FR3139517A1 - MONITORING THE ABILITY OF A VEHICLE TO PROVIDE QUICK RECHARGE OF A BATTERY - Google Patents

Abstract

A monitoring method is implemented in a vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of the vehicle to an external power source, and computers performing diagnoses and/or delivering diagnostic results. This monitoring method comprises a step (10-40) in which it is determined whether one of the diagnostic results is representative of an impossibility of recharging in the fast recharging mode, and if so, a alert capable of informing a vehicle user of this impossibility. Figure 3

Description

MONITORING THE ABILITY OF A VEHICLE TO PROVIDE QUICK RECHARGE OF A BATTERY Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to vehicles comprising a battery capable of being recharged in a rapid charging mode, and more specifically to monitoring the ability of such vehicles to recharge in this rapid charging mode.

State of the art

Certain vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, include a rechargeable battery, generally called "main" (or traction) because it is responsible for electrically supplying a main electrical circuit to which at least one electric motor of their group is connected powertrain (or GMP).

In some of the aforementioned vehicles, the main electrical circuit and the rechargeable battery are arranged so as to allow the latter to be recharged in a rapid charging mode (or mode 4), when their charging connector is temporarily coupled to a power source. external power supply which allows it.

Please note that in mode 4 charging, the battery (to be recharged) is supplied directly with high direct current (typically between 100 A and 400 A) at a low input voltage (typically 450 V) by the power source. external power supply (via the vehicle's charging connector), i.e. without conversion by a vehicle current converter.

As those skilled in the art know, some of the aforementioned vehicles include computers arranged so as to make diagnoses and/or deliver diagnostic results. When a function being diagnosed poses a problem, a service light or warning light is displayed on at least one screen of the vehicle (for example on the dashboard). Sometimes, a “pop-up” type message is also displayed at the same time as the indicator. However, it often happens that the message associated with the light on is very general and only indicates a fault in a technical part of the vehicle. Thus, currently, when the vehicle is not capable of recharging, the message only indicates a fault in the electrical transmission system and the need to stop the vehicle.

It will be understood that such a message is likely to worry the driver and either make him decide to no longer use his vehicle at all, or to use a function that he thinks is not affected by the message displayed. Thus, when a message indicates a fault in the electrical transmission system, the driver can consider that it does not concern rapid charging and go to a charging station to couple his vehicle to an external power source that 'she understands. The user will then be informed that fast charging cannot be done, without knowing that it is their vehicle that is causing the problem. He can then try one or more other external power sources from this charging station, with the same result each time, which can waste a lot of time. Furthermore, if the driver is not careful, he may leave his vehicle connected to an external power source while rapid charging is impossible, which can sometimes cause overheating, or even a fire, in the vehicle.

The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

To this end, it proposes in particular a monitoring method intended to be implemented in a vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a battery which can be recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of the vehicle to an external power source. , and, on the other hand, computers making diagnoses and/or delivering diagnostic results.

This monitoring method is characterized by the fact that it comprises a step in which it is determined whether one of the diagnostic results is representative of an impossibility of carrying out a recharge in the rapid recharge mode, and if so an alert is generated to inform a vehicle user of this impossibility.

Thanks to the invention, the driver is now informed that he cannot carry out a rapid recharge before he considers doing so, and therefore he no longer risks wasting time trying one or more sources of energy. external power supply in one or more charging stations, just as there is no longer any risk of overheating, or even fire, caused by an attempt at rapid charging.

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

- in its step, it can be determined whether at least one diagnostic result is associated with service or alarm information, and if so, it can be determined among each determined diagnostic result whether one of them is representative of an inability to carry out a recharge in the fast recharge mode;

- in this step, an alert can be generated to be displayed in the form of a thumbnail representative of an alarm or service light in association with a text message representing the impossibility;

- in the presence of the last option, in its stage, the alert can be intended to be displayed on at least one screen of the vehicle and/or on a screen of a smartphone of the user, accessible via a communication module of the vehicle ;

- in this step, an alert can be generated to be broadcast in the form of a voice message representing the impossibility;

- in the presence of the last option, in its stage, the alert can be intended to be broadcast by at least one speaker of the vehicle and/or a speaker of a smartphone of the user, accessible via a vehicle communication module;

- in its stage, in the event of generation of the alert, it is also possible to record in the vehicle at least one fault code representative of a cause of the impossibility depending on the diagnostic result associated with the latter.

The invention also proposes a computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means, is capable of implementing a monitoring method of the type of that presented above, in a vehicle comprising a battery capable of being recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of the vehicle to an external power source, and computers carrying out diagnostics and/or delivering diagnostic results, to monitor the capacity of the vehicle to recharge using the fast charging mode.

The invention also proposes a monitoring device intended to equip a vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a battery which can be recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of the vehicle to an external power source, and, on the other hand, computers making diagnoses and/or delivering diagnostic results.

This monitoring device is characterized in that it comprises at least one processor and at least one memory arranged to carry out the operations consisting of determining whether one of the diagnostic results is representative of an impossibility of carrying out a recharge in the rapid charging mode, and if so, to trigger the generation of an alert capable of informing a user of the vehicle of this impossibility.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, a battery which can be recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of the vehicle to an external power source, and computers making diagnostics and/or delivering diagnostic results, and, on the other hand, a monitoring device of the type presented above.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and the appended drawings, in which:

schematically and functionally illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle comprising a powertrain, with an electric motor connected to a main electrical circuit to which is connected a main battery, a dashboard, and a monitoring device according to the invention,

schematically and functionally illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a recharging calculator comprising an exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention, and

schematically illustrates an example of an algorithm implementing a monitoring method according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention aims in particular to propose a monitoring method, and an associated monitoring device DS, intended to allow monitoring of the capacity of a vehicle V to recharge a (main) battery BP that it includes a fast charging mode (or mode 4).

In what follows, we consider, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is of the automobile type. This is for example a car, as illustrated in the . But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns any type of vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery connected to a main (or “high voltage”) electrical circuit. Thus, it concerns, for example, land vehicles (utility vehicles, motorhomes, minibuses, coaches, trucks, motorcycles, road machinery, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, leisure machinery (snowmobile, kart), and road machinery. caterpillar(s), for example), boats and aircraft.

Furthermore, we consider in what follows, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V comprises a powertrain (or GMP) of all-electric type (and therefore whose traction is ensured exclusively by at least one electric driving machine MRS). But the GMP could be of hybrid type (thermal and electric).

We have schematically represented on the a vehicle V comprising an electric GMP transmission chain, an on-board network RB, a main electrical circuit CEP, a main battery BP, a CV converter, a service battery BS, a dashboard TB, and a monitoring device DS according to the invention.

The RB on-board network is an electrical supply network to which electrical (or electronic) equipment (or components) are coupled which consume electrical energy.

The utility battery BS is responsible for supplying electrical energy to the on-board network RB, in addition to that supplied by the CV converter supplied by the main battery BP via the main electrical circuit CEP, and sometimes in place of this converter RESUME. For example, this BS utility battery can be arranged in the form of a very low voltage type battery (typically 12 V, 24 V or 48 V). It is rechargeable at least via the CV current converter. We consider in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the BS utility battery is of the 12 V Lithium-ion type.

The main (or high voltage) electrical circuit CEP is connected, on the one hand, to the main battery BP, and, on the other hand, to electronic equipment, such as for example the CV converter. It also allows the main battery BP to be recharged by an external power source temporarily coupled to a charging connector CR of the vehicle V. This main electrical circuit CEP therefore comprises at least one power supply circuit C1 ensuring the coupling between the main battery BP and at least the electric driving machine MME and CV converter, and a charging circuit C2 making it possible to recharge the main battery BP.

The transmission chain has a GMP which is, here, purely electric and therefore which includes, in particular, an MME electric driving machine. Here we mean “electric driving machine” an electric machine arranged so as to provide torque to move the vehicle V when supplied with electrical energy, as well as possibly to recover torque in the transmission chain.

The operation of the transmission chain (and therefore of the GMP) is supervised by a CS supervision computer.

The electric driving machine MME (here an electric motor) is here coupled to the main battery BP via the power supply circuit C1 of the main electrical circuit CEP, in order to be supplied with electrical energy, as well as possibly to power this battery main BP in electrical energy, for example during a regenerative braking phase.

Furthermore, this MME electric motor machine is coupled to a motor shaft, to provide it with torque by rotational drive. Here, the motor shaft is coupled to a transmission shaft via a reduction gear RD, and this transmission shaft is coupled to a first train T1 (here of wheels), preferably via a DF differential.

This first train T1 is here located in the front part PVV of the vehicle V. But in a variant this first train T1 could be the one which is here referenced T2 and which is located in the rear part PRV of the vehicle V.

The operation of the electric driving machine MME is controlled by an associated machine computer CM and which receives in particular each torque setpoint defined by the supervision computer CS and defining the output torque that the electric driving machine MME must provide or the torque d the input that the MME electric driving machine must recover.

The main BP battery here powers the MME electric motive machine, and it is for this reason that it is called main (or traction). It can, for example, include electrical energy storage cells, possibly electrochemical (for example of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) or Ni-Mh or Ni-Cd type). Also for example, the main BP battery can be of the low voltage type (typically 450 V for illustration purposes). But it could be medium voltage or high voltage.

Furthermore, the main battery BP is (here) associated with a battery box BB which notably includes voltage/current measuring means (not shown), and a battery calculator CB. The latter (CB) centralizes the current measurements, the voltage measurements and the temperature measurements inside the main battery BP, and determines the parameters of the main battery BP according to these measurements, and in particular its internal resistance , its minimum voltage and its current state of charge (or SOC (“State Of Charge”)). Furthermore, the CB battery calculator also exchanges information with the GMP CS supervision calculator and the AC recharge calculator.

Note, as illustrated non-limitatively in the , that the CV converter can be part of a charger CH, electrically connected to the charging connector CR via the charging circuit C2, and comprising the AC charging calculator loaded within its vehicle V to at least control the charging of the main BP battery, whatever the mode.

It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly on the the main BP battery is suitable not only for recharges in mode 4 (or fast recharge mode), but also for recharges in mode 2 or 3, under the control of the AC recharge calculator associated with the CV converter. But the main BP battery could only be suitable for mode 4 recharges.

Please note that in mode 4 charging (or fast charging mode), the main BP battery is supplied directly with high direct current (typically between 100 A and 400 A) at a low input voltage (typically 450 V). by a power source which is temporarily coupled to the charging connector CR of the vehicle V. In this mode 4 there is therefore no conversion by the converter CV of the charging current which is supplied by the power source SA , unlike what happens in mode 2 or 3.

It will also be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly on the the vehicle V also includes a distribution box BD to which the utility battery BS, the CV converter and the on-board network RB are coupled. This distribution box BD is responsible for distributing in the on-board network RB the electrical energy stored in the utility battery BS or produced by the converter CV, for powering the electrical components (or equipment) coupled to the on-board network RB depending on power requests received (in particular from the GMP CS supervision computer).

It should also be noted that the vehicle V includes computers which are arranged so as to carry out diagnostics of function(s) and/or to deliver diagnostic results. This is for example the case of the AC charging calculator, the CB battery calculator and the CM machine calculator.

As mentioned above, the invention proposes in particular a monitoring method intended to allow monitoring of the capacity of the vehicle V to recharge its main battery BP according to the rapid recharge mode (or mode 4).

This (monitoring) method can be implemented at least partially by the monitoring device DS (illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2) which comprises for this purpose at least one processor PR1, for example a digital signal (or DSP (“Digital Signal Processor”)), and at least one MD memory. This DS monitoring device can therefore be produced in the form of a combination of electrical or electronic circuits or components (or “hardware”) and software modules (or “software”). For example, it can be a microcontroller.

The memory MD is RAM in order to store instructions for the implementation by the processor PR1 of at least part of the monitoring process. The processor PR1 may include integrated (or printed) circuits, or several integrated (or printed) circuits connected by wired or non-wired connections. By integrated (or printed) circuit we mean any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation.

In the example illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, the DS monitoring device is part of the AC charging calculator. This is advantageous because it is the latter (CA) which controls the recharges of the main BP battery. But this is not obligatory. Indeed, the DS monitoring device could include its own dedicated computer, which is then coupled to the AC charging computer, or could be part of another on-board computer than the latter (CA), such as for example the supervision computer CS.

As illustrated without limitation on the , the (monitoring) method, according to the invention, comprises a step 10-40 which is implemented when the vehicle V is awake and in use by its driver.

Step 10-40 of the method comprises a sub-step 30 in which (the monitoring device DS) determines whether one of the diagnostic results (provided by the computers of the vehicle V) is representative of an impossibility of 'carry out a charge in the fast charge mode. If not, the method ends in a sub-step 20. On the other hand, if yes, step 10-40 of the method comprises a sub-step 40 in which, a (the monitoring device DS triggers the generation of an alert which is capable of informing a user of the vehicle V (for example the driver) of this impossibility.

Thanks to this alert of the impossibility of rapid recharging, the driver of vehicle V is informed that he cannot carry out such recharging before he plans to do so, and can continue to drive with his vehicle V and d 'use many other functions of the latter (V). There is therefore no longer any risk of wasting time trying one or more external power sources in one or more charging stations, just as there is no longer any risk of overheating, or even fire, caused by an attempt. fast charging. Additionally, by not using external power sources from a charging station unnecessarily, they can be used more quickly by other drivers.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation on the , step 10-40 may include a sub-step 10 in which (the DS monitoring device) begins by determining whether at least one diagnostic result is associated with service or alarm information (or “warning” ). If not, the method ends in sub-step 20. On the other hand, if yes, in sub-step 30 one (the monitoring device DS) determines among each diagnostic result determined in sub-step 10 if one of them represents an impossibility of charging in the fast charging mode.

It will be understood that the objective here is to avoid having to analyze the results of all the diagnostics carried out by the computers of vehicle V. In fact, we limit the search to only the diagnostic results which are associated with service information. or alarm, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the duration of determining that it is impossible to carry out rapid recharging.

Note that this duration can be even faster if the vehicle V is equipped with a function dedicated to diagnosing the capacity for rapid recharging, and possibly triggered at the initiative of the monitoring device DS in the sub-step 10.

For example, in sub-step 40, an alert can be generated (the monitoring device DS can trigger the generation of an) alert which is suitable for being displayed in the form of a thumbnail representative of an alarm indicator light. or VS service in association with an MD text message representing the impossibility of fast charging. In the presence of such an option, an alarm or service indicator VS and a text message MD are therefore displayed. The latter (MD) can, for example, be of the type “Quick charging (currently) not possible”, and possibly supplemented with an expression of the type “Have the vehicle repaired”. Furthermore, the text message MD can, for example, be of the pop-up type.

It will be noted that when the alert is at least visual, in sub-step 40 it can be intended to be displayed on at least one screen EA of the vehicle V (for example of the dashboard TB (as illustrated non-limitingly on the ) or a central handset) and/or on a screen of a smart phone (or “smartphone”) of a user of vehicle V, accessible via a communication module of vehicle V (possibly via WiFi).

Also for example, in sub-step 40, an alert can be generated (the monitoring device DS can trigger the generation of an) alert which is suitable for being broadcast in the form of a vocal (or sound) message representative of the impossibility of fast charging.

It will be noted that when the alert is at least vocal (or audible), in sub-step 40 it can be intended to be broadcast by at least one loudspeaker of the vehicle V and/or a loudspeaker of a telephone intelligent information of a user, accessible via a communication module of the vehicle V (possibly via WiFi).

It should also be noted that the alert can be made in visual form, in vocal (or sound) form, or in visual and vocal (or sound) forms.

Also for example, in sub-step 40, in the event of a decision to generate an alert, it is also possible to carry out (the monitoring device DS can trigger the carrying out) in the vehicle V of a complementary action consisting of recording at least one fault code representative of a cause of the impossibility of carrying out a rapid recharge, depending on the diagnostic result associated with the latter.

This recording of at least one fault code, representative of a cause of impossibility of carrying out rapid recharging, is intended to facilitate the understanding of the origin of this impossibility by an after-sales service technician, and to allow this technician to resolve the problem and to inform the user of vehicle V of the origin of the problem that has arisen.

Note also, as illustrated non-limitatively in the , that the AC recharge calculator (or the DS monitoring device calculator) can also include a mass memory MM1, in particular for storing the diagnostic results as well as any intermediate data involved in all its calculations and processing. Furthermore, this AC recharge calculator (or the calculator of the DS monitoring device) can also include an IE input interface for receiving at least the diagnostic results for use in calculations or treatments, possibly after the having shaped and/or demodulated and/or amplified, in a manner known per se, by means of a digital signal processor PR2. In addition, this AC recharge calculator (or the calculator of the DS monitoring device) can also include an IS output interface, in particular for delivering a user alert message or triggering a user alert, and a possible message containing a fault code.

It will also be noted that the invention also proposes a computer program product (or computer program) comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means of the electronic circuit (or hardware) type, such as for example the processor PR1, is capable of implementing the monitoring method described above to monitor the capacity of the vehicle V to recharge its main battery BP according to a rapid recharge mode (or mode 4).

Claims (10)

Monitoring method for a vehicle (V) comprising i) a battery (BP) which can be recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of said vehicle (V) to an external power source, and ii) computers making diagnostics and/or delivering diagnostic results, characterized in that it comprises a step (10-40) in which it is determined whether one of said diagnostic results is representative of an impossibility of carrying out a recharge in said mode rapid charging, and if so, an alert is generated to inform a user of said vehicle (V) of this impossibility. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said step (10-40) it is determined whether at least one diagnostic result is associated with service or alarm information, and if so, it is determined among each result of diagnosis determined if one of them is representative of an impossibility of carrying out a recharge in said rapid recharge mode. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in said step (10-40) an alert is generated capable of being displayed in the form of a thumbnail representative of an alarm or service indicator (VS) in association with a text message representative of said impossibility. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that in said step (10-40) said alert is intended to be displayed on at least one screen (EA) of said vehicle (V) and/or on a screen of a smartphone of said user, accessible via a communication module of said vehicle (V). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in said step (10-40) an alert is generated suitable for being broadcast in the form of a voice message representative of said impossibility. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that in said step (10-40) said alert is intended to be broadcast by at least one loudspeaker of said vehicle (V) and/or a loudspeaker of a smartphone of said user, accessible via a communication module of said vehicle (V). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in said step (10-40), in the event of generation of said alert, a recording of at least one representative fault code is carried out in said vehicle (V). of a cause of said impossibility depending on the diagnostic result associated with the latter. Computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means, is capable of implementing the monitoring method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in a vehicle (V) comprising i) a battery (BP) which can be recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of said vehicle (V) to an external power source, and ii) computers carrying out diagnoses and/or delivering diagnostic results , to monitor the ability of said vehicle (V) to recharge according to said rapid charging mode. Monitoring device (DS) for a vehicle (V) comprising i) a battery (BP) capable of being recharged in a fast charging mode in the event of coupling of said vehicle (V) to an external power source, and ii) computers making diagnoses and/or delivering diagnostic results, characterized in that it comprises at least one processor (PR1) and at least one memory (MD) arranged to carry out the operations consisting of determining whether one of said results of diagnosis is representative of an impossibility of carrying out a recharge in said rapid recharge mode, and if so, triggering the generation of an alert capable of informing a user of said vehicle (V) of this impossibility. Vehicle (V) comprising i) a battery (BP) which can be recharged in a rapid recharge mode in the event of coupling of said vehicle (V) to an external power source, and ii) computers carrying out diagnoses and/or delivering diagnostic results, characterized in that it further comprises a monitoring device (DS) according to claim 9.