Method and device for vehicle charging according to an adapter specification

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for vehicle charging according to an adapter specification, in which a charging plug adapter (2) is arranged in a transition between a charging plug of a charging station (1) and a charging connection of a vehicle (3), in which a charging profile which is dependent at least on a transition resistance of the charging plug adapter and which has charging current limits as a function of a charging time is stored together with a specification of the charging plug adapter in a charging file on a storage medium of a charging control unit of the vehicle, in which, before the start of a charging process, a binary signal code (23) is transmitted to the charging control unit via a line between an auxiliary contact (12) of the charging plug and the vehicle for the purpose of identifying the charging process,In which the charging control unit uses the binary signal code to identify the specification of the charging plug adapter, and the charging profile is read from the charging file based on the identified specification, and the charging process is carried out according to the charging profile. Furthermore, a device with which the method can be carried out is presented.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for charging a vehicle according to an adapter specification, in which a charging plug adapter is arranged in a transition between a charging plug of a charging station and a charging port of a vehicle. Furthermore, a device with which the method can be carried out is presented.

[0002] DC charging connectors based on the North American Charging Standard (NACS) are becoming increasingly popular for charging electric vehicles at charging stations in the USA, replacing charging connectors based on the current Combined Charging System (CCS1). Although a NACS infrastructure will likely be the primary infrastructure in the future, vehicles with CCS1 charging ports will still be available during a transition period lasting several years, while existing CCS1 infrastructure will also continue to be available for use. Besides the USA, charging infrastructures with their own standards are also being developed in other regions of the world, particularly with regard to charging connectors.

[0003] Adapters are therefore a suitable solution to enable vehicles to charge at a specific charging station. However, adapters introduce additional contact resistance, which leads to components heating up, making monitoring the adapter's temperature difficult or at least complex. State-of-the-art solutions, for example, propose a two-stage shutdown concept when temperature thresholds are exceeded. In a first stage, the charging current is significantly reduced, followed by a second stage where charging is interrupted.

[0004] DE 10 2022 208 145 B3 relates to authentication at a charging infrastructure by means of a charging cable with which a vehicle is connected to a charging infrastructure, comprising the following steps: first determining a communication standard of the charging infrastructure, second determining a communication standard of the vehicle, and transmitting an identifier of the charging cable to the charging infrastructure depending on the first determination and second determination.

[0005] EP 3 798 045 A1 describes adjusting a charging power when charging a battery of an electric vehicle. After receiving a charging current and a communication signal from a charging device, wherein the communication signal includes an indication of an available charging current, an adjusted available charging current is determined based on a predefined adjustment parameter. Based on the received communication signal, a modified communication signal with an indication of the adjusted available charging current is generated, and the charging current and the modified communication signal are forwarded to the electric vehicle.

[0006] The document DE 10 2019 121 108 B3 describes a solution in which a signal line is provided between an adapter element and the charging control unit, which allows at least one characteristic to be queried to identify the adapter. This characteristic could be, for example, a specific resistance. Based on this detected characteristic, the charging profile can be adapted accordingly to the respective plug.

[0007] Document DE 10 2021 134 295 A1 discloses a charging control unit for an electric vehicle that receives an identification code or location information from a wall adapter. Based on this information, the charging control unit can adjust the vehicle's charging parameters.

[0008] Document DE 10 2022 202 826 A1 shows an adapter with an integrated coding element, which can be a resistor, for example. This coding element allows the vehicle's power supply system to adjust to the expected power output.

[0009] Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to present a method for detecting a charging plug adapter that is arranged between a charging plug of a charging station and a charging port of a vehicle. The detection process should not impair interoperability with the charging station. Furthermore, a system on which the method can be implemented should be presented.

[0010] To achieve the aforementioned object, a method for vehicle charging according to an adapter specification is proposed, in which a charging plug adapter is arranged in a transition between a charging plug of a charging station and a charging connection of a vehicle. A charging profile that is dependent on at least one contact resistance of the charging plug adapter and has charging current limits as a function of a charging time is stored together with a specification of the charging plug adapter in a charging file on a storage medium of a charging control unit of the vehicle. Before the start of a charging process, the charging plug adapter transmits a binary signal code to the charging control unit via a line between an auxiliary contact of the charging plug and the vehicle for its identification.The charging control unit uses the binary signal code to identify the specification of the charging plug adapter and, based on the identified specification, reads the charging profile from the charging file. The charging process is carried out according to the charging profile.

[0011] The arrangement of the charging plug adapter in the transition between the charging plug and the charging connection inevitably introduces a contact resistance into a cable intended for a charging current. As the vehicle or its traction battery is charged, heat is lost at the contact resistance and the charging plug adapter therefore heats up, the temperature of which must remain below a predetermined temperature limit. This requirement limits the current flow through the charging plug adapter as a function of the (charging) time or the associated heating and defines the charging profile. A charging profile defined by the charging plug adapter, for example, shows no restriction of the charging current for an initial period of time, e.g. five minutes from the start of the charging process. Once this initial period of time has elapsed, the charging plug adapter has heated up for the first time, whereupon an upper charging current limit is set to a first level, which can be e.g.90% of the full charging current. After a second period of time has elapsed, e.g., another five minutes, the charging plug adapter continues to heat up even with the charging current reduced to the first level, and the charging current limit must be reduced to a second level, which is lower than the first level and, for example, 80% of the full charging current. The charging profile, with charging current limitations due to charging current limits as a function of charging time, varies depending on the specifications of each charging plug adapter, for example, caused by different contact resistances depending on the choice of metal alloy in the cable material of the respective charging plug adapter or temperature limits of the components used. Charging plug adapters that are also designed for 800V rapid charging stations have different charging current limits than charging plug adapters for conventional 400V charging stations.

[0012] The signal code for detecting or identifying the charging plug adapter is preferably transmitted before the start of the charging process, i.e., before switching the charging current, to avoid impairing interoperability between the charging station and the vehicle, especially its charging control unit. For this purpose, the auxiliary contact on the output side of the charging station is connected to a contact voltage relative to ground, and this contact voltage is modulated according to the binary signal code.

[0013] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the auxiliary contact is connected to a charging plug contact from the following list: Control Pilot, abbreviated CP, Proximity Pilot, abbreviated PP. Generally, the auxiliary contact is formed by a contact provided in any charging plug for a control function, which is supplied by the charging station with the contact voltage (which is low compared to the charging voltage).

[0014] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, a parallel circuit with two branches is arranged in the line between the auxiliary contact of the charging plug and the vehicle using the charging plug adapter. A predetermined resistor is arranged in the first branch, and a bypass switch is arranged in the second branch. The binary signal code is formed by the bypass switch, which is modulated with Morse code.

[0015] In yet another embodiment of the method according to the invention, different charging profiles are created for the charging plug adapter as a function of at least one environmental parameter. Environmental parameters, such as weather conditions, influence heat dissipation from the charging plug adapter. For example, it is conceivable that increased heat dissipation occurs in rain and / or wind, so that the charging current limits can be increased accordingly. Heat dissipation from the charging plug adapter also varies depending on the outside temperature, so that as the outside temperature increases, the charging current limits in the charging profile are adjusted downwards accordingly.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the transmission of the binary signal code before the start of the charging process is triggered by at least one trigger from the following list: timer after start at the charging station, completion of mechanical coupling charging plug / charging plug adapter / charging connection, detection of voltage signal by charging control unit. Furthermore, a device for vehicle charging according to an adapter specification is claimed, wherein the device comprises a charging plug adapter and a charging control unit arranged in a vehicle with a storage medium. A charging profile, which is dependent at least on a contact resistance of the charging plug adapter and has charging current limits as a function of a charging time, is stored together with a specification of the charging plug adapter in a charging file on the storage medium of the charging control unit. The charging plug adapter is designed to • to be placed in a transition between a charging plug of a charging station and a charging connection of a vehicle, • Before starting a charging process, to transmit a binary signal code to a charging control unit of the vehicle via a line between an auxiliary contact of the charging plug and the vehicle in order to identify the charging plug adapter.

[0017] The charging control unit is configured to • to identify the specification of the charging plug adapter based on the binary signal code and to read the charging profile from the charging file based on the identified specification, and • carry out the charging process according to the charging profile.

[0018] In one embodiment of the charging plug adapter according to the invention, the auxiliary contact is connected to a charging plug contact from the following list: Control Pilot, Proximity Pilot.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the charging plug adapter is designed to arrange a parallel circuit with two branches in the line between the auxiliary contact of the charging plug and the vehicle, wherein a predetermined resistor is arranged in the first branch and a bridging switch is arranged in the second branch, and wherein the bridging switch is configured to modulate the binary signal code by a Morse code.

[0020] In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention, different charging profiles are formed as a function of at least one environmental parameter.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transmission of the binary signal code before the start of the charging process is triggered by at least one trigger from the following list: timer after start at the charging station, completion of mechanical coupling charging plug / charging plug adapter / charging connection, detection of voltage signal by charging control unit.

[0022] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0023] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a circuit diagram in an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0024] In Fig.1 shows a circuit diagram 10 in one embodiment of the device according to the invention. A charging plug adapter 2 is arranged between a charging plug of a charging station 1 and a charging connection of a vehicle 3. The charging plug adapter 2 adapts respective contacts of the charging plug to corresponding contacts of the charging connection, in particular a contact to a ground potential 11 and an auxiliary contact 12, e.g., a PP contact or a CP contact. A switch 13 and resistors 14, 15 are shown on the charging plug side of the charging station 1, and a 5V DC voltage connection 31 and resistors 32, 33 are shown on the charging connection side of the vehicle 3 in an exemplary circuit, wherein, for example, the first resistor 14 is rated at 150 ohms, the second resistor 15 at 330 ohms, the third resistor 32 at 330 ohms, and the fourth resistor 33 at 2.7 kOhms. The charging plug adapter 2 has a parallel circuit 22 with two branches.A predetermined resistor 21 is arranged in the first branch, and a bypass switch is arranged in the second branch. According to the invention, the bypass switch forms a binary signal code 23, e.g., as Morse code. Based on the binary signal code 23, a charging control unit of the vehicle recognizes a specification of the charging plug adapter 2 and can extract a charging profile with charging current limits as a function of a charging time from an associated file and configure it accordingly for charging a traction battery of the vehicle.

Claims

[1] A method for vehicle charging according to an adapter specification, in which a charging plug adapter (2) is arranged in a transition between a charging plug of a charging station (1) and a charging connection of a vehicle (3), in which a charging profile which is dependent at least on a transition resistance of the charging plug adapter (2) and which has charging current limits as a function of a charging time is stored together with a specification of the charging plug adapter (2) in a charging file on a storage medium of a charging control unit of the vehicle, in which, before the start of a charging process, a binary signal code (23) is transmitted to the charging control unit by the charging plug adapter (2) via a line between an auxiliary contact (12) of the charging plug and the vehicle for the purpose of identifying the charging process,in which the charging control unit uses the binary signal code (23) to recognise the specification of the charging plug adapter (2) and reads the charging profile from the charging file based on the recognised specification, and in which the charging process is carried out in accordance with the charging profile. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary contact (12) is connected to a charging plug contact from the following list: Control Pilot, Proximity Pilot. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which a parallel circuit (22) with two branches is arranged by the charging plug adapter (2) in the line between the auxiliary contact (12) of the charging plug and the vehicle, in which a predetermined resistor (21) is arranged in the first branch and a bridging switch is arranged in the second branch, and in which the binary signal code (23) is formed by the bridging switch modulated with a Morse code. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which different charging profiles are formed for the charging plug adapter (2) as a function of at least one environmental parameter. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the transmission of the binary signal code (23) before the start of the charging process is triggered by at least one trigger from the following list: Time switch after start at charging station, completion of mechanical coupling charging plug / charging plug adapter / charging connection, detection of voltage signal by charging control unit. [6] Device for vehicle charging according to an adapter specification, wherein the device comprises a charging plug adapter (2) and a charging control unit arranged in a vehicle with a storage medium, wherein a charging profile which is dependent at least on a contact resistance of the charging plug adapter (2) and which has charging current limits as a function of a charging time is stored together with a specification of the charging plug adapter (2) in a charging file on the storage medium of the charging control unit, wherein the charging plug adapter (2) is designed to • to be arranged in a transition between a charging plug of a charging station (1) and a charging connection of a vehicle (3); • before starting a charging process, to transmit a binary signal code (23) to a charging control unit of the vehicle via a line between an auxiliary contact (12) of the charging plug and the vehicle in order to identify the charging plug adapter (2); and wherein the charging control unit is configured to • to identify the specification of the charging plug adapter (2) based on the binary signal code (23) and to read the charging profile from the charging file based on the identified specification, and • carry out the charging process according to the charging profile. [7] Device according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary contact is connected to a charging plug contact from the following list: Control Pilot, Proximity Pilot. [8] Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the charging plug adapter (2) is designed to arrange a parallel circuit (22) with two branches in the line between the auxiliary contact (12) of the charging plug and the vehicle, wherein a predetermined resistor (21) is arranged in the first branch and a bypass switch is arranged in the second branch, and wherein the bypass switch is configured to modulate the binary signal code (23) by a Morse code. [9] Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein different charging profiles are formed as a function of at least one environmental parameter. [10] Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the transmission of the binary signal code (23) before the start of the charging process is triggered by at least one trigger from the following list: timer after start at charging station, completion of mechanical coupling charging plug / charging plug adapter / charging connection, detection of voltage signal by charging control unit.

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