Electric charging control device

Abstract

An electric charging control device (130A, 130B) comprising an electric charging control CPU (131) whose electric power is supplied from an auxiliary battery (400) having a lower voltage than that of a main battery (300), for serially connecting with respect to a higher-level control device (500) which carries out centralized control of a vehicle electric power conversion device (100), and for constituting the vehicle electric power conversion device (100), comprising an inverter (110) for supplying electrical energy of three-phase alternating current voltages to a vehicle drive motor (200) from the main battery (300) mounted on board a vehicle, a pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) connected between the main battery (300) and the inverter (110) at an upstream position thereof and a downstream position thereof, and an electric motor control device (120) operated with respect to the inverter (110), and also comprising a pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190b), one end of which is connected with respect to an upstream power supply point (P1) and a downstream power supply point (N1), which are connected to an electric charging terminal (901) provided for an electric charging power source device (900) that is a grounding-based device, and the other end of which is an upstream center point (P2) and a downstream center point (N2) are connected in series with the pair of main electric contact elements (130u, 130d), the electric charging control device for performing an opening / closing circuit control on at least one pair of main electric contact elements (130u, 130d) and / or the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190b) characterized in that: the higher-level control device (500) further comprises a higher-level control CPU (510) for performing mutual monitoring by means of a communication circuit between the electric charging power source device (900), an electric motor control CPU (121) attached to the electric motor control device (120), an electric charging instruction device (132) for operating to close in a circuit the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) and the electric charging control CPU (131) for operating the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d), and for performing communication of a control signal therebetween; the electric charging control CPU (131) is connected to a first voltage monitoring circuit (140a, 150a) connected between the upstream power supply point (P1) and either the downstream power supply point (N1) or the downstream center point (N2), for generating a first voltage detection signal (DET1), and to a second voltage monitoring circuit (140b, 150b) connected between the downstream power supply point (N1) and either the upstream power supply point (P1) or the upstream center point (P2), for generating a second voltage detection signal (DET2); the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a, 150a) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b, 150b) each generate the first voltage detection signal (DET1), which is a determination logic signal, in response to a presence or absence of a monitored voltage, and the second voltage detection signal (DET2), which is a determination logic signal, in response to a presence or absence of the monitored voltage, and, when the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a, 150a) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b, 150b) are connected between the upstream power supply point (P1) and the downstream power supply point (N1), a voltage monitoring circuit (140, 150) is formed by providing one of the voltage monitoring circuits, or a voltage monitoring circuit (140, 150) is formed from a double system is,by providing both voltage monitoring circuits therefor; , the inverter (110) further comprises a voltage level detection circuit (160A, 160B, 170) for determining whether or not a main power source voltage of a high voltage is applied from the main battery (300), and for generating a main voltage detection signal (DET0), which is a determination logic signal, and / or a determination voltage detection signal (DET00) by the electric motor control CPU (121) by generating a voltage level detection signal (DETV) thereto; the higher-level control CPU (510) comprises a control program formed by main contact element abnormality detection means (609, 909) executed together with the electric charging control CPU (131), first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (620, 920) executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130b) in a circuit is closed in a condition that the electric charging terminal (901) is not connected, and second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (630, 930) executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) in a circuit is open in a condition that the electric charging terminal (901) is connected and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device (900); the main contact element abnormality detection means (609, 909) is means for discriminably determining a presence or absence of a welding irregularity of a main electrical contact element (130u, 130d) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, in a non-connection state of the electric charging terminal (901), corresponding to a combination state of an operation instruction related to the pair of main electrical contact elements (130a, 130d), and corresponding to a detection logic of a main voltage detection signal (DET0) or a determination voltage detection signal (DET00); the first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (620, 920) is means for discriminably determining a presence or absence of a welding irregularity of an electric charging contact element (190u, 190d) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, corresponding to a combination state of an operation instruction with respect to the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) and corresponding to a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2); the second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (630, 930) comprises either a detection voltage abnormality determination means (639a, 939a) for determining whether a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device (900) detected by the voltage level detection circuit (160A, 160B, 170) is within a preset predetermined threshold range or not, or a means for discriminably determining a presence or absence of a welding irregularity of an electric charging contact element (190u, 190d) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, corresponding to at least a combination state of an operation instruction related to the pair of electric contact elements (190u, 190d) and a detection logic of a main voltage detection signal, or a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2);and ; a terminal cover (904) is attached to a terminal input (190) of the electric charging terminal (901), and, when the terminal cover (904) is opened and the electric charging terminal (901) is not inserted, at least one pair of the main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) and the electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) is configured not to be operated to close the circuit, and is also configured to prevent a closing circuit instruction with respect to at least the other pair when a welding irregularity is present in one contact element of the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) and the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d).

Description

Background of the inventionField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric charging control device mounted in a vehicle charging passage for charging an on-board battery for use in an electric vehicle from a ground-based electric power source, and more particularly, to an electric charging control device in an electric vehicle whose drive motors are supplied with alternating current (AC) voltages by way of a main electric contact element and an inverter from a main battery mounted on the vehicle, for charging the main battery with respect to a series-type charging passage from a ground-based electric charging power source device through a serially connected circuit constituting an electric charging terminal, electric charging contact elements mounted on the vehicle, and the main electric contact elements mounted thereon. Description of the state of the art

[0002] In an electric vehicle having an electric charging function from a ground-based electric power source, there are a type of ground-based electric charging power source device in which an on-board battery is charged through electric charging contact elements, and a ground-based electric charging power source device in which electric charging is performed in series through main electric contact elements for use in a motor drive; in each type, abnormality of electric charging contact elements and / or main electric contact elements is detected, particularly, detection of welding irregularity is performed, and thus, it happens that a charged and exposed portion of a high voltage is not caused to an electric spark plug.For example, according to a vehicle operating device described in JP 2010-41794 A, main relays, which are main electrical contact elements, and electric charging relays, which are electric charging contact elements, are connected in series with each other, and are connected between an electric charging terminal and a traction battery; an intermediate point voltage to which an inverter circuit is connected is detected by a voltage sensor, and a power supply point voltage near the electric charging terminal is detected by voltage sensors.

[0003] And then, it is arranged so that in a state where a ground-based electric power source is not connected, the presence or absence of welding irregularity of the electric charging relays is determined by comparing an open-circuit / closed-circuit instruction state of the electric charging relays respectively with a detection voltage of the voltage sensor when an electric charging voltage of a smoothing capacitor within the inverter circuit gradually increases immediately after the main relays are closed and the voltage reaches a system voltage V1 (for example, 60 V) or more, or when an electric charging voltage of the smoothing capacitor 11 gradually decreases after a predetermined time has elapsed for opening the main relays 5a and 5b and the voltage reaches the system voltage V1 or less.

[0004] It should be noted that, according to the description set forth in JP 2010-41794 A, it is arranged such that the abnormality determination is performed using a voltage sensor(s) through dedicated communication lines. According to this arrangement, a power source voltage is reduced at the time of an abnormality inspection, thus indicating that accurate voltage detection can be performed without causing an influence of insulation resistance.

[0005] In addition, according to an electric charging control device of a vehicle described in JP 2009-136110 A, an electric power storage device, which is a main battery mounted on a vehicle, supplies electric power to first and second motor generators through system main relays, which are main electrical contact elements, a buck / boost converter, and first and second inverters; and an electric power conversion device, which is a ground-based electric charging power source device, is connected to the power storage device through an electric charging connection element and relays, which are electric charging contact elements, thereby demonstrating that, in the ground-based type of electric charging power source device, the main electrical contact elements and the electric charging contact elements are not connected in series with each other.

[0006] And then, a control unit receives a positive-to-negative line voltage Vbat from a voltage sensor connected to the power storage device, and receives a voltage V1 from a voltage sensor on an input side of the electric charging contact elements and a voltage V2 from a voltage sensor on an output side thereof; also, when a cover provided at the input opening of the electric charging contact element is closed, it is arranged so that the presence or absence of abnormality of an electric charging circuit is determined based on the voltages Vbat, V1, and V2, and if an abnormality exists, the cover is fixed in a closed state by means of a storage device so that a user cannot come into contact with a contact element of a vehicle side.

[0007] The generic EP 2 592 711 A1 discloses a charging control device mounted on a vehicle, which is connected to an external charging device via a charging port to perform control related to charging. The charging control device comprises a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage applied to the charging port and a control device for estimating, based on a voltage change detected by the voltage sensor during a predetermined period of time after the charging plug (104) is connected to the vehicle, a change in the voltage applied to the charging plug after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, and for determining that a fault has occurred in the external charging device if the degree of separation between the voltage change detected by the voltage sensor after the predetermined period of time has elapsed and the estimated voltage change is greater than a predetermined value.

[0008] A vehicle drive device according to Patent Document 1 described above is a device for determining the presence or absence of abnormality of electric charging relays using an electric charging voltage of a smoothing capacitor, and thus a voltage sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a low voltage at a system voltage V1 or less is necessary.

[0009] Therefore, a voltage sensor is a sensor for performing voltage detection from a high voltage range to a low voltage range. Moreover, when the system voltage V1 is reduced, in order to detect an incomplete welding irregularity in which a voltage across contacts is high, there is a problem in that detection of an infinitesimal voltage is necessary, so that an influence of insulation resistance is caused; and also, there is a problem in that an expensive voltage sensor is necessary to detect a wide range of changes in voltage and to generate an isolated output for inputting it to a central processing unit (CPU).

[0010] In addition, no supporting description with a reason for performing an electric charging realization investigation a second time when a ground-based electric power source is connected to an electric charging terminal is provided here; however, in such a case, there is a problem that an influence is caused due to a pulsating change in an output voltage of a ground-based electric charging power source device, so that it is necessary to change a setting value of the system voltage V1 for welding determination.

[0011] An electric charging control device of a vehicle according to Patent Document 2 described above is arranged to determine an abnormality of an electric charging circuit, which includes the presence or absence of a disconnection abnormality of positive and negative power source lines from an electric energy storage device passing through to relays that are electric charging contact elements, and the presence or absence of a welding or disconnection abnormality of the relays. No supporting description is introduced with a reason for performing an examination of the relays of the electric charging circuit a second time when a ground-based electric power source is connected, nor is any description given for performing an abnormality determination of the system main relays.

[0012] In addition, when electric charging from the ground-based electric power source is completed, and in a case where welding irregularity of the relays of the electric charging circuit has been caused at the time of opening the relays thereof, there is a problem in that a charged and exposed portion is caused when unplugging or detaching the electric charging connector is carried out.

[0013] Moreover, it is arranged so that an actual value of detection voltages each generated by voltage sensors is inputted to a control unit, and digitally compared with predetermined threshold values ​​Vth1, Vth2 and the like is performed, so that a problem arises in that when values ​​of the threshold values ​​Vth1 and Vth2 are set at low voltages suitable for welding detection, an expensive and high-precision sensor is required for each voltage sensor. Summary of the invention

[0014] The present invention has been directed to solving the problems described above, and an object of the invention is to provide an electric charging control device mounted in a charging passage for charging a main battery mounted on board a vehicle from a ground-based electric power source through a series-connected circuit formed of an electric charging terminal, electric charging contact elements, and main electric contact element, for detecting an occurrence of welding irregularity of an electric charging contact element(s) or that of a main electric contact element(s) by using an inexpensive and highly accurate voltage monitoring circuit, and for preventing a charged and exposed portion from being caused at the time of detaching and attaching the electric charging terminal.

[0015] An electric charging control device according to the present invention comprises an electric charging control CPU, whose electric energy (power) is supplied from an auxiliary battery having a lower voltage than that of a main battery, for serially connecting with respect to a higher-level control device that performs centralized control of a vehicle electric power conversion device, and for constituting the vehicle electric power conversion device, which includes an inverter for supplying electric power of three-phase AC voltages to a vehicle drive motor from the main battery mounted on board a vehicle, a pair of main electrical contact elements connected between the main battery and the inverter at an upstream position thereof and a downstream position thereof, and an electric motor control device operated with respect to the inverter.and also comprises a pair of electric charging contact elements, one end of which is connected to an upstream power supply point and a downstream power supply point, respectively, which are connected to an electric charging terminal provided for an electric charging power source device that is a ground-based device, and the other end of which is an upstream center point and a downstream center point, is connected in series to the pair of main electric contact elements. The electric charging control device for executing circuit opening / closing control for at least one of the pair of main electric contact elements and / or the pair of electric charging contact elements is characterized in thatthat: the higher-level control device further comprises a higher-level control CPU for performing mutual monitoring by means of a communication circuit between the electric charging power source device, an electric motor control CPU attached to the electric motor control device, an electric charging instruction device for operating to close the circuit of the pair of electric charging contact elements, and the electric charging control CPU for operating the pair of main electrical contact elements, and for performing communication of a control signal therebetween; and the electric charging control CPU is connected to a first voltage monitoring circuit connected between the upstream power supply point and either the downstream power supply point N1 or the downstream center point, for generating a first voltage detection signal, and to a second voltage monitoring circuit,which is connected between the downstream power supply point N1 and either the upstream power supply point or the upstream midpoint, for generating a second voltage detection signal.,

[0016] And then, the electric charging control device is characterized in that: the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit generate the first voltage detection signal, which is a determination logic signal, in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage, and the second voltage detection signal, which is a determination logic signal, in response to the presence or absence of the monitored voltage, respectively, and, when the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit are connected between the upstream power supply point and the downstream power supply point, a voltage monitoring circuit is formed by providing one of the voltage monitoring circuits, or a voltage monitoring circuit is formed by a dual system by providing both voltage monitoring circuits thereof;the inverter further comprises a voltage level detection circuit for determining whether or not a main power source voltage of a high voltage is supplied from the main battery, and for generating a main voltage detection signal, which is a determination logic signal, and / or a determination voltage level detection signal by the electric motor control device and generating a voltage level detection signal thereto;the higher-level control CPU includes a control program constituting main contact element abnormality detection means executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU, a first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means executed in a state where the pair of main electrical contact elements is in a closed circuit under a condition that the electric charging terminal is not connected, and a second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means executed in a state where the pair of main electrical contact elements is in an open circuit under a condition that the electric charging terminal is connected and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device;and the main contact element abnormality detection means is means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of a main electrical contact element or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, in a non-connection state of the electric charging terminal, corresponding to a combination state of a drive instruction related to the pair of main electrical contact elements, and corresponding to a detection logic of a main voltage detection signal or a determination voltage detection signal.;

[0017] And also, the electric charging control device is characterized in that: the first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means is means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of an electric charging contact element(s) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, corresponding to a combination state of an operation instruction related to the pair of electric charging contact elements, and corresponding to a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal and that of the second voltage detection signal;the second electric-charging contact element abnormality detection means comprises either detection voltage abnormality determination means for determining whether a generated voltage of the electric-charging power source device detected by the voltage level detection circuit is within a predetermined threshold range set in advance, or means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of an electric-charging contact element(s) or a contact failure thereof on a one-to-one basis, corresponding to at least a communication state of an operation instruction related to the pair of electric-charging contact elements, and a detection logic of a main voltage detection signal, or a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal and that of the second voltage detection signal;and a terminal cover is attached to a terminal input of the electric charging terminal, and, when the terminal cover is opened and the electric charging terminal is not inserted, at least one pair of the main electrical contact elements and the electric charging contact elements is configured not to be operated to close the circuit, and is also configured to prevent an instruction to close the circuit with respect to at least the other pair when a welding irregularity exists in one of the contact elements of the pair of electric charging contact elements and the pair of main electrical contact elements.;

[0018] The electric charging control device according to the present invention is a charging control device configured to configure, with respect to a main battery mounted on board a vehicle for applying three-phase AC voltages to vehicle drive motors of the vehicle by means of main electrical contact elements and an inverter, a charging passage for electrically charging the main battery through an electric charging terminal from an electric charging power source device, which is a grounding-based device. The charging control device is arranged such that: a pair of electric charging contact elements is mounted along the charging passage;which is connected between respective positive and negative power supply terminals of the electric charging terminal and positive and negative output terminals of the main electrical contact elements; and using a voltage level detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of an intermediate voltage across the positive and negative output terminals, and using the first and / or second voltage monitoring circuits, each of which serves to detect the presence or absence of a power supply voltage across the positive and negative power supply terminals, the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of the main electrical contact elements and the electric charging contact elements, or a contact failure thereof, is determined, so that,When the terminal cover attached to the terminal input of the electric charging terminal is open and the electric charging terminal is not inserted, an operation to close the circuit of the main electrical contact elements and that of the electric charging contact elements is prevented, and also that, when a welding irregularity is present in one of the electric charging contact elements and / or the main electrical contact elements, an instruction to close the circuit with respect to at least the other is prevented.

[0019] In addition, when the electric charging power source device is connected, the presence or absence of welding irregularity of the electric charging contact elements or a contact failure is determined using a main voltage detection signal, which is a logic signal that makes low-voltage detection easy, and a first voltage detection signal and / or a second voltage detection signal; and, when the detection voltage irregularity determination means is used simultaneously, it is also arranged that the electric charging contact elements and the main electrical contact elements can be in an open circuit if a current upcoming voltage of the electric charging power source device detected by the voltage level detection circuit is irregular.

[0020] Therefore, abnormality determination of the main electrical contact elements and that of the electric charging contact elements is carried out in a state where the terminal cover is closed, so that it is possible to arrange that a charged and exposed portion is not caused when the terminal cover for attaching and detaching an electric charging terminal is released to be opened; and also the presence or absence of welding irregularity of the electric charging contact elements or that of a contact failure thereof is determined a second time when the electric charging terminal is inserted, so that by stopping an electric charging operation in such an irregular state, an effect of preventing an expansion of an abnormality occurrence routine can be achieved.

[0021] Furthermore, the abnormality determination is carried out which is essentially based on the main voltage detection signal or the determination voltage detection signal, which is a determination logic signal related to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage, and is based on the first voltage detection signal and / or the second voltage detection signal, so that there is an effect that a now regularly low state of the monitored voltage, which is a high voltage, is detected by a simple logic determination circuit, and an incomplete welding irregularity can be detected. Short description of the characters

[0022] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is an overall circuit block diagram of a vehicle electric power conversion device including an electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a basic type of voltage monitoring circuit in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a modification example of a voltage monitoring circuit in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a voltage level detection circuit and its modification example in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating disconnection detection circuits in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; paragraph Fig. 6 is an overall flowchart for explaining abnormality checking operations in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Fig. Figure 7 is a detailed flow diagram of a first processing section within the Fig. 6 shown overall flow diagram; Fig. Figure 8 is a detailed flow diagram of a second processing section within the Fig. 6 shown overall flow diagram; Fig. 9 is an overall circuit block diagram of a vehicle electric power conversion device including an electric charging control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a system diagram of an electric charging circuit in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating a voltage level detection circuit in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 12 is an overall flowchart for explaining abnormality checking operations in the electric charging control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a detailed flowchart of a first processing section within the Fig. 12 shown overall flow diagram; Fig. 14 is a detailed flow diagram of a second processing section within the Fig. 12 shown overall flow diagram. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0023] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that in each of the figures, the same reference numerals and symbols denote the same elements or corresponding elements as shown in the figures. Embodiment 1.

[0024] Below are the configurations related to Fig. 1, which is an overall circuit block diagram of a vehicle electric power conversion device including an electric charging control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0025] In Fig. 1, it is arranged such that, to the vehicle electric power conversion device 100, vehicle drive motors 200 are connected, to which electric power is supplied from a battery 300 generating a power source voltage Vaa of, for example, DC 400 V, for driving the vehicle drive motors by means of an inverter (abbreviated as "INV") 110, and also such that, to the device, by means of an apple or step-up charger of an insulated type, abbreviated as "CHG") 410, which is an auxiliary battery 400, is thereby charged from the main battery 300, so that an auxiliary power source voltage Vbb of, for example, a large DC 12 V system is generated.The apparatus is further configured to include a higher-level control device (an electrical control unit, abbreviated as an "ECU") 500 having a higher-level control CPU (processing device) 510 therein, and connecting thereto an electric charging power source device 900, which is a ground-based device. Note that when a power switch 600 of a vehicle is turned on, the auxiliary power source voltage Vbb is supplied to the higher-level control CPU 510, and thus, it is arranged to be supplied thereto by means of a stabilized power source (abbreviated as a "CVR") 540 for generating a stabilized voltage Vcc of, for example, DC 5V.

[0026] In addition, to the electric charging power source device 900, an electric charging terminal 901 is connected through power source lines 902 and a signal line 903; and the signal line 903 is a signal line through which a signal for detecting whether or not the electric charging terminal 901 is connected to an electric charging terminal input 190 on a vehicle side and for detecting whether or not a terminal cover is tightly closed, as described later, is transmitted to the upper-level control CPU 510.

[0027] The inverter (abbreviated as "INV") 110, which is a primary element of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100A, includes three pairs of upstream on / off switching devices 110u and three pairs of downstream on / off switching devices 110d, forming a three-phase full-wave bridge circuit; the vehicle drive motors (abbreviated as "M") 200, each of which is a three-phase synchronous motor, are connected to the inverter's series connection point 10; the upstream series ends of the inverter are connected to the positive electrode terminal of the main battery 300 through the upstream main contact element 130u, and the downstream series ends of the inverter are connected to the negative electrode terminal of the main battery 300 through the downstream main contact element 130d.

[0028] It is noted that the inverter 110 includes a voltage level detection circuit 160A for measuring a currently occurring voltage between a positive power source line and a negative power source line, which will be described later in Fig. 4, and also summarizes a motor current detection circuit, an on / off switching operation circuit of each of the on / off switching devices, a device abnormality detection circuit, and so on, which are not shown in the figures, an electric motor control device (abbreviated as an "MCU") 120 operated in cooperation with the inverter 110 includes an electric motor control CPU 121 for performing serial communication of control and monitoring signals between the CPU and the higher-level control device (abbreviated as "ECU") 500, and a stabilized power source 124 to which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400 to generate a stabilized voltage Vcc, which is supplied to the electric motor control CPU 121.

[0029] In addition, it is arranged that the electric motor control CPU 121 generates a control signal CNT for controlling conduction states of the upstream on / off switching devices 110u and the downstream on / off switching devices 110d by responding to an operation instruction signal from the higher-level control CPU 510, and also that, by means of a voltage level detection signal DETV generated by the voltage level detection circuit 160A, the electric motor control CPU measures a currently occurring value of a voltage between the positive power source line and the negative power source line at which the voltage is applied across the inverter 110, and reads it into a main voltage detection signal DETO generated by the voltage level detection circuit 160A, as described later, for transmitting the main voltage detection means to an electric charging control CPU 131, as described later, through the higher-level control CPU 510.

[0030] Meanwhile, an upstream electric charging contact element 190u is connected between an upstream center point P2, which is a series connection point with the upstream main contact element 130u, and an upstream power supply point P1, which is connected to a positive power source line of the electric charging power source device 900, through the electric charging terminal 901.

[0031] Similarly, a downstream electric charging contact element 190d is connected between a downstream center point N2, which is a series connection point with the downstream main contact element 130d, and a downstream power supply point N1, which is connected to a negative power source line of the electric charging power source device 900, through the electric charging terminal 901.

[0032] And then, it is arranged so that a charging coil (M1u) 135u and a charging coil (M1d) 135d of the upstream main contact element 130u and the downstream main contact element 130d can be individually operated to close the circuit of the respective contact element by means of the electric charging control CPU 131, as will be described later, and the downstream electric charging contact element 190d can individually operate to close the circuit of the respective contact element by means of an electric charging instruction device (abbreviated as an "OBC") 132, to which an instruction signal for opening / closing the circuit is transmitted from the upper control CPU 510.

[0033] An electric charging control device (abbreviated as a "BMU") 130A for performing circuit opening / closing control on the upstream main contact element 130u and the downstream main contact element 130d includes the electric charging control CPU 131 for performing serial communication of control and monitoring signals between the CPU and the upper-level control device (abbreviated as an "ECU") 500, and a stabilized power source (abbreviated as "CVR") 134 to which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400 to generate a stabilized voltage Vcc, which is supplied to the electric charging control CPU 131.

[0034] The electric charging control device 130A also includes either a first voltage monitoring circuit 140a or a second voltage monitoring circuit 140b, or both circuits, connected between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1, arranged so that the voltage monitoring circuit generates a first voltage detection signal DET1 or a second voltage detection signal DET2, which is a logic signal for detecting the presence or absence of a line-to-line voltage, depending on whether a voltage of a positive power source line and a negative power source line is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold voltage set in advance.

[0035] Also mounted in the electric charging control device 130a is a leakage current (ground fault) detection circuit (abbreviated as "LD") 133 for measuring the leakage current resistance between the upstream power supply point P1 (or the downstream power supply point N1, which may also be suitable) and the body of a vehicle; this is also arranged so that, according to the presence or absence of a leakage current abnormality, a leakage current detection signal LDET is generated, which is transmitted to the upper control CPU 510.

[0036] It may also be known that the electric charging instruction devices (abbreviated as the "OBC") 132 are remote control devices placed at positions near the upstream electric charging contact element 190u and the downstream electric charging contact element 190d; however, when the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d are placed at positions near the electric charging control device 130A, it can be assumed that the electric charging instruction devices 132 and the electric charging control device 130A are integrally formed with each other, and the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d are directly operated by the electric charging control device 130A.

[0037] Meanwhile, when the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are placed at positions remote from the electric charging control device 130A, it can be assumed that remote control devices (remote terminals) are mounted at positions in close proximity to the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d, which are operated to open / close a circuit from the superior control CPU 510 or the electric charging control CPU 131.

[0038] In addition, instead of the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a or the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b, a first voltage monitoring circuit 150a is a Fig. 3 shown voltage monitoring circuit 150 or a second voltage monitoring circuit 150b thereof, respectively, or can the voltage monitoring circuit 150 shown in Fig. 4 shown voltage detection circuit 160A can also be applied; this will be explained later in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 described.

[0039] Next, an explanation for Fig. 2, which is a circuit diagram of a basic type of voltage monitoring circuit in the electric charging control device (abbreviated as the “BMU”), which is shown in Fig. 1 is shown, for Fig. 3, which is a circuit diagram of a modification example of a voltage monitoring circuit in the Fig. 1 shown electric charging control device, for Fig. 4, which is a circuit diagram of a voltage level detection circuit and its modification example in the Fig. 1 shown electric charging control device, and for Fig. 5, which is a circuit diagram of separation detection circuits in the Fig. 1 shown electric charging control device.

[0040] In Fig. 2, the configuration of the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a and that of the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b are completely identical, so that each of the circuits is referred to collectively as a “voltage monitoring circuit 140”.

[0041] The voltage monitoring circuit 140 is connected between the upstream power supply point P1 of the electric charging port input 190 and the downstream power supply point N1 thereof.

[0042] And then, the upstream power supply point P1 is connected to the positive electrode terminal of the main battery 300 through the upstream electric charging contact element 190u (abbreviated as an "electric upper charging contact C1") and the upstream main contact element 130u (abbreviated as an "upper main contact B1"); and the downstream power supply point N1 is connected to the negative electrode terminal of the main battery 300 through the downstream electric charging contact element 190d (abbreviated as an "electric lower charging contact C2") and the downstream main contact element 130b (abbreviated as a "lower main contact B2").

[0043] Therefore, it can be known that a monitored voltage Vxx by means of the voltage monitoring circuit 140 is either an electrical charging output voltage of the Fig. 1, which is connected through the electric charging terminal 901, or a value at which a total voltage drop ΔV due to a contact resistance of each of the upper charging electrical contact C1, the lower charging electrical contact C2, the upper main contact B1, and the lower main contact B2 is subtracted from a main power source voltage Vaa when the upper and lower contacts are in a closed circuit.

[0044] In the voltage monitoring circuit 140, the monitored voltage Vxx is applied thereto through a plurality of current limiting resistors 141, a reflux blocking diode 142, and a Zener diode or a constant-voltage diode 143, which are connected in series with each other; a light-emitting diode of a receiving photocoupler 146 is connected in parallel to the constant-voltage diode 143 through a series resistor 144; and a smoothing capacitor 145 is connected in parallel with the light-emitting diode or the constant-voltage diode 143. Then, a stabilized voltage Vcc is applied to an output transistor of the receiving photocoupler 146 through a resistor 147; an output of the output transistor is input to the Fig. 1 as the first voltage detection signal DET1 or the second voltage detection signal D T2.

[0045] It should be noted that the area marked with the dashed line in Fig. 2 is a circuit when the smoothing capacitor 145 is connected in parallel with respect to the constant voltage diode 143.

[0046] For example, when a main power source voltage Vaa = 400 V, and when checking for the presence or absence of welding in the lower main contact B2 under the condition that the upper electrical charging contact C1, the lower electrical charging contact C2, and the upper main contact B1 are operated to be in a closed circuit, and under the condition that the lower skin contact B2 is not operated to be in a closed circuit, a monitored voltage Vxx = 0 V if the lower skin contact B2 is normally in an open circuit; otherwise, if an irregular completed welding is caused, the monitored voltage Vxx = 400 V.

[0047] Here, as a presupposed condition 1, a case is assumed where a monitored voltage Vxx = 40 V, for example, due to incomplete welding; when an operating electric current of the receiving photocoupler 146 is 10 mA to detect incomplete welding, and an operating voltage of the constant-voltage diode 143 thereof is 10 V, a combined resistance of the current limiting resistors 141 becomes (40 V - 10 V) / 10 mA = 3 kΩ, and losses caused in the voltage monitoring circuit 140 become (40 V × 10 mA) = 0.4 W in total.

[0048] And then, when the lower skin contact B2 is fully welded, at a monitoring voltage Vxx = 400 V, and if the combined resistance of the current limiting resistors 141 is equal to 3 kOhm, an electric current flowing through the current limiting resistors 141 becomes (400 V -10 V) / 3 kOhm = 130 mA, so that total losses caused in the voltage monitoring circuit 140 become (400 V × 130 mA) = 53 W.

[0049] Meanwhile, as a prerequisite condition 2, assume a case where a monitored voltage Vxx = 310 V due to, for example, incomplete welding; when the electric operating current of the receiving photocoupler 146 is 10 mA to detect incomplete welding, and the operating voltage of the constant-voltage diode 143 thereof is 10 V, the combined resistance of the current-limiting resistors 141 becomes (310 V - 10 V) / 10 mA = 30 kΩ, and total losses generated in the voltage monitoring circuit 140 become (310 V × 10 mA) = 3.1 W.

[0050] And then, when the lower skin contact B2 is fully welded at the monitored voltage Vxx = 400 V, and if the combined resistance of the current limiting resistors 141 is equal to 30 kOhm, an electric current flowing through the current limiting resistors 141 becomes equal to (400 V - 10 V) / 30 kOhm = 13 mA, so that total losses caused in the voltage monitoring circuit 140 become equal to (400 V × 13 mA) = 5.2 W.

[0051] Therefore, this results in that under the assumed condition 1, total losses of the voltage monitoring circuit 140 become excessively large, and that under the assumed condition 2, a condition of incomplete welding, which can be detected, remains unresolved.

[0052] To cope with this, it is arranged so that according to a modification example from Fig. 3 the problems in a case of Fig. 2 can be solved in one performance.

[0053] In Fig. 3, the reference numerals 140 in Fig. 2 is replaced by that of 150 here. The symbol of the receiving photocoupler 146 is also changed to a receiving photocoupler 156a, and the symbol of the resistor 147 is changed to a pull-up resistor 157a; and the circuit indicated by the dashed line is a circuit when a smoothing capacitor 155 is connected in parallel with a Zener diode or a constant-voltage diode 153.

[0054] In addition, a transmission photocoupler 156b is added, and each of a light-emitting diode of the reception photocoupler 156a, the smoothing capacitor 155, and the constant voltage diode 153, which are parallel to each other, are connected in series toward a downstream connection point.

[0055] And then this is arranged so that a light emitting diode of the transmission photocoupler 156b is driven by a first reference signal REF1 or a second reference signal REF2 through an operating resistor 157b; and this is arranged so that the Fig. 1 generates the first reference signal REF1 or the second reference signal REF2 in a time period for performing an abnormality check on the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2, or the upper skin contact B1 and the lower skin contact B2, and the voltage monitoring circuit 150 is in a non-operational state at all other time periods.

[0056] In Fig. 4, which is a circuit diagram showing a voltage level detection circuit and its modification example of the one shown in Fig. 1, the voltage level detection circuit 160A includes a receiving photocoupler 166a for generating the main voltage detection signal DET0 in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage Vxx, which is a line-to-line voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2, and an intermediate receiving photocoupler 166b for generating the voltage level detection signal DETV, which is a pulse signal of a frequency in response to a currently occurring value of a monitored voltage Vxx.

[0057] In a voltage level detection circuit 160B, which is a modification example of the voltage level detection circuit 160A, the receiving photocoupler 166a is canceled; and is arranged such that the electric motor control CPU 121, which has received the voltage level detection signal DETV, generates a determination voltage detection signal DET00, which is a logic signal in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage Vxx, and that of the determination voltage detection signal DET00 becomes an alternative signal of the main voltage detection signal DET00, in which the receiving photocoupler 166a generates.

[0058] In the voltage level detection circuits 160A and 160B, it is arranged that a monitored voltage Vxx is applied through a plurality of current limiting resistors 161 and a reflux blocking diode 162 to a constant voltage circuit 163 comprising a Zener diode or a constant voltage diode 163a, and that the constant voltage circuit 163 generates a stable power source voltage Vd by means of a voltage control transistor 163b, and the voltage is applied to a comparison circuit 169a.

[0059] It is noted that a base power supply resistor 163c is connected between a collector terminal and a base terminal of the voltage control transistor 163b, which is an NPN junction type transistor, and the base terminal is connected to the downstream center point N2 through the constant voltage diode 163a.With the plurality of current limiting resistors 161 and the reflux blocking diode 162, an intermediate control transistor 169b, an electric charging coil 164, and a smoothing capacitor 165 are also connected in series, across which a monitored voltage Vxx is applied; and the smoothing capacitor 165 is connected in parallel to a series-connected circuit formed of a light-emitting diode, the receiving photocoupler 166a, and an electric discharging resistor 168a, and is connected in parallel to negative-feedback voltage wedge resistors 168b and 168c, and then, a stabilized voltage Vcc is applied to an output transistor of the receiving photocoupler 166a through a pull-up resistor 167a; an output of the output transistor is input through the electric motor control CPU 121 to the electric charging control CPU 131 as the main voltage detection signal DET0.However, it can be assumed that the main voltage detection signal DET0 is directly input to the electric charging control CPU 131. Moreover, in a case of the voltage level detection circuit 160B, the receiving photocoupler 166a is not necessary, so a short-circuit connection is formed at the dashed line portion.

[0060] A voltage generated after the negative feedback voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168c and a voltage generated after the voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168e with respect to the stable power source voltage Vd are applied to comparison input terminals of the comparison circuit 169a described above; and are temporarily controlled by the comparison output of the intermediate control transistor 169b, and negative feedback control is performed such that an electric charging voltage Vx of the smoothing capacitor 165 is proportional in relationship to the stable power source voltage Vd. However, since a positive feedback resistor 168f is connected between the output terminal of the comparison circuit 169a and its positive side input terminal, it is also arranged that the electric charging voltage V x of the smoothing capacitor 165 changes in pulses in response to the positive feedback voltage.

[0061] This is arranged so that a light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photo coupling element 166b is connected between an intermediate connection point of the intermediate control transistor 169b and the electric charging coil 164 and a negative power source line which is the negative side of the constant voltage switching circuit 163, and that the light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photo coupling element 166b is operated to initiate light in an off-time period of the intermediate control transistor 169b such that an induced current of the electric charging coil 164 flows back through the smoothing capacitor 165.

[0062] And then, the stabilized voltage Vcc is applied to an output transistor of the intermediate receiving photo coupling element 166b through a pool of resistor 167b; an output of the output transistor is input to the electric motor control CPU 121 as the voltage level detection signal DETV.

[0063] Therefore, the output transistor of the intermediate receiving photo coupling element 166b is only momentarily turned on in a discharging time period of the electric charging coil 164 due to turning off the intermediate control transistor 169b, so that a logic level is set to "L"; and in a time period for recharging the smoothing capacitor 165 when the intermediate control transistor 169b is turned on, the logic level is set to "H".

[0064] Since a required time period for recharging the smoothing capacitor 165, which changes in pulses according to the positive feedback resistor 168f, is inversely proportional to a value of a monitored voltage Vxx, this results in an intermediate frequency of the output transistor of the intermediate receiving photo coupling element 266b being approximately proportional to a value of the monitored voltage Vxx.

[0065] It should be noted that the intermediate control transistor 169b constantly performs a switching operation by a timer circuit not shown in the figures, and an off-time period is implemented such that an intermediate period in which an on-time period and the off-time period are combined becomes constant as a whole; as a result, when pulse width modulation (PWM) control is performed such that an electric charging voltage Vx of the smoothing capacitor 165 attains a constant value, this results in a line duty, which is a ratio of the on-time period to an intermediate period, being inversely proportional to a monitored voltage Vxx.

[0066] Therefore, the voltage level detection signal DETV is a signal which is either a pulse signal of a frequency proportional to a value of a monitored voltage Vxx, just as in Fig. 4, or a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, in which the line duty is inversely proportional to the value of a monitored voltage Vxx, by modifying part of the circuit.

[0067] Next is Fig. 5, which is a circuit diagram showing separation detection circuits in an electric charging control device 130A comprising A, which is designated as 130A in Fig. 1, a positive-side input terminal of the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a is connected to an upstream power supply point P1 through a first upstream connection line P1a, and a negative-side input terminal thereof is also connected to a downstream power supply point N1 through a first downstream connection line N1a. In addition, a positive-side input terminal of the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b is connected to the upstream power supply point P1 through a second upstream connection line P1b, and a negative-side input terminal thereof is also connected to the downstream power supply point N1 through a second downstream connection line N1b.Then, one end of the first upstream connection line P1a and one end of the second upstream connection line P1B are input to a first comparison circuit 183a through positive-side connection capacitors 181a and 182a, respectively; and likewise, one end of the first downstream connection line N1a and one end of the second downstream connection line N1b are input to a second comparison circuit 183b through negative-side connection capacitors 181b and 182b, respectively. Furthermore, a first high-frequency signal voltage V a and a second high-frequency signal voltage V b are applied to a positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit 183a and that of the second comparison circuit 183b through a first oscillator circuit 180a and a second oscillator circuit 180b, respectively.

[0068] With respect to a short-circuit state in which, under the normal operating conditions, the positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit 183a and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other through the connecting capacitor 181a, the first upstream connecting line P1a, the second upstream connecting line P1b, and the positive-side connecting capacitor 182a, a first disconnection detection signal DISa is generated when the short-circuit state between the positive-side input terminal and the negative-side input terminal is decoupled because the first upstream connecting line P1a or the second upstream connecting line P1b is disconnected.

[0069] This is arranged so that with respect to a short-circuit state in which, under the normal operating conditions, the positive-side input terminal of the second comparison circuit 183b and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other through the negative-side connecting capacitor 181b, the first downstream connecting line N1a, the second downstream connecting line N1b, and the negative-side connecting capacitor 182b, a second disconnection detection signal DISb is generated when the short-circuit state between the positive-side input terminal and the negative-side input terminal is decoupled because the first downstream connecting line N1a or the second downstream connecting line N1b is disconnected.

[0070] The electric charging control device 130A, which is described as Fig. 1 to Fig. 5, according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the functional effects and operations.

[0071] First, Fig. 1, which is the overall circuit block diagram, the higher-level control CPU 510 is powered up using the stabilized power source 540 of the higher-level control device 500 when the power switch 600 is turned on. From this time on, control operations continue until storage processing of memory-stored information is executed, since self-holding power supply is performed in a timely manner even when the power switch 600 is turned off. At the same time, electric power is also supplied to the stabilized power source 124 of the electric motor control device 120 and the stabilized power source 134 of the electric charging control device 130A, so that the electric motor control CPU 121 and the electric charging control CPU 131 start control operations.

[0072] It should be noted that these stabilized power sources 540, 124, and 134 are each arranged such that electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400, for example, a DC12V system, which is electrically isolated from the main battery 300, and that the auxiliary battery 400 is charged by the main battery 300 to achieve a predetermined auxiliary power source voltage Vbb by means of the upstream main contact element 130u and the downstream main contact element 130d and the insulated-type step-up charger 410.

[0073] This is arranged such that, via the inverter 110, a main power source voltage Vaa, for example, of DC 400 V is applied by the main battery 300 through the upstream main contact element 130u and the downstream main contact element 130d, and that electric power is supplied to the vehicle drive motors 200 by means of a three-phase full wave bridge circuit formed of the upstream on / off switching devices 110u of the three pairs and the downstream on / off switching devices 110d thereof.

[0074] And then, it is arranged so that the electric motor control device 120 controls the inverter 110 to perform power operation by applying three-phase pseudo-sine voltages of a variable frequency with respect to the vehicle drive motors 200, and also that the electric motor control device performs regenerative electric charging control with respect to the main battery 300 by using the vehicle drive motors 200 as electric power generators at the times of idling of a vehicle and operation on a downslope thereof.

[0075] In addition to an electric current detection sensor for use in an electric current controller (not shown in figures), the voltage level detection circuit 160A is mounted in the inverter 110 for generating the voltage level detection signal DETV and the main voltage detection signal DET0, which are input to the electric motor control CPU 121; this is arranged so that the electric motor control CPU 121 detects a regenerative electric charging voltage in response to the voltage level detection signal DETV, and controls the regenerative electric charging voltage so that it does not become excessively large.

[0076] It is noted that when driving control of the vehicle driving motors 200 and their electric power generation control are carried out, the main electric contact elements 130u and 130d are closed in a circuit, and the upstream on / off switching devices 110u and the downstream on / off switching devices 110d are operated to turn on / off;However, the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d are opened in a circuit. Meanwhile, when electric charging is performed on the main battery using the power source device 900, it is arranged so that the upstream and downstream main contact elements 130u and 130d and the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d are all operated in a closed circuit, and the upstream on / off switching devices 110u and the downstream on / off switching devices 110d are discharged and turned off.However, before an actual electric charging operation is started, an abnormality check is carried out, which is mainly composed of a check for the presence or absence of a welding irregularity on the main electric contact elements 130u and 130d and on the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d, so that countermeasures can be taken so that a high-voltage charged element is not exposed when a terminal cover 904 for use in electric charging (see ; Fig. 10) is released to be opened.

[0077] Fig. Fig. 6 is an overall flowchart for explaining irregularity checking operations in Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 1; the explanation is Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 Refer more closely for the functional effects and operations.

[0078] In Fig. 6, step S601 is an operation start step of the abnormality checking operations.

[0079] The subsequent step S601 is a determination processing step in which a determination is made as to whether the terminal cover 904 (see Fig. 10) attached to a body side of the vehicle for connecting the electric charging connector 901 is closed and locked; a determination of "Yes" is made if the connector cover is closed and locked, so that the processing proceeds to step S602; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made if it is enabled to be opened, so that the processing proceeds to step S631a.

[0080] Step S602 is a process step which issues a closing circuit instruction to the upper main contact B1 in Fig. 2, and outputs an opening circuit instruction to the lower main contact B2 therein; and the processing proceeds to step S603.

[0081] Step S603a is a determination processing step in which, if the main voltage detecting means DET0 indicates precedence (superiority), and if a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S603b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence of an indication of inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S604.

[0082] In step S603b, although the lower main contact B2 is to be opened in the circuit in step S602, the main voltage detection signal DET0 detects the presence of a voltage at step S603a, thereby making a determination on the lower main contact B2 being welded, which is stored in the memory; and the processing proceeds to step S604.

[0083] Step S604 is a processing step in which an opening circuit instruction is sent to the upper main contact B1 in Fig. 2 is output, and a closing circuit instruction is output to the lower main contact B2 therein; and the processing proceeds to step S605a.

[0084] Step S605a is a determination processing step in which, when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates precedence (superiority) and a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S605b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence of an indication of inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S606.

[0085] In step S605b, although the upper main contact b1 is to be opened in the circuit in step S604, the main voltage detection signal DET0 detects the presence of a voltage in step S605a, thereby making a determination on the upper main contact B1 being welded, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S606.

[0086] Step S606 is a processing step in which closing circuit instructions are sent together to the upper main contact B1 in Fig. 2 and the lower main contact B2 are output therein, and the processing proceeds to step S607.

[0087] Step S607 is a determination processing step in which, when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates priority (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "H" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S26; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence, indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S608. The processing block S620 is a processing block that becomes a first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means, and thus its explanation will be explained precisely with reference to Fig. 7 is given.

[0088] In step S608, although the upper main contact B1 and the lower main contact B2 are to be closed together in the circuit in step S606, the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates inferiority and detects the presence of a voltage in step S607, whereby a determination is made to at least one of the upper main contact B1 and the lower main contact B2 that it has a contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to the processing block S600 40.

[0089] A processing block S600 9, which reaches from step S602 to step S608 described above, is a processing block which becomes a main contact element irregularity detection means 609; at steps S603 a, S600 5a and S607, respectively, the above-mentioned with reference to Fig. 4 described determination voltage detection signal DET0 0 can be used to determine the presence or absence of an intermediate point voltage instead of the main voltage detection signal DE 10 0.

[0090] Step S631a is executed when the terminal cover 904 is released to be opened as a determination result by means of the processing block S600 9, since a determination has been made that there is no abnormality in the upper main contact b1 and the lower main contact P2, and when the determination of “No” has been made in step S601; in this step S631a, opening circuit instructions are issued together to the upper main contact b1 in Fig. 2 and the lower main contact B2 therein, and thereafter the processing proceeds to step S631b.

[0091] Step S631b is a process step in which the electric charging terminal 901 is connected to the electric charging terminal input 190, and the electric charging power source device 900 generates an output voltage by an instruction from the upper-level control device 500.

[0092] The following step S631 c is a process step which is confirmed when the Fig. 4 shown voltage level detection circuit 160A here instead of at least the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a in Fig. 1 and / or the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b therein; it is arranged so that, by monitoring the voltage level detection signal DE CV generated by the voltage level detection circuit 160A, in response to the output voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 generated in step S631b, it executes determination processing as to whether or not the generated voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 is within a voltage of an appropriate voltage range, and the processing proceeds to the processing block S600 30.

[0093] It is noted that the processing block S600 30 is a processing block which becomes a second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means, and thus its explanation will be made precisely with reference to Fig. 8 is given.

[0094] Processing block S640, which is executed subsequent to processing block S620, S630, or step S608, is a processing block that becomes detection circuit abnormality determination means. In detection circuit abnormality determination means 640, it is arranged so that: in a first power supply state in which the electric charging terminal 901 is not inserted and the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are closed in a circuit, or in a second power supply state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are opened in a circuit and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device 900, after the electric charging terminal 901 is inserted, determination results at three points are compared with each other using the main voltage detection signal DET0.and the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, each relating to the presence or absence of a detection voltage at respective points corresponding to the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d, which are opened together in the circuit and then closed in the circuit; and also a determination is made such that an abnormality is caused in the voltage level detection circuit 160a when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 each indicate the presence of a voltage detection and when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates the absence of a voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the absence of a voltage detection and when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates the presence of a voltage detection.

[0095] At an operation end step S610 following the processing block S46, it is arranged that another control program is executed and that the processing returns for a second time to the operation start step S600 within a predetermined grace period when an abnormality detection period continues.

[0096] Fig. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the operations of the processing block S26 within the overall flowchart of Fig. 6 shows.

[0097] In Fig. 7, step S620a is an operation start step of the subroutine program.

[0098] The subsequent step S622 is a process step in which a closing circuit instruction is sent to the upper charging electrical contacts C1 in Fig. 2 is output, and an opening circuit instruction is output to the lower charging electrical contact C2 therein; and the processing proceeds to step S623a.

[0099] Step S623a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicate priority (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point B1 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S623b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S624.

[0100] At step S623b, although the lower charging electrical contact C2 is to be opened in the circuit at step S622, the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 detect the presence of a voltage at step S623a, thereby making a determination on the lower charging electrical contact C2 being energized, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S624.

[0101] Step S624 is a process step in which an opening circuit instruction is applied to the upper charging electrical contacts C1 in Fig. 2 is output, and a closing circuit instruction is output to the lower charging electrical contact C2 data; and the processing proceeds to step S625a.

[0102] Step S625a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicate precedence (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S625b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S626a.

[0103] In step S625b, although the upper charging electrical contact C1 is to be opened in the circuit in step S624, the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicate precedence and detect the presence of a voltage in step S625a, thereby making a determination on the upper charging electrical contact C1 being energized, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S626a.

[0104] Step S626a is a process step in which closing circuit instructions are input together into the electrical upper charging contact C1 in Fig. 2 and the electrical lower charging contacts C2; and the processing proceeds to step S627a.

[0105] Step S627a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicate priority (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S628a; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S627b.

[0106] In step S627b, although the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 are to be closed together in the circuit in steps S606 and S60a, the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicate precedence and detect the absence of a voltage in step S627a, whereby a determination is made on at least one of the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 having a contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S628b.

[0107] Step S628a is a determination process step in which the fault current detection circuit 133 mounted in the electric charging control device 130A measures a fault current resistance between a high-voltage circuit system consisting mainly of the main battery 300 and the inverter 110 and the vehicle body; a determination of "Yes" is made when the insulation resistance is a predetermined value or more, so that the processing proceeds to step S628b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made when there is sufficient insulation resistance, so that the processing proceeds to step S626b.

[0108] In step S628b, an occurrence of a fault current abnormality state is stored in a memory and the processing proceeds to step S626b.

[0109] In step S626b, the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2, both of which are operated to be closed in the circuit in step S626a, are discharged to be opened in the circuit, and thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S629c.

[0110] In step S629c, the presence or absence of an abnormality occurrence routine in the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190b and 190d and their category and the presence or absence of a leakage current abnormality are stored in a memory, the processing proceeds to an operation end step S26b of the subroutine program; thus, this is arranged so that the processing goes to the processing block S46 of Fig. 6 continues.

[0111] Fig. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the operations of the processing block S630 within the overall flowchart of Fig. 6 shows.

[0112] In Fig. 8, step S630a is an operation start step of the subroutine program.

[0113] The subsequent step S632 is a process step in which a closing circuit instruction is sent to the upper charging electrical contact C1 in Fig. 2 is output, and an opening circuit instruction is output to the lower charging electrical contact C2 data; and the processing proceeds to step S633a.

[0114] Step S633a is a determination process step in which, when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates precedence (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S633b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S634.

[0115] In step S633b, although the lower charging electrical contact C2 is to be opened in the circuit in step S632, the main voltage detection signal DET0 detects the presence of a voltage in step S633a, thereby making a determination on the lower charging electrical contact C2 being energized, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S634.

[0116] Step S634 is a process step in which an opening circuit instructions to the electrical upper charging contact C1 in Fig. 2 is output, and a closing circuit instruction is output to the lower charging electrical contact C2; and the processing proceeds to step S635a.

[0117] Step S635a is a determination process step in which, when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates precedence (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S635b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without reception of a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S636a.

[0118] In step S635b, although the upper charging electrical contact C1 is to be opened in the circuit in step S634, the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates precedence and detects the presence of voltage in step S635a, thereby making a determination on the upper charging electrical contact C1 being energized, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S636a.

[0119] Step S636a is a process step in which closing circuit instructions are sent together to the electrical upper charging contact C1 in Fig. 2 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 therein, and the processing proceeds to step S637a.

[0120] Step S637a is a determination process step in which, when the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates precedence (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S638a; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S637b.

[0121] In step S637b, although the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 are to be closed in circuit together in step S636a, the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates precedence and detects the presence of a voltage in step S637a, whereby a determination is made on at least one of the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 that it has a contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S638b.

[0122] Step S638a is a determination process step in which the leakage current detection circuit 133 mounted in the electric charging control device 130A measures a leakage current resistance between a high-voltage circuit system consisting essentially of the inverter 110 and the vehicle body; a determination of "Yes" is made when the insulation resistance is not a predetermined value or more, so that the processing proceeds to step S638b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made when sufficient insulation resistance exists, so that the processing proceeds to step S639a.

[0123] In step S638b, an occurrence of a leakage current abnormality is stored in a memory, and the processing proceeds to step S639b as described later.

[0124] Step S639a is a determination process step in which a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 is measured using the voltage level detection circuit S160A mounted in the inverter 110 in an open-circuit state of the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d, and a determination is made as to whether or not the generated voltage is a voltage within a suitable range; a determination of "Yes" is made when there is an abnormality, so that the processing proceeds to step S639b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made when there is no abnormality, so that the processing proceeds to step S636b.

[0125] It should be understood that step S639a is a process step which becomes a detection voltage abnormality determination means, which is made a process step to perform an alternative function with respect to step S631c of Fig. 6 when the first voltage monitoring circuit or the second voltage monitoring circuit is a circuit which does not have a voltage detection function.

[0126] In step S639b, an occurrence of an electric charging voltage abnormality is stored in a memory, and the processing proceeds to step S636b.

[0127] In step S636b, the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2, which are each to be closed in the circuit in step S636a, are discharged together to open them in the circuit, and then the processing proceeds to step S639c.

[0128] In step S639c, the presence or absence of an abnormality occurrence in the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190u and 190b and their category and the presence or absence of a leakage current abnormality are stored in a memory, and the processing proceeds to an operation end step S630b of the subroutine program; subsequently, this is arranged so that the processing continues with the processing block S640 of Fig. 6 continues.

[0129] As is clear from the above explanation, the electric charging control device 130A according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes the electric charging control CPU 131, whose electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400, which has a lower voltage than that of the main battery 300 and is electrically isolated from each other between these low and high voltages, for serial connection with respect to the higher-level control device 500, which performs centralized control of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100A, and for constituting a portion of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100A, including the inverter 110 for supplying electric power of the three-phase AC voltages to the vehicle drive motors 200 through the main battery 300 mounted on board a vehicle, the pair of main electric contact elements 130u and 130d,which are connected between the main battery 300 and the inverter 110 at their upstream position and the downstream position, and the electric motor control device 120 which is operated with respect to the inverter 110, and also additionally comprises the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d, each of which has one end connected with respect to the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1, which are connected to the electric charging terminal 901 provided for the electric charging power source device 900, which is a ground-based device, and the other ends of which are the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2,connected in series with the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d. The electric charging control device 130A for performing open / close circuit control on at least the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d and / or the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d is characterized in that the higher-level control device 500 further comprises the higher-level control CPU 510 for performing mutual monitoring via a serial communication circuit between the electric charging power source device 900, the electric motor control CPU 121, attached to the electric motor control device 120,the electric charging instruction device 132 for operating to close the circuit of the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d, and the electric charging control CPU 131 for operating the pair of main electric contact elements 130u and 130d and for executing communication of a control signal therebetween.

[0130] And then, the electric charging control CPU 131 is connected to the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a connected between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply line N1 for generating the first voltage detection signal DET1 isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof, and to the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b connected therebetween for generating the second voltage detection signal DET2 isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof;The first voltage monitoring circuit 140a and the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b are configured as a voltage monitoring circuit of a dual system for generating the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, respectively, each of which is a determination logic signal in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage; the inverter 110 further includes the voltage level detection circuit 160A for determining whether or not a main power source voltage Vaa of a high voltage is applied from the main battery 300, and for generating a main voltage detection signal DET0, which is a determination logic signal isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof, and / or a determination voltage detection signal DET00 by the electric motor control CPU 121 by generating the voltage level detection signal DET V thereto;and the upper-level control CPU 510 includes a control program constituting the main contact element abnormality detection means 609, which is executed together with the electric charging control CPU 131, a first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means which is executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are closed in a circuit under a condition that the electric charging terminal 901 is not connected, and the second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means which is executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are opened in a circuit under a condition that the electric charging terminal 901 is connected and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device 900.

[0131] And similarly, the main contact element irregularity detection means 609 is a means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of these main electrical contact elements or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, in a non-connection state of the electric charging terminal 901, belonging to a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d, and belonging to a detection logic of the main voltage detection signal DET0 or the determination voltage detection signal DET00;the first electric-charging contact element abnormality detection means is means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of these electric-charging contact elements or a contact lot thereof on a one-to-one basis, corresponding to a combination state of an operation instruction with respect to the pair of electric-charging contact elements 190u and 190d, and corresponding to a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal DET1 and that of the second voltage detection signal DET2;the second electric-charging contact element abnormality detection means comprises either the detected voltage abnormality determination means 639a for determining whether or not a generated voltage of the electric-charging power source device 900 detected by the voltage level detection circuit 160A is within a preset predetermined threshold range, or means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of these electric-charging contact elements or a contact thereof on a one-to-one basis, belonging to at least a combination state of an operation instruction related to the pair of electric-charging contact elements 190u and 190d, and a detection logic of the main voltage detection signal DET0;and is arranged such that the terminal cover 904 is attached to the electric charging terminal inlet 190 of the electric charging terminal 901, and that when the terminal cover 904 is opened and the electric charging terminal 901 is not inserted, at least one pair of the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d and / or the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190b are configured not to be operated for circuit closure, and are also configured to prevent a circuit closure instruction from being issued with respect to at least the other pair when a welding irregularity exists in one contact element of the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d and the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d.;

[0132] The voltage monitoring circuit redundantly includes the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a, which is connected between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply stream N1, for generating the first voltage detection signal DET1, and the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b, which is connected therebetween, for generating the second voltage detection signal DET2; and the higher-level control CPU 510 further includes a control program, which is the detection circuit abnormality determination means 640, which is executed together with the electric charging control CPU 131, wherein the detection circuit abnormality determination means 640 compares, in a first power supply state in which the electric charging terminal 901 is not inserted and the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are closed in circuit, or in a second power supply state,in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are opened in a circuit and electrical power is supplied from the electric charging power source device 900 after the electric charging connector 901 is inserted; the determination result at three points with each other by means of the main voltage detection signal DET0 and the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, each of which corresponds to the presence or absence of a detection voltage from corresponding points, corresponding to the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d which are opened together in a circuit and then closed in the circuit; the detection circuit abnormality determination means determines that the voltage level detection circuit 160A is irregular;when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the presence of voltage detection and the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates the absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the absence of voltage detection and the main voltage detection signal DET0 indicates the presence of voltage detection; and a closure locking device is operated to prevent the terminal cover 904 from being opened, or at least an opening caution notification means is provided, when a welding irregularity of the main electrical contact element(s) 130u and / or 130d is detected by the main contact element irregularity detection means 609.

[0133] As described above, the detection circuit abnormality determination means is included, in which, in the first power supply state by a main battery in which the electric charging terminal is not inserted, or in the second power supply state by an electric charging power source device in which the electric charging terminal is inserted, the presence or absence of abnormality of the voltage level detection circuit itself is determined by a majority vote using the main voltage detection signal and the first and second voltage detection signals.

[0134] Therefore, in response to the presence or absence of an abnormality in the voltage level detection circuit itself, there is a feature for enabling generation of at least one abnormality notification signal. Additionally, when a corresponding determination of the presence or absence of the detection voltages by means of the first and second voltage detection signals does not coincide with each other, there is a feature that allows a determination to be easily made as to whether the first or second voltage monitoring circuit itself is abnormal.

[0135] A positive-side input terminal of the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a is connected to the upstream power supply point P1 through a first upstream connection line P1a, and a negative-side input terminal thereof is connected to the downstream power supply current N1 through a first downstream connection line N1a; a positive-side input terminal of the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b is connected to the upstream power supply point P1 through a second upstream connection line P1b, and a negative-side input terminal thereof is connected to the downstream power supply current N1 through a second downstream connection line N1b;One end of the first upstream connection line P1a and one end of the second upstream connection line P1b are input to the first comparison circuit 183a through positive-side connection capacitors 181a and 182a, respectively; one end of the first downstream connection line N1a and one end of the second downstream connection line N1b are input to the second comparison circuit 183b through negative-side connection capacitors 181b and 182b, respectively; and a first high-frequency signal voltage V a and a second high-frequency signal voltage V b are applied to a positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit 183a and that of the second comparison circuit 183b by means of the first oscillator circuit 180a and the second oscillator circuit 180b, respectively.

[0136] And then, it is arranged so that with respect to a short-circuit state in which, under the normal operating conditions, the positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit 183a and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other, by the positive-side connecting capacitor 181a, the first upstream connecting line P1a, the second upstream connecting line P1b, and the positive-side connecting capacitor 182a, a first disconnection detection signal DI Sa is generated when the short-circuit state between the positive-side input terminal and the negative-side input terminal is decoupled because the first upstream connecting line P1a or the second upstream connecting line P1b is disconnected;and with respect to a short-circuit state in which, under normal operating conditions, the positive-side input terminal of the second comparison circuit 183b and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other, through the negative-side connecting capacitor 181b, the first downstream connecting line N1a, the second downstream connecting line N1b, and the negative-side connecting capacitor 182b, a second disconnection detection signal DI Sb is generated when the short-circuit state between the positive-side input terminal and the negative-side input terminal is decoupled, whether the first downstream connecting line N1a or the second downstream connecting line N1b is disconnected.;

[0137] As described above, by the positive side connection capacitor and the negative side connection capacitor being connected by radio or high frequencies by means of the first and second oscillator circuits, they are arranged so that the presence or absence of a disconnection abnormality is determined using the first and second comparison circuits on the first and second upstream connection lines and on the first and second downstream connection lines with respect to the positive side and negative side input terminals of the first and second voltage monitoring circuits, respectively.

[0138] Therefore, by separating a high-voltage circuit system from a low-voltage circuit system by means of the connection capacitor and a positive side and a negative side, a separation irregularity of wiring of a high-voltage system can be easily detected and output to the low-voltage circuit system, so that there is also a feature that the reliability of determination of the first and second voltage monitoring circuits can be improved.

[0139] The voltage level detection circuit 160A is used instead of at least one of the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a and the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b; a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 is detected by the voltage level detection circuit 160A when the electric charging connector 901 is inserted; and a voltage abnormality determination processing means 631c is included, in which, in cooperation with the upper-level control CPU 510 and the electric charging control CPU 131, a determination is made as to whether or not a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 is within a range of a predetermined setting threshold voltage set in advance, and a closed-circuit operation of the pair of electric charging contact elements 190a and 190d is prohibited when the generated voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 is irregular.

[0140] As described above, a voltage level detection circuit is used for at least the first and / or second voltage monitoring circuit; accordingly, it is arranged to determine the presence or absence of an abnormality in a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device, so that, at the time of an abnormality, a closed circuit operation of the pair of electric charging contact elements is prevented.

[0141] Therefore, there is a feature for preventing an extension of an abnormality from occurring due to an abnormality of the electric charging power source device, or preventing a setting malfunction of a target setting voltage or the like related to the electric charging power source device.

[0142] The first and second voltage monitoring circuits 140a and 140b each include the plurality of series-connected current-limiting resistors 141 and the constant-voltage diode 143 connected between a positive power source line being monitored and a negative power source line being monitored, and are arranged such that a light-emitting diode of the receiving photocoupling element 146 is connected through the series resistor 144 and in parallel with respect to the constant-voltage diode 143, and the smoothing capacitor 145 is connected in parallel to the light-emitting diode or to the constant-voltage diode 143, and that one of the first voltage detection signal de T1 and the second voltage detection signal DED 2 is generated by a transistor output of the receiving photocoupling element 146.

[0143] As described above, it is arranged that by using the receiving photocoupling element driven by a lowered voltage obtained from a monitored voltage, by means of the current limiting value of the donors and the constant voltage diode, the first and second voltage monitoring circuits receive the first and second voltage detection signals, respectively, which are each isolated between a high voltage side on the circuit and a low voltage side thereof.

[0144] Therefore, when a main power source voltage Vaa = 400 V, and when a monitored voltage Vxx is reduced due to an incomplete strip in one of the contact elements, it is appropriate to determine, in order to detect a case where the monitored voltage is reduced to, for example, DC 40 V, a value(s) of the current limiting value end such that an electrical operation current of the receiving photocoupling element (for example, Id = 10 mA) is obtained at that time.

[0145] However, in order to detect such a low voltage condition, the current limiting resistors take a small value, so there is a problem in determining what is a normal state of each contact element, since power consumption becomes high when the DC 400V is applied; to detect a contact condition(s) of the contacts, it is appropriate to try to flow a large test current as much as possible for accurate abnormality detection.

[0146] It is noted that this type of voltage monitoring circuit, which is a basic type, is a circuit which is also applicable to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2.

[0147] The voltage level detection circuit 160A is a circuit for generating one of the main voltage detection signal DET0, the first voltage detection signal DET1, the second voltage detection signal DET2, and the voltage level detection signal DETV; and the voltage level detection signal DETV is isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof, and is formed as an analog signal voltage proportional to a detected voltage, or as a pulse signal voltage whose pulse duty or pulse period changes in response to a detected voltage.

[0148] As described above, it is arranged that the voltage level detection circuit generates the voltage level detection signal DED CV which is either an analog signal voltage or a pulse signal voltage, which is input to the electric motor control CPU or the electric charger control CPU, so that the voltage level detection circuit itself generates the main voltage detection signal DETO, the first voltage detection signal DET1 or the second voltage detection signal DET2.Therefore, the voltage level detection circuit is connected between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point, so that there is a feature to enable monitoring of an output voltage of the main battery or the electric charging power source device; Meanwhile, when the voltage level detection circuit is mounted between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1, there is a feature to enable monitoring of whether an output voltage of the electric charging power source device is normal or not before the pair of electric charging contact elements and the pair of main electric contact elements are closed in a circuit.

[0149] It should be noted that the detection voltage detection signal DET00 is used by means of the microprocessor, which is because a welding detection is suitable to use as a power source the main battery, which generates a stable main power source voltage Vaa; in this case, there is a feature that the receiving photocoupling element is not necessary.

[0150] However, when abnormality detection of the electric charging contact elements is carried out by means of a ground-based electric charging power source device in a state where the main electric contact elements in a circuit are opened, it is desirable to use the main voltage detection signal DED T0 in which influence thereon by pulsation of changes in the power source voltage is difficult to be caused.

[0151] The voltage level detection circuit 160A includes the comparison circuit 169a to which a stable power source voltage Vt is applied, by means of a plurality of series-connected current-limiting resistors 161 and the constant-voltage circuit 163 including the constant-voltage diode 163a, which are connected between a positive power source line to be detected and a negative power source line thereof, and the voltage level detection circuit is also configured such that: the intermediate control transistor 169b, the electric charging coil 164, and the smoothing capacitor 165, which are connected in series with each other, and the plurality of current-limiting resistors 161 also connected in series therewith, are connected between the positive power source line and the negative power source line;the smoothing capacitor 165 is connected in parallel to a series-connected circuit formed by the light-emitting diode of the receiving photocoupling element 166a and the electrical discharge resistor 168a, and is connected in parallel to negative feedback voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168c; a voltage generated downstream of the negative feedback voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168c and a voltage generated downstream of the voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168e are applied to comparison input terminals of the comparison circuit 169a with respect to a stable power source voltage Vb, so that the intermediate control transistor 169b is temporarily controlled by means of its comparison output, and negative feedback control is performed so that an electric charging voltage Vx of the smoothing capacitor 165 is proportional in relationship to the stable power source voltage Vb;and a light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photocoupling element 166b is connected between an intermediate control transistor 169b and the electric charging coil 164 and a negative power source line, which is the negative side of the constant voltage circuit 163;

[0152] And then, the light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photocopier element 166b is a light-emitting diode that generates, in an off-time period of the intermediate control transistor 169b, the voltage level detection signal DED CV, which is a pulse signal voltage such that an induced current of the electric charging coil 164 flows back through the smoothing capacitor 165; this is arranged so that a conduction period, which is a ratio of an on-time period of the voltage level detection signal DTV to an on / off switching period thereof, changes in response to a currently occurring voltage between the positive power source line and the negative power source line, and in contrast, the main voltage detection signal DED T0 is generated by a twentieth output of the receiving photocopier element 166a.

[0153] As described above, the voltage level detection circuit includes the receiving photocoupling element that generates the main voltage detection signal by responding to the presence or absence of a detected voltage, which is a voltage between the positive power source line and the negative power source line, and the intermediate receiving photocoupling element that performs an intermediate operation by means of a conduction network or a conduction period that responds in response to the magnitude of a detected voltage.

[0154] Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a constant voltage power source circuit(s) isolated at its circuit to obtain a voltage detection signal(s), so there is a feature that the voltage level detection signal can be generated with a favorable configuration.

[0155] Moreover, an electric power is supplied to the receiving photocoupling element for generating the main voltage detection signal DETO through the intermediate control transistor at all times, so that there is a feature that a power consumption of the current limiting resistors can be restrained by increasing a conduction voltage of the intermediate control transistor when a monitored voltage Vxx is small and by decreasing the conduction voltage of the intermediate control transistor when the monitored voltage Vxx is high. Embodiment 2.

[0156] The explanation is given in more detail below, with reference to different points about the device in Fig. 1 is focused on the configurations related to Fig. 9, which is an overall circuit block diagram of an electric charging control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0157] It should be noted that in each of the figures, the same reference numerals and symbols denote the same elements or the corresponding elements shown in the figures; the vehicle electric power conversion device 100A is changed to a vehicle electric power conversion device 100B, and the electric charging control device 130A to an electric charging control device 130B; and thus, the classification of embodiments is indicated by letters of the alphabet at the end of the reference numerals.

[0158] In Fig. 9 is a first different point yu the elements from Fig. 9 of which Fig. 1, that in the electric charging control device 130B in Fig. 9, the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b are used, each of which is an energy saving type compared to those of Fig. 1; as already described above, the explanation of the details of the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b will be made with reference to Fig. 3 given.

[0159] As a second different point, an arrangement is formed in which the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b are connected in a messed-up manner with respect to each other between corresponding input and output terminals of the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d; this will be described later with reference to Fig. 10 described.

[0160] A third different point is that for a voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) mounted in the inverter 110, a voltage level detection circuit of a simple type is used, which only generates the voltage level detection signal DED CV and does not generate the main voltage detection signal DED T0. For the voltage level detection circuit 160B, the explanation has already been given with reference to Fig. 4; and for the voltage level detection circuit 170, the explanation will be given later with reference to Fig. 11 given.

[0161] Based on these different points, the explanation of the general outlines in their entirety with reference to the overall block diagram of Fig. 9 given.

[0162] This is arranged so that the vehicle drive motors 200 are connected to the vehicle electric power conversion device 100B, to which electric power is supplied by the main battery 300 for operation via the inverter 110, and also that the auxiliary battery 400 is connected to the device via the boost charger 410, which is thereby charged by the main battery 300. The device is further arranged to include the upper-level control device 500 having the upper-level control CPU 510 therein, and to connect the electric charging power source device 900, which is a grounding-based device.

[0163] In addition, the electric charging power source device 900 is connected to the electric charging port 901 through the power source lines 902 and the signal line 903; and the signal line 903 is a signal line through which the upper control CPU 510 transmits a signal for detecting whether or not the electric charging port 901 is connected to the electric charging port input 190 on a vehicle side, and for detecting whether a port cover is closed and locked, which will be described later.

[0164] The inverter 110, which is a primary component of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100B, includes the upstream on / off switching devices 110u and the downstream on / off switching devices 110b; and the upstream series ends of the inverter are connected to the positive electrode terminal of the main battery 300 through the upstream main contact element 130u, and the downstream series ends of the inverter are connected to the negative electrode terminal of the main battery 300 through the downstream main contact element 130d.

[0165] The electric motor control device 120 (MCU), which operates together with the inverter 110, includes the electric motor control CPU 121 for performing serial communication of control and monitoring signals between the CPU and the higher-level control device 500, and the stabilized power source 124 into which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400 to generate a stabilized voltage Vcc, which is supplied to the electric motor control system CPU 121.

[0166] The upstream electric charging contact element 190u is connected between an upstream center point P2, which is a series connection point with the upstream main contact element 130u, and an upstream power supply point P1, which is connected to a positive power source line of the electric charging power source device 900 through the electric charging terminal 901.

[0167] Similarly, the downstream electric charging contact element 190d is connected between a downstream center point N2, which is a series connection point with the downstream main contact element 130d, and a downstream power supply point N1, which is connected to a negative power source line of the electric charging power source device 900 through the electric charging terminal 901.

[0168] This is arranged so that the charging coils M1u and M1d of the upstream and downstream main contact elements 130u and 130d can be individually operated to close the respective contact elements in the circuit by means of the electric charging control CPU 131, and the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d can be individually operated to close the respective contact elements in the circuit by means of the electric charging instruction device 132 to which an opening circuit / closing circuit instruction signal is transmitted from the upper control CPU 510.

[0169] The electric charging control device 130B for performing open-circuit / close-circuit control on the main electric contact elements 130u and 130d includes the electric charging control CPU 131 for performing serial communication of control and monitoring signals between the CPU and the higher-level control device 500 and the stabilized power source 134 into which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400 to generate a stabilized voltage Vcc, which is supplied to the electric charging control CPU 131.

[0170] The electric charging control device 130B also includes the first voltage monitoring circuit 150k connected between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream midpoint N2, and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b connected between the upstream midpoint P2 and the downstream power supply point N1, arranged so that the voltage monitoring circuit generates the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, each being a logic signal for detecting the presence or absence of a line-to-line voltage depending on whether a voltage between a positive power source line and a negative power source line is a preset predetermined threshold voltage or more.

[0171] In the electric charging control device 130B, the leakage current detection circuit 133 is also provided for measuring the leakage current resistance between the upstream power supply point P1 (or the downstream power supply point N1, which may also be suitable) and the vehicle body; this is arranged so that, according to the presence or absence of a leakage current abnormality, the leakage current detection signal LDET is generated, which is transmitted to the upper control CPU 510.

[0172] It may be known that the electric charging instruction devices 132 are remote terminals (remote connectors) placed at positions near the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190b; however, when the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d are placed at positions near the electric charging control device 130B, it can be assumed that the electric charging instruction devices 132 and the electric charging control device 130B are integrally formed with each other, and the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d are directly operated by the electric charging control device 130B.

[0173] Meanwhile, when the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are placed at positions remote from the electric charging control device 130B, it can be assumed that remote control devices are mounted at positions immediately near the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130b, which are operated to open / close the circuit by the upper control CPU 510 or the electric charging control CPU 131.

[0174] In addition, instead of the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a or the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b, the first voltage monitoring circuit 140a or the second voltage monitoring circuit 140b described above in Fig. 2 are applicable, respectively, or the voltage level detection circuit 160A described above in Fig. 4 may be applicable for this purpose.

[0175] Next, a description for Fig. 10 which is a system diagram of an electric charging circuit for the device in Fig. 9 is.

[0176] In Fig. 10, the ground-based power source connected electric charging power source device 900 is mainly composed of an electric charging control circuit 910 for generating an electric charging output voltage Vch with respect to the main battery 300 mounted on board a vehicle.

[0177] The electric charging control circuit 910 is a circuit that connects the higher-level control device 500 therebetween through a serial signal line and generates a control output so as to achieve not more than a maximum output voltage and a maximum charging current instructed in accordance with the occurrence of an electric charging instruction, so that generation of an output voltage is stopped under the condition that a minimum charging current instructed or less is reached or that a predetermined charging time has elapsed, thereby completing the electric charging.

[0178] It is noted that the electric charging terminal 901 is connected to output portions of the electric charging control circuit 910 through a device-side electrical contact element on the upstream side (abbreviated as a “device upper contact A1”) and a device-side electrical contact element on the downstream side (abbreviated as a “device lower contact A2”).

[0179] The connector cover 904 is mounted on the electric charging connector input 190 on one side of the vehicle; the connector cover is arranged such that a closure detection switch 905 generates a closure circuit signal when the connector cover 904 is closed and locked.

[0180] To the terminal cover 904, a locking device is added which is not shown in the figures, and when it is in a state of "opening prohibited", the terminal cover 904 is arranged so that it is not released to be opened.

[0181] The first voltage monitoring circuit (abbreviated as "V1") 150a and the second voltage monitoring circuit (abbreviated as "V2") 150b are connected in a crossed manner with respect to each other such that the first voltage monitoring circuit monitors a line-to-line voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream midpoint N2, and the second voltage monitoring circuit monitors a line-to-line voltage between the upstream midpoint P2 and the downstream power supply N1.

[0182] Therefore, if the comparison with a case from Fig. 2, a high voltage due to the main battery 300 does not result in the generation of the electrical line terminal input 190, as in the case of Fig. 2, by issuing an opening circuit instruction to all contacts even if there is a welding irregularity in either of the upper charging electrical contact C1 and / or the lower skin contact B1, and moreover there is a welding irregularity in either the lower charging electrical contact C2 and the lower skin contact B2.

[0183] However, in one case Fig. 10, the upstream center point P2 and the downstream power supply point N1 are connected by the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b, and the downstream center point N2 and the upstream power supply point P1 are connected by the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a, a high voltage due to the main battery 300 results in being generated at the electric charging terminal input 190 if a sweat irregularity is caused in the upper skin contact B1 and / or the lower skin contact B2; and therefore, in this case, it is necessary to prevent the terminal cover 904 from being released to be opened.

[0184] However, in the case of Fig. 10, as later in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, there is a feature that an abnormality inspection period at the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 is simplified, and a check time is shortened.

[0185] Next, an explanation of Fig. 11, which is a circuit diagram showing the voltage level detection circuit 170 of Fig. 9 shows.

[0186] In Fig. 11, the voltage level detection circuit 170 includes a plurality of upstream voltage dividing resistors 171, 171 and a downstream voltage dividing resistor 172 connected between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2; the downstream center point N2 is indicated by a suitable and virtual high-voltage ground GNDH.

[0187] The positive side input terminal of an optical isolated amplifier 174 is connected to the upstream end of the downstream voltage dividing resistor 172 through an input resistor 173, and the negative side input terminal is connected to the high voltage ground GNDH together with the downstream end of the downstream voltage dividing resistor 172.

[0188] The optical isolated amplifier 174 converts a received analog input voltage into a first digital value of 10 bits, for example; a first digital signal of these values ​​is isolated by 10 photocouplers, and is converted into a second digital signal of the same 10 bits in an output portion of these photocouplers; and an analog signal recovered from the second digital signal by a digital-to-analog (DA) conversion circuit is input to the electric motor control CPU 121 as the voltage level detection signal DETV.

[0189] Therefore, it is arranged so that the analog signal obtained is a highly accurate signal to a 0.1% degree, and also that in preferable environments where pulsating voltage, which is a factor for noise misoperation, is not generated, since the inverter 110 is not operated, when an abnormality check(s) of the contact elements is carried out, the electric motor controller CPU 121 compares with an initial setting numeric value, which is a preset predetermined determination threshold, and generates the determination voltage detection signal DET0 0, which is a logic signal indicating the presence or absence of a monitored voltage.

[0190] It should be noted that an isolated power source voltage Vdd for driving the optical isolated amplifier 174 is electrically isolated by an isolation power source circuit 176; the isolation power source circuit 176 functions as an isolation transformer through which electrical power is continuously supplied, through an intermediate on / off switching device 175, from a stabilized voltage Vcc generated by the stabilized power source 124.

[0191] As described above, such an expensive and high-precision voltage level detection circuit 170 is a circuit for performing high-precision motor control, and thus, by effectively using the circuit, it is arranged so that the determination voltage detection signal DET00 for performing an abnormality check(s) of the contact elements can be obtained.

[0192] The following are the functional effects and operations of the electric charging control device 130B, which is shown in Fig. 9 shown, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0193] First, in Fig. 9, which shows the overall circuit block diagram, the electric charging control device 130B is integrally formed as a portion of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100B.It is arranged such that: the vehicle electric power conversion device 100B includes the inverter 110 and the electric motor control device 120; the inverter 110 measures an intermediate voltage through the voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) connected between the upstream center point P2, which is a connection point of the upstream main contact element 130u and the upstream electric charging contact element 190u, and the downstream center point N2, which is a connection point of the downstream main contact element 130D and the downstream electric charging contact element 190D; and the inverter generates the voltage level detection signal DETV, which is a pulse signal or an analog signal, which is input to the electric motor control CPU 121, so that the electric motor control CPU 121 generates the determination voltage detection signal DET00.

[0194] In addition, it is arranged that in the electric charging control device 130B, the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a connected between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream midpoint N2 generates the first voltage detection signal DET1 in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage, and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b connected between the upstream midpoint P2 and the downstream power supply point N1 generates the second voltage detection signal DET2 in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage.

[0195] Fig. 12 is an overall flowchart for explaining abnormality checking operations of the device in Fig. 9; the explanation is given with reference to Fig. 9 given, Fig. 10 Fig. 11 will explain in more detail the functional effects of the and operations.

[0196] In Fig. 12, the step numbers in this figure are the step numbers of the 600 in Fig. 6, which are described above, are replaced by those of 900. Except for the following different points, the elements or sections are equivalent or similar to those in the case of Fig. 6; thus, the explanation for the same elements or sections is omitted.

[0197] A first different point is a point at which step S631 c in Fig. 6 is omitted; this is because the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a in Fig. 9 and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b therein does not include the function of generating the voltage level detection signal DETV.

[0198] A second different point is a point where a processing block S920 and a processing block S930 are formed instead of the processing block S620 from Fig. 6 and the processing block S630 of it is exactly as in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 shown respectively.

[0199] A processing block S940, which is executed subsequent to the processing block S920, S930, or step S908, is a processing block which becomes a detection circuit abnormality determination means.In the detection circuit abnormality determination means 940, it is arranged so that: in a first power supply state in which the electric charging terminal 901 is not inserted and the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130b are in a closed circuit, or in a second power supply state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are opened in a circuit and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device 900 after the electric charging terminal 901 is inserted, determination results at 3 points are compared with each other by means of the determination voltage detection signal DET00 and the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, which respectively correspond to the presence or absence of a detection voltage of the respective one.Relate to the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190b being opened together in the circuit and then closed in the circuit; and also, a determination is made such that an abnormality is caused in the voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the presence of voltage detection and when the determination voltage detection signal DET00 indicates the absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the absence of voltage detection and when the determination voltage detection signal DET00 indicates the presence of voltage detection.

[0200] At an operation end step S910 following the processing block S940, it is arranged that another control program is executed, and that the processing returns a second time to an operation start step S900 within a predetermined limit time when an abnormality detection period continues.

[0201] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the operations of the processing block S920 within the overall flowchart of Fig. 12 shows.

[0202] In Fig. 13, step S920a is an operation start step of the subroutine program.

[0203] The subsequent step S922 is a process step in which opening circuit instructions are sent together to the upper charging electrical contact C1 in Fig. 10 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 therein, and the processing proceeds to step S923a.

[0204] Step S923a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 indicates precedence (superiority) and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S923b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S924a.

[0205] In step S903 and 20b, the upper charging electrical contact C1 is welded, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S924a.

[0206] Step S964a is a determination process step in which, when the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S924b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S925a.

[0207] In step S924b, the lower charging electrical contact C2 is welded, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S925a.

[0208] Step S925a is a process step in which closing circuit instructions are sent together to the electrical upper charging contact C1 in Fig. 10 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 therein, and the processing proceeds to step S926a.

[0209] Step S906 20a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S927a; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S906 20b.

[0210] In step S906 20b, the electrical upper charging contact C1 is in contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S927a.

[0211] Step S927a is a determination process step in which, when the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S928a; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S927b.

[0212] In step S927b, the lower charging electrical contact C2 is in contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S928a.

[0213] Step S928a is a determination process step in which the fault current detection circuit 133 mounted in the electric charging control device 130B measures a fault current resistance between a bias circuit system consisting essentially of the main battery 300 and the inverter 110 and the vehicle body; a determination of "Yes" is made when the insulation resistance is not a predetermined value or more, so that the processing proceeds to step S928b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made when there is sufficient insulation resistance, so that the processing proceeds to step S925b.

[0214] In step S928b, an occurrence of a fault current abnormality state is stored in a memory, and the processing proceeds to step S926b.

[0215] In step S900 25b, the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2, which are each operated to be closed in the circuit in step S925a, are discharged, then opened in the circuit, and thereafter the processing proceeds to step S929c.

[0216] In step S929c, the presence or absence of an abnormality occurrence in the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d and their category and the presence or absence of a leakage current abnormality are stored in a memory, the processing proceeds to the operation end step S929b of the subroutine program; consequently, the processing is arranged to continue with the process podcast 940 from Fig. 12 continues.

[0217] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the operations of the processing block S930 within the overall flowchart of Fig. 12 shows.

[0218] In Fig. 14, step S930a is an operation start step of the subroutine program.

[0219] The following step S932 is a process step in which opening circuit instructions are sent together to the upper charging electrical contact C1 in Fig. 10 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 therein, and the processing proceeds to step S933a.

[0220] Step S933a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S933b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S934a.

[0221] In step S933b, the lower charging electrical contact C2 is welded, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S934a.

[0222] Step S934a is a determination process step in which, when the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S934b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S935a.

[0223] In step S934b, the upper charging electrical contact C1 is welded, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S935.

[0224] The step S9 35a is a process step in which closing circuit instructions are sent together to the electrical upper charging contact C1 in Fig. 10 and the lower charging electrical contact C2 therein, and the processing proceeds to step S936a.

[0225] Step S936a is a determination process step in which, when the first voltage detection signal DET1 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream center point N2 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S937a; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S936b.

[0226] In step S39b, the lower charging electrical contact C2 is in contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S937a.

[0227] Step S937a is a determination process step in which, when the second voltage detection signal DET2 indicates superiority and when a monitored voltage between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream power supply point N1 is a predetermined value or more, a determination of "=Yes" is made due to the presence of the received voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S938a; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made due to the absence indicating inferiority without receiving a voltage, so that the processing proceeds to step S937b.

[0228] In step S937b, the electrical upper charging contact C1 is in contact failure, which is stored in a memory; and the processing proceeds to step S938a.

[0229] Step S938a is a determination process step in which the fault current detection circuit 133, which is arranged in the electric charging control device 130B, measures the fault current resistance between a high-voltage circuit system, which is essentially composed of the inverter 110, and the body of the vehicle; a determination of "Yes" is made when the insulation resistance is not a predetermined value or more, so that the processing proceeds to step S938b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made when there is sufficient insulation resistance, so that the processing proceeds to step S939a.

[0230] In step S900 38b, an occurrence of a fault current abnormality state is stored in a memory, and the processing proceeds to step S939b, which will be described later.

[0231] Step S39a is a determination process step in which a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device 900 is measured using the voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) mounted in the inverter 110 in an open-circuit state of the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d, and a determination is made as to whether or not the generated voltage is a voltage within a suitable range; a determination of "Yes" is made if there is an abnormality, so that the processing proceeds to step S939b; and otherwise, a determination of "No" is made if there is no abnormality, so that the processing proceeds to step S935b.

[0232] It should be understood that step S939a is a process step which becomes a detection voltage abnormality determination means.

[0233] In step S39b, an occurrence of an electric charging voltage abnormality is stored in a memory, and the processing proceeds to step S135b.

[0234] In step S935b, the upper charging electrical contact C1 and the lower charging electrical contact C2, which are each operated to be closed in the circuit in step S935a, are discharged to be opened in the circuit, and thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S939c.

[0235] In step S939c, the presence or absence of an abnormality occurrence in the upstream and downstream electric charging contact elements 190u and 190b and their category and the presence or absence of a leakage current abnormality are stored in a memory, the processing proceeds to an operation end step S39b of the subroutine program; consequently, this is arranged so that the processing continues with the processing block S49 of Fig. 12 continues.

[0236] It is clear from the above explanation that, as a voltage monitoring circuit that generates a determination logic output as to whether a monitored voltage is a predetermined value or more, it is possible to use the first voltage monitoring circuits 140a and 150a, or the second voltage monitoring circuits 140b and 150b, and it is possible to use the voltage level detection circuit 160A having the main voltage detection signal DET0; however, even with the voltage level detection circuit 160B or 170 for only generating the voltage level detection signal DETV, it is also possible to determine the determination voltage detection signal DET00 by performing the comparison with a predetermined numerical value in the electric motor control CPU 121 or the electric charging control CPU 131.

[0237] In addition, there are 160A in the voltage level detection circuit Fig. 4, when the intermediate receiving photocoupler 166b is removed, and the production of the voltage level detection signal DETV is withdrawn from service, a feature for enabling significant limitation of power consumption for obtaining the main voltage detection signal DET00 by means of the receiving photocoupler 266a; Such a circuit can be used as the first voltage monitoring circuit and / or the second voltage monitoring circuit.

[0238] As is clear from the above explanation, the electric charging control device 130B according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention includes the electric charging control CPU 131, whose electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 400, which has a lower voltage than that of the main battery 300 and is electrically isolated between these low and high voltages, for serially connecting with respect to the higher-level control device 500, which is a centralized control of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100B, and for constituting a portion of the vehicle electric power conversion device 100B, including the inverter 110 for supplying electric power of three-phase AC voltages to the vehicle drive motors 200 through the main battery 300 mounted on board a vehicle, the pair of main electric contact elements 130u and 130d,which are connected between the main battery 300 and the inverter 110 at their upstream position and the downstream position, and the electric motor control device 120 which is operated with respect to the inverter 110, and also additionally comprises the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d, one end of which is connected with respect to the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream power supply point N1, respectively, which are connected to the electric charging terminal 901 provided for the electric charging power source device 900, which is a ground-based device, and the other end of which is the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2,are connected in series to the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d. The electric charging control device 130B for performing an opening / closing circuit control on the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d and / or the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d is characterized in that the higher-level control device 500 and further the higher-level control CPU 510 for performing mutual monitoring by means of a serial communication circuit between the electric charging power source device 900, the electric motor control CPU 121 attached to the electric motor control device 120, the electric charging instruction device 132 for operating to close in a circuit the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d, and the electric charging control CPU 131 for operating the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d,and for carrying out communication of a control signal therebetween.,

[0239] And then, the electric charging control CPU 131 is connected to the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a connected between the upstream power supply point B1 and the downstream center point N2, for generating the first voltage detection signal DET1 isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof, and to the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b connected between the downstream power supply point N1 and the upstream center point P2, for generating the second voltage detection signal DET2 isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof;The first voltage monitoring circuit 150a and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b generate the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, respectively, which are each a determination logic signal, in response to the presence or absence of a monitored voltage; the inverter 110 further includes the voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) for determining whether or not a main power source voltage Vaa of a high voltage is applied from the main battery 300, and for generating the determination code voltage detection signal DE00 through the electric motor control CPU 121 by generating thereto the voltage level detection signal DETV, which is isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof;and the upper-level control CPU 110 includes a control program composed of a main contact element abnormality detection means 909 executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU 131, a first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means 920 executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are closed in circuit, in a state that the electric charging terminal 901 is not connected, and a second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means 930 executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d are open in circuit, in a state that the electric charging terminal 901 is connected and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device 900.

[0240] And similarly, the main contact element irregularity detection means 909 is a means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of these main electrical contact elements or a contact failure thereof on a one-to-one basis, in a non-connection state of the electric charging terminal 901, which corresponds to a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d and corresponds to the determination voltage detection signal DET00;the first electric-charging contact element abnormality detection means 920 is a means for discriminatingly determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of these electric-charging contact elements or a contact failure thereof on a one-to-one basis, which corresponds to a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of electric-charging contact elements 190u and 190d, and to a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2;the second electric-charging contact element abnormality detection means 930 comprises detection voltage abnormality determination means 939a for determining whether or not a generated voltage of the electric-charging power source device 900 detected by the voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) is within a predetermined threshold range, or means for discriminably determining the presence or absence of a welding irregularity of these electric-charging contact elements or a contact failure thereof on a one-to-one basis, which corresponds to a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of electric-charging contact elements 190u and 190d, and detection logic of the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2;and which is arranged such that the terminal covers 904 are attached to the electric charging terminal inlet 190 of the electric charging terminal 901, and that when the terminal cover 904 is opened and the electric charging terminal 901 is not inserted, at least one pair of the main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d and / or the electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d is configured not to be operated to close a circuit, and is also configured to prevent a closing circuit instruction with respect to at least the other pair when there is a welding irregularity in one contact element of the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d and the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130b.;

[0241] The voltage monitoring circuit includes the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a, which is connected between the upstream power supply point P1 and the downstream center point N2 in a crossed manner with respect to the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b, for generating the first voltage detection signal DET1, and the second voltage monitoring circuit 150b, which is connected between the downstream power supply point N1 and the upstream center point B2 in a crossed manner with respect to the first voltage monitoring circuit 150a, for generating the second voltage detection signal DET2; the higher-level control CPU 510 further includes a control program, which is the detection circuit abnormality determination means 940, which is executed together with the electric charging control CPU 131, and is arranged so thatthat the detection circuit abnormality determination means 940, in a first power supply state in which the electric charging terminal 901 is not inserted and the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d in the circuit is closed, or in a second power supply state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements 130u and 130d in the circuit is open and electrical power is supplied from the electric charging power source device 900 after the electric charging terminal 901 is inserted, compares determination results at three points with each other by means of the determination voltage detection signal DET00 and the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2, which respectively relate to the presence or absence of a detection voltage at the respective points corresponding to the pair of electric charging contact elements 190u and 190d,which are opened together in the circuit and then closed in the circuit.,

[0242] And similarly, the detection circuit abnormality determining means determines that the voltage level detection circuit 160B (or 170) is irregular when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the presence of voltage detection and when the determination voltage detection signal DET00 indicates the absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal DET1 and the second voltage detection signal DET2 both indicate the absence of voltage detection and when the determination voltage detection signal DET00 indicates the presence of voltage detection;and a locking device is operated to prevent the terminal cover 904 from being released to be opened, or at least an opening caution notification means is provided when a welding irregularity of the main electrical contact element(s) 130u and / or the electric charging contact element(s) 190u and / or 190d is detected by the main contact element irregularity detection means 909, or by the first electric charging contact element irregularity detection means 920, respectively.;

[0243] As described above, the detection circuit abnormality determination means is included, in which, in the first power supply state by a main battery in which the electric charging terminal is not inserted, or in the second power supply state by an electric charging power source device in which the electric charging terminal is inserted, the presence or absence of abnormality of the voltage level detection circuit itself is determined by a majority logic using the voltage level detection signal and the first and second voltage detection signals.

[0244] Therefore, by responding to the presence or absence of an abnormality of the voltage level detection circuit itself, there is a feature that it is possible to generate at least an abnormality notification signal.

[0245] In addition, the first and second voltage monitoring circuits are connected in the crossed manner with respect to each other on the upstream sides of the pair of electric charging contact elements and on the downstream sides thereof, whereby there is a feature that the abnormality determination of the process of the electric charging contact elements can be simplified.

[0246] The first and second voltage monitoring circuits 150a and 150b each include a plurality of series-connected current limiters 151, the constant-voltage diode 153, and the transmitting photocoupler 156b connected between a positive power source line subject to monitoring and a negative power source line subject thereto, and are arranged such that: a light-emitting diode of the receiving photocoupler 156a is connected through a series resistor 154 and in parallel with respect to the constant-voltage diode 153, and the smoothing capacitor 155 is connected in parallel to the light-emitting diode or the constant-voltage diode 153;The transmitting photocoupler 156b is operated to be turned on by a first reference signal R F1 or a second reference signal R EF 2 , which the electric charging control CPU 131 generates when voltage monitoring is performed thereby; and the first voltage detection signal DET1 or the second voltage detection signal DET2 is generated by a transistor output of the receiving photocoupler 156a.

[0247] As described above, it is arranged that, by using the receiving photocoupler driven by a reduced voltage obtained from a monitored voltage, by means of the current limiting resistors and the constant voltage diode, the first and second voltage monitoring circuits receive the corresponding first and second voltage detection signals, which are each isolated between a high voltage side of a circuit and a low voltage side thereof; and arranged so that the reduced voltage is generated by responding to a reference signal which the transmitting photocoupler generates when the voltage monitoring is performed.

[0248] Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a constant voltage power source circuit(s) which is isolated, at its circuit for obtaining a voltage detection signal(s), and a comparison amplifier circuit of an isolated type therefor, and it is possible to obtain the first and second voltage detection signals for which, respectively, similarly to the case of Fig. 2, a determination logic signal is generated with a favorable configuration in such a manner that a detected voltage reaches a predetermined low voltage or more; and as a further feature, power consumption caused by the current limiting resistors and the constant voltage diode can be limited.

[0249] It is noted that this type of voltage monitoring circuit, which is a power saving type, is a circuit which is also applicable to an embodiment 1 and an embodiment 2.

[0250] The voltage level detection circuit 160B or 170 is a circuit for generating only the voltage level detection signal DETV, which is input to the electric motor control CPU 121. The electric motor control CPU 121 generates digital data of a currently occurring value of a detected voltage, so that the presence or absence of the detected voltage is determined by comparing the digital data with a predetermined threshold value set in advance, and the determination voltage detection signal DET00 is obtained; and the voltage level detection signal DETV is isolated between a high voltage thereof and a low voltage thereof, and is formed as an analog signal voltage proportional to a detected voltage, or as a pulse signal voltage, a duty or a pulse period of which changes in response to a detected voltage.

[0251] As described above, it is arranged that the voltage level detection circuit generates the voltage level detection signal DETV which is either an analog signal voltage or a pulse signal voltage, which is input to the electric motor control CPU or the electric charging control CPU, and that the electric motor control CPU generates the determination voltage detection signal DET00 which responds to the presence or absence of a detected voltage.

[0252] Therefore, the voltage level detection circuit is connected between the upstream center point P2 and the downstream center point N2, so that there is a feature for enabling to monitor an output voltage of the main battery or that of the electric charging power source device is used in common.

[0253] It should be noted that the determination voltage detection signal DET00 is used by means of the microprocessor, which is because welding determination is suitable by using, as a power source, the main battery which generates a stable main power source voltage Vaa; in this case, there is a feature that the receiving photocoupler is not necessary.

[0254] However, when abnormality detection of the charging electric contact element is performed by means of a ground-based charging electric power source device in a state where the main electric contact elements in a circuit are opened, it is desirable to use the main voltage detection signal DET0 in which an influence thereon is difficult to be caused by pulsating changes in the power source voltage.

[0255] The voltage level detection circuit 160 MB, in comparison, comprises the circuit 169a to which a stable power source voltage Vd is applied by means of the plurality of current limiting resistors 161 connected in series, and the constant voltage measuring circuit 163 comprising the constant voltage diode 163a connected between a positive power source line subject to detection and a negative power source line thereto, and the voltage level detection circuit is also configured such that: the intermediate control transistor 169b, the electric charging coil 164, and the smoothing capacitor 165 are connected in series with each other, and the plurality of current limiting resistors 161 are also connected in series therebetween, are connected between the positive power source line and the negative power source line;The smoothing capacitor 165 is connected in parallel with the electric discharge resistor 168a and in parallel with negative feedback voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168c; a voltage generated downstream of the negative feedback voltage dividing resistors 168b and 168c and a voltage generated downstream of the voltage dividing resistors 168d and 168c with respect to a stable power source voltage Vd are applied to comparison input terminals of the comparison circuit 169a, so that the intermediate control transistor 169b is temporarily controlled by means of its comparison output, and negative feedback control is performed so that an electric charging voltage Vx of the smoothing capacitor 165 is proportional in relationship to the stable power source voltage Vd;and a light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photo coupling element 166b is connected between a connection point of the intermediate control transistor 169b and the electric charging coil 164 and a negative power source line, which is the negative side of the constant voltage measuring circuit 163;

[0256] And then, the light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photocoupler 166b is a light-emitting diode that generates, in an off-time period of the intermediate control transistor 169b, the voltage level detection signal DETV, which is a pulse signal voltage, in such a manner that an induced current of the electric charging coil 164 flows back through the smoothing capacitor 165; this is arranged so that a conduction period, which is a ratio of an on-time period of the voltage level detection signal DETV, to an on / off switching period thereof changes in response to an actually occurring voltage between the positive power source line and the negative power source line.

[0257] As described above, the voltage level detection circuit of the intermediate receiving photocoupler comprises a coupling element that performs intermediate operations by means of a conduction duty or a conduction period responsive to the magnitude of a detected voltage.

[0258] Therefore, in order to obtain a voltage detection signal (signals), it is not necessary to provide a constant voltage power source circuit (circuits) which are isolated to its circuit, so that there is a feature that the voltage level detection signal DETV can be generated with a favorable configuration.

Claims

[1] An electric charging control device (130A, 130B) comprising an electric charging control CPU (131) whose electric power is supplied from an auxiliary battery (400) having a lower voltage than that of a main battery (300), for serially connecting with respect to a higher-level control device (500) which carries out centralized control of a vehicle electric power conversion device (100), and for constituting the vehicle electric power conversion device (100), comprising an inverter (110) for supplying electrical energy of three-phase alternating current voltages to a vehicle drive motor (200) from the main battery (300) mounted on board a vehicle, a pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) connected between the main battery (300) and the inverter (110) at an upstream position thereof and a downstream position thereof, and an electric motor control device (120) operated with respect to the inverter (110), and also comprising a pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190b), one end of which is connected with respect to an upstream power supply point (P1) and a downstream power supply point (N1), which are connected to an electric charging terminal (901) provided for an electric charging power source device (900) that is a grounding-based device, and the other end of which is an upstream center point (P2) and a downstream center point (N2) are connected in series with the pair of main electric contact elements (130u, 130d), the electric charging control device for performing an opening / closing circuit control on at least one pair of main electric contact elements (130u, 130d) and / or the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190b) characterized by , that: the higher-level control device (500) further comprises a higher-level control CPU (510) for performing mutual monitoring by means of a communication circuit between the electric charging power source device (900), an electric motor control CPU (121) attached to the electric motor control device (120), an electric charging instruction device (132) for operating to close in a circuit the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) and the electric charging control CPU (131) for operating the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d), and for performing communication of a control signal therebetween; the electric charging control CPU (131) is connected to a first voltage monitoring circuit (140a, 150a) connected between the upstream power supply point (P1) and either the downstream power supply point (N1) or the downstream center point (N2), for generating a first voltage detection signal (DET1), and to a second voltage monitoring circuit (140b, 150b) connected between the downstream power supply point (N1) and either the upstream power supply point (P1) or the upstream center point (P2), for generating a second voltage detection signal (DET2); the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a, 150a) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b, 150b) each generate the first voltage detection signal (DET1), which is a determination logic signal, in response to a presence or absence of a monitored voltage, and the second voltage detection signal (DET2), which is a determination logic signal, in response to a presence or absence of the monitored voltage, and, when the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a, 150a) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b, 150b) are connected between the upstream power supply point (P1) and the downstream power supply point (N1), a voltage monitoring circuit (140, 150) is formed by providing one of the voltage monitoring circuits, or a voltage monitoring circuit (140, 150) is formed from a double system is,by providing both voltage monitoring circuits therefor;, the inverter (110) further comprises a voltage level detection circuit (160A, 160B, 170) for determining whether or not a main power source voltage of a high voltage is applied from the main battery (300), and for generating a main voltage detection signal (DET0), which is a determination logic signal, and / or a determination voltage detection signal (DET00) by the electric motor control CPU (121) by generating a voltage level detection signal (DETV) thereto; the higher-level control CPU (510) comprises a control program formed by main contact element abnormality detection means (609, 909) executed together with the electric charging control CPU (131), first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (620, 920) executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130b) in a circuit is closed in a condition that the electric charging terminal (901) is not connected, and second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (630, 930) executed in a state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) in a circuit is open in a condition that the electric charging terminal (901) is connected and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device (900); the main contact element abnormality detection means (609, 909) is means for discriminably determining a presence or absence of a welding irregularity of a main electrical contact element (130u, 130d) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, in a non-connection state of the electric charging terminal (901), corresponding to a combination state of an operation instruction related to the pair of main electrical contact elements (130a, 130d), and corresponding to a detection logic of a main voltage detection signal (DET0) or a determination voltage detection signal (DET00); the first electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (620, 920) is means for discriminably determining a presence or absence of a welding irregularity of an electric charging contact element (190u, 190d) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, corresponding to a combination state of an operation instruction with respect to the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) and corresponding to a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2); the second electric charging contact element abnormality detection means (630, 930) comprises either a detection voltage abnormality determination means (639a, 939a) for determining whether a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device (900) detected by the voltage level detection circuit (160A, 160B, 170) is within a preset predetermined threshold range or not, or a means for discriminably determining a presence or absence of a welding irregularity of an electric charging contact element (190u, 190d) or a contact failure thereof on a 1-to-1 basis, corresponding to at least a combination state of an operation instruction related to the pair of electric contact elements (190u, 190d) and a detection logic of a main voltage detection signal, or a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2);and; a terminal cover (904) is attached to a terminal input (190) of the electric charging terminal (901), and, when the terminal cover (904) is opened and the electric charging terminal (901) is not inserted, at least one pair of the main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) and the electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) is configured not to be operated to close the circuit, and is also configured to prevent a closing circuit instruction with respect to at least the other pair when a welding irregularity is present in one contact element of the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) and the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d). [2] Electric charging control device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage monitoring circuit (140) comprises the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a) which is connected between the upstream power supply point (P1) 1and the downstream energy supply point (N1) 2 connected therebetween for generating the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and redundantly comprising the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b) connected therebetween for generating the second voltage detection signal (DET2); and the higher-level control CPU (510) further comprises a control program which is a detection circuit abnormality determination means (46) which is executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU (131), wherein the detection circuit abnormality determination means (46) in a first power supply state in which the electric charging terminal (901) is not inserted and the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) in the circuit is closed, or in a second power supply state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) in a circuit is open and electrical power is supplied from the electric charging power source device (900) after the electric charging terminal (901) is inserted, compares determination results at three points with each other by means of a main voltage detection signal (DET0) and the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2), each relating to a presence or absence of a detection voltage of the respective point, corresponding to the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d),which are opened together in the circuit and then closed in the circuit;, the detection circuit abnormality determination means (640) determines that the voltage level detection circuit (160A) is irregular when the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2) both indicate the presence of voltage detection and when the main voltage detection signal (DET0) indicates the absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2) both indicate the absence of voltage detection and when the main voltage detection signal (DET0) indicates the presence of voltage detection; and a locking device is operated to prevent the terminal cover (904) from being released to be opened, or at least an opening caution notification means is provided when a welding irregularity of a main electrical contact element (130u, 130b) is detected by the contact element irregularity detection means (609, 909). [3] Electric charging control device according to claim 2, wherein an input terminal of a positive side of the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a) to the upstream power supply point (P1) 3 is connected by a first upstream connection line (P1a), and also an input terminal of a negative side thereof is connected to the downstream power supply point (N1) by a first downstream connection line (N1a); a positive side input terminal of the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b) is connected to the upstream power supply point (P1) through a second upstream connection line (P1b), and also a negative side input terminal thereof is connected to the downstream power supply point (N1) through a second downstream connection line (N1b); one end of the first upstream connection line (P1a) and one end of the second upstream connection line (P1b) are input to a first comparison circuit (183a) through respective positive-side connection capacitors (181a, 182a); one end of the first downstream connection line (N1a) and one end of the second downstream connection line (N1b) are input to a second comparison circuit (183b) through respective negative side connection capacitors (181b, 182b); a first high-frequency signal voltage and a second high-frequency signal voltage are applied to a positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit (183a) and that of the second comparison circuit (183b) by means of a first oscillator circuit (180a) and a second oscillator circuit (180b), respectively; with respect to a short-circuit condition in which, under a normal operating condition, the positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit (183a) and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other, by either a positive-side connecting capacitor (181a), the first upstream connecting line (P1a), the second upstream connecting line (P1b), or the other positive-side connecting capacitor (182a), a first disconnection detection signal (DISa) is generated when the short-circuit condition between the positive-side input terminal of the first comparison circuit (183a) and the negative-side input terminal thereof is decoupled because the first upstream connecting line (P1a) or the second upstream connecting line (P1b) is disconnected; and, with respect to a short-circuit condition in which, under a normal operating condition, the positive-side input terminal of the second comparison circuit (183b) and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other, by the negative-side connecting capacitor (181b), the first downstream connecting line (N1a), the second downstream connecting line (N1b), or the other negative-side connecting capacitor (182b), a second disconnection detection signal (DISb) is generated when the short-circuit condition between the positive-side input terminal of the second comparison circuit (183b) and the negative-side input terminal thereof is decoupled because the first downstream connecting line (N1a) or the second downstream connecting line (N1b) is disconnected. [4] An electric charging control device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the voltage level detection circuit (160A) is used instead of at least the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a) and / or the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b); a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device (900) is detected by the voltage level detection circuit (160A) when the electric charging terminal (901) is inserted; and a voltage irregularity determination processing means (631c) is included, in which, in cooperation between the upper control CPU (510) and the electric charging control CPU (131), a determination is made as to whether or not a generated voltage of the electric charging power source device (900) is within a range of a predetermined setting threshold voltage set in advance, and a closed circuit operation of the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) is prohibited when the generated voltage of the electric charging power source device (900) is irregular. [5] The electric charging control device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage monitoring circuit (150) comprises the first voltage monitoring circuit (150a) connected between the upstream power supply point (P1) and the downstream midpoint (N2) in a crossed manner with respect to the second voltage monitoring circuit (150b) for generating the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (150b) connected between the downstream power supply point (N1) and the upstream midpoint (P2) in a crossed manner with respect to the first voltage monitoring circuit (150a) for generating the second voltage detection signal (DET2); and the higher-level control CPU (510) further comprises a control program which is a detection circuit abnormality determination means (940) which is executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU (131), wherein the detection circuit abnormality determination means (940) compares determination results at three points in a first power supply state in which the electric charging terminal (901) is not inserted and the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) in the circuit is closed, or in a second power supply state in which the pair of main electrical contact elements (130u, 130d) in a circuit is open, and an electric power is supplied from the electric charging power source device (900) after the electric charging terminal (901) is inserted,by means of a determination voltage detection signal (DET00) or a main voltage detection signal (DET0) and the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2), each relating to a presence or absence of a detection voltage of the respective point corresponding to the pair of electric charging contact elements (190u, 190d) which are opened together in the circuit and then closed in the circuit;, the detection circuit abnormality determination means (940) determines that the voltage level detection circuit (160B, 170) is irregular when the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2) both indicate a presence of voltage detection and when either the determination voltage detection signal (DET00) or the main voltage detection signal (DET0) indicates an absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal (DET1) and the second voltage detection signal (DET2) both indicate an absence of voltage detection and when either the determination voltage detection signal (DET00) or the main voltage detection signal (DET0) indicates a presence of voltage detection; and a locking device is operated to prevent the terminal cover (904) from being released to be opened, or at least an opening caution notification means is provided when a welding irregularity of the main electrical contact element (130u, 130d) or an electric charging contact element (190u, 190b) is detected by the main contact irregularity detection means (909) or the first electric charging contact element irregularity detection means (920), respectively. [6] Electric charging control device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first voltage monitoring circuit (140a) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b) each comprise a plurality of series-connected current-limiting resistors (141) and a constant-voltage diode (143) connected between a positive power source line to be monitored and a negative power source line thereto, wherein a light-emitting diode of a receiving photocoupler (146) is connected through a series resistor (144) and in parallel with respect to the constant-voltage diode (143), and a smoothing capacitor (145) is connected in parallel to the light-emitting diode or the constant-voltage diode (143); and the first voltage detection signal or the second voltage detection signal is generated by a transistor output of the receiving photocoupler (146). [7] Electric charging control device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first voltage monitoring circuit (150a) and the second voltage monitoring circuit (140b) each comprise a plurality of series-connected current-limiting resistors (151), a constant-voltage diode (153) and a transmission photocoupler element (156b) connected between a positive power source line to be monitored and a negative power source line thereto, wherein a light-emitting diode of a receiving photocoupler element (156a) is connected through a series resistor (154) and in parallel with respect to the constant-voltage diode (153), and a smoothing capacitor (155) is connected in parallel to the light-emitting diode or to the constant-voltage diode (153); the transmission photocoupler (156b) is operated to be switched on by a first reference signal or a second reference signal, which the electric charging control CPU (131) generates when voltage monitoring is carried out thereby; and the first voltage detection signal or the second voltage detection signal is generated by a transistor output of the receiving photocoupler (156a). [8] Electric charging control device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the voltage level detection circuit (160A, 160B, 170) comprises a circuit (160A) for generating any one of a main voltage detection signal, the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal and a voltage level detection signal, or comprises a circuit (160B, 170) for generating only one A voltage level detection signal input to the electric motor control CPU (121) or the electric charging control CPU (131), wherein the electric motor control CPU (121) or the electric charging control CPU (131) generates digital data of the currently occurring value of a detected voltage, so that a presence or absence of the detected voltage is determined by comparing the digital data with a preset predetermined threshold value, and a determination voltage detection signal (DET00) is obtained; and the voltage level detection signal is formed as an analog signal voltage which is proportional to a detected voltage, or as a pulse signal voltage, wherein the pulse duty or pulse period changes in response to a detected voltage. [9] Electric charging control device according to claim 8, wherein the voltage level detection circuit (160A, 160B) comprises a comparison circuit (169a) to which a stable power source voltage is applied, by means of a plurality of series-connected current-limiting resistors (161) and a constant-voltage circuit (163) comprising a constant-voltage diode (163a) connected between a positive power source line to be detected and a negative power source line thereto, and further comprises an intermediate control transistor (169b), an electric charging coil (164) and a smoothing capacitor (165) which are connected in series with each other, and the plurality of current limiting resistors (161) are also connected in series therewith, which are connected between the positive power source line and the negative power source line, wherein the smoothing capacitor (165) is connected in parallel to a series-connected circuit forming a light-emitting diode of a receiving photocoupler (166a) and an electrical discharge resistor (168a), or to the electrical discharge resistor (168a), and to negative feedback voltage divider resistors (168b, 168c); a voltage generated after the negative feedback voltage dividing resistors (168b, 168c) and a voltage generated after voltage dividing resistors (168d, 168e) with respect to a stable power source voltage are applied to comparison input terminals of the comparison circuit (169a), so that by means of a comparison output thereof, the intermediate control transistor (169b) is temporarily controlled, and negative feedback control is carried out so that an electric charging voltage of the smoothing capacitor (165) is in a relationship proportional to a stable power source voltage; a light-emitting diode of an intermediate receiving photocoupler (166b) is connected between an intermediate connection point of the intermediate control transistor (169b) and the electric charging coil (164) and the negative power source line, which is a negative side of the constant voltage switching circuit (162); the light-emitting diode of the intermediate receiving photocoupler element (166b) is a light-emitting diode which, in an off-time period of the intermediate control transistor (169b), generates the voltage level detection signal, which is a pulse signal voltage, in such a manner that an induced current of the electric charging coil (164) flows back through the smoothing capacitor (165), so that a conduction duty or a conduction period, which is a ratio of an on-time period of the voltage level detection signal to an on / off period thereof, changes in response to a current incoming voltage between the positive power source line and the negative power source line; and the main voltage detection signal is generated when the receiving photocoupler (166a) is included, by a transistor output thereof.

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