JP2010183773A - Charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To overcome the problems that a supply load of a charge increases as the number of batteries of a vehicle increases, one charger causes an increase in the heat generation amount generated by loss, and also causes the enlargement of an onboard power supply device due to component enlargement in a charging device for batteries mounted in the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: In the charging device, a charge module 102a receives driving control signals from a control unit 105, and changes power supply to the battery 114 according to the driving control signals. A plurality of charge modules are provided in parallel, thereby reducing the heat generation amount and miniaturizing an onboard power supply device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging device that is powered from the outside of a vehicle and charges an in-vehicle battery.

  An electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like that drives a vehicle with electricity is equipped with a large-capacity battery that can supply a large driving force to drive the vehicle body.

  In designing a system with a large-capacity battery, the determination of the power supply voltage and the rated current is a major issue. In particular, since the rated current is directly related to the amount of heat generated by the resistance component inherent in the system, attempts to reduce this are known.

In addition to the example of adopting a high-voltage battery module as an attempt to reduce the power supply current per unit module of an on-vehicle large-capacity battery, a plurality of battery modules as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are arranged in parallel. There is known a configuration in which the current capacity per unit module is suppressed by connecting to. In this configuration, by connecting the batteries in parallel, the drive can be continued with the remaining batteries connected in parallel even when a problem such as the loss of the capacity of a certain battery occurs.
Japanese Patent No. 3655277 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-147477

  However, these two patent documents have the feature that the battery capacity of the vehicle can be freely increased / decreased because the voltage configuration of the power supply system does not change with respect to the change of the on-board battery capacity of the vehicle. There is no disclosure of how to charge the on-board battery using a power source.

  In a charging device that charges a battery of a vehicle, an increase in power supplied to a charging unit for performing charging by power feeding from the outside of the vehicle is required as the number of on-board batteries increases. As the supply load of the charger increases, an increase in the amount of heat generated due to loss in one charger is a problem. Moreover, in one charger, the problem that a component will enlarge and the power supply apparatus of a vehicle will be enlarged will generate | occur | produce.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charging device that generates a small amount of heat and can reduce the size of a power supply device.

  The charging device of the present invention inputs a status signal supplied from a battery, outputs a drive control signal, inputs power and a drive control signal from the control means, and supplies the battery to the battery according to the drive control signal. Charging means for changing supply power is provided, and a plurality of the charging means are provided in parallel.

  The charging device of the present invention can reduce the amount of heat generated and can reduce the size of the on-vehicle power supply device.

Hereinafter, a charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle power supply device in which a plurality of charging modules are provided in parallel with respect to a single battery module mounted on a vehicle.

  The configuration of the in-vehicle power supply device will be described. A plug 106 that is a power supply unit outside the vehicle supplies power to the power supply unit 101. Here, the power supply method outside the vehicle is not particularly limited, but will be described as a three-phase 200V power source wired in a general household. The AC / DC converter unit of the power supply unit 101 converts the power from the plug 106 from AC to DC. The charging unit 102 is connected to the power source unit 101, and a plurality of charging modules 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f are connected in parallel to distribute and convert electric power. The DC / AC conversion unit 111 of the charging module 102a converts the direct current input from the AC / converter unit 110 of the power supply unit 101 into alternating current. The charging modules 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f are also connected to the power supply unit 101 and perform the same operation as the charging module 102a. The power storage unit 103 is connected to the charging modules 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, 102 e, 102 f of the charging unit 102, and the power from the DC / AC conversion unit 111 is boosted or stepped down by the transformer 112, and the AC of the rectifier 113 is Supplied via the DC converter section. Control unit 105 is connected to charging unit 102 and power storage unit 103, and performs charge / discharge control according to the state of battery 114 of power storage unit 103. Vehicle load 107 is connected to power storage unit 103 and supplied with power from power storage unit 103.

  The operation will be described below. In the power supply unit 101, the power supplied from the plug 106 is rectified via the rectifier 110 of the power supply unit 101, and is supplied to the charging units 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f. In the charging module 102a, the power supplied from the power supply unit 101 and the charging control signal output from the control unit 105 are input, and the DC / AC conversion unit 111 converts the power into AC power according to the charging control signal, and the transformer 112 and charging power are supplied to the power storage unit 103 via the rectifier 113. The charging modules 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f connected in parallel to the charging module 102a also operate in the same manner, and charging power is supplied to the power storage unit 103.

  In the power storage unit 103, the charging power supplied from the charging modules 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f is connected to the battery 114, and the battery 114 is charged. On the other hand, when the power transmitted to the transformer 112 is not sufficient (that is, the electromotive voltage between the terminals of the transformer 112 is equal to or lower than the voltage of the battery 114), the battery 114 is charged by the rectifying action of the diode of the rectifier 113. Absent. The DC / DC conversion unit 116 inputs power stored in the battery 114, performs power conversion according to a power control signal input from the control unit 105, and supplies power to the vehicle load 107. In addition, when the vehicle load generates power due to brake regeneration or the like, regenerative power is supplied to the battery 114 via the DC / DC conversion unit 116 according to the power control signal, and the battery 114 is charged.

  The battery sensor 115 detects the state of the battery 114 (battery temperature, terminal voltage, charge / discharge current), and the detection information is output to the control unit 105 as a battery state signal.

The control unit 105 is set with a charge mode, a drive mode, and a charge / discharge mode. These modes are switched automatically according to the situation of the vehicle, or manually switched. As an example of automatic switching according to the situation of the vehicle, when power supply from the outside of the vehicle is interrupted, the mode is switched to the drive mode. Charge / discharge is also detected when the power supply from outside the vehicle is detected, and when a large power consumption device (such as a car air conditioner or car multimedia device) mounted on the vehicle is turned on or when the engine is started, or when the temperature of the engine or motor is low. Switch to mode. Also, when switching from drive mode to parking mode, when the door is locked when the car key is outside the car,
When the engine is stopped, the charging mode is set when the amount of power generated by the solar panel exceeds a certain value. In addition, the charging mode is switched when power feeding from the outside of the vehicle is started. Examples of manual switching include insertion of a charging paddle, pressing or switching of a mode switching button.

  The control unit 105 in the charging mode detects that power is supplied from the plug 106, and simultaneously inputs a battery state signal to start estimating the state of charge of the battery. After confirming that power is supplied from the plug 106, the charging unit 102 is charged in accordance with the estimation result of the charging state after a certain period of time. This is continued at least until the mode is switched or the state of charge of the battery is estimated to be fully charged. The control unit 105 in the drive mode stops the operation of the DC / AC conversion unit 111 and minimizes the current consumption of the power supply unit. This is for minimizing the instantaneous current generated when the plug 106 is inserted and removed, and the same effect can be obtained even if a switch is provided in the main power supply line of the power supply unit and this is cut off. In addition, the power storage unit 103 is charged and discharged according to the state of charge of the battery and the load state of the vehicle load.

  The effect of this embodiment will be described from the viewpoint of the in-vehicle device charging apparatus. What is important as an in-vehicle device is a wide temperature guarantee range (−40 ° C. to 100 ° C.), a small size and a light weight. In particular, thermal design is an important issue related to quality.

  When the calorific value in the charging unit is estimated, since six modules of the charging modules 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f are connected in parallel, the load current of the charging power is 1/6 when viewed for each module. Doubled. The amount of heat generated for each module caused by the inherent resistance component R and current I is proportional to R × I ^ 2 (I squared), so the amount of heat generated is 1/6 ^ 2 (6 squared). Since six modules are connected, the amount of heat generated by the entire charging unit 102 can be reduced to 1/6 compared to one charging module that generates power equivalent to that of the six charging modules.

  Consider a case where the same effect is pursued by reducing the resistance value in one charging module. When attention is paid to the transformer 112 composed of a coil and a magnetic material, the resistance component of the coil is inversely proportional to the square of its thickness, so that m ^ 0.5 (m Therefore, a size that is 1/2 the power of 2 is required. When converted to volume, m ^ 1.5 times (m to the power of 3/2), so the proposed method of connecting m units in parallel (m times the volume) is equivalent to 6 charging modules. It is clear that the size can be reduced as compared with one charging module that generates electric power. In addition, when the current is large due to the influence of the saturation characteristic of the magnetic flux density, the efficiency of the transformer 112 itself decreases, and the amount of heat generation becomes a more serious problem.

  As described above, with a configuration in which a plurality of charging modules are provided in parallel, a small-sized charging device with a small amount of heat generation can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an in-vehicle power supply according to an invention in which a plurality of charging modules are provided for a plurality of battery modules mounted on a vehicle.

  In the present embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  The difference between FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 is a configuration in which a plurality of power storage modules are provided in parallel.

  The operation in this configuration will be described below.

In the power supply unit 101, the power supplied from the plug 106 is rectified via the rectifier 110 and supplied to the charging modules 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f.

  In the charging module 102a, the power supplied from the power supply unit 101 and the charging control signal output from the control unit 105 are input, and the main power source is converted to AC power by the DC / AC conversion unit 111 in accordance with the charging control signal. The charge power is supplied to the power storage unit 103 through the transformer 112 and the rectifier 113. The charging modules 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f connected in parallel to the charging module 102a operate in the same manner, and charging power is supplied to the power storage modules 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e, and 103f corresponding to the respective charging modules. Is done.

  In the power storage unit 103, the charging power supplied from the charging units 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f is connected to the batteries of the respective charging modules, and the batteries are charged.

  The battery sensor 115 detects the state of the battery 114 (battery temperature, terminal voltage, charge / discharge current), and outputs the detected information to the control unit 105 as a battery state signal.

  The control unit 105 is set with a charge mode, a drive mode, and a charge / discharge mode. The control unit 105 in the charge mode inputs a battery state signal and estimates the state of charge of the battery. The charging unit 102 is charged according to the estimation result. Control unit 105 in charge / discharge mode performs charging / discharging of power storage unit 103 according to the state of charge of the battery and the load state of the vehicle load. In particular, in the case of this configuration having a plurality of batteries, charging and discharging can be appropriately repeated according to the individual remaining amount of each battery, and it is possible to avoid applying an excessive load only to a specific battery.

  With the configuration as described above, as described in the first embodiment, it is easy to save power, reduce the size and weight of the charging module, and at the same time, each charging module and the storage module are identical. By integrating in a package as a module, it is possible to obtain special effects such as easy handling, maintenance and replacement as a power supply module.

(Third embodiment)
In this embodiment, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the operating state of each of the modules systematized in a plurality is displayed, thereby making it easy to check the soundness of the system.

  In FIG. 3, the control unit 105 is connected to a display unit 301 that is a monitor. The control unit 105 collects battery state signals output from the respective power storage modules 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e, and 103f, updates the remaining amount estimation and charge / discharge characteristics of each battery, and estimates the degree of deterioration due to charge / discharge. To do. The control unit 105 includes a battery warning signal indicating that the degree of deterioration of the corresponding battery has exceeded a certain level from the battery state signals obtained from the power storage modules 103a, b, c, d, e, and f, and the remaining battery level. Send out an estimated value.

  The display unit 301 displays a battery deterioration warning icon and a battery state for the battery corresponding to the power storage module.

  Thus, by displaying a deterioration warning corresponding to the battery for a plurality of battery modules, system maintenance can be facilitated for the user. Further, by displaying the remaining amount of each battery, it is possible to notify the user of an appropriate charging time.

  The present invention relates to a charging device, and more particularly to a charging device that generates a small amount of heat and can reduce the size of an in-vehicle power supply device.

The block diagram of the vehicle-mounted power supply device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The block diagram of the vehicle-mounted power supply device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention The block diagram of the control part and display part of a vehicle-mounted power supply device in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention

102 Charging unit 103 Power storage unit 105 Control unit 114 Battery

Claims (3)

In a charging device for charging a battery mounted on a vehicle,
A plurality of charging modules that distribute power from outside the vehicle, step up or down the power, and supply power to the battery;
A charging device comprising: a control unit that estimates a state of a battery based on a state detection signal that detects a state of a battery mounted on the vehicle and performs charging control of the plurality of charging modules. The controller further includes a drive mode for driving the battery when the power supply from the outside of the vehicle is interrupted, a charge / discharge mode for detecting the power supply from the outside of the vehicle, and charging / discharging the battery during operation of the power consumption device of the vehicle, The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device is switched to any one of charging modes for charging the battery when the start of power supply is detected from outside the vehicle. The power supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit connected to the control unit and configured to input a battery status signal from the control unit.