JPH0591675A - Battery charger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a battery charger in which completion of outdoor charging work of automobile battery, for example, can be recognized positively by an indoor worker. CONSTITUTION:The battery charger comprises a charger 11 comprising a transformer 12, a rectifier 13 and means 14 for detecting completion of charging operation and a connector 21 comprising a voice generating means 23 and a speaker 24, wherein power is fed from an external power supply 41 through the connector 21 to the charger 11 for charging a battery 32. The speaker 24 is set close to the external power supply 41 in the room. Upon starting the charging operation, an ECU 14 functions and when completion of charging operation is detected, a signal is delivered to the voice generating means 23 which produces voice through the speaker 24 set closely to the worker.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery charging device, and more particularly to a large battery charging device mounted on an electric vehicle or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Charging a battery mounted on an automobile
Usually, this is done by supplying electric power to the battery from a charger connected to an external power source via a connector.
Conventionally, there is known a device in which the electrical connection between the external power source and the battery is automatically cut off when the charging is completed.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-35104 discloses a battery charger having a timer for detecting the charging time. When the battery charging device described in the above publication determines that the predetermined charging time has elapsed by the timer, the magnet switch provided between the external power supply and the transformer of the charging device is deenergized to turn off the switch. The electrical connection between the external power source and the battery is automatically cut off.

However, in the conventional battery charger described above, the electrical connection is simply released after the charging is completed, and the connector, the charger and the like remain connected to each other through the outlet.

By the way, when charging a battery mounted on an electric vehicle or the like in a general household, by supplying electric power from a household power source through a connector outdoors at night when the electric vehicle or the like is not used. It is generally done. At this time, the household power source is usually indoors, and the battery is large in size and it takes a long time to charge, so the worker is often in a place away from the work site such as indoors.

[0006] In such a case, even if charging is completed, the worker does not notice it and the connector, the charger, etc. are easily left unconnected, and the worker and other people carelessly carry out the above-mentioned operation. Contact with the device may result in damage to the outlet or disconnection of the device. Therefore, it is desirable to quickly remove and put away devices such as a connector and a charger after completion of charging.

[0007] In order to make the worker recognize the end of work such as charging, it is common for home electric appliances to be provided with a notification means for emitting a sound. However, in the case where the charging is performed outdoors and the worker is indoors, there is a disadvantage that the sound is difficult to be transmitted to the worker even if the charging device is simply provided with the notification means. In addition, if the sound is made loud in order to notify the operator with certainty, the charging work is often performed in a residential area at night, which causes a problem of noise in the neighborhood.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such inconvenience, the present invention provides a battery which allows an indoor worker to surely recognize the completion of charging performed outdoors such as charging of a battery of an electric vehicle. An object is to provide a charging device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a battery charging device of the present invention comprises a charger connected to a battery mounted on an automobile to charge the battery, an external power source, and an external power source. A charging device having a connector for connecting to a charger and supplying electric power to the charger, having a detection means for detecting the completion of charging of the battery, and receiving the output from the detection means to complete the charging. Is provided near the external power source.

The notifying means may be an audio means or an optical means.

[0011]

According to such means, since the notification means is provided in the vicinity of the external power source and operates at a position close to the worker, the worker indoors can more surely recognize the completion of charging. Moreover, since the notification means operates at a position close to the operator, it may be displayed by an optical means, and even if it is an audio means, a relatively small sound is required, so that no noise is produced in the neighborhood. ..

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The battery charging device of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the battery charging device of this embodiment.

The battery charging device of this embodiment is a device for charging the battery of an electric vehicle outdoors using an indoor power source. As shown in FIG. 1, the charger 11, the connector 21 and the completion of charging are detected. It comprises a detection means 14 for

The charger 11 is mounted on an electric vehicle, has a transformer 12 and a rectifier 13, and is connected to a battery 32. In addition, the charger 11 is an outlet 16
It is connectable to the outlet 22 of the connector 21 via.

The outlet 16 has input terminals 16a and 16b to which electric power is supplied from the connector 21, and an output terminal 16c for outputting a signal from the detecting means 14.

In this embodiment, as the detecting means 14, an ECU mounted on an electric vehicle and controlling the drive of the motor is used. The ECU 14 is connected to terminals 34 and 35 for measuring the charging current of the battery 32, a thermometer 36 and a hydrometer 37 provided in the battery case 31.

The connector 21 has a voice generating means 23 for converting an output signal from the ECU 14 into a voice signal and a speaker 24 for receiving a voice signal generated by the voice generating means 23 and outputting a sound for notifying completion of charging. , Outlet 22
Through the outlet 16 of the charger 11, and also through the outlet 25 with the outlet 42 of the external power source 41. As the external power supply 41, an indoor AC power supply is used.

In this embodiment, the sound generating means 23 and the speaker 24 form an informing means, and the outlet 22 supplies the output terminals 22a, 2a for supplying electric power to the charger 11.
2b, an input terminal 2 for receiving a signal from the ECU 14
2c. The speaker 24 is an indoor external power source 4
It may be set in the vicinity of 1 and connected to the connector 21 via a cable.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, first, the outlet 4
2 and outlet 25, outlet 22 and outlet 16
By connecting each of them, electric power is supplied from the external power source 41 to the charger 11 via the connector 21. The charger 11 adjusts the voltage of the electric power supplied by the transformer 12 and then converts it into a direct current by the rectifier 13 to charge the battery 32.

As soon as the charging is started, the ECU 14 operates. The ECU 14 integrates the charging currents measured by the terminals 33 and 34 connected to the battery 32, and the terminal voltage, the temperature of the battery liquid measured by the thermometer 36 provided in the battery case 31, the battery case 31. The integrated value of the charging current is corrected by the value such as the specific gravity of the battery liquid measured by the specific gravity meter 37 provided therein, and the remaining capacity of the battery 32 is calculated. As a result, the ECU 14 can detect the completion of charging the battery 32 with high accuracy.

When the ECU 14 detects that the battery 32 has been charged, the switch 14a is closed and the terminal 16
A signal is sent to the notification means 24 via c and 22c.
The signal is converted into a voice signal by the voice generating means 23, and then output from the speaker 24 as an amplified notification sound.

Since the speaker 24 is set indoors as described above, it emits sound at a position close to the operator.
Therefore, even if the notification sound is not loud enough to bother the neighbors, it can be reliably transmitted to the operator.

In the present embodiment, the completion of charging is notified by outputting a notification sound from the speaker 24, but the notification sound may be a simple electronic sound or a voice message. Further, instead of outputting the sound, the charging completion may be displayed by using an optical means such as a lamp.

In the present embodiment, the ECU 14 is used as a means for detecting the completion of charging, but the detecting means may be a timer that simply counts a predetermined charging time, and detects the terminal voltage of the battery 32. It may be a timer or the like that operates after detecting that the battery is charged to about 90% and counts the time until the charging is completed. Further, it may be another conventionally known means for detecting the completion of charging of the battery.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above, according to the battery charger of the present invention, it is possible for the operator to more surely recognize the completion of charging. Therefore, the connector,
After charging, the charging device such as a charger is quickly cleaned up by the operator, and accidents such as damage to the outlet and disconnection of the device can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a battery charger according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Charger, 14 ... Detecting means, 21 ... Connector, 2
3, 24 ... Notification means, 32 ... Battery, 41 ... External power source.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A charger having a charger connected to a battery mounted on an automobile to charge the battery, and a connector for connecting an external power source and the charger to supply power to the charger. A battery charging device, comprising: a device for detecting the completion of charging of the battery, and a notification device for receiving the output of the detection device and informing of completion of charging, provided near the external power source. apparatus.