Set of electric vehicle and adapter

Abstract

To provide a technique for protecting an adapter regarding a set of an electric vehicle and the adapter.SOLUTION: An electric vehicle of a set comprises a charging inlet and a current limiter. The charging inlet is a connector for connecting an external power source to a battery. The charging inlet conforms to the first standard. The current limiter limits a current which flows in the charging inlet. An adapter comprises a first connector which is connected to the charging inlet and a second connector which is conducted with the first connector and conforms to the second standard that is different from the first standard. The charging inlet includes an adapter detection switch. The adapter includes a projection which presses the adapter detection switch when the first connector is connected to the charging inlet. The current limiter decreases an upper limit value of the current which flows in the charging inlet from a first upper limit value to a second upper limit value when the adapter detection switch is turned on.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a set of an electric vehicle having a charging inlet that conforms to a first standard and an adapter for connecting a power supply plug that conforms to a second standard different from the first standard to the charging inlet. [Background technology]

[0002] Adapters are used to connect connectors of different standards. For example, adapters are used when the standard of a foreign outlet differs from the standard of plugs used in Japanese electrical appliances. Patent Document 1 discloses an adapter that is connected between the power supply plug of an external power source and the charging inlet of an electric vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-55774 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an adapter is used between an external power source and an electric vehicle, the adapter may be damaged if the maximum output current of the external power source exceeds the allowable current of the adapter. This specification provides a technology for protecting the adapter in relation to a set of an electric vehicle and an adapter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The electric vehicle set disclosed in this specification includes a charging inlet and a current limiter. The charging inlet is a connector for connecting an external power source to a battery. The charging inlet complies with a first standard. The current limiter limits the current flowing through the charging inlet. The adapter includes a first connector that connects to the charging inlet and a second connector that is conductive with the first connector and complies with a second standard different from the first standard. The charging inlet includes an adapter detection switch. The adapter includes a protrusion that presses the adapter detection switch when the first connector is connected to the charging inlet. When the adapter detection switch is turned on, the current limiter reduces the upper limit of the current flowing through the charging inlet from a first upper limit to a second upper limit. The first upper limit is a value that exceeds the allowable current of the adapter, and the second upper limit is a value that is below the allowable current of the adapter.

[0006] The set disclosed in this specification can charge the battery with a current exceeding the second upper limit when an adapter is not used, and can protect the adapter by limiting the current flowing through the adapter when an adapter is used.

[0007] Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification are described in the following "Description of Embodiments of the Invention." [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are circuit diagrams of an electric vehicle and an adapter according to an embodiment, in which Fig. 1A shows the state before the adapter is connected, and Fig. 1B shows the state after the adapter is connected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A set 100 of an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The set 100 is a set including an electric vehicle 120 and an adapter 110. FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of the set 100 (electric vehicle 120 and adapter 110) and an external power supply 200 connected to the electric vehicle 120 using the adapter 110. FIG. 1(A) shows the state before the adapter 110 is connected, and FIG. 1(B) shows the state after the adapter 110 is connected. In FIG. 1, the electric vehicle 120 shows only devices related to charging the battery 123.

[0010] Electric vehicle 120 can charge its onboard battery 123 using an external power source 200. To this end, electric vehicle 120 is provided with a charging inlet 121 for connecting a power supply plug of a power cable 214 extending from external power source 200. A power terminal 125a of charging inlet 121 is connected to battery 123 via a power line 126, and a communication terminal 125b is connected to controller 128 via a communication line 127. Note that a current limiter 122 that limits the current flowing through power line 126 (the current flowing through charging inlet 121) is connected midway along power line 126 connecting power terminal 125a and battery 123. Current limiter 122 is controlled by controller 128. In FIG. 1, thick solid lines represent power lines, and dotted lines represent communication lines.

[0011] The charging inlet 121 is equipped with an adapter detection switch 124. The adapter detection switch 124 is connected to the controller 128. As will be described later, when the adapter detection switch 124 is turned on, the controller 128 controls the current limiter 122 to lower the upper limit of the current flowing through the charging inlet 121 from a first upper limit to a second upper limit (first upper limit > second upper limit). When the adapter detection switch 124 is switched from on to off, the controller 128 increases the current flowing through the charging inlet 121 from the second upper limit to the first upper limit.

[0012] Charging inlet 121 has a shape that complies with a first standard. One of the first standards is diameter D1 of charging inlet 121. In other words, only a power plug that complies with the first standard can be connected to charging inlet 121.

[0013] A power supply plug 201 is attached to the end of a power cable 214 extending from the external power source 200. The power supply plug 201 has a shape that complies with a second standard. One of the second standards is the diameter D2 of the power supply plug 201. The diameter D2 of the second standard is different from the diameter D1 of the first standard. In other words, the power supply plug 201 cannot be connected to the charging inlet 121. The external power source 200 and the power supply plug 201 are connected by the power cable 214 and a communication line 217.

[0014] The adapter 110 connects the power supply plug 201 and the charging inlet 121. The adapter 110 includes a first connector 111 and a second connector 112. Terminals of the first connector 111 are electrically connected to terminals of the second connector 112 via an internal cable 114. The first connector 111 conforms to a first standard and has a diameter D1. Therefore, the first connector 111 can be connected to the charging inlet 121. The second connector 112 conforms to a second standard and has a diameter D2. Therefore, the second connector 112 can be connected to the power supply plug 201 of the external power source 200.

[0015] First connector 111 is provided with protrusion 113. Protrusion 113 is arranged so that it can press adapter detection switch 124 when first connector 111 is connected to charging inlet 121. In other words, protrusion 113 switches adapter detection switch 124 from off to on when first connector 111 is connected to charging inlet 121.

[0016] 1(B) shows a state in which the power supply plug 201 (external power source 200) and the charging inlet 121 (battery 123) are connected via the adapter 110. The power cable 214 of the external power source 200 is connected to the power line 126 of the electric vehicle 120 via the adapter 110, and the communication line 217 of the external power source 200 is connected to the communication line 127 of the electric vehicle 120 via the adapter 110.

[0017] The external power source 200 and the controller 128 communicate with each other via the communication lines 217 and 127. The controller 128 detects that the external power source 200 is connected to the electric vehicle 120 by starting communication with the external power source 200. In other words, the controller 128 detects that the power supply plug 201 is connected to the charging inlet 121 by starting communication with the external power source 200. However, while the controller 128 can detect that the power supply plug 201 is connected through communication with the external power source 200, it cannot detect that the adapter 110 is connected.

[0018] As described above, when the first connector 111 of the adapter 110 is connected to the charging inlet 121, the protrusion 113 of the adapter 110 turns on the adapter detection switch 124. The controller 128 knows that the adapter 110 is connected when the adapter detection switch 124 is switched from off to on. When the controller 128 detects that the adapter 110 is connected, it controls the current limiter 122 to lower the upper limit of the current flowing through the power line 126 from a first upper limit to a second upper limit. That is, when the controller 128 detects that the adapter 110 is connected, it controls the current limiter 122 to lower the upper limit of the current flowing through the charging inlet 121 from the first upper limit to a second upper limit. The second upper limit is set to a value lower than the first upper limit and below the allowable current of the adapter 110.

[0019] The set 100 of the adapter 110 and the electric vehicle 120 has the following features and advantages. When the adapter 110 is connected to the charging inlet 121, the protrusion 113 of the adapter 110 switches the adapter detection switch 124 of the charging inlet 121 from off to on. When the controller 128 detects that the adapter detection switch 124 has turned on, it controls the current limiter 122 to lower the upper limit of the current flowing through the charging inlet 121 from a first upper limit to a second upper limit. The second upper limit is set to a value lower than the allowable current of the adapter 110. By lowering the upper limit of the current flowing through the charging inlet 121, the adapter 110 can be protected even if the maximum output of the external power source 200 exceeds the allowable current of the adapter 110.

[0020] When an external power source has a power plug that complies with the first standard, the power plug can be connected to the charging inlet 121 without using the adapter 110. When the adapter 110 is not used, the adapter detection switch 124 does not turn on even when the power plug is connected to the charging inlet 121. Therefore, the upper limit value set by the current limiter 122 becomes the first upper limit value. In this case, the electric vehicle 120 can charge the battery 123 with a current that exceeds the second upper limit value. That is, in this case, the battery 123 can be charged more quickly than when the adapter 110 is used.

[0021] Note that controller 128 may be able to know the magnitude of the maximum output current of external power supply 200 through communication with external power supply 200. When controller 128 is able to know that the maximum output current of external power supply 200 is lower than the allowable current of adapter 110, controller 128 may maintain the upper limit value of the current flowing through charging inlet 121 at the first upper limit value.

[0022] When the battery is ready to be charged, the controller 128 sends a command to the external power source 200 to start charging.

[0023] Here are some points to note regarding the technology described in the embodiment: The first and second standards may include restrictions not only on the diameter of the connector, but also on the shape of the connector and the arrangement of the terminals.

[0024] The "electric vehicle" disclosed in this specification includes a hybrid vehicle (plug-in hybrid vehicle) that has an engine together with a motor that drives the wheels.

[0025] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives alone is technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 100: Set 110: Adapter 111: First connector 112: Second connector 113: Protrusion 114: Internal cable 120: Electric vehicle 121: Charging inlet 122: Current limiter 123: Battery 124: Adapter detection switch 125a: Power terminal 125b: Communication terminal 126: Power line 127, 217: Communication line 128: Controller 200: External power supply 201: Power supply plug 214: Power cable

Claims

[Claim 1] an electric vehicle having a charging inlet for connecting an external power source to a battery, the charging inlet conforming to a first standard, and a current limiter for limiting a current flowing through the charging inlet; an adapter including a first connector connected to the charging inlet and a second connector that is electrically conductive with the first connector and conforms to a second standard that is different from the first standard; It is equipped with the charging inlet includes an adapter detection switch; the adapter includes a protrusion that presses the adapter detection switch when the first connector is connected to the charging inlet; the current limiter reduces an upper limit value of a current flowing through the charging inlet from a first upper limit value to a second upper limit value when the adapter detection switch is turned on; Electric car and adapter set.

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