JP5912326B2 - In-vehicle gateway control device and vehicle charging system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle gateway control device and a vehicle charging system, and in particular, charges an in-vehicle battery by supplying power from an external charging device, and relays communication data from the external charging device by an in-vehicle gateway means. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle gateway control device and a vehicle charging system that are suitable for transmission toward a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system for charging an in-vehicle battery mounted on a vehicle by supplying power from an external charging device (for example, a commercial power source installed in a house) is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). This system supplies electric power from an external charging device to an in-vehicle battery via a charging cable by connecting an outlet of the external charging device and an outlet provided in the vehicle via a charging cable. Thus, the in-vehicle battery can be charged.

  In the above system, the vehicle and the external charging device can perform data communication via the control line when charging the in-vehicle battery via the power line. Specifically, the vehicle includes a control circuit that performs control related to charging of the in-vehicle battery. This control circuit can receive a pilot signal, which is an oscillation signal supplied from an external charging device via a charging cable, through a control line, and based on the received pilot signal, the connection state of the charging cable and the external charging device It is possible to determine whether or not power can be supplied to the on-vehicle battery. For example, when the pilot signal is not received, it is determined that the connection of the charging cable is released by removing the connector, and the charging control to the in-vehicle battery is stopped.

  In addition to the PLT communication using the control line as described above, the vehicle and the external charging device are made to communicate with each other by using a power line connecting the insertion port to which the charging cable is connected and the in-vehicle battery (power line communication). ) Is considered. In this power line communication, for example, data indicating a charge amount or a charging fee when charging an in-vehicle battery, or authentication data of a person (vehicle driver, vehicle owner, etc.) who charged the in-vehicle battery may be exchanged. Is possible. In such a configuration, in order to send data distributed on the power line to a specific in-vehicle electronic control unit that performs control based on the data, the in-vehicle communication line (for example, CAN) to which the in-vehicle electronic control unit is connected, It is conceivable to provide in-vehicle gateway means for performing data relay between the two.

JP 2010-81661 A

  By the way, in the above-described in-vehicle gateway means, the gateway function operates when the main power supply is turned on. However, when the charging cable from the external charging device is not connected to the outlet, the data is not supplied from the external charging device via the power line, so the gateway by the in-vehicle gateway means always when the main power is on. It is not appropriate from a power consumption point of view that the function works normally.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an in-vehicle gateway control device and a vehicle charging system capable of reducing unnecessary power consumption by avoiding unnecessary operation of the gateway function. The purpose is to do.

The above-mentioned purpose is to connect a connector provided at the other end of the cable connected to one end to an external charging device that outputs a predetermined signal that changes state, and one end connected to the insertion port. An in-vehicle battery connected to a power line and charged by being supplied with power from the external charging device via the cable and the power line; connected to the power line; and from the external charging device via the cable and the power line An in-vehicle gateway unit having a relay function for relaying supplied communication data and transmitting the data to a predetermined in-vehicle device, wherein the gateway control device is installed in a vehicle, and supplies / stops power to the in-vehicle gateway unit a start switch for switching the one end connected to said outlet, said predetermined signal input through the cable from the external charging device distribution A signal line that, and determines the connection state determining means a connection state of the connector into the receptacle, when the activation switch is in a state that allows the power supply to the in-vehicle gateway device, the connection state determining means When it is determined that the connector is connected to the insertion port, the vehicle-mounted gateway means is in an operating state that permits the relay function, while the connector is not connected to the insertion port. A gateway control unit that sets the in-vehicle gateway unit to a standby state that restricts the relay function when the determination is made, and the connection state determination unit determines whether the predetermined signal flows through the signal line. The on- board gateway control device is characterized in that the connection state is determined based on the above .

  According to the present invention, unnecessary power consumption can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary operation of the gateway function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram of a vehicle charging system provided with the vehicle-mounted gateway control apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of an example of the control routine performed in the vehicle-mounted gateway control apparatus of a present Example. It is an example time chart implement | achieved in the vehicle-mounted gateway control apparatus of a present Example.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a vehicle charging system including an in-vehicle gateway control device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle charging system includes an in-vehicle gateway control device 10 and an external charging device (EVSE; Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) 12. The in-vehicle gateway control device 10 is mounted on a vehicle 16 having an in-vehicle battery 14. The vehicle 16 is a plug-in vehicle in which the in-vehicle battery 14 is charged using the external charging device 12. The in-vehicle battery 14 is a chargeable / dischargeable high-voltage DC power supply, and is, for example, a secondary battery such as nickel metal hydride or lithium ion. The in-vehicle battery 14 can be charged with electric power from the external charging device 12 and can be charged with generated electric power from an in-vehicle generator or the like.

  The external charging device 12 is a charging stand installed in a gas station, a convenience store, a vehicle repair shop, a general home, and the like. For example, an external power source (for example, a commercial power source) connected via a power outlet is used for charging described later. It is possible to charge the vehicle-mounted battery 14 of the vehicle 16 connected via a cable. The external charging device 12 can generate a control pilot signal (hereinafter referred to as a CPLT signal) that is a pulse signal whose state changes at a predetermined cycle, and can also generate predetermined communication data. It is.

  The CPLT signal is a signal communicated between the control circuit of the external charging device 12 that supplies power to the vehicle 16 and the control circuit of the vehicle 16. For example, whether or not power can be supplied from the external charging device 12 to the vehicle 16. And a signal necessary for charging the vehicle 16 from the external charging device 12 indicating the rated current of the external charging device 12 and the like. The predetermined communication data is, for example, input ID data of a person who charges the in-vehicle battery 14, data related to charging contents from the external charging device 12 to the vehicle 16 indicating a charging amount, a charging fee, and the like.

  One end of a charging cable 18 is connected to the external charging device 12. The charging cable 18 includes at least a power line through which power from the external charging device 12 flows and a signal line through which a CPLT signal flows. The external charging device 12 can charge the in-vehicle battery 14 using the power line of the charging cable 18 and can communicate the above-described predetermined communication data with the in-vehicle device. The CPLT signal can be supplied to the in-vehicle device using the line.

  A connector 20 for connecting to the vehicle 16 side is provided at the other end of the charging cable 18. The connector 20 is a male connector having terminals that are connected to lines included in the charging cable 18. The vehicle 16 has an insertion port 22 to which a connector 20 provided at the other end of the charging cable 18 is connected. The insertion port 22 is a female inlet having terminals corresponding to the number of wires included in the charging cable 18. The insertion port 22 is provided in the vicinity (for example, the rear portion of the vehicle body, the side portion of the vehicle body, the front portion of the vehicle body, etc.) where the in-vehicle battery 14 is disposed. The insertion port 22 has a power supply terminal 22 a connected to the power line of the charging cable 18 and a signal terminal 22 b connected to the signal line of the charging cable 18.

  The power terminal 22 a of the insertion port 22 and the in-vehicle battery 14 are connected via a power line 24. An electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU-A) 26 that performs a gateway function for power line communication with the external charging device 12 is connected to the power line 24. In the power line 24, the power from the external charging device 12 and the communication data that have flowed through the power line of the charging cable 18 flow in a superimposed manner. Electric power from the external charging device 12 is supplied to the in-vehicle battery 14 through the power line 24. Electric power from the external charging device 12 is converted into a DC voltage and supplied to the in-vehicle battery 14. Further, communication data from the external charging device 12 is supplied to the ECU-A 26.

  An ECU-B 30 and an ECU-C 32 are also connected to the ECU-A 26 via an in-vehicle communication line 28. The in-vehicle communication line 28 is, for example, a CAN communication line capable of bidirectionally transferring data between the ECUs 26, 30, and 32. The ECUs 30 and 32 are, for example, a verification ECU that authenticates whether or not the person who charges the in-vehicle battery 14 is the owner or driver of the own vehicle, or counts or displays the amount of charge or the charge ECU etc. which perform. The ECU-A 26 has a gateway function that relays the communication data supplied from the external charging device 12 via the charging cable 18 and the power line 24 and transmits the relayed data to the ECUs 30 and 32.

  Further, the signal terminal 22 b of the insertion port 22 and the ECU-A 26 are directly connected via a signal line 34. The CPLT signal that has flowed through the signal line of the charging cable 18 flows through the signal line 34. The CPLT signal from the external charging device 12 is supplied to the ECU-A 26. The ECU-A 26 determines the presence or absence of a CPLT signal from the external charging device 12 based on the state of the signal line 34, and the connector 20 at the other end of the charging cable 18 connected at one end to the external charging device 12 is connected. It is determined whether or not it is connected to the inlet 22. Further, when it is determined that the connector 20 is connected to the insertion port 22, whether or not power can be supplied from the external charging device 12 to the vehicle 16 based on the contents of the CPLT signal or the like, and the external charging device 12. Judge the rated current etc.

  A main power source 36 is also connected to the ECU-A 26. The main power source 36 is a power source (for example, 12 volt power source) necessary for starting the ECU-A 26, that is, for executing the charging control of the in-vehicle battery 14 by the ECU-A 26 and the relay function of communication data. The main power source 36 is a power source that turns on / off the power supply (voltage output) to the ECU-A 26 according to the state of the start switch. This start switch is, for example, whether or not the charging cable 18 can be manually inserted into the insertion port 22 by the operation of the charger (for example, a cover provided on the vehicle body covering the insertion port 22 is opened). This is a switch for automatically switching between permitting or stopping the power supply from the main power source 36 to the ECU-A 26 according to whether the power is closed or not.

  Next, the operation of a system including the in-vehicle gateway control device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed by the ECU-A 26 in the in-vehicle gateway control device 10 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an example time chart realized in the in-vehicle gateway control device 10 of the present embodiment.

  In this embodiment, when the charger wishes to charge the in-vehicle battery 14 of the vehicle 16, the connector 20 at the other end of the charging cable 18 connected at one end to the external charging device 12 is inserted into the insertion port 22 of the vehicle 16. Plug in and connect. Further, when the on-vehicle battery 14 is charged from the external charging device 12, the start switch shifts the power supply from the main power source 36 to the ECU-A 26 from the stopped state to the permitted state. Is turned on.

  When the main power supply 36 is turned off because the start switch is in the stopped state, the power supply from the main power supply 36 to the ECU-A 26 is stopped, so the ECU-A 26 indicates that the main power supply 36 is turned off. A determination is made (when a negative determination is made in step 100), and a stop mode (sleep mode) in which each function is stopped except for a function for detecting the occurrence of an event such as edge reception is set (step 102).

  On the other hand, when the main power source 36 is turned on because the start switch is in the permitted state, power is supplied from the main power source 36 to the ECU-A 26, so that the ECU-A 26 has the main power source 36 turned on. (When affirmative determination is made in step 100), it is then determined whether or not the CPLT signal from the external charging device 12 is received from the state of the signal line 34 (step 104).

  The ECU-A 26 receives the CPLT signal only when the connector 20 at the other end of the charging cable 18 connected at one end to the external charging device 12 is connected to the insertion port 22 of the vehicle 16. When it is determined that the CPLT signal is received, the ECU-A 26 determines that the vehicle 16 is in the inlet connection state in which the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is inserted into the insertion port 22 (step 106). When the ECU-A 26 determines that the vehicle 16 is in the inlet connection state, a mode (gateway permission mode) in which the gateway function for relaying communication data from the external charging device 12 to the ECUs 30 and 32 is permitted as usual. (Step 108). When the gateway permission mode is realized, the ECU-A 26 activates the gateway function, and when communication data is supplied from the external charging device 12 via the power line 24, the communication data is relayed to the in-vehicle communication line. 28 to the ECUs 30 and 32.

  On the other hand, if the ECU-A 26 determines that the CPLT signal has not been received, the ECU-A 26 determines that the vehicle 16 is in an inlet non-connected state in which the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is not inserted into the insertion port 22 (step). 110). When the ECU-A 26 determines that the vehicle 16 is in the inlet non-connected state, the ECU-A 26 does not permit the gateway function described above, and for example, a standby mode (low power consumption mode) that restricts functions including internal clock inoperability. (Step 112). When such a standby mode is realized, the ECU-A 26 does not perform the gateway function, so that power consumption is reduced.

  Thus, in the in-vehicle gateway control device 10 of the present embodiment, the ECU-A 26 enters the stop mode when the main power supply 36 is turned off, and when the main power supply 36 is turned on, the insertion port The gateway permission mode is set when the inlet 20 is connected to the connector 20 of the charging cable 18, and the standby mode is set when the inlet 20 is not connected to the connector 22 where the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is not inserted.

  When the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is inserted into the insertion port 22, the ECU-A 26 receives communication data communicated via the power line 24 from the external charging device 12 to which one end of the charging cable 18 is connected. In addition, the communication data can be relayed to the ECUs 30 and 32. On the other hand, when the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is not inserted into the insertion port 22, the ECU-A 26 does not transmit the communication data itself from the external charging device 12. It is not necessary to perform the relay processing of the communication data itself.

  Therefore, according to the in-vehicle gateway control device 10 of the present embodiment, when the main power supply 36 is in the ON state, when the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 on the external charging device 12 side is inserted into the insertion port 22, While the gateway function by the ECU-A 26 can be operated as usual, when the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is not inserted into the insertion port 22 even when the main power supply 36 is in the ON state, the ECU-A 26 Since the operation of the gateway function can be stopped, unnecessary operation of the gateway function by the ECU-A 26 can be avoided, thereby reducing wasteful power consumption.

  Further, even if the main power supply 36 is in the ON state, the ECU-A 26 maintains the standby mode until the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 is inserted into the insertion port 22 of the vehicle 16, and then the connector connection is made. It becomes gateway permission mode only after this is realized. After that, when the main power source 36 is in the ON state, the gateway permission mode is maintained until the connector 20 inserted into the insertion port 22 is removed from the insertion port 22, and then the connector connection is released. It becomes standby mode. That is, the standby mode and the gateway permission mode of the ECU-A 26 are switched in accordance with the insertion / removal of the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 to / from the insertion port 22 of the vehicle 16. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, even when the main power source 36 is turned on, the mode of the ECU-A 26 is changed to the standby mode only by inserting / removing the connector 20 into / from the insertion port 22 by the operation of the charger. Since the switching can be performed in the gateway permission mode, the switching can be easily and easily performed by the operation outside the vehicle.

  By the way, in the above embodiment, the charging cable 18 is included in the “cable” described in the claims, and the ECU-B30 and the ECU-C32 are included in the “predetermined in-vehicle device” described in the claims. Corresponds to the “in-vehicle gateway means” recited in the claims, and the activation switch for turning on / off the main power supply 36 corresponds to the “activation switch” recited in the claims. Further, the ECU-A 26 executes the processing of steps 104, 106, and 110 in the routine shown in FIG. 2, and the “connection state determination means” described in the claims executes the processing of steps 108 and 112. Thus, the “gateway control means” is realized.

  In the above embodiment, communication of communication data from the external charging device 12 to the ECU-A 26 of the vehicle 16 is performed using the power line 24 through which the power supplied to the in-vehicle battery 14 flows, and the ECU-A 26 is externally connected. Although the communication data is relayed from the charging device 12 to the ECU-B and ECU-C, the communication data is communicated using the signal line 34, and the ECU-A 26 is connected to the ECU- B, relaying communication data to ECU-C may be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the ECU-A 26 determines the connection of the connector 20 of the charging cable 18 to the insertion port 22 of the vehicle 16 based on the presence or absence of the CPLT signal transmitted from the external charging device 12. For example, a sensor for detecting whether or not the connector is connected is provided in the vicinity of the insertion port 22 of the vehicle 16, and the sensor signal is taken into the ECU-A 26 and the sensor signal is sent to the ECU-A 26. The presence or absence of connector connection may be determined based on the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 In-vehicle gateway control apparatus 12 External charging device 14 In-vehicle battery 16 Vehicle 18 Charging cable 20 Connector 22 Insertion port 24 Power line 26 ECU-A
28 In-vehicle communication line 34 Signal line

Claims (2)

Connected to the outlet connected to the connector provided at the other end of the cable connected to one end of the external charging device that outputs a predetermined signal that changes state, and to the power line connected to one end of the outlet, In-vehicle battery charged by being supplied with power from the external charging device via the cable and the power line, and communication data connected to the power line and supplied from the external charging device via the cable and the power line An in-vehicle gateway means having a relay function for relaying and transmitting to a predetermined in-vehicle device, and a gateway control device mounted on a vehicle,
An activation switch for switching power supply / stop to the in-vehicle gateway means;
One end connected to the insertion port, a signal line through which the predetermined signal input from the external charging device via the cable,
Connection state determination means for determining a connection state of the connector to the insertion port;
When the activation switch is in a state allowing power supply to the in-vehicle gateway means, when the connection state determining means determines that the connector is connected to the insertion port, the in-vehicle gateway means is On the other hand, when it is determined that the relay function is permitted and the connector is not connected to the insertion port, the in-vehicle gateway means is set to a standby state that restricts the relay function; and , equipped with a,
The connection state determination means determines the connection state based on whether or not the predetermined signal flows through the signal line .
In-vehicle gateway control device. A vehicle having a vehicle gateway controller according to claim 1 Symbol placement,
The external charging device;
Including vehicle charging system.

Images