Device for connection, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide a device for connection capable of diverting a charger / discharger that does not comply with standards for charging an electric vehicle to a charger / discharger for an electric vehicle, and an information processing method.SOLUTION: A connection 1 for connection provided between a secondary battery 2 provided in an electric vehicle and a charger / discharger for charging and discharging the secondary battery includes a voltage measurement part, a current measurement part, and a control part 19. The control part includes a communication control part 193 for acquiring, from the secondary battery 2, secondary battery information being information on the secondary battery according to a first standard defined to charging / discharging of the secondary battery, a conversion part 194 for converting the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into converted information being secondary battery information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard, and an output part 195 for outputting to a charger / discharger 3 the converted information after the conversion, voltage information showing voltage measured by a voltage measurement part 13, and current information showing current measured by a current measurement part 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a charger for an electric vehicle has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a charger that performs charging and discharging in accordance with a standard for charging an electric vehicle such as CHAdeMO (registered trademark).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventional chargers for electric vehicles need to comply with the standards for charging electric vehicles and were manufactured by limited manufacturers, so there was a problem that the prices were high. On the other hand, for example, even if an inexpensive charger used for charging and discharging a secondary battery that stores electric power generated using solar energy is to be diverted to a charger for an electric vehicle, it cannot be diverted because the standards are different.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to make it possible to divert a charger that does not comply with the standards for charging an electric vehicle to a charger for an electric vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connection device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a connection device provided between a secondary battery included in an electric vehicle and a charger that charges and discharges the secondary battery, and includes a line that transmits power supplied from the secondary battery to the charger and power supplied from the charger to the secondary battery, a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage of the secondary battery, a current measurement unit that measures a current flowing through the line in which the secondary battery and the charger are electrically connected, an acquisition unit that acquires secondary battery information, which is information about the secondary battery according to a first standard defined for charging and discharging of the secondary battery, from the secondary battery, a conversion unit that converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard acquired by the acquisition unit into converted information, which is secondary battery information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard, and an output unit that outputs the converted information after being converted by the conversion unit, voltage information indicating the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit, and current information indicating the current measured by the current measurement unit to the charger.

[0007] The connection device may include an operation reception unit that receives a connection operation for electrically connecting the secondary battery and the charger, and when the operation reception unit receives the connection operation, the acquisition unit may start communication with the secondary battery according to the first standard and acquire the secondary battery information from the secondary battery.

[0008] The secondary battery information includes an upper limit value of a current allowed for the secondary battery, the connection device may include a detection unit that detects an electrical disconnection between the secondary battery and the connection device, and when the detection unit detects the electrical disconnection, the output unit may output, as the converted information, information indicating that the upper limit value of the current is 0 to the charger.

[0009] There are a plurality of first standards, and the connection device includes a standard identification unit that identifies the first standard corresponding to the secondary battery from among the plurality of first standards, and a storage unit that stores a conversion table for converting the secondary battery information corresponding to each of the plurality of first standards into converted information that is secondary battery information corresponding to the second standard. The conversion unit may refer to the conversion table stored in the storage unit and convert the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard identified by the standard identification unit into the converted information corresponding to the second standard.

[0010] There are a plurality of second standards, and the connection device includes a standard identification unit that identifies the second standard corresponding to the charger from among the plurality of second standards, and a storage unit that stores a conversion table for converting the information of the first standard into converted information that is secondary battery information corresponding to each of the plurality of second standards. The conversion unit may refer to the conversion table stored in the storage unit and convert the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into the converted information corresponding to the second standard identified by the standard identification unit.

[0011] The connection device may include a control unit that functions as the acquisition unit, the conversion unit, and the output unit, a first power supply unit that supplies power supplied from the outside to the control unit, and a second power supply unit that supplies power supplied from a battery used as a backup power supply to the control unit.

[0012] The information processing method according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided between a secondary battery and a charger provided in an electric vehicle, and transmits power supplied from the secondary battery to the charger and power supplied from the charger to the secondary battery. A connection device having a line, a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage of the secondary battery, and a current measurement unit that measures a current flowing between the secondary battery and the charger executes the following steps: obtaining secondary battery information, which is information about the secondary battery, from the secondary battery according to a first standard defined for the secondary battery; converting the obtained secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into converted information, which is secondary information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard; and outputting the converted converted information, voltage information indicating the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit, and current information indicating the current measured by the current measurement unit to the charger.

Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, there is an effect that a charger that does not conform to the charging standard of an electric vehicle can be diverted to a charger for an electric vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] <First Embodiment> [Overview of Connection Device 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overview of the connection device 1 according to the first embodiment. The connection device 1 is a connection device provided between a secondary battery 2 included in an electric vehicle EV and a charger 3 that charges and discharges the secondary battery.

[0016] The secondary battery 2 included in the electric vehicle EV can be electrically connected via a battery ECU (Electronic Control Unit) provided in the electric vehicle EV and a connector dedicated to electric vehicles, and can perform charging and discharging according to a first standard, which is a charging and discharging standard for electric vehicles. In the present embodiment, the first standard is described as, for example, the CHAdeMO protocol, but the first standard is not limited to this, and may be other charging and discharging standards for electric vehicles. Hereinafter, the secondary battery 2 included in the electric vehicle EV is simply referred to as the secondary battery 2.

[0017] The charger 3 is, for example, a power converter such as an AC / DC converter or a DC-DC converter that cannot perform charging and discharging of the secondary battery according to the first standard, but can perform charging and discharging of the secondary battery according to a second standard different from the first standard. The second standard is, for example, a CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol compatible with the manufacturer of the charger 3, but is not limited to this, and may be other charging and discharging standards as long as they are different from the first standard.

[0018] As described above, since the charger 3 does not conform to the first standard and cannot perform charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2, conventionally, in order to perform charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2, it was necessary to prepare a charger compatible with the first standard. However, since chargers compatible with the first standard are manufactured by limited manufacturers, there was a problem of high price.

[0019] In contrast, the connecting device 1 is provided between the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3, electrically connects the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 through its own circuit, and measures the current flowing through the circuit and the voltage of the secondary battery 2. Further, the connecting device 1 acquires secondary battery information, which is information regarding the secondary battery 2 according to the first standard, from the electric vehicle EV, and converts the secondary battery information into converted information, which is secondary battery information corresponding to the second standard.

[0020] Then, the connecting device 1 outputs the converted information, the voltage information indicating the measured voltage, and the current information indicating the measured current to the charger 3. By doing so, the charger 3 can recognize the state of the secondary battery 2 based on the voltage information, the current information, and the converted information corresponding to the second standard, and perform charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2. Therefore, the connecting device 1 can divert a charger 3 that does not conform to the charging standard of the electric vehicle EV for use as a charger for electric vehicles.

[0021] [Configuration of Connecting Device 1] Subsequently, the configuration of the connecting device 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the connecting device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting device 1 includes a circuit L, a first power supply unit 11, a second power supply unit 12, a voltage measurement unit 13, a current measurement unit 14, an operation unit 15, a first communication unit 16, a second communication unit 17, a storage unit 18, and a control unit 19.

[0022] Line L is an electric circuit for DC charging that can supply power corresponding to charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2. The power corresponding to charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2 is, for example, power of 400 V DC. Both ends of line L are connected to a terminal TM1 provided in the connecting device 1 and a terminal TM2. A first external cable (not shown) electrically connected to the secondary battery 2 via a dedicated connector for electric vehicles is connected to the terminal TM1. A second external cable (not shown) electrically connected to the charger 3 is connected to the terminal TM2. When line L is electrically connected to the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 by the terminal TM1, the first external cable, the terminal TM2, and the second external cable, it transmits the power supplied from the secondary battery 2 to the charger 3 and the power supplied from the charger 3 to the secondary battery 2.

[0023] The first power supply unit 11 supplies the power supplied from the outside to the control unit 19. The power supplied from the outside is, for example, power supplied from an electric power company, power supplied from various power generation facilities not operated by the electric power company such as solar power generation and wind power generation, but is not limited thereto. The power supplied from the outside may include power supplied from the secondary battery 2 via the electric vehicle EV and power supplied from the charger 3.

[0024] The second power supply unit 12 supplies the power supplied from a battery used as a backup power source to the control unit 19. Although not shown in the figure, between the first power supply unit 11 and the second power supply unit 12 and the control unit 19, there is provided a control power supply circuit that converts the power supplied from the first power supply unit 11 and the second power supply unit 12 into power suitable for the control unit 19 and the voltage required for the first communication unit 16 to communicate with the secondary battery 2. Also, between the first power supply unit 11 and the second power supply unit 12 and the control unit 19, when the first power supply unit 11 can supply power, the power supplied from the first power supply unit 11 is supplied to the control unit 19, and in response to the power supply from the first power supply unit 11 being stopped, a switching circuit is provided that switches the power supply source from the first power supply unit 11 to the second power supply unit 12.

[0025] Thus, when the external power supply is power supplied from a power company, solar power generation, wind power generation, etc., when power cannot be supplied by the first power supply unit 11 due to a power outage, or when the external power supply is an electric vehicle EV, even if a cable for supplying power from the electric vehicle EV to the connection device 1 cannot be immediately prepared, the connection device 1 can be operated by the power supplied from the second power supply unit 12.

[0026] The voltage measurement unit 13 is, for example, a voltmeter and measures the voltage of the secondary battery 2 connected to the line L. The voltage measurement unit 13 outputs voltage information indicating the measured voltage to the control unit 19. The current measurement unit 14 is, for example, an ammeter and measures the current flowing through the line L to which the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 are electrically connected. The current measurement unit 14 outputs current information indicating the measured current to the control unit 19.

[0027] The operation unit 15 is, for example, a switch provided on the housing of the connection device 1. The operation unit 15 receives a connection operation, which is an operation for electrically connecting the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3, or a disconnection operation, which is an operation for disconnecting the electrical connection between the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3, from the user of the connection device 1.

[0028] The first communication unit 16 is an interface for the connection device 1 to communicate with the secondary battery 2. The first communication unit 16 communicates with the secondary battery 2 according to the first standard. The second communication unit 17 is an interface for the connection device 1 to communicate with the charger 3. The second communication unit 17 communicates with the charger 3 according to the second standard.

[0029] The storage unit 18 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 18 stores a program that causes the control unit 19 to function as an operation reception unit 191, a detection unit 192, a communication control unit 193, a conversion unit 194, and an output unit 195, which will be described later.

[0030] The control unit 19 is, for example, a microprocessor. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 19. By executing the program stored in the storage unit 18, the control unit 19 functions as an operation reception unit 191, a detection unit 192, a communication control unit 193, a conversion unit 194, and an output unit 195 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] In the OFF state where the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 are not electrically connected, the operation reception unit 191 receives a connection operation from the user of the connection device 1 via the operation unit 15 to electrically connect the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3. Also, in the ON state where the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 are electrically connected, the operation reception unit 191 receives a disconnection operation from the user of the connection device 1 via the operation unit 15 to electrically disconnect the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3.

[0032] The detection unit 192 detects an electrical disconnection between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1. For example, when the connection device 1 and the secondary battery 2 are electrically connected and the communication control unit 193 described later receives information indicating an abnormality of the secondary battery 2 from the secondary battery 2, or when the relay circuit provided in the secondary battery 2 is disconnected or the first external cable is disconnected from the charging / discharging connector, and the detection unit 192 detects that the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit 13 has become equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the detection unit 192 detects an electrical disconnection between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1.

[0033] The communication control unit 193 functions as an acquisition unit and acquires secondary battery information, which is information regarding the secondary battery 2 in accordance with a first standard defined for the secondary battery 2, from the secondary battery 2. For example, when the operation reception unit 191 receives a connection operation, the communication control unit 193 starts communication with the battery ECU provided in the electric vehicle EV in accordance with the first standard, and acquires secondary battery information from the secondary battery 2 via the battery ECU.

[0034] Specifically, first, the communication control unit 193 locks the dedicated connector for charging and discharging the electric vehicle EV via the first communication unit 16 to prevent the first external cable from disconnecting from the dedicated connector. The communication control unit 193 starts communication with the secondary battery 2 in accordance with the first standard, performs the information exchange process before charging and discharging the secondary battery 2 defined in the first standard, and acquires secondary battery information from the secondary battery 2 every first time period (for example, 100 milliseconds).

[0035] The secondary battery information includes, for example, the upper limit value of the allowable current, the upper and lower limit values of the allowable charging voltage, which are allowed for the secondary battery 2. The secondary battery information may also include the state of charge, the remaining battery capacity, and the total battery capacity of the secondary battery 2.

[0036] In addition, when the operation reception unit 191 receives a disconnection operation, the communication control unit 193 performs an information exchange process for terminating communication with the secondary battery 2 in accordance with the first standard and terminates communication with the secondary battery 2. After confirming that the voltage application to the dedicated connector for charging and discharging the electric vehicle EV has been removed, the communication control unit 193 unlocks the dedicated connector and terminates communication with the secondary battery 2.

[0037] The conversion unit 194 converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard acquired by the communication control unit 193 into converted information, which is secondary battery information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard. The conversion unit 194 converts the latest secondary battery information acquired by the communication control unit 193 into converted information every second time period (for example, 1 second).

[0038] For example, in the program stored in the memory unit 18, a conversion rule is defined for converting secondary battery information corresponding to a first standard into a data arrangement recognizable by the charger 3. The conversion unit 194 converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into a data arrangement recognizable by the charger 3 based on the conversion rule, and generates converted information. Note that the upper limit value of the allowable current included in the secondary battery information acquired from the secondary battery 2 may exceed the upper limit value of the allowable current in the connection device 1. In this case, the conversion unit 194 converts the upper limit value of the allowable current included in the secondary battery information acquired from the secondary battery 2 into the upper limit value of the allowable current in the connection device 1, and then generates the converted information.

[0039] The output unit 195 outputs the converted information after being converted by the conversion unit 194, the voltage information indicating the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit 13, and the current information indicating the current measured by the current measurement unit 14 to the charger 3. The output unit 195 transmits the converted information, the voltage information, and the current information to the charger 3 every second time via the second communication unit 17.

[0040] When the converted information, the voltage information, and the current information are transmitted to the charger 3 by the output unit 195, the charger 3 can recognize that it can communicate with the secondary battery 2 according to the second standard to which it corresponds based on the converted information, the voltage information, and the current information. Thereby, the charger 3 can start charging and discharging the secondary battery 2.

[0041] In addition, when the operation reception unit 191 receives a disconnection operation, the output unit 195 outputs, as the converted information, information indicating that the upper limit value of the current allowed for the secondary battery 2 is 0 to the charger 3. In this case, first, the conversion unit 194 converts the upper limit value of the allowable current included in the secondary battery information acquired by the communication control unit 193 in response to the operation reception unit 191 receiving the disconnection operation into information indicating 0 A, that is, information indicating that charging of the secondary battery 2 and discharging from the secondary battery 2 cannot be performed. Then, the output unit 195 outputs the information indicating that the upper limit value of the allowable current is 0 A, which has been converted by the conversion unit 194, to the charger 3.

[0042] The charger 3 recognizes that the upper limit value of the allowable current of the secondary battery 2 is 0 A, and stops the charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2. As a result, the current flowing through the line L becomes 0 A. When the communication control unit 193 determines that the current flowing through the line L measured by the current measurement unit 14 has become 0 A, it transmits, via the first communication unit 16, information indicating that it may be possible to disconnect the electrical connection between the connection device 1 and the secondary battery 2 to the secondary battery 2. Thereby, the electrical connection between the connection device 1 and the secondary battery 2 is disconnected.

[0043] Further, when the detection unit 192 detects the electrical disconnection between the connection device 1 and the secondary battery 2, the output unit 195 outputs, as converted information, information indicating that the upper limit value of the allowable current is 0 A to the charger 3. In this case, first, when the detection unit 192 detects the electrical disconnection between the connection device 1 and the secondary battery 2, the conversion unit 194 converts the upper limit value of the allowable current into information indicating 0 A and outputs it to the charger 3 regardless of whether the communication control unit 193 has received the secondary battery information. The charger 3 recognizes that the upper limit value of the allowable current of the secondary battery 2 is 0 A, and stops the charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2. By doing so, even when the electrical disconnection between the connection device 1 and the secondary battery 2 is detected, the connection device 1 can cause the charger 3 to stop the charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2 in the same manner as when the disconnection operation is received.

[0044] [Timing Chart] Subsequently, the operation of the connection device 1 when charging and discharging the secondary battery 2 via the connection device 1 will be described using a timing chart. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a timing chart when normal discharging is performed from the secondary battery 2 via the connection device 1.

[0045] In the example shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 are connected to the connection device 1, and the electrical connection state between the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 is in the OFF state. Also, in FIG. 4, the operation of the connection device 1 and the charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2 will be described while referring to the state of the connection device 1 and the values of a plurality of flags indicating the communication status between the connection device 1, the secondary battery 2, and the charger 3.

[0046] In FIG. 4, the value of the communication-in-progress flag, which is a flag indicating whether or not the secondary battery 2 is in a communication state according to the first standard, the value of the secondary battery presence flag, which is a state in which the connection device 1 has detected the presence of the secondary battery 2, the measured value of the current by the current measurement unit 14, the state of the connection device 1, and the value of the transfer-in-progress flag indicating whether or not the connection device 1 is in a state of converting the secondary battery information acquired from the secondary battery 2 and transmitting it as converted information to the charger 3, and the time change of the upper limit value of the allowable current indicating the upper limit value of the current allowable in the secondary battery 2 are shown.

[0047] First, at time T 0 suppose that the operation reception unit 191 has received a connection operation from the user of the connection device 1 via the operation unit 15 to electrically connect the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3. In this case, the communication control unit 193 starts communication with the secondary battery 2 according to the first standard via the first communication unit 16. As a result, the value of the communication-in-progress flag changes from a value (for example, 0) indicating the OFF state in which communication is not performed according to the first standard to a value (for example, 1) indicating the ON state in which communication is performed according to the first standard. When the value of the communication-in-progress flag changes to a value indicating the ON state, the state of the connection device 1 transitions from the standby state (IDLE in FIG. 4) to the start state (STARTING in FIG. 4).

[0048] When the state of the connection device 1 is the start state, the communication control unit 193 starts the information exchange process before charging and discharging of the secondary battery 2 and acquires the secondary battery information from the secondary battery 2. The conversion unit 194 converts the secondary battery information acquired by the communication control unit 193 into converted information. The output unit 195 outputs the converted information, the voltage information indicating the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit 13, and the current information indicating the current measured by the current measurement unit 14 to the charger 3. As a result, the value of the transfer-in-progress flag changes from a value (for example, 0) indicating the OFF state in which the converted information is not transmitted to the charger 3 to a value (for example, 1) indicating the ON state in which the converted information is transmitted to the charger 3.

[0049] After that, when the communication control unit 193 determines that there is compatibility between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1 based on the secondary battery information, the value of the secondary battery presence flag changes from a value (e.g., 0) indicating the OFF state where the connection device 1 determines that the secondary battery 2 does not exist to a value (e.g., 1) indicating the ON state where the connection device 1 determines that the secondary battery 2 exists. As a result, the state of the connection device 1 changes from the start state to the secondary battery connection state (BATTERY_CONNECTED in FIG. 4) at time T 1 at.

[0050] At the timing when the state of the connection device 1 transitions to the secondary battery connection state, the upper limit value of the allowable current included in the secondary battery information acquired by the communication control unit 193 changes from 0 A to the upper limit value of the allowable current during charge and discharge in the secondary battery 2. Based on the upper limit value of the allowable current during charge and discharge included in the converted information, if the charger 3 determines that discharge from the secondary battery 2 is possible between time T 1 and time T 2 and, it accepts the power discharged from the secondary battery 2. As a result, a current flows from the secondary battery 2 to the charger 3 via the line L, the discharge of the secondary battery 2 is started, and the current value of the current measured by the current measurement unit 14 becomes a state greater than, for example, 0 A.

[0051] After that, at time T 2 suppose that the operation reception unit 191 receives a disconnection operation of the electrical connection between the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 from the user of the connection device 1 via the operation unit 15. As a result, the state of the connection device 1 changes from the secondary battery connection state to the end state (FINISHING in FIG. 4) at time T 2 at.

[0052] The output unit 195 outputs the converted information indicating that the upper limit value of the allowable current is 0 A to the charger 3 in response to the operation reception unit 191 receiving the disconnection operation, that is, the state of the connection device 1 transitioning to the end state. The charger 3 stops accepting the power discharged from the secondary battery 2. As a result, at time T 3At this time, the current flowing from the secondary battery 2 to the charger 3 becomes 0 A.

[0053] When the current flowing from the secondary battery 2 to the charger 3 becomes 0 A, the output unit 195 stops outputting the converted information to the charger 3. As a result, at time T 3 the value of the transfer-in progress flag changes from the value indicating the ON state to the value indicating the OFF state. Thereafter, the communication control unit 193 performs an end process for the communication between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1, and at time T 4 the value of the secondary battery presence flag changes from the value indicating the ON state to the value indicating the OFF state. Thereafter, at time T which is the timing when the end process for ending the communication with the secondary battery 2 is completed 5 the communication state flag changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Thereafter, the control unit 19 restarts the connection device 1. As a result, the state of the connection device 1 changes to the standby state.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a time chart when discharging from the secondary battery 2 via the connection device 1 is performed but the discharging is not completed normally. The example shown in FIG. 5 shows a time chart when the electrical connection between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1 is disconnected due to the relay circuit provided in the secondary battery 2 being disconnected.

[0055] Time T 11 The states of the connection device 1 up to time T are the same as the states of the connection device 1 up to time T shown in FIG. 4, and thus the description thereof is omitted. 1 Time T 12 When the detection unit 192 detects the electrical disconnection between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1 at time T, the state of the connection device 1 transitions from the secondary battery connection state to the abnormal end state (DISCONNECTED_BY_CAR in FIG. 5).

[0056] The output unit 195 outputs, as converted information, converted information indicating that the allowable current upper limit value is 0 A to the charger 3 in response to the detection unit 192 detecting an electrical disconnection between the secondary battery 2 and the connection device 1, that is, the state of the connection device 1 transitioning to an abnormal end state. As a result, the charger 3 stops accepting the power discharged from the secondary battery 2, and after the elapse of T 12 , the current flowing from the secondary battery 2 to the charger 3 becomes 0 A. And at time T 13 , the communication status flag changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Thereafter, the control unit 19 restarts the connection device 1. As a result, the state of the connection device 1 changes to the standby state.

[0057] <Effects according to the first embodiment> As described above, the connection device 1 according to the first embodiment measures the voltage of the secondary battery 2, measures the current flowing through the line L to which the secondary battery 2 and the charger 3 are electrically connected, and obtains secondary battery information, which is information regarding the secondary battery 2 according to the first standard, from the secondary battery 2. Then, the connection device 1 converts the obtained secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into converted information, which is secondary battery information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard, and outputs the converted information, voltage information indicating the measured voltage, and current information indicating the measured current to the charger 3. By doing so, the connection device 1 can divert a charger 3 that does not conform to the standard for charging an electric vehicle EV to be used as a charger for an electric vehicle.

[0058] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. There are a plurality of first standards defined for the charging and discharging of secondary batteries provided in electric vehicles. Similarly, there are also a plurality of second standards defined for chargers. In contrast, the connecting device 1 according to the second embodiment identifies the first standard that the secondary battery 2 complies with, and also identifies the second standard that the charger 3 complies with, and converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the identified first standard into converted information, which is the secondary battery information corresponding to the identified second standard. Hereinafter, the connecting device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. Note that descriptions of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0059] The storage unit 18 of the second embodiment stores a conversion table for converting the secondary battery information corresponding to each of the plurality of first standards into converted information, which is the secondary battery information corresponding to each of the plurality of second standards. For example, the storage unit 18 stores a conversion table corresponding to each of a plurality of combinations that the first standard and the second standard can take.

[0060] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 19 according to the second embodiment. The control unit 19 further includes a standard identification unit 196. The standard identification unit 196 identifies the first standard that the secondary battery 2 complies with from among the plurality of first standards. As an example, the connecting device 1 is provided with a switch for selecting the first standard that the secondary battery 2 complies with from among the plurality of first standards, and the standard identification unit 196 identifies the first standard based on the state of the switch.

[0061] In addition, the standard identification unit 196 identifies the second standard that the charger 3 complies with from among the plurality of second standards. In this case, the connecting device 1 and the charger 3 are connected by a communication line for serial communication, and the standard identification unit 196 identifies the second standard by receiving information indicating the second standard from the charger 3 through serial communication.

[0062] The conversion unit 194 specifies a conversion table corresponding to the first standard and the second standard specified by the standard specifying unit 196 among the conversion tables stored in the storage unit 18. The conversion unit 194 refers to the specified conversion table, and converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard specified by the standard specifying unit 196 into converted information, which is the secondary battery information corresponding to the second standard specified by the standard specifying unit 196. By doing so, the connection device 1 according to the second embodiment can perform charging and discharging on secondary batteries of various first standards using chargers 3 of various second standards.

[0063] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by being functionally or physically distributed and integrated in an arbitrary unit. Also, new embodiments resulting from an arbitrary combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0064] 1 Connection device 11 First power supply unit 12 Second power supply unit 13 Voltage measurement unit 14 Current measurement unit 15 Operation unit 16 First communication unit 17 Second communication unit 18 Storage unit 19 Control unit 191 Operation reception unit 192 Detection unit 193 Communication control unit 194 Conversion unit 195 Output unit 196 Standard specifying unit 2 Secondary battery 3 Charger

Claims

1. A connecting device provided between a secondary battery included in an electric vehicle and a charger that charges and discharges the secondary battery, a line that transmits power supplied from the secondary battery to the charger and power supplied from the charger to the secondary battery, a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage of the secondary battery, a current measurement unit that measures a current flowing through the line in which the secondary battery and the charger are electrically connected, an acquisition unit that acquires secondary battery information, which is information about the secondary battery, from the secondary battery in accordance with a first standard defined for charging and discharging of the secondary battery, a conversion unit that converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard acquired by the acquisition unit into converted information that is secondary battery information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard, an output unit that outputs the converted information after being converted by the conversion unit, voltage information indicating the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit, and current information indicating the current measured by the current measurement unit to the charger, A connecting device having the above.

2. having an operation reception unit that receives a connection operation for electrically connecting the secondary battery and the charger, when the operation reception unit receives the connection operation, the acquisition unit starts communication with the secondary battery in accordance with the first standard and acquires the secondary battery information from the secondary battery, The connecting device according to Claim 1.

3. The secondary battery information includes an upper limit value of the current allowed for the secondary battery, having a detection unit that detects an electrical disconnection between the secondary battery and the connecting device, when the detection unit detects the electrical disconnection, the output unit outputs, as the converted information, information indicating that the upper limit value of the current is 0 to the charger, The connecting device according to Claim 1.

4. There are a plurality of first standards, a standard identification unit that identifies the first standard to which the secondary battery corresponds from among the plurality of first standards, a storage unit that stores a conversion table for converting secondary battery information corresponding to each of the plurality of first standards into converted information that is secondary battery information corresponding to the second standard, having the above, the conversion unit refers to the conversion table stored in the storage unit and converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard identified by the standard identification unit into the converted information corresponding to the second standard, The connecting device according to Claim 1.

5. There are a plurality of second standards, a standard identification unit that identifies the second standard that the charger supports from among a plurality of second standards; a storage unit that stores a conversion table for converting the information of the first standard into converted information that is secondary battery information corresponding to each of the plurality of second standards; and the conversion unit refers to the conversion table stored in the storage unit, and converts the secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into the converted information corresponding to the second standard identified by the standard identification unit. The connecting device according to claim 1.

6. a control unit that functions as the acquisition unit, the conversion unit, and the output unit; a first power supply unit that supplies power supplied from the outside to the control unit; a second power supply unit that supplies power supplied from a battery used as a backup power source to the control unit; and The connecting device according to claim 1.

7. An information processing method executed by a connecting device provided between a secondary battery and a charger provided in an electric vehicle, the connecting device having a line that transmits power supplied from the secondary battery to the charger and power supplied from the charger to the secondary battery, a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage of the secondary battery, and a current measurement unit that measures the current flowing between the secondary battery and the charger, the method comprising: acquiring secondary battery information, which is information about the secondary battery according to a first standard defined for the secondary battery, from the secondary battery; converting the acquired secondary battery information corresponding to the first standard into converted information that is secondary information corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard; and outputting the converted information, voltage information indicating the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit, and current information indicating the current measured by the current measurement unit to the charger. An information processing method.

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