CN116803731A

CN116803731A - electric vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN116803731A
Application number: CN202310111432.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 坂本哲尚
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-03-25
Filing date: 2023-02-14
Publication date: 2023-09-26
Also published as: JP2023143333A

Abstract

Provided is an electric vehicle which can start an in-vehicle charger before starting power supply when charging by using a power receiving cable led from the in-vehicle charger on the electric vehicle side. Provided is an electric vehicle 1 provided with an in-vehicle charger 2, and further provided with: the power receiving plug 5 can be connected with a power supply socket 10 arranged on an off-vehicle power supply device 9; a plug holder 8 for removably holding the power receiving plug 5; and a detection circuit 13 for forming a detection output according to whether the power receiving plug 5 is in an inserted state or a disengaged state with respect to the plug holder 8; the vehicle-mounted charger 2 is started by acquiring a disconnection detection output indicating that the power receiving plug 5 is in a disconnected state from the detection circuit 13. When the power receiving plug 5 is pulled out from the plug holder 8, connected to the power supply socket 10 provided to the off-vehicle power supply device 9, a disconnection detection output is formed by the detection circuit 13 and the on-vehicle charger 2 is started by the disconnection detection output. The in-vehicle charger 2 can be started before the power supply device 9 starts supplying power.

Description

Electric vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle.

Background

In order to mitigate adverse effects on the global environment, automobile exhaust gas restriction is advancing further. Electric vehicles have yet to be further popularized, especially from a zero emission point of view. When charging an electric vehicle having an in-vehicle charger, a charging gun of a power receiving cable attached to an off-vehicle power supply device or a charging gun of a power receiving cable provided to an electric vehicle is connected to a connector of a power supply port in the electric vehicle to charge the electric vehicle (for example, refer to patent document 1). An abnormality diagnosis circuit for diagnosing whether or not a circuit related to charging has an abnormality such as a ground fault or a short circuit may be provided in the vehicle-mounted charger. In this case, when the abnormality diagnosis circuit detects an abnormality, an electric shock preventive measure may be taken, or the start of power supply may be stopped, while preventing it.

[ Prior Art literature ]

(patent literature)

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-121463

Disclosure of Invention

[ problem to be solved by the invention ]

As a method for starting the on-vehicle charger and its abnormality diagnosis circuit, the following three methods can be generally considered. That is, a method (first method) of turning on an ignition switch of an electric vehicle in response to turning on; a method (second method) of starting a trigger signal in response to pulse modulation (Pulse Wavelength Modulation, PWM) from an off-vehicle power supply apparatus side; a method of changing a resistance value in response to the charging gun being connected to the connector (third method). However, when a plug of an end portion of a power receiving cable is connected to a power supply socket in an off-vehicle power supply apparatus by using the power receiving cable led out from an on-vehicle charger of an electric vehicle and charged, in the above-described second and third methods, there is no way to start an abnormality diagnosis circuit before starting power supply. This does not meet the purpose of preventing the abnormality diagnosis circuit from being provided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electric vehicle capable of starting an in-vehicle charger before starting power supply and performing abnormality diagnosis at a proper time when charging is performed by using a power receiving cable led from the in-vehicle charger on the electric vehicle side. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for improving the convenience of charging and supplying electricity in a vehicle in which a secondary battery is mounted.

[ means of solving the problems ]

(1) An electric vehicle (for example, an electric vehicle described below) provided with an in-vehicle charger (for example, an in-vehicle charger 2 described below), the electric vehicle comprising: a power receiving plug (for example, a power receiving plug 5 described later) connectable to a power supply socket (for example, a power supply socket 10 described later) provided in an off-vehicle power supply device (for example, a power supply device 9 described later); a plug holder (for example, a plug holder 8 described later) for removably holding the power receiving plug; and a detection circuit (for example, a detection circuit 13 described later) that forms a detection output according to whether the power receiving plug is in an inserted state or a disengaged state with respect to the plug holder; the vehicle-mounted charger is started by acquiring a disconnection detection output indicating that the power receiving plug is in the disconnected state from the detection circuit.

(2) The electric vehicle according to (1), wherein the on-vehicle charger starts abnormality diagnosis when the disengagement detection output is obtained.

(3) The electric vehicle according to (1) or (2), wherein the in-vehicle charger shifts to the sleep mode in which power consumption is less than in the normal operation mode when power supply from the power supply outlet is not started within a predetermined time after the separation detection output is obtained.

(4) The electric vehicle according to any one of (1) to (3), further comprising: a power receiving cable (for example, a power receiving cable 4 described later) having one end provided with the power receiving plug and the other end connected to the vehicle-mounted charger; and a cable container (for example, a cable container 14 described later) for containing the power receiving cable; the plug holder is disposed in the cable container.

(effects of the invention)

In the electric vehicle of (1), when an attempt is made to pull the power receiving plug out of the plug holder and connect with the power supply socket provided on the off-vehicle power supply apparatus, the detection circuit forms a disconnection detection output, and the on-vehicle charger is started by the disconnection detection output. Thus, the in-vehicle charger can be started before the power supply device starts supplying power.

In the electric vehicle according to (2), the on-vehicle charger performs abnormality diagnosis when the deviation detection output is obtained from the detection circuit. Therefore, abnormality diagnosis can be performed at a proper time before the power supply device starts supplying power.

In the electric vehicle of (3), the in-vehicle charger shifts to the sleep mode, which consumes less power than the normal operation mode, when power supply from the power supply outlet is not started within a predetermined time after obtaining the disconnection detection output from the detection circuit. Accordingly, various costs of unnecessary power during standby are suppressed, contributing to energy saving.

The electric vehicle according to (4) includes a cable container that accommodates the power receiving cable and is provided with the plug holder. Therefore, when the power receiving plug is connected to the power supply socket provided on the power supply device outside the vehicle, it is necessary to pull the power receiving plug out of the plug holder and take out the power receiving cable from the cable receiver. When the power receiving cable is taken out, the power receiving plug is automatically pulled out from the plug holder, and thereby the detection circuit forms a disconnection detection output. The on-board charger is activated in response to a disengagement detection output of the detection circuit. Thus, the in-vehicle charger can be started before the power supply device starts supplying power.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electric vehicle of the present embodiment during non-charging.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electric vehicle of fig. 1 during charging.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a cable container provided on the electric vehicle of fig. 1 in a front view.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cable container of fig. 3 taken along line A-A.

Fig. 5 is a B-B sectional view of the cable container of fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric vehicle of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a normal state of a circuit that connects a power receiving cable of the electric vehicle of fig. 1 with a power supply socket.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the circuit of fig. 7 has a ground fault.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the circuit of fig. 7 is shorted.

Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing an abnormality diagnosis operation of the electric vehicle of fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an abnormality diagnosis operation of a conventional electric vehicle.

Detailed Description

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings shown below, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions or corresponding portions. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an electric vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment during non-charging, such as during traveling. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the electric vehicle 1 during charging.

An in-vehicle charger 2, also simply referred to as an On-board charger (OBC), is mounted On the electric vehicle 1 shown in fig. 1. The in-vehicle charger 2 supplies power to a battery pack, not shown, in the electric vehicle 1 to charge the battery. The in-vehicle charger 2 includes an abnormality diagnosis circuit 3. The abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 is an electronic circuit mainly composed of a microprocessor, and diagnoses whether or not the vehicle-mounted charger 2 or the power receiving cable 4 led out from the vehicle-mounted charger 2 has an abnormality such as a ground fault or a short circuit.

The front end of the power receiving cable 4 is provided with a power receiving plug 5. The power receiving plug 5 has a pair of power-on plugs 6 and a ground plug 7. The electric vehicle 1 is provided with a receptacle-type plug holder 8. The plug holder 8 has substantially the same type and size as a power supply socket 10 provided on an off-vehicle power supply device 9 such as a power supply device that supplies a commercial power supply of a house, and is capable of removably holding the power receiving plug 5.

In the power supply socket 10, contacts connected to a circuit (not shown) on the power supply device 9 side are disposed so as to be able to contact the pair of power plug 6 and the one ground plug 7 of the power receiving plug 5. On the other hand, a pair of conductor pieces 11 are arranged inside the plug holder 8. When the power receiving plug 5 is inserted into the plug holder 8, the pair of conductor pieces 11 are arranged at positions that contact both side surfaces of the ground plug 7 and sandwich the ground plug 7. The pair of conductor pieces 11 are connected to a circuit, not shown, of the in-vehicle charger 2 via two leads 12. The circuit, a pair of conductor pieces 11 and two leads 12 constitute a detection circuit 13.

The detection circuit 13 forms a detection output according to whether the power receiving plug 5 is in an inserted state or a disengaged state with respect to the plug holder 8. That is, in a state in which the power receiving plug 5 is inserted into the plug holder 8, the pair of conductor pieces 11 of the plug holder 8 are brought into contact with the ground plug 7 on the power receiving plug 5 side so that the two are in an electrically "off" state, and when the power receiving plug 5 is pulled out from the plug holder 8, the two are in an electrically "on" state. The detection circuit 13 generates a contact signal by such electrical opening and closing, and the contact signal becomes a trigger for activating the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 in the in-vehicle charger 2.

Next, the cable housing portion 14 provided in the electric vehicle 1 will be described with reference to fig. 3, 4, and 5. The cable container 14 is configured such that a winding member 16 for winding the power receiving cable 4 is disposed in the center of a cable housing space surrounded by a housing wall portion 15 and formed with a bottom, so as to be recessed to a proper position of the vehicle body in the electric vehicle 1. An openable and closable cover, not shown, is provided on the opening side of the cable housing section 14. The protruding height of the winding member 16 from the bottom of the cable container 14 is such that it does not interfere with the cover.

A flat plate-shaped collapse prevention member 17 is provided on top of the winding member 16. The plug holder 8 is provided on the housing wall portion 15. The power receiving cable 4 is wound around the winding member 16, and the power receiving plug 5 at the cable end is inserted into the plug holder 8 to restrain the swing of the cable end, thereby suppressing the occurrence of the collapse and abnormal noise of the power receiving cable 4 during the running of the electric vehicle 1.

When the power receiving cable 4 is taken out from the cable container 14, the power receiving plug 5 is automatically pulled out from the plug holder 8. Thus, by taking out the power receiving cable 4 to prepare for an operation of supplying power to the OBC2 with the power supply device 9, the detection circuit 13 obtains a detection output of the contact "on" of the conductor piece 11.

Next, the behavior of the electric vehicle 1 at the external charging timing is described in a manner including association with a user operation with reference to fig. 6. When the user tries to externally charge and pull the power receiving plug 5 out of the plug holder 8 of the electric vehicle 1, the pair of conductor pieces 11 of the detection circuit 13 causes the contacts to transition from the conductive state to the nonconductive state. The conductor piece 11 of the plug holder 8 thereby changes the opening/closing signal of the contact from "closed" to "open", and is transmitted through the lead 12 by the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 of the in-vehicle charger 2. This transfer causes the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 to start as a trigger. Further, even if the ignition key of the electric vehicle 1 is turned off, the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 including the microprocessor maintains a function for receiving a trigger from the outside. After the activation, the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 diagnoses whether or not the in-vehicle charger 2 or the power receiving cable 4 led out from the in-vehicle charger 2 has an abnormality such as a ground fault or a short circuit. The circuit state diagnosed by the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 will be described with reference to fig. 7, 8, and 9.

Fig. 7 shows a state in which the power receiving plug 5 at the front end of the power receiving cable 4 led out from the electric vehicle 1 is inserted into the power supply socket 10, and external charging is normally performed. All parts have no ground fault and no short circuit, and regular electric insulation is maintained. Therefore, the in-vehicle charger 2 functions normally, and appropriately controls the supply current to the image processing unit (Image Processing Unit, IPU), not shown.

Fig. 8 shows a state in which a Ground Fault (GF) has occurred in the N lines on the vehicle-mounted charger 2 and the power receiving cable 4 or the power supply receptacle 10 side. In this state, if a person touches the body of the electric vehicle 1, an electric current may pass through the body between the body and the ground, and there is a possibility of electric shock.

Fig. 9 shows a state in which a Short Circuit (SC) has occurred between the L line and the N line. In this state, excessive current flows to the power receiving cable 4 and the in-vehicle charger 2 through the portion of the short circuit SC, and the power receiving cable 4 and the in-vehicle charger 2 are in an overheated state, and there is a possibility of smoke and fire.

The description returns to fig. 6. If the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 of the in-vehicle charger 2 does not find an abnormality in the diagnosis target portion, a special abnormality alarm or the like is not issued, and the user inserts the power receiving plug 5 into the power supply receptacle 10. During this time, the in-vehicle charger 2 side waits for the power receiving plug 5 to be plugged into the power supply socket 10 to start external charging. After a predetermined time elapses and power supply is started, the charging operation of the in-vehicle charger 2 is started. Further, if power supply is not started even if the predetermined time elapses, the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 automatically shifts to the sleep mode in which power consumption is smaller than in the normal operation mode. Thus, unnecessary power consumption during waiting for the start of charging is suppressed.

However, when the diagnosis target portion finds an abnormality, the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 transmits an abnormality notification instruction to the alarm issuing device. An alarm emitting device includes an alarm emitting body provided in an instrument panel of the electric vehicle 1, a display for displaying an alarm, an alarm display function unit in a portable information terminal for performing communication with the electric vehicle 1 by using internet of things (Internet of Things, ioT) data, and the like. By means of these alarm issuing means, the user is notified of the abnormality as in fig. 8 and 9. The user can appropriately cope with such measures as electric shock, stopping external charging, and the like.

Here, the features of the in-vehicle charger 2 will be described by comparison with the conventional example with reference to fig. 10 and 11. Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing an abnormality diagnosis operation of the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 in the in-vehicle charger 2 of fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an abnormality diagnosis operation of a conventional electric vehicle. In the following description, for convenience of the abnormality diagnosis operation of the conventional electric vehicle in fig. 11, the symbols of the respective portions that substantially correspond to each other in the present embodiment are also used.

When in a state of not being charged, the power receiving plug 5 is inserted into the plug holder 8 of the electric vehicle 1, as in the drawing, the "plug state" is generally labeled as "vehicle connection". When the user wants to externally charge from this state, as in the figure, the "plug state" is marked as "disconnected", and the power receiving plug 5 is pulled out from the plug holder 8 of the electric vehicle 1, the contacts of the conductor piece 11 of the plug holder 8 are turned from "closed" to "open".

The contact of the conductor piece 11 is turned "ON" to be triggered, and the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 of the in-vehicle charger 2 is energized as shown by "ON" in the drawing. Therefore, immediately after the power receiving plug 5 is pulled out, the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 functions to start abnormality diagnosis as indicated by "abnormality detection" in the figure as "execution". In the abnormality diagnosis, it is diagnosed whether there is an abnormality as in fig. 8 and 9.

As a result of performing abnormality diagnosis, if no abnormality is found, an abnormality alarm is not issued to the "alarm issuing device" of fig. 6 as the "abnormality notification" is marked as "non-notification" in the figure. The user who confirms that no abnormality alarm is issued inserts the power receiving plug 5 into the power supply socket 10 in the off-vehicle power supply device 9 as in the figure, with the "plug state" marked as "socket connection". Thereby, as indicated by "cable OBC voltage" as "Vs", the voltage Vs from the power supply outlet 10 in the off-vehicle power supply device 9 is applied to the on-vehicle charger 2.

The user tries to end the external charging and pulls the power receiving plug 5 out of the power supply socket 10 in the power supply device 9 as in the drawing with the "plug state" marked as "disconnected", and ends the supply of electric power to the in-vehicle charger 2 through the power receiving cable 4 as in the drawing with the "cable OBC voltage" marked as "0". Next, as the "plug state" is marked as "vehicle connection" in the figure, when the user inserts the power receiving plug 5 into the plug holder 8 of the electric vehicle 1 as it is, the contacts of the conductor pieces 11 of the plug holder 8 are turned from "on" to "off". As a result, the energization of the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 of the in-vehicle charger 2 is turned OFF as the "OBC state" is marked as "OFF" in the drawing. The electric vehicle 1 is in a state ready for running.

In the above description, it is assumed that when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality diagnostic circuit 3, an abnormality alarm is issued from the "alarm issuing device" of fig. 6 during a two-dot chain line labeled "notification" in the drawing. The user who confirms the abnormality warning can appropriately cope with such as noticing an electric shock, stopping external charging, taking measures, and the like.

As described above, when the user tries to perform external charging, the power receiving plug 5 is inevitably pulled out from the plug holder 8 of the electric vehicle 1, and then the power receiving cable 4 wound in the cable housing 14 is unwound and extended to the power supply receptacle 10 provided on the off-vehicle power supply device 9. Then, the power receiving plug 5 at the front end of the power receiving cable 4 is inserted into the power supply socket 10. The cable container 14 described with reference to fig. 3 to 5 is configured to allow a user to perform such necessary operations.

Accordingly, when the power receiving plug 5 is pulled out from the plug holder 8, the corresponding preparation operation period T1 elapses from the time point when the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 is energized to the time point when the power receiving plug 5 is actually inserted into the power supply socket 10. Therefore, the period T2 from when the abnormality diagnosis is completed and the diagnosis result is obtained to when the off-vehicle power supply device 9 starts supplying power can be sufficiently ensured.

In contrast, in the conventional abnormality diagnosis of the electric vehicle of fig. 11, as the "plug state" is marked as "socket connection" in the figure, the power receiving plug 5 must be inserted into the power supply socket 10 in the off-vehicle power supply device 9, so that the abnormality diagnosis can be started. That is, after the voltage Vs from the power supply outlet 10 in the off-vehicle power supply device 9 is applied to the in-vehicle charger 2 as indicated by "cable OBC voltage" in the figure, a state in which power is supplied to the abnormality diagnosis circuit 3 of the in-vehicle charger 2 as indicated by "ON" in the figure is formed. To this end, the abnormality diagnosis circuit is started up. The abnormality diagnosis circuit is started, and when an abnormality occurs, an abnormality alarm is issued during a two-dot chain line in the figure, in which the "abnormality notification" is marked as "notification", as in the figure, in which the "abnormality detection" is marked as "execution". Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs before the voltage Vs is applied, the abnormality diagnosis circuit is not activated, and thus the abnormality cannot be captured, and the possibility of occurrence of an electric shock or a fire cannot be eliminated.

The electric vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment exhibits the following effects.

(1) An electric vehicle 1 of (1) includes an in-vehicle charger 2, and the electric vehicle 1 includes: the power receiving plug 5 is connectable to a power supply socket 10 provided in an off-vehicle power supply device 9; a plug holder 8 for removably holding the power receiving plug 5; and a detection circuit 13 for forming a detection output according to whether the power receiving plug 5 is in an inserted state or a disengaged state with respect to the plug holder 8; the vehicle-mounted charger 2 is started by acquiring a disconnection detection output indicating that the power receiving plug 5 is in a disconnected state from the detection circuit 13. Therefore, when the power receiving plug 5 is to be pulled out from the plug holder 8 and connected to the power supply socket 10 provided on the off-vehicle power supply device 9, a disconnection detection output is formed by the detection circuit 13, and the on-vehicle charger 2 is started by the disconnection detection output. Therefore, the in-vehicle charger 2 can be started before the power supply device 9 starts supplying power.

In the electric vehicle 1 of (2), when the vehicle-mounted charger 2 obtains the disconnection detection output from the detection circuit 13, abnormality diagnosis is performed. Therefore, abnormality diagnosis can be performed at a proper time before the power supply device 9 starts supplying power.

In the electric vehicle 1 of (3), the in-vehicle charger 2 shifts to the sleep mode, which consumes less power than the normal operation mode, when the power supply from the power supply outlet 10 is not started within a predetermined time after the detachment detection output is obtained from the detection circuit 13. Accordingly, various costs of unnecessary power during standby are suppressed, contributing to energy saving.

The electric vehicle 1 of (4) includes a cable container 14 that accommodates the power receiving cable 4 and that is provided with the plug holder 8. Therefore, in order to connect the power receiving plug 5 with the power supply socket 10 provided on the off-vehicle power supply device 9, it is necessary to pull out the power receiving plug 5 from the plug holder 8 and take out the power receiving cable 4 from the cable housing 14. When the power receiving cable 4 is taken out, the power receiving plug 5 is automatically pulled out from the plug holder 8, whereby a disconnection detection output is formed by the detection circuit 13. The in-vehicle charger 2 is activated in response to the disengagement detection output of the detection circuit 13. Therefore, the in-vehicle charger 2 can be started before the power supply device 9 starts supplying power.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these. The construction of the details may be appropriately changed within the gist of the invention. For example, although the above-described structure in which the in-vehicle charger is started based on the opening/closing signals of the pair of conductors of the plug holder is adopted, the in-vehicle charger may be started by detecting the opening/closing of the cable housing cover with the aid of a contact or a photodetector such as a photo interrupter. In addition, a structure is adopted in which an on/off signal forming "on" is obtained from a pair of conductor pieces when the power receiving plug is pulled out from the plug holder, but conversely, a structure in which an on/off signal forming "off" is obtained in the same case may also be adopted. In the latter configuration, the correspondence relationship between "open/close" in the open/close signal and the activation of the abnormality diagnosis circuit is opposite to that in the former case.

Reference numerals

1. Electric vehicle

2. Vehicle-mounted charger

3. Abnormality diagnosis circuit

4. Power receiving cable

5. Power receiving plug

6. Power-on plug

7. Grounding plug

8. Plug holder

9. Power supply apparatus

10. Power supply socket

11. Conductor sheet

12. Lead wire

13. Detection circuit

14. Cable container

15. Housing wall part

16. Winding part

17. Anti-collapse part

Claims

1. An electric vehicle provided with an in-vehicle charger, the electric vehicle comprising:

the power receiving plug can be connected with a power supply socket arranged on the power supply equipment outside the vehicle;

a plug holder for removably holding the power receiving plug; the method comprises the steps of,

a detection circuit for forming a detection output according to whether the power receiving plug is in an inserted state or a disengaged state with respect to the plug holder;

the vehicle-mounted charger is started by acquiring a disconnection detection output indicating that the power receiving plug is in the disconnected state from the detection circuit.

2. The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein,

the vehicle-mounted charger starts abnormality diagnosis when the disengagement detection output is obtained.

3. The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein,

the vehicle-mounted charger shifts to a sleep mode having less power consumption than the normal operation mode when power supply from the power supply outlet is not started within a predetermined time after the disconnection detection output is obtained.

4. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power receiving cable, one end of which is provided with the power receiving plug and the other end of which is connected with the vehicle-mounted charger; the method comprises the steps of,

a cable container for containing the power receiving cable;

the plug holder is disposed in the cable container.