effect can be suppressed.

  Then, by using the battery with a low remaining capacity with priority, the use order of each battery can be managed. For this reason, the charging / discharging cycle of a battery can be made into the same cycle number in all the batteries, and the state where only some batteries deteriorate extremely can be avoided.

  Further, in the vehicle controller according to the second aspect, since the regenerative batteries are selected based on the remaining capacity of each battery, there is a problem in that the battery close to full charge is overcharged even though there is an empty battery. Can be prevented.

  And by returning the regenerative current from the motor to the battery selected as the regenerative battery, it is possible to improve the charging efficiency by the regenerative current as compared with the case where the regenerative current is returned to the battery near full charge. it can.

  At this time, the amount of flowing current can be increased as compared with the case where the regenerative current is returned to the battery near full charge. Therefore, the regenerative brake function can be effectively operated.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle controller according to the third aspect, the remaining capacity of each battery is displayed on the display means. For this reason, the battery used at the time of driving | running | working and the remaining capacity reduced can be specified.

  Thereby, when charging a battery outside a vehicle, a battery with little remaining capacity can be selectively taken out and charged. Thereby, the effect by charge can be heightened compared with the case where the battery near full charge is taken out and charged.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle controller 1 according to the present embodiment, and the vehicle controller 1 is mounted on an electric vehicle.

  This electric vehicle is provided with first to third battery housing portions (not shown), and each battery housing portion includes first to third battery packs 11 to 13 formed in the same shape at any location. Also, it is configured to be detachable. Each of the battery packs 11 to 13 incorporates a high voltage battery 14..., And each battery pack 11 to 13 has an input / output electrically connected to a plus electrode and a minus electrode of the high voltage battery 14. A connector 15 is provided.

  Even if any of the battery packs 11 to 13 is attached to each battery housing portion, the first to third power feeding connectors 21 that are electrically connected to the input / output connector 15 of the battery packs 11 to 13. Are connected to the negative terminal of the high-voltage battery 14 through the power supply connectors 21 to 23, and the ground line 24 is connected to the vehicle controller 1 and the vehicle load 25. It is connected.

  A first power line 31 that is electrically connected to the plus terminal of the high-voltage battery 14 via the first power supply connector 21 is connected to the vehicle controller 1 and is on / off controlled by the vehicle controller 1. It is connected to the vehicle load 25 via a first switch circuit 32 of a first relay. In addition, a second power supply line 33 that is electrically connected to the plus terminal of the high-voltage battery 14 via the second power feeding connector 22 is also connected to the vehicle controller 1 and is turned on / off by the vehicle controller 1. It is connected to the vehicle load 25 via the second switch circuit 34 of the second relay. Further, a third power supply line 35 that is electrically connected to the plus terminal of the high-voltage battery 14 via the third power feeding connector 23 is also connected to the vehicle controller 1 and is turned on / off by the vehicle controller 1. It is connected to the vehicle load 25 via a third switch circuit 36 of a third relay.

  Thereby, the said vehicle controller 1 comprised centering on the microcomputer is comprised so that it may be connected to the high voltage battery 14 with built-in battery packs 11-13 connected to each said electric power feeding connectors 21-23. The remaining capacity of the high voltage batteries 14,... Built in each battery pack 11-13 can be calculated by detecting the output voltage from each battery pack 11-13. Further, the vehicle controller 1 drives the electric vehicle with power from the high-voltage batteries 14 built in the battery packs 11 to 13 by controlling the relays 32, 34, and 36 on and off. Therefore, it is configured to be able to be supplied to the vehicle load 25 that is configured around a traveling motor 41 for the purpose.

  The vehicle controller 1 is connected to, for example, a switch 51 disposed in the vehicle compartment so that an operation of the switch 51 can be detected. In addition, the vehicle controller 1 is provided with a display unit 52 including, for example, a monitor or the like provided in the passenger compartment. A display corresponding to a signal from the vehicle controller 1 is displayed on the passenger who operates the switch 51. It is comprised so that it can do.

  A processing procedure of the vehicle controller 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  The first to third battery packs 11 to 13 are attached to the first to third battery accommodating portions, the high voltage battery 14 of the first battery pack 11 is connected to the first power feeding connector 21, and the second battery pack 12 is connected to the first battery pack 11. The case where the high voltage battery 14 is connected to the second power supply connector 22 and the high voltage battery 14 of the third battery pack 13 is connected to the third power supply connector 23 will be described as an example.

  That is, when the battery switching process is called, the voltage value of the high voltage battery 14 built in the first to third battery packs 11 to 13 connected to the first to third power supply connectors 21 to 23 is changed to the first to third voltages. Acquired via the three power supply lines 31, 33, 35 (S1 to S3), and the acquired voltage value is selected more than a predetermined constant voltage value required at the minimum when driving the traveling motor 41, and this Priorities are determined in order from the sorted batteries having a low voltage value, that is, a battery having a small remaining capacity (S4).

  At this time, although the remaining capacity of the high voltage battery 14 built in the first battery pack 11 is the smallest, the output voltage is less than the predetermined voltage value, and the remaining capacity of the high voltage battery 14 built in the second battery pack 12 is two. When the high voltage battery 14 built in the third battery pack 13 is fully charged, the second battery pack 12 is set to the first rank, and the third battery pack 13 is set to the second rank. No order is set for the first battery pack 11. As a specific method, a first order is assigned to the second power supply connector 22 corresponding to the second battery pack 12 and a second order is assigned to the third power supply connector 23 corresponding to the third battery pack 13.

  Then, the high-voltage battery 14 having a high priority, that is, the second battery pack 12 set to the first order with a small remaining capacity is selected as a travel battery for supplying power to the travel motor 41 during travel (with other routines). When the vehicle is traveling, the second switch circuit 34 of the second relay R2 is turned on in another routine that controls the driving of the traveling motor, and the high voltage of the second battery pack 12 is selected. A system capable of connecting the battery 14 to the traveling motor 41 is prepared (S5).

  At this time, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity of the second battery pack 12 of the first rank set as the traveling battery is equal to or less than a predetermined set value required at the minimum when the traveling motor 41 is driven. (S6) When the value is equal to or less than the set value, it is determined whether there is a usable battery based on the presence or absence of the battery pack in which the order is set (S7).

  In this determination, if there is a usable battery, the battery of the next order, that is, the third battery pack 13 set to the second order is selected as the travel battery (stored in a memory shared with other routines). And the second switch circuit 34 of the second relay R2 is turned off, and at the time of traveling, as shown in FIG. 3, the third relay R3 of the third relay R3 is operated in another routine that controls driving of the traveling motor. The 3 switch circuit 36 is turned on to prepare a system capable of connecting the high voltage battery 14 of the third battery pack 13 to the traveling motor 41 (S8), and the process returns to the step S6.

  If there is no usable battery in step S7, a travel stop request is made by turning on a travel stop lamp provided in the driver's seat (S9), and the process returns to the main routine.

  In this way, the high voltage battery 14 with a small remaining capacity is used preferentially during traveling, and when the remaining capacity falls below the set value, the high voltage battery 14 with the next small remaining capacity is used. be able to.

  Thereby, the high voltage battery 14 can be switched and used without bothering the user, and the travel distance can be extended. At this time, since the remaining capacity of the previously used high voltage battery 14 becomes equal to or lower than the set value, it is switched to the next high voltage battery 14, so the remaining high capacity battery 14 is switched to the next high voltage battery 14. Compared with the case where it ends, while the performance of the high voltage battery 14 of each battery pack 11-13 can fully be utilized, generation | occurrence | production of the memory effect in each high voltage battery 14 can be suppressed.

  By using the high-voltage battery 14 with a small remaining capacity with priority, the use order of the high-voltage batteries 14 can be managed. For this reason, the charging / discharging cycle of the high voltage battery 14 can be made the same number in all the battery packs 11-13, and the state where only some high voltage batteries 14 deteriorate extremely can be avoided. it can.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a traveling regeneration process called from the main routine, and shows a processing procedure of the vehicle controller 1.

  That is, when the travel regeneration process is called, the voltage value of the high voltage battery 14 built in the first to third battery packs 11 to 13 connected to the first to third power supply connectors 21 to 23 is changed to the first to third power sources. The capacity remaining in each of the battery packs 11 to 13 is calculated from the usage time of each of the battery packs 11 to 13 (SB1 to SB3). Whether or not the battery is a regeneratively usable battery to be regeneratively charged by the regenerative current from the traveling motor 41 is selected based on being equal to or less than a predetermined set capacity, and the regeneratively usable battery is selected. Priorities are determined in order from the battery with the smallest remaining capacity (SB4).

  At this time, the remaining capacity of the high voltage battery 14 built in the first battery pack 11 is the smallest, the remaining capacity of the high voltage battery 14 built in the second battery pack 12 is the second smallest, and the high voltage built in the third battery pack 13 is. When the battery 14 is fully charged and its remaining capacity exceeds the set capacity, the first battery pack 11 is set to the first rank, the second battery pack 12 is set to the second rank, No ranking is set for the third battery pack 13. As a specific method, a first order is assigned to the first power supply connector 21 corresponding to the first battery pack 11 and a second order is assigned to the second power supply connector 22 corresponding to the second battery pack 12.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the electric vehicle is decelerating using the state of the accelerator switch or the like (SB5). When not decelerating, the process returns to the main routine, while when decelerating, It is determined whether or not the battery 14 currently used as the battery for traveling is the battery 14 of the battery pack selected as the regeneratively usable battery (SB6). In the case of the battery 14 of the battery pack selected as the regeneratively usable battery, the battery 14 is selected as a target for regenerative charging (selected by storing it in a memory shared with other routines, etc.). Return to the main routine in a state where charging by the regenerative current is allowed. Thus, when the regenerative current is generated, the regenerative current is supplied to the battery 14 that is currently used as the traveling battery, and the battery 14 can be charged.

  On the other hand, when the battery 14 of the battery pack selected as the regenerative usable battery is not, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the high voltage battery 14 currently used as a traveling battery is almost fully charged, If the high voltage battery 14 is charged by supplying a regenerative current from the traveling motor 41, there is a risk of overcharging.

  For this reason, the high-voltage battery 14 selected as the regenerative battery to be charged when the regenerative current is generated, and the high-voltage battery 14 of the first battery pack 11 set to the first priority with a higher priority are selected. The target is selected as a regenerative charge target (selected by storing it in a memory shared with other routines), and the high voltage battery 14 is allowed to be charged by the regenerative current (SB7), and the process returns to the main routine. Thereby, when the regenerative current is generated, the regenerative current is supplied to the high voltage battery 14 of the first battery pack 11 of the first rank set as the charging target battery, and the battery 14 can be charged.

  As described above, since the regenerative batteries are selected based on the remaining capacity of each of the high voltage batteries 14, the high voltage battery 14 that is close to full charge is overcharged even though there is an empty battery. Can be prevented.

  Further, by returning the regenerative current from the traveling motor 41 to the high voltage battery 14 selected as the regenerative battery, the regenerative current is returned to the high voltage battery 14 close to full charge, Charging efficiency due to regenerative current can be increased.

  At this time, the amount of flowing current can be increased as compared with the case where the regenerative current is returned to the high voltage battery 14 that is nearly fully charged. Therefore, the regenerative brake function can be effectively operated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a remaining capacity display process that is periodically called from the main routine and executed. The process procedure of the vehicle controller 1 is shown.

  That is, when the remaining capacity display process is called, it is determined whether or not the switch 51 provided in the passenger compartment is operated (SC1). If the switch 51 is not operated, the process returns to the main routine without doing anything.

  On the other hand, when the switch 51 is operated, the voltage value of the high voltage battery 14 built in the first to third battery packs 11 to 13 connected to the first to third power supply connectors 21 to 23 is set to the first to third power supply lines 31, 31. 33 or 35, or the remaining capacity of each battery pack 11-13 is calculated from the usage time of each battery pack 11-13 (SC1 to SC3). The data is displayed on a monitor that constitutes the display unit 52 using a bar graph type level meter or the like. At this time, each remaining capacity is displayed in correspondence with each accommodating portion provided with each power supply connector 21 to 23, so that it can be specified which battery pack 11 to 13 indicates the remaining capacity.

  Thus, the operator of the switch 51 can specify the battery packs 11 to 13 that are used during traveling and have a reduced remaining capacity. For this reason, when charging the battery outside the vehicle, the battery packs 11 to 13 having a small remaining capacity can be selectively taken out and charged. Therefore, the effect of charging can be enhanced as compared with the case where a battery pack close to full charge is taken out and charged.

It is a block diagram which shows one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the battery switching process of the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the driving | running | working regeneration switching process of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the remaining capacity display process of the embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows a prior art example, (b) is a figure which shows an improvement plan.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle controller 11 1st battery pack 12 2nd battery pack 13 3rd battery pack 14 High voltage battery 41 Motor for driving | running | working 52 Display part

Claims (3)

In a vehicle controller of a vehicle equipped with a plurality of batteries for supplying electric power to a motor for traveling,
A remaining capacity acquisition means for acquiring the remaining capacity of each battery;
Priority order assigning means for assigning priorities in ascending order of remaining capacity;
Traveling battery setting means for setting a battery having a high priority as a traveling battery for supplying electric power during traveling;
Battery switching means for setting a battery of the next rank as the traveling battery when the remaining capacity of the battery set in the traveling battery is predetermined and not more than a set value;
A vehicle controller comprising: Regenerative battery selection means for selecting a battery to be charged by a regenerative current generated by the motor as a regenerative battery based on the remaining capacity of each battery;
Regenerative current switching means for supplying the regenerative current from the motor to the battery selected as the regenerative battery when a battery set as the battery for traveling is not selected as the regenerative battery;
The vehicle controller according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the remaining capacity of each battery based on the remaining capacity of each battery.

Images