Electronic protection system for electrically powered vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic system comprising a passive AC / DC converter connected on the one hand to an anti-theft protection system and on the other hand to an electric motor, the electric motor being connected to a wheel of an electrically powered vehicle, the electronic system being characterized in that when the wheel of the electric vehicle is rotated by a source external to the electric motor, the latter rotates and generates an AC voltage converted by the passive AC / DC converter so that it supplies the anti-theft protection system with a substantially DC voltage.

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic protection system for an electrically powered vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic system. Prior art

[0002] Many vehicles are equipped with an electric motor powered by a battery. Some batteries can be removed from the electric vehicle, for example, to be recharged. In this case, the electric vehicle is left without a battery. However, certain functions other than driving the electric motor, such as the vehicle's anti-theft function, can be provided by the power supply from the electric vehicle's battery. Thus, when the battery is removed, these functions may be temporarily deactivated.

[0003] The present application thus seeks to improve this situation. Presentation of the invention

[0004] An objective of the present application is therefore to propose an electronic system making it possible to power an anti-theft protection system of an electric vehicle even when a traction battery of the vehicle is uncoupled from the electric vehicle.

[0005] In this regard, the invention proposes an electronic system comprising a passive AC / DC converter connected on the one hand to an anti-theft protection system and on the other hand to an electric motor, the electric motor being connected to a wheel of an electrically powered vehicle, the electronic system being characterized in that when the wheel of the electric vehicle is rotated by a source external to the electric motor, the latter rotates and generates an AC voltage converted by the passive AC / DC converter into an output voltage supplying the anti-theft protection system.

[0006] The electronic system thus makes it possible to protect an electrically powered vehicle against theft by clever use of the electric motor in generator mode supplying power to an autonomous energy conversion unit and triggering an anti-theft protection system.

[0007] Optionally, the anti-theft protection system includes a capacitor. This allows for simple integration into the anti-theft protection system while allowing the stored energy to be returned immediately.

[0008] Optionally, the anti-theft protection system is triggered when a voltage across its terminals reaches a predetermined threshold. This allows the anti-theft protection system to be triggered as soon as a sufficient quantity of energy necessary for its de- triggering has been accumulated.

[0009] Optionally, the anti-theft protection system is deactivated when a key signal from the electric vehicle is detected. This prevents an owner of the electrically powered vehicle from triggering the anti-theft protection system.

[0010] Optionally, triggering the anti-theft protection system may include a command of at least one of the following actions: - the ignition of a light on the electric vehicle, or - an audible signal emitted by the electric vehicle, or - a message or call on a wireless network.

[0011] This provides an alert that the electrically powered vehicle is being stolen.

[0012] Optionally, the electronic system also comprises a traction battery and an engine control unit, configured to control traction of the vehicle by rotation of the wheel, and where appropriate a regenerative braking unit when the traction battery is coupled to said control unit, said passive AC / DC converter being configured to operate even when the traction battery is uncoupled from said control unit. This makes it possible to trigger the anti-theft protection system even when the traction battery is uncoupled from the vehicle.

[0013] Optionally, the passive AC / DC converter includes a full-wave rectifier. The full-wave rectifier makes it possible to rectify an AC voltage efficiently in a passive manner.

[0014] Optionally, the passive AC / DC converter comprises a Zener diode. The Zener diode provides access to a substantially DC voltage across its terminals passively.

[0015] The invention further relates to an electrically powered vehicle, for example an electrically powered scooter, incorporating an electronic system as presented according to one of the options described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0017] [Fig.l] represents an example of an electronic system. Description of the embodiments

[0018] Reference is now made to [Fig.l] showing an example of an electronic system according to the invention.

[0019] The electronic system comprises a three-phase electric motor 1 comprising a first phase U, a second phase V and a third phase W as shown in [Fig.l]. The electric motor is for example an induction motor. The electric motor is connected to a wheel 4 of an electrically powered vehicle so that when the wheel is rotated by a source external to the electric motor, an alternating voltage is generated on the first U, second V and third W phases of the electric motor. The electrically powered vehicle may for example be an electrically powered car or advantageously an electrically powered two-wheeler. The invention is particularly advantageous for an electrically powered scooter.

[0020] Each of the three phases of the electric motor is connected to a passive AC / DC converter 2. The AC / DC converter is configured to convert the three-phase AC voltage from the electric motor (acting as an electrical generator) into an output voltage, which is advantageously DC. Indeed, the AC / DC converter may not be a perfect converter and as such, the output voltage may be jerky.

[0021] By passive AC / DC converter, it is understood here that the AC / DC converter is a passive element in the electronic sense of the term, that is to say that it is not controlled by a computer comprising a processor, a controller or a microcontroller. It is therefore capable of converting the AC voltage coming from the electric motor into an output voltage autonomously.

[0022] The AC / DC converter may for example comprise a rectifier.

[0023] For example, the AC / DC converter may comprise a three-phase full-wave rectifier, i.e. six diodes mounted to form a Graëtz bridge as shown in [Fig.l] so that a rectified voltage is delivered between the two output phases of the full-wave rectifier.

[0024] In a variant, the AC / DC converter may comprise a three-phase half-wave rectifier, i.e. with a diode connected to each of the phases of the motor (U, V, W) so that a rectified voltage is delivered between the two output phases of the half-wave rectifier.

[0025] The AC / DC converter may further comprise a Zener diode connected between the two output phases of the rectifier as shown in [Fig.l]. The voltage across the Zener diode is smoother than the rectified voltage at the output of the rectifier. In this case, the voltage across the Zener diode is substantially continuous.

[0026] The AC / DC converter is connected to an anti-theft protection system 3 so that the DC voltage output by the converter supplies the anti-theft protection system. The anti-theft protection system here designates a system for implementing anti-theft protection when the wheel of the electric vehicle is driven in rotation by a source external to the electric motor. For example, in the case of an electric scooter, when it is pushed by a malicious person with the aim of stealing it, energy is produced by the motor in generator mode via the wheel drive, which is converted by the converter and then powers the anti-theft protection system.

[0027] This anti-theft protection system may for example comprise an energy storage unit 31. This energy storage unit may for example be a capacitor or a lithium-ion battery. In this case, in the context of a flight, the electrically powered vehicle will not be moved over very large distances by rotation of the electric wheel connected to the electric motor, which means that the quantity of energy produced by the rotation of the wheel during the flight will not be very large. Furthermore, the energy will have to be restored almost instantly in order to be able to trigger the protection system during the flight. In this way, a capacitor or a lithium-ion battery has been mentioned, but any buffer energy storage allowing immediately restitutable energy storage can be envisaged within the framework of the invention.

[0028] In this case, the anti-theft protection system is triggered when a voltage at its terminals reaches a predetermined threshold. The triggering of the anti-theft protection system may comprise a command of at least one of the following actions: - switching on a light of the electric vehicle, or - an audible signal emitted by the electric vehicle, or - a message or a call on a wireless network.

[0029] For example, the message or call on a wireless network may be intended for a vehicle owner, an insurer of the electric vehicle or a legal or natural person holding public authority (for example, a police officer). The wireless network may be the GSM network or an emergency call network, for example.

[0030] The command may be delivered to the target actuator by a computer 32 included in the anti-theft protection system and directly powered by the energy storage unit. The computer 32 comprises, for example, a processor, a controller or a microcontroller.

[0031] The anti-theft protection system may further comprise a key recognition unit 33. This key recognition unit 33 makes it possible to deactivate the anti-theft protection system when a key signal from the electrically powered vehicle is recognized. By deactivation of the anti-theft protection system, it is understood here that the anti-theft protection system is no longer triggered when a voltage at its terminals reaches a predetermined threshold. It therefore no longer triggers the control of the actions cited above. A recognized key signal from the electrically powered vehicle may comprise a signal sent when a key for starting the electric motor is inserted into a lock provided for this purpose. A signal of recognized electric vehicle key may also comprise a signal sent when a distance between the key of the electric vehicle and an exterior surface of the electric vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may for example be between 0.5 and 5 meters and preferably between 1 and 3 meters.

[0032] The electronic system may also comprise a traction battery 9. By traction battery, the present application designates an energy storage unit delivering a direct voltage, which is then converted into three-phase alternating energy intended for the electric motor so as to drive it in rotation. In this way, the wheel of the electric propulsion vehicle connected to the electric motor is also driven in rotation and the electric propulsion vehicle moves. The energy therefore passes from the traction battery to the wheel of the propulsion vehicle.

[0033] The electronic system may thus comprise an engine control unit 7 connected to the traction battery on one side and to the electric motor on the other side and configured to control traction of the vehicle by rotation of the wheel via the energy stored in the traction battery. The engine control unit may for example comprise an active DC / AC converter comprising insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT, generally known under the English name Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) converting the DC voltage delivered by the traction battery into a variable frequency AC voltage at each of the phases of the electric motor. The engine control unit also comprises a computer for controlling the transitions of the insulated gate bipolar transistors so as to create the variable frequency AC voltage.The computer may, for example, include a processor, a controller or a microcontroller.

[0034] The electronic system may further comprise a regenerative braking unit 71 integrated into the control unit 7. The regenerative braking unit may comprise an active AC / DC converter also comprising insulated-gate bipolar transistors. The active AC / DC converter makes it possible to convert an AC voltage created at each of the phases of the motor during braking into a DC voltage so as to recharge the traction battery. The computer of the control unit may also control the transitions of the insulated-gate bipolar transistors of the active AC / DC converter so as to carry out the conversion of the AC voltage to the DC voltage.

[0035] In the invention, the passive AC / DC converter is configured to operate even when the traction battery is uncoupled from the battery of the control unit. In this sense, even when the traction battery of the electrically powered vehicle is removed (e.g. to be charged), the anti-theft protection system continues to be powered by the passive AC / DC converter. when voltage is present on the electric motor phases due to rotation of the wheel.

[0036] In this case, the assembly comprising the electric motor 1, passive AC / DC converter 2 and anti-theft protection system 3 operates entirely passively, that is to say without any need for energy external to that produced by the electric motor 1 when it is in generator mode.

[0037] The present invention therefore proposes an electronic system making it possible to protect an electrically powered vehicle against theft even when the traction battery of the electric vehicle is removed by clever use of the electric motor in generator mode supplying power to an autonomous energy conversion assembly and triggering of an anti-theft protection system.

Claims

Claims

1. A method for powering an anti-theft protection system of an electric vehicle when a traction battery of the vehicle is uncoupled from the electric vehicle, said vehicle comprising an electronic system comprising a passive AC / DC converter (2) connected on the one hand to the anti-theft protection system (3) and on the other hand to an electric motor (1), the electric motor being connected to a wheel (4) of an electrically powered vehicle, said method being characterized in that when the wheel of the electric vehicle is rotated by a source external to the electric motor, the latter rotates and generates an AC voltage converted by the passive AC / DC converter into an output voltage powering the anti-theft protection system.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the anti-theft protection system comprises a capacitor.

3. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the anti-theft protection system is triggered when a voltage across its terminals reaches a predetermined threshold.

4. Method according to the preceding claim in which the anti-theft protection system is deactivated when a key signal of the electric vehicle is recognized.

5. Method according to claim 3 in which the triggering of the anti-theft protection system may comprise a command of at least one of the following actions: - an ignition of a light of the electrically powered vehicle, or - an audible signal emitted by the electrically powered vehicle, or - a message or a call on a wireless network.

6. A method according to any preceding claim further comprising a traction battery (9) and a motor control unit (7), configured to control traction of the vehicle by rotation of the wheel, and optionally a regenerative braking unit (71) when the traction battery is coupled to said control unit, said passive AC / DC converter being configured to operate even when the traction battery is uncoupled from said control unit.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the passive AC / DC converter comprises a rectifier double alternation.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the passive AC / DC converter comprises a Zener diode.

9. Electronic system comprising a passive AC / DC converter (2) connected on the one hand to an anti-theft protection system (3) and on the other hand to an electric motor (1), the electric motor being connected to a wheel (4) of an electrically powered vehicle, said system being characterized in that it comprises means for implementing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Electrically powered vehicle incorporating an electronic system according to the preceding claim.

11. Electrically powered vehicle according to claim 10 characterized in that it is a two-wheeler.

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