JP7289606B2 - vehicle charger - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle charger.

As described in Patent Document 1, the charging fee for charging a vehicle using a vehicle charger is calculated by a method of calculating based on the charging time or a method of calculating based on the amount of electric power used. .

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-312772

By the way, the peak value of the charging current differs depending on the vehicle. Therefore, in the case of calculation based on the charging time, even if the charging time is the same, the amount of electric power used is different for each vehicle, which gives a sense of unfairness. For this reason, it is preferable to calculate the charging fee by measuring the amount of electric power used.

The inventor of this case tried to solve the problem by earnestly studying this point. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to propose a method for determining the vehicle type of a charging vehicle.

In order to solve the above problem, a vehicle charger for charging a vehicle is provided with current measuring means for measuring charging current, and after detecting that the charging current exceeds a set first threshold, The charging current falls below a set second threshold that is greater than the set first threshold and less than the peak current for a first time, which is the time until it is detected that the first threshold is exceeded. A second time, which is the time between detecting that the charging current has fallen below the first threshold after detecting that the The vehicle charger determines the vehicle type using the number of times or the continuous time of any of the third time, which is the time until

The vehicle type is determined using the data stored in the storage means for storing the data of the charging current value for each vehicle type, and the number of the first time, the second time, or the third time, or the continuous time. It is preferable that the vehicle type is determined by the vehicle type.

Further, the first time, which is the time from detecting that the charging current measured by the current measuring means exceeds the first threshold to detecting that it falls below the first threshold, is measured by the current measuring means. During the second time, which is the time from detecting that the measured charging current has fallen below the second threshold to detecting that it has fallen below the first threshold, the charging current measured by the current measuring means is A vehicle type determination method, wherein determination is performed using the number of times or a continuous time of any of a third time, which is the time from when the vehicle falls below the first threshold to when it exceeds the first threshold; preferably.

In the present invention, it becomes possible to determine the vehicle type of the charging vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes over time in charging current in vehicle type A. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes over time in charging current in vehicle type B; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes over time in charging current in vehicle type C; FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a flow of recognizing a dormant state; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a change in charging current over time, a set first threshold value, and a chargeable time period in vehicle type A; FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a value obtained by multiplying the chargeable time and the maximum value of the charging current in FIG. 5 ; However, the value is expressed as the area of a hatched square. FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a value obtained by multiplying the chargeable time and the maximum value of the charging current in FIG. 5 ; However, the value is expressed as the area of the hatched portion. As for the second time in the vicinity of the fully charged state, half the time is set as the chargeable time. FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a value obtained by multiplying the chargeable time and the maximum value of the charging current in FIG. 5 ; However, the value is expressed as the area of the hatched portion. In addition, in the second time period near the fully charged state, the second time period is multiplied by the average value of the charging current. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the change in charging current over time and the time divided by the first threshold in vehicle type A; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the change in charging current over time and the time divided by the first threshold in vehicle type B; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the change in charging current over time and the time divided by the first threshold in vehicle type C; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a vehicle is connected to a vehicle charger in which a unit provided with clocking means and the like is provided on the primary side of an outlet; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes over time in charging current in vehicle type A when the unit is charged using a vehicle charger provided on the primary side of an outlet. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle charger used for charging a vehicle controlled by a CPLT signal; FIG.

Modes for carrying out the invention are shown below. The vehicle charger 1 of the present embodiment is for charging a vehicle 2, and is capable of detecting current measuring means for measuring charging current and whether the charging current exceeds or falls below a set first threshold value. detecting means for measuring a first time from detecting that the charging current has exceeded the first threshold to detecting that the charging current has fallen below the first threshold; and current measurement. A control device that utilizes the maximum value of the charging current measured by the means and the first time measured by the timing means for calculating the charging fee. For this reason, it is possible to calculate a charging fee that reduces the sense of unfairness for each vehicle 2 without installing a power meter.

In many cases, the vehicle charger 1 includes a charger body 11 and a charging cable 13 , and charges the vehicle 2 by connecting the charging cable 13 to the vehicle 2 . The charger main body 11 of the embodiment includes current measuring means for measuring the charging current that charges the vehicle 2 from the charger main body 11 .

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, a CPLT signal is used for charging. In this case, the vehicle charger 1 communicates with a control circuit on the vehicle 2 side by a change in potential of the CPLT signal. conduct. When using the CPLT signal, the potential of the CPLT signal of the vehicle charger 1 is 12 V when the charging cable 13 is not connected to the vehicle 2 . When charging cable 13 is connected to vehicle 2, the first resistor of the control circuit on vehicle 2 side is connected in series with the resistor of the control device, and the potential of the CPLT signal becomes 9V. Vehicle charger 1 detects that vehicle 2 is connected to charging cable 13 when detecting that the potential of the CPLT signal has become 9V. After that, the vehicle charger 1 causes the pulse output circuit to oscillate, and the potential of the CPLT signal becomes a state of 9V oscillation. As a result, a pulse-like 9V CPLT signal enters the vehicle 2 side. If the vehicle 2 side is ready, the control circuit on the vehicle 2 side turns on the power reception permission switch.

When a lithium-ion battery is installed as the on-vehicle battery, the potential of the CPLT signal changes to 6 V oscillation by the second resistor on the vehicle 2 side, and the vehicle charger 1 indicates that the vehicle 2 is ready to receive power. recognizes. In this state, the vehicle charger 1 outputs an ON signal to the relay to close the charging circuit and applies a charging voltage of 200V to the charging circuit.

By the way, the behavior of the current value during charging is not uniform and depends on the vehicle type. For example, in the case of the vehicle type A, as shown in FIG. 1, charging is performed while repeating charging, resting, charging, resting from the start of charging to the end of charging. In the case of the vehicle type B, as shown in FIG. 2, the charging is stopped only once after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of charging. Furthermore, in the case of vehicle type C, as shown in FIG. 3, charging is performed continuously from the start to the end of charging. Such differences in charging characteristics can lead to unfair results when calculating charging fees using current values and charging times. It is conceivable not to include it as the charging time.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a period of time during which the mobile phone is inactive is defined as shown in the flow of FIG. 4 . First, the charging operation is started (S001). Next, it is determined whether or not the charging current value exceeds the first threshold (S002). When it is detected that the charging current value exceeds the first threshold, it is determined that charging has started (S003). Note that even in the resting state, a current of about several tens of mA is measured by the current measuring means. The first threshold value is preferably set to a current value that is greater than the current flowing in the resting state, and more specifically, is preferably set to a current value of several amperes.

Next, it is determined whether or not the charging current value is below the first threshold. For example, the detecting means detects that the charging current value has decreased and has fallen below the first threshold value after a certain period of time has elapsed after it is determined that charging has started (S004). Based on this result, it is determined that the current state is hibernation (S005). Alternatively, the dormant state may be determined by detecting that the detecting means has fallen below a threshold set by a current value smaller than the first threshold and larger than the current flowing in the dormant state.

After charging is suspended, it is detected whether or not the charging current value exceeds the first threshold (S006). When the charging current value exceeds the first threshold, it is determined that charging is restarted (S007). Further, when the charging current value exceeds the first threshold, steps 004 to 006 are repeated. Whether or not the first threshold value can be exceeded in step 006 depends on the type of vehicle 2. Some types of vehicle terminate charging without entering a resting state, while others repeat charging ⇔ resting. It is as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

If the charging current value does not exceed the first threshold value in step 006, it is detected whether or not the charging connector has been pulled out (S008). In the case of a charging stand, whether or not the charging connector has been pulled out may be detected when the potential of CPLT reaches 12 V, or may be detected by setting a different threshold value and detecting a decrease in the current value. . In the case of an in-vehicle cable or the like, it is possible to determine that the charging connector has been pulled out by setting a different threshold value and detecting a drop in the current value.

When it is detected that the charging connector has been pulled out in step 008, the charging fee is calculated (S009). If it is not detected in step 008 that the charging connector has been pulled out, the process returns to step 006 . Note that the charging fee may be calculated even when the first threshold is not exceeded in step 006 and the charging connector is not disconnected in step S0008 for a certain period of time.

In the embodiment, by measuring the time from when the charging current value exceeds the threshold to when it falls below the threshold and using it to calculate the charging fee, the period of resting state that can occur in the case of the vehicle 2 that repeats the charging state and the resting state. It is possible to suppress overpayment of the charging fee.

By the way, in the conventional method of calculating the charging fee based on time, even though the charging current value differs depending on the vehicle model, the charging fee is calculated by setting a fixed current value instead of the actual charging current value according to the vehicle model. was doing Therefore, in this embodiment, the peak current of the charging current is measured, and the peak current is used to calculate the charging fee. Therefore, even if the charging current value differs depending on the vehicle type, it is possible to prevent overpayment of the charging fee.

In this embodiment, by measuring the time from when the charging current value exceeds the threshold to when it falls below the threshold, and using the total time and the peak current of the charging current to calculate the charging fee, overpayment of the charging fee occurs. It is restrained.

By the way, as can be understood from FIG. 5, when the charging state changes to the resting state, the charging current value changes from the peak state to the state below the threshold value. degree). On the other hand, when the battery of the vehicle 2 approaches a fully charged state, the change becomes gentle (about several tens of seconds to several minutes [different for each vehicle 2]). Therefore, if the time during the change is also used to calculate the charging fee, it will not be fair depending on the vehicle 2 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

Therefore, in this embodiment, a second threshold is set that is larger than the first threshold and smaller than the peak current. Also, a second time is measured from when it falls below the second threshold to when it falls below the first threshold. The detecting means detects that the charging current has fallen below the set second threshold, and the timing means detects that the charging current has fallen below the first threshold after detecting that the charging current has fallen below the second threshold. A second time, which is the time until detection, is measured, and when the second time exceeds the set value, the second time is also used to calculate the charging fee, thereby reducing the difference in charging characteristics. It alleviates the sense of unfairness in charging fees due to

More specifically, by comparing the measured value of the second time with a predetermined set value, it is determined whether the change is gentle. Half the time of 2 can be used to calculate the charging fee (see FIG. 7). By doing so, the charging fee can be calculated more appropriately. It should be noted that the setting value may be set to a specific value. The setting value may be determined using the result of measuring the second time in the case of such a change.

In addition, as a method of using the second time to calculate the charging fee, the current value during the second time is measured, and (the total value of the first time) x (maximum current value) + time)×(average value of current values at the second time) (see FIG. 8).

By the way, although the number of pauses during charging and the duration of continuous charging depend on the vehicle type, the timing means measures the time from detection by the detection means to the next detection, and the charging current value for each vehicle type of the vehicle 2 is determined. The determination unit may determine the vehicle type of the charging vehicle 2 by comparing the data in the storage means for storing the data of , and the measurement result of the clock means. At this time, the vehicle charger 1 may be provided with a storage unit that stores the characteristics of each vehicle 2 as waveforms. Also, the storage unit may store parameters such as the number of pauses and continuous charging time.

The timing means provided in the vehicle charger 1 of the embodiment includes a first time "from when the charging current exceeds the first threshold to when it falls below the first threshold" and "from when the charging current falls below the first threshold. , measure the third time "to surpass". The first period of time is roughly the period of time during which the charging state continues, and the third period of time is roughly the period of time during which the dormant state continues.

The vehicle charger 1 of the embodiment grasps the characteristics of the change in the charging current to the vehicle 2 based on the number of times of the first time and the third time and the continuous time of each, and has characteristics similar to those characteristics. The vehicle type is determined by reading the vehicle type data from the storage unit.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, first time: T1 (minutes) -> third time: t1 (seconds) -> first time: T2 (minutes) -> third time: t2 (seconds) -> third Time 1: In the case of T3 (minutes), it is determined to be vehicle type A.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10, when the first time: T1 (minutes) -> the third time: t1 (minutes) -> the first time: T2 (minutes), the vehicle type is determined to be B.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first time is T1 (minutes), the vehicle type is determined to be C.

Note that the second time, which differs depending on the vehicle type, may be used for the vehicle type determination. Further, an input unit may be provided so that new vehicle model data can be added when there is no corresponding vehicle model data stored in the storage unit.

By the way, the vehicle charger 1 connects one plug of a charging cable 13 (for example, an in-vehicle cable) provided with CCID to an outlet having the unit 12 on the primary side, and connects the vehicle 2 to the other charging connector. The vehicle 2 may be charged by connecting the . At this time, the unit 12 is composed of an interrupting means for interrupting the electric circuit, a current measuring means, a detecting means, a timing means, a memory means, and the like (see FIG. 12). By doing so, even with the charging cable 13 having the CCID, it is possible to calculate the charging fee and determine the vehicle type. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, when the plug of the charging cable 13 is connected to the outlet, the current measurement means measures a small current of about several tens of mA called standby current, so that the detection means detects a current higher than the first threshold value. By setting a new threshold value with a smaller value, it becomes possible to detect that the charging cable 13 has been inserted into or removed from an outlet.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various aspects are possible.

1 vehicle charger 2 vehicle 11 charger body 12 unit 13 charging cable

Claims (2)

A vehicle charger for charging a vehicle, the current measuring means for measuring a charging current;
A first time period from detecting that the charging current exceeds a set first threshold to detecting that the charging current has fallen below the first threshold, which indicates a state of charge;
The time from detecting that the charging current has fallen below a second threshold set larger than the first set threshold and smaller than the peak current to detecting that it has fallen below the first threshold a second time, where
a third time, which is the time from when the charging current falls below the set first threshold to when it exceeds the first threshold, and which represents a resting state;
A clock means for measuring the number of times or continuous time of any of
storage means for storing charging current value data for each type of vehicle;
1. A charger for a vehicle, comprising a judging section for judging a vehicle type by comparing data in a memory means with a measurement result of a clock means. A first time period from detecting that the charging current measured by the current measuring means exceeded the first threshold to detecting that it fell below the first threshold, and indicating the state of charge. time,
a second time, which is the time from detecting that the charging current measured by the current measuring means has fallen below the second threshold to detecting that it has fallen below the first threshold;
a third time period from when the charging current measured by the current measuring means falls below the first threshold to when it exceeds the first threshold, and represents a resting state;
The number of times or continuous time of any time of
A vehicle type determination method, wherein a computer performs determination by comparing charging current value data for each vehicle type stored in a storage means .

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