System and method for diagnosing a fuel cell vehicle charger

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle. The system for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a filler cable connector, including a first pin for power supply and a second pin for communication control, and connected to a filler of a fuel filling station; a detection unit, configured to detect a voltage value based on whether the filler cable connector is connected to the filler; a microcomputer, configured to output a control signal for communication control of the filler, and diagnose whether at least one of the filler cable connector and an infrared (IR) communication unit of the filler has failed based on the detected voltage value; and a switch, which is turned on or off in response to the control signal.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0023187, filed on Feb. 22, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth herein. Technical Field

[0003] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle, and more specifically, to systems and methods for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle that can diagnose faults of a filling cable connector and an infrared (IR) communication unit of the filler that may occur during the actual filling process of the fuel cell vehicle and prior to fuel filling. Background Art

[0004] Generally, a fuel cell vehicle is a vehicle that uses a fuel cell stack as the main power source of the vehicle, and generates electrical energy by utilizing the electrical energy generated from the fuel cell stack to drive an electric motor to drive the fuel cell stack through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen (i.e., fuel gas supplied by a hydrogen supply device including a hydrogen tank) and oxygen in the air (i.e., oxidant gas supplied by an air supply device including a blower or a compressor).

[0005] In a fuel cell vehicle, it is important to safely and compactly store hydrogen as a fuel, and various hydrogen storage technologies have been developed to meet the requirements of increasing the mileage and safety of the vehicle.

[0006] Hydrogen is usually stored in a hydrogen tank, which is lightweight and strong and can withstand even high pressure. In order to ensure space on the vehicle and sufficient mileage, hydrogen tanks capable of storing hydrogen at high pressure (such as 350 bar or 700 bar specifications) are widely used.

[0007] Since fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen as fuel as described above, a hydrogen storage system for storing hydrogen must be basically installed on fuel cell vehicles. At the current commercialization level, high-pressure hydrogen storage systems with a maximum specification of 700 bar are installed on fuel cell vehicles around the world.

[0008] Fuel cell vehicles are periodically filled with hydrogen at filling stations. In this case, the hydrogen is pressurized under high pressure and the vehicle's hydrogen tank is filled with hydrogen. In this case, in a hydrogen storage system with a high pressure of 700 bar, the hydrogen pressure rises to a maximum of 875 bar during feeding and its temperature is allowed to reach a maximum of 85°C.

[0009] In addition, in order to ensure safety during hydrogen filling, it is necessary to control the hydrogen filling speed. To this end, in the flameout state, communication is performed between the filling station and the vehicle during hydrogen fuel filling. Data measured in the vehicle (such as pressure and temperature within the hydrogen storage system) is provided to the filling station through communication. In this case, wired or wireless communication can be performed between the filling station and the vehicle, but IR communication (i.e., wireless communication protocol) specified in SAE J2799 tends to be applied recently.

[0010] A fuel cell vehicle is connected to a filler of a filling station for hydrogen fuel filling. The fuel cell vehicle and the filler transmit and receive hydrogen fuel quantity and filling information through IR communication. In this case, a fault may occur in the IR communication unit of the filler. When a fault occurs in the IR communication unit, there is a problem that the fuel cell vehicle cannot properly measure the hydrogen fuel quantity or does not store fuel as the driver wishes.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need to develop a technology capable of diagnosing a malfunction of the IR communication unit of the charger in a fuel cell vehicle.

[0012] The background technology of the present disclosure is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2020-0042568 entitled “Fuel Cell Hydrogen Supply Fault Diagnosis System and Diagnosis Method”. Summary of the invention

[0013] Various embodiments are directed to providing a system and method for diagnosing a filler of a fuel cell vehicle, which is capable of diagnosing a fault of a filler cable connector and an infrared (IR) communication unit of the filler, which may occur during actual filling and before fuel filling of the fuel cell vehicle.

[0014] Objectives to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above objectives, and other objectives not described above may be apparently understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0015] In one embodiment, a system for diagnosing a filler of a fuel cell vehicle may include: a filling cable connector, including a first pin for power supply and a second pin for communication control, and the filling cable connector is connected to the filler of a fuel filling station; a detection unit, configured to detect a voltage value based on whether the filling cable connector is connected to the filler; a microcomputer, configured to output a control signal for communication control of the filler, and diagnose whether at least one of the filling cable connector and an infrared (IR) communication unit of the filler has failed based on the detected voltage value; and a switch, which is turned on or off in response to the control signal.

[0016] In an embodiment, the detection unit may include: a first resistor having one side connected in series to a power supply; a second resistor having one side connected in series to a ground; and a third resistor having one side connected in series to the second pin. At least one of the first resistor, the second resistor, and the third resistor may form a voltage distribution circuit.

[0017] In one embodiment, the detection unit may further include a Zener diode having one side connected in parallel to the microcomputer and the other side connected to the ground and configured to protect the microcomputer when the battery is turned off in at least one of the first pin and the second pin.

[0018] In one embodiment, when fuel filling of a fuel cell vehicle is required, the microcomputer may diagnose whether at least one of the filling cable connector and the IR communication unit has failed, and when the filling cable connector and the IR communication unit are normal, the microcomputer may determine that fuel filling is possible.

[0019] In an embodiment, when the voltage value of the power source is not detected before the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, the microcomputer may diagnose the first pin as a short circuit. When the voltage value of the power source is detected, the microcomputer may turn off the switch by sending a low control signal to the switch, may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit with a reference voltage value stored in a lookup table, and may diagnose the second pin as at least one of normal, battery short circuit, and ground short circuit based on the comparison result.

[0020] In an embodiment, when the first pin and the second pin of the filler cable connector are normal and the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, the microcomputer can turn off the switch by sending a low control signal to the switch, the voltage value detected by the detection unit can be compared with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and the IR communication unit can be diagnosed as at least one of normal, short circuit and open circuit based on the comparison result.

[0021] In one embodiment, the microcomputer may diagnose whether the IR communication unit fails when the fuel cell vehicle is fueled.

[0022] In one embodiment, when a fuel cell vehicle is being refueled, the microcomputer may turn off the switch by sending a low control signal to the switch, or turn on the switch by sending a high control signal to the switch, may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and may diagnose the IR communication unit as at least one of normal, short circuit, and open circuit based on the comparison result.

[0023] In one embodiment, a method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle may include: when the fuel cell vehicle needs to be refueled, diagnosing by a microcomputer whether at least one of the filling cable connector and the infrared (IR) communication unit of the filler has failed; when both the filling cable connector and the IR communication unit are normal, determining by the microcomputer that fueling the fuel cell vehicle is feasible; and when refueling the fuel cell vehicle, diagnosing by the microcomputer whether the IR communication unit has failed.

[0024] In an embodiment, when diagnosing whether at least one of the filler cable connector and the IR communication unit of the filler has failed, the microcomputer may diagnose the first pin of the filler cable connector as short-circuited when the voltage value of the power source is not detected before the filler cable connector is connected to the filler. When the voltage value of the power source is detected, the microcomputer may turn off the switch by sending a low control signal to the switch, may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit with a reference voltage value stored in a lookup table, and may diagnose the second pin of the filler cable connector as at least one of normal, battery short circuit, and ground short circuit based on the comparison result.

[0025] In an embodiment, when diagnosing whether at least one of the IR communication units of the filler cable connector and the filler has failed, when the first pin and the second pin are normal and the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, the microcomputer can turn off the switch by sending a low control signal to the switch, can compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and can diagnose the IR communication unit as at least one of normal, short circuit and open circuit based on the comparison result.

[0026] In an embodiment, when diagnosing whether the IR communication unit has failed, the microcomputer may disconnect the switch by sending a low control signal to the switch, or connect the switch by sending a high control signal to the switch, the voltage value detected by the detection unit may be compared with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and the IR communication unit may be diagnosed as at least one of normal, short circuit and open circuit based on the comparison result.

[0027] The system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can ensure the safety of the driver of the fuel cell vehicle by diagnosing faults of the filling cable connector and the IR communication unit of the filler, which may occur during the actual filling process for the fuel cell vehicle and before fuel filling.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle can diagnose whether an IR communication unit and a filler cable connector have failed by using a total of two pins, a first pin for power supply and a second pin for communication control, without additionally allocating separate connector pins to diagnose whether the IR communication unit and the filler cable connector have failed.

[0029] The system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can ensure driver safety by determining whether an IR communication unit of the filler has malfunctioned before hydrogen fuel filling starts and during hydrogen fuel filling.

[0030] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and may include various effects within a range apparent to those skilled in the art from the contents described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a diagram for describing a system for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for describing a system for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 4C is an exemplary diagram for describing a method of diagnosing a malfunction of an IR communication unit of a filler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 5 is a flowchart for describing a method of diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 6 is a flowchart for describing a method of determining whether hydrogen fueling for a fuel cell vehicle can be performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 7 is a flowchart for describing a method of diagnosing whether an IR communication unit fails during fuel filling of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] As conventional in the corresponding field, some exemplary embodiments can be shown in the drawings according to functional blocks, units and / or modules. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that these blocks, units and / or modules are physically implemented by electronic (or optical) circuits such as logic circuits, discrete components, processors, hard-wired circuits, memory elements, wiring connections, etc. When blocks, units and / or modules are implemented by processors or similar hardware, software (e.g., code) can be used to program and control the blocks, units and / or modules to perform the different functions discussed herein. Alternatively, each block, unit and / or module can be implemented by dedicated hardware or as a combination of dedicated hardware for performing some functions and processors (e.g., one or more programmed processors and associated circuits) for performing other functions. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, each block, unit and / or module of some exemplary embodiments can be physically divided into two or more interactive and discrete blocks, units and / or modules. In addition, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the blocks, units and / or modules of some exemplary embodiments can be physically combined into more complex blocks, units and / or modules.

[0038] Hereinafter, a system and method for diagnosing a charger for a fuel cell vehicle will be described by various exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity and convenience of description. In addition, the terms to be described hereinafter may be defined by considering the functions in the present disclosure and may differ according to the intention or practice of the user, operator. Thus, each term should be defined based on the content throughout the specification.

[0039] The implementation described in this specification may be implemented as, for example, a method or process, a device, a software program, a data stream, or a signal. Although the present disclosure has been discussed only in the context of a single form of implementation (e.g., discussed only as a method), an implementation having the characteristics discussed may also be implemented in another form (e.g., a device or program). The device may be implemented as appropriate hardware, software, or firmware. The method may be implemented in a device, such as a processor, which is generally referred to as a processing device, including a computer, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or a programmable logic device. The processor includes a communication device (e.g., a computer, a cellular phone, a mobile phone / personal digital assistant (PDA)) and another device that facilitates information communication between end users.

[0040] Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a diagram for describing a system for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for describing a system for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] refer to Figures 1 to 3 , a system for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fuel cell charging control device 100 provided in the fuel cell vehicle 10 and a charger 20 provided in a fuel cell charging station.

[0042] The fuel cell vehicle 10 is connected to a filler 20 for hydrogen fuel filling. The fuel cell vehicle 10 and the filler 20 can transmit and receive hydrogen fuel amount and filling information through IR communication. During hydrogen filling for the fuel cell vehicle 10, infrared (IR) communication is performed between the vehicle 10 and the filler 20 for the purpose of data communication for transmitting and receiving data necessary for hydrogen filling control of the vehicle 10.

[0043] The filler 20 may include a constant current output unit 22 and an infrared communication unit 24 (hereinafter referred to as an “IR communication unit”).

[0044] The constant current output unit 22 may be a current output source for stably driving a diode for IR communication within the filler 20 .

[0045] The fuel cell filling control apparatus 100 can diagnose whether the filling cable connector 110 connected to the filler 20 has failed, and whether the IR communication unit 24 within the filler 20 has failed.

[0046] The fuel cell filling control apparatus 100 may include a filling cable connector 110 , a power supply unit 120 , a detection unit 130 , an IR communication controller 140 , and a microcomputer 150 .

[0047] The filling cable connector 110 may include a first pin (CN1) 112 for power supply and a second pin (CN2) 114 for communication control, and the filling cable connector 110 may be connected to the filler 20 of the fuel filling station. In this case, the first pin 112 may be a power pin for communicating with the filler 20 of the hydrogen fuel filling station. The second pin 114 may be a communication control pin for communicating with the filler 20 of the hydrogen fuel filling station.

[0048] The filler cable connector 110 may include a capacitor C between the first pin 112 and the second pin 114. In this case, the capacitor may be provided for electrostatic protection and communication stabilization attributable to attachment and detachment of the filler cable connector 110 and other factors.

[0049] The power supply unit 120 may provide internal power to the fuel cell filling control device 100 and may be filled through the filling cable connector 110. In this case, the internal power supply may be a pull-up source for power and diagnosis of the constant current output unit 22 within the filler 20.

[0050] The detection unit 130 may be connected to the filler cable connector 110 , and may detect a voltage value based on whether the filler cable connector 110 is connected to the filler 20 .

[0051] The detection unit 130 may include a first resistor having one side connected in series to the power supply, a second resistor having one side connected in series to the ground, and a third resistor having one side connected in series to the second pin 114. At least one of the first resistor, the second resistor, and the third resistor may form a voltage distribution circuit.

[0052] In addition, the detection unit 130 may further include a Zener diode ZD having one side connected in parallel to the microcomputer 150 and the other side connected to the ground and configured to protect the microcomputer 150 when the battery is disconnected in at least one of the first pin 112 and the second pin 114 .

[0053] The IR communication controller 140 may be an element for transferring IR communication information by controlling the IR communication unit 24 , and may operate in response to a control signal from the microcomputer 150 .

[0054] For example, the IR communication controller 140 may be implemented as a switch, and may be implemented as a field effect transistor (FET).

[0055] The switch 140 may be turned on or off in response to a control signal from the microcomputer 150. For example, the switch 140 may be turned off when a low-level control signal is received, and may be turned on when a high-level control signal is received.

[0056] The microcomputer 150 may output a control signal for communication control of the filler 20, and may diagnose whether at least one of the filler cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the filler 20 has failed based on the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130. In this case, the microcomputer 150 may include a lookup table in which reference voltage values ​​for "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" with respect to each of the first pin 112 and the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 have been stored, and may diagnose whether at least one of the filler cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the filler 20 has failed by comparing the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table.

[0057] For example, as shown in Table 1 below, the lookup table can store reference voltage values ​​for "battery short circuit", "ground short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the switch control signal (FET control signal) relative to the first pin (CN1) 112 and the second pin (CN2) 114 of the filling cable connector 110.

[0058] [Table 1]

[0059]

[0060] Furthermore, as in Table 2, the lookup table may store reference voltage values ​​for "normal", "short circuit", and "open circuit" according to a switching control signal with respect to the IR communication unit 24. In this case, the IR communication unit 24 may represent an IR communication transmitter.

[0061] [Table 2]

[0062] IR communication transmitter normal Short Circuit Circuit Breaker unit FET = Off 4.60 4.78 3.33 V FET = On 4.03 4.78 0.43 V

[0063] When the fuel cell vehicle 10 needs to be refueled, the microcomputer 150 can determine whether at least one of the refueling cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the refueling device 20 is normal, and when the refueling cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the refueling device 20 are normal, the microcomputer 150 can determine that fuel refueling can be performed.

[0064] Specifically, when the voltage value of the power source is not detected before the filler cable connector 110 is connected to the filler 20, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose that the first pin 112 of the filler cable connector 110 has been short-circuited. When the voltage value of the power source is detected, the microcomputer 150 may turn off the switch 140 by sending a low control signal to the switch 140, may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with a reference voltage value stored in a lookup table, and may diagnose the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 as at least one of "normal", "battery short circuit" and "ground short circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0065] If the first pin 112 and the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 are normal and the filler cable connector 110 is connected to the filler 20, the microcomputer 150 can turn off the switch 140 by sending a low control signal to the switch 140, can compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and can diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as at least one of "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0066] If the first pin 112 and the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the filler 20 are all normal, the microcomputer 150 may determine that fuel filling of the fuel cell vehicle 10 is possible.

[0067] In addition, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose whether the IR communication unit 24 fails during fuel filling of the fuel cell vehicle 10. In this case, the microcomputer 150 may turn off the switch 140 by sending a low control signal to the switch 140, or turn on the switch 140 by sending a high control signal to the switch 140, may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as at least one of "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0068] The fuel cell filling control device 100 constructed as above can diagnose whether the filler 20 or the IR communication unit 24 is "open circuit" or "short circuit". In addition, the fuel cell filling control device 100 can diagnose whether the filling cable connector 110 used for IR communication is "open circuit" or "short circuit". In addition, the fuel cell filling control device 100 can diagnose whether the IR communication unit 24 and the filling cable connector 110 have failed by using two pins of the first pin 112 for power supply and the second pin 114 for communication control, without additionally allocating separate connector pins, in order to diagnose whether the IR communication unit 24 and the filling cable connector 110 have failed. In addition, the fuel cell filling control device 100 can ensure the safety of the driver by determining whether the filler 20 has failed before the start of hydrogen fuel filling and during hydrogen fuel filling.

[0069] Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 4C is an exemplary diagram for describing a method of diagnosing a malfunction of the IR communication unit 24 of the filler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] As in Figure 4A In the example, when the IR communication unit 24 is normal, the detection unit 130 may calculate a voltage value of 5V (i.e., power supply) overlapped with a 5V-Vf voltage source according to the IR communication control as a diagnosis result. In this case, Vf may mean a voltage according to the internal resistance R of the FET. ds The current flowing into the IR communication unit 24 varies. The internal resistance of the FET may vary from several mΩ to MΩ in response to the on / off of the FET, and the current flowing into the IR communication unit 24 may vary in response to the change in the internal resistance. For example, the current flowing into the IR communication unit 24 may be several uA to the maximum constant current regulator (CCR) output current (35 mA).

[0071] When the IR communication unit 24 is normal, the detection unit 130 may output a voltage value (such as the following Equation 1) as a diagnosis result.

[0072] [Equation 1]

[0073]

[0074] In Equation 1, R up Can represent the first resistance, R down can represent the second resistor, and R diag A third resistor may be represented.

[0075] The case where the IR communication unit 24 is disconnected can be Figure 4B The same is true for the case of In this case, the detection unit 130 may output a voltage value (such as the following Equation 2) as a diagnosis result.

[0076] [Equation 2]

[0077]

[0078] The short circuit of IR communication unit 24 can be Figure 4C The same is true for the case of In this case, the detection unit 130 may output a voltage value (such as the following Equation 3) as a diagnosis result.

[0079] [Equation 3]

[0080]

[0081] Figure 5 is a flowchart for describing a method of diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0082] refer to Figure 5 , if the fuel cell vehicle 10 needs to be refueled with hydrogen fuel (S502), before the refueling cable connector 110 is connected to the refueling device 20, the microcomputer 150 diagnoses whether the IR communication unit 24 of the refueling cable connector 110 and the refueling device 20 has failed (S504). For a detailed description of the method of diagnosing whether the IR communication unit 24 of the refueling cable connector 110 and the refueling device 20 has failed by the microcomputer 150, refer to Figure 6 .

[0083] When the diagnosis result in step S504 indicates that both the filling cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the filler 20 are normal (S506), the microcomputer 150 determines that hydrogen fuel filling of the fuel cell vehicle 10 is possible and performs hydrogen fuel filling (S508).

[0084] When hydrogen fuel filling is performed, the microcomputer 150 diagnoses whether the IR communication unit 24 fails (S510). For a detailed description of the method of diagnosing whether the IR communication unit 24 fails by the microcomputer 150, refer to Figure 7 .

[0085] When the diagnosis result in step S510 indicates that the malfunction of the IR communication unit 24 is detected (S512), the microcomputer 150 provides a notification of the malfunction of the IR communication unit 24 (S514). In this case, the microcomputer 150 may provide the notification of the malfunction of the IR communication unit 24 by using a display unit, an audio unit, etc.

[0086] When the diagnosis result in step S504 indicates that any one of the filler cable connector 110 and the IR communication unit 24 of the filler 20 is not normal, the microcomputer 150 provides a notification of the corresponding failure (S516).

[0087] Figure 6 is a flowchart for describing a method of determining whether hydrogen fuel filling for the fuel cell vehicle 10 can be performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0088] refer to Figure 6 , the microcomputer 150 checks whether the fuel cell filling control device 100 is normal (S602). In this case, the microcomputer 150 may determine whether the fuel cell filling control device 100 is normal based on whether the voltage value of the pull-up source is detected.

[0089] When the check result in step S602 indicates that the power error flag is present (S604), the microcomputer 150 determines that the first pin 112 of the filling cable connector 110 has been short-circuited (S606), and determines that hydrogen fuel filling for the fuel cell vehicle 10 is not possible (S608).

[0090] When the checking result in step S602 indicates that the power error flag does not appear, the microcomputer 150 determines that the first pin 112 of the filling cable connector 110 is normal, and sends a low control signal to the switch 140 (S610). The switch 140 having received the low control signal may be turned off.

[0091] When step S610 is performed, the microcomputer 150 checks the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 (S612), and diagnoses the second pin 114 of the filling cable connector 110 based on the checked voltage value (S614). At this time, the microcomputer 150 may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and may diagnose the second pin 114 of the filling cable connector 110 as at least one of "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0092] For example, if the reference voltage value has been stored as in Table 1, the microcomputer 150 can diagnose whether the second pin 114 has failed. In this case, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 5V, the microcomputer 150 can diagnose the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 as "battery short circuit". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 0.43V, the microcomputer 150 can diagnose the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 as "ground short circuit". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 3.33V, the microcomputer 150 can determine that the second pin 114 of the filler cable connector 110 is normal.

[0093] When the diagnostic result in step S614 indicates that the second pin 114 of the filling cable connector 110 is normal (S616) and it is detected that the filling cable connection 110 is connected to the filler 20 (S618), the microcomputer 150 sends a low control signal to the switch 140 (S620) and checks the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 (S622).

[0094] The microcomputer 150 diagnoses the IR communication unit 24 based on the voltage value checked in step S622 (S624). At this time, the microcomputer 150 may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as at least one of "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0095] For example, if the reference voltage value has been stored as in Table 2, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose whether the IR communication unit 24 fails. In this case, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 4.78V, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as "short circuit". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 3.33V, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as "disconnected". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 4.6V, the microcomputer 150 may determine that the IR communication unit 24 is normal.

[0096] When the diagnosis result in step S624 indicates that the IR communication unit 24 is normal (S626), the microcomputer 150 determines that the fuel cell vehicle 10 can be filled with hydrogen fuel (S628).

[0097] When the diagnosis result in step S624 indicates that the IR communication unit 24 is abnormal ( S626 ), the microcomputer 150 determines that the fuel cell vehicle 10 cannot be filled with hydrogen fuel.

[0098] Figure 7 is a flowchart for describing a method of diagnosing whether an IR communication unit fails during fuel filling of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0099] refer to Figure 7 When the vehicle 10 is filled with fuel, the microcomputer 150 sends a switch control signal to the switch 140 (S702). When the switch 140 is turned off (S704), the microcomputer 150 checks the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 (S706).

[0100] When step S706 is executed, the microcomputer 150 diagnoses the IR communication unit 24 based on the voltage value checked in step S706 (S708). At this time, the microcomputer 150 may compare the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as at least one of "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0101] For example, if the reference voltage value has been stored as in Table 2, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose whether the IR communication unit 24 has failed. In this case, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 4.78V, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as "short circuit". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 3.33V, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as "disconnected". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 4.6V, the microcomputer 150 may determine that the IR communication unit 24 is normal.

[0102] In step S702, when the microcomputer 150 transmits a high control signal to turn on the switch 140, the microcomputer 150 checks the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 (S710), and diagnoses the IR communication unit 24 based on the checked voltage value (S712). At this time, the microcomputer 150 may compare the voltage value of the voltage distribution circuit of the detection unit 130 with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as at least one of "normal", "short circuit" and "open circuit" based on the comparison result.

[0103] For example, if the reference voltage value has been stored as in Table 2, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose whether the IR communication unit 24 fails. In this case, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 4.78V, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as "short circuit". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 0.43V, the microcomputer 150 may diagnose the IR communication unit 24 as "disconnected". In addition, when the voltage value detected by the detection unit 130 is 4.03V, the microcomputer 150 may determine that the IR communication unit 24 is normal.

[0104] As described above, the system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can ensure the safety of the driver of the fuel cell vehicle by diagnosing faults of the filling cable connector and the IR communication unit of the filler, which can occur during the actual filling process and before the fuel cell vehicle is filled with fuel.

[0105] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle can diagnose whether an IR communication unit and a filler cable connector have failed by using a total of two pins, a first pin for power supply and a second pin for communication control, without additionally allocating separate connector pins to diagnose whether the IR communication unit and the filler cable connector have failed.

[0106] The system and method for diagnosing a filler for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may ensure driver safety by determining whether an IR communication unit of the filler has malfunctioned before hydrogen fuel filling starts and during hydrogen fuel filling.

[0107] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, the embodiments are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications based on the embodiments and other equivalent embodiments are possible.

[0108] Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle, include: a filler cable connector, comprising a first pin for power supply and a second pin for communication control, and said filler cable connector is connected to said filler of a fuel filling station; a detection unit configured to detect a voltage value based on whether the filler cable connector is connected to the filler; a microcomputer configured to output a control signal for communication control of the filler, and diagnose whether at least one of the filler cable connector and an infrared IR communication unit of the filler has failed based on the detected voltage value; as well as The switch is turned on or off in response to the control signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, in, The detection unit comprises: a first resistor, one side of the first resistor being connected in series to a power source; a second resistor having one side connected in series to the ground; and a third resistor, one side of the third resistor being connected in series to the second pin, Wherein, at least one of the first resistor, the second resistor and the third resistor forms a voltage distribution circuit.

3. The system according to claim 2, in, The detection unit further includes a Zener diode having one side connected in parallel to the microcomputer and the other side connected to ground, and the Zener diode is configured to protect the microcomputer when a battery is disconnected in at least one of the first pin and the second pin.

4. The system according to claim 1, in, The microcomputer: When the fuel cell vehicle needs to be fueled, it is diagnosed whether at least one of the fueling cable connector and the IR communication unit has failed, and when the fueling cable connector and the IR communication unit are normal, it is determined that the fueling is possible.

5. The system according to claim 4, in, The microcomputer: When the voltage value of the power source is not detected before the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, diagnosing that the first pin is short-circuited, and When the voltage value of the power supply is detected, the switch is turned off by sending a low control signal to the switch, the voltage value detected by the detection unit is compared with a reference voltage value stored in a lookup table, and the second pin is diagnosed as at least one of normal, battery short circuit and ground short circuit based on the comparison result.

6. The system according to claim 5, in, When the first pin and the second pin of the filler cable connector are normal and the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, the microcomputer: turning off the switch by sending the low control signal to the switch, comparing the voltage value detected by the detection unit with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and The IR communication unit is diagnosed as at least one of normal, short-circuited, and disconnected based on the comparison result.

7. The system according to claim 1, in, The microcomputer diagnoses whether a malfunction occurs in the IR communication unit when the fuel cell vehicle is being fueled.

8. The system according to claim 7, in, When the fuel cell vehicle is filled with fuel, the microcomputer: The switch is turned off by sending a low control signal to the switch, or is turned on by sending a high control signal to the switch, comparing the voltage value detected by the detection unit with a reference voltage value stored in a lookup table, and The IR communication unit is diagnosed as at least one of normal, short-circuited, and disconnected based on the comparison result.

9. A method for diagnosing a charger of a fuel cell vehicle, include: When the fuel cell vehicle needs to be refueled, a microcomputer diagnoses whether at least one of a refueling cable connector and an infrared IR communication unit of the refueling device has failed; When both the filling cable connector and the IR communication unit are normal, determining by the microcomputer that the fuel filling of the fuel cell vehicle is possible; and Whether or not a malfunction occurs in the IR communication unit is diagnosed by the microcomputer when the fuel cell vehicle is fueled.

10. The method according to claim 9, in, When diagnosing whether at least one of the filler cable connector and the IR communication unit of the filler has failed, the microcomputer: When the voltage value of the power source is not detected before the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, the first pin of the filler cable connector is diagnosed as short-circuited, and when the voltage value of the power source is detected, the switch is turned off by sending a low control signal to the switch, the voltage value detected by the detection unit is compared with a reference voltage value stored in a lookup table, and based on the comparison result, the second pin of the filler cable connector is diagnosed as normal, a battery short circuit, and a ground short circuit.

11. The method according to claim 10, in, In diagnosing whether at least one of the filler cable connector and the IR communication unit of the filler has failed, when the first pin and the second pin are normal and the filler cable connector is connected to the filler, the microcomputer: turning off the switch by sending the low control signal to the switch, comparing the voltage value detected by the detection unit with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and The IR communication unit is diagnosed as at least one of normal, short-circuited, and disconnected based on the comparison result.

12. The method according to claim 9, in, When diagnosing whether the IR communication unit has failed, the microcomputer: The switch is turned off by sending a low control signal to the switch, or is turned on by sending a high control signal to the switch, The voltage value detected by the detection unit is compared with the reference voltage value stored in the lookup table, and The IR communication unit is diagnosed as at least one of normal, short-circuited, and disconnected based on the comparison result.

Images