MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING AN UNDERFLOOR INDUCTION CHARGING RECEIVER AND A SECURE CONTROLLER, PROCESS AND PROGRAMMING BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment including a passenger floor; - a battery pack under the passenger floor, including a housing containing battery cells (C); - a wireless charging receiver (R) at the level of the battery cells (C), being disposed under the passenger floor, enabling wireless charging of the battery cells (C); - a means for detecting a rear passenger in the passenger compartment at the level of the passenger floor; - a charge controller connected to the charge receiver (R) and to the detection means, characterized in that the charge controller prevents charging by the charge receiver (R) if the detection means detects a rear passenger. The invention also relates to a method and a program based on such a vehicle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING AN INDUCTION CHARGING RECEIVER UNDER FLOOR AND A SECURE CONTROLLER, PROCESS AND PROGRAMMING BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to the field of "hands-free" type battery charging systems and induction charging systems, for charging traction batteries of motor vehicles.

[0002] The evolution of electric vehicle charging systems is moving towards so-called comfort charging systems, which limit user intervention by offering hands-free conductive or inductive charging. In the latter case, dedicated induction systems can be integrated into the road.

[0003] Induction systems allow energy to be transmitted using the principle of electromagnetic induction.

[0004] They generally consist of two parts: a charging base and a receiver.

[0005] For example, for charging an electric vehicle: - the charging base, containing a coil of electrical wires, is positioned on the ground, and is connected to a power supply (usually called a "charging station"); - the receiver is placed under the vehicle and also includes a coil of electrical wires.

[0006] When the vehicle and its receiver are placed against or above the charging base, an electric current is sent to the coil of the charging base, creating a magnetic field. This magnetic field in turn generates an electric current in the coil of the receiver, which is used to recharge the vehicle's battery.

[0007] This energy transfer process does not require a physical connection or a wired charging cable. The distance between the charging base and the receiver (called the "air gap") must be as short as possible for the energy transfer to be efficient and safe. The main challenge of this type of system lies in the ability to define a receiver of sufficient size and to integrate it into the underbody of the electric vehicle, where available space is limited (or even non-existent, depending on the platform).

[0008] The major drawback of this type of system lies in the fact that the induction block on the vehicle side is located under the car and at a relatively short distance from the passengers.

[0009] Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly common to have passengers waiting inside the vehicle while it is charging. For example, some manufacturers offer entertainment systems (video games) to keep passengers occupied during charging. This poses a significant electrical risk to the vehicle's passengers.

[0010] One objective of the invention is to provide a compact wireless charging solution while ensuring the safety of vehicle passengers.

[0011] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle having a frame of reference in space comprising a longitudinal axis along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, the motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment which includes a passenger floor, a front area with reference to the longitudinal axis suitable for accommodating front passengers, and a rear area with reference to the longitudinal axis suitable for accommodating rear passengers; - a battery pack positioned under the passenger floor with reference to the vertical axis, comprising a casing housing battery cells; - a wireless charging receiver positioned at the battery cells to allow wireless charging of the battery cells, the receiver being positioned under the passenger floor; - a means of detecting a rear passenger that detects if a rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the level of the passenger floor; - a charge controller connected to the charge receiver and the detection means, characterized in that the charge controller prohibits charging by the charge receiver if the detection means detects a rear passenger.

[0012] Advantageously, the receiver is integrated into the vehicle's battery pack so as to allow integration under the rear passenger's feet, while improving passenger safety by preventing charging in the presence of a rear passenger. Thus, the risk of electrical hazards is avoided.

[0013] Preferably, the detection means includes an infrared detector and / or a radar.

[0014] This makes it possible to determine the presence of a passenger with precision.

[0015] Preferably, the detection means includes a seat belt buckle indicator, a floor detector, a seat detector, and / or a door open / close indicator.

[0016] This makes it possible to determine with certainty the presence of a rear passenger.

[0017] Preferably, the battery pack comprises front and rear cell housings with reference to the longitudinal vertical axis, and an intermediate narrowing between said cell housings, the narrowing being located at the level of the passenger floor.

[0018] This allows the space at the narrowing to be limited to accommodate the receiver and the feet of the rear passengers.

[0019] Preferably, the motor vehicle also includes a warning system alerting of the prohibition, preferably a visual and / or audible warning system.

[0020] This allows the user to be informed of the charging stoppage to avoid an electrical risk.

[0021] Preferably, the passenger compartment and the battery pack are arranged in a vehicle body, and the receiver is positioned under the vehicle body with reference to the vertical axis.

[0022] This allows the receiver to be placed as close as possible to the charging base.

[0023] The invention further relates to a method of charging a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising the following steps: - a detection step in which it is detected whether a rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the level of the passenger floor; - a prohibition step in which, if a rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the passenger floor level, then charging via the load receiver is prohibited; and - an authorization step in which if no rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the passenger floor level, then charging is authorized by the load receiver.

[0024] Preferably, the detection step includes seat belt buckle detection, floor detection, seat detection, infrared detection, radar detection, and / or door opening / closing detection.

[0025] Preferably, the charging method according to the invention further includes an alert step in which the driver is alerted to the prohibition.

[0026] Another object of the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the charging process according to the invention, when said program is running on a computer.

[0027] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which: - [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a battery pack arrangement of a vehicle according to the invention in its environment; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the operation of the charging method of the invention using the battery pack illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0028] The invention proposes to integrate directly an induction charging receiver R into the vehicle's battery pack in the center under the feet P of the rear passenger (called "row 2") while ensuring the safety of the occupants against the risks of electrocution.

[0029] The vehicle is described with reference to a frame of reference in space comprising a longitudinal axis X along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral axis Y.

[0030] The battery pack comprises C cells and their housings at the front and rear of the floor. Cross members T are provided for the structure of the battery pack. A narrowing is provided between the housings of the C cells (referred to as front and rear with reference to the longitudinal axis X) at the location where the receiver R is situated.

[0031] By making the receiver R (generally called a "wireless pad" in English) integrated with the battery pack, in particular as an integral part of the pack like other electronic components, the invention solves the problem of vehicle integration (having a single integration area, limiting the number of boxes and interconnection harnesses, and reducing the impact on the vehicle's ground clearance). Furthermore, it is also important to address the issue of protecting the vehicle's passengers P during charging.

[0032] The invention is defined on the one hand by the integration of the induction charging receiver R into the high-voltage battery of the vehicle; and on the other hand by the protection of the passengers P during the implementation of the induction charging system.

[0033] The main advantage of physical integration is to avoid any degradation of the vehicle's ground clearance performance since the receiver R is integrated into the battery pack within the limits of the vehicle's design and architecture.

[0034] The invention further includes a functional logic for starting a load by induction depending on whether or not passengers P are present at the rear of the vehicle and this in a totally independent manner of the load control system from the external device.

[0035] The induction charging system uses high frequencies of the order of 85kWHz which may represent a danger to persons equipped with pacemakers sensitive to parasitic magnetic fields and leakage currents produced by this type of device.

[0036] In order to eliminate any risk related to the proximity of the feet of the rear passenger P to the induction charging coil located below, the invention proposes to associate the triggering of the induction charging with the detection of the rear passengers P of the vehicle.

[0037] The functional logic is described in the logic diagram of [Fig.2], implemented by a load controller.

[0038] Reference U refers to the user who initiates the wireless charging referenced in W.

[0039] The charging system detects the earth (reference G), then determines the vehicle mode (reference M), either in standby SI (or “stand-by” in English), or in ready-to-drive RI (or “ready” in English).

[0040] Before starting an inductive load requested from outside the vehicle, the load controller verifies the presence or absence of passengers P inside the vehicle by means of a set of conditions described below, which are not exhaustive. This will be referred to as the passenger detection step PD.

[0041] If the condition is yes (passenger P present), the load controller alerts the driver A that inductive charging is not possible. If the condition is no, the system authorizes charging and indicates that charging is in progress. The alert includes an audible warning.

[0042] The possibility of detecting the presence of passengers P at the rear of the vehicle can be achieved by one or more of the following means: - a PDI seatbelt buckle indicator; - a PD2 under-seat detection mat; - a detection mat under the carpet; - infrared detection (for example by using volumetric alarm sensors); - a radar (for example a passenger monitoring system: for children for example); - a door open / close indicator; - etc.

[0043] In the event of the confirmed presence of a passenger P installed near the charging coil, an audible and visual information / alert is displayed to the driver indicating the impossibility of starting the induction charging due to the presence of occupants and the dangers posed by the magnetic fields generated by the charging.

[0044] The main advantage is the ability to limit the number of electronic control units required for the inductive charging system. From an industrial assembly standpoint, instead of assembling and connecting the electrical and cooling systems of two separate components (battery, induction receiver), only one assembled component is connected and mounted to the vehicle. The invention thus provides an all-inclusive battery pack integrated with its own inductive charging system.

[0045] In ready-to-roll mode RI, the system performs a standby sequence of the induction load S2.

[0046] The invention also makes it possible to limit the amount of high-voltage cable bundles and to add a specific cooling loop for the wireless charging receiver R.

[0047] The invention further relates to a control program implementing the process steps described above. The program can be loaded into the memory of a motor vehicle controller to implement the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor vehicle having a frame of reference in space comprising a longitudinal axis (X) along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), and a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and to the lateral axis (Y), the motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment which includes a passenger floor, a front area with reference to the longitudinal axis (X) suitable for accommodating front passengers, and a rear area with reference to the longitudinal axis (X) suitable for accommodating rear passengers; - a battery pack disposed under the passenger floor with reference to the vertical axis (Z), comprising a casing housing battery cells (C); - a wireless charging receiver (R) disposed at the level of the battery cells (C) so as to allow wireless charging of the battery cells (C), the receiver (R) being disposed under the passenger floor;- a rear passenger detection means that detects whether a rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the passenger floor level; - a charge controller connected to the charge receiver (R) and to the detection means, characterized in that the charge controller prohibits charging by the charge receiver (R) if the detection means detects a rear passenger.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection means comprises an infrared detector and / or a radar.

3. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the detection means comprises a seat belt buckle indicator, a floor detector, a seat detector, and / or a door open / close indicator.

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the battery pack comprises front and rear cell housings with reference to the longitudinal vertical axis (X), and an intermediate narrowing between said cell housings, the narrowing being disposed at the level of the passenger floor.

5. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a warning system (A) warning of the prohibition, preferably a visual and / or audible warning system.

6. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the passenger compartment and the battery pack are arranged in a vehicle body, characterized in that the receiver (R) is arranged under the vehicle body with reference to the vertical axis (Z).

7. A method for charging a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: - a detection step (PDI, PD2) in which it is detected whether a rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the passenger floor level; - a prohibition step (CI) in which if a rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the passenger floor level, then charging by the load receiver (R) is prohibited; and - an authorization step (CE) in which if no rear passenger is in the passenger compartment at the passenger floor level, then charging by the load receiver is authorized.

8. A charging method according to claim 7, characterized in that the detection step includes a seatbelt buckle detection (PDI), a floor detection, a seat detection (PD2), an infrared detection, a radar detection, and / or a door open / close detection.

9. A charging method according to any one of claims 7 to 8, further comprising an alert step (A) in which the driver is alerted to the prohibition.

10. Computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of the loading process according to any one of claims 7 to 9, when said program is running on a computer.

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