Energy supply device for providing electric energy to a motor vehicle and operating method thereof, method for manufacturing an energy supply device and energy supply system

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy supply device (2) for providing electrical energy to a motor vehicle (3), comprising an energy supply unit (5) arranged in a housing. It is proposed that the energy supply unit (5) is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device (8) designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection with the motor vehicle (3) on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device (6) to provide energy to the motor vehicle (3), wherein the control device (6) is also arranged and designed to drive another energy supply unit (16), which can be arranged in the housing separately from the energy supply unit (5) and can be electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and to the motor vehicle (3) on the other hand. The invention also relates to a method for operating an energy supply device (2), a method for manufacturing an energy supply device (2) and an energy supply system (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an energy supply device for providing electrical energy to a motor vehicle, the energy supply device having an energy supply unit arranged in a housing, a method for operating the energy supply device, a method for manufacturing the energy supply device and an energy supply system. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, for example, document DE 10 2011 007 839 A1 is known. It describes a vehicle charging device, which comprises a charging station external to the vehicle, a charging cable and a charging device of the vehicle, in order to charge an electrical energy storage device of the vehicle with electrical energy from an external AC power grid, wherein the charging station can be supplied with electrical power on the input side by the external AC power grid, the charging cable is electrically connected to the charging station or can be electrically connected to the charging station, the charging cable can be electrically connected to the charging device via a plug-socket connection, the charging station has six electrical taps, the charging cable has six wires for charging the electrical energy storage device, the six electrical taps of the charging station are connected to the six wires of the charging cable in the same design, and the six wires of the charging cable are connected to at least four electrical contacts of the charging device in the same design. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an energy supply device for supplying electrical energy to a motor vehicle which has advantages over known energy supply devices, in particular can be provided in a very flexible manner in different configurations.

[0004] According to the invention, this is achieved by the energy supply device according to the invention. It is proposed that the energy supply unit is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection with the vehicle on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device to provide energy for the motor vehicle, wherein the control device is also configured and designed to drive another energy supply unit, which can be arranged in a housing separately from the energy supply unit and can be electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to the motor vehicle on the other hand.

[0005] The energy supply device is used to provide electrical energy to the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has, for example, an energy storage device for temporarily storing electrical energy. Therefore, it can be provided that the electrical energy provided by the energy supply device is used at least temporarily to charge the energy storage device of the motor vehicle.

[0006] In order to transmit electrical energy from the energy supply device to the motor vehicle, the energy supply device has an energy supply unit. It is electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and to the transmission device on the other hand. In other words, the transmission device is electrically connected to the power supply via the energy supply unit. The power supply is used to provide electrical energy. As a power supply / current source, it is possible to use, for example, an electrical network, in particular a house network and / or a public network.

[0007] The transmission device is preferably a contact transmission device or a wired transmission device. The transmission device ultimately establishes an electrical connection between the energy supply unit and the motor vehicle. For example, the transmission device is in the form of a contact point or a contact plate, which is at least temporarily electrically contacted by the power receiving device of the motor vehicle.

[0008] The transmission device is used to establish a safety low voltage connection, i.e. an electrical connection which is provided and designed for transmitting a safety low voltage. In order to comply with safety regulations, only a safety low voltage (SELV) is applied to the transmission device by the energy supply unit. The safety low voltage is characterized by a maximum of 25 V for alternating current and a maximum of 60 V for direct current.

[0009] The energy supply unit adjusts the voltage applied at the transmission device so that it meets the conditions that only a safety low voltage is applied at the transmission device. For this purpose, the energy supply unit is controlled by a control device. For this purpose, the energy supply unit has, for example, an electrical switch, which is electrically arranged between the power supply and the transmission device. The switch can be controlled by the control device. For example, when the switch is in a first switching position, there is an electrical connection between the power supply and the transmission device, and the electrical connection is disconnected when it is in a second switching position, so that the power supply and the transmission device are electrically separated from each other.

[0010] In order to realize a particularly flexible structure of the energy supply device, the control device is also arranged and designed for driving another energy supply unit. This should be understood as the control device being at least prepared for driving the other energy supply unit. For this purpose, for example, the control device has a corresponding output for the other energy supply unit.

[0011] The further energy supply unit can be arranged in the housing substantially separately from the energy supply unit and can be electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and to the motor vehicle on the other hand. The further energy supply unit is initially purely optional. It can therefore be provided that initially only the energy supply unit is arranged in the housing and connected to the control device for its actuation. However, the control device is always ready to actuate the further energy supply unit.

[0012] In addition to the energy supply unit, a further energy supply unit is arranged in the housing or in at least one embodiment of the energy supply device, a further energy supply unit is present in the housing. In this case, the further energy supply unit is electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and can be electrically connected to the motor vehicle on the other hand. For this purpose, the further energy supply unit is electrically connected to a further transmission device, for example. If a further energy supply unit is present in the housing, the further energy supply unit is connected to the control device for controlling it.

[0013] The energy supply device allows a particularly flexible and targeted energy supply. Thus, for example, the energy supply device can be configured according to customer requirements. In a first embodiment, the energy supply device has only an energy supply unit without a further energy supply unit. In a second embodiment, not only the energy supply unit but also a further energy supply unit is present.

[0014] In another embodiment, the energy supply device has one or more further energy supply units, each of which is connected to a control device for controlling the energy supply unit. For example, the control device is configured and designed to control the energy supply unit and at least two further energy supply devices. For this purpose, the control device has a corresponding number of outputs to which the energy supply unit and at least one further energy supply unit can be connected.

[0015] The improved solution of the present invention proposes that the control device has a communication device for communicating with a communication object of the motor vehicle. The communication device is used to establish a communication connection with the motor vehicle or a communication object of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can, for example, specify at least one energy supply parameter via the communication connection and supply energy according to the parameter. For example, voltage, power, etc. are used as energy supply parameters.

[0016] In any case, the communication device is a component of the control device, so that the motor vehicle can ultimately control the energy supply unit and at least one further energy supply unit in a targeted manner via the communication device. This allows a simple design of the energy supply device, since there is only one communication device for communicating with the motor vehicle for a plurality of energy supply units.

[0017] Another development of the invention provides that the further energy supply unit is electrically connected to a further transmission device designed for low-voltage connection. The further transmission device has already been mentioned above. Its purpose is to establish a low-voltage connection with the motor vehicle. Low voltage is a voltage of a maximum of 1000 V in the case of alternating current and a voltage of a maximum of 1500 V in the case of direct current. However, in any case, the voltage applied by the further energy supply unit to the further transmission device is higher than the voltage applied by the energy supply device to the transmission device.

[0018] For example, the voltage applied by the other energy supply unit to the other transmission device is greater than 25 V, in particular at least 100 V, at least 200 V, at least 300 V, at least 400 V or at least 500 V in the case of alternating current, and greater than 60 V, in particular at least 100 V, at least 200 V, at least 300 V, at least 400 V, at least 500 V or at least 600 V in the case of direct current.

[0019] Different charging processes can thus be implemented with the aid of the energy supply unit and the further energy supply unit. For example, a motor vehicle can be quickly charged with the aid of the further energy supply unit, while the energy supply unit is designed for slower charging. This enables a particularly flexible operation of the energy supply device.

[0020] Another improvement of the present invention proposes that the energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit are electrically connected to a common power supply terminal of the housing separately from each other. The energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit are connected to a power supply via the power supply terminal of the housing. Since the energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit are separately connected to a common power supply terminal, a voltage identical to the voltage of the power supply terminal exists at both the energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit. The energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit transmit voltage in such a way that the voltages applied at the transmission device and the other transmission device, respectively, are within the desired voltage range. The described embodiment of the energy supply device achieves a simple structure.

[0021] Another improvement of the present invention proposes that the energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit are electrically connected to a common power supply terminal via a common rectifier. The common rectifier is electrically present between the power supply terminal and the energy supply unit and between the power supply terminal and the other energy supply unit. The power supply provides alternating current at the power supply terminal, which is converted into direct current by means of a rectifier and then fed to the energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit. It is preferably provided that the output voltage of the rectifier is applied to the energy supply unit and the other energy supply unit. The use of a common rectifier can save a separate rectifier, thereby saving a lot of costs.

[0022] The improved scheme of the present invention proposes that the energy supply unit is electrically connected to a common rectifier via a DC transformer, and the other energy supply unit is electrically connected to the common rectifier via another DC transformer. By means of the DC transformer and the other DC transformer, the output voltage provided by the common rectifier can be converted into another voltage or a different voltage.

[0023] For example, a first voltage is provided to the energy supply unit by means of a DC transformer, and a second voltage is provided to the further energy supply unit by means of the further DC transformer. The second voltage can be the same as the first voltage or different from the first voltage. In either case, the first voltage and the second voltage are different from the output voltage of the rectifier. This design enables a particularly flexible supply of electrical energy to the motor vehicle.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a method for operating an energy supply device to provide electrical energy for a motor vehicle, the energy supply device being in particular an energy supply device according to an embodiment of the present description, the energy supply device having an energy supply unit arranged in a housing. It is proposed that the energy supply unit is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection on the other hand, and is driven by a control device to provide energy for the motor vehicle, wherein another energy supply unit is arranged in the housing, the other energy supply unit being electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and being electrically connectable to the motor vehicle on the other hand, wherein the other energy supply unit is driven by the control device to provide energy for the motor vehicle.

[0025] The advantages of this mode of operation or this design of the energy supply device have already been described. Both the energy supply device and its operating method can be improved according to the embodiments in this description. The energy supply device thus has both the energy supply unit and the further energy supply unit. Both are controlled by the same control device, which particularly preferably has a communication device for communicating with the motor vehicle.

[0026] The invention further relates to a method for producing an energy supply device for supplying electrical energy to a motor vehicle, in particular energy supply devices which are respectively designed according to the embodiments within the scope of the present description, wherein each energy supply device has an energy supply unit arranged in a housing. It is provided that the energy supply unit is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device in order to supply energy to the motor vehicle, wherein for a portion of the energy supply devices, preferably only for this portion of the energy supply devices, a further energy supply unit is arranged in the housing, which further energy supply unit is electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and can be electrically connected to the motor vehicle on the other hand, wherein the control device is also arranged and designed to control the further energy supply unit.

[0027] With regard to the advantages and possible developments of the or each energy supply device, reference is again made to the above within the scope of the present description.

[0028] By means of the method, different energy supply devices can be manufactured in a simple manner. It is therefore proposed that, for example, in one part of the energy supply devices, only the energy supply unit is arranged in the housing without the further energy supply unit. In contrast, in the second part of the energy supply device, not only the energy supply unit but also the further energy supply unit is arranged in the housing. The energy supply unit and the further energy supply unit are always controlled by means of a control device. Therefore, the energy supply unit and the further energy supply unit (if any) are electrically connected to the control device.

[0029] The present invention also relates to an energy supply system, comprising a motor vehicle and an energy supply device for providing electrical energy to the motor vehicle, in particular an energy supply device according to the embodiment of the present specification, the energy supply device having an energy supply unit arranged in a housing. It is proposed that the energy supply unit is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection with the motor vehicle on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device to provide energy to the motor vehicle, wherein the control device is also designed to control another energy supply unit, which can be arranged in the housing separately from the energy supply unit and can be electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and to the motor vehicle on the other hand.

[0030] For advantages and further embodiments of the energy supply device, reference is also made to the embodiments within the scope of the present description.

[0031] The improved solution of the present invention proposes that the motor vehicle is electrically connected to the transmission device via a movable power receiving device and / or has an energy storage device for temporarily storing electrical energy, which is electrically connected to the power receiving device via a DC transformer. The power receiving device can be moved relative to the body of the motor vehicle, for example, by means of an electric drive. The power receiving device is used to make electrical contact with the transmission device, so that a safe low-voltage connection between the energy supply unit and the motor vehicle is established or can be established via the transmission device and the power receiving device.

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, the motor vehicle has an energy storage device. A DC transformer is electrically connected between the power receiving device and the energy storage device, and the DC transformer is used to convert the voltage provided at the power receiving device into a voltage for charging the energy storage device. Since the voltage provided by the energy supply unit at the power receiving device is a safety low voltage, the voltage is increased by means of the DC transformer, for example, to a voltage that is at least 5 times, at least 7.5 times, or at least 10 times higher than the safety low voltage. This makes it possible to effectively charge the energy storage device of the motor vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, without limiting the present invention. It is shown here:

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing an energy supply system in a first embodiment,

[0035] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing an energy supply system in a second embodiment,

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing an energy supply system in a third embodiment, and

[0037] Figure 4A schematic diagram shows an energy supply system in a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 The schematic diagram of an energy supply system 1 is shown, which includes an energy supply device 2 and a motor vehicle 3. The energy supply device 2 has a power supply terminal 4 for connecting the energy supply device 2 to a power supply not shown in detail. In addition, the energy supply device 2 is equipped with an energy supply unit 5 and a control device 6. In the embodiment shown here, the energy supply unit 5 has a rectifier 7, by which the alternating current provided at the power supply terminal 4 is converted into direct current.

[0039] The energy supply unit 5 is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 4 on the one hand and to the transmission device 8 on the other hand. The connection of the transmission device 8 to the energy supply unit 5 is made, for example, via a plug connector 9. In addition to the plug connector 9, a further plug connector 10 can also be connected to the energy supply unit 5, in particular connected in parallel with the plug connector 9.

[0040] The motor vehicle 3 has an energy storage device 10 for temporarily storing electrical energy, a receiving device 12 that can be displaced by an electric drive 13, a transformer 14, and a communication object 15. The energy storage device 11 is electrically connected to the receiving device 12 via the transformer 14. If the motor vehicle 3 is arranged in a corresponding manner relative to the energy supply device 2, the receiving device 12 can be contacted with the transmission device 8 by means of the drive 13. The transmission device 8 and the receiving device 12 thus establish a safe low-voltage connection between the energy supply unit 5 and the motor vehicle 3.

[0041] Due to the low voltage applied to the power receiving device 12, a transformer 14 is used to increase the voltage. The voltage increased by means of the transformer 14 is then used to charge the energy storage device 11. For example, the motor vehicle 3 requests the energy supply unit 5 to provide electrical energy via the communication object 15. For this purpose, the communication object 15 establishes a communication connection with the communication device of the control device 6.

[0042] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an energy supply system 1 in a second embodiment is shown. The second embodiment corresponds essentially to the first embodiment, so reference is made to the corresponding explanations, and only the differences are discussed below. The difference is that the energy supply device 2 has a further energy supply unit 16 in addition to the energy supply unit 5. This further energy supply unit is used to establish a low-voltage connection to the motor vehicle 3, preferably also by means of a wired connection. This is only shown by way of example.

[0043] Like the energy supply unit 5, the energy supply unit 16 is also controlled by the control device 6, so the control device exists as a common control device. The other energy supply unit 16 is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 4 in parallel with the energy supply unit 5. Here, it is only shown by way of example that the energy supply unit 16 has an ICCPD device 17 and / or an overload protection circuit 18. The energy supply unit 16 is designed as an AC charging unit, that is, it is used to supply AC current to the motor vehicle 3.

[0044] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the energy supply system 1 in the third embodiment is shown. The energy supply system is constructed similarly to the second embodiment, so reference is made to the corresponding explanations, and only the differences are discussed below. The difference is that the energy supply unit 16 is not designed as an AC charging unit, but as a DC charging unit. For this purpose, the energy supply unit 5 and the energy supply unit 16 are electrically connected to the power supply terminal 4 via a common rectifier 19.

[0045] The energy supply unit 5 does not have a rectifier 7 but a transformer 20. The energy supply unit 16 has a transformer 21. The transformer 21 is controlled, for example, by a controller 22. In the third exemplary embodiment, both the energy supply unit 5 and the energy supply unit 16 are controlled by a common control device 6.

[0046] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the energy supply system 1 in the fourth embodiment is shown. In this regard, reference is again made to the above explanations, in particular to the first embodiment. Only the differences are discussed below. The difference is that instead of alternating current, direct current is supplied at the power supply terminal 4, i.e. direct current from an energy storage device, a battery or an accumulator. The electrical energy is provided here at a voltage that corresponds to the voltage required for operating the energy supply unit 5. The voltage is therefore a safety low voltage.

[0047] For example, it can be provided that in the first, second or third embodiment, the energy supply system 1 is first operated to charge the energy storage device via the plug connector 10. Then, in the fourth embodiment, the charged energy storage device can be connected to the power supply terminal 4 of the energy supply system 1, and the electrical energy drawn from the energy storage device can be used to charge the motor vehicle 3. The energy supply unit 5 can thus be designed particularly simply. For example, it has only one electrical switch 23.

[0048] Reference numerals list

[0049] 1 Energy supply system

[0050] 2 Energy supply device

[0051] 3 Motor Vehicles

[0052] 4 Power Terminals

[0053] 5 Energy supply unit

[0054] 6 Control Equipment

[0055] 7. Rectifier

[0056] 8 Transmission device

[0057] 9 Connector

[0058] 10 Connector

[0059] 11 Accumulator

[0060] 12 Power receiving device

[0061] 13 Driver

[0062] 14 Transformer

[0063] 15 Communication Object

[0064] 16 Energy supply unit

[0065] 17ICCPD-Equipment

[0066] 18 Overload protection circuit

[0067] 19 Rectifier

[0068] 20 Transformer

[0069] 21 Transformer

[0070] 22 Controller

[0071] 23 Switch

Claims

1. An energy supply device (2) for providing electrical energy to a motor vehicle (3), comprising an energy supply unit (5) arranged in a housing, characterized in that: The energy supply unit (5) is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device (8) designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection with a motor vehicle (3) on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device (6) to provide energy for the motor vehicle (3), wherein the control device (6) is also configured and designed to control another energy supply unit (16), which can be arranged in a housing separately from the energy supply unit (5) and can be electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to the motor vehicle (3) on the other hand, wherein the control device (6) has a communication device for communicating with a communication object (15) of the motor vehicle (3), so that the motor vehicle can ultimately control the energy supply unit and at least one other energy supply unit in a targeted manner through the communication device, wherein the motor vehicle can specify at least one energy supply parameter through the communication connection and supply energy according to the at least one energy supply parameter, and the communication device is a component of the control device, so that the motor vehicle can ultimately control the energy supply unit and at least one other energy supply unit in a targeted manner through the communication device.

2. The energy supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that The further energy supply unit (16) is electrically connected to a further transmission device designed for low-voltage connection.

3. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The energy supply unit (5) and the further energy supply unit (16) are electrically connected separately from one another to a common power supply terminal (4) of the housing.

4. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The energy supply unit (5) and the further energy supply unit (16) are electrically connected to a common power supply terminal (4) via a common rectifier (19).

5. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The energy supply unit (5) is electrically connected to a common rectifier (19) via a DC transformer (20), and the further energy supply unit (16) is electrically connected to the common rectifier (19) via a further DC transformer (21).

6. A method for operating an energy supply device (2) to provide electrical energy to a motor vehicle (3), the energy supply device being an energy supply device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The energy supply device (2) has an energy supply unit (5) arranged in a housing, characterized in that the energy supply unit (5) is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device (8) designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection on the other hand, and is controlled by a control device (6) to provide energy for a motor vehicle (3), wherein another energy supply unit (16) is arranged in the housing, which is electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and can be electrically connected to the motor vehicle (3) on the other hand, wherein the other energy supply unit (16) is controlled by the control device (6) to provide energy for the motor vehicle (3).

7. A method for producing an energy supply device (2) for supplying electrical energy to a motor vehicle (3), the energy supply devices (2) each being designed according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Each energy supply device (2) has an energy supply unit (5) arranged in a housing, characterized in that the energy supply unit (5) is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device (8) designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device (6) to provide energy for the motor vehicle (3), wherein for a part of the energy supply devices (2), another energy supply unit (16) is arranged in the housing, which is electrically connected to the power supply on the one hand and can be electrically connected to the motor vehicle (3) on the other hand, wherein the control device (6) is also arranged and designed to control the other energy supply unit (16).

8. An energy supply system (1) comprising a motor vehicle (3) and an energy supply device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for providing electrical energy to the motor vehicle (3), wherein: The energy supply device (2) has an energy supply unit (5) arranged in a housing, characterized in that the energy supply unit (5) is electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to a transmission device (8) designed to establish a safe low-voltage connection with a motor vehicle (3) on the other hand, and can be controlled by a control device (6) to provide energy for the motor vehicle (3), wherein the control device (6) is also configured and designed to control another energy supply unit (16), which can be arranged in the housing separately from the energy supply unit (5), and the other energy supply unit can be electrically connected to a power supply on the one hand and to the motor vehicle (3) on the other hand.

9. The energy supply system according to claim 8, characterized in that The motor vehicle (3) is electrically connected to the transmission device (8) via a movable power receiving device (12) and / or has an energy storage device (11) for temporarily storing electrical energy, which is electrically connected to the power receiving device (12) via a DC transformer (14).

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