System and method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle. The system includes: an on-board charger (OBC) installed in the vehicle, which sets a required charging current based on available charging current information received from a power supply unit, which provides power for charging the battery, the on-board charger sends the required charging current information to the power supply unit, and converts the power provided by the power supply unit to charge the battery; and a controller, which determines whether the charging of the battery is completed, and when it is determined that the charging of the battery is abnormally terminated in a state where the charging is not completed, changes the required charging current to charge the battery based on first information provided by the power supply unit when the charging is abnormally terminated and based on second information provided by the power supply unit when the charging is normally completed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a system and method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle, and more particularly, to a system and method for stably charging a battery by automatically controlling a charging current provided by a power supply unit when charging of the battery is abnormally terminated. Background Art

[0002] Generally, plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles as environmentally friendly type vehicles include a high voltage battery, a drive motor powered by using the high voltage battery as a power source, and an inverter converting AC power into DC power upon charging and discharging of the high voltage battery.

[0003] Specifically, an environmentally friendly vehicle is usually equipped with a separate on-board charger (OBC), which converts an external power source (e.g., electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), household AC power) into a rechargeable DC power source to generate a charging current for a high-voltage battery. Therefore, in order for the environmentally friendly vehicle to travel, the electric energy required for travel is transmitted from the EVSE through the OBC and stored in the battery.

[0004] Meanwhile, the EVSE installed in the charging station or the like provides the vehicle with available charging current information (CP duty cycle) while communicating with the OBC in the vehicle. Specifically, the vehicle requests a charging current from the EVSE based on the available charging current information of the EVSE. When the requested charging current is higher than the available charging current of the EVSE, charging is terminated. In the related art, when this happens, the user sets the charging current to a lower level through the audio video navigation (AVN) system of the vehicle and attempts to charge with the reset low current.

[0005] However, in the related art, when the user starts charging and then returns after stopping for a period of time, there is often a situation where the vehicle battery cannot be fully charged due to insufficient available charging current from the distribution box. In addition, when charging is terminated in this way, the user must manually set the charging current. Therefore, in this case, when the user sets the charging current too high, charging may not be completed again, and when the user sets the charging current too low, the charging time increases.

[0006] The foregoing content is only intended to help understand the background of the present invention, and is not intended to indicate that the present invention falls within the scope of the relevant technologies known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a system and method for controlling battery charging of a vehicle (eg, an environmentally friendly vehicle), wherein when charging of the battery is abnormally terminated, the intensity of a charging current provided by a power supply unit is changed, thereby achieving stable charging of the battery.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle (e.g., an environmentally friendly vehicle), the system comprising: an on-board charger (OBC) installed in the vehicle, setting a required charging current based on available charging current information received from a power supply unit, the power supply unit providing power for charging the battery, the on-board charger sending the required charging current information to the power supply unit, and converting the power provided by the power supply unit to charge the battery; and a controller determining whether charging of the battery is completed, and when determining that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated in a state where charging is not completed, changing the required charging current to charge the battery based on first information provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated and based on second information provided by the power supply unit when charging is normally completed.

[0009] The system may further include a storage unit which stores the first information and the second information.

[0010] The controller may determine that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated when charging is terminated before the charging current output from the power supply unit reaches the required charging current requested by the OBC, or when charging is terminated without a user's request to terminate charging, or when charging is terminated before reaching a predetermined target value set at the start of charging.

[0011] The predetermined target value set at the start of charging may include the state of charge (SOC) of the battery and the charging time.

[0012] When it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated, the controller compares the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated with the first normal charging current having a maximum value in the second information stored in the storage unit, and when the abnormal charging current is greater than the first normal charging current, the controller changes the required charging current to the first normal charging current to charge the battery.

[0013] When the abnormal charging current is equal to or less than a first normal charging current, the controller may compare the abnormal charging current with a second normal charging current having a value that follows the first normal charging current among a plurality of normal charging current values ​​stored in a storage unit, and when the abnormal charging current is greater than the second normal charging current, the controller may change the required charging current to the second normal charging current to charge the battery.

[0014] When it is determined that the charging of the battery is terminated abnormally, the controller can compare the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when the charging is terminated abnormally with multiple normal charging current values ​​stored in the storage unit from the maximum value to the minimum value, and when the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current with the minimum value, the controller terminates the charging of the battery.

[0015] The controller compares an expected charging power to be provided by the power supply unit with an expected power consumption to be consumed during a charging time of the battery, and when the expected charging power is less than the expected power consumption, the controller may terminate charging of the battery.

[0016] When it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated, the controller updates the first information in the storage unit.

[0017] When charging of the battery is normally completed, the controller updates the second information in the storage unit.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling battery charging of a vehicle (e.g., an environmentally friendly vehicle) is provided, the method comprising: when charging payment is made in a power supply unit, receiving available charging current information from the power supply unit through an on-board charger (OBC); setting a required charging current based on the available charging current information received through the OBC, and sending the required charging current information to the power supply unit; and charging the battery by receiving the required charging current from the power supply unit.

[0019] The method may further include: after the step of charging the battery by receiving the required charging current from the power supply unit, when it is determined that the charging of the battery is abnormally terminated in a state where the charging is not completed, based on first information provided by the power supply unit when the charging is abnormally terminated, and based on second information provided by the power supply unit when the charging is normally completed, changing the required charging current to charge the battery.

[0020] The method may further include storing the first information and the second information before the step of receiving available charging current information from the power supply unit when charging payment is made in the power supply unit.

[0021] When changing the required charging current to charge the battery, the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when the charging is abnormally terminated is compared with the first normal charging current having a maximum value in the second information stored in the storage unit, and when the abnormal charging current is greater than the first normal charging current, the required charging current is changed to the first normal charging current to charge the battery.

[0022] The method may further include: when it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated, comparing the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated with multiple normal charging current values ​​in the second information stored in the storage unit from a maximum value to a minimum value, and when the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current with a minimum value, terminating the charging of the battery.

[0023] The method may further include comparing an expected charging power to be provided by the power supply unit with an expected power consumption to be consumed within a charging time of the battery, and terminating charging of the battery when the expected charging power is less than the expected power consumption.

[0024] The method may further include updating the first information in the storage unit when it is determined that the charging of the battery is abnormally terminated.

[0025] The method may further include updating the second information in the storage unit when the charging of the battery is normally completed.

[0026] According to the present invention, when charging of a battery is abnormally terminated, the intensity of the charging current provided by the power supply unit can be changed, thereby achieving stable charging of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a system for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a system for controlling battery charging of an environmentally-friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein first information provided by a power supply unit when charging of a battery is abnormally terminated and second information provided by the power supply unit when charging of the battery is normally completed are stored in a storage unit; and

[0030] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally-friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicle-like" or other similar terms used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, ships including various boats, vessels, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from non-fossil energy sources). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more power sources, such as both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

[0032] The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular "one", "one" and "said" are intended to include plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be further understood that when the terms "including" and / or "including" are used in this specification, it is indicated that there are the features, numerical values, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but one or more other features, numerical values, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups are not excluded from being present or added. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more related enumeration items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described as the opposite meaning, the word "including" and variants such as "including" or "including" will be understood to imply that the elements described are included, but any other elements are not excluded. In addition, the terms "unit", "device", "device" and "module" described in the specification represent units for processing at least one function and operation, which can be implemented by hardware components or software components and their combinations.

[0033] In addition, the control logic of the present invention can be implemented as a non-volatile computer-readable medium on a computer-readable medium containing executable program instructions run by a processor or controller, etc. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disk (CD)-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash drive, smart card, and optical data storage device. The computer-readable medium can also be distributed in a network-connected computer system so that the computer-readable medium is stored and executed in a distributed form (e.g., by a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN)).

[0034] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of a system for controlling battery charging of an eco-friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a system for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a system for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein first information provided by a power supply unit when charging of the battery is abnormally terminated and second information provided by the power supply unit when charging of the battery is normally completed are stored in a storage unit.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the system for controlling battery charging of an environmentally-friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a power supply unit 100 , an on-board charger (OBC) 200 , a controller 300 , and a battery 400 , and may further include a storage unit 500 .

[0037] Specifically, the power supply unit 100 provides power to charge the battery 400 installed in the vehicle and sends available charging current information (CP duty cycle) to the vehicle. In one embodiment, the power supply unit 100 according to the present invention may include an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installed in a distribution box, an electric vehicle charging station, etc. The power supply unit 100 receives power from the distribution box and provides power to the vehicle through the EVSE.

[0038] In addition, the power supply unit 100 may include a first communication portion 110. The power supply unit 100 transmits available charging current information to the OBC 200 installed in the vehicle through the first communication portion 110, and receives required charging current information from the OBC 200.

[0039] The OBC 200 is installed in the vehicle, and converts the power provided by the power supply unit 100 to charge the battery 400. In addition, the OBC 200 may include a second communication portion 210 for communicating with the power supply unit 100. Specifically, the OBC 200 receives available charging current information from the power supply unit 100 through the second communication portion 210, sets a required charging current based on the received available charging current information, and transmits the required charging current information to the power supply unit 100.

[0040] Furthermore, when the OBC 200 receives the required charging current provided by the power supply unit 100 , the OBC 200 provides the required charging current to the battery 400 to charge the battery 400 .

[0041] Here, in one embodiment, the first communication part 110 included in the power supply unit 100 and the second communication part 210 included in the OBC 200 may be implemented as a communication module or the like.

[0042] The storage unit 500 stores a plurality of first information provided by the power supply unit 100 when the charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated, and a plurality of second information provided by the power supply unit 100 when the charging of the battery 400 is normally completed. Here, the first information represents the charging current provided by the power supply unit 100 when the charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated, and the second information represents the charging current provided by the power supply unit 100 when the charging of the battery 400 is normally completed.

[0043] Specifically, Figure 2As shown, the storage unit 500 may store in descending order a plurality of first information provided by the power supply unit 100 when charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated, and may store in descending order a plurality of second information provided by the power supply unit 100 when charging of the battery 400 is normally completed. When charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated so that the controller 300 changes the required charging current, the plurality of first information and the plurality of second information stored in the storage unit 500 in descending order may be used.

[0044] Furthermore, in the storage unit 500, when charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated or normally completed, the charging current information provided by the power supply unit 100 is updated.

[0045] The controller 300 determines whether the charging of the battery 400 is completed. Here, the controller 300 determines whether the battery 400 is in a fully charged state based on a target state of charge (SOC) of the battery 400 set at the time of charging and a charging time.

[0046] In addition, when it is determined that the charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated while the charging of the battery 400 is incomplete, the controller 300 changes the required charging current to charge the battery 400 based on multiple first information provided by the power supply unit 100 when the charging is abnormally terminated, and based on multiple second information provided by the power supply unit when the charging is normally completed and pre-stored in the storage unit 500.

[0047] Here, when charging is terminated before the charging current output from the power supply unit 100 reaches the required charging current requested by the OBC 200, or when charging is terminated without a user requesting to terminate charging, or when charging is terminated before reaching a predetermined target value set at the start of charging, the controller 300 determines that charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated. At this time, the predetermined target set at the start of charging may include the SOC of the battery and the charging time. The user's request to terminate charging may include a state in which the user inputs a charging termination signal through a button or the like.

[0048] Meanwhile, when it is determined that charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated, the controller 300 compares the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit 100 when charging is abnormally terminated with the first normal charging current having the maximum value in the second information stored in the storage unit 500. Then, when the abnormal charging current is greater than the first normal charging current, the controller 300 changes the required charging current to the first normal charging current to allow charging of the battery 400.

[0049] Furthermore, when the abnormal charging current is equal to or less than the first normal charging current, the controller 300 compares the abnormal charging current with a second normal charging current having a value following the first normal charging current among the plurality of normal charging current values ​​stored in the storage unit 500. Then, when the abnormal charging current is greater than the second normal charging current, the controller 300 changes the required charging current to the second normal charging current to allow the battery 400 to be charged.

[0050] Meanwhile, when it is determined that charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated, the controller 300 sequentially compares the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit 100 when charging is abnormally terminated with a plurality of normal charging current values ​​stored in the storage unit 500 from the maximum value to the minimum value. Then, when the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current having the minimum value, the controller 300 terminates charging of the battery 400.

[0051] Reference Figure 2 In one embodiment, when the controller 300 determines that the charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated and the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit 100 when the charging is abnormally terminated is 28A, the controller 300 may sequentially compare the abnormal charging current of 28A with a plurality of normal charging current values ​​stored in the storage unit 500 from a maximum value of 31A to a minimum value. Then, the controller 300 changes the required charging current to 26A which is less than the abnormal charging current of 28A, thereby allowing the battery 400 to be charged again. When the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current having the minimum value among the plurality of normal charging current values ​​stored in the storage unit 500, the controller 300 may terminate the charging of the battery 400.

[0052] In addition, the controller 300 compares the expected charging power to be provided by the power supply unit 100 with the expected power consumption to be consumed during the charging time of the battery 400. Then, when the expected charging power is less than the expected power consumption, the controller 300 terminates the charging of the battery 400. In one embodiment, in a state where the available charging current that can be provided by the power supply unit 100 is 3A, when the expected charging power to be provided when charging at 3A for a predetermined period of time is less than the expected power consumption to be consumed by the operation of the battery, the power converter, etc., the controller 300 can terminate the charging of the battery 400.

[0053] Furthermore, when it is determined that the charging of the battery 400 is abnormally terminated, the controller 300 updates the first information in the storage unit 500. Furthermore, when the charging of the battery is normally completed, the controller 300 updates the second information in the storage unit 500.

[0054] Figure 3is a flow chart showing a method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: when charging payment is made in a power supply unit, receiving available charging current information from the power supply unit through an on-board charger (OBC); setting a required charging current based on the available charging current information received through the OBC, and sending the required charging current information to the power supply unit; charging the battery by receiving the required charging current from the power supply unit, and may further include, when it is determined that the charging of the battery is abnormally terminated in a state where charging is not completed, based on first information provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated, and based on second information provided by the power supply unit when charging is normally completed, changing the required charging current to charge the battery.

[0055] Specifically, when changing the required charging current to charge the battery, the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when the charging is abnormally terminated is compared with the first normal charging current having the maximum value in the second information stored in the storage unit. Then, when the abnormal charging current is greater than the first normal charging current, the required charging current is changed to the first normal charging current to allow charging of the battery.

[0056] At the same time, the method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to the present invention may further include: when it is determined that the charging of the battery is terminated abnormally, the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when the charging is terminated abnormally is compared with a plurality of normal charging current values ​​in the second information stored in the storage unit from the maximum value to the minimum value in sequence, and when the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current with the minimum value, the charging of the battery is terminated.

[0057] The method may further include comparing an expected charging power to be provided by the power supply unit with an expected power consumption to be consumed within a charging time of the battery, and terminating charging of the battery when the expected charging power is less than the expected power consumption.

[0058] The method may further include allowing the first information to be updated in the storage unit when it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated.

[0059] The method may further include allowing the second information to be updated in the storage unit when the charging of the battery is normally completed.

[0060] The detailed technical features of each step of the method for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention remain the same as the technical features of the system for controlling battery charging of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, so their detailed description will be omitted here.

[0061] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle, the system comprising: an on-board charger installed in the vehicle, which sets a required charging current based on available charging current information received from a power supply unit that provides power for charging the battery, the on-board charger sends the required charging current information to the power supply unit, and converts the power provided by the power supply unit to charge the battery; a controller that determines whether charging of the battery is completed, and when it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated in a state where charging is not completed, changes a required charging current to charge the battery based on first information of a charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated and second information of a charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is normally completed; as well as a storage unit that stores the first information and the second information in descending order, Among them, when it is determined that the charging of the battery is terminated abnormally, the controller will compare the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when the charging is terminated abnormally with the normal charging current in the second information in sequence from large to small, until the abnormal charging current is greater than the normal charging current in the second information, and then change the required charging current to the normal charging current to charge the battery.

2. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The controller determines that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated when charging is terminated before the charging current output from the power supply unit reaches the required charging current requested by the on-board charger, or when charging is terminated without a user requesting termination of charging, or when charging is terminated before reaching a predetermined target value set at the start of charging.

3. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: The predetermined target values ​​set at the beginning of charging include the battery's state of charge and charging time.

4. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated, the controller compares the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated with the first normal charging current having a maximum value in the second information stored in the storage unit, and when the abnormal charging current is greater than the first normal charging current, the controller changes the required charging current to the first normal charging current to charge the battery.

5. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein: When the abnormal charging current is equal to or less than a first normal charging current, the controller compares the abnormal charging current with a second normal charging current having a value that follows the first normal charging current among a plurality of normal charging current values ​​stored in a storage unit, and when the abnormal charging current is greater than the second normal charging current, the controller changes the required charging current to the second normal charging current to charge the battery.

6. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When it is determined that the charging of the battery is abnormally terminated, the controller compares the abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when the charging is abnormally terminated with multiple normal charging current values ​​stored in the storage unit from the maximum value to the minimum value, and when the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current with the minimum value, the controller terminates the charging of the battery.

7. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The controller compares an expected charging power to be provided by the power supply unit with an expected power consumption to be consumed during a charging time of the battery, and when the expected charging power is less than the expected power consumption, the controller terminates charging of the battery.

8. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The controller updates the first information in the storage unit when it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated.

9. The system for controlling battery charging of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When charging of the battery is normally completed, the controller updates the second information in the storage unit.

10. A method for controlling battery charging of a vehicle, the method comprising: storing, by a storage unit, in descending order, first information of a charging current supplied by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated and second information of a charging current supplied by the power supply unit when charging is normally completed; When charging payment is made in the power supply unit, available charging current information is received from the power supply unit via the on-board charger; setting a required charging current based on available charging current information received through the on-board charger, and sending the required charging current information to the power supply unit; charging the battery by receiving a required charging current from the power supply unit; When it is determined that charging of the battery is abnormally terminated in a state where charging is not completed, changing a required charging current to charge the battery based on the first information and the second information, Among them, changing the required charging current to charge the battery includes: The abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated is compared with the normal charging current in the second information from large to small, until the abnormal charging current is greater than the normal charging current in the second information, and the required charging current is changed to the normal charging current to charge the battery.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: Charging a battery by receiving the required charging current involves: comparing the abnormal charging current supplied by the power supply unit when the charging is abnormally terminated with the first normal charging current having the maximum value among the second information stored in the storage unit, When the abnormal charging current is greater than the first normal charging current, the required charging current is changed to the first normal charging current to charge the battery.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: When it is determined that the battery charging is abnormally terminated, The abnormal charging current provided by the power supply unit when charging is abnormally terminated is compared with multiple normal charging current values ​​in the second information stored in the storage unit from the maximum value to the minimum value, and when the abnormal charging current is less than the normal charging current with the minimum value, the charging of the battery is terminated.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: An expected charging power to be provided by the power supply unit is compared with an expected power consumption to be consumed during a charging time of the battery, and when the expected charging power is less than the expected power consumption, charging of the battery is terminated.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: When it is determined that the battery charging is abnormally terminated, The first information is updated in the storage unit.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: When the battery charging is completed normally, The second information is updated in the storage unit.

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