ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING PROXIMITY PILOT SIGNAL DETECTION BY STORING THE CHARGING CONNECTOR IN ITS HOUSING

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a charging cable (11) having an adapter tip (15) removable from a housing having a charging connector (40) connected to the vehicle's control means (10) and cooperating with the adapter tip (15), which is a type 2 plug having a first resistor (60) of value Rc between an earth terminal PE (3) and a proximity pilot terminal PP (4). This charging connector (40) includes an attached cable storage detection device (70) comprising a switch (30) in series with a second resistor (35) of the same value Rc as said first resistor (60), between a normal closed position (B) of said switch (30) and said earth terminal PE (3), said switch (30) being movable between said normal closed position (B) where it is closed, and a non-connected position (A) where it is open. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING DETECTION OF THE PROXIMITY PILOT SIGNAL BY STORING THE CHARGING CONNECTOR IN ITS HOUSING

[0001] The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body, control means, electrical energy storage means, and, for recharging said electrical energy storage means with energy, at least one charging cable housed in a cable housing included in said body, said at least one charging cable being provided with an adapter end piece at a distal end, for its connection to an external connector of a charging terminal external to said motor vehicle, said adapter end piece being extractable from said housing, which housing comprises a charging connector connected to said control means and arranged to cooperate mechanically and electrically with said adapter end piece, which is a type 2 socket which comprises a first resistor of value Rc between an earth terminal PE and a proximity pilot terminal PP.

[0002] For recharging electric or hybrid motor vehicles, the Type 2 plug is the standard to follow in Europe for all electric vehicles sold (and the Type 1 plug in North America and South Korea). The Type 2 plug has seven male pins and a handle. The Type 2 plug supports alternating current with a maximum intensity of 70 A in single-phase, and 63 A in three-phase. Generally, the Type 2 plug includes connectors for three phases (L1, L2 and L3), an earth connection called a PE (proximity earth) contact, a neutral and two controls: proximity pilot PP, and control pilot CP, for current limitation. This makes it possible to offer several charging levels.The two PP and CP controls allow the exchange of information between the charging station and the vehicle according to a standardized protocol, and thus optimize electric charging.

[0003] To avoid any risk of damage to the vehicle, the cable and / or the charging station, the vehicles are equipped with a device which prevents the vehicle from starting as soon as a plug is connected.

[0004] We are witnessing attempts at "car jacking" or car theft carried out by criminals equipped with a cable adapter tip (type 2 socket) who insert it into the vehicle's charging connector housed in the vehicle's hatch, thus knowing how to trigger the vehicle to stop, which then automatically goes into safety mode so as not to tear off the cable presumed to be connected to this tip: the vehicle and its occupants are then at the mercy of the wrongdoers.

[0005] The international standard IEC61851-1, Edition 3.0, 2017-02, defines in §B.2, pages 227 to 229, a circuit for simultaneous proximity detection and current coding.

[0006] The PP proximity driver serves as charging cable detection and current limitation. The main purpose of the PP proximity driver is to indicate that the vehicle is connected to a charging station to prevent it from starting if the charging cable is not disconnected (during electrical charging, the probability that a user will start the vehicle and leave with the cable attached is much greater than in a thermal vehicle because there will be no waiting next to the car for charging to finish).

[0007] The proximity driver is used to detect the charging cable, and to limit the current.

[0008] It is important that the motor vehicle knows that it is connected to a charger or terminal. The proximity driver in the charging socket fulfills this function by creating a circuit via a resistor Rc, which is connected to the pin of the earth contact PE, this resistor Rc is standardized so as to activate the car's immobilizer. Thus, by applying a voltage to the proximity driver pin PP, a current flow (or a voltage drop) will be detected when a socket is connected, because this will create an electrical circuit.

[0009] In the case of a charging cable attached to the vehicle, it is important to be able to reproduce this detection of the cable to produce the same effects on the vehicle side.

[0010] The resistance Rc can have different values ​​in a type 2 plug. The two most common values ​​are 680 Ohm and 220 Ohm, although the standard also defines 1500 Ohm and 100 Ohm.

[0011] The proximity signal is used for simultaneous proximity detection and coding of the current capacity of the cable assembly. The value of the resistance connected between the proximity driver PP and the ground contact PE determines the maximum permissible current of the cable assembly (e.g. 13A, 20A, 32A, 63A or 70A). When the charger detects a certain value of the resistance, it must adjust its maximum current according to the maximum current signaled by the cable resistance. This maximum current value will then be communicated to the electric vehicle via the communication protocol of the control contact CP.

[0012] In short, the PP proximity connector prevents any restarting of the vehicle. The principle is to detect the insertion of a type 2 plug into the vehicle's charging interface, whether this cable is connected to a power source or not. The simple act of connecting a plug varies an internal resistance Ra measured on the vehicle via the PP proximity driver. This functionality was initially developed to prevent the user from starting their vehicle if they forget that it is connected and charging to avoid damaging the car, the cable or the charging station. recharge.

[0013] This is to provide the legal user of the vehicle with the possibility of driving, with the adapter tip

[0014] Retrofitting an electric vehicle to integrate this safety generally requires software development, which results in development and management costs, particularly in maintenance.

[0015] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing purely hardware detection of the proximity pilot signal, and in particular to carry out this detection by storing the adapter tip on the charging connector in the hatch provided for this purpose.

[0016] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body, control means, electrical energy storage means, and, for recharging said electrical energy storage means with energy, at least one charging cable housed in a cable housing included in said body, said at least one charging cable being provided with an adapter end piece at a distal end, for its connection to an external connector of a charging terminal external to said motor vehicle, said adapter end piece being extractable from said housing, which housing comprises a charging connector connected to said control means and arranged to cooperate mechanically and electrically with said adapter end piece, which is a type 2 socket which comprises a first resistor of value Rc between an earth terminal PE and a proximity pilot terminal PP.

[0017] According to the invention, said charging connector comprises, in series on a proximity pilot circuit connected to said piloting means, an attached cable storage detection device which comprises a switch in series with a second resistor of the same value Rc as said first resistor and which is interposed between a normal closing position B of said switch and said earth terminal PE, said switch being movable between said normal closing position B where it is closed, and a non-connection position A where it is open.

[0018] Thanks to the invention, the safety of the vehicle is ensured against any attempt at car jacking by forced immobilization of the vehicle.

[0019] Advantageously, the change of state of said switch is controlled by the insertion or extraction of said adapter tip into said charging connector or out of said charging connector.

[0020] Thus the user does not have to perform any particular manipulation.

[0021] Advantageously, said attached cable storage detection device is arranged to open the proximity driver circuit when said adapter tip is inserted into said charging connector, and which is arranged to close the driver circuit proximity when said adapter tip is removed from said charging connector.

[0022] This configuration makes it possible to very simply deceive the vehicle's electrical system, based on basic, low-cost electrical components, and without requiring a software update of the control means.

[0023] Advantageously, when said adapter tip is removed from said charging connector, said control means control the actuation of a locking finger of the charging socket.

[0024] Thus strong security is ensured.

[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 the invention, and the battery charging circuit; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a storage detection device of cable specific to the invention, installed at the level of a charging connector capable of receiving an adapter tip of the vehicle charging cable; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the electric charging management circuit of the vehicle.

[0026] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electric or hybrid motor vehicle 100 according to the invention, which comprises a body 50, control means 10, electrical energy storage means 20, and, for recharging these electrical energy storage means 20 with energy, at least one charging cable 11. This at least one charging cable 11 is housed in a cable housing 12 which the body 50 comprises; it is provided with an adapter end piece 15 at a distal end, for its connection to an external connector of a charging terminal external to the motor vehicle 100. The adapter end piece 15 is extractable, from a closed road position, to an open charging position, from a housing 12 which the bodywork 50 comprises. This housing 12 comprises a charging connector 40, connected directly or indirectly to the control means 10, and which is arranged to cooperate mechanically and electrically with this adapter end piece 15.This adapter tip is in particular a standard type 2 socket, which includes a first resistor 60 of value Rc, according to the relevant range of the IEC61851-1 standard cited above, which is interposed between the standard terminal 3 (PE earth contact) and the standard terminal 4 (PP proximity pilot) of the type 2 socket.

[0027] This first resistor RC has the effect, when the adapter tip 15 is connected to the charging connector 40 of the vehicle 100, of lowering the voltage, which is detected by the control means 10 of the vehicle.

[0028] The standard relating to the admitted values ​​of Rc authorizes the passage of a certain class of intensity in the load circuit.

[0029] The principle of the invention consists in detecting, not the fact of having connected a charging cable 11 to the vehicle 100 as in the prior art, but the fact of having extracted the charging cable 11 integrated into the vehicle 100 from its housing 12, generally a hatch which can be closed by a flap.

[0030] This involves deceiving the electrical system of the vehicle 100, in order to reduce the functional impacts, and to avoid any software development. The detection of the presence of the charging cable 11 is based on hardware elements, electrical or electronic components. The existing functionality at the level of the electrical pins of the connector is used and the system is deceived into believing that a connector has been plugged into the socket.

[0031] When the adapter tip 15 of the cable integrated into the vehicle 100 is correctly stored in its housing 12, in cooperation with the charging connector 40, it is necessary to detect the resistance of the socket, between two resistance values ​​which is located behind the storage interface of the adapter tip 15 (in the housing 12): this is an analog detection.

[0032] A switch 30 is located at the proximity pilot connector PP (in the storage housing 12 of the adapter tip 15 of the integrated cable), and simulates the signal by the two resistance values.

[0033] The signal from the proximity pilot PP is read by the control means 10 of the vehicle 100, including in particular a vehicle controller called VCU (“Vehicle control unit”), to determine, depending on whether the integrated charging cable 11 is stored or not, with its adapter end 15, in its housing 12, and connected or not to the charging connector 40, whether the proximity pilot PP is equivalent to a resistance value indicating the presence or absence of a cable adapter end in the charging connector.

[0034] The detection of the proximity pilot PP is carried out by the switch 30 present at the connection of the charging connector 40 in the housing 12 which can be closed by the hatch.

[0035] Thus, according to the invention, and as visible in [Fig.2], which is an extract of the overall charging control system illustrated in [Fig.3], the charging connector 40 comprises, in series on a proximity pilot circuit 80 connected to the piloting means 10, an attached cable storage detection device 70. This device 70 comprises a switch 30, here marked “S4”, in series with a second resistor 35 of the same value Rc as said first resistor 60 and which is interposed between a normal closing position B of the switch 30 and the earth terminal PE 3. This switch 30 is movable between this normal closing position B where it is closed, and a non-connection position A where it is open.

[0036] This switch 30 S4 follows the storage or exit of the cable in its housing or out of its housing.

[0037] The change of state of this switch 30 is controlled by the insertion or extraction of the adapter tip 15 into the charging connector 40 or out of said charging connector 40.

[0038] Thus, by reproducing the same standardized resistance value Rc, in the circuit of the charging connector 40, when the cable and its adapter tip are extracted, this second resistance 35 of value Rc is put under tension. Everything then happens, seen from the control means, as if we were in the opposite state to the real state.

[0039] When the adapter tip 15 is stored in the housing 12, inserted into the charging connector 40, the switch 30 S4 is open (position A), the control means 10 do not read any resistance on the circuit of the proximity pilot PP.

[0040] When the adapter tip 15 is removed from the housing 12, extracted from the charging connector 40, the switch 30 S4 is closed (position B), the control means 10 read the resistance value Rc on the proximity pilot circuit PP.

[0041] The interpretation of these resistance values ​​Rc is then carried out by the control means 10, in particular the VCU, in the same way as they are read in the case of connecting a cable into a charging connector.

[0042] For example, the proximity pilot PP corresponds to the switch in the ON position (detection of the charging connector), the cable is stored: the tip is plugged into the connector, and starting the vehicle is possible.

[0043] In another position, the proximity pilot PP corresponds to the switch in the OFF position (no connector detection), the cable is out: no cable plugged into the connector. Actuation of the charging socket locking finger (plugging a charging cable into the opposite connector is impossible). Starting the vehicle is impossible.

[0044] The technical advantage is to have a system that is transparent to the vehicle's electrical and high-voltage architecture. Indeed, this solution does not require any development of new control software (no software or hardware development of one of the vehicle's computers that make up the electric powertrain).

[0045] In addition, the detection of the proximity pilot signal PP at the housing, in particular the access hatch for the charging cable attached to the vehicle, makes it possible to automatically actuate a locking finger of the charging connector in the opposite charging socket, which has the effect of preventing any connection of an additional charging connector and therefore damage to the vehicle or the charging infrastructure (treatment of cases of misuse).

[0046] In short, the integrated support includes presence detection, in order to authorize the start, if and only if the charging plug is correctly fixed on its support.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle (100) comprising a body (50), control means (10), electrical energy storage means (20), and, for recharging said electrical energy storage means (20) with energy, at least one charging cable (11) housed in a cable housing (12) included in said body (50), said at least one charging cable (11) being provided with an adapter end piece (15) at a distal end, for its connection to an external connector of a charging terminal external to said motor vehicle (100), said adapter end piece (15) being removable from said housing (12), which housing (12) comprises a charging connector (40) connected to said control means (10) and arranged to cooperate mechanically and electrically with said adapter end piece (15), which is a type 2 socket which comprises a first resistor (60) of value Rc between an earth terminal PE (3) and a proximity pilot terminal PP (4),characterized in that said charging connector (40) comprises, in series on a proximity pilot circuit (80) connected to said pilot means (10), an attached cable storage detection device (70) which comprises a switch (30) in series with a second resistor (35) of the same value Rc as said first resistor (60) and which is interposed between a normal closing position (B) of said switch (30) and said earth terminal PE (3), said switch (30) being movable between said normal closing position (B) where it is closed, and a non-connection position (A) where it is open.,

2. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that the change of state of said switch (30) is controlled by the insertion or extraction of said adapter tip (15) into said charging connector (40) or out of said charging connector (40).

3. An electric or hybrid motor vehicle (100) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said attached cable storage detection device (70) is arranged to open the proximity driver circuit when said adapter tip (15) is inserted into said charging connector (40), and which is arranged to close the proximity driver circuit when said adapter tip (15) is removed from said charging connector (40).

4. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle (100) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that, when said adapter tip (15) is removed from said charging connector (40), said control means (10) control the actuation of a locking finger of the charging socket.

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