GB2466561A - Electric vehicle battery charge indicator - Google Patents

Electric vehicle battery charge indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2466561A
GB2466561A GB0921768A GB0921768A GB2466561A GB 2466561 A GB2466561 A GB 2466561A GB 0921768 A GB0921768 A GB 0921768A GB 0921768 A GB0921768 A GB 0921768A GB 2466561 A GB2466561 A GB 2466561A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
battery
charge
electric vehicle
charge status
display
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0921768A
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GB0921768D0 (en
GB2466561B (en
Inventor
Hisashi Nishimura
Ryoichi Hino
Hidetaka Mitsuoka
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mitsubishi Motors Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Publication of GB0921768D0 publication Critical patent/GB0921768D0/en
Publication of GB2466561A publication Critical patent/GB2466561A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2466561B publication Critical patent/GB2466561B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D7/00—Indicating measured values
    • G01D7/02—Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B60L58/10—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries
    • B60L58/12—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries responding to state of charge [SoC]
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
    • B60K35/20—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
    • B60K35/21—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays
    • B60K35/22—Display screens
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
    • B60K35/20—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
    • B60K35/28—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K37/00—Dashboards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/30—Constructional details of charging stations
    • B60L53/305—Communication interfaces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/371—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0047—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2250/00—Driver interactions
    • B60L2250/16—Driver interactions by display
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
    • B60Y2200/00—Type of vehicle
    • B60Y2200/90—Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
    • B60Y2200/91—Electric vehicles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/005—Testing of electric installations on transport means
    • G01R31/006—Testing of electric installations on transport means on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks
    • G01R31/007—Testing of electric installations on transport means on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks using microprocessors or computers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/12—Electric charging stations
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/16—Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Instrument Panels (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

A charge indicator for an electric vehicle (1, Figure 1) powered by driving a motor using a battery (11, Figure 1) as an output source includes a meter assembly and charge status display means. The meter assembly 18 is capable of displaying a speed 18b of the electric vehicle. The charge status display means 18c are provided on the meter assembly. The charge status display means 18c are configured to display a charge status of the battery (11) and to be set a brightness level thereof from a plurality of brightness levels. The charge status display means are configured to display the charge status of the battery at a lowest brightness level of the brightness levels when the battery (11) charging started. Optionally a chargeability display means 18d may be incorporated indicating if the batter (11) may be charged. There may be a wireless device (2, Figure 3) in wireless communication with vehicle (1) able to display the battery charge status.

Description

CHARGE INDICATOR FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charge indicator for electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles are powered by driving a motor with a battery as an output source. The battery is charged via a cable from an external power supply such as a home-use power supply. To this end, such an electric vehicle is provided, e.g., on an external portion of the vehicle body, with a power supply section for charging the battery.
Conventionally, since an electric vehicle battery was charged while the electric vehicle is at a standstill, there was no means for checking the charge status of the battery during charging. In this context, a charge indicator for such an electric vehicle is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The charge indicator is provided with a power supply section having a battery charge connector and an openable lid disposed so as to cover the battery charge connector. The power supply section is provided with a display panel that displays the time required to fully charge the battery and the already available charge level of the battery. The display panel allows the vehicle operator driving the electric vehicle to check easily from outside the electric vehicle whether the battery is being charged or has been completely charged.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. H09-285022 However, an electric vehicle battery is charged with an AC power supply inserted into the charge connector of the power supply section, so that the lid of the power supply section is kept open during the charge. For this reason, with the display panel provided on the power supply section as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the display panel is turned on outside the vehicle body at night and light leaked into the surrounding environment around the vehicle, possibly creating an undesirable situation. Furthermore, for example, when it is raining, rainwater was likely to get into the power supply section. Thus, it is required to take countermeasures against it by providing an additional structure for ensuring reliability such as by providing rainproof means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one advantageous aspect of the present invention to provide a charge indicator for an electric vehicle which allows for easily checking the charge status of an onboard battery of the electric vehicle while ensuring reliability.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a charge indicator for an electric vehicle powered by driving a motor using a battery as an output source, the charge indicator comprising: a meter assembly capable of displaying a speed of the electric vehicle; and charge status display means, provided on the meter assembly, configured to display a charge status of the battery, configured to be set a brightness level thereof from a plurality of brightness levels, and configured to display the charge status of the battery at a lowest brightness level of the brightness levels when the battery is started to be charged.
The charge indicator may further comprise chargeability display means, provided on the meter assembly, and configured to display whether the battery can be charged.
The charge indicator may be configured such that the charge status is displayed on an external device configured to execute a wireless communication with the electric vehicle.
The charge indicator may be configured such that the charge status includes a remaining charge level of the battery.
The charge indicator may be configured such that the charge status includes an expected charge completion time.
The charge indicator for an electric vehicle according to the first invention described above is a charge indicator for an electric vehicle that is powered by driving a motor with a battery as an output source. The charge indicator includes a meter assembly that is capable of displaying speeds. The meter assembly is provided with a charge status display means, which is adapted to display a charge status of the battery while the vehicle is running.
The charge status may include a remaining charge level of the battery and a expected charge completion time. The brightness of the level display means can be dimmed in multiple levels, and the charge level display means displays the charge status of the battery at the minimum brightness while the battery is started to be charged. Thus, the charge status during charging of the onboard battery is operable to be easily checked to ensure reliability, while preventing light from being leaked into the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the charge status is displayed using the charge status display means provided on the meter assembly. This makes it possible to reduce the number of development steps when compared with a case where a charge level display means adapted to display the remaining charge level or the charge status display means are manufactured separately.
Furthermore, the charge indicator for an electric vehicle according to the second invention includes a chargeability display means which, when a battery is connected to an external power supply, displays whether the battery can be charged. Thus, for example, when the battery cannot be charged due to shortage of voltage of the external power supply, the user can immediately recognize that the battery cannot be charged and then take some countermeasures, thus providing improved convenience.
Furthermore, the charge indicator for an electric vehicle according to the third invention further includes an external device adapted so as to make possible communication with the electric vehicle, so that the external device is capable of displaying the charge status of the battery. It is thus possible to check the charge status of the battery via the external device at a location away from the vehicle, providing improved convenience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric vehicle to which a charge indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the charge indicator during charging a battery of the electric vehicle.
Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the charge indicator during not charging the battery.
Fig. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of a portable device
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adapted to communicate with an electric vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS
Now, a charge indicator for an electric vehicle according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1, an electric vehicle 1, to which a charge indicator according to the present embodiment is applied, includes a motor or a power source for the electric vehicle 1, a battery pack 11 serving as a power source for various electrical components such as various types of lamps and an air conditioner, and an electronic controller (Electric Vehicle-Electronic Control Unit: EV-ECU) 12 for providing electronic contralto the entire electric vehicle 1.
The battery pack 11 includes a plurality of battery cells 13, a cell monitoring unit (CMU) 14 corresponding to each of the battery cells 13, and a battery management unit 15 connected to each cell monitoring unit 14 and the electronic controller 12.
The battery cells 13 accumulate power to drive the electric vehicle 1 and each connected to an onboard charger 16. The onboard charger 16 is connectable via a cable 17 to an external power supply such as a home-use power supply. That is, by connecting the cable 17 to the external power supply, the battery cells 13 can be charged via the onboard charger 16.
The cell monitoring units 14 monitor the charge status of the respectively corresponding battery cells 13. The charge status of the battery cells 13 acquired by the respective cell monitoring units 14 is input to the battery management unit 15.
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The battery management unit 15 monitors the charge status such as the charge rate (the state of charge: SOC) of the entire battery pack 11 based on the charge status of each battery cell 13 input from the cell monitoring unit 14, and outputs the acquired charge status to the electronic controller 12, to be described below. Based on a command from the electronic controller 12, the battery management unit 15 also adjusts the amount of power supplied from the battery pack 11 to electrical components such as electric motors or air conditioners (not shown) that are mounted on the electric vehicle 1.
The electronic controller 12, which is capable of operating even when the electric vehicle I is at standstill, is adapted to control at least a meter assembly 18 and an antenna 19 in addition to the aforementioned battery management unit 15.
The meter assembly 18 is capable of displaying the speed indication, charge status indication, and chargeability. The meter assembly 18 is adapted to adjust in multiple levels the brightness at which these indications are displayed. More specifically, as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the meter assembly 18 comprises, on a single mounted panel 18a, a speedometer 18b, a charge level meter 18c (charge status display means) serving as a charge level display means, a chargeability display section 18d serving as a chargeability display means, and a dimmer switch 18e. By fitting the mounted panel 18a into an instrument panel la, the speedometer 18b, the charge level meter 18c, the chargeability display section 18d, and the dimmer switch 18e can be integrally installed in the electric vehicle 1.
The speedometer 18b is a portion for displaying the vehicle speed of the electric vehicle 1 while it is running. The charge level meter 18c is a
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portion for displaying the remaining battery level of the entire battery pack 11.
As shown in Fig. 2A, the remaining battery level is designed to be displayed by increasing or decreasing the segments in number that appear on the liquid crystal display (LCD). As shown in Fig. 2B, the charge level meter 18c is designed such that the indications disappear when the electric vehicle 1 is at standstill and the battery cell 13 is not being charged.
The chargeability display section 18d is a portion for displaying the chargeability of the entire battery pack 11 by being turned on, turned off, or flashed. Like the charge level meter 18c, the chargeability display section 18d is also designed such that the indications disappear, as shown in Fig. 2B, when the electric vehicle 1 is at standstill and the battery cell 13 is not being charged.
The dimmer switch 1 8e is capable of switching the brightness of the backlight of the charge level meter 18c in multiple levels (e.g., 4 levels).
The meter assembly 18 may display the instructions in other than a running condition, for example, when the key switch is at the accessory power supply ON (ACC) position.
Furthermore, the antenna 19 transmits the information input from the electronic controller 12 by wireless communication to a portable device 2 which is an external device, and outputs the information supplied by radio from the portable device 2 by wireless communication to the electronic controller 12.
This makes possible communication between the electronic controller 12 and the portable device 2.
For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the portable device 2 provided with a display screen 2a displays on the display screen 2a the charge rate of the entire battery pack 11 input from the electronic controller 12. The portable
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device 2 can also make various types of settings such as settings of scheduled boarding times by communicating with the electronic controller 12.
Now, description will be made for the process of the electronic controller 12 when the battery cell 13 is being charged. When having detected that the battery cell 13 has started to be charged, the electronic controller 12 first sends a command to the charge level meter 18c and the chargeability display section 18d to display the charge rate and chargeability of the entire battery pack 11, respectively.
More specifically, the controller 12 causes the charge level meter 1 8c to turn on the backlight of the liquid crystal display and controls the number of segments to be turned on according to the charge rate input from the battery management unit 15. At this time, the backlight of the liquid crystal display is turned on at the minimum possible brightness of the multiple levels that can be set by the dimmer switch 18e, regardless of the brightness set thereby.
Furthermore, the controller 12 determines whether charging is possible; if it is determined that charging is possible, the controller 12 causes the chargeability display section 18d to turn on the backlight of the chargeability display section 18d. If it is determined that charging is not possible, e.g., due to shortage of voltage, the controller 12 causes the backlight of the chargeability display section 18d to flash. When all the battery cells 13 have been fully charged, the controller 12 sends a command to the charge level meter 18c and the chargeability display section 18d to turn off their respective backlights. The user of the electric vehicle 1 can visually check the charge level meter 18c and the chargeability display section 18d from outside the vehicle through a window.
I
Furthermore, for example, while the battery cell 13 is being charged, the controller 12 performs processing such as sending, via the antenna 19 to the portable device 2, the charge rate and the expected charge completion time of the entire battery pack 11 at that point in time in response to a request from the portable device 2. This makes it possible for the user to check the charge status of the entire battery pack 11 even at a location away from the vehicle.
By performing such processing, the user can recognize, the charge status of the entire battery pack 11 on the charge level meter 18c installed in the vehicle and the portable device 2 while the battery cell 13 is being charged.
According to the charge indicator for an electric vehicle of the present embodiment, the aforementioned construction allows the meter assembly to be provided with the charge level meter 18c, which is used to display the charge status of the entire battery pack 11 while being charged. When compared with a case where the charge level meter is provided outside the vehicle, this arrangement will make it easier to maintain its quality and high reliability.
Furthermore, the charge level meter 18c is installed inside the vehicle and thus leakage of light into the surrounding environment can be prevented.
Furthermore, the charge level meter 18c is mounted on the single mounted panel 18a in conjunction with the speedometer 18b to constitute the meter assembly, thus making it possible to reduce the manpower required for development when compared with a case where the charge level meter 18c is manufactured as a separate unit. Furthermore, the charge level meter 18c can be installed in the electric vehicle 1 integrally with the speedometer 18b, thereby facilitating its installation work.
In addition, the charge status of the entire battery pack 11 can be displayed on the portable device 2 which is adapted so as to make possible communication with the electronic controller 12. Thus, at a location away from the vehicle, this makes it possible to check the charge status by the portable device 2, thus providing improved convenience.
In addition, the aforementioned embodiment describes such an example where the chargeability display section 18d and the dimmer switch 18e are provided on the mounted panel 18a. However, the position where these components are provided is not limited to the mounted panel 18a, but they may aiso be installed on the instrument panel la. However, the chargeability display section 18d is to be installed at a position that can be checked from outside the vehicle window.
Furthermore, the aforementioned embodiment describes such an example where the chargeability display section 18d is turned on while the battery is being charged, flashed when it cannot be charged, and turned off when it has been fully charged. However, the indications on the chargeability display section 18d are not limited to them; what is essentially required is only to be able to distinguish the chargeability by an indication on the chargeability display section 18d.
Furthermore, the aforementioned embodiment describes such an example where the charge level meter 1 8b appears on the liquid crystal display.
However, the invention is not limited to the liquid crystal display as long as it can display the charge level, and any modification can be made to the present invention without deviating from the scope and spirit thereof.
The present invention is applicable to a charge indicator for an electric vehicle.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment but may be modified in a variety of ways without deviating from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
GB0921768A 2008-12-24 2009-12-11 Charge indicator for electric vehicles Active GB2466561B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008327053A JP4650567B2 (en) 2008-12-24 2008-12-24 Electric vehicle charging display

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0921768D0 GB0921768D0 (en) 2010-01-27
GB2466561A true GB2466561A (en) 2010-06-30
GB2466561B GB2466561B (en) 2011-06-15

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JP (1) JP4650567B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101011624B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101764419B (en)
DE (1) DE102009060313B4 (en)
FR (1) FR2940456B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2466561B (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102529739A (en) * 2010-12-23 2012-07-04 大陆汽车有限责任公司 Electric motor vehicle having a display device
DE102011121058A1 (en) 2011-12-14 2013-06-20 Volkswagen Ag Method and device for displaying information about an energy storage of a vehicle
GB2510126A (en) * 2013-01-24 2014-07-30 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Indicating charging status of electric vehicle by altering height of suspension
GB2510124A (en) * 2013-01-24 2014-07-30 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Electric vehicle with externally visible charging indication
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