Load box, device, system and method for feeding the load box

Abstract

Disclosed is a load box, a device, a system, and a method for transmitting energy from a device having a battery via a load box to a load. The load box comprises: a line for transmitting energy to operate the load box and for transmitting energy to supply the load, wherein the line comprises at least one contact configured to couple, in a first operating mode of a charging interface of the device, the contact to a contact of the charging interface for transmitting energy to operate the load box, wherein the at least one contact of the charging interface is configured to transmit energy to charge the battery in a second operating mode of the charging interface; and a controller configured to communicate with the device to control a discharging process of the battery.

Description

The present invention relates to a load box, an apparatus, a system and a method for operating the load box, in particular using a charging interface of the apparatus with a battery for feeding back the energy stored in the battery via the charging interface to the load box for a consumer.Prior ArtCharging devices may be available, for example, for charging a battery of an electric vehicle and have one or more charging interfaces for connecting to a battery. A device in which a battery is contained may in turn have a charging interface for charging the battery with the charging device. The charging interface of the device with the battery can, however, also be used for discharging the battery, for example for feeding back, for extracting electrical energy for example an external load (vehicle to load, V2L), a house or a home (V2H), or a supply network (vehicle to grid, V2G).One possible implementation of the recovery of energy from a battery of, for example, an electric vehicle is a connection of specialized hardware, for example, a load box, to the electric vehicle, which at least partially regulates the recovery of energy. For this purpose, a controller of the load box must communicate with the vehicle, wherein the controller itself must be supplied with energy. The supply of energy can take place via a battery which is installed in the load box. Alternatively or additionally, the load box can also be supplied with energy via a special cable between the load box and the vehicle, for example from a 12V on-board power supply system of the vehicle.DE 10 2018 125 670 A1 discloses a method for operating a supply station. The supply station comprises a control unit for carrying out a charging process and / or a discharging process of a vehicle battery, means for receiving or transmitting data, a user interface having a display unit and switching means, connection means and transmission means which are arranged and designed to realize a unidirectional or bidirectional energy flow between a supply network to which the supply station is connected and the vehicle battery, wherein a first operating command which is transmitted from a first external control center, provided remotely, to the supply station is received via the means for receiving and / or transmitting data and is then processed by the control unit, wherein after the first operating command is received, a second operating command is transmitted from another command transmitter to the supply station, wherein the second operating command is received via the means for receiving and / or transmitting data and wherein the second operating command is then processed by the control unit.Disclosure of the InventionThe invention provides a load box and a system and a method for operating the load box having the features of the independent claim.Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a load box for transferring energy from a device having a battery to a load. The loadbox comprises: a line for transferring energy for operating the loadbox and for transferring energy for powering the load, the line comprising at least one contact configured to couple, in a first mode of operation of a charging interface of the device, the contact with a contact of the charging interface for transferring energy for operating the loadbox, the at least one contact of the charging interface, in a second mode of operation of the charging interface, configured to transfer energy for charging the battery; and a controller configured to communicate with the device to control a discharging operation of the battery.According to one refinement, the line comprises a first interface for coupling the line to a charging interface of the consumer.According to one refinement, the load box does not comprise an energy store for operating the load box t; and / or the line is the only line between the load box and the device.According to one development, the load box comprises a converter configured to convert a current and / or a voltage; and / or the load box is coupled to a converter of the apparatus configured to convert a current and / or a voltage.According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for transferring energy via a load box to a load. The apparatus comprises: a battery; a controller configured to communicate with the apparatus to control a discharging operation of the battery; and a charging interface having a plurality of contacts, wherein at least one contact of the plurality of contacts is configured to provide energy for operating the load box in a first operating mode of the charging interface of the apparatus, wherein the at least one contact of the charging interface is configured to transmit energy for charging the battery in a second operating mode of the charging interface.According to one development, the plurality of contacts is further configured in the first operating mode for transmitting energy for supplying the load.According to one development, the device comprises a converter configured to convert a current and / or a voltage; and / or the device is coupled to a converter of the load box configured to convert a current and / or a voltage.According to one development, the device is an electric vehicle; and / or the device can be coupled separately and externally from the load box and to the load box via the line.According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a system for transferring energy from a device having a battery via a load box to a load. The system comprises: the apparatus as described above; the load box as described above; and at least one load.According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method for transferring energy from a device having a battery via a load box to a load. The method comprises: detecting that the loadbox is coupled to a charging interface of the device, wherein the charging interface comprises a plurality of contacts; providing energy for operating the loadbox using at least one contact of the plurality of contacts, wherein the at least one contact, in a second operating mode of the charging interface, is configured to transmit energy for charging the battery, wherein the providing preferably comprises establishing a communication link between the device and the loadbox to control the transmission of energy; and transmitting energy for supplying the load.Brief Description of the DrawingsIt shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a system having a device and a load box which is connected via a charging interface of the device to the device for operating the load box in order to supply a load with energy from a battery of the device; FIG. 2 shows schematic representations of charging interfaces of a device having a battery with exemplary uses of respective contacts of the charging interfaces for operating the load box and respective contacts for supplying a load with energy via the load box according to exemplary embodiments; and FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary method for operating a load box according to an embodiment of the invention.In all figures, identical or functionally identical elements and devices are provided with the same reference numerals. The numbering of method steps is for clarity and is generally not intended to imply a particular chronological order. In particular, a plurality of method steps can also be carried out simultaneously.DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSFIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary system 1000 having a device 1100 having a battery 1110 and a load box 1200. The load box 1200 may be coupled to a load 1300 or a plurality of loads.The device 1100 may be a mobile device, such as an electric vehicle or a mobile energy store. The device 1100 comprises a battery 1110, for example a high-voltage (HV) battery, and a controller 1120 for controlling a discharging process via the load box 1200. The controller 1120 may be further configured to control a charging operation for charging the battery 1110 of the device 1100.The apparatus 1100 further includes a charging interface 1130. The charging interface 1130 may be coupled to the controller 1120. The charging interface 1130 may be configured in a first operating mode for providing energy for operating the load box 1200. In the first operating mode, the charging interface 1130 may be further configured to provide power for powering a load 1300 couplable to the load box 1200. Couplable components of the system may be separated from one another, if desired. In a second operating mode, the charging interface 1130 may be configured to charge the battery 1110 of the device 1100. The controller 1120 may be configured to switch between a plurality of operating modes of the charging interface 1130, in particular between the first and second operating modes.The charging interface 1130 may be the only charging interface of the device 1100 configured to charge the battery, in particular the HV battery, by a user of the device 1100The device 1100 may include a converter 1140 to convert a current and / or voltage provided by the battery 1110 of the device 1100 into a current and / or voltage for the load 1300. The converter 1140 may be configured to convert a DC voltage to an AC voltage, in particular. The converting may be performed wholly or at least partly by the converter 1140. Alternatively or additionally, the converter 1140 can also be implemented in the load box 1200, cf. converter 1240 of the load box 1200.Load box 1200 includes a line 1210 and a controller 1220. The line 1210 is configured to transmit power to operate the loadbox 1200 and to transmit power to supply a load 1300 couplable to the loadbox 1200. The line 1210 may be further configured to transmit data between the controller 1120 of the device 1100 and the controller 1220 of the load box 1200, e.g. by wired communication. The transmission of data between the device 1100 and the load box 1200 can alternatively or additionally also take place wirelessly, for example by means of WiFi and / or Bluetooth and / or near field communication (NFC).The line 1210 may include a first interface couplable to the charging interface 1130 of the device 1100. The line 1210 may include a second interface couplable to a first interface 1230 of the load box 1200. The first interface 1230 may include a plurality of interfaces. In particular, the first interface 1230 may include an interface conforming to a standard for charging interfaces for electric vehicles. The interface 1130 of the device 1130 and the first interface 1230 of the load box may conform to the same standard for charging interfaces for electric vehicles. The interfaces, plugs and / or sockets of the line 1210 may be identical at both ends of the line 1210 and / or comprise one or more adapters.The controller 1220 of the load box 1200 may be configured to control the load box 1200, in particular to control the energy delivered to a load 1300 via the load box 1200. For example, the controller may control a current and / or a voltage provided to the load 1300.The load box 1200 may include a converter 1240 to convert a current and / or voltage provided by the battery 1110 of the device 1100 into a current and / or voltage for the load 1300. The converter 1240 may be configured in particular for transforming and / or for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage. The converting may be performed wholly or at least partly by the converter 1240. Alternatively or additionally, the converter 1240 can also be implemented in the device 1100, cf. converter 1140 of the device 1100.The load box 1200 may include a second interface 1250. The second interface 1250 may be configured to couple to a load 1300 or a plurality of loads. The second interface 1250 may include a plurality of different interfaces. The second interface may comprise a line.A load 1300 includes an interface 1310. The consumer interface 1310 is configured to couple to the second interface 1250 of the load box 1200.FIG. 2 shows schematic representations of possible charging interfaces 2130(a to d) of, for example, the device 1100 shown in FIG. 1, with exemplary uses of respective contacts of the charging interfaces 2130 for operating, for example, the load box 1200 shown in FIG. 1 and respective contacts for supplying, for example, the load 1300 shown in FIG. 1 with energy via the load box 1200.In certain charging interfaces 2130, for example in the combined charging system (CCS), not all contacts on the charging interface are always required for all functions. When power is fed back, contacts of the charging interface 2130 may remain unused. In the present case, when feeding back energy, at least one contact which is unused during feeding back is used for operating the load box, for example the load box 1200 shown in FIG. 1. An energy source in the load box 1200 can thus be omitted. There need be no energy source in a load box 1200 to operate the load box 1200. Suitable unused contacts are, in particular, the contacts used during charging. In other words, a contact may be used for charging a battery of a device, while the contact may be used in transferring energy of the battery to a load for providing energy for operating the load box 1200.The reference numeral 2130a refers to a charging interface 2130 according to the SAE J1772 standard, also called type 1. The charging interface 2130 according to type 1 includes a contact PP for detecting a cable (proximity pilot, plug-present, PP). The contact PP for detecting a cable may be configured for detecting the line 1210 and / or the load box 1200, for example by means of resistance coding. The detection may be performed based on an operating mode of the device 1100 or based on coupling of the line 1210 to the charging interface according to type 1. The charging interface 2130 according to type 1 includes a contact CP for transferring control pilot (CP), a contact L 1 to a phase, a contact N to a neutral conductor (neutral, N), and a contact to a protective earth (PE). In the charging interface 2130 according to the type 1, all contacts may be used for feeding back.The reference numeral 2130b refers to a charging interface 2130 according to the IEC 62196 standard, also called type 2. The charging interface 2130 according to type 1 includes a contact PP for detecting a cable (proximity pilot, plug-present, PP). The contact PP for detecting a cable may be configured for detecting the line 1210 and / or the load box 1200, for example by means of resistance coding. The detection may be performed based on an operating mode of the device 1100 or based on coupling of the line 1210 to the charging interface according to type 1.The charging interface 2130 according to type 2 further includes a contact CP for transferring control pilot (CP), a contact L 1 to a first phase, a contact L 2 to a second phase, a contact L 3 to a third phase, a contact N to a neutral conductor (neutral, N) and a contact to a protective conductor (PE). For example, a contact L 1 for transferring energy to the load box 1200 via the line 1210 may be configured to operate the load box 1200, while the contact L 2 and / or the contact L 3 is configured to feed back energy via the load box 1200 to a load 1300. Alternatively, the contact L 2 or for transmitting energy to the load box 1200 via the line 1210 may be configured to operate the load box 1200, while the contact L 1 and / or the contact L 3 is configured to feed back energy via the load box 1200 to a load 1300, etc. The feed back of the energy to a load may also be effected in two phases, while the energy required for operating the load box is effected via the contact of the third phase not used for feed back to a load.Reference numeral 2130 crefers to a combined charging interface 2130 according to type 1 (CCS Combo type 1). The contact PP may be configured to detect the line 1210 and / or the load box 1200. The contact L 1 and / or the contact N may be configured to transmit power to the load box 1200 via the line 1210 to operate the load box 1200, while the positive DC contact (+) and the negative DC contact (-) are configured to feed back power via the load box 1200 to a load 1300. Alternatively, the positive DC contact (+) and / or the negative DC contact (-) may be configured to transmit power to the load box 1200 via the line 1210 to operate the load box 1200, while the contact L 1 is configured to return power to a load 1300 via the load box 1200.Reference numeral 2130d refers to a combined charging interface 2130 according to type 2 (CCS Combo type 2). The contact PP may be configured to detect the line 1210 and / or the load box 1200. The contact L 1 and / or the contact L 2 and / or the contact L 3 and / or the contact N may be configured to transmit power to the load box 1200 via the line 1210 to operate the load box 1200, while the positive DC contact (+) and the negative DC contact (-) are configured to feed back power via the load box 1200 to a load 1300. Alternatively, the positive DC contact (+) and / or the negative DC contact (-) may be configured to transmit power to the load box 1200 via the line 1210 to operate the load box 1200, while the contact L 1 and / or the contact L 2 and / or the contact L 3 are configured to feed back power via the load box 1200 to a load 1300.FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary method 3000 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 3000 comprises detecting 3100 that a load box 1200 is coupled to a charging interface 1130 of the device 1100, e.g. using a line 1210 and using resistance coding. After the coupling, provision 3200 of energy for operating the load box 1200 may take place, wherein the energy is provided at a voltage of 60 V or less, for example. 12V. The providing 3200 may comprise establishing 3300 a, for example, digital communication connection between the device 1100 and the load box 1200 for controlling the unloading process. When the load box 1200 is in operation, a backfeeding 3400 of energy via the load box 1200 to a load 1300 can take place.The principles described above are also applicable to other charging interfaces, such as, for example. Charging Interfaces according to the GB / T Charging StandardReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2018 125 670 A1

[0004]

Claims

Load box (1200) for transferring energy from a device (1100) having a battery (1110) to a load (1300), the load box (1200) comprising: a line (1210) for transferring energy for operating the load box (1200) and for transferring energy for supplying the load (1300), the line (1210) comprising at least one contact configured for coupling, in a first operating mode of a charging interface (1130) of the device (1100), the contact with a contact of the charging interface (1130) for transferring energy for operating the load box (1200), wherein the at least one contact of the charging interface (1130), in a second operating mode of the charging interface (1130), is configured for transferring energy for charging the battery (1110); and a controller (1220) configured to communicate with the device (1100) to control a discharging operation of the battery (1110).The load box (1200) of claim 1, wherein the line (1210) comprises a first interface for coupling the line (1210) to a charging interface (1130) of the load (1300).The load box (1200) of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the load box (1200) does not comprise an energy store for operating the load box (1200); and / or the line (1210) is the only line between the load box (1200) and the device (1100).The load box (1200) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the load box (1200) comprises a converter (1240) configured to convert a current and / or a voltage; and / or the load box (1200) is coupled to a converter (1140) of the device (1100) configured to convert a current and / or a voltage.An apparatus (1100) for transferring energy via a load box (1200) to a load (1300), the apparatus (1100) comprising: a battery (1110); a controller (1120) configured to communicate with the apparatus (1100) to control a discharging operation of the battery (1110); and a charging interface (1130) having a plurality of contacts, wherein at least one contact of the plurality of contacts, in a first operating mode of the charging interface (1130) of the apparatus (1100), is configured to provide energy for operating the load box (1200), wherein the at least one contact of the charging interface (1130), in a second operating mode of the charging interface (1130), is configured to transfer energy for charging the battery (1110).The apparatus (1100) of claim 5, wherein the plurality of contacts is further configured to transfer power to power the load (1300) in the first mode of operation.The apparatus (1100) of claim 5 or 6, wherein: the apparatus (1100) comprises a converter (1140) configured to convert a current and / or a voltage; and / or the apparatus (1100) is coupled to a converter (1140) of the load box (1200) configured to convert a current and / or a voltage.The apparatus (1100) of any of claims 5 to 7, wherein: the apparatus (1100) is an electric vehicle; and / or the apparatus (1100) is separate and external from the loadbox (1200) and couplable to the loadbox (1200) via the line (1210).A system (1000) for transferring power from a device (1100) having a battery (1110) via a load box (1200) to a load (1300), the system (1000) comprising: the device (1100) according to any one of claims 5 to 8; the load box (1200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4; and at least one load (1300).A method (3000) of transferring power from a device (1100) having a battery (1110) via a load box (1200) to a load (1300), the method (3000) comprising: detecting (3100) that the load box (1200) is coupled to a charging interface (1130) of the device (1100), the charging interface (1130) comprising a plurality of contacts; providing (3200) energy for operating the load box (1200) using at least one contact of the plurality of contacts, wherein the at least one contact, in a second operating mode of the charging interface (1130), is configured for transmitting energy for charging the battery (1110, wherein the providing (3200) preferably comprises establishing (3300) a communication connection between the device (1100) and the load box (1200) in order to control the transmission of energy; and transmitting (3400) energy for supplying the load (1300).

Images