DE102022129682A1 - Cable fitting and method for electrically charging a consumer at a charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

Cable set with at least one pilot conductor PP and one protective conductor PE. The pilot conductor PP is formed with the protective conductor PE to determine the maximum possible charging current. Furthermore, two connecting elements are provided which are designed to establish an electrically conductive connection between a circuit of a charging device and a circuit of a consumer by means of the cable set. At least one communication receiver is now integrated in the cable set, which can communicate electrically via the pilot conductor PP.

Description

The present invention relates to a cable fitting and a method for electrically charging a consumer at a charging device by means of a corresponding cable fitting.

Such cable fittings are required as an electrical connection between a charging device and a consumer. The electrical consumer has a storage device for electrical energy, which can be charged with electrical energy. An example of this could be an electric vehicle as a consumer and a charging station as a charging device. The vehicle has at least one battery for storing electrical energy, which can be supplied with electrical energy via the charging device.

A cable set is required to connect the charging device to the consumer. This is placed between the consumer and the charging device and thus connects the charging device to the consumer. The cable set is detachably attached to the consumer and the charging device.

Such a cable set not only contains cables for transmitting electrical energy from the charging device to the consumer, but also additional signal lines are provided by means of which status signals and/or communications in uni- and/or bidirectional direction between the consumer and the charging device are enabled.

Known for this purpose are cable sets with connectors according to EN 61851-1 or. EN 62196 Two pilot conductors are provided as signal lines as well as a protective conductor, which are designated CP (control pilot), PP (proximity pilot) and PE (protective earth).

For example, the EN 10 2017 125 108 A1 A cable set with charging plugs is known which has the aforementioned cable structure. Communication between the consumer and the charging device is achieved via the CP pilot line. The PP pilot line is used to limit the charging current.

According to the known state of the art and the aforementioned standards, the PP pilot line in cable sets is used exclusively for proximity detection and/or coding the current carrying capacity of the charging set. The resistance value between the PP pilot line and the PE line is evaluated by the charging device or the charging electronics of a consumer. The current carrying capacity can then be determined in accordance with the standard EN 61851-1 be derived from this resistance value.

To optimize the charging process of a consumer, it can be useful to exchange additional information between the charging device or the charging electronics of a consumer and the cable set. Information on the manufacturer, production date, completed plug-in cycles, contact resistance, etc. of the cable set can help to better coordinate the charging process.

The object of the present invention is therefore to disclose a possibility for communication between a cable fitting and a charging device and/or a consumer. The previously known and standardized functions of a corresponding cable fitting or a charging process of a consumer should not be restricted in this case.

This object is solved with the features of claim 1 of this invention.

For this purpose, a cable fitting is proposed which is designed to create an electrically conductive connection between a circuit of a charging device and a circuit of a consumer. Once the connection has been made, the consumer can be supplied with electrical energy which is provided by the charging device.

For this purpose, the cable set is designed with several power conductors that can transport the electrical energy. The number of power conductors can vary depending on the application area of the cable set. Application areas can include, for example, the transport of direct voltage and current or the transport of alternating voltage and current, either single-phase or three-phase.

The cable assembly is also designed with several pilot conductors, which are used for communication and/or signaling. These pilot conductors include a "control pilot" (CP) and a "proximity pilot" (PP). Finally, the cable assembly also includes a protective earth conductor (PE).

A corresponding cable set is also equipped with two connecting elements, e.g. connecting plugs. Using these connecting elements, a detachable connection can be made between the cable set and the charging device and the consumer.

The pilot conductor CP is known to be used for communication between a consumer and a charging device. For this purpose, the pilot conductor CP is looped through in the cable fitting. Such communication is used, for example, in the EP 2 443 001 B1 disclosed.

The pilot conductor PP is known to be used to detect a maximum possible charging current. For this purpose, a characteristic resistance is used between the pilot conductor PP and the protective conductor PE, which can be evaluated by the charging device and/or the consumer and thus the maximum charging current is specified. This maximum possible charging current can be determined by the consumer and/or the cable fittings.

According to the invention, it is now proposed to use the pilot conductor PP not only for charging current detection, but also to enable the cable assembly to communicate with the charging device and/or the consumer.

For this purpose, the invention proposes integrating at least one communication receiver into the cable fitting. The communication receiver is electrically connected to the pilot conductor PP and the protective conductor PE.

The communication receiver can now receive and send electrical signals via the pilot conductor PP, thus creating a possibility to transmit data to the charging device and/or the consumer via the pilot conductor PP.

The communication receiver can be equipped with a memory in which data can be stored. The communication receiver can also have a processor that can manage this data in the memory. The communication receiver can therefore be designed as a microcontroller.

Preferably, at least two communication receivers are integrated in the cable fitting in order to be able to communicate separately with the consumer and the charging device. A common memory, which is used by both communication receivers, can then be integrated into the cable fitting or separate memories so that each communication receiver has its own memory.

In order not to impair the previous function of the pilot conductor PP, a coding resistor is preferably proposed between the pilot conductor PP and the protective conductor PE, which provides a resistance value for determining the maximum permissible charging current. The resistance value of the coding resistor is then a characteristic value for determining the maximum permissible charging current for the cable set that can flow through the power conductors.

Particularly preferably, two coding resistors are integrated in the cable fitting, namely a coding resistor which provides a resistance value on the charging device side for determining the maximum permissible charging current of the cable fitting and a coding resistor which provides a resistance value on the consumer side for determining the maximum permissible charging current of the cable fitting. This makes it possible to determine the maximum permissible charging current using the pilot conductor PP on both sides of the cable fitting.

The charging device and/or the consumer each contain a circuit that is used to apply a voltage level to the pilot conductor PP. The circuits also contain at least one communication element that can measure the resistance value of the coding resistor, e.g. via a voltage drop at the respective coding resistor. The communication element is also connected to the pilot conductor PP and the protective conductor PE.

Furthermore, the communication element can preferably send a request to the corresponding communication receiver in the line fitting. A communication receiver according to the invention is initially inactive and remains in a rest state. However, if the communication receiver receives a corresponding request (e.g. from a communication element), the communication according to the invention begins via the pilot conductor PP.

Such communication is preferably carried out as a pulse width modulated signal or serial signal. To do this, the voltage level applied to the pilot conductor PP is changed in a temporal sequence so that a temporal signal sequence of different voltage potentials is generated by the communication receiver on the pilot conductor PP. Using this signal on the pilot conductor PP, the communication receiver then sends information that can be received and evaluated by a communication element. While receiving such information, the communication element will avoid evaluating the coding resistor.

Information sent by the communication receiver can contain specific data on the cable fitting. This means that the information can include manufacturer details, production date, completed mating cycles and/or contact resistance. status of the connectors. This data is then either entered directly into the memory of the communication receiver by the manufacturer or is entered by the communication receiver (such as completed mating cycles).

Preferably, a communication receiver is supplied with electrical energy via the voltage level on the pilot conductor PP. However, it is also conceivable that the communication receiver's supply energy is provided via a voltage transformer in the cable fitting using the power conductors or the voltage level on the pilot conductor CP. Such a supply of electrical energy can be provided on the charging device side, on the consumer side, or in a combination thereof.

A corresponding request to initiate the aforementioned communication is preferably carried out by briefly adjusting the voltage level of the pilot conductor PP to the voltage level on the protective conductor PE. Such a potential change can be initiated by one of the communication elements.

A corresponding method according to the invention for electrically charging a consumer is carried out in such a way that firstly, circuits of a charging device and a consumer are electrically connected by means of an aforementioned cable set via their connecting elements, such as connecting plugs. At least one communication element is integrated in one of the circuits, whereby both circuits can each have at least one communication element.

At least one of the circuits provides a pilot line PP and a protective conductor PE, whereby both circuits can provide these lines. At least one of the circuits supplies the pilot line PP with a supply voltage relative to the protective conductor PE.

After connection, a communication element can then briefly adjust the supply voltage on the pilot conductor PP to the voltage level on the protective conductor PE as a request for communication to a communication receiver.

A correspondingly requested communication receiver then begins to send information to the communication element. Such sending of information is then implemented as a chronologically sequential signal on the pilot line PP by the communication receiver, as described above.

When the supply voltage is applied to the pilot conductor PP when connecting the cable fittings, the communication receiver is preferably supplied with electrical energy. This then remains in a rest state until a request is received.

Within the circuit of the consumer and/or the charging device, the supply voltage is applied to the pilot line PP by means of at least one signal resistor and is transferred to the cable assembly after being connected to it.

After connecting the cable assembly to the charging device and/or the consumer, the communication element preferably first measures the voltage drop across a coding resistor in the cable assembly between the pilot conductor PP and the protective conductor PE. This voltage drop is used to determine the maximum permissible charging current that can flow through the cable assembly.

A request is then sent to the communication receiver to obtain information about the cable fitting.

Preferably, the charging device and the consumer can each be equipped with a communication element and the cable set used with two communication receivers, which are arranged in the cable set on the charging device side and the consumer side. This creates a communication option on the charging device side and the consumer side.

Further features can be seen from the attached drawing.

• 1: Elektrisches Schaltbild einer erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsgarnitur zur Ausführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

It shows:

• 1 : Electrical circuit diagram of a cable fitting according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention.

1 shows an embodiment of a cable fitting according to the invention and the application of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, a charging station with a corresponding circuit 10 is shown as well as a consumer with a corresponding circuit 40. The consumer is preferably a vehicle.

Both circuits 10, 40 are detachably connected via a cable fitting 30. This is done, for example, by means of a connecting plug.

The circuit 10 of the charging device shown (e.g. a charging station for charging vehicles) contains a supply voltage 12, which is applied to the pilot conductor PP 20 via a signal resistor 13. The circuit 10 also contains a communication element 11, which is designed as a processor with memory or as a microcontroller. This communication element 11 is connected to the pilot conductor PP 20 and the protective conductor PE 21 and is supplied with electrical energy via these. The protective conductor PE 21 is connected to a ground potential 14.

The circuit 40 of the consumer shown (e.g. a vehicle) contains a supply voltage 42, which is applied to the pilot conductor PP 22 via a signal resistor 43. The circuit 40 also contains a communication element 41, which is designed as a processor with memory or as a microcontroller. This communication element 41 is connected to the pilot conductor PP 22 and the protective conductor PE 21 and is supplied with electrical energy via these. The protective conductor PE 21 can be connected to the ground potential 14 or to the housing in the case of a vehicle 44. The housing 44 is preferably connected to the protective conductor PE 21, which is connected to the ground potential 14 on the charging device side, via the cable assembly 30.

The charging device is now connected to the consumer by means of a cable assembly 30, so that both circuits 10, 40 are electrically connected to one another via the cable assembly 30. The cable assembly 30 contains power conductors, at least one pilot conductor PP 20, 22 and a protective conductor PE 21.

The protective conductor PE 21 is looped through by means of the cable fitting and thus connects the protective conductor PE of both circuits 10, 40 continuously.

The cable assembly 31 also contains communication receivers 31, 33, which are connected to the pilot conductors 20, 22 and the protective conductor 21. The communication receivers are thus supplied with electrical energy via the supply voltage 12, 42 on the pilot conductors 20, 22. In the present example, the cable assembly 30 contains a charging device-side communication receiver 31 and a consumer-side communication receiver 33.

In addition, the cable fitting 30 according to the invention contains at least one coding resistor 32, 34; in the present example, two coding resistors 32, 34 are shown, namely a charging device-side coding resistor 31 and a consumer-side coding resistor 33.

After connecting the cable fitting 30 to the circuits 10, 40, at least one communication element 11, 41 first determines the voltage drop across the respective coding resistor 32, 34 and thereby determines its resistance value. The current carrying capacity of the cable fitting is determined from the resistance value, preferably by the respective communication element 11, 41.

The corresponding communication receiver 31, 33 remains in the idle state during this period and leaves the voltage potential on the pilot conductor PP 20, 22 unchanged.

A preferably serial data transmission is initiated by a communication element 11, 41 briefly adjusting the voltage potential of the pilot conductor PP 20 to the voltage potential of the protective conductor PE 21. This corresponds to a request to the respective communication receiver 31, 33, which then begins sending information. Such information is coded according to a protocol used. The coded information is then sent as a pulse width modulated signal on the pilot conductor PP 20, 22 by the respective communication receiver 31, 33.

An example component for a communications receiver 31, 33 is the DS28E30 from Analog Devices.

If no cable fitting 30 according to the invention (without the possibility of serial communication on the pilot conductors PP 20, 22) is connected to the circuit of the charging device 10 or the circuit of a consumer 40, the current carrying capacity is first determined as described above.

Should a communication element 11, 41 subsequently pull the potential of the pilot conductor PP 20, 22 to the voltage level of the protective conductor PE 21 in order to initiate serial communication, this request will remain unanswered due to the missing communication receiver 31, 33. This does not affect the charging process.

If, in contrast, a cable fitting 30 according to the invention is connected to a charging device or the charging electronics of a consumer which does not support serial communication via the pilot conductor PP 20, 22, the communication receiver in the cable fitting 30 will remain in the idle state since there is no request for communication from the communication element. This also does not affect the charging process.

It is important for the ladder assembly 30 and the procedure for it that the pilot conductor CP, if present, is not impaired in its function. Accordingly, the pilot conductor CP was not shown in the above-mentioned embodiment. However, as is known from the prior art, it is provided in the cable fitting, but is not required by the method according to the invention.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned features; other designs are also conceivable. The cable set could be equipped with 2, 3 or 4 power conductors, depending on whether a DC or AC (single or three-phase) charging device is used. The connecting element could also be designed as a type 1, 2 or 3 connecting plug in accordance with DIN EN 62196.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

10

Charging device circuit

11

Communication element on the charging device side

12

Supply voltage on charger side

13

Signal resistance on the charger side

14

Ground potential

20, 22

Pilot Leader PP

21

Pilot leader PE

30

Cable fitting

31

Communication receiver on the charging device side

32

Coding resistor on charger side

33

Communication receiver on the consumer side

34

Coding resistance on the consumer side

40

Vehicle circuit

41

Communication element on the consumer side

42

Supply voltage on consumer side

43

Signal resistance on the consumer side

44

Housing

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102017125108 A1 [0006]
• EP 2443001 B1 [0015]

Cited non-patent literature

• EN 61851-1 [0005, 0007]
• EN 62196 [0005]

Claims (15)

Cable fitting (30), with at least one pilot conductor PP (20, 22) and a protective conductor PE (21), which are designed to determine the maximum possible charging current, with two connecting elements which are designed to produce an electrically conductive connection between a circuit of a charging device (10) and a circuit of a consumer (40) by means of the cable fitting (30), characterized in that at least one communication receiver (31, 33) is integrated in the cable fitting (30), which can communicate electrically via the pilot conductor PP (20, 22). Cable fitting (30) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the consumer is designed as a vehicle. Cable fitting (30) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that two communication receivers (31, 33) are integrated in the cable fitting (30), namely a communication receiver (31) which is designed on the charging device side to communicate with the charging device (10) and a communication receiver (33) which is designed on the consumer side to communicate with the consumer. Cable fitting (30) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that between the pilot conductor PP (20, 22) and the protective conductor PE (21) on the charging device side there is at least one coding resistor (32) which provides a resistance value for determining the maximum possible charging current of the cable assembly (30). Cable fitting (30) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that between pilot conductor PP (20, 22) and PE (21) on the consumer side there is at least one coding resistor (34) which provides a resistance value for determining the maximum possible charging current for the consumer. Cable fitting (30) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the communication receiver (31, 33) transmits information by means of the pilot conductor PP (20, 22) on request through the circuit of the charging device and/or the circuit of the consumer. Cable fitting (30) according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the communication receiver (31) on the charging device side transmits information to the circuit of the charging device (10) by means of the pilot conductor PP (20, 22) upon request from the circuit of the charging device (10) and/or the communication receiver (33) on the consumer side transmits information to the circuit of the consumer (40) by means of the pilot conductor PP (20, 22) upon request from the circuit of the consumer (40). Cable fitting (30) according to Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the information may include manufacturer details, production date, completed mating cycles and/or contact resistances at the connecting elements. Cable fitting (30) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the communication receiver (31, 33) is electrically supplied by a supply voltage (12, 42) on the pilot line PP (20, 22) on the charging device side and/or the consumer side. Cable fitting (30) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the request is triggered by a short-term potential change of the supply voltage (12, 42) to the voltage value of the protective conductor PE (21). Method for electrically charging a consumer at a charging device, wherein the charging device and the consumer each have a circuit (10, 40) with at least one communication element (11, 41), wherein the circuits of the charging device and the consumer are connected by means of a cable set (30) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 are electrically connected via the connecting elements, wherein the circuit of the charging device (10) and/or the circuit of the consumer (40) applies a supply voltage (12, 42) to the pilot conductor PP (20, 22) relative to the protective conductor PE (21), characterized in that after the electrical connection of the cable fitting (30), the communication element (11, 41) briefly adjusts the supply voltage (12, 42) of the pilot line PP (20, 22) to the electrical potential of the protective conductor PE (21) as a request to the communication receiver (31, 33) and the communication receiver (31, 33) sends information to the communication element (11, 41) in response to this request. Procedure according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the supply voltage is transmitted to the pilot line PP (20, 22) via a signal resistor (13, 43). Procedure according to Claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that at least one coding resistor (32, 34) is provided in the cable fitting (30) between the pilot conductor PP (20, 22) and the protective conductor PE (21), which is connected to the coding resistor a voltage drop is generated and the communication element (11, 41) uses the voltage drop to first determine the maximum possible charging current of the cable fitting (30) before a request is made. Method according to one of the Claims 11 until 13 , characterized in that communication is enabled between the charging device-side communication element (11) and the charging device-side communication receiver (31) as well as between the consumer-side communication element (41) and the consumer-side communication receiver (33). Method according to one of the Claims 11 until 14 , characterized in that the information is executed as a serial data transmission.

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