Charge control device, and charge control system

Abstract

To provide a charge control device capable of performing charging to an electric vehicle even when communication is interrupted.SOLUTION: A charge control device 20 comprises: a power-feeding switching part 12 switched to any of a chargeable state capable of feeding fed power to a charging electric wiring 13 and a non-chargeable state incapable of feeding the power; a timer circuit part 11 which is switched to an on-state when receiving the power-feeding so as to stop power-feeding, or switched to an off-state after being switched to the on-state and a predetermined time elapses; and a connection state switching part 10 comprising a switching switch 10a which is switched to any of a power-feeding state in which the fed power is fed to the timer circuit part 11 and a power interruption state in which no fed power is fed thereto, a command receiving part 10C for accepting a connection command of switching the switching switch 10a to the power-feeding state via an information communication network 21 or an interruption command of switching to the power interruption state, and a control part 10b for controlling an operation of the switching switch 10a according to the command accepted by the command receiving part 10C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charge control device and a charge control system. [Background technology]

[0002] When charging the storage battery of an electric vehicle at a facility such as a residence or office, the charging electrical wiring connected to the facility's distribution board is electrically connected to the charging terminal of the electric vehicle. Normally, when the charging electrical wiring is electrically connected to the charging terminal of the electric vehicle, charging of the battery begins and is not stopped midway.

[0003] If a special control device is connected to the charging electrical wiring, the control device can control charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 5635329) describes a system in which the storage battery of an electric vehicle can be charged by connecting the electric vehicle to an EV outlet (4). A relay (31) that controls the power supply to the EV outlet (4) and a home server (1) that controls the operation of the relay (31) are also provided. The home server (1) turns the relay (31) on and off to freely control the start and stop times of charging the electric vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5635329 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The system described in Patent Document 1 requires a home server (1) for controlling the operation of the relay (31), which increases the cost of the system.

[0006] Although it is possible to build a system in which the on / off state of the relay is controlled by communication from a remotely located charging control server, if communication between the charging control server and the relay is interrupted, the state of the relay will be fixed to the state at the time of communication interruption. Therefore, for example, if communication is interrupted while the relay is in the off state (i.e., the electric vehicle's storage battery is not being charged), there is a problem that the state in which the electric vehicle's storage battery is not being charged will continue.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a charging control device and a charging control system that can set the timing for charging the storage battery of an electric vehicle with a simple configuration and can avoid a situation where charging is not performed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A characteristic configuration of a charge control device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a charge control device that controls power supplied to a storage battery provided in an electric vehicle, a connection state switching unit including: a changeover switch that switches between a power supply state in which power supplied from a changeover power source is supplied to a timer circuit unit and a power cutoff state in which power is not supplied; a command receiving unit that receives, via an information communication network, a connection command that switches the changeover switch to the power supply state and a cutoff command that switches the changeover switch to the power cutoff state; and a control unit that controls the operation of the changeover switch in response to the connection command and the cutoff command received by the command receiving unit; the timer circuit unit that switches to an ON state when power is supplied from the switching power source via the connection state switching unit, and that switches to an OFF state when the power supply is stopped or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the timer circuit unit switched to the ON state; and The power supply switching unit is connected to a charging electrical wiring that is electrically connected to the storage battery when power is supplied to the storage battery, and when the timer circuit unit switches to the on state and receives power from the switching power source, the power supply switching unit switches to a non-chargeable state in which power supplied from the charging power source cannot be supplied to the charging electrical wiring, and when the timer circuit unit switches to the off state and power supply from the switching power source stops, the power supply switching unit switches to a chargeable state in which power supplied from the charging power source can be supplied to the charging electrical wiring.

[0009] According to the above characteristic configuration, the command receiving unit of the connection state switching unit can receive, via an information and communication network, a connection command to switch the selector switch to the power supply state and a disconnection command to switch the selector switch to the power cutoff state. When the selector switch is switched to the power supply state, the timer circuit unit is switched to the ON state, and the power supply switching unit is accordingly switched to the charge disabled state. Conversely, when the selector switch is switched to the power cutoff state, the timer circuit unit is switched to the OFF state, and the power supply switching unit is accordingly switched to the charge enabled state. In this way, the charge control device can control whether to charge the storage battery connected to the charging electrical wiring, depending on the connection command and disconnection command received by the command receiving unit. Furthermore, even if the command receiving unit is unable to receive connection and disconnection commands due to a communication failure or other reason, the timer circuit unit will automatically turn off after a certain time has passed, and the power supply switching unit will then switch to a chargeable state accordingly, enabling charging of the storage battery connected to the charging electrical wiring. Therefore, it is possible to provide a charge control device that can set the timing for charging the storage battery of an electric vehicle with a simple configuration and can avoid a situation where charging is not performed.

[0010] Another characteristic feature of the charge control device according to the present invention is that it includes a manually operated open / close switch that switches whether or not the power supplied from the switching power source is supplied to the connection state switching unit.

[0011] According to the above-described characteristic configuration, when the manually operated open / close switch is operated to a state where power supplied from the switching power source is not supplied to the connection state switching unit, the connection state switching unit enters a power cut-off state, which turns the timer circuit unit off, and thereby the power supply switching unit switches to a chargeable state where power supplied from the charging power source can be supplied to the charging electrical wiring. In this way, by using the manually operated open / close switch, it is possible to ensure that power supplied from the charging power source is always supplied to the charging electrical wiring.

[0012] The charging control system according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the charging control device, a command transmission device that transmits the connection command and the disconnection command to the charging control device via the information communication network; The command transmitting device alternately transmitting the connection command and the disconnection command during a charging non-permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is not permitted; During a charging permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is permitted, the connection command and the disconnection command are transmitted in sequence, and then a state in which the connection command is not transmitted is continued.

[0013] According to the above characteristic configuration, if the command transmitting device alternately transmits a connection command and a disconnection command during a charging non-permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is not permitted, a time period can be generated in which the timer circuit unit switches to an ON state as the connection state switching unit switches to a power supply state, and a time period in which the timer circuit unit switches to an OFF state as the connection state switching unit switches to a power cut-off state. Correspondingly, a time period can be generated in which the power supply switching unit switches to a chargeable state and a time period in which the power supply switching unit switches to a charge-disabled state. In other words, if the command transmitting device continues to transmit a connection command and a disconnection command alternately, a time period in which the storage battery of the electric vehicle is not charged can be generated during a charging non-permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is not permitted.

[0014] Furthermore, if the command transmitting device transmits a connection command and a disconnection command in sequence and then continues not to transmit a connection command during the charging permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is permitted, the timer circuit unit switches to the ON state and then automatically switches to the OFF state, and the state in which the power supply switching unit automatically switches to the chargeable state can be maintained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a charging control system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a charging control system. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a charging control system. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operating state of the charge control device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operating state of the charge control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operating state of the charge control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A charge control device 20 and a charge control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a charging control system including a charging control device 20 and a command transmitting device 8. As illustrated, a facility 3 such as a residence or a business office is provided with a power line 2 connected to a power grid 1. A distribution board 4 is provided on the power line 2, and power is supplied from the distribution board 4 to power loads 7 and the like in the facility 3. In addition, branch lines 5 and 6 are connected to the distribution board 4, and power is supplied from the power grid 1 to the branch lines 5 and 6 via the distribution board 4. In this embodiment, power supplied from the power grid 1 via the distribution board 4 and the branch line 5 is referred to as power supplied from a switching power source, and power supplied from the power grid 1 via the distribution board 4 and the branch line 6 is referred to as power supplied from a charging power source. The command transmitting device 8 transmits a connection command and a disconnection command to the charging control device 20 via an information and communication network 21, as will be described later.

[0017] The facility 3 is also provided with a charge control device 20 including a connection state switching unit 10, a timer circuit unit 11, and a power supply switching unit 12. The charge control device 20 controls the power supplied to a storage battery 9a included in the electric vehicle 9. The electric vehicle 9 is an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, or the like, which uses power from the storage battery 9a for driving to drive a driving motor.

[0018] The connection state switching unit 10 includes a changeover switch 10a, a communication unit 10c as a command receiving unit, and a control unit 10b. When the manually operated open / close switch 15 is in a connected state, power supplied from the branch line 5 (power supplied from the switching power source) is supplied to the connection state switching unit 10, and when the manually operated open / close switch 15 is in a cut-off state, power supplied from the branch line 5 is not supplied to the connection state switching unit 10. In other words, a user of the facility 3 can freely switch between a state in which power supplied from the branch line 5 is supplied to the connection state switching unit 10 and a state in which it is not supplied, by operating the manually operated open / close switch 15.

[0019] The changeover switch 10a switches between a power supply state in which power supplied from the branch line 5 (power supplied from the switching power supply) is supplied to the timer circuit unit 11 and a power cutoff state in which no power is supplied.

[0020] The communication unit 10c receives a connection command for switching the changeover switch 10a to a power supply state and a disconnection command for switching the changeover switch 10a to a power cut-off state from a command transmission device 8 realized using a server or the like via the information communication network 21. Then, the control unit 10b controls the operation of the changeover switch 10a in accordance with the connection command and the disconnection command received by the communication unit 10c.

[0021] The timer circuit unit 11 switches to the ON state when it receives power from the branch line 5 via the connection state switching unit 10, and switches to the OFF state when the power supply is stopped or when a predetermined time has passed since it switched to the ON state. Note that when the above-mentioned manually operated open / close switch 15 is in the cutoff state, no power is supplied to the timer circuit unit 11 either, and the timer circuit unit 11 is always in the OFF state.

[0022] The power supply switching unit 12 is connected to a charging electrical wiring 13 that is electrically connected to the storage battery 9a when power is supplied to the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9, and when the timer circuit unit 11 is switched to the on state and power is supplied from the branch line 5 (i.e., when power is supplied from the switching power source), the power supply switching unit 12 switches to a non-charging state in which power supplied from the branch line 6 (power supplied from the charging power source) cannot be supplied to the charging electrical wiring 13, and when the timer circuit unit 11 is switched to the off state and power supply from the branch line 5 is stopped, the power supply switching unit 12 switches to a charging state in which power supplied from the branch line 6 can be supplied to the charging electrical wiring 13. One end of the charging electrical wiring 13 is connected to a contact a of the switch unit 12a as described below, and the other end of the charging electrical wiring 13 is connected to a charging plug 14. Then, when the charging plug 14 is electrically connected to the charging terminal 9b, which is electrically connected to the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9, the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 and the contact a of the switch unit 12a of the power supply switching unit 12 are electrically connected.

[0023] Power supply switching unit 12 includes switch unit 12a and electromagnetic coil 12b. Contact a of switch unit 12a is connected to charging electrical wiring 13, contact b is connected to branch line 6, and contact c is not connected to anything. Switch unit 12a switches to a state where contact a and contact c are connected (disabled for charging) while electromagnetic coil 12b is energized, and switches to a state where contact a and contact b are connected (enabled for charging) while electromagnetic coil 12b is not energized.

[0024] When contacts a and b are connected, charging electrical wiring 13 is connected to branch line 6, and the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 can be charged with power supplied from branch line 6 (power supplied from the charging power source). On the other hand, when contacts a and c are connected, charging electrical wiring 13 is not connected to branch line 6, and power cannot be charged into storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9.

[0025] The command transmitting device 8 alternately transmits a connection command and a disconnection command during a charging non-permission time period in which charging of the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is not permitted, and continues to transmit a connection command and a disconnection command in sequence and then not transmit a connection command during a charging permission time period in which charging of the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is permitted.

[0026] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the connection state switching unit 10 is switched to the power cut-off state, the timer circuit unit 11 is switched to the off state, and the power supply switching unit 12 is switched to the chargeable state. Note that the manually operated open / close switch 15 is in the connected state. In this state, no current is applied to the electromagnetic coil 12b of the power supply switching unit 12, so that the contacts a and b of the switch unit 12a of the power supply switching unit 12 are connected, and power supplied from the branch line 6 (power supplied from the charging power source) is also supplied to the charging electrical wiring 13. If the charging electrical wiring 13 is electrically connected to the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9, the storage battery 9a is charged.

[0027] 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the connection state switching unit 10 is switched to the power supply state, the timer circuit unit 11 is switched to the on state, and the power supply switching unit 12 is switched to the charge disabled state. Note that the manually operated open / close switch 15 is in the connected state. In this state, current is passed through the electromagnetic coil 12b of the power supply switching unit 12, so that the contacts a and c of the switch unit 12a of the power supply switching unit 12 are connected, and power supplied from the branch line 6 (power supplied from the charging power source) is not supplied to the charging electrical wiring 13. Therefore, even if the charging electrical wiring 13 is electrically connected to the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9, the storage battery 9a is not charged.

[0028] 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the connection state switching unit 10 is switched to the power supply state, the timer circuit unit 11 is switched to the off state, and the power supply switching unit 12 is switched to the chargeable state. Note that the manually operated open / close switch 15 is in the connected state. In this state, no current is applied to the electromagnetic coil 12b of the power supply switching unit 12, so that the contacts a and b of the switch unit 12a of the power supply switching unit 12 are connected, and power supplied from the branch line 6 (power supplied from the charging power source) is also supplied to the charging electrical wiring 13. If the charging electrical wiring 13 is electrically connected to the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9, the storage battery 9a is charged.

[0029] Next, the operations of the charge control device 20 and the command transmitting device 8 will be described. 4 is a diagram showing the operating state of the charge control device 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the command transmission device 8 sequentially transmits a connection command and a disconnection command during a charging permission time period in which charging of the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is permitted in the facility 3, and then continues a state in which no connection command is transmitted. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the connection state switching unit 10 switches to the power supply state in response to receiving the connection command from the command transmission device 8 at time t10, and then switches to the power cut-off state in response to receiving the cut-off command from the command transmission device 8 at time t11. As a result, the timer circuit unit 11 switches from the off state to the on state (the state shown in FIG. 2) when power is supplied from the branch line 5 (power is supplied from the switching power supply) at time t10, and switches from the on state to the off state (the state shown in FIG. 1) when the power supply is stopped at time t11. Therefore, since the state of FIG. 1 continues after time t11, the power supply switching unit 12 switches to a chargeable state during the charging permitted time period after time t11, and the power supplied from the branch line 6 (power supplied from the charging power source) can be supplied to the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 via the charging electrical wiring 13.

[0030] 5 is a diagram showing the operating state of the charge control device 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the command transmission device 8 continues to alternately transmit a connection command and a disconnection command during a charging non-permission time period in which charging of the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is not permitted in the facility 3. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the connection state switching unit 10 switches to the power supply state (the state shown in FIG. 2) in response to receiving a connection command from the command transmission device 8 at time t20, and then switches to the power cut-off state (the state shown in FIG. 1) in response to receiving a cut-off command from the command transmission device 8 at time t21. As a result, the timer circuit unit 11 switches from the off state to the on state (the state shown in FIG. 2) when power is supplied from the branch line 5 (power is supplied from the switching power supply) at time t20, and switches from the on state to the off state (the state shown in FIG. 1) when the power supply is stopped at time t21. Furthermore, the connection state switching unit 10 switches to the power supply state (the state shown in Figure 2) in response to receiving a connection command from the command transmitting device 8 at time t22, and then switches to the power cut-off state (the state shown in Figure 1) in response to receiving a cut-off command from the command transmitting device 8 at time t23.

[0031] In this way, if the command transmitting device 8 continues to transmit the connection command and the disconnection command alternately, the power supply switching unit 12 switches to the chargeable state only in the time period between time t21 and time t22 and the time period between time t23 and time t24, and switches to the charge disabled state in other time periods. In other words, if the command transmitting device 8 continues to transmit the connection command and the disconnection command alternately, it is possible to create a time period during which the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is not charged (the time period in the state shown in FIG. 2).

[0032] In this embodiment, the command transmitting device 8 extends the period from transmitting the connection command to transmitting the disconnection command (for example, the period from time t20 to time t21 in FIG. 5 ) and the period from transmitting the disconnection command to transmitting the connection command (for example, the period from time t21 to time t22 in FIG. 5 ). Therefore, the period during which the power supply switching unit 12 is in a chargeable state is shorter than the period during which the power supply switching unit 12 is in a charge-disabled state. In other words, for example, the time period between time t21 and time t22 is the time period during which the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is charged. However, by shortening the time between the timing when the command transmitting device 8 transmits the disconnection command and the timing when it transmits the connection command, the time period during which the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is charged can be shortened, and the charging of the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 can be effectively limited.

[0033] If communication between the command transmitting device 8 and the facility 3 is interrupted, the facility 3 will no longer be able to receive the connection command and disconnection command as described above. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operating state of the charging control device 20 in such a case. As shown in FIG. 6, the connection state switching unit 10 switches to the power supply state (the state shown in FIG. 2) in response to receiving a connection command from the command transmitting device 8 at time t30. Then, if communication between the command transmitting device 8 and the facility 3 is interrupted at time t31, the facility 3 will no longer be able to receive commands from the command transmitting device 8.

[0034] In this case, the connection state switching unit 10 continues the state it was in when communication was interrupted (time t31), i.e., the power supply state. However, the timer circuit unit 11 switches to the off state when a predetermined time (the timer time in FIG. 6) has elapsed since it switched to the on state. Therefore, the timer circuit unit 11 automatically switches to the off state at time t32. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3, although the connection state switching unit 10 remains in the power supply state, the timer circuit unit 11 transitions to a state in which it is in the off state. As a result, the power supply switching unit 12 switches to the chargeable state, and the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 can be charged.

[0035] As described above, the communication unit 10c of the connection state switching unit 10 can receive, via the information and communication network 21, a connection command to switch the selector switch 10a to the power supply state and a disconnection command to switch the selector switch 10a to the power cutoff state. When the selector switch 10a switches to the power supply state, the timer circuit unit 11 switches to the ON state, and the power supply switching unit 12 switches to the charge-disabled state accordingly. On the other hand, when the selector switch 10a switches to the power cutoff state, the timer circuit unit 11 switches to the OFF state, and the power supply switching unit 12 switches to the charge-enabled state accordingly. In this way, the charging control device 20 can control whether to charge the storage battery 9a connected to the charging electrical wiring 13, depending on the connection command and disconnection command received by the communication unit 10c. Even if the communication unit 10c is unable to receive the connection command and disconnection command due to poor communication or the like, the timer circuit unit 11 automatically switches to the OFF state after a certain period of time, and the power supply switching unit 12 switches to the charge-enabled state accordingly. As a result, the storage battery 9a connected to the charging electrical wiring 13 becomes ready for charging.

[0036] Furthermore, if the command transmitting device 8 continues to transmit a connection command and a disconnection command in sequence and then does not transmit a connection command during the charging permission time period in which charging of the storage battery 9a of the electric vehicle 9 is permitted, the timer circuit unit 11 continues to be automatically switched to the off state after being switched to the on state. As a result, the power supply switching unit 12 can continue to be switched to the chargeable state.

[0037] <Another embodiment> In the above embodiment, the configurations of the charge control device 20 and the charge control system have been specifically described, but the configurations can be changed as appropriate.

[0038] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradictions arise. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these and can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not deviate from the purpose of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0039] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a charge control device and a charge control system that can charge an electric vehicle even when communication is interrupted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 8: Command transmission device 9: Electric vehicles 9a:Storage battery 10: Connection status switching unit 10a: Selector switch 10b: Control section 10c: Communications department (command reception department) 11: Timer circuit section 12: Power supply switching unit 13: Charging electrical wiring 15: Open / close switch 20: Charging control device 21: Information and communication network

Claims

1. A charging control device that controls power supplied to a storage battery provided in an electric vehicle, a connection state switching unit including: a changeover switch that switches between a power supply state in which power supplied from a changeover power source is supplied to a timer circuit unit and a power cutoff state in which power is not supplied; a command receiving unit that receives, via an information communication network, a connection command that switches the changeover switch to the power supply state and a cutoff command that switches the changeover switch to the power cutoff state; and a control unit that controls the operation of the changeover switch in response to the connection command and the cutoff command received by the command receiving unit; the timer circuit unit that switches to an ON state when power is supplied from the switching power source via the connection state switching unit, and that switches to an OFF state when the power supply is stopped or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the timer circuit unit switched to the ON state; and a power supply switching unit that is connected to a charging electrical wiring that is electrically connected to the storage battery when power is supplied to the storage battery, and that switches to a non-chargeable state in which power supplied from the charging power source cannot be supplied to the charging electrical wiring when the timer circuit unit switches to the on state and power supply from the switching power source is received, and that switches to a chargeable state in which power supplied from the charging power source can be supplied to the charging electrical wiring when the timer circuit unit switches to the off state and power supply from the switching power source is stopped.

2. The charging control device according to claim 1 , further comprising a manually operated open / close switch for switching whether or not the power supplied from the switching power source is supplied to the connection state switching unit.

3. The charge control device according to claim 1 or 2; a command transmission device that transmits the connection command and the disconnection command to the charging control device via the information communication network; The command transmitting device alternately transmitting the connection command and the disconnection command during a charging non-permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is not permitted; a charging control system that transmits the connection command and the disconnection command in sequence and then continues a state in which the connection command is not transmitted during a charging permission time period in which charging of the storage battery of the electric vehicle is permitted;

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