EP4117954A1

EP4117954A1 - Vehicle having a control of recharges of a battery as a function of the states of sensors of a direct current charging socket

Info

Publication number: EP4117954A1
Application number: EP21708058.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olivier BALENGHIEN; Arnaud De Croutte; Christophe PREVELATO
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: Stellantis Auto SAS
Priority date: 2020-03-12
Filing date: 2021-02-04
Publication date: 2023-01-18
Also published as: FR3108069B1; WO2021181017A1; CN115243926A; FR3108069A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (V) comprising: - a rechargeable battery (BR), - a base (ER), to which are fixedly connected a first socket (P1) which is suitable for recharging the battery (BR) with direct current and comprises two first pins, each pin being provided with a first sensor measuring the temperature, and a second socket (P2) which is suitable for recharging the battery (BR) and comprises two second pins, each pin being provided with a second sensor measuring the temperature, and - a processor (PR) and a memory (MD) which, during a recharge using the first socket (P1), are arranged to trigger the interruption of this recharge when the first sensors are defective.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: VEHICLE TO MONITOR THE RECHARGES OF A BATTERY BASED ON THE STATES OF SENSORS OF A DIRECT CURRENT RECHARGE SOCKET

5 Technical field of the invention

The present invention claims the priority of French application No. 2002436 filed on 12.03.2020, the content of which (te <te, drawings and claims) is incorporated here by reference.

The invention relates to vehicles having at least one rechargeable battery 0 in direct current and in alternating current, and more precisely the control of the recharging of such batteries.

State of the art

Some vehicles include at least one battery which can be recharged5 in direct current and in alternating current (according to the choice of the user) thanks to first and second plugs which are fixedly secured to a base which they include in a front part or back. More specifically, the first socket of the socket is suitable for DC charging and generally has two first pins, and the second socket of the socket is suitable for AC charging and generally has at least two second pins ( and most often seven pins).

When you want to recharge the battery of a vehicle with direct current, respectively alternating current, an external socket (for example from a charging station) is connected to the first, respectively second, socket of this vehicle.

The successive connections and disconnections of the external sockets on the pins of the first and second sockets of the base through which the current flows cause wear of these pins and therefore the contacts of the latter with the external sockets become less and less frank. Consequently, when there is a clearance between metal / metal contacts it can sometimes small electric arcs appear which can generate an increase in the temperature of the base that is potentially dangerous for the vehicle, the base socket and the user who disconnects the external socket. It is therefore important to monitor the manifold temperature during each

5 recharging, and in particular when it is done in direct current because of the high intensity of the latter.

To do this, it has been proposed to add a first temperature sensor to each of the first two pins of the first socket of the base through which the direct current flows, and a second temperature sensor to each of the two second pins of the second socket of the base through which the alternating current circulates, and to interrupt the recharging when at least one of the first and second sensors detects a temperature above a threshold (typically equal to 90 ° C.). In general, this interruption is accompanied by a display (for example by a service light) on a screen of the vehicle in order to warn its user.

This mode of operation has several drawbacks. Indeed, if the first four and second sensors are simultaneously faulty, it is not possible to have a temperature measurement and therefore there will be no interruption of recharging decided due to the temperature of the base, 0 which may be dangerous for the user (risk of burns) and / or for the vehicle and / or for the charging station (risk of fire). In addition, the sensor that detects a temperature above the threshold may be the subject (possibly temporarily) of a malfunction. Consequently, an interruption of recharging can be decided wrongly because of this malfunction, which can be damaging for the user since he will recover a vehicle whose battery has not been recharged and therefore possibly unusable if his group powerplant is all electric. One aim of the invention is therefore to improve the situation. 0 Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a vehicle comprising at least one rechargeable battery and a base to which are fixedly secured, on the one hand, a first socket suitable for recharging the battery with current. DC and comprising two first pins each provided with a first sensor measuring the temperature, and, on the other hand, a second socket suitable for recharging the battery with alternating current and comprising two second pins each provided with a second sensor measuring temperature.

5 This vehicle is characterized by the fact that it also comprises at least one processor and at least one memory arranged to perform the operations consisting, during recharging with the first socket, in:

- detecting a simultaneous failure of said first sensors by an analysis of their signals, 0 - then triggering an interruption of this recharging when said first sensors are simultaneously detected to be faulty.

Thus, when recharging with direct current, any risk of abnormal heating of the base (taking into account the importance of the current flowing in the first socket) is avoided, because it is considered that the simultaneous failure5 of the first two sensors is very unlikely in the absence of malfunction at the level of this first intake.

The vehicle according to the invention may have other characteristics which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- its processor and its memory can be arranged to perform the operations of triggering a notification to a passenger of the vehicle of the recharging interruption;

- Its processor and its memory can be arranged to perform the operations consisting, in the event of failure of at least a first or second sensor for a period greater than a time threshold, in triggering a report to a passenger of the vehicle;

its processor and its memory can be arranged to perform the operations consisting, in the event of failure of at least one first or second sensor, in triggering storage in a memory of a fault code associated with each faulty sensor; 0 - its processor and its memory can be arranged to perform the operations consisting in triggering the storage in the memory of the fault code associated with each faulty sensor in correspondence with a duration of failure of the latter; its processor and its memory can be arranged to perform the operations consisting, during a recharge with the second socket, in triggering an interruption of this recharge when the second sensors are faulty and the temperature measured by at least a first

5 sensor is above a temperature threshold or the first sensors are also faulty;

- each of the first and second sensors can measure the temperature of the base;

- it can be of the automotive type. 0 The invention also proposes a method intended to allow the control of the recharging of a rechargeable battery of a vehicle also comprising a base to which are fixedly secured, on the one hand, a first socket suitable for recharging the battery. direct current and comprising two first pins each provided with a first sensor measuring the temperature, and, on the other hand, a second socket suitable for recharging the battery with alternating current and comprising two second pins each provided with a second sensor measuring temperature.

This process is characterized by the fact that it includes a step in which:

- in a first sub-step, it is detected that the first two sensors 0 are simultaneously faulty by an analysis of their signals,

- Then in a second sub-step, recharging is interrupted with said first socket when said first sensors are detected as faulty, regardless of the temperature measured by at least one second sensor. The invention also proposes a computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when it is executed by processing means, is suitable for implementing a control method of the type presented above to control the recharging of a rechargeable battery of a vehicle also comprising a base to which are fixedly secured, on the one hand, a first socket suitable for recharging the battery in direct current and comprising two first pins each provided with a first sensor measuring the temperature, and, on the other hand, a second socket suitable for recharging the battery with alternating current and comprising two second pins each provided with a second sensor measuring the temperature. Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examination of the detailed description below, and of the accompanying drawings, in which:

5 [Fig. 1] illustrates schematically and functionally an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention,

[Fig. 2] illustrates schematically and functionally an exemplary embodiment of a charging base coupled to a power supply module comprising an exemplary embodiment of a control computer, and 0 [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates an example of an algorithm implementing a charging control method according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention aims in particular to provide a vehicle V comprising at least one battery BR that can be recharged with direct current or alternating current in a controlled manner, so as to avoid overheating of its charging base ER.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of nonlimiting example, that the vehicle V is of the automobile type. This is for example a car, as shown in Figure 1. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any type of vehicle comprising an all-electric or hybrid powertrain (or GMP) and comprising at least one rechargeable battery in direct current or in alternating current according to the choice of the user. Thus, it concerns land vehicles (utility vehicles, 5 motorhomes, minibuses, coaches, trucks, motorcycles, road machinery, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, leisure machinery (snowmobile, kart), caterpillar machinery (s) , and crewed exploration devices), ships and aircraft, for example.

Furthermore, it is considered in what follows, by way of nonlimiting example, that the GMP of the vehicle V is all electric. It therefore comprises at least one electric drive machine producing in particular torque for its movements from the energy stored in a rechargeable battery. But the GMP of the vehicle V could be hybrid and therefore comprise at least one electric driving machine and at least one non-electric driving machine (possibly thermal).

There is schematically shown in Figure 1 a vehicle V, according to

5 the invention, comprising a transmission chain (here in all-electric GMP), an ER (recharging) base comprising first P1 and second P2 taken, and at least one PR processor and at least one MD memory.

As illustrated without limitation, the GMP of the vehicle V here comprises an electric drive machine MM, associated with a rechargeable battery BR, and a DC coupling device. In addition, the transmission chain comprises in particular, in addition to its GMP, an AM motor shaft and an AT transmission shaft.

The electric drive machine MM is responsible for producing torque on the order of a GMP supervision computer (not shown), from the energy which is stored in the battery BR. It (MM) delivers this torque to the AM motor shaft which is also coupled to the DC coupling device. This torque is produced here for a driving wheel train (here the first train T1) which is coupled to the DC coupling device via the AT driveshaft. The torque produced is therefore transmitted here to the first train T1 when the DC0 coupling device couples the motor shaft AM to the transmission shaft AT.

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, the first train T 1 is located at the front of the vehicle V, and preferably, and as illustrated, coupled to the transmission shaft AT via a differential (here before) D1 . But in a variant this train T1 could be the one referenced T2 which is located at the rear of the 5 vehicle V.

The DC coupling device can, for example, be a shaft speed reduction gearbox. But it could also be a dog clutch or a clutch.

The battery BR is rechargeable in direct current or in alternating current0 (according to the choice of the user), via a power supply module MA which is connected to the base (of recharge) ER. For example, this battery BR can be of the low voltage type (typically 220 V or 400 V or else 600 V). But it could also be of the medium voltage or very low voltage type (typically 48V).

This BR battery also supplies power, as illustrated without limitation in FIG.

1, electrical equipment of the vehicle V which is, for example, connected

5 to an RB on-board network. For this purpose, the BR battery is here coupled to the RB on-board network via a DC / DC type CV converter, as well as possibly via an MDE energy distribution module.

The first P1 socket is fixedly attached to the ER base and is suitable for recharging the BR battery in direct current. As illustrated in FIG. 2, it comprises two first pins B1 each provided with a first sensor C1 measuring the temperature locally and through which the direct current flows.

The second socket P2 is fixedly attached to the ER base and is suitable for recharging the battery BR in alternating current. As illustrated in FIG. 2, it comprises in particular two second pins B2 each provided with a second sensor C2 measuring the temperature locally and through which the alternating current circulates. It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, the second socket P2 comprises seven pins, including the two second pins B2, due to the fact that it constitutes a socket of type 0 CCS2 (but the invention applies whatever either the type of plug).

Preferably, each of the first C1 and second C2 sensors measures the temperature of the ER base.

The MA power module provides the interface between the BR battery and the ER base. It is responsible for monitoring the power supply to the BR battery during each recharging phase during which an external socket (for example from a charging station) is connected either to the first socket P1 or to the second socket P2.

The processor PR and the memory MD are arranged to perform the operations consisting, during a recharge with the first socket P1, to trigger the interruption of this recharge when the first two sensors C1 are faulty, whatever the temperature measured by at least a second sensor C2. It is considered here that a sensor is (in a state) faulty when, after analysis of its signal, the processor PR determines by example :

- that this signal is no longer supplied, meaning no more temperature measurement, or

- that this signal is outside a range of predetermined values, or

- that the evolution of this signal is abnormal, for example an evolution that is too

5 abrupt.

Thus, it is only on condition that the first two C1 sensors are simultaneously in a faulty state during a DC recharge that this recharge is automatically interrupted. The simultaneous failure of the first two sensors C1 being very improbable in the absence of a malfunction at the level of the first socket P1, it is decided to avoid any risk of abnormal heating of the ER base, given the importance of the current. which circulates in the first outlet P1. Consequently, there is no longer any risk of burning the user or of fire in the vehicle V. 5 The processor PR can, for example, be a digital signal processor (or DSP (“Digital Signal Processor”). ). This PR processor can comprise integrated circuits (or printed), or else several integrated circuits (or printed) connected by wired or non-wired connections. By integrated circuit (or printed circuit) is meant any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation. So, for example, it could be a microcontroller.

The memory MD is live in order to store instructions for the implementation by the processor PR of at least part of the control method described below (and therefore of its functionalities). It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, the processor PR and the memory MD form part of a computer CA which itself forms part of the power supply module MA and which is produced under the form of a combination of electrical or electronic circuits or components (or "hardware") and software modules (or "software"). But in an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the processor PR and the memory MD could form part of a computer, possibly dedicated to the control of recharging according to the state of the first C1 and second C2 sensors, and external to the power supply module. MA, although being coupled to the latter (MA) to inform him of charging interruptions decided.

Note also that if the PR processor detects that only one of the first two sensors C1 is faulty, it will continue to analyze the temperature measured by the other first sensor C1 (not faulty) and therefore will decide

5 to interrupt the direct current recharging if this measured temperature is above a temperature threshold.

For example, the temperature threshold can be between 80 ° C and 100 ° C. Thus, it can, for example, be chosen equal to 90 ° C.

It will also be noted that the processor PR and the memory MD are preferably arranged to perform the operations of triggering a signal to a passenger of the vehicle V of the recharging interruption (in direct current as well as in alternating current).

It will be understood that this signaling takes place when the user decides to use his vehicle V again after recharging his battery BR.5 For example, this signaling can be done by displaying a service indicator light or a dedicated textual warning message on a screen of vehicle V, such as for example that of the instrument panel or that of the central instrument panel, and / or by broadcasting a dedicated audio (or audio) message via at least one loudspeaker present in the vehicle V. 0 It will also be noted that the processor PR and the memory MD are preferably arranged, in the event of failure of at least one first C1 or second C2 sensor for a period which is greater than a time threshold, to perform the operations consisting in triggering a signal to a passenger of vehicle V. It is considered here that when a failure of a first C1 or second C2 sensor is lasting (too long) it must be signaled to the user of vehicle V. For example , this little report t be done by displaying a service indicator light or a dedicated warning text message on a vehicle screen V, such as that of the instrument panel or that of the central instrument panel, and / or by broadcasting a dedicated audio (or audio) message 0 via at least one loudspeaker present in the vehicle V.

It will also be noted that the processor PR and the memory MD are preferably arranged, in the event of failure of at least one first C1 or second C2 sensor, to perform the operations consisting in triggering storage in a memory of a fault code associated with each faulty sensor. Thus, during a visit to an after-sales service it is possible, by accessing the content of this memory, to know whether a first C1 or second C2 sensor has been considered as faulty (temporarily or

5 sustainably). This then makes it possible to decide whether to change this first C1 or second C2 faulty sensor or the entire ER base (with its first P1 and second P2 taken).

The fault code storage memory can, for example, be part of the AC computer or more generally of the MA power module. But0 it can also be non-dedicated and therefore used for storing a great deal of information on the life of the vehicle V. In the latter case it can, for example, form part of what those skilled in the art sometimes call the service box. intelligent (or BSI - supervision equipment). The messages containing the fault codes are then transmitted to the memory via a communication network on board the vehicle V, and possibly multiplexed.

In the presence of the last option, the processor PR and the memory MD can optionally be arranged to perform the operations consisting in triggering the storage in the memory of the fault code associated with each faulty sensor in correspondence of a duration of failure of the latter. It will also be noted that the processor PR and the memory MD can be arranged, during recharging with the second socket P2 (and therefore in alternating current), to perform the operations consisting in triggering an interruption of this recharging when the second sensors C2 are faulty5. and that the temperature measured by at least a first sensor C1 is greater than the temperature threshold (described above) or that the first sensors C1 are also faulty.

It is in fact considered that a potential malfunction at the level of the second outlet P2 (having or not led to the simultaneous failure of the two second sensors C2) is less serious than a potential malfunction of the first outlet P1, given the intensity. relatively low current flowing through the second socket P2. It is therefore necessary here that the exceeding of the temperature threshold is detected or that the first sensors C1 are also faulty, in addition to the failure detection of the two second sensors C2, so that the interruption of an alternating current recharge is decided.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, that the

5 CA computer can also include, in addition to its RAM MD and its processor PR, a mass memory MM, in particular for storing temperature measurements (from the first C1 and second C2 sensors), and intermediate data involved in all its calculations and treatments. Furthermore, this computer CA can also include an input interface IE for the reception of at least the temperature measurements for use in calculations or processing, possibly after having formatted and / or demodulated and / or amplified. , in a manner known per se, by means of a digital signal processor PR '. In addition, this CA computer can also include an IS output interface, in particular for delivering its recharging interrupt orders or commands (at least for the power supply module MA) and its messages containing sensor failure reports (s). ) or fault codes.

The invention can also be considered in the form of a control method intended to be implemented in the vehicle V described above in order to allow control of the recharging of its battery BR.

This control method comprises a step 10-40 in which a recharging with the first socket P1 is interrupted when the first sensors C1 fail (simultaneously), regardless of the temperature measured by at least one second sensor C2. 5 An example of an algorithm implementing a recharge control method according to the invention has been schematically illustrated in FIG. 3.

The algorithm includes a sub-step 10 in which, in the event of starting a DC recharge (via the first socket P1), the temperature measurements taken by the first C1 and 0 second C2 sensors are obtained and analyzed.

Then, if in a first sub-step 20 it is detected that the first two sensors C1 are simultaneously faulty, then in a second sub-step 30 the direct current recharging which is in progress is interrupted. Then, in a sub-step 40, it is possible to signal this interruption of recharging to a passenger of the vehicle V and / or to store in a memory at least one fault code (possibly associated with a fault duration).

Note that one or more sub-steps of step 10-40 of the control method can be performed by different components. Thus, the control method can be implemented by a plurality of digital signal processors, random access memory, mass memory, input interface, output interface.

It will also be noted that the invention also provides a computer program product (or computer program) comprising a set of instructions which, when it is executed by processing means of the electronic circuit (or hardware) type, such as for example the processor PR is suitable for implementing the recharging control method described above to control the recharges of the battery BR of the vehicle V. 5

Claims

1. Vehicle (V) comprising at least one rechargeable battery (BR) and a base (ER) to which are fixedly secured i) a first plug

5 (P1) suitable for recharging said battery (BR) with direct current and comprising two first pins (B1) each provided with a first sensor (C1) measuring the temperature, and ii) a second socket (P2) suitable for recharging said battery (BR) with alternating current and comprising two second pins (B2) each provided with a second sensor (C2) measuring the temperature, characterized in that it further comprises at least one processor (PR) and at least one memory (MD) arranged to perform the operations consisting, during recharging with said first socket (P1), in:

- detecting a simultaneous failure of said first sensors (C1) by analyzing their signals,

- Then trigger an interruption of this recharging when said first sensors (C1) are simultaneously detected as faulty.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said processor (PR) and said memory (MD) are arranged to perform operations0 consisting in triggering a signal to a passenger of said vehicle (V) of said recharging interruption.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said processor (PR) and said memory (MD) are arranged to perform the operations consisting, in the event of failure of at least a first (C1) or 5 second (C2 ) sensor for a period greater than a time threshold, to trigger a signal to a passenger of said vehicle (V).

4. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said processor (PR) and said memory (MD) are arranged to perform the operations consisting, in the event of failure of at least a first (C1) or 0 second (C2) sensor, in triggering storage in a memory of a fault code associated with each faulty sensor.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that said processor (PR) and said memory (MD) are arranged to perform the operations. consisting in triggering the storage in said memory of the fault code associated with each faulty sensor in correspondence with a duration of failure of the latter.

6. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

Said processor (PR) and said memory (MD) are arranged to perform the operations consisting, during a recharge with said second socket (P2), in triggering an interruption of this recharging when said second sensors (C2) fail and the temperature measured by at least a first sensor (C1) is greater than a chosen temperature threshold or said first sensors (C1) are also faulty.

7. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of said first (C1) and second (C2) sensors measures the temperature of said base (ER).

8. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is of the automotive type.

9. A method of controlling the recharging of a rechargeable battery (BR) of a vehicle (V) also comprising a base (ER) to which are fixedly secured i) a first plug (P1) suitable for recharging said battery. (BR) in direct current and comprising two first pins0 (B1) each provided with a first sensor (C1) measuring the temperature, and ii) a second socket (P2) suitable for recharging said battery (BR) in alternating current and comprising two second pins (B2) each provided with a second sensor (C2) measuring the temperature, characterized in that it comprises a step (10-40) in which: 5 - in a first sub-step (20) it is detected that the first two sensors (C1) are simultaneously faulty by an analysis of their signals,

- Then in a second sub-step (30), recharging is interrupted with said first socket (P1) when said first sensors (C1) are detected as faulty. 0 10. Computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when it is executed by processing means, is suitable for implementing the control method according to claim 9 to control the recharging of a battery ( BR) rechargeable from a vehicle (V) also comprising a base (ER) to which are fixedly secured i) a first plug (P1) suitable for recharging said battery (BR) in direct current and comprising two first pins (B1) each provided with a first sensor (C1) measuring the temperature, and ii) a second socket (P2) suitable for recharging said battery (BR) with alternating current and comprising two second pins (B2) each provided with a second sensor (C2) measuring the temperature.