DE102020112792A1 - Adapter and procedure for an external start or external injection process - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter (230) for an external start and / or external feed process into a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle (120) is described. The adapter (230) comprises coded contacts (231) which are designed, in a one-to-one manner, with correspondingly coded contacts (201) of a complementary adapter (200), a first electrically conductive connection for the external start and / or external feed process to a first line ( 131) of a jump start cable (130), and to form a second electrically conductive connection for the jump start and / or external feed process to a second line (132) of the jump start cable (130). The adapter (230) comprises a first switching element (233) which is designed to decouple the contact (231) for the first connection from the first line (131) in an open state, and the contact (231) in a closed state. to couple for the first connection with the first line (131). The adapter (230) is designed to switch the first switching element (233) into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information relating to a potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132).

Description

The invention relates to an adapter and a method which make it possible to reliably carry out an external start or external feed process for a vehicle.

A vehicle is typically designed to be supplied with electrical energy from an energy source external to the vehicle (e.g. from a donor vehicle) in order to be able to perform a jump start when the vehicle battery is discharged. For this purpose, a jumper cable can be connected to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical system (in particular to the 12 V electrical system or the 48 V electrical system) of the vehicle. The vehicle can have a reverse polarity protection measure in the form of a protective circuit in order to prevent components of the vehicle's low-voltage electrical system from being damaged in the event of incorrect polarity reversal of the jumper cable with the energy source external to the vehicle.

A reverse polarity protection measure in the form of a protective circuit can cause electrical losses and thus reduce the efficiency of the vehicle. Furthermore, a protective circuit requires installation space and causes additional weight and additional costs. Furthermore, protective circuits have additional requirements for hybrid and / or electric vehicles. The provision of a protective circuit for an external start or external feed process is therefore associated with a relatively high level of effort, in particular when taking into account the low probability of an external start or external feed process.

This document deals with the technical task of enabling an efficient and reliable external start or external feed-in process for a vehicle.

The problem is solved by each of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described, inter alia, in the dependent claims. It is pointed out that additional features of a patent claim dependent on an independent patent claim without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim can form a separate invention independent of the combination of all features of the independent patent claim, which can be made the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application or a subsequent application. This applies equally to the technical teachings described in the description, which can form an invention that is independent of the features of the independent patent claims.

According to one aspect, an adapter, in particular a cable adapter, is described for an external start and / or external feed process into a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle. The nominal voltage of the low-voltage electrical system of the recipient vehicle can be 60V or less, in particular 48V or 12V. In particular, the low-voltage on-board network can be a 12V on-board network or a 48V on-board network. As part of the external start and / or external feed process, electrical energy can be transmitted from an energy source external to the vehicle, in particular from a vehicle battery of a donor vehicle, via a jump start cable to the low-voltage electrical system of the recipient vehicle. For example, a starter of the recipient vehicle can be operated with electrical energy from the energy source external to the vehicle.

The adapter has coded contacts (e.g. a plus contact and a minus contact) which are designed in a one-to-one manner with corresponding and / or complementary coded contacts (e.g. a plus contact and a minus contact) of a complementary adapter, in particular a vehicle adapter to form electrically conductive connections. The complementary adapter can be complementary in terms of shape and / or coding, so that the two adapters can be connected to one another (e.g. positively), in particular can be plugged into one another. One adapter can, for example, be designed as a plug and the other adapter can be designed, for example, as a socket.

In particular, a first electrically conductive connection for the external start and / or external feed process to a first line of an external start cable can be formed. Furthermore, a second electrically conductive connection for the external start and / or external feed process to a second line of the external start cable can be formed. The two lines of the jump start cable can be designed to provide the electrical energy for the jump start and / or external feed process from the energy source external to the vehicle.

The first connection and the first line can be provided for a first potential, and the second connection and the second line for a second potential (with correct polarity reversal of the jump start cable or if the jump start cable is correctly connected to the vehicle-external energy source). The first potential can be a plus potential and the second potential can be a minus or ground potential. Alternatively, the first potential can be a minus or ground potential and the second potential can be a plus potential.

The adapter comprises a first switching element (e.g. a semiconductor-based switching element), which is designed to decouple the contact of the adapter for the first connection (for example the plus contact or the minus contact) from the first line in the open state. The first switching element is also set up to couple the contact for the first connection to the first line in the closed state.

Furthermore, the adapter is designed to put the first switching element into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information relating to the potential difference between the first line and the second line. In particular, the first switching element can be placed in the open state or held therein when the voltage information indicates that the polarity of the jump start cable is being reversed at the energy source external to the vehicle. In this way, an efficient and reliable external start or external feed-in process of a vehicle can be made possible. In particular, impairment of the low-voltage electrical system of the recipient vehicle in the event of an external start or external feed process can be avoided in an efficient manner (without installing a protective circuit in the slave vehicle).

A target polarity of the potential difference between the first line and the second line can be provided for the jump-start and / or external feed-in process (with correct polarity of the jump-start cable or when the jump-start cable is correctly connected to the energy source external to the vehicle). The adapter can be designed to put the first switching element into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information with respect to the actual polarity of the potential difference between the first line and the second line.

In particular, the adapter can be designed to put the first switching element in the open state (or to keep it in the open state) when the voltage information indicates that the actual polarity deviates from the target polarity, and / or the first switching element in to put the closed state when the voltage information indicates that the actual polarity corresponds to the target polarity.

By checking the polarity, an external start and / or external feed process with reverse polarity of the external start cable at the energy source external to the vehicle can be avoided in a reliable manner.

A setpoint value (e.g. 12V or 48V) for the potential difference between the first line and the second line can be provided for the external start and / or external feed-in process. The adapter can be designed to put the first switching element into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information in relation to the actual value of the potential difference between the first line and the second line.

In particular, the adapter can be designed to put the first switching element in the open state (or to keep it in the open state) if the voltage information indicates that the actual value deviates from the setpoint value by more than a deviation threshold value (e.g. if the Actual value is 48V on the jumper cable and the setpoint is 12V), and / or to set the first switching element to the closed state if the voltage information indicates that the actual value deviates from the setpoint by less than the deviation threshold value. The deviation threshold can be, for example, 2V or less.

By taking into account the actual value of the potential difference, it can be reliably avoided that a jump start and / or feed process is carried out with a faulty, in particular too high, voltage value on the jump start cable (e.g. because the jump start cable is used for a jump start and / or external feed-in process into the 12 V electrical system of the recipient vehicle is incorrectly coupled to the 48 V electrical system of a donor vehicle).

The adapter can comprise a second (possibly semiconductor-based) switching element which is designed to decouple the contact for the second connection from the second line in an open state and to decouple the contact for the second connection with the second line in a closed state to couple the second line. Both lines of the jumper cable can thus be coupled or decoupled.

The adapter can be designed to put the second switching element into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information relating to the potential difference between the first line and the second line. By providing switching elements for several (in particular for all) lines of the external starter cable, particularly reliable protection of the low-voltage electrical system of the recipient vehicle can be achieved.

The adapter can comprise a (possibly analog) control module, in particular with a voltage comparator, which is set up to connect the first potential on the first line to the second Compare potential on the second line and, depending on the comparison, put the first switching element (and possibly the second switching element) in the open state or in the closed state. Autarkic operation of the adapter can thus be made possible in an efficient manner. The control module can be supplied with electrical energy from the jump-start cable (in particular to put the one or more switching elements into the closed state). For this purpose, the one or more switching elements are preferably designed in such a way that the one or more switching elements are automatically in the open state when the adapter is not energized or is incorrectly energized (eg with the wrong polarity on the lines of the jump starter cable).

The adapter can have a housing in which the coded contacts and the first switching element and optionally the second switching element and optionally the control module are arranged. The adapter can thus be provided in an efficient manner as a cohesive unit (and in particular installed on a jumper cable).

According to a further aspect, a jump-start cable for a jump-start and / or external feed-in process into a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle is described. The jumper cable comprises a first line and a second line (e.g. between 3 meters and 7 meters in length). Furthermore, the jumper cable includes an adapter which is designed as described in this document. The adapter is connected to the first and second lines at one end of the lines. Furthermore, the adapter is designed to be connected in an electrically conductive manner to a complementary adapter of the recipient vehicle.

The jumper cable can furthermore comprise connections, in particular clamps, at one end of the first and second line facing away from the adapter, the connections being designed to be electrically connected to an energy source external to the vehicle, in particular to a vehicle battery of a donor vehicle to be conductively connected.

According to a further aspect, a (road) motor vehicle (in particular a passenger car or a truck or a bus or a motorcycle) with a low-voltage on-board network is described. The vehicle comprises a (complementary) adapter that is designed to be connected to an adapter that is designed as described in this document for an external start and / or external feed process into the low-voltage electrical system of the vehicle. The (complementary) adapter of the vehicle preferably does not have any switching elements, in particular not those described in this document. Furthermore, the (complementary) adapter of the vehicle preferably does not have a control module. In a preferred example, the (complementary) adapter of the vehicle has only the complementary contacts and a complementary shape in order to be connected (positively) to the adapter of the external charging cable.

According to a further aspect, a method for performing an external start and / or external feed process into a low-voltage on-board network of a recipient vehicle via an adapter is described, which is designed as described in this document. The method includes obtaining voltage information related to a potential difference between the first line and the second line (e.g., by means of a comparator). The voltage information can indicate the polarity and / or the value of the potential difference. Furthermore, the method comprises the switching of a switching element of the adapter into the open state or into the closed state, depending on voltage information.

It should be noted that the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other methods, devices and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspects of the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be combined with one another in diverse ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in diverse ways.

• 1a einen beispielhaften Fremdstart- bzw. Fremdeinspeisevorgang;
• 1b ein beispielhaftes Nehmer-Fahrzeug;
• 2a ein beispielhaftes Fremdstartkabel mit einem kodierten Adapter;
• 2b einen beispielhaften Adapter; und
• 3 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines beispielhaften Verfahrens zur Steuerung eines Adapters für einen Fremdstart- bzw. Fremdeinspeisevorgang.

The invention is described in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it

• 1a an exemplary external start or external feed process;
• 1b an exemplary recipient vehicle;
• 2a an exemplary jump start cable with a coded adapter;
• 2 B an exemplary adapter; and
• 3 a flowchart of an exemplary method for controlling an adapter for an external start or external feed process.

As stated at the beginning, the present document is concerned with enabling an external start or external feed process in an efficient and reliable manner. In this context shows 1a an exemplary vehicle 120 that has a vehicle battery 123 which is designed to store electrical energy, for example a starter for starting an internal combustion engine of the vehicle 120 to operate. The vehicle 120 will referred to as the recipient vehicle in this document.

The vehicle battery 123 may be defective or discharged (e.g. due to a relatively long idle time of the vehicle 120 ) so that the starter of the vehicle 120 can no longer be operated. The starter of the vehicle 120 can in such a case be operated with electrical energy from an energy source external to the vehicle as part of an external start or external feed process.

In the in 1a The example shown is for the vehicle battery 113 another vehicle 110 (which is referred to as the donor vehicle in this document) as an energy source external to the vehicle. The donor vehicle 110 can connections 111 , 112 have to which the lines 131 , 132 a jumper cable 130 can be connected. The connections 111 , 112 can have a plus connection 111 and a ground connection 112 (in particular a ground bolt). The connections 111 , 112 can be at a location of the donor vehicle 110 (For example, under the hood) be arranged for a user of the donor vehicle 110 is easily accessible. The connections 111 , 112 can be part of a dedicated jump start interface, or the connections 111 , 112 can directly connect the poles of the vehicle battery 113 correspond.

The recipient vehicle can 120 connections 121 , 122 for the jumper cable 130 , especially a plus connection 121 and a ground connection 122 , exhibit. The connections 121 , 122 can be part of a dedicated jump start interface, or the connections 121 , 122 can directly connect the poles of the vehicle battery 123 correspond. As in 1b shown, the vehicle battery 123 (possibly inaccessible) in the rear of the recipient vehicle 120 be arranged, while a dedicated jump-start interface (possibly easily accessible) at the front of the recipient vehicle 120 can be arranged.

In the case of a jump-start or an external feed-in process, the positive connection 111 of the donor vehicle 110 accidentally to the ground connection 122 of the recipient vehicle 120 is coupled, and / or that the ground connection 112 of the donor vehicle 110 accidentally with the plus terminal 121 of the recipient vehicle 120 is coupled. To damage components of the (low-voltage electrical system of the) recipient vehicle 120 with such a polarity reversal of the jumper cable 130 the recipient vehicle can avoid it 120 have a polarity reversal protection circuit, which, however, has additional installation space, additional costs and additional weight in the recipient vehicle 120 caused.

2a shows an exemplary recipient vehicle 120 with an adapter 200 for a jump start or for an external power supply. The adapter 200 can have electrically conductive contacts 201 for a plus pole and for a ground pole. The jumper cable 230 assigns a corresponding adapter 230 with appropriate contacts 231 on. The contacts 201 , 231 the adapter 200 , 230 are coded in such a way that the adapter 200 , 230 can only be plugged together in a single and / or one-to-one way, so that through the adapter 200 , 230 polarity reversal of the contacts 201 of the vehicle adapter 200 with the contacts 231 of the cable adapter 230 is reliably avoided.

On the encoder side to the encoder vehicle 110 the jumper cable can go there 130 continue to have connections, in particular terminals, which are connected to the connections 111 , 112 of the donor vehicle 110 can be connected. When connecting the terminals of the jump start cable 130 to the connections 111 , 112 of the donor vehicle 110 This can lead to polarity reversal, in particular to incorrect connection of the terminals.

2 B shows an exemplary cable adapter 230 that in a housing 234 the coded contacts 231 having. The contacts 231 are about switching elements 233 with the respective lines 131 , 132 of the jump start cable 130 tied together. A switching element 233 can be opened (ie put in the open state) to the respective contact 231 from the respective line 131 , 132 to be galvanically decoupled. On the other hand, the switching element 233 closed (ie put in the closed state) to the respective contact 231 with the respective line 131 , 132 to couple electrically conductive.

The cable adapter 230 includes a (possibly analog) control module 232 , which is set up, the polarity of the voltage or the potential difference between the two lines 131 , 132 of the jump start cable 130 to investigate. The control module 232 can for this purpose have, for example, a comparator which is designed to apply the electrical potential to the first power 131 (e.g. on the plus line) with the electrical potential on the second line 132 (e.g. on the ground line) to compare. The one or more switching elements 233 can then be automatically opened or closed depending on the polarity of the output signal of the comparator. In particular, the output signal of the comparator can be used directly as a control signal for the one or more switching elements 233 be used.

The one or more switching elements 233 can be designed such that the switching elements 233 in the idle state or in the non-energized State are open. If the polarity is correct (and, if applicable, the correct voltage value), the switching elements 233 then with electrical energy from the lines 131 , 132 of the jump start cable 130 , ie with electrical energy from the vehicle-external energy source 113 , are closed to an energy transfer from the vehicle-external energy source 113 to the recipient vehicle 120 to enable.

It becomes a smart adapter 200 for the external start or external current point of a recipient vehicle 120 described. The adapter 200 can with the low voltage level of the recipient vehicle 120 be coupled. The taker vehicle 120 can be designed in such a way that electrical access to the recipient vehicle 120 exclusively through the adapter 200 is possible. The electrical access can only be made possible if the polarity of the applied voltage and possibly the value of the applied voltage on the adapter 200 are correct. The vehicle battery 123 of the recipient vehicle 120 can be so constructive in the recipient vehicle 120 be installed that the electrical access to the battery terminals of the vehicle battery 123 for a user of the recipient vehicle 120 is reliably prevented.

The adapter 200 , 230 can be designed such that the adapter 200 , 230 if the polarity is incorrect, the circuit to the vehicle-external energy source 113 does not close. The one to the adapter 200 , 230 Applied voltage can possibly also be checked to determine whether or not the voltage value is within a specified value range.

By coding the adapter 200 , 230 on the side of the recipient vehicle 120 polarity reversal can be reliably avoided. Furthermore, the voltage levels (eg 12V or 48V) cannot be mixed up when several low-voltage voltage levels are present. On the other hand, the connections to the vehicle-external energy source 113 be flexibly equipped (e.g. with an adapter mimic or with clamps) in order to allow flexible use of the jumper cable 130 to enable.

3 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method 300 to carry out an external start and / or external feed process in a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle 120 via a (cable) adapter 230 . The adapter 230 can be part of a jumper cable 130 be. The adapter 230 can coded contacts 231 which are formed in a unique manner with correspondingly coded contacts 201 of a complementary (vehicle) adapter 200 (e.g. the one in the recipient vehicle 120 is arranged) to form an electrically conductive connection. In particular, a first electrically conductive connection for the external start and / or external feed process to a first line can be used 131 of the jump start cable 130 are formed. Furthermore, a second electrically conductive connection for the external start and / or external feed process to a second line 132 of the jump start cable 130 are formed.

The adapter 230 can be a first switching element 233 comprises, which is formed, the contact in an open state 231 for the first connection from the first line 131 to decouple, and in a closed state the contact 231 for the first connection with the first line 131 to pair. The switching element 233 can, for example, comprise a semiconductor-based switching element, in particular a transistor.

The procedure 300 includes determining 301 voltage information related to the potential difference between the first line 131 and the second line 132 . The voltage information can be determined, for example, by means of an (analog) comparator.

The method also includes 300 relocating 302 of the first switching element 233 in the open state or in the closed state, depending on voltage information. In particular, the first switching element 233 placed in the open state (or held therein) if the voltage information indicates that the potential difference has the wrong polarity and / or a voltage value that is too high or too low. On the other hand, the first switching element 233 be switched to the closed state if the voltage information indicates that the potential difference has the correct polarity and / or the correct voltage value (e.g. 12V or 48V).

By providing an adapter 230 in a jumper cable 130 and a complementary adapter 200 in a recipient vehicle 120 can rely on the installation of a polarity reversal protection circuit in the recipient vehicle 120 be waived. So the required installation space, the weight and the costs of the recipient vehicle 120 be reduced. The adapter described 230 can be provided for 12V and / or 48V vehicle electrical systems.

The present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are only intended to illustrate the principle of the proposed methods, devices and systems by way of example.

Claims (12)

Adapter (230) for an external start and / or external feed process into a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle (120); whereby - The adapter (230) has coded contacts (231) which are designed in a one-to-one manner with correspondingly coded contacts (201) of a complementary adapter (200) - To form a first electrically conductive connection for the jump start and / or feed process to a first line (131) of a jump start cable (130); and - To form a second electrically conductive connection for the jump start and / or feed process to a second line (132) of the jump start cable (130); - The adapter (230) comprises a first switching element (233) which is designed, - to decouple the contact (231) for the first connection from the first line (131) in an open state; and - to couple the contact (231) for the first connection to the first line (131) in a closed state; and - The adapter (230) is designed to put the first switching element (233) in the open state or in the closed state as a function of voltage information in relation to a potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132). Adapter (230) according to Claim 1 wherein - for the external start and / or external feed process, a target polarity of the potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132) is provided; and - the adapter (230) is designed to switch the first switching element (233) into the open state or into the move closed state; and - the adapter (230) is designed in particular to put the first switching element (233) in the open state or to leave it in the open state if the voltage information indicates that the actual polarity deviates from the target polarity, and / or to put the first switching element (233) in the closed state when the voltage information indicates that the actual polarity corresponds to the desired polarity. Adapter (230) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - A setpoint value of the potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132) is provided for the external start and / or external feed process; and - The adapter (230) is designed to switch the first switching element (233) into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information in relation to an actual value of the potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132) offset; and - The adapter (230) is designed in particular to put the first switching element (233) in the open state or to leave it in the open state if the voltage information indicates that the actual value deviates from the setpoint value by more than one deviation threshold value, and / or to put the first switching element (233) in the closed state if the voltage information indicates that the actual value deviates from the setpoint value by less than the deviation threshold value. Adapter (230) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - The adapter (230) comprises a second switching element (233) which is designed, - to decouple the contact (231) for the second connection from the second line (132) in the open state; and - to couple the contact (231) for the second connection to the second line (132) in the closed state; and - The adapter (230) is designed to switch the second switching element (233) into the open state or into the closed state as a function of voltage information with regard to the potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132). Adapter (230) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter (230) comprises a control module (232), in particular with a voltage comparator, which is set up to have a first potential on the first line (131) with a second potential of the second line (132), and depending on the comparison, to put the first switching element (233) in the open state or in the closed state. Adapter (230) according to one of the claims, wherein the adapter (230) has a housing (234) in which the coded contacts (231) and the first switching element (233) are arranged. Adapter (230) according to one of the claims, wherein - the first connection and the first line (131) are provided for a first potential, and the second connection and the second line (132) are provided for a second potential; and - the first potential is a plus potential and the second potential is a minus or ground potential, or - the first potential is a minus or ground potential and the second potential is a plus potential. The adapter (230) according to any one of claims, wherein - A nominal voltage of the low-voltage electrical system of the recipient vehicle (120) is 60V or less, in particular 48V or 12V; and or - As part of the external start and / or external feed process, electrical energy is transmitted from an energy source (113) external to the vehicle, in particular from a vehicle battery of a donor vehicle (110), to the low-voltage electrical system of the recipient vehicle (120) . External start cable (130) for an external start and / or external feed process into a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle (120); wherein the jumper cable (130) comprises, - a first line (131) and a second line (132); and - An adapter (230) connected to the first and second line (131, 132) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to be connected in an electrically conductive manner to a complementary adapter (200) of the recipient vehicle (120). Jump start cable (130) according to Claim 9 , wherein the jumper cable (130) comprises connections, in particular terminals, at one end of the first and second line (131, 132) facing away from the adapter (230), which are designed with an energy source (113) external to the vehicle, in particular to be connected in an electrically conductive manner to a vehicle battery of a donor vehicle (110). A vehicle (120) comprising - a low-voltage electrical system; and - An adapter (200) which is designed to be connected to an adapter (230) according to one of the preceding claims for an external start and / or external feed process into the low-voltage electrical system of the vehicle (120). Method (300) for carrying out an external start and / or external feed-in process1 into a low-voltage electrical system of a recipient vehicle (120) via an adapter (230); wherein the adapter (230) has coded contacts (231) which are formed in a one-to-one manner with correspondingly coded contacts (201) of a complementary adapter (200) - To form a first electrically conductive connection for the jump start and / or feed process to a first line (131) of a jump start cable (130); and - To form a second electrically conductive connection for the jump start and / or feed process to a second line (132) of the jump start cable (130); wherein the adapter (230) comprises a first switching element (233) which is designed, - to decouple the contact (231) for the first connection from the first line (131) in an open state; and - to couple the contact (231) for the first connection to the first line (131) in a closed state; and wherein the method (300) comprises, - Determination (301) of voltage information in relation to a potential difference between the first line (131) and the second line (132); and - Placing (302) the first switching element (233) in the open state or in the closed state, depending on voltage information.

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