MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A CHARGING INTERFACE SYSTEM ON A STEERING WHEEL RIM, AND PROCESSES BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (V) comprising: - a steering wheel rim (J); - a rechargeable battery (B); - a control system (S) signaling different charging statuses during the charging of said battery; and - a charging interface system. According to the invention, the charging interface system comprises: - a light signaling means (L) on said rim (J), alternately displaying one of several light colors, and / or a state of charge (SOC) gauge of the traction battery; and - a display control means connected to the control system (S), commanding a display on the light signaling means (L) of a light color corresponding to a current charging status and / or of said gauge (SOC). The invention also relates to a vehicle (V) and a method based on such a system. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A CHARGING INTERFACE SYSTEM ON A STEERING WHEEL RIM AND METHOD BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles with rechargeable traction batteries, in particular of the PHEV or BEV type. The invention relates more particularly to charging interfaces for these vehicles.

[0002] The charging of BEV vehicles can be carried out according to the types of charging that will be chosen by the user: - Mode 2: (1 IkW maximum - Alternating Current - AC): you must use the electronic box integrated into the charging cable, and connect it to a standard domestic socket; - Mode 3: (22kW maximum - Alternating current - AC): you must use a dedicated cable equipped with type 2 connectors and connect it to a charging station; This station integrates the control, safety and charge regulation / programming functionalities; - Mode 4: (350kW maximum - Direct current - DC): carried out using so-called "fast" and "very fast" charging stations which deliver direct current at a high power level. These stations have a charging cable with a specific connector (Type 2 CCS Combo in Europe).

[0003] To enable these recharges, BEV vehicles are equipped with an electronic box for charging socket (BEPR) compatible with mode 2, 3 and 4 recharges as well as mode 2 and mode 3 charging cables (sometimes optional for mode 3).

[0004] This BEPR interface arranged in a charging hatch, includes visual indicators of the charging status, for example "in progress", "completed", "in error", etc.

[0005] Thus, in the prior art, the user needs to be close to the open hatch to know what the current status of the recharge is.

[0006] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose an interface making it possible to know what the current status of the recharge is when the user is outside the vehicle.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising: - a steering wheel rim for guiding the motor vehicle when it is moving; - a rechargeable traction battery; and - a battery monitoring system connected to said traction battery, signaling different charging statuses when charging the traction battery; - a charging interface system, characterized in that the charging interface system comprises: - a light signaling means arranged on said steering wheel rim, configured to alternately display one of several light colors, and / or a traction battery charge status gauge and - a display control means connected to the battery control system, the display control means being configured to control a display on the light signaling means, of a light color corresponding to a current charging status and / or a display of the charge state gauge of the traction battery.

[0008] Advantageously, the signaling means on the guide rim makes it possible to view the charging status from the outside without needing to be near the vehicle hatch.

[0009] According to a variant: - the light signaling means comprises several signaling elements forming the charge status gauge of the traction battery; and - the display control means is configured to control a display of the state of charge gauge by lighting up a portion of said signaling elements.

[0010] This makes it easy to display the gauge via a corresponding part of signaling elements.

[0011] According to a variant, the display control means is configured to control: - a flashing display of a luminous color corresponding to a first recharging status; or - a fixed display of the same light color corresponding to a second different charging status.

[0012] This allows two different statuses to be signaled using a single color LED.

[0013] According to one variant, the light signaling means comprises at least one colored LED.

[0014] This allows the charging status to be signaled remotely with significantly low electrical energy consumption.

[0015] According to a variant: - the light signaling means is configured to alternately display one of four light colors, and - the display control means is configured to control a display of a light color corresponding to a charging status among an initialized charging, a charging in progress, a scheduled charging, a cable disconnection recharge, a recharge completed, a recharge in error.

[0016] This allows the implementation of current recharge status variants.

[0017] According to a variant: - the initialized recharge corresponds to a fixed white color for a first time; - the current recharge corresponds to a flashing green color; - the scheduled recharge corresponds to a fixed blue color; - the disconnection corresponds to a fixed white color for a second time; - the completed recharge corresponds to a fixed green color; and - the recharge in error corresponds to a red color.

[0018] This allows you to match a color code known to certain users.

[0019] According to a variant, the steering wheel rim in a reference frame in space comprising a front-rear axis following a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis perpendicular to the front-rear axis, and a vertical axis perpendicular to the front-rear axis and to the lateral axis, and the signaling means is arranged substantially above the steering wheel rim with reference to the vertical axis.

[0020] This makes it possible to improve the visibility of the signaling means from outside the vehicle.

[0021] According to one variant, the display control means is configured to deactivate the light signaling means when no recharging is in progress.

[0022] This makes it possible to signal this status simply and to hide the signaling system during normal use of the vehicle.

[0023] Another object of the invention relates to an interfacing method for a motor vehicle which comprises: - a steering wheel rim for guiding the motor vehicle when it is moving; - a rechargeable traction battery; and - a battery monitoring system connected to said traction battery, signaling different charging statuses when recharging the traction battery; the method comprising a light signaling step for displaying, on said steering wheel rim, among several light colors, a light color corresponding to a specific charging status in progress; and / or a traction battery charge state gauge.

[0024] The invention further relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the interfacing method according to the invention, when said program operates on a computer.

[0025] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with the signaling means of the interface system in a first configuration; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle according to the preferred embodiment with the signaling means of the interface system in a second configuration; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a section along III-III of [Fig.l]; and - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the operation of a signaling element of the motor vehicle according to the preferred embodiment.

[0026] The invention relates to a charging interface system, implemented in a motor vehicle V.

[0027] The vehicle V suitable for the invention comprises, in addition to a steering wheel rim J, a rechargeable traction battery B, and a battery control system S (such as a battery management system abbreviated BMS).

[0028] These elements are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

[0029] The steering wheel rim J defines a reference frame comprising a front-rear axis X along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle V, a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the front-rear axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the front-rear axis X and to the lateral axis Y. The upward direction is towards the top of Figures 1 to 3.

[0030] The battery control system S controls and controls the traction battery B. When recharging the traction battery B, the battery control system S can signal different recharging statuses, including for example; - an initialized recharge S1; - a current S2 recharge; - a scheduled S3 recharge; - a disconnection of the Sla charging cable; - a completed recharge S4; and - a recharge in S5 error.

[0031] It is also possible to define a disabled charging status S0.

[0032] According to the invention, the interface system is configured to implement light signaling by LED(s) L or other light device, to display, on said steering wheel rim J, a light color L1 from among several possible light colors (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5). The light color L1 displayed corresponds to a specific charging status SI in progress.

[0033] In addition, the interface system displays a state of charge gauge SOC of the traction battery B.

[0034] Certain indications accessible in the prior art relate to an action physical: a charging cable socket, a connection of the cable to the vehicle on one side, then a connection of the cable to a charging point. The operation is also valid by starting with a connection to the charging point and then to the vehicle.

[0035] The disadvantage of the prior art solution is that it does not give an indication of the charge level and is not easily visible from the outside.

[0036] The invention aims to allow the user located outside his vehicle to simply and easily view the charge status of his vehicle without necessarily approaching its charging hatch where he connects the charging gun.

[0037] In the preferred variant, the invention consists of reproducing a current charging status signaling coding on the rim of the steering wheel J so that the information is visible from the passenger compartment, but also outside the vehicle by also integrating the information from the SOC battery gauge. In our example, each segment (element El) represents 10% of the battery. The reference En designates all 9 other segments. Thus, [Fig.l] represents a vehicle with a state of charge at 100%, while [Fig.2] represents a vehicle with a state of charge at 50%.

[0038] The SOC gauge is materialized by a corresponding number of illuminated segments, the signaling is materialized by the color, supplemented where appropriate by a display period or flashing, on one or preferably all the segments El, En.

[0039] Preferably, the integration of the light devices must allow viewing from the passenger compartment, but also outside the vehicle. They are therefore substantially on top of the rim J, with reference to a vertical axis of the vehicle V.

[0040] It is possible to provide for the elements El, En, single-color LEDs and / or at least one LED of several colors.

[0041] In particular, the light correspondence with the charging statuses is for example as follows: - the initialized recharge SI corresponds to a fixed white color L1 for a first time tl; - the current recharge S2 corresponds to a flashing green color L2; - the scheduled recharge S3 corresponds to a fixed blue color L3; - the disconnection Sla corresponds to a fixed white color L1 for a second time t2; - the recharge completed S4 corresponds to a fixed green color L4; and - the S5 error recharge corresponds to a red L5 color.

[0042] In the case of the deactivated charging status S0, the light signaling means L can be deactivated, i.e. the LEDs are switched off.

[0043] A display control means connected to the battery control system S (or forming part thereof) may be defined. This display control means controls the display of the color corresponding to the current charging status. It also preferably controls the flashing and display periods if applicable.

[0044] Furthermore, this display control means controls the display of the SOC gauge.

[0045] A corresponding method and program are implemented in a computer-type control system. It can be implemented in a BMS battery management system or in an on-board computer of the motor vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (V) comprising: - a steering wheel rim (J) for guiding the motor vehicle (V) when it is moving; - a rechargeable traction battery (B); and - a battery control system (S) connected to said traction battery (B), signaling different charging statuses (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) during charging of the traction battery; - a charging interface system, characterized in that the charging interface system comprises: - a light signaling means (L) arranged on said steering wheel rim (J), configured to alternately display one of several light colors (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5), and / or a state of charge gauge (SOC) of the traction battery;- a display control means connected to the battery control system (S), the display control means being configured to control a display on the light signaling means (L), of a light color (Ll) corresponding to a current charging status (SI) and / or a display of the state of charge gauge (SOC) of the traction battery.;

2. Motor vehicle (V) according to claim 1, wherein: - the light signaling means (L) comprises several signaling elements (El, En) forming the state of charge gauge (SOC) of the traction battery; and - the display control means is configured to control a display of the state of charge gauge (SOC) by lighting up a part of said signaling elements (El, En).

3. Motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the display control means is configured to control: - a flashing display of a light color (L2) corresponding to a first charging status (S2); or - a fixed display of the same light color (L4) corresponding to a second different charging status (S4).

4. Motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: - the light signaling means (L) is configured to display al- alternatively one of four light colors (Ll, L2, L3, L4, L5), and - the display control means is configured to control a display of a light color (Ll, L2, L3, L4, L5) corresponding to a charging status among an initialized charging (SI), a charging in progress (S2), a scheduled charging (S3), a disconnection (Sla) of the charging cable, a charging completed (S4), a charging in error (S5).

5. Motor vehicle (V) according to claim 4, in which: - the initialized recharge (S1) corresponds to a fixed white color (L1) for a first time (t1); - the recharge in progress (S2) corresponds to a flashing green color (L2); - the programmed recharge (S3) corresponds to a fixed blue color (L3); - the disconnection (S1a) corresponds to a fixed white color (L1) for a second time (t2); - the completed recharge (S4) corresponds to a fixed green color (L4); and - the recharge in error (S5) corresponds to a red color (L5).

6. Motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the display control means is configured to deactivate the light signaling means (L) when no recharging is in progress.

7. Motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the steering wheel rim (J) in a reference frame in space comprising a front-rear axis (X) following a direction of movement of the motor vehicle (V), a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the front-rear axis (X), and a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the front-rear axis (X) and to the lateral axis (Y), characterized in that the signaling means is arranged substantially above the steering wheel rim (J) with reference to the vertical axis (Z).

8. Motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the display control means is configured to deactivate the light signaling means when no recharging is in progress.

9. Interfacing method for a motor vehicle (V) which comprises: - a steering wheel rim (J) for guiding the motor vehicle (V) when it is moving; - a rechargeable traction battery (B); and - a battery control system (S) connected to said traction battery (B), signaling different charging statuses (SI, S2, S3, S4, S5) when recharging the traction battery (B); the method comprising a light signaling step (L) for displaying, on said steering wheel rim (J), from among several light colors (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5), a light color (L1) corresponding to a specific charging status (SI) in progress; and / or a state of charge (SOC) gauge of the traction battery.

10. A computer program comprising program code instructions for performing the steps of the interfacing method according to claim 9, when said program is running on a computer.

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