Electronic component intended to be embedded in a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic component for charging a unit for storing electrical energy, comprising: - a connector (5) capable of being connected to an electrical network supplying an AC voltage at a first frequency, and - an inverter / rectifier (6), the component comprising a device (1) for detecting an insulation fault between ground and at least one of the neutral and a phase of the AC voltage, this device comprising: - an input (12) connected to the neutral of the AC voltage, - an output (15) connected to ground, - a generator (19) of an AC voltage at a second frequency lower than the first frequency, - an impedance (16) placed between the input (12) and the output (15).

Description

[0001] Electronic component intended to be installed on a vehicle

[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic component intended to be mounted on a vehicle. Such a component provides, for example, the electrical power supply to a vehicle electrical energy storage unit, and is also called a "charger" for this electrical energy storage unit. The electrical energy storage unit is, for example, a battery, which may have a nominal voltage greater than 60V, for example greater than or equal to 300V, 400V, 800V, or even 1000V. This component comprises, in a known example:

[0003] - an inverter / rectifier receiving an alternating voltage as input and providing a direct voltage as output, and

[0004] - a DC / DC converter located downstream of the inverter / rectifier and connected to the electrical energy storage unit.

[0005] There is a need to further improve such components.

[0006] The invention aims to meet this need and achieves this, according to one of its aspects, using an electronic component for charging an electrical energy storage unit, comprising:

[0007] - a connector capable of being connected to an electrical network supplying an alternating voltage at a first frequency,

[0008] - an inverter / rectifier, and

[0009] - in particular a DC / DC converter, the inverter / rectifier being arranged in series between the connector and the DC / DC converter, the component comprising a device for detecting an insulation fault between the earth and at least one of the neutral and one phase of the alternating voltage, this device comprising:

[0010] - an input connected to the neutral of the alternating voltage,

[0011] - an output connected to ground,

[0012] - a generator of an alternating voltage at a second frequency lower than the first frequency,

[0013] - an impedance, in particular a measuring resistor, arranged between the input and the output, detection of an insulation fault being carried out as a function of the value of an electrical quantity associated with this impedance.

[0014] The presence of such an insulation fault detection device allows the electronic component to operate in reverse mode, with a load or the electrical network then being powered from the electrical energy storage unit. Insulation fault detection ensures the safety of users in contact with the load or the electrical network. The load can be any type, including in particular the energy storage unit of another vehicle in a so-called V2V (vehicle to vehicle) configuration or any equipment in a home or premises.

[0015] The injection of an alternating voltage at the second frequency makes it possible to detect an insulation fault both between earth and neutral and between earth and phase, using an insulation fault detection device having its input connected only to the neutral of the alternating voltage. A connection to the phase of the alternating voltage is then not necessary.

[0016] Within the component, the neutral and earth are preferably insulated. When the component is mounted on a vehicle, its chassis is, for example, earthed and the clearance and creepage distances from the chassis can then comply with the IEC 60664-4 standard. If applicable, the phase(s) of the alternating voltage are also insulated from earth. The clearance and creepage distances of this or these phases from the chassis are, for example, in accordance with the IEC 60664-4 standard.

[0017] The device for detecting an insulation fault comprises, for example, a determination system determining the value of the electrical quantity associated with the impedance, for example the voltage across this impedance or the current flowing in this impedance. This determination is made, for example, by measurement.

[0018] The insulation fault detection device may comprise a controllable switch, configured to interrupt the flow of current between the input and the impedance. Thus, this switch allows when it is open that there is no loss of current through the insulation fault detection device.

[0019] This controllable switch is for example an electrotechnical relay. The invention is however not limited to such an example, other switches being possible, for example a static relay based on optical couplers and / or MOS transistor and / or IGBT transistor.

[0020] The electrical quantity associated with the impedance is, for example, the voltage across the impedance. Alternatively, this electrical quantity is, for example, the current flowing in this impedance.

[0021] The impedance is for example arranged relative to the input and output of the insulation fault detection device in such a way that the voltage across the impedance is obtained from the voltage between the input and output of the insulation fault detection device by voltage divider bridge.

[0022] The determination system may include:

[0023] - a voltage amplification stage across the impedance, and

[0024] - a filtering stage of the component which is at the first frequency in this voltage. Such a determination system makes it possible to use a signal generated on the basis of the voltage at the second frequency to detect an insulation fault. Indeed, when the controllable switch is closed, the circulation of a current is allowed through the impedance between the neutral of the alternating voltage and the earth. In such a case, if an insulation fault between a phase and the earth exists, a fault resistance then exists between this phase and the earth. The phase-neutral voltage for this phase at the first frequency, as well as the voltage generated by the generator of the insulation fault detection device at the second frequency, are then applied to the impedance and to this fault resistance.By applying a voltage divider bridge, we can thus obtain the value of the voltage, both according to its component at the first frequency and according to its component at the second frequency, which is applied to the terminals of the impedance. The filter stage makes it possible to isolate the component of this voltage at the second frequency.

[0025] If an insulation fault exists between neutral and earth, then a fault resistance exists between neutral and earth. The second-frequency voltage supplied by the generator of the insulation fault detection device is then applied to the impedance and to this fault resistance. By applying a voltage divider bridge, the value of the voltage across the impedance can thus be deduced. In the absence of an insulation fault between neutral and earth, the voltage across the impedance is zero.

[0026] The amplification stage of the insulation fault detection device determination system may implement differential amplification, and / or the filtering stage may implement a low-pass filter. The differential amplification makes it easier to process the voltage at the second frequency.

[0027] The filter stage is for example a low-pass filter whose cut-off frequency can be 50 Hz. Any other cut-off frequency value allowing the component which is at the first frequency in the voltage across the impedance to be filtered is possible.

[0028] The component may comprise a processing unit configured to deduce from the determined voltage value at least one of:

[0029] - an insulation fault between the phase and the earth, and

[0030] - an insulation fault between neutral and earth.

[0031] This processing unit may belong to the device for detecting an insulation fault, for example to the determination system, or be a processing unit separate from this device. This processing unit is for example integrated into the control of the inverter / rectifier. In a variant, this processing unit is for example integrated into a transmission control module (called "TCU" in English), or into a vehicle control module (called "VCU" in English). The processing unit is for example configured to deduce from the voltage value measured at the terminals of the impedance at least one of:

[0032] - the value of the impedance between neutral and earth and,

[0033] - the value of the impedance between phase and earth.

[0034] When the impedance value thus deduced is below a threshold value, an insulation fault can be detected and generate alarms. The threshold value is for example 500'Q / V, as prescribed by the GBT 184874 -20XX standard.

[0035] In all of the above, the ratio between the first frequency and the second frequency may be greater than 5, in particular greater than 10. The first frequency is for example equal to 50Hz or 60Hz, and the second frequency may be between 1Hz and 5Hz, being in particular equal to 2Hz. The voltage supplied by the generator of the insulation fault detection device may have an amplitude of a few V, for example a voltage between 0 and 5V. It may be a sinusoidal voltage.

[0036] In all of the above, the component may comprise an alternating current filtering stage, this filtering stage being arranged in series between the connector and the inverter / rectifier. This filtering stage allows, for example, when the alternating voltage is polyphase, filtering of the common mode current and / or filtering of the differential current.

[0037] In this case, the input of the insulation fault detection device can be arranged in series between the filter stage and the inverter / rectifier. Alternatively, the input of the insulation fault detection device can be arranged in series between the filter stage and the connector.

[0038] In all of the above, the network voltage can be polyphase, including three-phase. This voltage can have a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz and an effective value of 230V or 240V. Alternatively, the network voltage can be single-phase.

[0039] In all of the above, the electrical energy storage unit is, for example, a battery, which may have a nominal voltage greater than 60V, for example greater than or equal to 300V, 400V, 800V, or even 1000V.

[0040] In all of the above, the impedance to which the determination system is associated can be a resistor. Other embodiments are possible, such as an inductor or a capacitor.

[0041] In all of the above, the inverter / rectifier and the device for detecting an insulation fault between the earth and at least one of the neutral and one phase of the alternating voltage may be contained in the same housing of the component. The inverter / rectifier and the device for detecting an insulation fault are, for example, permanently physically attached to each other within the component, unlike the case where the device for detecting an insulation fault would be housed in an interconnector between the component and the electrical network, this interconnector then being electrically connected to the component only when the component exchanges electrical energy with the electrical network. The device for detecting an insulation fault is, for example, carried in whole or in part by one of the cards of the component, for example by the power card of the inverter / rectifier of the component and / or by the control card of this inverter / rectifier.

[0042] The electronic component may include, in the same housing or not, an inverter / rectifier and a DC / DC converter. The DC / DC converter has, for example, galvanic isolation, in particular via a transformer such as a three-phase transformer. The device for detecting an insulation fault is, for example, mounted on the inverter / rectifier, and it may be received against the internal wall of the housing.

[0043] In the case where the housing is common to the inverter / rectifier and the DC / DC converter, the housing may have two zones of different heights, one of these zones accommodating the inverter / rectifier and the other of these zones accommodating the DC / DC converter. The insulation fault detection device can then be accommodated in a protrusion of the highest zone.

[0044] The invention also relates, according to another of its aspects, to a method for detecting an insulation fault between the earth and at least one of the neutral and one phase of the alternating voltage circulating in an electronic component comprising:

[0045] - a connector connected to an electrical network or to a load,

[0046] - an inverter / rectifier, and

[0047] - in particular a DC / DC converter, the inverter / rectifier being arranged in series between the connector and the DC / DC converter, a method in which a device for detecting an insulation fault is used, comprising:

[0048] - an input connected to the neutral of the alternating voltage,

[0049] - an output connected to ground,

[0050] - a generator of an alternating voltage at a second frequency lower than the first frequency,

[0051] - an impedance, in particular a measuring resistor, arranged between the input and the output, detection of an insulation fault being carried out as a function of the value of an electrical quantity associated with this impedance.

[0052] All or part of what has been mentioned above in relation to the component still applies to the above method. The device for detecting an insulation fault may comprise a controllable switch, in particular an electrotechnical relay, configured to interrupt the flow of current between the input and the resistor, and this switch may be controlled to be closed as long as the current flows from the electrical energy storage unit to the connector.

[0053] According to the above method, the inverter / rectifier can be controlled as an inverter, so that the electrical network or the load is supplied with alternating voltage from the component.

[0054] The invention may be better understood by reading the following description of non-limiting examples of its implementation:

[0055] - [Fig.l] represents an electronic component providing the electrical power supply to a vehicle electrical energy storage unit,

[0056] - [Fig.2] represents a part of the electronic component of figure 1, also comprising a device for detecting an insulation fault according to an exemplary implementation of the invention,

[0057] - [Fig.3] is a model of the component of figure 2 in the event of an insulation fault between a phase of the alternating voltage and the earth,

[0058] - [Fig.4] is a model of the component of figure 2 in the event of an insulation fault between the neutral of the alternating voltage and the earth,

[0059] - [Fig.5] is a view of Figure 2 in which an exemplary embodiment of the measuring system of the insulation fault detection device is shown, and

[0060] - [Fig.6] structurally represents an electronic component with its housing.

[0061] Figure 1 shows an electronic component 2 for charging an electrical energy storage unit 4. This electronic component 2 comprises:

[0062] - a connector 5 capable of being connected to an electrical network supplying an alternating voltage,

[0063] - an inverter / rectifier 6, and

[0064] - a DC / DC converter 8.

[0065] As can be seen in Figure 1, the inverter / rectifier 6 is here arranged in series between the connector 5 and the DC / DC converter 8.

[0066] The electrical energy storage unit 4 is here a battery used for the electrical power supply of an electric vehicle propulsion machine. This battery has for example a nominal voltage greater than 60V, in particular 300V, in particular 400V, in particular 800V, or even 1000V. The electrical network is for example a three-phase network carrying a voltage at a first frequency which is 50Hz or 60Hz and whose effective value is 230V or 240V.

[0067] As shown in Figure 1, an alternating current filtering stage 10 may be provided, this filtering stage 10 being arranged in series between the connector 5 and the inverter / rectifier 6. This filtering stage 10 allows, for example, when the alternating voltage is polyphase, filtering of the common mode current and / or filtering of the differential current.

[0068] If necessary, optionally, another direct current filtering stage 11 may be present, then being arranged in series between the direct current / direct current converter 8 and the electrical energy storage unit 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0069] The DC / DC converter 8 is for example a resonant converter, for example of the CLLC type.

[0070] According to the invention, the component 2 comprises a device for detecting an insulation fault 1 between at least one of:

[0071] - one phase of the alternating voltage and the earth, and

[0072] - neutral of alternating voltage and earth.

[0073] According to the example shown in Figure 2, the insulation fault detection device 1 has an input 12 which can be connected to the alternating voltage between the filter stage 10 and the inverter / rectifier 6 or which can be connected to the alternating voltage between the connector 5 and the filter stage 10. In the example of Figure 1, the connection of the insulation fault detection device is made between the connector 5 and the filter stage 10.

[0074] The detection device 1 makes it possible to detect an insulation fault between the earth and the neutral N, or an insulation fault between a phase L1, L2, L3 of the alternating voltage and the earth. This detection device 1 also comprises an output 15 connected to the earth, an impedance 16, which in this specific example is a measuring resistor, and it here comprises a system 18 for determining the voltage across this measuring resistor 16. The detection device 1 also comprises a generator 19 providing an alternating voltage at a second frequency, for example 2Hz, and the amplitude of which may be of the order of a few V, for example 3V.

[0075] The electronic component 2 also comprises a processing unit 20 implementing one or more microcontrollers. This processing unit 20 can be integrated into the detection device 1 and dedicated to the latter. If necessary, this processing unit is merged with the determination system 18. Alternatively, the processing unit 20 belongs to a centralized control of the vehicle, also called “VCU”, or to a control of the inverter / rectifier 6.

[0076] It can be seen in Figure 2 that the device 1 comprises, in addition to the aforementioned elements, an electronic switch 25, which is here a relay, and its control circuit 26.

[0077] It is also noted that a resistor 29 is connected in series between the switch 25 and the measuring resistor 16, this resistor 29 defining with the measuring resistor 16 a voltage divider bridge type assembly.

[0078] The operation of the insulation fault detection device 1 described with reference to Figure 2 will now be explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4 which respectively model the case of an insulation fault between phase L1 and earth, and the case of an insulation fault between neutral N and earth. In this example, current flows from the electrical energy storage unit 4 to the connector 5, and the switch 25 is controlled to remain closed.

[0079] Figure 3 corresponds to the case where an insulation fault exists between phase L1 and earth. When relay 25 is closed, current flows via input 12 through resistors 29 and 16 while a fault resistor 30 models the insulation fault between phase L1 and earth.

[0080] By applying the mesh law, it is found that the phase-neutral voltage VI for phase L1 at the first frequency is then applied to resistors 16, 29 and 30. It is also found that the voltage at the second frequency supplied by the generator 19 is also applied to these resistors 16, 29 and 30. The determination system 18 then receives as input the voltage applied to the terminals of the measuring resistor 16. This voltage here includes a component at the first frequency and at the second frequency.

[0081] The determination system 18 may comprise:

[0082] - an amplification stage 30 of the voltage across the resistor 16, and

[0083] - a filtering stage 31 of the component which is at the first frequency in this voltage. This measuring system 18 is shown in more detail in Figure 5.

[0084] In the absence of an insulation fault, the value of the voltage applied to resistors 29 and 30 is zero.

[0085] The value of the voltage determined by the determination system 18 is then used to detect whether or not there is an insulation fault between one of the phases of the network and the earth. This detection can be carried out by the determination system 18 or by the processing unit 20, and it can consist of comparing the value processed by the determination system from the voltage at the second frequency to a predefined value corresponding to an absence of such an insulation fault.

[0086] Detection may consist of determining, on the basis of the value processed by the determination system from the voltage at the second frequency, the value of the impedance between neutral and earth or the value of the impedance between phase and earth. By comparing this impedance value and a threshold, for example 500Q / V, it can be determined whether an insulation fault exists or not. Thus, when the impedance value between neutral and earth or between phase and earth is lower than this threshold, an insulation fault is detected.

[0087] Figure 4 corresponds to the case where an insulation fault exists between neutral N and earth. When relay 25 is closed, current flows via input 12 through resistors 29 and 16 while a fault resistor 31 models the insulation fault between neutral N and earth.

[0088] By applying the mesh law, it is found that the voltage at the second frequency supplied by the generator 19 is then applied to the resistors 16, 29 and 31. The measuring system 18 then receives as input the voltage at the second frequency applied to the terminals of the measuring resistor 16.

[0089] Similar to what has been described with reference to Figure 3, the value processed by the determination system 18 from the voltage at the second frequency is then used to detect whether or not there is an insulation fault between one of the phases of the network and the earth.

[0090] Figure 5 represents a more precise embodiment of the detection device 1 whose operation has been described previously. It can be seen in particular that the determination system 18 uses several operational amplifiers to carry out differential amplification according to 30 on the one hand, and low-pass filtering according to 31 on the other hand. The low-pass filter used has, for example, a cut-off frequency of 50 Hz.

[0091] The measuring resistor 16 has for example a value of 5 k'Q and the other resistors used can have any value between Ik'Q and I MQ.

[0092] The following resistance values ​​are possible, in a specific example:

[0093] - R7, R8, RIO, Rll RI 8, RI 9, R20 have a value of lOOk'Q,

[0094] - RI, R2, R13, R14, R15, RI 6, RI 7, R23 have a value of 10 k'Q,

[0095] - R3 has a value of 75kQ,

[0096] - R4 has a value of 11.5 k'Q,

[0097] - R12 has a value of 50k'Q,

[0098] - R21 has a value of 166k'Q, - R22 and R24 have a value of 300k'Q, and

[0099] - R25 has a value of I M'Q.

[0100] The component 2 of Figure 1 is for example contained in the same housing 100, as shown in Figure 6. This housing 100 may have a stepped bottom wall 101, this bottom wall 101 having two planar portions 102 and 103 parallel to each other and offset from each other. The device 1 which has just been described is for example received in a protrusion 104 extending from the highest portion 102 encroaching on the lowest portion 103.

[0101] The filtering stage 10 and the inverter / rectifier 6 of FIG. 1 are for example arranged in the part of the housing 100 containing the flat portion 102 while the DC / DC converter 8 is arranged in the part of the housing 100 containing the flat portion 103.

[0102] The invention is not limited to the example just described. Realizations of the impedance 16 other than via a resistor are, for example, possible.

[0103] In one variant, the alternating voltage is single-phase.

Claims

Claims 1. Electronic component (2) for charging an electrical energy storage unit (4), comprising: - a connector (5) capable of being connected to an electrical network supplying an alternating voltage at a first frequency, - an inverter / rectifier (6), and - in particular a DC / DC converter (8), the inverter / rectifier (6) being arranged in series between the connector (5) and the DC / DC converter (8), the component comprising a device (1) for detecting an insulation fault between the earth and at least one of the neutral and a phase of the alternating voltage, this device comprising: an input (12) connected to the neutral of the alternating voltage, an output (15) connected to the earth, a generator (19) of an alternating voltage at a second frequency lower than the first frequency, an impedance (16), in particular a measuring resistor (16), arranged between the input (12) and the output (15), a detection of an insulation fault being carried out as a function of the value of an electrical quantity associated with this impedance (16).

2. Component according to claim 1, the device for detecting an insulation fault comprising a controllable switch (25), configured to interrupt the flow of current between the input (12) and the impedance (16).

3. Component according to one of the preceding claims, the controllable switch (25) being an electronic relay.

4. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, the electrical quantity associated with the impedance (16) being the voltage across this impedance.

5. Component according to claim 4, the impedance (16) being arranged relative to the input (12) and the output (25) of the device (1) for detecting an insulation fault in such a way that the voltage across the impedance (16) is obtained from the voltage between the input (12) and the output (15) of the device for detecting an insulation fault by voltage divider bridge.

6. Component according to claim 4 or 5, the device (1) for detecting an insulation fault comprising: - an amplification stage (30) of the voltage across the impedance (16), and - a filtering stage (31) of the component which is at the first frequency in this voltage across the impedance (16).

7. Component according to claim 6, the amplification stage (30) of the insulation fault detection device implementing differential amplification, and / or the filtering stage (31) implementing a low-pass filter.

8. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a processing unit (18, 20) configured to deduce from the electrical quantity at least one: - an insulation fault between the phase and the earth, and - an insulation fault between neutral and earth.

9. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, the ratio between the first frequency and the second frequency being greater than 5, in particular greater than 10.

10. Component according to the preceding claim, the first frequency being equal to 50Hz or 60Hz, and the second frequency being between 1Hz and 5Hz, being in particular equal to 2Hz.

11. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a filtering stage (10) for the alternating current at the first frequency, this filtering stage (10) being arranged in series between the connector (5) and the inverter / rectifier (6), and the input (12) of the device (1) for detecting an insulation fault being arranged in series between this filtering stage (10) and the inverter / rectifier (6).

12. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing, and the inverter / rectifier (6) and the device (1) for detecting an insulation fault between the earth and at least one of the neutral and one phase of the alternating voltage being contained in this housing.

13. Method for detecting an insulation fault between the earth and at least one of the neutral and one phase of the alternating voltage circulating in an electrical circuit comprising: - a connector (5) connected to an electrical network or to a load, - an inverter / rectifier (6), and - in particular a DC / DC converter (8), the inverter / rectifier (6) being arranged in series between the connector (5) and the DC / DC converter (8), method in which a device (1) for detecting an insulation fault is used, comprising: an input (12) connected to the neutral of the alternating voltage, an output (15) connected to the earth, a generator (19) of an alternating voltage at a second frequency lower than the first frequency, an impedance (16), in particular a measuring resistor (16), arranged between the input (12) and the output (15), a detection of an insulation fault being carried out as a function of the value of an electrical quantity associated with this impedance (16).

14. Method according to claim 13, in which the device for detecting an insulation fault comprises a controllable switch (25), in particular an electrotechnical relay, configured to interrupt the flow of current between the input (12) and the impedance (16), and in which the switch (25) is controlled so that it is closed as long as the current flows from an electrical energy storage unit (4) to the connector (5).

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, in which the inverter / rectifier (6) is controlled as an inverter, so that the electrical network or the load is supplied with alternating voltage from the component.

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