CHARGER DISCHARGES FOR CHARGING OR DISCHARGED A BATTERY IN AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a docked charger 13 for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V), comprising a female input connector (1), a male output connector (2), an input relay (3), an input electromagnetic compatibility filter (4), an input leakage current detector (5), a power factor correction circuit (6) comprising a non-isolated AC / DC converter, an output electromagnetic compatibility filter (7), an output leakage current detector (8), and an output relay (9). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: LANDING CHARGER FOR CHARGING OR DISCHARGED A BATTERY ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to electrical circuits for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

[0002] Prior art patent application WO2015135687 is known, describing a portable, bidirectional, multiport AC / DC charging cable system for supplying power to and from a vehicle battery. The system comprises a DC input / output cable coupled to the vehicle, an AC input cable coupled to a power source, and a power module coupled to the DC input / output cable on one side and to the AC input cable on the other. The power module also includes an output for supplying power to an external power load. The external power load is a small household appliance, a computer charger, or a mobile phone charger. Finally, the power module includes an AC / DC converter to isolate the vehicle from the power source and the external power load.The AC / DC converter includes an isolating circuit comprising a transformer. However, a drawback remains. The system described does not include a leakage current detector, which is essential to protect the user and the vehicle from electrical hazards, particularly in the event of an electrical insulation failure by the AC / DC converter.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks, to reduce the overall mass of the vehicle and to ensure the safety of users when using the system.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention provides a remote charger for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, the battery being capable of supplying direct current, the remote charger being configured to be electrically connected to an electrical network supplying alternating current, said remote charger comprising a charging cable capable of electrically connecting the remote charger and the vehicle battery, the remote charger comprising a female input socket configured to distribute alternating current from the electrical network to the vehicle battery, a male output socket configured to distribute direct current to the electrical network, and an input relay configured to electrically isolate the remote charger in the event of detection of a current of leakage to earth, an input compatibility electromagnetic filter configured to reduce electromagnetic interference at the input of the landed charger, an output compatibility electromagnetic filter configured to reduce electromagnetic interference at the output of the landed charger, an output relay configured to electrically isolate the landed charger in case of detection of a leakage current to earth, notable in that said landed charger comprises: - an input leakage current detector configured to detect a leakage current to earth, said input leakage current detector being capable of communicating with said input relay to control the electrical isolation of the unloaded charger when the leakage current is detected; - a power factor correction circuit configured to provide voltage step-down or step-up conversion, said power factor correction circuit comprising a non-isolated AC / DC converter to convert AC from the electrical grid into DC to recharge the battery or to convert DC to AC to supply the electrical grid from the battery; - an output leakage current detector configured to detect a leakage current to earth, said output leakage current detector being capable of communicating with said output relay to control the electrical isolation of the unloaded charger when leakage current is detected.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the vehicle does not have an on-board charger, which has the advantage of reducing the overall mass of the vehicle.

[0006] Advantageously, the dismounted charger includes a male plug intended to couple to an external equipment to supply it with electrical current, the male output plug being configured to distribute the direct current from the vehicle battery to the electrical network or to the external equipment, the non-isolated AC / DC converter being configured to convert the alternating current from the electrical network into a direct current to recharge the battery or to convert the direct current into an alternating current to power the electrical network or the external equipment from the battery.

[0007] The energy stored by the vehicle's battery can then be used to recharge electrical equipment, which is particularly useful when the user does not have access to an electrical network or during a power outage.

[0008] Advantageously, the direct current used to recharge the battery is a pulsed direct current generated by the power factor correction circuit.

[0009] Pulsed direct current reduces the risk of battery overheating compared to continuous electrical delivery.

[0010] Advantageously, the charging cable consists of a type 2 charging cable.

[0011] The invention is particularly suitable for type 2 charging cables since the latter are powered by a domestic socket delivering alternating current, and not by a charging station.

[0012] The invention further relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery configured to receive or deliver an electric current through a charger mounted for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method of charging or discharging a vehicle battery by a charger mounted on the ground for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of electrically connecting the unloaded charger to the electrical network; - an electrical connection step of the charging cable to the vehicle's battery, the alternating current from the electrical network being converted into direct current, preferably pulsed direct current, by the charger removed in order to charge the battery or the direct current from the battery being converted into an alternating current by the charger removed before distributing the alternating current to the electrical network, thus causing the discharge of said vehicle battery.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of charging external equipment from a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle by means of a charger mounted on top of the previously described charger for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, remarkable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of connecting the external equipment to the male plug of the unloaded charger, the direct current from the battery being converted into an alternating current by the unloaded charger before distributing the alternating current to the external equipment, thus causing the discharge of said vehicle battery and the charging of the external equipment.

[0015] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a bidirectional reloading system including a charger that is mounted on top for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in the form of a flowchart, the internal configuration of the dismounted loader illustrated on [Fig.1].

[0016] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a bidirectional charging system comprising a mounted charger 13 for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle V according to an embodiment of the invention. The mounted charger 13 is electrically connected to an electrical outlet 11, which is itself electrically connected to an electrical network R supplying alternating current. An electrical cable 12, which can also be called an extension cord, is configured to connect the electrical outlet 11 and the mounted charger 13. The mounted charger 13 has a male plug 14 configured to couple with said electrical cable 12. In Figure 1, the electrical cable 12 has a male plug for inserting into said electrical outlet 11 and a female plug for inserting into the male plug 14.Furthermore, the dismounted charger 13 includes a charging cable 10 suitable for electrical connection to the vehicle's battery V, as is known in the prior art. Generally, the vehicle V has a charging base, and the charging cable 10 has, at its end, a charging gun 16 as shown in [Fig. 1], which is suitable for insertion into said charging base. Preferably, the charging cable 10 is a type 2 charging cable. Different types of charging cables exist depending on the charging method of said vehicle V. Indeed, the charging of the electric or hybrid vehicle V can be carried out using different charging methods. Mode 2 allows slow charging of the vehicle V using alternating current via a household electrical outlet. Mode 3, which is faster than mode 2, charges the vehicle V via a type 3 charging cable.The type 3 charging cable is connected to an electric charging station that distributes alternating current. A mode 4 can be implemented by an electric charging station delivering direct current at a very high power level. In the context of the invention, the type 2 charging cable is the most suitable because the onboard charger 13 is configured to be electrically connected to the electrical outlet 11, whether it is supplied by a public or private electrical network. Preferably, the onboard charger 13 also includes a female connector 15 for coupling to external equipment to supply it with electrical current, and thus perform its recharging.

[0017] Figure 2 schematically illustrates, in the form of a flowchart, the internal configuration of the off-board charger 13. The off-board charger 13 has a female input socket 1 configured to distribute alternating current from the electrical network R to the vehicle battery V when the off-board charger 13 is connected electrically connected to the electrical outlet 11, so that it is powered by the electrical network R. Furthermore, the off-board charger 13 has a male output outlet 2 configured to distribute the direct current from the vehicle battery V to the electrical network R. The off-board charger 13 also includes an input relay 3 configured to electrically isolate the off-board charger 13 in the event of a ground fault current detection, and an input ground fault current detector 5 configured to detect a ground fault current. The ground fault current detector 5 is capable of communicating with said input relay 3 to control its actuation, i.e., to electrically isolate the off-board charger 13 when the ground fault current is detected. An input electromagnetic compatibility filter 4 is positioned between the input relay 3 and the input ground fault current detector 5.The input electromagnetic compatibility filter 4 reduces electromagnetic interference at the input of the load cell 13, thus preventing the load cell 13 from generating or experiencing electrical disturbances. The load cell 13 includes a power factor correction circuit 6, also known as a PFC Buck-Boost circuit. The power factor correction circuit 6 converts the voltage and adjusts it, reducing or increasing it, so that it is suitable and usable by the receiving component, for example, the battery. For example, if a low-voltage battery with a voltage of 250 V is to be charged from a 310 V mains supply, the voltage must be regulated by the power factor correction circuit 6.The power factor correction circuit 6 includes a non-isolated AC / DC converter to convert AC power from the mains (R) to DC power for charging the battery, or to convert DC power from the battery to AC power for supplying mains power (R) or external equipment. Preferably, the DC power used to charge the battery is pulsed DC power generated by the power factor correction circuit. Pulsed DC power is delivered in pulses, which reduces the risk of battery overheating compared to continuous power delivery.The power factor correction circuit 6 is said to be reversible because electrical energy can flow from the female input socket 1 to the vehicle's battery V to charge said battery, or from the vehicle's battery V to the male output socket 2 or to the external equipment to discharge said battery. The arrows illustrated in [Fig. 2] represent the different possible paths of the electrical current. The off-board charger 13 includes an output electromagnetic filter 7 configured to reduce electromagnetic interference to prevent disturbances from being emitted towards the battery, thus ensuring electromagnetic compatibility. Finally, the charger... The charger 13 includes an output leakage current detector 8 and an output relay 9. The output leakage current detector 8, like the input leakage current detector 5, is designed to detect any leakage current to ground between the charger 13 and the vehicle battery V. The output leakage current detector 8 is capable of communicating with the output relay 9 to control electrical isolation of the charger 13 when a leakage current is detected. The fact that the AC / DC converter of the power factor correction circuit 6 is not isolated presents safety and performance risks, including risks of electric shock and system malfunction.Indeed, in the unisolated AC / DC converter, there is no galvanic isolation between the components powered by AC from the electrical grid R and the components powered by DC. Therefore, direct or indirect connections between the AC and DC currents can occur, leading to dangerous voltages on the components. The input leakage current detector 5 and the output leakage current detector 8 are thus essential. Without them, no detection of current leakage to earth would be possible, and in the event of contact with a component of the system or vehicle V energized by a leakage, a user could be electrocuted. Furthermore, an undetected current leakage to earth is likely to cause overheating of the components of the off-loading charger 13.

[0018] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery configured to receive or deliver an electric current through the dismounted charger 13 for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described.

[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for charging or discharging the battery of vehicle V by said off-board charger 13 for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid automobile vehicle V. The method comprises a step of electrically connecting the off-board charger 13 to the electrical network R, for example by connecting the electrical cable 12 to the electrical socket 11 on the one hand and to the off-board charger 13 on the other hand, as well as a step of electrically connecting the charging cable 10 to the battery of vehicle V, for example via the charging gun 16 and the charging base of vehicle V as previously described.Thus, the alternating current from the electrical network R is converted into a direct current, preferably a pulsed direct current, by the dismounted charger 13 in order to charge the battery, or the direct current from the battery is converted into an alternating current by the dismounted charger 13 before distributing the alternating current to the electrical network R, thus causing the discharge of said battery of the vehicle V.

[0020] Finally, the invention relates to a method for charging external equipment from the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle V using a mounted charger 13 for charging or discharging the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle V when the mounted charger 13 includes a female connector 15. The method comprises a step of connecting the external equipment to said female connector 15 of the mounted charger 13, the direct current from the battery being converted into alternating current by the mounted charger 13 before distributing the alternating current to the external equipment. This has the effect of charging the external equipment and discharging the vehicle's battery V.

Claims

1. Demands A load-bearing charger (13) for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V), the battery being capable of supplying direct current, the load-bearing charger (13) being configured to be electrically connected to an electrical network (R) supplying alternating current, said load-bearing charger (13) comprising a charging cable (10) capable of electrically connecting the load-bearing charger (13) and the vehicle battery (V), the load-bearing charger (13) comprising a female input socket (1) configured to distribute alternating current from the electrical network (R) to the vehicle battery (V), a male output socket (2) configured to distribute direct current to the electrical network (R), an input relay (3) configured to electrically isolate the load-bearing charger (13) in the event of detection of a leakage current to earth,an input compatibility electromagnetic filter (4) configured to reduce electromagnetic interference at the input of the unloaded charger (13), an output compatibility electromagnetic filter (7) configured to reduce electromagnetic interference at the output of the unloaded charger (13), an output relay (9) configured to electrically isolate the unloaded charger (13) in the event of detection of a leakage current to earth, characterized in that said unloaded charger (13) comprises:, - an input leakage current detector (5) configured to detect a leakage current to earth, said input leakage current detector (5) being capable of communicating with said input relay (3) to control the electrical isolation of the dismounted charger (13) when the leakage current is detected; - a power factor correction circuit (6) configured to provide a voltage step-down or step-up conversion, said power factor correction circuit comprising a non-isolated AC / DC converter to convert the AC from the electrical network (R) into DC to recharge the battery or to convert the DC to AC to supply the electrical network (R) from the battery; - an output leakage current detector (8) configured to detect a leakage current to earth, said output leakage current detector (8) being capable of communicating with said output relay (9) to control the electrical isolation of the unloaded charger (13) when the leakage current is detected.

2. Off-loading charger (13) according to claim 1 characterized in that the off-loading charger (13) has a female socket (15) for coupling to an external piece of equipment to supply it with electrical current, the male output socket (2) being configured to distribute the direct current from the vehicle battery (V) to the electrical network (R) or to the external equipment, the non-isolated AC / DC converter being configured to convert the alternating current from the electrical network (R) into a direct current to recharge the battery or to convert the direct current into an alternating current to supply the electrical network (R) or the external equipment from the battery.

3. Dismounted charger (13) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the direct current used to recharge the battery is a pulsed direct current generated by the power factor correction circuit (6).

4. Dismounted charger (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the charging cable (10) consists of a type 2 charging cable.

5. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V) comprising a battery configured to receive or deliver an electric current through a dismounted charger (13) for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A method for charging or discharging a vehicle battery (V) by means of a mounted charger (13) for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of electrically connecting the mounted charger (13) to the electrical network (R); - a step of electrically connecting the charging cable (10) to the vehicle battery (V), the alternating current from the electrical network (R) being converted into direct current, preferably into pulsed direct current, by the off-site charger (13) in order to charge the battery or the direct current from the battery being converted into an alternating current by the off-site charger (13) before distributing the alternating current to the electrical network (R), thus causing the discharge of said vehicle battery (V).

7. Method of charging an external equipment from a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V) by a mounted charger (13) for charging or discharging a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (V) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of connecting the external equipment to the female socket (15) of the mounted charger (13), the direct current from the battery being converted into an alternating current by the mounted charger (13) before distributing the alternating current to the external equipment, thus causing the discharge of said battery of the vehicle (V) and the charging of the external equipment.

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