JP6212438B2 - Non-contact charger - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a contactless charging apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a non-contact charging device that charges a charging target in a non-contact manner by radiating radio waves to the charging target such as a smartphone. This charging device may be mounted on a vehicle including a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with an electronic key and permits or executes the operation of the in-vehicle device on condition that the wireless communication is established.

  In general, the frequency band of the radio signal transmitted by the wireless communication device to attempt wireless communication with the electronic key is close to the frequency band of the radio wave radiated from the non-contact charging device toward the charging target. It is well known that radio signals and radio waves interfere with each other. In the case of interference, wireless communication and contactless charging are not suitably performed.

  Therefore, the wireless communication device described in Patent Document 1 together with the non-contact charging device performs wireless communication with the electronic key only while receiving a drive signal that permits transmission of a wireless signal generated by the microcomputer. Send a radio signal to try. The microcomputer generates a charging signal that is synchronized with the driving signal and permits non-contact charging. The non-contact charging device of Patent Document 1 performs non-contact charging on a charging target only while receiving a charging signal. As a result, the non-contact charging device has a timing when the wireless communication device transmits a wireless signal to the electronic key, that is, when a time at which interference between the wireless signal and the radio wave radiated to the charging target may occur. Does not start charging control. Further, when the time comes, if the charging control is being performed on the charging target, the charging control is stopped.

International Publication No. 2012/105242

  Usually, in the charge control of the non-contact charging device, the following two controls are performed. That is, the first charging control for determining whether or not the charging target is present and whether or not the detected charging target is compatible with the own charging method; the second charging control for radiating the charging radio wave to the charging target; There is.

  By the way, in the non-contact charging device of Patent Document 1, when the time at which interference between a radio signal and a radio wave is likely to occur during charging control of a charging target, charging control is only stopped. The charging control is performed immediately before that. For this reason, when the above-mentioned time is reached during the first charging control, the second charging control that radiates the charging radio wave is not performed, that is, the charging target is not charged. Nevertheless, only the power required for the first charge control is consumed.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such the actual condition, The objective is to provide the non-contact charging device with little power consumption.

  In order to solve the above problems, a control unit mounted on a vehicle including a wireless communication device that periodically attempts wireless communication with an electronic key is provided. A first charging control for determining whether or not the battery is compatible, and a radio wave for charging is emitted toward the charging object when it is determined in the first charging control that the charging object is compatible with its own charging method. In the non-contact charging device that performs the second charging control, the control unit obtains a driving signal indicating that the wireless communication device has been driven or that the wireless communication device has been permitted to be driven. And a time at which the acquisition of the next drive signal is estimated through the drive signal acquired by the first control unit, and the first charge control for the first charge control is calculated from the estimated time. A second control unit that calculates a charging control start permission time with a control time advanced; and the charge control that is calculated by the second control unit while the first control unit does not acquire the drive signal. And a third control unit that starts the first charge control until the start permission time is reached.

  According to this configuration, wireless communication is performed during the first charging control for determining whether or not the charging target is present and whether or not the charging method is appropriate, that is, before the second charging control for radiating a charging radio wave. When the time for the device to attempt wireless communication with the electronic key is reached, the first charging control is not started. Thereby, the power consumption and the unnecessary radiation noise concerning 1st charge control are suppressed compared with the conventional non-contact charging device.

  In the above-mentioned configuration, the second control unit has a charge control start permission time in which the time during which the charge target can be charged more than a set value by the second charge control is advanced in addition to the first charge control time. Is preferably calculated.

  According to this configuration, the first charging control is not started when the charging can be performed only for a time during which the charging effect cannot be obtained. As a result, in addition to the power consumption for the first charge control, the power consumption and unnecessary radiation noise for the second charge control that is performed only for a time during which the charging effect cannot be obtained, It is suppressed compared with.

In the above configuration, the control unit includes a fourth control unit that detects whether or not the charging target that has started the second charging control has moved from a position where it can receive a radio wave for charging,
When the fourth control unit does not detect the movement of the charging target while the first control unit acquires the drive signal, the third control unit is configured to perform the first control unit. When the driving signal is not acquired, it is preferable to start the second charging control without performing the first charging control.

  When a charging target that is compatible with the charging method and has been charged once does not move, it is clear that the charging target is compatible with the charging method. According to this configuration, since there is no control for determining whether there is a second charging target for the charging target that conforms to the charging method and whether or not the charging target is compatible with the charging target, the charging target is charged accordingly. Long time is secured. Thereby, the charge to charge object is implemented efficiently.

  The non-contact charging device of the present invention has an effect that power consumption is low.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of a vehicle. The time chart concerning charge control. The time chart which shows ON / OFF of the LF drive signal in this embodiment, permission disapproval of charge control start, and polling request signal ON / OFF. The time chart which shows ON / OFF of the LF drive signal in this embodiment, and the permission non-permission of charge control start. The time chart which shows ON / OFF of the LF drive signal in another example, and the permission non-permission of charge control start. The time chart which shows ON / OFF of the LF drive signal in another example, permission non-permission of charge control start, ON / OFF of 1st charge control, and ON / OFF of 2nd charge control.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a non-contact charging apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Vehicle>
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 includes a wireless communication device 20 that performs wireless communication with an electronic key 2, a contactless charging device 30 that performs contactless charging on a smartphone 3 as a mobile terminal, and various vehicle-mounted devices. Equipment. Various ECUs for controlling these various devices and various in-vehicle devices are connected by a bus 5.

When the electronic key 2 receives a later-described request signal wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication device 20, the electronic key 2 wirelessly transmits a response signal as a response thereto.
When the smartphone 3 receives a polling request signal described later emitted from the non-contact charging device 30, the smartphone 3 receives a polling response signal as a response thereto. When the smartphone 3 receives a charge request signal emitted later, the smartphone 3 responds as a response thereto. Each signal is emitted. Further, the smartphone 3 is contactlessly charged by electromagnetic waves radiated from the contactless charging device 30.

  The vehicle 1 includes, as various in-vehicle devices, a door lock device 11 that switches between locking and unlocking a door and an engine 16 that is a driving source for traveling. The door lock device 11 is controlled by the body ECU 10. The engine 16 is controlled by the engine ECU 15.

  The engine ECU 15 is electrically connected to an engine switch 17 that is pressed. The engine ECU 15 starts the engine 16 when detecting that the engine switch 17 is operated in a state where a later-described permission signal received through the bus 5 is recognized and in a state where the engine 16 is stopped. Further, the engine ECU 15 stops the engine 16 when detecting that the engine switch 17 is operated while the engine 16 is driven. The engine ECU 15 outputs an engine drive signal indicating that when the engine 16 is driven to the bus 5 and an engine stop signal indicating that when the engine 16 is stopped.

  The body ECU 10 is electrically connected to a courtesy switch 12 that detects opening and closing of the door and a door handle sensor 13 that detects contact with the door handle. When the body ECU 10 detects contact with the door handle through the door handle sensor 13 while receiving a permission signal (described later) received through the bus 5 and closing the door through the courtesy switch 12, the door ECU 10 The door 11 is switched between locking and unlocking through the device 11.

  The body ECU 10 also sets the LF drive signal that permits generation of the request signal in the wireless communication device 20 at the first time interval INT1 that is set in advance, or at the second time interval INT2 that is shorter than the first time interval INT1. It is generated periodically and output to the bus 5. The first time interval INT1 is shorter than a first charge control time T1 related to first charge control described later, and the second time interval INT2 is shorter than the first charge control time T1, and is set respectively. ing. The body ECU 10 switches the generation interval of the LF drive signal based on whether the engine drive signal or the engine stop signal received through the bus 5 is recognized and whether the door opening / closing operation is performed through the courtesy switch 12. More specifically, the body ECU 10 receives the LF drive signal at the first time interval INT1 while recognizing the engine drive signal and from when the engine stop signal is recognized until the door is opened or closed. Generate. Further, the body ECU 10 generates the LF drive signal at the second time interval INT2 from when the engine stop signal is recognized until the engine drive signal is recognized after the door opening / closing operation is performed.

<Wireless communication device>
The wireless communication device 20 includes a communication ECU 21 and a communication unit 22 that is electrically connected to the communication ECU 21.

  The communication unit 22 converts an electrical signal generated by the communication ECU 21 into a radio signal of an LF (Low Frequency) band, and transmits this to a predetermined communication area. In addition, the communication unit 22 converts the received UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band radio signal into an electrical signal and sends it to the communication ECU 21.

  The communication ECU 21 generates a request signal for requesting a response to the electronic key 2 while receiving the LF drive signal through the bus 5. When the communication ECU 21 receives a response signal to the request signal from the electronic key 2 corresponding to itself, the communication ECU 21 generates a permission signal indicating permission to drive the in-vehicle device and outputs the permission signal to the bus 5.

<Non-contact charging device>
The non-contact charging device 30 includes a charging ECU 31 and a charging coil 32 that is electrically connected to the charging ECU 31.

  The charging coil 32 converts an electric signal generated by the charging ECU 31 and an alternating current controlled by the charging ECU 31 to be supplied to itself into an electromagnetic wave having a preset frequency, and radiates the electromagnetic wave toward a predetermined area. To do. Further, the charging coil 32 converts an electromagnetic wave having a frequency suitable for itself into an electric signal, and sends the electric signal to the charging ECU 31. When the alternating current is supplied, the charging coil 32 radiates electromagnetic waves for charging.

The charging ECU 31 includes a first control unit 311, a second control unit 312, and a third control unit 313.
The first controller 311 acquires an LF drive signal.

  The memory 312a of the second control unit 312 stores the first time interval INT1 and the second time interval INT2 described above. The memory 312a stores a first charge control time T1 related to first charge control described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the first charging control time T1 is a polling time from the generation of the polling request signal to the reception of the polling response signal and the reception of the charging response signal from the generation of the charging request signal. It corresponds to the total time of the authentication time, which is the time until. The second control unit 312 calculates an estimated time TD1 at which the first control unit 311 is next estimated to acquire the LF drive signal, triggered by the first control unit 311 acquiring the LF drive signal. . Furthermore, the second control unit 312 calculates a charging control start permission time TD2 that is advanced by the first charging control time T1 from the previous estimated time TD1. Note that the calculated estimated time TD1 and charging control start permission time TD2 are temporarily stored in the memory 312a, and are erased when the time comes.

  The third control unit 313 has its own control unit 311 while the first control unit 311 has not acquired the LF drive signal and until the charging control start permission time TD2 calculated by the second control unit 312 is reached. A polling request signal for requesting processing and synchronization is periodically generated and sent to the charging coil 32. When the third control unit 313 receives a polling response signal for the polling request signal, the third control unit 313 determines that there is an object to be charged, and generates a charge request signal for requesting a response when the charging method is appropriate. Is sent to the charging coil 32. When the third control unit 313 receives the charge response signal for the charge request signal, the third control unit 313 starts an alternating current to the charging coil 32 assuming that the charging target is compatible with its own charging method. The third control unit 313 continues to supply the alternating current to the charging coil 32 until the estimated time TD1 calculated by the second control unit 312 is reached. Note that the control from the generation of the polling request signal to the reception of the charging response signal is the control for causing the first charging control to supply an alternating current to the charging coil 32 and causing the charging coil 32 to emit electromagnetic waves for charging. This corresponds to the second charge control.

<Action>
Next, the operation of the non-contact charging device 30 will be described.
First, a description will be given of the period during which the engine 16 is being driven or until the door is opened and closed after the engine 16 is stopped. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the body ECU 10 generates the LF drive signal at a first time interval INT1 that is longer than the first charging control time T1. That is, the wireless communication device 20 generates a request signal at the first time interval INT1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the charging ECU 31 calculates an estimated time TD1 at which the acquisition of the LF driving signal is estimated next, triggered by the acquisition of the LF driving signal, and further performs the first charging control from the estimated time TD1. Charge control start permission time TD2 that is advanced by time T1 is calculated. Then, the charging ECU 31 periodically generates a polling request signal while the start of charging control is permitted, that is, until the charging control start permission time TD2 is reached after the LF drive signal is not acquired. When the first charging control using the polling request signal as a trigger is completed, the second charging control is performed, and the smartphone 3 to be charged is contactlessly charged. If the first charging control is not completed before the charging control start permission time TD2 is reached, the polling request signal is not generated until the next received LF drive signal is not acquired. That is, the wireless communication device 20 does not radiate signals or electromagnetic waves that cause unnecessary radiation noise.

  Next, a description will be given of the period from when the engine 16 is being driven and until the electronic key 2 is found after the door is opened and closed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the body ECU 10 generates the LF drive signal at the second time interval INT2 shorter than the first charging control time T1. That is, the wireless communication device 20 generates a request signal at the second time interval INT2.

  In this case, in the charging ECU 31, the charging control start permission time TD2 obtained by moving the first charging control time T1 forward from the estimated time TD1 is earlier than the current time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the charging ECU 31 is not permitted to perform charging control. That is, no polling request signal is generated. Again, the wireless communication device 20 does not radiate signals or electromagnetic waves that cause unnecessary radiation noise.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The charging ECU 31 does not start the first charging control when the estimated time TD1 at which reception of the LF drive signal is estimated is reached during the first charging control.

  More specifically, when the body ECU 10 generates the LF drive signal at the first time interval INT1 that is longer than the first charge control time T1, which is the time required for the first charge control, the charge ECU 31 performs the next LF drive. A charging control start permission time TD2 is calculated in which the first charging control time T1 is advanced from the estimated time TD1 at which the signal reception is estimated. Then, a polling request signal corresponding to the start of the first charge control is generated only after the LF drive signal is not received until the charge control start permission time TD2 is reached. With this configuration, when the first charging control is completed, since the time is at least before the estimated time TD1, the charging ECU 31 can charge the charging object (here, the smartphone 3). On the other hand, since the first charging control is not started after the charging control start permission time TD2 is passed and before the LF driving signal to be received next including the estimated time TD1 is not received, There is no situation that must be stopped. Thereby, compared with the conventional non-contact charging device, power consumption and unnecessary radiation noise required for the first charging control are small.

  (2) When the body ECU 10 generates the LF drive signal at the second time interval INT2 shorter than the first charge control time T1, the charge ECU 31 does not perform the control even if the first charge control is started. The charging control is not started. Also in this point, power consumption and unnecessary radiation noise are less than those of the conventional non-contact charging device.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above-described embodiment, the charging ECU 31 sets the time that is advanced by the first charging control time T1 from the estimated time TD1 as the charging control start permission time TD2, but the time when the actual first charging control is started and the charging When the control start permission time TD2 is close, even if the second charge control is performed, the charging effect may not be obtained for the charging target. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a time T2 during which charging to the charging target can be performed is set and stored in advance, and as shown in FIG. 5, the charging ECU 31 performs the first charging from the previous estimated time TD1. The time when the time obtained by adding the time T2 to the control time T1 is advanced is set as the charging control start permission time TD2. Thereby, if 1st charge control is completed, the effect of the charge to charge object can be anticipated. Note that the time T2 may be stored in, for example, the memory 312a as indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  -In above-mentioned embodiment, as shown with a broken line in FIG. 1, charge ECU31 detects whether the charge object which started 2nd charge control moved from the position which can receive the electromagnetic wave for charge. A control unit 314 may be provided. Then, when the charging target has not moved while receiving the LF drive signal, the charging ECU 31 resumes the second charging control without performing the first charging control as shown in FIG. May be. According to such a configuration, since there is no control related to the determination of whether or not the charging target conforming to the charging method is compatible with the charging method or not, and whether or not the charging target is compatible, The battery can be charged for a long time. Thereby, the charge to charge object is implemented efficiently.

  -In above-mentioned embodiment, although body ECU10 produced | generated the LF drive signal, communication ECU21 may be sufficient, engine ECU15 may be sufficient, and other ECUs may be sufficient. Further, a dedicated ECU for generating the LF drive signal may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, the non-contact charging device 30 may include a receiving unit 33 that receives a radio signal in the LF band. The non-contact charging device 30 may perform various charging controls as described in the above embodiment through a wireless signal received through the receiving unit 33. In this case, the body ECU 10 does not have to generate the LF drive signal.

  In the above embodiment, the first time interval INT1 and the second time interval INT2 are stored in the memory 312a. However, these time intervals may be calculated from the reception interval of the LF drive signal.

In the above embodiment, the door lock device 11 and the engine 16 have been described as mounted devices, but other mounted devices may be used.
In the above embodiment, the smartphone 3 is adopted as the portable terminal, but instead of this, a tablet terminal, a portable music terminal, a notebook computer, or the like that does not have a telephone function may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Electronic key, 3 ... Smartphone (charge object), 20 ... Wireless communication apparatus, 30 ... Non-contact charging device, 31 ... Charge ECU, 32 ... Charging coil, 311-314 ... Control part.

Claims (3)

A control unit mounted on a vehicle including a wireless communication device that periodically attempts wireless communication with an electronic key is provided, and the control unit determines whether or not a charging target is present and whether or not the charging method is appropriate. A first charging control, and a second charging control that radiates a radio wave for charging toward the charging target when the charging target is determined to be compatible with the charging method in the first charging control; In the non-contact charging device that performs
The control unit includes a first control unit that acquires a drive signal indicating that the wireless communication device is driven or that the wireless communication device is permitted to drive;
The time at which the acquisition of the next drive signal is estimated is calculated through the drive signal acquired by the first control unit, and the first charge control time for the first charge control is advanced from the estimated time. A second control unit for calculating a charging control start permission time;
The third control unit starts the first charge control while the first control unit does not acquire the drive signal and before the charge control start permission time calculated by the second control unit is reached. And a non-contact charging device. The contactless charging device according to claim 1,
In addition to the first charge control time, the second control unit calculates a charge control start permission time that is advanced by a time when the charge target can be charged more than a set value by the second charge control. Contact charging device. In the non-contact charging device according to claim 1 or 2,
The control unit includes a fourth control unit that detects whether or not the charging target that has started the second charging control has moved from a position where it can receive a radio wave for charging;
When the fourth control unit does not detect the movement of the charging target while the first control unit acquires the drive signal, the third control unit is configured to perform the first control unit. When the drive signal is not acquired, the non-contact charging device starts the second charging control without performing the first charging control.