DE102013204633B4 - Mobile body - Google Patents

Abstract

A movable body comprising: a storage tank storing fuel gas, pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure within the storage tank, temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the storage tank, transferring means for transferring a data signal based on the pressure and Temperature is thus detected, to an external fuel gas supply means, a communication electric power supply means that supplies electric power to the transmission means, a lidded box having inside thereof a gas supply port for filling Fuel gas into the storage container protects lid open state detecting means for detecting an opened state of a lid of the lidded box and a controller which activates the transfer means after the lid has been opened and which communicates between the control means and the fuel gas supply means, wherein the control means comprises an activation-determining means for determining whether there is a condition in which activation of the transmission means is not permitted in response to an open condition of the Cover detected, wherein the control means does not activate the transmission means, if the activation determination means has determined that a state in which an activation is not allowed, and the transmission means is activated, if the activation determination means has determined that a condition exists in which activation is allowed.

Description

This application is based on the filed on March 19, 2012 Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-062858 , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and claim their priority.

Background of the invention

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a movable body. More specifically, the present invention relates to a movable body including a device storing a power source such as a storage tank or an electricity storage device, and fuel gas is charged into the storage device from an external supply or electric power is supplied to the electricity storage device ,

State of the art

Fuel cell vehicles drive by supplying air and hydrogen to the fuel cell and driving an electric motor using the electrical energy generated thereby. In recent years, advances have been made in the practical implementation of fuel cell vehicles using such fuel cells as the power source for generating drive power. Although fuel cell vehicles of recent years require hydrogen to generate electric power with fuel cells, vehicles have been widely used to previously store a sufficient amount of hydrogen in a high-pressure tank or a hydrogen tank equipped with a reservoir Alloy and they use the hydrogen inside the tank to drive. In line with this, strong research efforts have also made progress in the technology of filling hydrogen into the tank.

In the fuel filling system of Patent Document 1, for example, when connecting the fuel-filling device of the station to the vehicle and filling fuel gas into the tank of the vehicle, data signals related to the temperature and the pressure of the tank become off-side of the vehicle is transmitted to the side of the station, and the flow rate of fuel gas is adjusted based on the data signals received on the side of the station.

Hereinafter, the filling of fuel gas while performing communication between the side of the vehicle and the side of the station will be referred to as communicative filling.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2010-144771 ,

Overview of the invention

However, in order to achieve a configuration which enables the supply of fuel gas to the station at an appropriate flow rate corresponding to the condition of the tank of the vehicle in a case where such communicative filling is performed, those from the side of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle require Station transmitted data signals high reliability, in which the current state of the tank is accurately reflected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a movable body which can perform communicative filling only in a case where it is possible to appropriately perform the communicative filling.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a movable body (for example, the fuel cell vehicle described later 2 ), which comprises: a storage tank (for example, the high-pressure tank described later 32 ) storing fuel gas, a pressure detecting means (for example, the pressure sensor described later 36 ) for detecting a pressure within the storage container, a temperature detecting means (for example, the temperature sensor described later 37 ) for detecting a temperature from the storage container, a transmission means (for example, the communication system 5 and the communicative-filling ECU 51 and the infrared transmitter 56 etc. thereof, as described below) for transmitting a data signal to an external fuel gas supply device, which is generated based on the pressure and the temperature thus detected, a communication electric power supply device (for example, the battery described later 52 ) supplying electric power to the transfer means, a box provided with a lid (for example, the lidded box described later 21 ) which protects therein a gas supply port (for example, the hydrogen supply port 22 as described later) for filling fuel gas into the storage container, a lid open state detecting means (for example, the lid switch described later 57 ) for detecting an opened state of a lid (for example, the lid described later 23 ) from the lidded box, and a controller (for example, the communicative-fill ECU described later 51 ), which activates the transmission means after the lid has been opened, and which is a communication between the transmission means and the fuel gas Feed device performs. The controller is characterized by comprising an activation determining means (for example, the communicative filling ECU 51 and means related to the execution of S2, S4 and S5 in FIG 2 as described later) to determine whether there is a condition in which activation of the transmission means is not permitted in response to an open condition being detected by the lid. The controller does not activate the transmission means in a case where the activation determination means has determined that there is a state in which activation is not permitted, and activates the transmission means in a case where the activation determination means determines has a state in which activation is allowed.

In the attempt to fill fuel gas from an external fuel gas supply to the storage container of the movable body, when the lid is opened by the user, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the lid open state detecting means detects this, and at This event is determined whether there is a state in which activation of the transmission means to perform a communicative filling is not allowed, and in the case where it is determined that activation of the transmission means is allowed, the communicative filling is started , In this case, in the case where the lid has been opened, it is determined whether there is a state in which activation by the transmitting means is not allowed, in the present invention, it is possible to perform the communicative filling only when the Reliability of a data signal transmitted by the transmission means is reasonably guaranteed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller further comprises flag setting means (for example, the communicative-filling ECU 51 and funds related to the implementation of S10 in 2 and on the procedure of 3 to 5 referenced as described later) to shift an activation prohibition flag (eg, the sensor failure flag, the battery voltage decline flag, and the timeout flag as described later) from OFF to ON, indicating that a State in which activation of the transmission means is not permitted in response to a predetermined prohibition condition being established, and in a case where the activation prohibition flag is ON, the activation determination means determines that a condition is present, in which activation by the transmission means is not permitted, and in a case where the activation prohibition flag is OFF, it is determined that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is allowed.

By indirectly determining whether there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is allowed at any time in a case where the lid is opened based on the state of the flag at that time, without a direct determination as below Using various sensors, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to directly determine the feasibility of activating the transfer means after the lid has been opened.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller further comprises a timer means for measuring a time which has elapsed since the opened state was detected by the lid, and the prohibiting condition comprises in that the time measured by the timer means has exceeded a predetermined time.

In the third aspect of the present invention, in response to the lid being opened, the transfer means is activated and the communicative filling is performed.

Therefore, if it has been forgotten to close the lid after the transfer means has been activated by the user who has opened the lid, the transfer means will remain active while the lid is opened; therefore, it is considered that the remaining amount of the communication electric power supply device will decrease in proportion to the time during which the lid is opened. For this reason, it may happen that the remaining amount of the communication electric power supply means is insufficient during the next filling, and it is possible that a highly reliable data signal can not be transmitted even if the transmission means is activated. In a case that the elapsed time since the lid was opened exceeds a predetermined time, therefore, in the present invention, it is assumed that the lid has been forgotten to be closed, and the activation prohibition flag is turned ON to be a subsequent one Activation of the transmission means to prevent. It is therefore possible to perform the communicative filling only in a case where the reliability of the data signals transmitted from the transmission means is adequately guaranteed. In addition, it is possible to prevent an excessive decrease in the remaining amount of the communication electric power supply means even in a case where fuel gas is filled for a long time by an electrolyzer or the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller further comprises a remaining amount detecting means (for example, the communicative filling ECU 51 and funds related to the implementation of S31 in 4 as described later) to detect a remaining amount of the communication electric power supply means, and that the prohibiting condition includes that the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detecting means has become not more than a predetermined value.

According to the fourth aspect, if the remaining amount of the communication electric power supply device becomes small as described above, a highly reliable data signal may not be transmitted even if the transmission medium is activated. Therefore, in the present invention, the activation prohibition flag is set to ON to prevent a next activation from the transmission means in a case where the remaining amount of the electric power supply means has become no more than a predetermined value, thereby it is possible to perform the communicative stuffing only in a case where the reliability of data signals transmitted by the transmission means is adequately guaranteed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the movable body further comprises lid-closed-state detecting means (for example, the lid switch described later 57 ) to detect a closed state of the lid, and in that the flag setting means shifts the activation prohibition flag from ON to OFF in a case where the lid closed-state detecting means has detected the lid closed state the activation prohibition flag is ON.

In a case where the closed state has been detected by the lid, since the lid has been adequately closed by the user, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that there is no excessive decrease in the residual amount of communication-electric-power Supply means during the next activation of the transmission means, and the activation prohibition flag is turned OFF. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an activation from being excessively obstructed by the transmission means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the movable body is a fuel cell vehicle (for example, the fuel cell vehicle described later 2 ) comprising a fuel cell system (for example, the fuel cell system described later 3 ), which generates electricity using fuel gas within the storage container, and activation request detecting means (for example, the ignition switch described later 39 ) to detect an activation request for the fuel cell system, and that the flag setting means moves the activation prohibition flag to OFF in a case of ON in which the activation request detecting means has detected an activation request for the fuel cell system while the activation prohibiting flag is ON.

When the fuel cell system is activated, according to the sixth aspect, it is possible to supply the thus generated electric power to the communication electric power supply device. Therefore, in the present invention, it is assumed that there is no excessive decrease in the remaining amount of the communication electric power supply means during the next activation of the transmission means in a case where the fuel cell system has been activated, and therefore the activation prohibition flag becomes OFF posed. It is therefore possible to prevent the activation of the transmission means from being excessively obstructed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller further comprises a first failure detecting means (for example, the communicative-filling ECU 51 and funds related to the implementation of S42 in 5 as described later), for detecting a failure of the pressure detecting means, and a second failure detecting means (for example, the communicative-filling ECU 51 and funds related to the execution of S41 in 5 referenced as described later) to detect a failure of the temperature detecting means and that the prohibiting condition includes that at least one of the first failure detecting means and the second failure detecting means has detected a failure.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in a case, it is determined that the reliability of the data signal transmitted from the transmitting means itself is not appropriate, in which a failure of at least one of the pressure detecting means and the temperature detecting means has been detected, and then the activation prohibition flag is turned ON. It is therefore possible to perform communicative filling only in a case where the reliability of the is guaranteed by the transmission means transmitted data signals in an appropriate manner.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an eighth aspect, the present invention provides a movable body including: an electricity storage device that stores electric power, state detecting means for detecting a parameter coincident with a state of Electricity storage device is related, a transmission means for transmitting a data signal to an external electric power supply means, which is generated on the basis of the thus detected parameter, a communication electric power supply means which supplies electric power to the transmission means, a a lidded box protecting therein an electric supply terminal for supplying electric power to the electricity storage device, lid open state detecting means for detecting an opened state of the lid from the lidded box, and a control device, which activates the transmission means after the lid has been opened and which carries out communication between the transmission means and the electric-energy supply means. The controller is characterized by comprising activation determining means for determining whether there is a condition in which activation by the transmitting means is not permitted in response to an opened condition of the lid being detected wherein, in a case where the activation determining means has determined that there is a state in which activation is not permitted, the control means does not activate the transmission means, and in a case where the activation determination means determines has a state in which activation is allowed to activate the transmission means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller further comprises flag setting means for displaying an activation prohibition flag indicating that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is not allowed OFF to ON in response to a predetermined prohibition condition being established, and that the activation determination means determines that there is a condition in which activation of the transmission means is not allowed if the activation prohibition flag is ON, and determines that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is permitted if the activation prohibition flag is OFF.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller further comprises: a timer means for measuring an elapsed time since the lid has been opened, a remaining amount detecting means for a remaining amount to detect the communication electric power supply means, and a lid closed state detecting means to detect a closed state of the lid, and that the prohibiting condition includes that the time measured by the timer means has exceeded a predetermined time and that the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detecting means has not become more than a predetermined value.

It is preferable that the flag setting means shift the activation prohibition flag from ON to OFF in a case where the lid closed state detecting means has detected the lid closed state while the activation prohibiting flag is ON.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the movable body is a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a power generator that generates electricity using driving force generated by the internal combustion engine, and includes activation request detecting means to detect an activation request for the internal combustion engine, and wherein the flag setting means shifts the activation prohibition flag from ON to OFF in a case where the activation request detecting means has detected an activation request for the internal combustion engine while the activation prohibiting flag is ON stands.

The eighth to eleventh aspects of the present invention achieve the same effects as the above first to seventh aspects.

Brief description of the figures

1 FIG. 14 is a view showing the configuration of a hydrogen filling system constituted by a vehicle and a hydrogen gas station according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

2 FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence of an activation / stopping method of a communication system; FIG.

3 FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence for resetting a timeout flag; FIG.

4 FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence of a battery voltage decrease flag updating method; and FIG

5 FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence of a sensor failure flag updating method. FIG.

Detailed description of the invention

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the figures.

1 FIG. 14 is a view showing the configuration of a hydrogen filling system S constructed of a vehicle 2 according to the present embodiment and from a hydrogen gas station 1 , The vehicle 2 is a moving body called a fuel cell vehicle, which is a fuel cell system 3 which generates electricity using hydrogen in a high-pressure tank 32 is stored, and that drives using the electric energy passing through this fuel cell system 3 is produced. The hydrogen gas station 1 is separate from the vehicle 2 established and fills for the ride of the vehicle 2 required hydrogen in the high-pressure tank 32 , The following are the configurations of the hydrogen gas station 1 and the fuel cell vehicle 2 explained.

Configuration of the hydrogen gas station

The hydrogen gas station 1 includes a hydrogen storage tank 11 and a distributor 12 ,

The vehicle 2 to be supplied hydrogen is in the hydrogen storage tank 11 stored at high pressure. The hydrogen in this hydrogen storage tank 11 is obtained by compressing with a compressor hydrogen generated by vaporization of liquid hydrogen, the hydrogen being generated by reforming a raw material by means of a reformer, the hydrogen being generated by using an electrolyzer, or the like.

The distributor 12 reduces the pressure of the hydrogen gas coming from the hydrogen storage tank 11 is supplied when a hydrogen filling nozzle 13 thereof into a hydrogen supply port 22 is introduced to the vehicle 2 is provided, and when setting a preferred flow rate, the hydrogen from the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 from feeds. An infrared communication unit 14 is at this hydrogen filling nozzle 13 intended. By the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 into the hydrogen supply port 22 is introduced, the infrared communication unit 14 capable of transmitting and receiving data signals via infrared waves, with a communication system described later 5 that on the vehicle 2 is provided. When filling hydrogen in the vehicle 2 with the distributor 12 For example, it is possible to selectively perform the two filling processes from a filling process called communicative filling and a filling process called non-communicative filling.

Communicative filling is a filling process that involves hydrogen in the vehicle 2 is filled while communicating between the vehicle 2 and the station 1 is carried out. More precisely, the distributor receives 12 Data signals indicating the current state of the high pressure tank 32 specify from the communication system described later 5 that on the vehicle 2 is provided, by means of the infrared communication unit 14 , detects the current condition of the high-pressure tank 32 from this data signal and fills hydrogen in the high-pressure tank 32 while the filling flow rate is adjusted in accordance with the condition.

Non-communicative filling is a filling process that involves hydrogen in the vehicle 2 is filled without communication between the vehicle 2 and the station 1 perform. More precisely, the distributor fills 12 Hydrogen with a previously established solid fill flow rate into the high-pressure tank 32 , The distributor 12 assumes that the current state of the high-pressure tank 32 during the non-communicative filling is a high temperature; therefore, the filling flow rate is set to a relatively small value. In contrast to communicative filling, in the case of non-communicative filling, the distributor can 12 however, not the current state of the high pressure tank 32 to capture; therefore, even if the temperature within the tank rises during filling, the filling flow rate can not be reduced in response thereto, and the filling continues at a fixed flow rate. For this reason, in non-communicative filling, the temperature within the high-pressure tank can 32 approaching a defined maximum temperature during filling and filling may be discontinued before complete filling is achieved. When set as a condition that the temperature is within the high-pressure tank 32 Therefore, in comparison between the communicative filling and the non-communicative filling, the communicative filling can more adequately control the filling flow rate during filling; Therefore it can reach a complete filling faster.

Configuration of the fuel cell vehicle

The vehicle 2 includes the fuel cell system 3 and the communication system 5 ,

The fuel cell system 3 includes a fuel cell 31 , the high-pressure tank 32 , the hydrogen as a fuel gas to this fuel cell 31 delivers, an air pump 33 , the air as an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell 31 supplies, and an ignition switch 39 , who made an activation request to the fuel cell system 3 detected.

The fuel cell 31 is a stacked structure in which, for example, several tens to several hundreds of cells are arranged in layers. Each cell of this fuel cell is constructed by placing a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) between a pair of separators. The membrane-electrode assembly is formed of the two electrodes of an anode and a cathode and of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between these electrodes. Normally, both electrodes are composed of a catalyst layer which is in contact with the solid polymer electrode membrane and on which an oxidation / reduction reaction occurs, and formed of a gas diffusion layer which is in contact with this catalyst layer ,

The air pump 33 is connected to a cathode channel located on a cathode side of the fuel cell 31 is formed, by means of an air supply line 34 , The high pressure tank 32 is connected to an anode channel located on an anode side of the fuel cell 31 is formed, by means of a hydrogen supply line 35 , If the fuel cell system 3 at the event of actuation of the ignition switch 39 started by the user, is hydrogen from the high-pressure tank 32 to the anode channel of the fuel cell 31 fed, and air from the air pump 33 is supplied to the cathode channel, whereby generation of electric energy is performed. The fuel cell 31 generated electrical energy is supplied to a drive motor, which is not shown, whereby the vehicle 2 moves.

The high pressure tank 32 includes a tank main body 312 which stores compressed hydrogen at high pressure, and a hydrogen supply line 322 , The hydrogen supply line 322 is on one end side with the tank main body 321 connected, and the other end side is with the hydrogen supply port 22 connected inside a lidded box described later 21 is provided. To prevent hydrogen from the side of the tank main body 321 out of the vehicle 2 back out, are check valves 324 and 325 in the hydrogen supply line 322 each near the tank main body 321 and near the hydrogen supply port 22 intended.

In addition, there is a pressure sensor 36 and a temperature sensor 37 at the high pressure tank 32 provided as sensors to detect the condition thereof. The pressure sensor 36 detects the hydrogen pressure in the high-pressure tank 32 within a hydrogen supply line 322 and transmits a detection signal to the communication system 5 which is substantially proportional to the detection value. The temperature sensor 37 detects the hydrogen temperature in the high-pressure tank 32 inside a tank main body 321 and transmits a detection signal to the communication system 5 which is substantially proportional to the detection value.

The lidded box 21 is on one side of the back of the vehicle 2 provided and protects therein the hydrogen supply port 22 , A lid 23 is rotatable on this box provided with the lid 21 intended. At the hydrogen gas station 1 the user opens the lid 23 to the hydrogen supply port 22 expose to the outside, and then leads the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 from the distributor 12 into the hydrogen supply port 22 to fill in hydrogen.

The communication system 5 includes a communicative-fill ECU 51 , a battery 52 , an infrared transmitter 56 , a lid switch 57 and a voltage sensor 58 , and a sensor failure warning light 59 ,

The battery 52 is used as the electrical energy supply source for electrical equipment comprising the communication system 5 for example, mainly the communicative-filling ECU 51 , the infrared transmitter 56 and the lid switch 57 ; however, it becomes additional to the communication system 5 also as an electrical energy supply source for auxiliary equipment of the vehicle 2 used, which are not illustrated. This battery 52 is configured to be charged by the electrical energy passing through the fuel cell 31 is produced. The voltage sensor 58 detects the voltage of the battery 52 and sends a detection signal to the communicative-filling ECU 51 , which is substantially proportional to a detection value.

The lid switch 57 is on the box with a lid 21 , provided and detects the open / closed state of the lid 23 , In a state in which the lid 23 is closed and the hydrogen supply connection 22 within the with the lid provided box 21 protected, the lid switch sends 24 a closed signal indicating this to the communicative-filling ECU, 51 , and in a case where the lid 23 is open and the hydrogen supply connection 22 is exposed to the outside, it sends an open signal indicating this to the communicative-fill ECU 51 , It should be noted that one of the closed signal and open signal may be set as a non-signal.

A sensor failure warning light 59 is on the dashboard of the vehicle 2 as a display device for displaying the state of the pressure sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37 intended. The sensor failure warning light 59 lit in response to the fact that during activation of the communication system 5 it was determined that one of the sensors 36 and 37 failed in the in 2 shown, later described method. A user can recognize that one of the sensors 36 and 37 fails, and that there is a condition in which activation of the communication system 5 can not be allowed due to this failure.

The infrared transmitter 56 is configured by an infrared LED 54 and a driver 55 from that. The driver 55 turns on the infrared LED 54 based on one of the communicative-filling ECUs 51 transmitted data signal on and off.

The communicative-filling ECU 51 is a controller that controls various devices controlling the communication system 5 to perform the communicative stuffing, and is configured to include a CPU, ROM, RAM, and electronic circuits as well as various interfaces. The detection signals from the various sensors of the communication system 5 and the fuel cell system 3 like the lid switch 57 , the voltage sensor 58 , the pressure sensor 36 , the temperature sensor 37 and the ignition switch 39 , Become the communicative-filling ECU 51 entered.

As the communicative-filling ECU 51 Information about the side of the station 1 sends, referring to the current state of the high-pressure tank 32 While performing the communicative filling, it generates a data signal based on the pressure and temperature supplied by the pressure sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37 are detected, and send this data signal to the driver 55 , The driver 55 sends a data signal to the infrared communication unit 14 on the side of the station 1 by causing the infrared LED 54 is turned on and off in response.

The communication system configured in the above manner 5 becomes at the event of opening / closing of the lid 23 activated / stopped by the user. Hereinafter, the activation sequence and the stop sequence of the communication system 5 explained.

Activation of the communication system

If the lid 23 opened by the user, the lid switch detects 57 this and sends an open signal, indicating that the lid 23 was opened to the communicative-filling ECU 51 that is in a dormant state. In response, the communicative-filling ECU determines 51 whether the activation prohibition flag (timeout flag, battery voltage decrease flag, sensor failure flag) is OFF, as described later in detail with reference to FIG 2 explained sequence, returns only from the idle state, if the activation prohibition flag is OFF, and starts the supply of electrical energy from the battery 52 to the infrared transmitter 56 ,

The following occurs. State in which the transmission of data signals from the communication system 5 possible, with the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 on the side of the station 1 into the hydrogen supply port 22 is introduced, and in response to the filling of hydrogen and that a state has occurred in which a communication between the vehicle 2 the station 1 is possible, the communicative filling starts.

Stop the communication system

When the communicative filling ends appropriately, the hydrogen filling nozzle becomes 13 removed by the user from the hydrogen supply port, and then the lid 23 closed. If the lid 23 is closed, detects the lid switch 57 this and sends a closed signal, indicating that the lid 23 was closed to the communicative-filling ECU 51 , In response, the communicative-filling ECU stops 51 the supply of electrical energy to the infrared transmitter 56 and enters hibernation.

The following is with reference to 2 to 5 a specific sequence of activation and stop of the communication system with reference to flow charts explained.

2 FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the sequence from activation to stop of the communication system 5 shows. This communication system activation / stop processing is in the communicative-filling ECU is performed when it is in a resting state and the ignition switch is turned OFF.

In S1, it is determined whether the lid has been opened (whether a lid-open condition has been detected by the lid sensor), and only if the lid has been opened, the process proceeds to the next step, S2.

In S2, it is determined whether the sensor failure flag is OFF. The sensor failure flag is a flag indicating that there is a state in which at least one of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor has failed, and will be in accordance with the later described in 5 updated sequence. If the result in S2 is NO, that is, in a case where one of the temperature sensor or the pressure sensor fails, the process proceeds to S3, and after the warning lamp indicates that a sensor is failing and a condition exists which is not allowed to activate the communication system due to the failure of a sensor, this method is terminated without activating the communication system. If the result in S2 is YES, the process proceeds to S4.

In S4, it is determined whether the battery voltage drop flag is OFF. The battery voltage drop flag is a flag indicating a state in which the remaining amount of the aforementioned battery is small, and is set in FIG 4 updated sequence shown. If the result in S4 is YES, the process proceeds to S5.

In S5, it is determined whether the timeout flag is OFF. The time-out flag is a flag indicating that the communication system was forcibly stopped due to being forgotten by the communication system to close the lid during a previous activation, and according to S10 and later described in US Pat 3 updated sequence shown.

In the case where the result in S5 is YES, the process proceeds to the next step, S6, to activate the communication system. In other words, if the results in the above S2, S4, and S5 are all YES, that is, the procedure advances only to the next step S6 to activate the communication system. H. only in a case where the sensor failure flag, the battery voltage drop flag and the timeout flag are all OFF. In a case where any one of the aforementioned flags is turned ON, the system is not activated. In other words, these three flags each act as activation prohibition flags indicating that there is a condition in which activation of the communication system is not allowed.

In a case where the sensor failure flag is ON, that is, in a case where one of the pressure sensor or the temperature sensor fails, the activation of the communication system is prohibited because it may not be possible to transmit reliable data signals. even if the communication system is activated.

In a case where the battery voltage decline flag is ON, that is, in a case where the remaining amount of the battery is small, the activation of the communication system is prohibited because electric power is not stably connected with the communicative system. Fill ECU and the infrared transmitter can be delivered, and it may not be possible to transmit reliable data signals.

In a case where the time-out flag is ON, that is, in a case where it was forgotten to close the lid in a previous activation of the communication system, the remaining amount of the battery decreases due to the communication system having a has been left activated for a long period of time, and therefore activation of the communication system is prohibited because electrical energy can not be stably supplied to the communicative-filling ECU and the infrared transmitter, and it may not be possible to transmit reliable data signals.

In S6, the communication system is activated, and the process proceeds to S7, more specifically, the communicative-filling ECU returns from the sleep state, and electric power is supplied from the battery to the infrared transmitter to establish a state in which Infrared communication with the side of the station is possible.

From then on, the communicative filling starts. It should be noted that the whole process in the above S1 to S5 is performed by the communicative-filling ECU that is in the idle state.

In S7, it is determined whether a predetermined communication end time has elapsed since it was detected that the lid was opened in the above S1. in the case where this result in 7 is NO, the process proceeds to S8 and it is determined whether the lid has been closed. in the case that the result in S8 is YES, it is determined that the communicative filling has been appropriately finished and the lid has been closed by the user, the procedure goes go to S9 and the communication system will be stopped. In other words, the supply of electric power from the battery to the transmitter driver is stopped, and the communicative-filling ECU is established at rest.

On the other hand, in the case where the result in S8 is NO, the process proceeds to S7 again, and it is determined whether the communication end time has elapsed. in the case where this result in S7 is YES, it is determined that the user has forgotten to close the lid and after the time-out flag has been changed from OFF to ON to provide protection against a dead battery (S10), the communication system is stopped (S9). In this case, once the timeout flag has been turned ON once, this timeout flag will remain ON unless otherwise stated in the later 3 sequence is set to OFF again.

3 FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the sequence in which the time-out flag is turned OFF again, executed in the communicative-filling ECU which has entered the sleep state after the time-out flag has been turned ON, and the communication system in S10 in the above 2 was stopped.

In S21, it is determined whether the lid has been closed. In the case that this result in S21 is YES, the possibility of an empty battery is low because the lid has been appropriately closed by the user, it is determined that there is little need to prohibit activation of the communication system thereafter Timeout flag is set to OFF again (S22) and this process is terminated.

In the case that the result in S21 is NO, the process proceeds to S23, and it is determined whether the ignition switch has been turned ON. In the case that the result in S23 is YES, the possibility of an empty battery is small since a state has occurred in which the battery can be charged to the vehicle by the generation of electric power that starts in the fuel cell determines that there is little need to prevent activation of the communication system thereafter, the time-out flag is turned OFF again (S22), and this process is terminated. It should be noted that in a case that this reset procedure for the timeout flag in 3 is performed, it is assumed that there is a case of a user who leaves the hydrogen filling nozzle connected to the hydrogen supply port. Therefore, in this case, in response to the ignition switch being turned ON, generation of electric power by the fuel cell is allowed, but driving of the vehicle is prohibited because the vehicle is prevented from starting movement while the hydrogen Filling nozzle is connected.

In the case that the result in S23 is NO, the process proceeds again to S21, and it is determined whether the lid has been closed.

4 FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence in which the battery voltage drop flag is updated from OFF to ON. FIG. The update procedure for this battery voltage drop flag is performed in the communicative-fill ECU after the ignition switch is turned OFF.

In S31, the remaining amount of the battery (SOC) is calculated based on the output from the battery voltage sensor, and it is determined whether this battery remaining amount is smaller than a predetermined value. In the case where the result in S31 is YES, it is determined that the possibility of an empty battery is high, the battery voltage decrease flag is changed from OFF to ON (S32) to prohibit subsequent activation of the communication system, and this process is ended.

It is noted that the battery voltage drop flag is returned to OFF in response to the ignition switch being subsequently turned ON after being turned ON in S32. As mentioned above, this is because, when the ignition switch is turned ON, and the generation of electric power by the fuel cell becomes possible, since a state occurs in which the battery can be charged, the possibility of an empty battery is low, and it is considered that there is little need to prohibit activation of the communication system thereafter.

It should be noted that in calculating the remaining amount of the battery based on the output value of the battery voltage sensor in the above S31, the possibility of an empty battery is determined by comparing it with a predetermined value. However, it is not limited to that. In other words, since the voltage of the battery gradually drops along with an electric discharge, the possibility of an empty battery can be determined by comparing the detection value of the voltage sensor with a predetermined value.

5 FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the sequence in which the sensor failure flag is updated from OFF to ON. FIG. This sensor failure flag update processing is performed by the communicative-fill ECU. while the ignition switch is ON and while hydrogen is being filled (during activation of the communication system, refer to S6 to S9 in FIG 2 ).

In S41, it is determined whether the temperature sensor has failed, and in S42, it is determined whether the pressure sensor has failed. Here, in determining a failure of the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor, a previously known method is used. More specifically, for example, in a case where both the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are previously provided and there is a large difference in the detection value of each, it may be determined that one has failed. In addition, in a case where a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor having a built-in automatic diagnosis function are used, a failure can be determined using this function.

In the case where one of the results in S41 and S42 is YES, that is, in the case where a failure of at least one of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor has been detected, the process proceeds to S43, which becomes the sensor failure flag from OFF to ON to prevent activation of the communication system thereafter, and this process is terminated.

It should be noted that this sensor failure flag is reset to OFF again, similar to the aforementioned battery voltage drop flag after being turned ON in S43 in response to the ignition switch being subsequently turned ON. This is to prevent the determination of a failure of the sensor from stopping to stay active, regardless of whether the sensor does not fail, since there may be a case in which a failure of the sensor is resolved by repair or the like while the ignition switch is OFF

• (1) Indem bestimmt wird, ob ein Zustand vorliegt, in welchem eine Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 nicht erlaubt ist, in dem Fall, in dem der Deckel 23 geöffnet wurde, ist es bei dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel möglich, das kommunikative Füllen nur in einem Fall durchzuführen, in dem die Zuverlässigkeit von einem Datensignal in adäquater Weise garantiert ist, das von dem Infrarot-Transmitter oder dem Übertragungsmittel übertragen wird.
• (2) Indem indirekt bestimmt wird, ob ein Zustand vorliegt, in welchem eine Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 erlaubt wird, zu jeder Zeit, in einem Fall, in dem der Deckel 23 geöffnet wurde, auf Grundlage von dem Zustand des Aktivierungsverbot-Flags zu dieser Zeit, ohne eine direkte Bestimmung unter Verwendung verschiedener Sensoren durchzuführen, ist es bei dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel möglich, die Machbarkeit einer Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 sofort zu bestimmen, nachdem der Deckel 23 geöffnet wurde.
• (3) In einem Fall, in dem die verstrichene Zeit, seitdem der Deckel 23 geöffnet wurde, eine vorbestimmte Zeit überschreitet, wird bei dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel angenommen, dass vergessen wurde, den Deckel 23 zu schließen, und das Timeout-Flag wird auf EIN gesetzt, um eine nachfolgende Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 zu verhindern. Es ist daher möglich, das kommunikative Füllen nur in einem Fall durchzuführen, in dem die Zuverlässigkeit der Datensignale, die von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 übertragen werden, in angemessener Weise garantiert ist. Zusätzlich ist es möglich, ein übermäßiges Abnehmen in dem Restbetrag der Kommunikation-elektrische-Energie-Zufuhreinrichtung auch in einem Fall zu verhindern, in dem Brenngas über eine längere Zeit von einer Elektrolysevorrichtung oder dergleichen gefüllt wird.
• (4) In dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel wird das Batteriespannung-Rückgang-Flag auf EIN gestellt, um eine nächste Aktivierung des Kommunikationssystems 5 zu verhindern, falls der Restbetrag der Batterie 52 nicht mehr als ein vorbestimmter Wert geworden ist. Es ist dadurch möglich, das kommunikative Füllen nur in einem Fall durchzuführen, in welchem die Zuverlässigkeit von Datensignalen in angemessener Weise garantiert ist, die von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 übertragen werden.
• (5) Da in einem Fall, in dem der geschlossene Zustand des Deckels 23 erfasst wird, der Deckel in geeigneter Weise durch den Benutzer geschlossen wurde, wird bei dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel angenommen, dass kein übermäßiger Rückgang in dem Restbetrag der Batterie 52 während der nächsten Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 auftritt, und das Timeout-Flag wird auf AUS gesetzt. Es ist dadurch möglich, zu vermeiden, dass eine Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 in übermäßiger Weise behindert wird.
• (6) Bei dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel wird angenommen, dass kein übermäßiger Rückgang in dem Restbetrag der Batterie 52 während der nächsten Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 auftritt, falls das Brennstoffzellensystem 3 aktiviert wurde, und daher werden das Timeout-Flag und das Batteriespannung-Rückgang-Flag auf AUS gesetzt. Es ist daher möglich, zu vermeiden, dass die Aktivierung von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 in übermäßiger Weise behindert wird.
• (7) In einem Fall, in dem ein Versagen von wenigstens einem unter dem Drucksensor 36 und dem Temperatursensor 37 erfasst wurde, wird gemäß dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel bestimmt, dass die Zuverlässigkeit von dem Datensignal selbst, das von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 übertragen wurde, nicht angemessen ist, und dann wird das Sensorversagen-Flag auf EIN gesetzt. Es ist dadurch möglich, das kommunikative Füllen nur in einem Fall durchzuführen, in dem die Zuverlässigkeit der Datensignale, die von dem Kommunikationssystem 5 übertragen werden, in angemessener Weise garantiert ist.

According to the fuel cell vehicle 2 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained:

• (1) By determining whether there is a state in which activation of the communication system 5 is not allowed, in the case where the lid 23 has been opened, it is possible in the present embodiment to perform the communicative filling only in a case where the reliability is adequately guaranteed by a data signal transmitted from the infrared transmitter or the transmitting means.
• (2) By indirectly determining whether there is a condition in which activation of the communication system 5 is allowed, at any time, in a case where the lid 23 On the basis of the state of the prohibition flag at this time, without making a direct determination using various sensors, it is possible in the present embodiment, the feasibility of activation of the communication system 5 to be determined immediately after the lid 23 was opened.
• (3) In a case where the elapsed time since the lid 23 is opened, exceeds a predetermined time, it is assumed in the present embodiment that was forgotten, the lid 23 to close, and the timeout flag is set to ON for subsequent activation of the communication system 5 to prevent. It is therefore possible to perform the communicative filling only in a case where the reliability of the data signals provided by the communication system 5 is adequately guaranteed. In addition, it is possible to prevent an excessive decrease in the remaining amount of the communication electric power supply device even in a case where fuel gas is filled for a long time by an electrolyzer or the like.
• (4) In the present embodiment, the battery voltage decline flag is turned ON to be a next activation of the communication system 5 to prevent if the balance of the battery 52 has not become more than a predetermined value. It is thereby possible to perform the communicative filling only in a case where the reliability of data signals adequately guaranteed by the communication system is adequately guaranteed 5 be transmitted.
• (5) Since in a case where the closed state of the lid 23 is detected, the lid has been suitably closed by the user, it is assumed in the present embodiment that no excessive decline in the balance of the battery 52 during the next activation of the communication system 5 occurs and the timeout flag is set to OFF. It is thereby possible to avoid activation of the communication system 5 is obstructed in an excessive way.
• (6) In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there is no excessive decrease in the remaining amount of the battery 52 during the next activation of the communication system 5 occurs if the fuel cell system 3 has been activated, and therefore the timeout flag and the battery voltage drop flag are set to OFF. It is therefore possible to avoid the activation of the communication system 5 is obstructed in an excessive way.
• (7) In a case where failure of at least one under the pressure sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37 has been detected, according to the present embodiment, it is determined that the reliability of the data signal itself, that of the communication system 5 is not appropriate, and then the sensor failure flag is turned ON. It is thereby possible to perform the communicative filling only in a case where the reliability of the data signals provided by the communication system 5 is adequately guaranteed.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been explained above, the present invention is not limited thereto.

In the above embodiment, the user becomes in a case where the sensor failure flag during activation of the communication system 5 is ON, notifies that there is a condition in which the sensor 36 or 37 has failed, and that there is a condition in which activation of the communication system 5 due to the failure of the sensor 36 or 37 is not permitted by a warning light provided on the dashboard lit; however, the notification means are not limited to this, and notification may be made by, for example, causing lights from the vehicle to flash.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example in which the storage tank storing fuel gas is a high-pressure tank has been explained; however, it is not limited thereto, and a hydrogen tank equipped with a storage alloy may be the storage container.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example of a fuel cell vehicle with hydrogen as the fuel gas has been explained; however, it is not limited thereto, and may be applied to a natural gas vehicle in which natural gas is established as the fuel gas.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example in which a fuel cell vehicle is established as the movable body has been explained; however, it is not limited thereto and can be applied to moving bodies such as motorcycles, ships, spacecraft, and robots.

In addition, the present invention is applicable as long as there is a movable body equipped with configurations corresponding to the lidded box 21 to which in the fuel cell vehicle 2 of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the hydrogen supply port 22 Protected within it.

For example, an electric vehicle includes an electricity storage device that stores electric power, a state detection means (for example, the voltage sensor, current sensor, temperature sensor, etc., from the electricity storage device) for detecting a parameter related to the state of electricity Storage means (for example, the remaining amount from the electricity storage means), transfer means for transferring a data signal generated on the basis of the thus detected parameter to an external electric power supply means (for example, charging accessories for the electricity storage means ), a lidded box which protects therein an electric supply terminal to supply electric power to the electricity storage device, and a lid switch which detects the opened state of the lid of the lidded box. This electric vehicle is equivalent to the fuel cell vehicle 2 of the aforementioned embodiment, the electricity storage device is the high-pressure tank 32 , the state detecting means corresponds to the pressure sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37 , the electric power supply means corresponds to the hydrogen gas station 1 and the electric supply terminal corresponds to the hydrogen supply terminal 22 ,

Furthermore, the whole process, which focuses on the activation / the stop of the communication system 5 in the 2 to 5 shown fuel cell vehicle 2 in the above-mentioned electric vehicle are replaced by the remaining hydrogen amount within the high-pressure tank 32 in the fuel cell vehicle 2 of the aforementioned embodiment, is replaced by the residual electric power of the electricity storage device.

There is provided a fuel cell vehicle that can perform communicative filling only in a case where it is possible to appropriately perform the communicative filling. The vehicle includes: a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor, a communication system that transmits data signals generated based on the outputs of those sensors, a battery, a lidded box that protects a hydrogen supply port, a lid switch, and a communicative switch; Fill ECU which activates the communication system after the lid has been opened. The ECU determines whether there is a state in which activation of the system is not allowed based on the state of an activation prohibition flag in response to an open state being detected by the lid. The ECU does not activate the system if the flag is ON and activates the system if the flag is OFF.

Claims (11)

A moving body, comprising: a storage tank storing fuel gas, a pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure within the storage container, a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the storage container, transmission means for transmitting a data signal, which is generated based on the pressure and the temperature thus detected, to an external fuel gas supply means; a communication electric power supply device that supplies electric power to the transmission medium, a lidded box which internally protects a gas supply port for filling fuel gas into the storage container; a lid open state detecting means for detecting an opened state of a lid of the lidded box and a controller which activates the transfer means after the lid has been opened and which performs communication between the transfer means and the fuel gas supply means, wherein the control means comprises activation determining means for determining whether there is a condition in which activation by the transfer means is not permitted in response to an opened condition of the cover being detected, the control unit The control means does not activate the transmission means if the activation determination means has determined that there is a state in which activation is not permitted, and activates the transmission means if the activation determination means has determined that there is a state in which activation is allowed is. The movable body according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises flag setting means for setting an activation prohibition flag from OFF to ON indicating that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is not allowed in response. that a predetermined prohibition condition has been established, and wherein the activation determination means determines that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is not allowed if the activation prohibition flag is ON, and determines that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is allowed if the activation prohibition flag is OFF. The movable body according to claim 2, wherein the controller further comprises a timer means for measuring a time which has elapsed since the opened state of the lid was detected, and wherein the prohibition condition includes that the timer selected by the timer Mean measured time has exceeded a predetermined time. The movable body according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the controller further comprises a remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the communication electric power supply means, and wherein the prohibiting condition includes that detected by the remaining amount detecting means Remaining amount has become no more than a predetermined value. The movable body according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising lid closed state detecting means for detecting a closed state of the lid, the flag adjusting means shifting the activating prohibition flag from ON to OFF if the lid is closed. Condition detecting means has detected that the closed state of the lid is present while the activation prohibition flag is ON. The movable body according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the movable body is a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell system that generates electricity using fuel gas within the storage container, and comprises activation request detecting means for detecting an activation request for the fuel cell system, and wherein the flag setting means moves the activation prohibition flag from ON to OFF if the activation request detecting means has detected an activation request for the fuel cell system while the activation prohibiting flag is ON. The movable body according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the controller further comprises first failure detecting means for detecting failure of the pressure detecting means, and second failure detecting means for detecting failure of the temperature detecting means and the prohibition condition includes that at least one of the first failures Detection means and the second failure detection means has detected a failure. A moving body, comprising: an electricity storage device that stores electrical energy, state detecting means for detecting a parameter related to a state of the electricity storage device, transmission means for transmitting a data signal, which is generated on the basis of the thus detected parameter, to an external electric power supply means, a communication electric power supply device that supplies electric power to the transmission medium, a lidded box protecting inside thereof an electric supply terminal for supplying electric power to the electricity storage device, a lid open state detecting means for detecting an opened state of a lid of the lidded box, and a controller which activates the transfer means after the lid has been opened and which performs communication between the transfer means and the electric power supply means, wherein the control means comprises activation determining means for determining whether there is a condition in which activation by the transfer means is not permitted in response to an opened condition of the cover being detected, the control unit The control means does not activate the transmission means if the activation determination means has determined that there is a state in which activation is not permitted, and activates the transmission means if the activation determination means has determined that there is a state in which activation is allowed is. The movable body according to claim 8, wherein the controller further comprises flag setting means for displaying an activation prohibition flag indicating that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is not permitted, in response thereto from OFF to ON. to adjust that a predetermined prohibition condition has been established, and wherein the activation determination means determines that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is not allowed if the activation prohibition flag is ON, and determines that there is a state in which activation of the transmission means is allowed, if the activation prohibition flag is OFF. The movable body according to claim 9, wherein the controller further comprises: a timer means for measuring a time which has elapsed since the opened state was detected by the lid, a remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of Communication electric power supply means and lid closed state detecting means for detecting a closed state of the lid; wherein the prohibiting condition includes that the time measured by the timer means has exceeded a predetermined time, and that the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detecting means has not become more than a predetermined value, and wherein the flag setting means moves the activation prohibition flag from ON to OFF if the lid closed state detecting means has detected the closed state from the lid while the activation prohibiting flag is ON. The movable body according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the movable body is a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, a power generator that generates electricity using driving force generated by the internal combustion engine, and activation request detecting means Detecting activation request for the internal combustion engine, and wherein the flag setting means moves the activation prohibition flag from ON to OFF if the activation request detecting means has detected an activation request for the internal combustion engine while the activation prohibiting flag is ON.

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