Charging port cover, charging unit, new energy vehicle and charging method
By designing a charging port cover capable of outputting a sealing signal, the reliability and efficiency issues of charging port identification in autonomous driving unmanned refueling were solved, the structure was simplified and the cost was reduced, and efficient and reliable charging port identification was achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MERCEDES BENZ GRP
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-10
AI Technical Summary
In autonomous driving unmanned refueling scenarios, existing technologies rely on complex external sensors and algorithms to identify covered charging ports, which suffers from low reliability, high cost, and poor efficiency, making it difficult to meet the refueling needs of autonomous driving unmanned systems.
Design a charging port cover that can selectively cover either a DC charging port or an AC charging port, and output a signal through a cover status indicator to simplify the structure, reduce hardware costs, and improve identification accuracy and stability.
It enables accurate identification of covered charging ports in autonomous driving scenarios without the need for external sensors and complex algorithms, reducing robot hardware configuration costs and computing power consumption, and improving energy replenishment efficiency and reliability.
Smart Images
Figure CN121822656A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging port cover, a charging unit, a new energy vehicle and a charging method, and belongs to the technical field of vehicles. BACKGROUND
[0002] Under the promotion of global energy transformation and intelligent transportation development, new energy vehicles have become the core direction of the upgrading of the automobile industry, and the number of new energy vehicles in use continues to rise. At the same time, automatic driving technology is accelerating from a closed scene to an open road in the city, and unmanned travel has become an important trend in the industry. Therefore, unmanned energy replenishment of new energy vehicles has become an important link.
[0003] Currently, new energy vehicles generally have two types of charging interfaces, namely, a direct current charging port (fast charging port) and an alternating current charging port (slow charging port), to meet the needs of fast energy replenishment and slow energy replenishment. In actual use, to balance the protection and convenience of the charging interfaces, one charging port is usually covered by a charging port cover, and the other charging port is open for standby. In the scenario of automatic driving unmanned energy replenishment, the charging robot needs to accurately determine which charging port is covered and which charging port is open for use, so that the subsequent charging gun can be connected. This determination step is a key prerequisite for unmanned energy replenishment.
[0004] However, the existing solutions for identifying the covered charging port generally rely on complex external sensing and complex algorithms, which have the problems of low reliability, high cost and poor efficiency, and are difficult to meet the core needs of automatic driving unmanned energy replenishment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a technical solution that can accurately determine the covered charging port without complex external sensing and algorithms in a more simple way. SUMMARY
[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the present disclosure provides a charging port cover, a charging unit, a new energy vehicle and a charging method, which can accurately determine the covered charging port by directly outputting a covering signal from the vehicle end through a simple design.
[0006] Specifically, the first aspect of the present disclosure provides a charging port cover for a new energy vehicle, which selectively covers any one of a direct current charging port and an alternating current charging port provided in the new energy vehicle, and is provided with a covering state indicating part. When the charging port cover has covered any one of the direct current charging port and the alternating current charging port, the covering state indicating part triggers a signal indicating that the corresponding charging port has been covered, and the corresponding charging port is the any one of the direct current charging port and the alternating current charging port that has been covered.
[0007] According to the charging port cover with the above configuration, the charging port cover selectively covers any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port equipped on the new energy vehicle, that is, the charging port cover is universal for the DC charging port and the AC charging port, without the need for additional design, manufacture and assembly of two different specifications of port covers, which simplifies the overall structure of the charging port area of the new energy vehicle, reduces the cost of vehicle production and later maintenance, avoids the problem of miscovering or miscovering caused by the user's confusion of the AC / DC port cover type, and significantly improves the convenience of daily use. Moreover, the charging port cover is provided with a covering state indicating part, which can form cooperation with the terminal of the corresponding charging port and send a covering signal when the charging port cover actually covers the DC charging port or the AC charging port, realizing the synergistic effect of the universal cover body and the accurate signal feedback. The charging port cover of the first aspect can directly determine which charging port is covered by detecting the signal of the covering state indicating part without relying on external sensors such as laser radar and visual camera or complex algorithms on the vehicle side, avoiding the interference of environmental light, weather conditions and other factors on the recognition result, and improving the accuracy and stability of the determination of the covered charging port. On the other hand, the charging robot also does not need to adapt to the appearance features of different types of special charging port covers, but can quickly lock the available charging port by receiving the covering signal output by the vehicle side, reducing the hardware configuration cost and algorithm consumption of the robot, making the unmanned energy supplement process change from passive recognition of the robot to active notification of the vehicle, improving the energy supplement efficiency, and making the energy supplement structure in the automatic driving scene simple and reliable.
[0008] Preferably, in the charging port cover of the first aspect, the charging port cover has: a cover body covering the opening of any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port; and an assembly part protruding from the cover body and being clamped to the outer periphery of the terminal of the AC charging port or the terminal of the DC charging port.
[0009] According to the charging port cover with the above configuration, the cover body covers the opening of the DC charging port or the AC charging port, realizing the dustproof, waterproof and foreign matter intrusion protection of the internal terminal of the charging port, and the assembly part is clamped to the outer periphery of the terminal of the corresponding charging port, ensuring that the charging port cover can form a stable connection when covering any type of charging port. Whether it is the terminal of the AC charging port or the terminal of the DC charging port, the clamping structure of the assembly part can adapt to the outer periphery form, avoiding the loosening or falling off of the port cover due to vibration or bumping during vehicle driving. In addition, the adaptability of the cover body to the openings of the two types of charging ports and the clamping adaptability of the assembly part to the terminals of the two types of charging ports are combined, further enhancing the universality of the charging port cover, without the need for designing special fixing structures for DC and AC charging ports, simplifying the overall design complexity and reducing the cost of vehicle production and later maintenance.
[0010] Preferably, in the charging port cover of the first aspect, the outer peripheral surface of the cover body is shaped to match the inner peripheral surface of the DC charging port, such that in a state in which the charging port cover covers the DC charging port, the cover body is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the DC charging port, the fitting portion includes a separately provided upper fitting portion and a lower fitting portion, the upper fitting portion and the lower fitting portion are both spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the cover body, and at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the upper fitting portion and the lower fitting portion is shaped to match the inner peripheral surface of the AC charging port, such that in a state in which the charging port cover covers the AC charging port, the outer peripheral surface of the upper fitting portion and the lower fitting portion is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the AC charging port.
[0011] According to the charging port cover having the above configuration, the outer peripheral shape of the cover body matches the inner peripheral shape of the DC charging port, and in a state in which the DC charging port is covered, the cover body is tightly fitted to the inner peripheral side of the DC charging port by the fitting structure, thereby effectively preventing dust and rainwater from entering, and preventing the cover body from being displaced due to vibration during vehicle travel. The fitting portion includes a separately provided upper fitting portion and a lower fitting portion, and at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the upper fitting portion and the lower fitting portion matches the inner peripheral surface of the AC charging port, and thus in a state in which the AC charging port is covered, the outer peripheral surface of the upper fitting portion and the lower fitting portion is fitted to the inner peripheral shape of the AC charging port by the fitting structure, thereby compensating for the difference in internal structure and terminal layout between the DC and AC charging ports, and ensuring that both types of charging ports can be reliably covered by the same cover body. Thus, the charging port cover that is common to both types of charging ports can ensure the stability of the structure in a covered state by the fitting structure, and prevent the cover body from being loose or falling off.
[0012] Preferably, in the charging port cover of the first aspect, the cover state indicating portion is made of an electrically conductive material and includes a pair of conductive terminals extending from the cover body, and a connection portion connected between the pair of conductive terminals, in a state in which the charging port cover has covered any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port, the conductive terminals are inserted into a pair of terminals of the corresponding charging port, thereby conducting the pair of terminals.
[0013] According to the charging port cover with the above configuration, the cover state indicating part is composed of a conductive terminal made of a conductive material and a connecting part, and realizes conduction by inserting the corresponding charging port terminal when the cover is closed, so as to directly and stably convert the physical closing action of the charging port cover into an electrical conduction signal that can be accurately detected. On the one hand, this composition does not depend on any external sensing device or complex algorithm. After the conductive terminal is inserted into the corresponding charging port terminal, the conductive loop formed by the connecting part can directly convert the physical state that the cover has been closed into an electrical signal that can be detected in real time at the vehicle end, avoiding the recognition errors and feature recognition difficulties caused by environmental factors such as light, rain, snow, and dust in the prior art, and improving the reliability and anti-interference ability of the cover state indication. On the other hand, this composition simplifies the detection logic of the cover state, so that the vehicle end does not need to run complex programs such as image recognition and contour comparison, and can only judge the cover state by detecting whether there is a conduction loop between the corresponding charging port terminals. The charging robot can quickly lock the available charging port by receiving only the conduction signal fed back by the vehicle end, thereby reducing the hardware cost, computing power consumption, and post-maintenance pressure of the vehicle and the charging robot.
[0014] Preferably, in the charging port cover of the first aspect, the conductive terminal is a metal sheet, or the conductive terminal is a metal rod having an elastically deformable elastic deformation part.
[0015] According to the charging port cover with the above configuration, the conductive terminal is designed as a metal sheet or a metal rod with an elastic deformation part, which can compensate for the slight assembly deviation (such as insertion angle deviation and terminal size tolerance) between the cover body and the charging port terminal during closing by elastic deformation, prevent poor contact due to gaps, and further improve the stability of the conduction signal.
[0016] Preferably, in the charging port cover of the first aspect, the end of the metal sheet or the metal rod includes a guide part that is inclined and gradually narrows towards the end.
[0017] According to the charging port cover with the above configuration, the inclined and narrow guide part provided at the end of the metal sheet or the metal rod can provide precise guidance for the insertion of the conductive terminal into the charging port terminal, automatically correct slight assembly deviation during closing, avoid terminal collision and scratching, and reduce insertion resistance. In addition, the guide part can adapt to the differences in terminal holes of AC and DC charging ports without the need for separate design of a guide structure, thereby ensuring reliable insertion of the conductive terminal and supporting stable output of the closing signal.
[0018] The second aspect of the present disclosure provides a charging unit for a new energy vehicle, comprising: a DC charging port; an AC charging port; and a charging port cover according to the first aspect.
[0019] The charging unit of the second aspect can also achieve the technical effects of the charging port cover of the first aspect because it includes the charging port cover of the first aspect.
[0020] Preferably, in the charging unit of the second aspect, among the plurality of terminals of the direct-current charging port and the plurality of terminals of the alternating-current charging port, a pair of terminals that are substantially consistent in the projection position relative to the charging port cover in the state where the charging port cover covers the direct-current charging port or the alternating-current charging port are included, and the pair of conductive terminals of the charging port cover are formed at positions matched with the pair of terminals. A resistor and a power source are connected in series between the pair of terminals of the direct-current charging port and the pair of terminals of the alternating-current charging port, and the power source, the resistor, the pair of terminals, and the pair of conductive terminals constitute a short-circuit loop in the state where the charging port cover covers the direct-current charging port or the alternating-current charging port. The direct-current charging port and the alternating-current charging port each further include a detection unit that detects the current or the voltage of the resistor in the short-circuit loop and generates a signal indicating that the corresponding charging port has been covered based on the detection result.
[0021] According to the charging unit having the above configuration, by making the corresponding pair of terminals of the direct-current charging port and the alternating-current charging port substantially consistent in the projection position and matching the positions of the conductive terminals of the charging port cover, it is ensured that the conductive terminals are precisely mated with the corresponding pair of terminals when the same charging port cover covers either charging port, and a stable cover signal is output. This not only strengthens the versatility of the charging port cover and simplifies the unit structure, but also enables the vehicle side to quickly and accurately determine the covered charging port, thereby providing reliable support for the charging robot to efficiently identify the available charging port. At the same time, by connecting the resistor and the power source in series between the pair of terminals of the direct-current charging port and the pair of terminals of the alternating-current charging port, a complete short-circuit loop of "power source-resistor-charging port terminal-conductive terminal" is formed when the charging port cover is covered. By using a detection power source independent of the main charging and discharging circuit, the limitation of relying on the live main charging circuit for detection is effectively avoided, and the cover state can still be reliably identified when the vehicle is not connected to the charging pile and the main circuit is not live. The detection unit generates a cover signal by detecting the current or voltage change of the resistor. The resistor not only limits the circuit current to prevent component burnout, but also ensures the stability of the current / voltage signal through a fixed resistance, reduces false positives caused by contact jitter and electromagnetic interference, and enables the vehicle side to accurately distinguish the type of the currently covered charging port. This provides reliable signal support for the charging robot to quickly identify the available charging port in an autonomous driving scenario. At the same time, the independent detection circuit design does not interfere with the normal charging and discharging functions of the direct-current charging port and the alternating-current charging port, and both detection reliability and system safety are considered.
[0022] The third aspect of the present disclosure provides a new energy vehicle comprising the charging unit of the second aspect. The fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a charging method for automatically charging the new energy vehicle of the third aspect, comprising: sending a charging request to the charging robot scheduling platform; after receiving the arrival information of the charging robot from the charging robot scheduling platform, communicating with the charging robot, sending the signal indicated by the cover state indicating portion to the charging robot, so that the charging robot can identify the available charging port which is not currently covered based on the signal; and receiving the charging gun through the available charging port and charging.
[0023] The new energy vehicle of the third aspect can also achieve the above technical effects of the charging port cover of the first aspect because it comprises the charging port cover of the first aspect.
[0024] The charging method of the fourth aspect actively sends the signal of the cover state indicating portion to the charging robot through the vehicle, instead of the way in the prior art that the robot relies on high-precision sensors and complex algorithms to identify the available charging port, which not only greatly simplifies the identification logic of the robot, reduces the hardware cost and identification time consumption of the robot, but also avoids identification errors caused by environmental factors such as light and weather, significantly improving the accuracy of available charging port identification; at the same time, the process from sending a charging request to receiving a charging gun for charging is closely connected through clear signal interaction, and the energy replenishment preparation can be completed without manual intervention, thereby well adapting to the unmanned energy replenishment demand in the automatic driving scene, and further efficiently and stably achieving automated energy replenishment.
[0025] The technical solutions and effects of the charging port cover, the charging unit, the new energy vehicle and the charging method of the present disclosure have been basically described above, and the details will be described below by referring to the drawings, which will make the present disclosure easier to understand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] The drawings are used to better understand the present disclosure and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present disclosure. Among them: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the charging port cover of the first embodiment of the present disclosure when covering the direct current charging port; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the charging port cover of the first embodiment of the present disclosure when covering the alternating current charging port; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the direct current charging port alone; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the alternating current charging port alone; Figure 5 is a schematic view of the direct current charging port of Figure 3 and the alternating current charging port of Figure 4 shown in an overlapping manner; Figure 6is a schematic view of a charging port cover of a first embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 7 is another schematic view of the charging port cover of the first embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 8 is a schematic view of a charging port cover of a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] List of Reference Signs
[0028] 1 charging unit
[0029] 10 charging port cover
[0030] 11 cover body
[0031] 110 outer periphery
[0032] 12 boss (fitting portion)
[0033] 13 first boss
[0034] 14 second boss
[0035] 141 upper boss (upper fitting portion)
[0036] 141A first face
[0037] 141B second face
[0038] 141C third face
[0039] 141D fourth face
[0040] 141E fifth face
[0041] 141F central face
[0042] 142 lower boss (lower fitting portion)
[0043] 143 protrusion
[0044] 144 standing wall
[0045] 15 cover state indicating portion
[0046] 151 lead-through terminal
[0047] 152 connecting portion
[0048] 153 guide portion
[0049] 16 handle
[0050] 20 direct current charging port
[0051] 21 direct current side terminal
[0052] 21A mating terminal
[0053] 21B jack
[0054] 22 inner circumference
[0055] 30 AC charging port
[0056] 31 AC side terminal
[0057] 31A matching terminal
[0058] 31B jack
[0059] 32 inner circumference DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] Hereinafter, the technical solutions of the present application will be described more clearly by referring to the specific embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0061] It should be noted that the drawings of the present application are merely schematic diagrams simply showing the parts related to the solutions of the present application and do not show some unnecessary parts that can exist, and therefore the drawings should not be understood as limiting the present application, which can be different from the actual structure in use. In addition, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back" and the like that can appear in the following description are for the purpose of convenient description, and are not limiting. Also, for the sake of clarity and brevity, the description below omits the description of well-known functions and structures.
[0062] <First Embodiment>
[0063] The charging unit 1 of a new energy vehicle generally includes a direct current charging port 20 for fast energy supply and an alternating current charging port 30 for slow energy supply. As shown in the figure, generally speaking, since the direct current charging current of the direct current charging port 20 is large and the voltage is high, thicker terminals are needed to carry large current and high voltage, and more direct current side terminals 21 need to be accommodated inside, so the size of the opening of the direct current charging port 20 is larger than that of the alternating current charging port 30, and the number of the direct current side terminals 21 of the direct current charging port 20 is also more than the number of the alternating current side terminals 31 of the alternating current charging port 30.
[0064] Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 and Figure 4 The constitution of the direct current charging port 20 and the alternating current charging port 30 commonly used at present is shown.
[0065] The DC charging port 20 is a conventional 9-core, i.e. 9-terminal, configuration, which will be collectively referred to as DC-side terminals 21, including: DC+: DC power positive, connecting DC power positive and battery positive; DC-: DC power negative, connecting DC power negative and battery negative; PE: protective earth, connecting power supply ground and vehicle body ground; CC1: charge connection confirmation (fast charging pile detection); CC2: charge connection confirmation (vehicle detection); S+: charge communication CAN-H, connecting the communication line of the fast charging pile and the vehicle; S-: charge communication CAN-L, connecting the communication line of the fast charging pile and the vehicle; A+: low-voltage auxiliary power positive, providing 12V voltage to wake up the BMS of the vehicle; A-: low-voltage auxiliary power negative, providing 12V voltage to wake up the BMS of the vehicle. In addition, the lengths of the 9 DC-side terminals 21 are also not the same, including the long pins CC2, DC+, DC- and PE, which are at the same plane height; and the short pins S-, S+, A-, A+ and CC1, which are at a relatively low plane position. Since the above-mentioned DC-side terminals 21 of the DC charging port 20 are prior art, they will not be described here.
[0066] The AC charging port 30 is a conventional 7-core, i.e. 7-terminal, configuration, which will be collectively referred to as AC-side terminals 31, including: CC: charge connection confirmation signal line, used for charger detection; CP: used for duty cycle confirmation charger power output, also used for charger detection; L: L1 line of AC 220V power supply; N: 220V zero line, providing the necessary circuit loop for the charging system; PE: protective earth, ensuring the safety of the charging process; and NC1 and NC2: spare lines, used for L2 and L3 lines in three-phase AC slow charging. In addition, the lengths of the 7 AC-side terminals 31 are also not completely the same, the five pins L, N, PE, NC1 and NC2 are relatively long and at the same horizontal height; while CP and CC are short pins and at the same horizontal height. Since the above-mentioned AC-side terminals 31 of the AC charging port 30 are prior art, they will not be described here.
[0067] Figure 5 is a schematic view of the DC charging port 20 of Figure 3 and the AC charging port 30 of Figure 4 shown in an overlapping manner. From Figure 5As can be seen, although the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30 have different external dimensions, and the DC side terminals 21 of the DC charging port 20 and the AC side terminals 31 of the AC charging port 30 have different configurations, the positions of the two thickest DC side terminals 21 (DC- and DC+) of the DC side terminals 21 of the DC charging port 20 and the two outermost AC side terminals 31 (L and N) of the AC side terminals 31 of the AC charging port 30 are basically matched. Here, these two DC side terminals 21 are referred to as matching terminals 21A, and these two AC side terminals 31 are referred to as matching terminals 31A.
[0068] Below, for reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 The charging port cover 10 of this embodiment is described. The charging port cover 10 is as follows... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the cover 10 can be selected to cover either the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30. That is, the charging port cover 10 is universal for both the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30, eliminating the need for additional design, manufacturing, and assembly of two different specifications of cover. This simplifies the overall structure of the charging port area of new energy vehicles, reduces vehicle production and subsequent maintenance costs, and avoids the problem of users misusing or incorrectly covering the cover due to confusion between AC and DC cover types, significantly improving the convenience of daily use.
[0069] The charging port cover 10 has: a cover body 11 that covers the opening of either the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30; and a boss 12 that protrudes from the cover body 11 and can engage with the outer periphery of the AC side terminal 31 of the AC charging port 30 or the outer periphery of the DC side terminal 21 of the DC charging port 20. The boss 12 constitutes a mounting part for assembling the charging port cover 10.
[0070] The cover body 11 of the charging port cover 10 is as follows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The cover 10 is designed to seal the openings of either the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30, providing dustproof, waterproof, and foreign object intrusion protection for the internal terminals. The corresponding surface of the boss 12 engages with the outer periphery of the corresponding charging port terminal, ensuring a stable connection when covering either type of charging port. Whether it's the AC side terminal 31 of the AC charging port 30 or the DC side terminal 21 of the DC charging port 20, the engagement structure of the boss 12 adapts to their outer circumference, preventing the cover from loosening or falling off due to vibration or bumps during vehicle operation. Furthermore, the combination of the cover body 11's adaptability to both types of charging port openings and the boss 12's adaptability to both types of charging port terminals further enhances the versatility of the charging port cover 10. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated fixing structures for the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30, simplifying the overall design complexity and reducing vehicle production and subsequent maintenance costs.
[0071] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 6 , the shape of the outer periphery 110 of the cover body 11 of the charging port cover 10 substantially matches the shape of the inner periphery 22 of the DC charging port 20, so that in the state that the charging port cover 10 covers the DC charging port 20, the cover body 11 is fitted on the inner periphery 22 side of the DC charging port 20. The boss 12 of the charging port cover 10 includes a first boss 13 formed at the middle position and a second boss 14 located at the periphery with a certain interval from the outer periphery 110 of the cover body 11. The first boss 13 is in the shape of a three-prism with three arc-shaped side surfaces. The second boss 14 includes one longer upper boss 141 and two shorter lower bosses 142. The outer periphery surface of each of the upper boss 141 and the lower boss 142 substantially matches the shape of the corresponding part of the inner periphery 32 of the AC charging port 30, so that when the charging port cover 10 is assembled on the smaller-sized AC charging port 30, the outer periphery of the upper boss 141 and the lower boss 142 can abut against the inner periphery 32 of the AC charging port 30 to achieve the fitting connection.
[0072] Referring to Figure 6 , the upper boss 141 of the second boss 14 is in the shape of axial symmetry, and the inner periphery surface includes five arc surfaces, i.e., a first surface 141A, a second surface 141B, a third surface 141C, a fourth surface 141D and a fifth surface 141E. The arc of the arc surface of the first surface 141A and the fifth surface 141E matches the arc of the outer periphery surface of the two thickest DC side terminals 21A of the DC charging port 20. In addition, the central part of the outer periphery surface of the upper boss 141, i.e., the central surface 141F opposite to the third surface 141C in the inner periphery surface, is recessed inwardly in an arc shape compared to the parts on both sides, and the arc of the recessed arc surface matches the arc of the outer periphery surface of the second row from top to bottom of one of the DC side terminals 21 (CC1) of the DC charging port 20. The two lower bosses 142 of the second boss 14 are axially symmetrically arranged with each other, and the shape of the inner periphery surface of each of them matches the arc of the outer periphery surface of the two outer terminals of the DC side terminals 21 (A- and A+) of the DC charging port 20.
[0073] When as shown in Figure 1When the charging port cover 10 is assembled to the DC charging port 20, the outer periphery 110 of the charging port cover 10 is substantially fitted into the inner periphery 22 of the DC charging port 20; the upper boss 141 of the second boss 14 of the boss 12 is sandwiched between a pair of mating terminals 21A (DC- and DC+) and the two outermost DC-side terminals 21 (S- and S+) of the first row from top to bottom and the DC-side terminals 21 (CC1) of the second row, such that the first surface 141A and the fifth surface 141E of the inner peripheral surface of the upper boss 141 are separated. The upper boss 141 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the matching terminal 21A (DC- and DC+) from the top, and the central surface 141F of the outer peripheral surface of the upper boss 141 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the second row of DC-side terminals 21 (CC1) from the bottom, while the surfaces on both sides of the central surface abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the two outer DC-side terminals 21 (S- and S+) of the first row from the bottom; the inner peripheral surfaces of the two lower bosses 142 of the second boss 14 of the boss 12 abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the two outer DC-side terminals 21 (A- and A+) of the bottommost row from the bottom. Therefore, by abutting the inner or outer peripheral surface of the second boss 14 against the outer peripheral surface of the corresponding DC-side terminal 21, the charging port cover 10 can be securely assembled and inserted into the opening of the DC charging port 20. At this time, the first boss 13 of the boss 12 is located in the gap between a pair of matching terminals 21A (DC- and DC+) and the lowest row of DC side terminals 21, and the part between the third surface 141C and the central surface 141F of the upper boss 141 of the second boss 12 is located in the gap between a pair of matching terminals 21A (DC- and DC+). Therefore, it will not interfere with the assembly of the charging port cover 10 to the DC charging port 20.
[0074] When Figure 2When the charging port cover 10 is assembled to the AC charging port 30, as shown, since the size of the cover body 11 of the charging port cover 10 is larger than the size of the opening of the AC charging port 30, a part of the cover body 11 (a part outside the second boss 14) is capped on the periphery of the AC charging port 30, and the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper boss 141 and the two lower bosses 142 of the second boss 14 are substantially fitted to the inner periphery 32 of the AC charging port 30. The second face 141B and the fourth face 141D in the inner peripheral surface of the upper boss 141 abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the two AC side terminals 31 (CP and CC) in the first row from the top, the third face 141C abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the one AC side terminal 31 (PE) in the second row from the top, and the inner peripheral surfaces of the two lower bosses 142 abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the two AC side terminals 31 (NC1 and NC2) in the lowest row from the bottom. In addition, the first boss 13 of the boss 12 is sandwiched and abuts between the one AC side terminal 31 (PE) in the second row and the two AC side terminals 31 (NC1 and NC2) in the lowest row. In this way, by the abutment of the outer peripheral surface of the first boss 13 of the boss 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the second boss 14 against the outer peripheral surfaces of the corresponding AC side terminals 31 of the AC charging port 30, the charging port cover 10 can be firmly assembled and plugged in the opening of the AC charging port 30. At this time, the first face 141A and the fifth face 141E of the upper boss 141 of the second boss 14 of the boss 12 are located in the space where no AC side terminal 31 is formed, and thus do not interfere with the assembly of the charging port cover 10 to the AC charging port 30.
[0075] In this way, according to the charging port cover 10 of the present embodiment, the outer peripheral shape of the cover body 11 matches the inner peripheral shape of the DC charging port 20, and when capping the DC charging port 20, the inner periphery side of the DC charging port 20 can be tightly fitted by the fitting structure, effectively preventing dust and rain from entering, and avoiding displacement of the cover body due to vibration during vehicle driving. The assembly part configured by the boss 12 includes the upper boss 141 and the lower boss 142 which are located at the periphery and are separately arranged, and the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper boss 141 and the lower boss 142 at least partially match the inner peripheral surface shape of the AC charging port 30, so that when capping the AC charging port 30, the inner peripheral shape of the AC charging port can be adapted by the fitting structure, making up for the difference in internal structure and terminal layout between the DC and AC charging ports, and ensuring that both types of charging ports can be reliably capped by the same cover body. Therefore, the charging port cover 10 which is common to both types of charging ports can ensure the structural stability in the capped state by the fitting structure, avoiding loosening or falling off of the cover body.
[0076] In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the first boss 13 of the boss 12 is arranged to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the one AC side terminal 31 (PE) in the second row from the top, and the outer peripheral surface of the second boss 14 is arranged to abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the two AC side terminals 31 (NC1 and NC2) in the lowest row from the bottom. Figure 6As shown, in order to improve the contact pressure between the second boss 14 of the boss 12 and the DC side terminal 21 or the AC side terminal 31 or the inner periphery 32 of the AC charging port 30, a plurality of ribs 143 can also be arranged on the outer periphery surface of the upper boss 141, the first surface 141A, the fifth surface 141E, and the outer periphery surface of the two lower bosses 142. The rib 143 is a long strip-shaped rib extending along the assembly direction of the charging port cover 10, and the outer periphery surface can be an arc surface. By arranging the rib 143, the installation between the boss 12 and the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30 is more secure and stable. In addition, a vertical wall 144 can also be arranged between the two lower bosses 142 and between the lower boss 142 and the upper boss 141. The vertical wall 144 protrudes lower than the second boss 14 and is arranged in accordance with the shape of the inner periphery 32 of the AC charging port 30. Through the vertical wall 144, the structural strength can be improved, and the contact area between the charging port cover 10 and the inner periphery 32 of the AC charging port 30 can also be increased, so that the installation reliability of the charging port cover 10 is further improved.
[0077] In the present embodiment, in addition to the boss 12 for assembly, the charging port cover 10 is also provided with a cover state indicating part 15, which can send a signal indicating that the corresponding charging port has been covered when the charging port cover 10 has covered any one of the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30, and the corresponding charging port is any one of the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30 that has been covered. Figure 1 the DC charging port 20, Figure 2 the AC charging port 30). Therefore, in addition to the simple covering function, the charging port cover 10 of the present embodiment also realizes the cooperative effect of a general cover body and accurate signal feedback through the cover state indicating part 15 when the charging port cover 10 actually covers the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30, and forms a cooperation with the terminal of the corresponding charging port and sends a covering signal. Therefore, on the one hand, the vehicle end does not need to rely on external sensors such as laser radar, visual camera or complex algorithms, but can directly judge which charging port is covered by detecting the signal of the cover state indicating part 15, avoiding the interference of environmental light, weather conditions and other factors on the recognition result, and improving the accuracy and stability of the covered charging port judgment; on the other hand, in the automatic energy supplement scene of unmanned driving, the charging robot also does not need to adapt to the appearance features of different types of special charging port covers, but can quickly lock the available charging port by receiving the covering signal output by the vehicle end, reducing the hardware configuration cost and algorithm consumption of the robot, and changing the passive recognition of the robot to active notification of the vehicle in the unmanned energy supplement process, improving the energy supplement efficiency, and making the energy supplement structure in the automatic driving scene simple and reliable.
[0078] In the present embodiment, the cover state indicating portion 15 is made of a conductive material and includes a pair of conductive terminals 151 extending from the cover body 11 and a connecting portion 152 connected between the pair of conductive terminals 151. The pair of conductive terminals 151 of the charging port cover 10 are formed at positions matching the insertion holes 31B of the pair of mating terminals 31A or the insertion holes 21B of the pair of mating terminals 21A. As described above, since the projection positions of the insertion holes 21B of the pair of mating terminals 21A of the DC charging port 20 and the insertion holes 31B of the pair of mating terminals 31A of the AC charging port 30 are substantially consistent with respect to the charging port cover 10 (see Figure 5 ), the pair of conductive terminals 151 can be inserted into the insertion holes of the corresponding pair of mating terminals and conduct the corresponding pair of mating terminals to emit a conduction signal, regardless of whether the charging port cover 10 is capped on the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30. According to the generation of the conduction signal, it can be known which charging port has been successfully capped by the charging port cover 10, so that the capping state can be determined only by detecting whether a conduction loop exists between the corresponding charging port terminals, and in the automatic driving unmanned energy supply scenario, the charging robot can quickly lock the available charging port only by receiving the conduction signal fed back by the vehicle end.
[0079] The conductive terminals 151 can be in the form of metal sheets as shown in Figure 6 , and the connecting portion 152 can be embedded in the cover body 11 of the charging port cover 10. The metal sheet itself has elastic deformation capability and can compensate for the slight assembly deviation (such as insertion angle deviation and terminal size tolerance) of the cover body 11 and the insertion holes of the mating terminals of the charging port during capping by elastic deformation, preventing poor contact due to gaps and further improving the stability of the conduction signal.
[0080] In addition, considering electrical safety and environmental adaptability, the conductive terminals 151 in the form of metal sheets can also integrate targeted insulation protection structures. For example, the non-contact area of the conductive terminal 151 is covered with a high and low temperature resistant insulating material, and only the contact end of a small length is exposed to ensure the electrical conductivity reliability with the mating terminal; wherein the width and thickness directions of the metal sheet can cover an insulating layer of appropriate thickness, completely wrapping the side edges and upper and lower surfaces of the metal sheet to avoid accidental contact with adjacent components such as PE terminals and high voltage terminals in the charging port.
[0081] In addition, to realize reliable detection of the cover state, a set of independent short-circuit loop triggering components is arranged in the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30 respectively, which cooperates with the conductive terminals 151 of the charging port cover 10 to form a complete signal detection link. Specifically, a resistor with a fixed resistance value is connected in series between a pair of matching terminals 21A in the DC charging port 20 and the low-voltage system power supply (12V, independent of the DC high-voltage bus) of the vehicle; similarly, resistors with the same or different specifications are also connected in series between a pair of matching terminals 31A in the AC charging port 30 and the same low-voltage power supply. The resistors in the two charging ports can be metal film resistors with low temperature coefficient, which can ensure stable resistance value under different working conditions and avoid signal drift.
[0082] When the charging port cover 10 covers the DC charging port 20, a pair of conductive terminals 151 on the cover body 11 are precisely inserted into the insertion holes 21B of a pair of matching terminals 21A of the DC charging port 20, at this time, “vehicle low-voltage power supply → resistor → one matching terminal 21A → one conductive terminal 151 → connecting part 152 → another conductive terminal 151 → another matching terminal 21A” forms a closed short-circuit loop; similarly, when the charging port cover 10 covers the AC charging port 30, the conductive terminals 151 are inserted into the insertion holes 31B of a pair of matching terminals 31A of the AC charging port 30, forming a closed short-circuit loop (also called low-voltage detection loop) of “vehicle low-voltage power supply → resistor → one matching terminal 31A → one conductive terminal 151 → connecting part 152 → another conductive terminal 151 → another matching terminal 31A”. By forming the short-circuit loop, it can be completely independent of the charging and discharging main loop (DC high-voltage bus, AC strong current loop), even if the vehicle is not connected to the charging pile and the main loop is not electrified, the low-voltage power supply can continue to provide energy for detection, avoiding the limitation that detection cannot be performed under no power state, and also ensuring electrical safety.
[0083] Correspondingly, the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30 are each also provided with a detection part, which can be integrated in the control module of the charging port body, and is connected with the resistor at both ends of the loop or the loop series node. Therefore, in the open state of the charging port without being closed by the charging port cover 10, the short circuit loop is in an open state because the conducting terminal 151 does not contact the matching terminal, and the detection part detects that there is no voltage drop across the resistor (or no current in the loop); and after the charging port is closed by the charging port cover 10, i.e., the cover is closed, because the conducting terminal 151 contacts the matching terminal, the short circuit loop is closed, and the current flows through the resistor to generate a stable voltage drop (or a fixed size of current), after the detection part captures the electrical signal change from off to on of the short circuit loop, a precise indication signal of "DC charging port has been closed" or "AC charging port has been closed" is generated, which can be directly transmitted to the vehicle BMS or the body control module, providing a reliable basis for subsequent charging control (such as charging robot recognizing available charging ports).
[0084] In addition, it should also be noted that, in order to avoid the low-voltage detection loop of the charging port being misdirected in the normal charging state, the short circuit loop of the DC charging port 20 and the AC charging port 30 of the charging unit 1 of the embodiment can each be connected in series with a low-voltage control relay (also referred to as a detection loop relay), the coil control end of which is in communication connection with the vehicle charging state recognition module (integrated in the BMS or the charging controller), and the normally open contact thereof is connected in series between the low-voltage power supply and the resistor, forming a linkage logic of "charging state recognition→ relay action→ low-voltage loop on-off". Specifically, the action logic of the detection loop relay is strongly bound to the charging state of the charging port, in the non-charging state (without inserting the charging gun), the vehicle charging state recognition module does not detect the charging gun insertion signal (the DC charging port does not detect the connection confirmation voltage of the CC1 terminal, and the AC charging port does not detect the PWM signal of the CP terminal), at this time the recognition module sends a closing instruction to the detection loop relay, the normally open contact of the relay is turned on, and the low-voltage detection loop is in a detection standby state, so that when the charging port cover 10 is closed, the conducting terminal 151 shorts the matching terminal, the low-voltage detection loop is normally turned on, and the detection part can accurately generate a closed signal to indicate the closing condition. On the other hand, in the charging state (with the charging gun inserted), when the charging gun is inserted into the DC charging port 20 or the AC charging port 30, the charging state recognition module detects the access of the charging gun through the corresponding signal terminal (DC CC1, AC CP), and immediately sends a disconnecting instruction to the detection loop relay after completing the initial protocol handshake with the charging pile, to isolate the high-voltage charging loop from the low-voltage detection loop.
[0085] For example, in the direct current charging scenario, the charging state recognition module detects the charging gun connection signal, while the BMS receives the charging parameter request of the charging pile, and then controls the detection loop relay to be disconnected, so that the low-voltage detection loop is completely cut off. Therefore, even if the terminals of the charging gun contact the matching detection terminals 21A of the direct current charging port 20 at this time, a low-voltage conduction loop cannot be formed, and false triggering of the cover signal is avoided. Similarly, in the alternating current charging scenario, the charging state recognition module detects the power negotiation signal, and immediately controls the detection loop relay to be disconnected, thereby ensuring that the low-voltage loop is completely isolated from the alternating current charging main loop, preventing the low-voltage signal from interfering with the duty cycle detection of the CP terminal, or causing damage to the low-voltage loop components due to the coupling of alternating current strong electricity.
[0086] Referring to Figure 7 , a handle 16 can also be provided on the front surface of the cover body 11 of the charging port cover 10, which can be gripped by the user's fingers, thereby facilitating the holding of the charging port cover 10 when manually opening and closing the cover.
[0087] As described above, the charging port cover 10 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure and the charging unit 1 applying the same have been described, and the charging port cover 10 can achieve the universality of the direct current charging port 20 and the alternating current charging port 30 and the reliable and efficient recognition of the charging port cover state with a simple structure and lower cost.
[0088] <Second Embodiment>
[0089] The second embodiment also discloses a charging port cover 10 and a charging unit 1 having the same. The charging port cover 10 of the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 8 , is basically the same as the charging port cover 10 of the first embodiment, and the only difference is the configuration of the pair of conduction terminals 151 of the cover state indicating portion 15.
[0090] Unlike the conduction terminals 151 formed in the form of a metal sheet in the first embodiment, the conduction terminals 151 of the second embodiment are formed in the form of a metal rod, such as a cylindrical rod. The metal rod form is more rigid in the longitudinal direction than the metal sheet, and has better guidance when being inserted. In addition, although Figure 8 not shown in , an elastically deformed portion, such as a U-shaped bend, an S-shaped bend, a notched foot, and a spiral spring, can be configured on the conduction terminal 151 in the form of a metal rod, so as to adapt to the radial deviation when being inserted into the matching terminal, and still maintain the contact pressure under the size change caused by the vibration of the vehicle and the change in temperature.
[0091] Figure 8As shown, the end of the metal rod-shaped conduction terminal 151 can be provided with a guide portion 153, which is inclined and gradually narrows towards the end, becoming conical. By providing the guide portion 153, accurate guidance can be provided for the insertion of the conduction terminal 151 into the matching terminal hole, automatic correction of slight assembly deviations during capping is achieved, terminal collision and scratching are avoided, insertion resistance is reduced, and the terminal hole difference of AC and DC charging ports can be adapted without the need for separate design of a guide structure, thereby ensuring reliable insertion of the conduction terminal and providing support for stable signal output during capping.
[0092] In addition, considering the insulation safety and elastic deformation function, the metal rod-shaped conduction terminal 151 can also be integrated with an insulation protection design. For example, for the non-deformation section (from the root to the front of the elastic deformation section) of the conduction terminal 151, an insulation sleeve or protective insulation material can be sleeved; for the elastic deformation section such as the U-shaped or S-shaped bending or spiral spring, a high-temperature-resistant insulation material can be wrapped, and sufficient deformation allowance can be reserved.
[0093] It should be noted that the guide portion 153 of the conduction terminal 151 of the second embodiment can also be provided on the metal sheet form of the conduction terminal 151 of the first embodiment, thereby facilitating insertion operation.
[0094] <Third Embodiment>
[0095] The third embodiment of the present disclosure provides a new energy vehicle equipped with the charging unit 1 of the first embodiment or the charging unit 1 of the second embodiment.
[0096] Since the new energy vehicle of the third embodiment is equipped with the charging unit 1 of the first embodiment or the charging unit 1 of the second embodiment, the technical effects of the first embodiment or the second embodiment can also be achieved accordingly, which not only strengthens the versatility of the charging port cover 10 and simplifies the unit structure, but also enables the vehicle end to quickly and accurately determine the capped charging port, thereby providing reliable support for the charging robot to efficiently identify available charging ports in the automatic driving unmanned energy supplementing scenario.
[0097] <Fourth Embodiment>
[0098] The fourth embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a charging method for automatically charging the new energy vehicle of the third embodiment, which comprises the following steps: sending a charging request to a charging robot scheduling platform; after receiving the arrival information of the charging robot from the charging robot scheduling platform, communicating with the charging robot and sending the signal indicated by the capping state indicating portion 15 to the charging robot, so that the charging robot can identify the currently uncapped available charging port based on the signal; and receiving a charging gun through the available charging port and performing charging.
[0099] The charging method of the fourth embodiment actively sends a signal of the cover state indication part to the charging robot by the vehicle, instead of the way in the prior art that the robot relies on high-precision sensors and complex algorithms to identify the available charging port, which not only greatly simplifies the identification logic of the robot, reduces the hardware cost and identification time consumption of the robot, but also avoids the identification errors caused by environmental factors such as light and weather, and significantly improves the accuracy of available charging port identification. At the same time, the process from sending a charging request to receiving a charging gun for charging is closely connected through clear signal interaction, and the energy replenishment preparation can be completed without manual intervention, thereby well adapting to the unmanned energy replenishment demand in the automatic driving scene, and further efficiently and stably realizing automatic energy replenishment.
[0100] The first to fourth embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above. By simply configuring the cover state indication part, the physical covering action of the charging port cover is directly and stably converted into an electrical conduction signal that can be accurately detected, so that, on the one hand, without relying on any external sensing device or complex algorithm, after the conducting terminal is inserted into the corresponding charging port terminal, the physical state that the cover body has been covered is directly converted into an electrical signal that can be detected in real time at the vehicle end through the conductive loop formed by the connecting part, avoiding the recognition errors and feature recognition difficulties caused by environmental factors such as light, rain, snow, and dust in the prior art, and improving the reliability and anti-interference ability of the cover state indication. On the other hand, the detection logic of the cover state is simplified, so that the vehicle end does not need to run complex programs such as image recognition and contour comparison, and can only judge the cover state by detecting whether there is a conduction loop between the corresponding charging port terminals. The charging robot can quickly lock the available charging port by receiving the conduction signal fed back by the vehicle end, reducing the hardware cost, computing power consumption, and later maintenance pressure of the vehicle and the charging robot. At the same time, the present disclosure also naturally adapts to the universality of the charging port cover that can selectively cover AC and DC charging ports. Whether the cover covers a DC charging port or an AC charging port, the conducting terminal can be conducted by being inserted into the corresponding terminal, without the need to design an indication structure separately for the two types of charging ports, which not only simplifies the overall design of the indication part, but also ensures the consistency of the indication function in different cover scenarios, further strengthening the universality and practicality of the technical solution.
[0101] The above detailed description does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present application. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can occur depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.
Claims
1. A charging port cover for a new energy vehicle, characterized in that, the charging port cover selectively covers any one of a DC charging port and an AC charging port provided on the new energy vehicle, and the charging port cover is provided with a cover state indicating portion, when the charging port cover has covered any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port, the cover state indicating portion generates a signal indicating that the corresponding charging port has been covered, wherein the corresponding charging port is the any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port that has been covered. 2.The charging port cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, the charging port cover has a cover body covering an opening of any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port, and a fitting portion protruding from the cover body and being clamped to the outer periphery of a terminal of the AC charging port or the outer periphery of a terminal of the DC charging port. 3.The charging port cover according to claim 2, characterized in that, the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the cover body matches the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the DC charging port, so that in the state that the charging port cover covers the DC charging port, the cover body is fitted on the inner peripheral side of the DC charging port, and the fitting portion includes a top fitting portion and a bottom fitting portion separately provided, both of which are spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the cover body and at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the top fitting portion and the bottom fitting portion matches the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the AC charging port, so that in the state that the charging port cover covers the AC charging port, the outer peripheral surface of the top fitting portion and the bottom fitting portion is fitted on the inner peripheral side of the AC charging port. 4.The charging port cover according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, the cover state indicating portion is made of a conductive material and includes a pair of conductive terminals protruding from the cover body, and a connecting portion connected between the pair of conductive terminals, and when the charging port cover has covered any one of the DC charging port and the AC charging port, the conductive terminals are inserted into a pair of terminals of the corresponding charging port to conduct the pair of terminals. 5.The charging port cover according to claim 4, characterized in that, the conductive terminals are metal sheets, or the conductive terminals are metal rods having an elastically deformable portion capable of being elastically deformed. 6.The charging port cover according to claim 5, characterized in that, the end of the metal sheet or the metal rod includes a guide portion that is obliquely arranged to gradually narrow towards the end.
7. A charging unit for a new energy vehicle, characterized in that, including: a DC charging port; an AC charging port; and the charging port cover according to any one of claims 1-6. 8.The charging unit according to claim 7, characterized in that, among the plurality of terminals of the DC charging port and the plurality of terminals of the AC charging port, a pair of terminals whose projection positions relative to the charging port cover are substantially consistent in the state that the charging port cover covers the DC charging port or the AC charging port, respectively, and The pair of conduction terminals of the charging port cover are formed at positions matching the pair of terminals, A resistor and a power source are connected in series between the pair of terminals of the DC charging port and the AC charging port, respectively, and in a state where the charging port cover covers the DC charging port or the AC charging port, the power source, the resistor, the pair of terminals, and the pair of conduction terminals constitute a short-circuiting loop, The DC charging port and the AC charging port each further include a detection unit that detects a current or a voltage of the resistor in the short-circuiting loop and generates a signal indicating that the corresponding charging port has been covered based on a detection result.
9. A new energy vehicle comprising the charging unit according to claim 7 or 8.
10. A charging method for automatically charging the new energy vehicle of claim 9, characterized in that, Comprise: Send a charging request to a charging robot scheduling platform; After receiving arrival information of a charging robot from the charging robot scheduling platform, communicate with the charging robot, and send a signal indicated by the cover state indicating unit to the charging robot, so that the charging robot can identify the available charging port that is not currently covered based on the signal; And Receive a charging gun with the available charging port and charge.