Device for integrating a charger

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for integrating a charger (8) into a high-voltage charging device (1), wherein the high-voltage charging device (1) is intended for charging a battery (2), in particular of an electrically powered motor vehicle, wherein the high-voltage charging device (1) has a DC and / or AC voltage source (3) with a charging port (11) for connecting the battery (2) to the DC voltage source and / or for connecting the battery (2) via an upstream AC-DC charger (8) to the AC voltage source (3), wherein the device for integrating a charger (8) is connected between the charging port (11) and the AC input (12) of the AC-DC charger (8) and the device has a voltage detection unit (13) and a controllable switching unit (14).wherein the voltage detection (13) detects a DC voltage and / or an AC voltage applied to the input (15) of the device and controls the switching unit (14) depending on the detected voltage.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for integrating a charger into a high-voltage charging device.

[0002] High-voltage charging devices are known for charging electrically powered motor vehicles. These electrically powered motor vehicles have a drive train with at least one electric motor and at least one rechargeable battery with a plurality of battery cells. Such batteries are typically high-voltage batteries, which have a large number of battery cells in order to achieve the high voltages. These batteries can be connected to an AC charging network and charged using an AC charger, for example. For this purpose, the AC charging voltage of the AC charging network is connected to the input side of the AC charger, which generates a DC charging voltage with which the battery is charged. Such a battery can also be connected to a DC charging network either directly or, for example, using a DC charger.

[0003] According to the North American charging standard NACS, the same cables are used for AC and DC charging. This allows the same cables to be used to connect to both an AC charging network and a DC charging network. When using high vehicle electrical system voltages and high charging voltages, correspondingly high voltages are present at the AC charger's AC input, which older AC chargers cannot withstand and could be damaged or destroyed.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a device for integrating a charger by means of which even older AC chargers can be incorporated and integrated into a high-voltage charging device without modification.

[0005] The problem is solved with the features of claim 1.

[0006] An embodiment of the invention relates to a device for integrating a charger into a high-voltage charging device, wherein the high-voltage charging device is provided for charging a battery, in particular of an electrically powered motor vehicle, wherein the high-voltage charging device has a DC and / or AC voltage source with a charging connection for connecting the battery to the DC voltage source and / or for connecting the battery to the AC voltage source via an upstream AC-DC charger, wherein the device for integrating a charger is connected between the charging connection and the AC input of the AC-DC charger and the device has a voltage detection and a controllable switching unit, wherein the voltage detection detects a DC voltage present at the input of the device and / or an applied AC voltage and controls the switching unit depending on the detected applied voltage.This also allows an older AC-DC charger to be integrated, which is protected by the device.

[0007] It is particularly advantageous if the device has a multi-pole input and a multi-pole output, with each pole of the input being electrically connected to a respective pole of the output by means of an electrical connection. The controllable switching unit has a switch in each electrical connection between the respective poles of the input and output. This allows any electrical connection between two poles to be switched off, which improves safety.

[0008] It is also useful for the switching unit to open or leave open the controllable switches when a DC voltage is detected using voltage detection. This reliably prevents the AC-DC charger from being exposed to potentially high DC voltages, for example, it is protected against high voltages of 400V, 800V, or more.

[0009] In a further embodiment, it is also advantageous if the switching unit opens or leaves open the controllable switches upon detecting a DC voltage above a predeterminable limit value by means of the voltage detection. This also reliably prevents the AC-DC charger from being exposed to potentially high DC voltages, for example, it is protected against a high voltage of 400V, 800V, or more.

[0010] Furthermore, it is also advantageous if the switching unit closes or leaves the controllable switches closed when an AC voltage is detected using the voltage detection function. This ensures that the input of the AC-DC charger is only contacted with AC voltage and is therefore not damaged by inadvertently applied DC voltage.

[0011] It is also advantageous if diagnostic means are provided for monitoring the switching unit and / or the respective switches, with a diagnostic interface being provided for data communication of data from the diagnostic means. This allows monitoring to determine whether the switching unit and / or at least individual switches or all switches are defective or malfunctioning. If such a fault or damage is detected, appropriate action can be taken.

[0012] It is also advantageous if, upon detection of a fault in the switching unit and / or a fault in at least one switch, measures are initiated to protect the users and / or the device, locking the charging socket of the motor vehicle, preventing a charging process or a charging start for AC charging and / or DC charging, etc. This provides the best possible protection so that a potentially dangerous situation can be avoided in the event of a fault.

[0013] It is also advantageous if a PP input connection is provided for a PP line and a PP output connection is provided for a PP line, wherein a PP switch is provided between the PP input connection and the PP output connection, which switch can be controlled to open and / or close, and / or the PP output connection of the device is connectable to a PP input connection of the AC-DC charger, and / or the PP input connection is connectable to a PP connection of the DC and / or AC voltage source. Such a PP connection of the DC and / or AC voltage source is typically used in a NACS charging socket, which is looped through to maintain the functionality of the device. The PP connection is also called a proximity pilot, which carries a low-voltage signal and is used to determine the status of the vehicle charging socket.

[0014] It is also advisable for the DC and / or AC voltage source to have a communication interface, also called a CP, which can be connected to a communication interface of the AC-DC charger. CP stands for Control Pilot and is used as a communication port or line. This ensures communication from the DC and / or AC voltage source to the device or to the AC-DC charger.

[0015] It is also advantageous if an AC charging socket can be connected to the device's output, particularly in parallel with the AC input of an AC-DC charger. This allows, for example, another AC voltage source and / or a second consumer to be connected.

[0016] The invention will be explained in detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a high-voltage charging device for charging a battery according to the prior art, Fig. 2 a schematic view of a high-voltage charging device for charging a battery with a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, and Fig. 3 a schematic view of a high-voltage charging device for charging a battery with a second embodiment of a device according to the invention.

[0017] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a high-voltage charging device 1 for charging a battery 2 according to the prior art. The battery 2 is, for example, a battery 2 of an electrically powered motor vehicle, which is to be charged using an AC and / or DC voltage source 3. A DC and / or AC charging station 4 is provided as the DC and / or AC voltage source 3.

[0018] In the event that the charging station 4 is a DC charging station 4, the battery 2 is connected and charged directly via a connecting cable 5 via the charging contactors 6 in their closed state.

[0019] In the event that the charging station 4 is an AC charging station 4, the battery 2 is connected and charged via a connecting cable 7 via the AC-DC charger 8 in the open state of the charging contactors 6.

[0020] In the case of a DC charging station 4 with a DC voltage source, the AC-DC charger 8 would be connected to the DC voltage of the DC charging station 4, which could damage the AC-DC charger 8.

[0021] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each show different embodiments of a device 10 according to the invention for integrating a charger 8 into a high-voltage charging device 1. The high-voltage charging device 1 is provided for charging a battery 2, in particular of an electrically powered motor vehicle, see Fig. 2. A DC and / or AC charging station 4 is provided as a DC and / or AC voltage source 3.

[0022] In the event that the charging station 4 is a DC charging station 4, the battery 2 is connected and charged directly via a connecting cable 5 via the charging contactors 6 in their closed state.

[0023] If the charging station 4 is an AC charging station 4, the battery 2 is connected and charged via a connecting cable 7 via the AC-DC charger 8 when the charging contactors 6 are open. However, the AC-DC charger 8 is not directly connected to the connecting cable 7; instead, the device 10 is connected upstream of the AC-DC charger 8.

[0024] According to Fig. 2, the high-voltage charging device 1 has a DC and / or AC voltage source 3 with a charging connection 11 for connecting the battery 2 to the DC voltage source 3 and / or for connecting the battery 2 via an upstream AC-DC charger 8 to the AC voltage source 3, wherein the device 10 for integrating a charger 8 is connected between the charging connection 11 and the AC input 12 of the AC-DC charger 8.

[0025] The device 10 has a voltage detection 13 and a controllable switching unit 14.

[0026] The voltage detection 13 detects a DC voltage and / or an AC voltage present at the input 15 of the device 10.

[0027] Depending on the detected applied voltage, DC voltage or AC voltage, the switching unit 14 is controlled.

[0028] According to Fig. 2, the device 10 has a multi-pole input 15 and a multi-pole output 16, wherein each pole of the input 15 is electrically connected to a respective pole of the output 16 by means of an electrical connection 17.

[0029] The controllable switching unit 14 is designed such that it has a switch in each electrical connection 17 between the respective poles of the input 15 and the output 16. This allows each electrical connection to be interrupted when a DC voltage is applied to the device 10 at the input 15.

[0030] The switching unit 14 is designed such that when a DC voltage is detected at the input 15 by means of the voltage detection 13, the controllable switches are opened or left open.

[0031] Alternatively, it can also be designed such that the switching unit 14 opens or leaves open the controllable switches when a DC voltage above a predeterminable limit value is detected by means of the voltage detection 13.

[0032] The switching unit 14 is also designed such that, upon detecting an AC voltage at input 15, it closes or leaves the controllable switches closed by means of the voltage detection unit 13. This allows only an AC voltage to be connected to the AC input 12 of the AC-DC charger, which protects the AC-DC charger 8.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, diagnostic means 18 are provided in the device 10 for monitoring the switching unit 14 and / or the respective switches of the switching unit 14, wherein a diagnostic interface 19 is provided for data communication of data from the diagnostic means 18.

[0034] Using the diagnostic means 18, errors in the switching unit 14 and / or the switches of the switching unit 14 can be detected or estimated. If an error in the switching unit 14 and / or an error in at least one switch of the switching unit 14 is detected, measures can be initiated to protect the users and / or the device 10. For example, locking the charging socket of the motor vehicle, preventing a charging process and / or starting charging for AC charging and / or DC charging, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, Fig. 2 that a further AC charging socket 20 can be connected to the output 16 of the device 10, in particular parallel to the AC input 12 of the AC-DC charger 8.

[0036] The embodiment of the Fig. 3 shows an embodiment which corresponds to the embodiment of Fig. 2 is essentially similar. In Fig. 3 shows that a PP input terminal 21 is provided for a PP line 22 and a PP output terminal 23 is provided for a PP line 22. A PP switch SPP is provided between the PP input terminal 21 and the PP output terminal 23, which switch can be controlled to open and / or close. Additionally, the PP output terminal 23 of the device 10 can be connected to a PP input terminal 24 of the AC-DC charger 8 and / or the PP input terminal 21 can be connected to a PP terminal PP of the DC and / or AC voltage source 3. The PP terminal PP is also called a Proximity Pilot (PP), which carries a low-voltage signal and is used, for example, to determine the status of the vehicle charging socket.

[0037] The DC and / or AC voltage source 3 can also have a communication interface CP, which can be connected to a communication interface CP of the AC-DC charger 8, as shown in Fig. 3 is shown.

Claims

[1] Device (10) for integrating a charger (8) into a high-voltage charging device (1), wherein the high-voltage charging device (1) is provided for charging a battery (2), in particular of an electrically powered motor vehicle, wherein the high-voltage charging device (1) has a DC and / or AC voltage source (3) with a charging connection (11) for connecting the battery (2) to the DC voltage source and / or for connecting the battery (2) via an upstream AC-DC charger (8) to the AC voltage source (3), wherein the device (10) for integrating a charger (8) is connected between the charging connection (11) and the AC input (12) of the AC-DC charger (8), and the device (10) has a voltage detection device (13) and a controllable switching unit (14),wherein the voltage detection (13) detects a DC voltage and / or an AC voltage present at the input (15) of the device (10) and controls the switching unit (14) depending on the detected voltage. [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by in that the device (10) has a multi-pole input (15) and a multi-pole output (16), wherein each pole of the input (15) is electrically connected to a respective pole of the output (16) by means of an electrical connection (17), wherein the controllable switching unit (14) has a respective switch in each electrical connection (17) between the respective poles of the input (15) and the output (16). [3] Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized by that the switching unit (14) opens or leaves open the controllable switches when a DC voltage is detected by means of the voltage detection (13). [4] Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized bythat the switching unit (14) opens or leaves open the controllable switches when it detects a DC voltage above a predeterminable limit value by means of the voltage detection (13). [5] Device (10) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized by that the switching unit (14) closes or leaves the controllable switches closed when an AC voltage is detected by means of the voltage detection (13). [6] Device (10) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized by that diagnostic means (18) are provided for monitoring the switching unit (14) and / or the respective switches, wherein a diagnostic interface (19) is provided for data communication of data from the diagnostic means (18). [7] Device (10) according to claim 6, characterized bythat upon detection of a fault in the switching unit (14) and / or a fault in at least one switch, measures are initiated to protect the users and / or the device (10), locking the charging socket of the motor vehicle, preventing a charging process or a charging start for AC charging and / or DC charging, etc. [8] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a PP input terminal (21) is provided for a PP line (22) and a PP output terminal (23) is provided for a PP line (22), wherein a PP switch (SPP) is provided between the PP input terminal (21) and the PP output terminal (23), which switch can be controlled to be opened and / or closed and / or that the PP output terminal (23) of the device (10) is connectable to a PP input terminal (24) of the AC-DC charger (8) and / or that the PP input terminal (21) is connectable to a PP terminal (PP) of the DC and / or AC voltage source (3). [9] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the DC and / or AC voltage source (3) has a communication interface which can be connected to a communication interface of the AC-DC charger (8). [10] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat an AC charging socket (20) can be connected to the output (16) of the device (10), in particular parallel to the AC input (12) of an AC-DC charger (8).

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