Charging control device and method for electric vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging control apparatus and method of an electric vehicle. It can include requesting a charging device for a current required for charging in a state where a power line communication (PLC) is established with the charging device, detecting a round trip time required to receive a response to the request, and adjusting a switching period of a multi-stage inverter based on the round trip time, thereby preventing an interruption in the PLC with the charging device in a process of charging a battery of the electric vehicle.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0101355, filed on August 12, 2020, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0139532, filed on October 26, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a technique for preventing timeouts in power line communication (PLC) with a charging device during the charging of an electric vehicle's battery. Background Technology

[0004] Typically, electric vehicles obtain the driving energy for their electric motors from batteries (e.g., high-voltage batteries). Therefore, when the battery's state of charge (SOC) value falls below a reference value, it must be charged. Currently, as charging schemes, there are boost and non-boost schemes. In the boost scheme, the voltage of the charging device is increased (e.g., 400V) to charge the battery, while in the non-boost scheme, the battery is charged using the original voltage of the charging device (e.g., 800V).

[0005] Because charging devices generate noise during the charging process in non-boost solutions, boost solutions are primarily used. Such boost solutions include those utilizing converters and those utilizing multi-stage inverters.

[0006] Since a separate converter would be additionally installed in an electric vehicle, the widely used boost converter-based solutions increase costs.

[0007] Although boost schemes using multi-stage inverters do not require a separate converter to increase the battery charging voltage, noise is generated during the switching process of increasing the charging voltage.

[0008] This noise, as a factor causing distortion in PLC communication with the charging device, persists during the charging process of the electric vehicle's battery, thus causing PLC communication with the charging device to time out.

[0009] As mentioned above, battery charging stops when communication with the PLC of the charging device ceases. Therefore, there is a need for a technique that can prevent interruption of communication with the PLC of the charging device during the charging of the electric vehicle's battery.

[0010] The information disclosed in the Background section of the present invention is only intended to enhance the understanding of the general background of the present invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms prior art that is already known to those skilled in the art. SUMMARY

[0011] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to a charging control apparatus and method of an electric vehicle configured to request a charging device for a charging required current in a state where power line communication (PLC) is established with the charging device, detect a round trip time required to receive a response to the request, and adjust a switching period of a multi-stage inverter based on the round trip time, thereby preventing interruption of the PLC with the charging device in a process of charging a battery of the electric vehicle.

[0012] Further, various aspects of the present invention are directed to a charging control apparatus and method of an electric vehicle configured to request a charging device for a charging required current in a state where power line communication (PLC) is established with the charging device, detect a round trip time required to receive a response to the request, and adjust the charging required current based on the round trip time, thereby preventing interruption of the PLC communication with the charging device in a process of charging a battery of the electric vehicle.

[0013] The technical problems solved by the present invention concept are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention through the following description.

[0014] According to various aspects of the present invention, a charging control apparatus configured for an electric vehicle can include a communication apparatus performing power line communication (PLC) with a charging device, a multi-stage inverter boosting a charging voltage from the charging device, and a controller requesting the charging device for a charging required current, detecting a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and adjusting a switching period of the multi-stage inverter based on the determined round trip time.

[0015] The controller can adjust the switching period of the multi-stage inverter such that the determined round trip time does not exceed a reference round trip time.

[0016] The controller can up-regulate a switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter when the determined round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time, and can down-regulate the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter when the determined round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time.

[0017] The controller can measure the initial round trip time a reference number of times, and can set the reference round trip time based on an average value of the initial round trip times measured the reference number of times.

[0018] The electric vehicle can charge the high-voltage battery with charging power corresponding to a first charging voltage supplied from the charging device.

[0019] When a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage is supplied from the charging device, the electric vehicle can step up the second charging voltage to the first charging voltage, and charge the high-voltage battery with charging power corresponding to the first charging voltage.

[0020] According to various aspects of the present application, a charging control device configured for an electric vehicle can include a communication device performing power line communication (PLC) with a charging device, and a controller requesting a charging required current from the charging device, detecting a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and adjusting the charging required current based on the determined round trip time.

[0021] According to still another aspect of the present application, a charging control method of an electric vehicle can include connecting a charging device in a power line communication (PLC) manner using a communication device, stepping up a charging voltage of the charging device using a multi-stage inverter, requesting a charging required current from the charging device using a controller and determining a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and adjusting a switching period of the multi-stage inverter based on the determined round trip time using the controller.

[0022] The charging control method can include determining whether the determined round trip time exceeds a reference round trip time, up-regulating a switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter when the determined round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time as a determination result, and down-regulating the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter when the determined round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time as a determination result.

[0023] The charging control method can further include measuring a reference number of times of an initial round trip time, and setting the reference round trip time based on an average value of the initial round trip time measured for the reference number of times.

[0024] The charging control method can further include charging, by the electric vehicle, a high-voltage battery with charging power corresponding to a first charging voltage supplied from the charging device, stepping up, by the electric vehicle, a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage to the first charging voltage when the second charging voltage is supplied from the charging device, and charging, by the electric vehicle, the high-voltage battery with charging power corresponding to the stepped-up first charging voltage.

[0025] According to still another aspect of the present application, a charging control method of an electric vehicle can include connecting a charging device in a power line communication (PLC) manner by a communication device, requesting a charging required current to the charging device by a controller and determining a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, adjusting the charging required current based on the determined round trip time by the controller.

[0026] The method and apparatus of the present application has other characteristics and advantages which will be apparent from or will be elaborated on in the accompanying drawings and subsequent detailed description incorporated herein, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0028] Figure 2A is an exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a measurement of an initial round trip time in a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0029] Figure 2B is an exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a measurement of a round trip time in a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0030] Figure 2C is another exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a measurement of a round trip time in a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0031] Figure 2D is still another exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a measurement of a round trip time in a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0032] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a charging control device configured for an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0033] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a charging control method of an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0034] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a charging control method of an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application; and

[0035] Figure 6is a schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a computing system that performs a charging control method of an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0036] It is to be understood that the attached drawings are not drawn to scale since what is important is the illustrative depiction rather than exact dimensions. Specific design features of the application disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular environment in which the application is applied and used.

[0037] In these drawings, like reference numerals indicate like or equivalent parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the application will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the application is not limited to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the application is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments that can be included within the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the appended claims.

[0039] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. When adding reference numerals to components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are designated by the same reference numerals even though they are illustrated in other drawings. Further, in describing the exemplary embodiments of the present application, detailed description of known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it can make the subject matter of the present application unclear.

[0040] In describing components of the exemplary embodiments according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application, terms such as first, second, "A", "B", (a), (b), etc. can be used. These terms are merely intended to differentiate one component from another component, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or sequence of constituting components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical terms or scientific terms, have the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application belong. Such terms as generally defined in a dictionary should be interpreted as having a same meaning as commonly used in the relevant technical field, and should not be interpreted to have an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly so defined in the present application.

[0041] Figure 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied.

[0042] As Figure 1 indicated, a charging system 100 of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied can include a charging device 110 and a charging control device 130 provided in an electric vehicle 120.

[0043] The electric vehicle 120 can be provided with a high-voltage battery charged by the charging device 110, and in addition to a pure electric vehicle, the electric vehicle 120 can include a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

[0044] At least one of a step-up scheme using a multi-stage inverter 122 and a step-up scheme using a converter can be applied to the electric vehicle 120. As an example, in the electric vehicle 120, a high-voltage battery can be charged with a charging power corresponding to 800 V supplied from the charging device 110, or a high-voltage battery can be charged with a charging power corresponding to 800 V obtained by stepping up 400 V supplied from the charging device 110. In the current case, the electric vehicle 120 can step up 400 V supplied from the charging device 110 to 800 V based on a multi-stage inverter 122 having a step-up function.

[0045] As a reference, such a step-up scheme using a multi-stage inverter 122 is based on an inverter that converts direct current into three-phase alternating current through switching operation and an electric motor that generates a rotational force by using three-phase alternating current input from the inverter. When a charging current from the charging device 110 is applied to a neutral point (N) of the electric motor, a voltage of the neutral point (N) of the electric motor can be stepped up according to a duty ratio of a switching element in the inverter.

[0046] The charging device 110 provided in a charging station, which is a high-power charging facility, can have a DC combo-type outlet 111, and accordingly, the electric vehicle 120 can have a DC combo-type inlet 121.

[0047] In addition, when the outlet 111 of the charging device 110 is coupled to the inlet 121 of the electric vehicle 120, power line communication (PLC) is possible, so that a charging procedure can be performed between the charging device 110 and the electric vehicle 120 through the PLC. In the current case, the charging procedure can be safely used with any scheme.

[0048] The charging device 110 can return a response corresponding to a charging current request to the charging control device 130 and supply a charging current to the electric vehicle 120.

[0049] In a state in which the PLC is established with the charging device 110, the charging control device 130, which is configured as a core of the present application, can request a charging required current to the charging device 110, and detect a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request. Accordingly, the charging control device 130 can adjust a switching period of the multi-stage inverter 122 based on the round trip time, so that it is possible to prevent the PLC between the charging control device 130 and the charging device 110 from stopping in a process of charging the battery of the electric vehicle 120.

[0050] In addition, in a state in which the PLC is established with the charging device 110, the charging control device 130 can request a charging required current to the charging device 110, and detect a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request. Accordingly, the charging control device 130 can adjust the charging required current based on the round trip time, so that it is possible to prevent the PLC between the charging control device 130 and the charging device 110 from stopping in a process of charging the battery of the electric vehicle 120.

[0051] Hereinafter, the round trip time will be described with reference to Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 2C and Figure 2D .

[0052] Figure 2A is an exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily showing a measurement of an initial round trip time in a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied.

[0053] As shown in Figure 2A , since a time point at which the charging control device 130 requests 211 an initial charging required current (for example, 1A) to the charging device 110 is 37.247 seconds, and a time point at which the charging control device 130 receives 212 a response corresponding to the request from the charging device 110 is 37.297 seconds, the initial round trip time is 0.05 seconds.

[0054] Since the initial round trip time means that the PLC communication is smooth, a PCL communication interruption due to noise does not occur in a process of charging the battery of the electric vehicle 120.

[0055] Figure 2B is an exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily showing a measurement of a round trip time in a charging system of an electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied, and shows a round trip time occurring after an initial round trip time.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2BAs shown, since the time point at which the charge control device 130 requests 221 the charging required current (e.g., 31.7 A) to the charging device 110 is 40.448 seconds, and the time point at which the charge control device 130 receives 222 the response corresponding to the request from the charging device 110 is 40.547 seconds, the round trip time is 0.099 seconds.

[0057] Accordingly, it can be understood that, as the charging required current increases, the round trip time increases due to noise generated in the process of raising the charging voltage from the 400 V charging device or noise generated by the 800 V charging device. However, so far, no interruption of the PLC communication due to the noise has occurred.

[0058] Figure 2C is another exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily showing the measurement of the round trip time in the charging system of the electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied, and shows the round trip time generated after the round trip time of Figure 2B .

[0059] As shown, since the time point at which the charge control device 130 requests 231 the charging required current (e.g., 36.7 A) to the charging device 110 is 40.987 seconds, and the time point at which the charge control device 130 receives 232 the response corresponding to the request from the charging device 110 is 41.157 seconds, the round trip time is 0.17 seconds. Figure 2C

[0060] Accordingly, it can be understood that, as the charging required current increases, the round trip time increases due to noise generated in the process of raising the charging voltage from the 400 V charging device or noise generated by the 800 V charging device. However, so far, no interruption of the PLC communication due to the noise has occurred.

[0061] Figure 2D is yet another exemplary schematic diagram exemplarily showing the measurement of the round trip time in the charging system of the electric vehicle to which various exemplary embodiments of the present application are applied, and shows the round trip time generated after the round trip time of Figure 2C .

[0062] As shown, the time point at which the charge control device 130 requests 241 the charging required current (e.g., 45.7 A) to the charging device 110 is 41.888 seconds. However, the charge control device 130 does not receive the response corresponding to the request from the charging device 110 within the reference round trip time (e.g., 250 ms). Figure 2D

[0063] ​​Accordingly, at 42.140 seconds, the charging control device 130 requests the charging current (e.g., 45.7A) required for charging 242 from the charging device 110 again.

[0064] However, if the charging control device 130 does not receive a response corresponding to the request again within a reference round-trip time (e.g., 250 ms), the charging control device 130 may execute the charging termination procedure 243.

[0065] Accordingly, it is understood that a second request is executed when the response to the first request is not within the reference round-trip time, and a charging termination procedure is executed when the response to the second request is not within the reference round-trip time.

[0066] Furthermore, it is understandable that when the charging current is too high, the round-trip time may exceed the reference round-trip time due to noise generated during the process of increasing the charging voltage from the 400V charging device or noise generated by the 800V charging device. Therefore, the PLC of the charging device 110 is terminated.

[0067] Finally, it is understandable that as the charging current increases, the impact of noise on the PLC also increases.

[0068] Taking into account the characteristics of the round-trip time corresponding to the charging current, the charging control device 130 can adjust the charging current.

[0069] In addition, in order to control the noise generated during the process of increasing the charging voltage from the 400V charging device, the charging current required can be adjusted in the above indirect solution, but the switching cycle of the multi-stage inverter 122 that performs the boost function of charging voltage can also be adjusted in the direct solution.

[0070] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating a charging control device configured for an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0071] like Figure 3 As shown, the charging control device 130 for an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include: a storage device 10, a communication device 20, a display device 30, and a controller 40. In the present case, according to the implementation scheme of the charging control device 130 for an electric vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention, the components may be combined with each other to achieve a single unit, or some components may be omitted.

[0072] Examining each component, first, in a state in which the PLC is established with the charging device 110, the storage device 10 can store various logics, algorithms, and programs required in a process of requesting a charging required current to the charging device 110, detecting a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and adjusting the charging required current based on the round trip time.

[0073] The storage device 10 can store a reference round trip time (e.g., 250 ms) for adjusting the charging required current requested to the charging device 110. The reference round trip time can be arbitrarily changed according to the designer's intention.

[0074] The storage device 10 can include at least one type of storage medium, i.e., a flash type, a hard disk type, a micro type, a card type (e.g., a secure digital (SD) card or an extreme digital (XD) card), and the like memory, and a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a magnetic memory (MRAM), a magnetic disk, and an optical disk type memory.

[0075] The communication device 20 is a module that communicates with the charging device 110 in the PLC scheme, and the communication device 20 can perform a charging process with the charging device 110 under the control of the controller 40. The communication device 20 can transmit a message requesting a charging required current (a current demand request) to the charging device 110, and receive a response message (a current demand response) corresponding to the request message from the charging device 110.

[0076] The display device 30 can display a process of the charging process, and can display a charging current supplied to the battery.

[0077] The controller 40 can perform overall control so that each component can normally perform its function. The controller 40 can be implemented in the form of a hard disk, a floppy disk, or a combination of the hard disk and the floppy disk. The controller 40 can be implemented with a microprocessor, but is not limited thereto.

[0078] In a state in which the PLC is established with the charging device 110, the controller 40 can perform various controls in a process of requesting a charging required current to the charging device 110, detecting a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and adjusting the charging required current or a switching period of the multi-stage inverter 122 based on the round trip time.

[0079] The controller 40 can control the communication device 20 to transmit a message requesting a charging required current (a current demand request) to the charging device 110, and receive a response message (a current demand response) corresponding to the request message from the charging device 110.

[0080] The controller 40 can measure a round trip time required to transmit a message requesting a charging required current (current demand request) to the charging device 110, and receive a response message (current demand response) corresponding to the request message from the charging device 110.

[0081] The controller 40 can set a reference round trip time based on the measured round trip time. For example, the controller 40 can set twice or three times of the measured round trip time as the reference round trip time.

[0082] The controller 40 can determine an average value of the round trip times measured for an initial n times (for example, 5 times), and can set the reference round trip time based on the determined average value. For example, the controller 40 can set twice or three times of the determined average value as the reference round trip time.

[0083] The controller 40 can increase the charging required current to a degree that the PLC is normally performed without interruption. In the current case, the controller 40 can increase the charging required current in consideration of the state of the battery (for example, performance, degree of deterioration, state of health (SOH), etc.).

[0084] The controller 40 can control the switching period of the multi-stage inverter 122 while maintaining the charging required current requested from the charging device 110, and thus can prevent interruption of the PLC communication due to noise generated in the process of supplying the charging required current.

[0085] Hereinafter, detailed operations of the controller 40 will be described with reference to Figure 4 and Figure 5

[0086] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a charging control method of an electric vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0087] First, when the outlet 111 of the charging device 110 is coupled to the inlet 121 of the electric vehicle 120, the controller 40 can perform a charging procedure. At 401, the controller 40 can request a charging required current to the charging device 110 through power line communication (PLC). In the current case, the initial charging required current can be 1 A, and the charging required current can gradually increase.

[0088] Thereafter, at 402, the controller 40 can receive a response corresponding to the request of the charging required current from the charging device 110. Accordingly, at 403, the controller 40 can determine a round trip time required to request the charging required current to the charging device 110, and receive a response corresponding to the request.

[0089] ​Thereafter, the controller 40 can determine whether a reference round trip time is set at 404.

[0090] When it is determined at 404 that the reference round trip time is not set as a determination result, the controller 40 can determine whether the measured round trip time is the nth measured round trip time at 405.

[0091] When it is determined at 405 that the measured round trip time is not the nth measured round trip time, the controller 40 proceeds to operation 401.

[0092] When it is determined at 405 that the measured round trip time is the nth measured round trip time as a determination result, the controller 40 can determine an average value of the n round trip times at 406.

[0093] Thereafter, the controller 40 can set the reference round trip time based on the determined average value at 407. In the current case, since the initial round trip time measured n times is a value measured when the PLC is normally operated, the reference round trip time can be set based on the initial round trip time measured n times.

[0094] When it is determined at 404 that the reference round trip time is set as a determination result, it can be determined whether the measured round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time at 408.

[0095] When it is determined at 408 that the measured round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time as a determination result, the controller 40 can up-regulate the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter 122 at 409. In the current case, the controller 40 can maintain the switching period of the multi-stage inverter 122, in which the up-regulation of the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter 122 means that the switching period is shortened.

[0096] When it is determined at 408 that the measured round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time as a determination result, the controller 40 can down-regulate the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter 122 at 410. That is, by setting the switching period of the multi-stage inverter 122 to be longer, the number of switching per reference time can be reduced.

[0097] Finally, the controller 40 can increase the switching period of the multi-stage inverter 122 until the measured round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time.

[0098] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a charging control method of an electric vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0099] First, when the outlet 111 of the charging device 110 is coupled to the inlet 121 of the electric vehicle 120, the controller 40 can perform a charging procedure. At 501, the controller 40 can request a charging required current to the charging device 110 through power line communication (PLC). In the current case, the initial charging required current can be 1A, and the charging required current can be gradually increased.

[0100] Thereafter, at 502, the controller 40 can receive a response corresponding to the request of the charging required current from the charging device 110. Accordingly, at 503, the controller 40 can determine a round trip time required to request the charging required current to the charging device 110 and receive a response corresponding to the request.

[0101] Thereafter, at 504, the controller 40 can determine whether a reference round trip time is set.

[0102] When it is determined at 504 that the reference round trip time is not set as a determination result, at 505, the controller 40 can determine whether the measured round trip time is the nth measured round trip time.

[0103] When it is determined at 505 that the measured round trip time is not the nth measured round trip time as a determination result, the controller 40 proceeds to operation 501.

[0104] When it is determined at 505 that the measured round trip time is the nth measured round trip time as a determination result, at 506, the controller 40 can determine an average value of the n round trip times.

[0105] Thereafter, at 507, the controller 40 can set the reference round trip time based on the determined average value. In the current case, since the initial round trip time measured n times is a value measured when the PLC is normally operated, the reference round trip time can be set based on the initial round trip time measured n times.

[0106] When it is determined at 504 that the reference round trip time is set as a determination result, at 508, it can be determined whether the measured round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time.

[0107] When it is determined at 508 that the measured round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time as a determination result, at 509, the controller 40 can increase the charging required current.

[0108] When it is determined at 508 that the measured round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time as a determination result, at 510, the controller 40 can request the previous charging required current to the charging device 110. That is, the previous charging required current can be maintained.

[0109] Finally, the controller 40 can increase the charging required current until the measured round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time.

[0110] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a computing system that performs a charging control method according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0111] Referring to Figure 6 The charging control method of an electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application described above can be implemented by a computing system 1000. The computing system 1000 can include at least one processor 1100, a memory 1300, a user interface input device 1400, a user interface output device 1500, a storage device 1600, and a network interface 1700 connected by a system bus 1200.

[0112] The processor 1100 can be a central processing unit (CPU) or a semiconductor device that processes instructions stored in the memory 1300 or the storage device 1600. The memory 1300 and the storage device 1600 can include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory 1300 can include read-only memory (ROM) 1310 and random access memory (RAM) 1320.

[0113] Accordingly, the processes of the methods or algorithms described in connection with the exemplary embodiments of the present application can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor 1100, or in a combination of them. A software module can reside in a storage medium (i.e., the memory 1300 or the storage device 1600) such as RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, solid state drive (SSD), removable disk, or CD-ROM. The exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor 1100, the processor 1100 can read information from the storage medium, and can write information into the storage medium. In another method, the storage medium can be integrated with the processor 1100. The processor and the storage medium can exist in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC can exist in a user terminal. In another method, the processor and the storage medium can exist as separate components in a user terminal.

[0114] The charging control device and method for an electric vehicle according to exemplary embodiments are configured to request a charging device for a current required for charging in a state in which power line communication (PLC) with the charging device is established, detect a round-trip time required to receive a response to the request, and adjust a switching period of a multi-stage inverter based on the round-trip time, thereby preventing interruption in the PLC with the charging device during charging of a battery of the electric vehicle.

[0115] Further, the charging control apparatus and method for an electric vehicle according to exemplary embodiments are configured to request a charging device for a charging required current in a state where a PLC is established with the charging device, detect a round trip time required to receive a response to the request, and adjust the charging required current based on the round trip time, thereby preventing interruption of PLC communication with the charging device.

[0116] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the present technology has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology along with various

[0117] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the present technology has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology along with various

Claims

1. A charging control device of a vehicle, the charging control device comprising: a communication device configured to perform power line communication with a charging device; a multi-stage inverter configured to step up a charging voltage from the charging device; and a controller connected to the communication device and the multi-stage inverter, and configured to request a charging required current to the charging device, to measure a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and to adjust a switching period of the multi-stage inverter according to the determined round trip time, wherein the controller is configured to up-regulate a switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter when the determined round trip time does not exceed a reference round trip time, wherein the controller is configured to down-regulate the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter when the determined round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time. the controller is configured to adjust the switching period of the multi-stage inverter so that the determined round trip time does not exceed the reference round trip time.

2. The charging control device of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to measure a reference number of initial round trip times, and to set the reference round trip time according to an average of the reference number of measured initial round trip times.

3. The charging control device of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein before the reference number of initial round trip times is measured, the controller is configured to determine an average of a predetermined number of measured round trip times when it is determined that the reference round trip time is not set and the measured round trip time is the predetermined number of measured round trip times.

4. The charging control device of a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein 5. The charging control device of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery, wherein when it is determined that a second charging voltage lower than a first charging voltage is supplied from the charging device, the vehicle steps up the second charging voltage to the first charging voltage, and charges the battery with a charging power corresponding to the first charging voltage.

6. A charging control device of a vehicle, the charging control device comprising: a communication device configured to perform power line communication with a charging device; and a controller connected to the communication device, and configured to request a charging required current to the charging device, to measure a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device, and to adjust the charging required current according to the determined round trip time, wherein the controller is configured to increase the charging required current when the determined round trip time does not exceed a reference round trip time, wherein the controller is configured to request a previous charging required current to the charging device when the determined round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time.

7. A charging control method of a vehicle, the charging control method comprising: connecting a charging device in a power line communication manner by a communication device; stepping up a charging voltage of the charging device by a multi-stage inverter; requesting a charging required current to the charging device by a controller connected to the communication device and the multi-stage inverter, and determining a round trip time required to receive a response corresponding to the request from the charging device; adjusting a switching period of the multi-stage inverter according to the determined round trip time by the controller, wherein the adjusting the switching period of the multi-stage inverter includes: judging whether the determined round trip time exceeds a reference round trip time; ​ ​ when the determined round trip time is determined not to exceed the reference round trip time as a result of judging whether the determined round trip time exceeds the reference round trip time, up-regulating the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter; when the determined round trip time is determined to exceed the reference round trip time as a result, down-regulating the switching frequency of the multi-stage inverter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, adjusting the switching period of the multi-stage inverter further includes: measuring the initial round trip time a reference number of times; setting the reference round trip time based on an average value of the initial round trip time measured the reference number of times.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, before measuring the initial round trip time a reference number of times, when it is determined that the reference round trip time is not set and the measured round trip time is a round trip time measured a predetermined number of times, the controller is configured to determine an average value of the round trip time measured the predetermined number of times.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: when it is determined that a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage is supplied from the charging device, boosting, by the vehicle, the second charging voltage to the first charging voltage; charging, by the vehicle, the battery with a charging power corresponding to the boosted first charging voltage.

11. A charging control method of a vehicle, the charging control method comprising: connecting, by a communication device, a charging device in a power line communication manner; requesting, by a controller, a charging required current from the charging device, and determining a round trip time required for receiving a response corresponding to the request from the charging device; adjusting, by the controller, the charging required current based on the determined round trip time, wherein the charging required current is increased when the determined round trip time is determined not to exceed a reference round trip time; wherein the charging device is requested a previous charging required current when the determined round trip time is determined to exceed the reference round trip time.

Images