JP6201889B2 - Conversion connector for different types of battery shared charger and different type of battery shared charger - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conversion connector for different types of batteries and a different type of connector that can be connected to connectors of different types of batteries having different shapes in order to enable charging to different types of batteries such as lead batteries and lithium ion batteries. It relates to a battery shared charger.

  There are many types of batteries that can be repeatedly used after being charged, such as lead batteries, lithium ion batteries, nickel / hydrogen batteries, nickel / cadmium batteries, and the like. Each type of rechargeable battery has different electrical and chemical characteristics during charging. For example, since a lead battery is relatively safe, a charger and a lead battery pack are connected via a connector. Thereafter, the charging current is immediately supplied by turning on the power switch of the charger.

  On the other hand, the lithium ion battery has a normal area and an abnormality occurrence area that are very close to each other. Therefore, various mechanisms for ensuring safety are applied. For example, a lithium ion battery is charged with a lithium ion battery charger. A connector connection detection circuit that detects that the battery pack is connected via the connector, a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication function that transmits and receives monitoring information of the lithium ion battery, and the like are provided.

  However, aligning each charger separately for different types of batteries increases the number of chargers to be prepared, which increases the space and cost, and makes it possible to provide a charger suitable for each battery during charging. It is necessary to select and connect correctly. Therefore, there is a demand for a different type battery shared charger that can charge different types of batteries.

  As a different type battery shared charger, for example, the following Patent Document 1 describes a charger that discriminates between a nickel-cadmium battery and a lead battery and selects a charge control method based on the determined result. Patent Document 2 below describes a nickel-cadmium battery charger that can be shared with lead-acid battery charging.

JP-A-2-13232 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-81943

  As described above, when charging a lead battery or the like, a connector that connects the lead battery and the charger with only a power line may be used. However, when charging a lithium ion battery or the like, the lithium ion battery and the charger are charged. It is necessary to use a connector for connecting the device with a power line, a connector connection detection line, and a communication line for CAN communication.

  Thus, since the structure of the wire harness connecting the charger and the battery and the shape of the connector are different for different types of batteries, even when charging with a different type of battery charger, the wire harness and the connector shape are different. Different connectors have to be prepared for each type of battery, resulting in an increase in connector options, resulting in a decrease in productivity and an increase in cost due to a decrease in versatility.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention is capable of unifying the types of connectors on the different-type battery shared charger side, and enables different-type batteries to be charged without impairing safety. It aims at providing the conversion connector for shared chargers, and a different kind battery shared charger.

  The conversion connector for a different-type battery shared charger according to the present invention is a conversion connector for connecting the different-type battery shared charger side and the battery side, and is connected to the power line on the different-type battery shared charger side. A first terminal; a second terminal connected to the battery-side power line; an internal power line connecting the first terminal to the second terminal; and a third terminal connected to the internal power line. A third terminal connected to a connector connection detection line on the different type battery shared charger side.

  Moreover, the different kind battery shared charger which concerns on this invention is the connector connection detection connected to the electric power line connected to the said 1st terminal of the conversion connector for different kind battery shared chargers described above, and the said 3rd terminal. And a battery discriminating means for discriminating the type of the battery connected to the conversion connector for the different type battery common charger based on the voltage before the start of charging of the connector connection detection line.

  According to the present invention, the third terminal is connected to the internal power line connected to the second terminal connected to the power line on the battery side, and is connected to the connector connection detection line on the different-type battery shared charger side. By providing the third terminal to be operated, it is possible to activate a function of pseudo connector connection detection for a battery pack that does not have a connector connection detection line. It is possible to unify and charge different types of batteries without sacrificing safety.

It is a figure which shows the example of application of the conversion connector for different types of battery shared chargers. It is a figure which shows the aspect of the mechanism of a conversion connector, and the connection between connectors. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the connector connection detection part in a common charger, and a battery kind discrimination | determination part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an application example of a conversion connector for a different type battery shared charger. In the following description, “different type battery shared charger” is referred to as “shared charger”, and “different type battery shared charger conversion connector” is referred to as “conversion connector”.

  In the following example, a conversion connector for connecting a common charger equipped with a connector for a lithium ion battery pack and a lead battery pack will be described, but the present invention is limited to connection with these types of batteries. is not.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the shared charger 10 includes a lithium ion battery connector 11 having a wire harness connectable to a connector 31 of a lithium ion battery pack 30 and a connector shape. The conversion connector 20 includes a charger-side connector 21 having a connector shape that can be connected to the lithium-ion battery connector 11 of the shared charger 10.

  The conversion connector 20 includes a battery-side connector 22 having a connector shape that can be connected to the connector 41 of the lead battery pack 40. The conversion connector 20 converts the lithium ion battery connector 11 so that it can be connected to the connector 41 of the lead battery pack 40.

  In addition, the conversion connector 20 enables the common charger 10 to detect the connector connection in a pseudo manner when the connector 41 of the lead battery pack 40 is connected to the battery-side connector 22. And a mechanism for enabling discrimination of the voltage of the lead battery pack 40.

  When the lead battery pack 40 is connected to the lithium ion battery connector 11 via the conversion connector 20, the shared charger 10 is based on the voltage of a connector connection detection line (described later) input by the mechanism of the conversion connector 20. In addition, it detects that the lead battery pack 40 has been connected to the shared charger 10 and at the same time, determines the type of voltage thereof, and a connector connection detection that detects that the lithium ion battery pack 30 has been connected. The unit 13 is provided.

  FIG. 2 shows the mechanism of the conversion connector 20 and the manner of connector connection. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. 2A schematically shows the mechanism of the conversion connector 20 and the manner of connection between the lithium ion battery connector 11, the conversion connector 20, and the connector 41 of the lead battery pack 40. FIG. On the other hand, FIG. 2B schematically shows a connection mode between the lithium ion battery connector 11 and the connector 31 of the lithium ion battery pack 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the conversion connector 20 includes a first terminal 211 connected to the power line 111 on the shared charger 10 side, and a second terminal 221 connected to the battery-side power line 411. The internal power line 23 connecting the first terminal 211 and the second terminal 221, and the third terminal 212 connected to the internal power line 23, which are connected to the connector connection detection line 112 on the shared charger 10 side The third terminal 212 is provided.

  When the conversion connector 20 is connected to the lithium ion battery connector 11 of the shared charger 10 and the connector 41 of the lead battery pack 40, the battery voltage of the lead battery pack 40 is changed to the connector 41 of the lead battery pack 40 before charging is started. , The second terminal 221 of the battery side connector 22 of the conversion connector 20, and the internal power line 23, and then output to the third terminal 212 of the charger side connector 21.

  The common charger 10 compares the voltage input to the connector connection detection line 112 connected to the third terminal 212 of the conversion connector 20 with a preset threshold value, and uses a comparison circuit that determines the magnitude of the voltage. The voltage of the lead battery pack 40 is determined.

  Then, based on the determined voltage, it is detected that the lead battery pack 40 is connected to the shared charger 10, and the charge setting corresponding to the determined voltage is performed from the power line 111 to the lead battery of the lead battery pack 40. Start charging current supply.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the lithium ion battery connector 11 of the shared charger 10 and the connector 31 of the lithium ion battery pack 30 are directly connected without passing through the conversion connector 20, The voltage of the lithium ion battery pack 30 and the voltage of the lead battery pack 40 are not input to the connector connection detection line 112 of the lithium ion battery connector 11.

  The shared charger 10 confirms that no battery voltage is detected on the connector connection detection line 112 and then connects to the lithium ion battery pack 30 via the connector connection detection line 112 (for example, a connector +5 V) is applied to one side line of the connection detection line 112.

  The lithium ion battery pack 30 detects the voltage applied from the common charger 10 to the connector connection detection line 112, thereby detecting that the lithium ion battery pack 30 is connected to the common charger 10. A closed circuit is formed between the other one side line and the other one side line.

  The shared charger 10 detects that a loop current flows due to a closed circuit formed with respect to the connector connection detection line 112 in the lithium ion battery pack 30, and the lithium ion battery pack 30 is connected to the connector by detecting the loop current. 11 and the connector 31 are detected.

  And the shared charger 10 transmits / receives the state information of the battery of the lithium ion battery pack 30 to the lithium ion battery pack 30 via the CAN communication line 113, and is a charge setting suitable for the battery of the lithium ion battery pack 30. Power supply of charging current from the power line 111 to the battery of the lithium ion battery pack 30 is started.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the battery type determination unit 12 and the connector connection detection unit 13 in the shared charger 10. For example, the battery type determination unit 12 generates a threshold voltage for determining a voltage of, for example, 12V, 24V, and 48V by the resistance dividing circuit 121. Then, with the switch 134 turned off and the switch 135 turned on, the voltage comparison circuit 122 compares each threshold voltage with the voltage of the connector connection detection line 112. Based on the result of the comparison, the voltage determination logic circuit 123 determines which threshold voltage the voltage of the connector connection detection line 112 is between.

  Thus, by determining the voltage of the connector connection detection line 112, the shared charger 10 detects the connection of the lead battery pack 40 connected to the conversion connector 20, and outputs the output voltage of the connected lead battery pack 40. Can be discriminated. Therefore, it is possible to charge a plurality of types of lead battery packs having different output voltages with an appropriate charge setting by one common charger 10.

  The configuration of the battery type determination unit 12 is not the configuration using the above-described hardware of the resistance dividing circuit 121, the voltage comparison circuit 122, and the voltage determination logic circuit 123, but the voltage of the connector connection detection line 112 is not shown in FIG. An analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the / D converter, and a process of comparing the digital voltage value of the connector connection detection line 112 with a preset threshold voltage value is executed by software. It is good also as a structure which discriminate | determines whether it is this voltage and discriminate | determines the kind of battery.

  Since the connector connection detection unit 13 detects the connector connection with the lithium ion battery pack 30, the battery type other than the lithium ion battery pack 30 is detected after the connector type detection unit 12 detects the connector connection and determines the voltage. Operates after detecting that it is not connected.

  The connector connection detection unit 13 turns on the switch 134 and applies a voltage source 131 of, for example, + 5V to one side line of the connector connection detection line 112. At this time, the switch 135 for grounding the other one side line of the connector connection detection line 112 is turned off.

  The voltage source 121 is applied to one side line of the connector connection detection line 112, and the light emitting diode 132 connected to the other side line of the connector connection detection line 112 has a loop current due to formation of a closed circuit in the lithium ion battery pack 30. Light emission is detected by the conduction of the phototransistor 133. Thereby, the shared charger 10 detects that it is connected to the lithium ion battery pack 30. Then, feeding of charging current is started with a charge setting suitable for the lithium ion battery.

  As described above, the conversion connector 20 according to the present embodiment enables pseudo connector connection detection in the shared charger 10 for a battery pack having no connector connection detection line. Therefore, the type of the connector 11 on the shared charger 10 side can be unified with a connector having a wire harness for safety confirmation such as a lithium ion battery.

  The shared charger 10 can determine the type of the battery pack connected to the conversion connector 20 by determining the voltage of the connector connection detection line 112 output by the conversion connector 20, and is safe against different types of batteries. It becomes possible to charge without impairing the performance.

  By unifying the types of the connector 11 on the shared charger 10 side, the wire harness and the connector shape types of the connector 11 on the shared charger 10 side can be unified, so the productivity of the shared charger 10 is improved. improves. Moreover, the conversion connector 20 can be easily produced at low cost using an existing connector and an existing wire harness.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment described above, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, various structures or embodiment can be taken. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Common charger 11 Lithium ion battery connector 111 Power line 112 Connector connection detection line 113 CAN communication line 12 Battery type discrimination | determination part 121 Resistance division circuit 122 Voltage comparison circuit 123 Voltage discrimination logic circuit 13 Connector connection detection part 131 Voltage source 132 Light emitting diode 133 Phototransistor 134 Switch 135 Switch 20 Conversion connector 21 Charger side connector 22 Battery side connector 30 Lithium ion battery pack 31 Connector 40 Lead battery pack 41 Connector 411 Battery side power line

Claims (2)

A conversion connector for connecting the battery charger side and the battery charger side,
A first terminal connected to the power line on the different type battery shared charger side;
A second terminal connected to the battery-side power line;
An internal power line connecting the first terminal and the second terminal;
A third terminal connected to the internal power line, the third terminal connected to a connector connection detection line on the different-type battery shared charger side;
A conversion connector for a battery charger for different types of batteries, characterized by comprising: A power line connected to the first terminal of the conversion connector for a different type battery shared charger according to claim 1;
A connector connection detection line connected to the third terminal;
Based on the voltage before the start of charging of the connector connection detection line, battery type determination means for determining the type of battery connected to the conversion connector for the different type battery shared charger,
A battery charger for different types of batteries, characterized by comprising:

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