Vehicle charging control device

Abstract

To provide a technology which enables improvement of traveling performance of a vehicle.SOLUTION: In a vehicle charging control device 1, a wiring 10a electrically connects a vehicle component 30a, located near a wheel 92a and supplied with electric charges generated in the wheel 92a by traveling of a vehicle 90, to a ground 32 of the vehicle 90.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrification control device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle equipped with a self-discharge static eliminator. The self-discharge static eliminator neutralizes and reduces the positive potential of the window frame when the positively charged air flowing around the vehicle body while it is moving changes from flowing along the surface of the charged body to flowing away from the surface by self-discharge, which generates negative air ions in response to the positive potential. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-124319 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The driving performance of a vehicle, including its handling stability and vibration characteristics, changes depending on the electrified state of the vehicle while it is running. It is therefore desirable to improve the driving performance of the vehicle.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can improve the running performance of a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides an electrification control device for a vehicle, which includes wiring that electrically connects vehicle components near the wheels to which electric charges generated on the wheels as the vehicle moves, to the vehicle earth. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a technique can be provided that can improve the running performance of a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle equipped with an electrification control device for a vehicle according to a first configuration example of an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle equipped with an electrification control device for a vehicle according to a second configuration example. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle equipped with an electrification control device for a vehicle according to a third configuration example. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle equipped with an electrification control device for a vehicle according to a fourth configuration example. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle equipped with an electrification control device for a vehicle according to a fifth configuration example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Experimental findings have shown that attaching self-discharge static eliminators such as aluminum tape or Teflon (registered trademark) tape to parts of the doors of a vehicle changes the handling stability when going over bumps or during steering response. This is thought to be because the negative charge generated on the wheels due to friction between the wheels and the road surface is transferred to the vehicle body, causing the vehicle to be charged to a negative potential relative to the ground, and many positive air ions contained in the air are attracted to the vehicle surface and neutralize the negative charge on the vehicle, but this neutralization changes the aerodynamic characteristics such as pressure fluctuations on the vehicle surface.

[0010] The inventors recognized that supplying a negative charge to the vehicle surface can attract positive ions in the air, which have the effect of rectifying the airflow around the vehicle, to the vehicle surface, thereby neutralizing the air ions. The inventors also discovered that connecting a component near the wheel to the vehicle ground can make it easier to supply negative charges generated by friction between the wheel and the road surface to the vehicle surface, thereby changing the vehicle's driving characteristics. The present embodiment was devised based on this idea, and the specific configuration thereof will be described below.

[0011] 1 schematically shows a vehicle 90 equipped with a vehicle electrification control device 1 according to a first configuration example of the embodiment. The vehicle 90 may be a vehicle that uses only an internal combustion engine as a driving power source, or may be an electric vehicle that uses an electric motor as a driving power source. The vehicle 90 may be a vehicle driven by a driver, or may be an automatically driven vehicle.

[0012] Each of the multiple wheels of the vehicle 90 has a tire made of an insulating material such as rubber, and the body of the vehicle 90 is kept insulated from the road surface.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle electrification control device 1 includes a wiring 10a and a terminal 12a. The terminal 12a is electrically conductive. The terminal 12a is electrically connected to a vehicle component 30a near a wheel 92a. In the illustrated example, the terminal 12a is a round terminal, but the shape of the terminal 12a can be determined appropriately so that it can be attached to the vehicle component 30a. In the illustrated example, the wheel 92a is the left front wheel, but it may be a different wheel.

[0014] The vehicle component 30a is a component to which a negative charge generated in the wheel 92a due to friction between the wheel 92a and the ground as the vehicle 90 moves is supplied. The vehicle component 30a may be a support component for the wheel 92a that does not rotate together with the wheel 92a. The vehicle component 30a may be, for example, a bolt or nut near the wheel 92a. The vehicle component 30a may be a component located inside the wheel of the wheel 92a, or a component located outside the wheel. The vehicle component 30a may be any component to which a charge is supplied from the wheel 92a, and may be a metal component or a non-metal component.

[0015] The wiring 10a electrically connects the terminal 12a to the ground 32 of the vehicle 90. In other words, the wiring 10a electrically connects the vehicle component 30a to the ground 32. The ground 32 is, for example, the negative electrode of a battery (not shown) of the vehicle 90 or a body ground.

[0016] The negative charge generated on the wheel 92a passes through the vehicle component 30a, the terminal 12a, and the wiring 10a and moves to the ground 32. The negative charge that has moved to the ground 32 then moves to the vehicle surface.

[0017] In this way, by providing wiring 10a connecting vehicle component 30a near wheel 92a to ground 32, negative charges generated on wheel 92a during driving are more easily supplied to ground 32. This makes it easier for negative charges generated on wheel 92a to be supplied to the vehicle surface, promoting the attraction of air ions to the vehicle surface and making it easier to straighten the airflow around the vehicle surface. This improves the driving performance of vehicle 90.

[0018] Here, the results of a driving test of the vehicle 90 of FIG. 1 for going over bumps and steering response will be described. Seven subjects were tested. A comparative test was conducted between a comparative example in which the vehicle structural member 30a was not connected to the earth 32 and the configuration of FIG. 1. As a result, the subjects commented that the configuration of FIG. 1 had a lighter steering wheel, improved steering response, improved vehicle rigidity, and heavy yet firm steering, compared to the comparative example.

[0019] 1, it has been confirmed through experiments that the impedance from the wheel 92a to the vehicle surface is lower than that of the comparative example. This experiment was carried out using copper wiring as the wiring 10a, with the vehicle in a stationary state, and the amount of ions in the air was 0.1 to 0.11 nC / m 3 The tests were conducted under roughly the same conditions.

[0020] 2 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 90 equipped with a vehicle electrification control device 1 according to a second configuration example. The following description will focus on the differences from the first configuration example shown in FIG.

[0021] The vehicle electrification control device 1 includes a wire 10a, a wire 10b, two wires (not shown), a terminal 12a, a terminal 12b, and two terminals (not shown). Hereinafter, where appropriate, a plurality of wires such as the wire 10a will be collectively referred to as wires 10, and a plurality of terminals such as the terminal 12a will be collectively referred to as terminals 12. Where appropriate, a plurality of wheels such as the wheel 92a will be collectively referred to as wheels 92, and a plurality of vehicle components such as the vehicle component 30a will be collectively referred to as vehicle components 30.

[0022] Wiring 10b for wheel 92b, which is the left rear wheel, electrically connects a vehicle component 30b near wheel 92b to earth 32 via a corresponding terminal 12b. Vehicle component 30b is a component to which a negative charge generated in wheel 92b due to friction between wheel 92b and the ground is supplied.

[0023] Although not shown in the figures, the wiring 10 relating to the right front wheel electrically connects the vehicle component 30 near the right front wheel to the earth 32 via the corresponding terminal 12. The vehicle component 30 near the right front wheel is a component to which a negative charge generated in the right front wheel due to friction between the right front wheel and the ground is supplied. The wiring 10 relating to the right rear wheel electrically connects the vehicle component 30 near the right rear wheel to the earth 32 via the corresponding terminal 12. The vehicle component 30 near the right rear wheel is a component to which a negative charge generated in the right rear wheel due to friction between the right rear wheel and the ground is supplied.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the four wires 10 are connected to the ground 32 at the same position, but they may be connected to grounds at different positions. The positions of the grounds to which each of the wires 10 is connected can be determined appropriately through experiments or simulations. For example, the two wires 10 related to the front wheels may be connected to the negative terminal of the battery at the front of the vehicle or to the body ground at the front of the vehicle, and the two wires 10 related to the rear wheels may be connected to the body ground at the rear of the vehicle. This allows the length of the wires 10 to be shortened and makes it easier to arrange the wires 10.

[0025] Thus, in the second configuration example, for each of the multiple wheels 92, wiring 10 is provided that connects the vehicle component 30 near the wheel 92, to which the charge generated in the wheel 92 is supplied, to the ground 32. With this configuration, more negative charge is more likely to be supplied to the ground 32 and the vehicle surface than in the first configuration example, thereby increasing the attraction of air ions to the vehicle surface. This further improves the driving performance of the vehicle 90.

[0026] The number of wires 10 is not limited to four, and may be less than the number of wheels 92. The number of wires 10 and which wheels 92 each have a wire 10 on can be determined appropriately through experiments or simulations.

[0027] 3 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 90 equipped with a vehicle electrification control device 1 according to a third configuration example. The following description will focus on the differences from the second configuration example shown in FIG.

[0028] 3, a wiring 10a relating to a wheel 92a, which is a left front wheel, connects a vehicle component 30a to a surface member 96a of the vehicle 90 instead of the earth of the vehicle 90. The surface member 96a is, for example, an engine hood.

[0029] Wiring 10b for wheel 92b, which is the left rear wheel, connects vehicle component 30b to surface member 96b of vehicle 90 instead of the ground of vehicle 90. Surface member 96b is, for example, the windshield. Hereinafter, surface member 96a and surface member 96b will be collectively referred to as surface member 96 as appropriate.

[0030] Although not shown in the figures, the wiring 10 relating to the right front wheel connects the vehicle component 30 near the right front wheel to the surface member 96a. The wiring 10 relating to the right rear wheel connects the vehicle component 30 near the right rear wheel to the surface member 96b. In other words, in this example, the two wirings 10 relating to the front wheels are connected to the common surface member 96a, and the two wirings 10 relating to the rear wheels are connected to the common surface member 96b.

[0031] The surface members 96 to which each of the multiple wirings 10 is connected may be different from each other, may be only partially different, or may be all the same. The surface member 96 may be any member to which the wirings 10 are connected to improve driving performance, and may be, for example, a side window, a rear window, a side door, or a roof. The surface member 96 to which each of the multiple wirings 10 is connected can be determined as appropriate through experiments or simulations.

[0032] The tip of the wiring 10 and the surface member 96 can be connected using, for example, copper tape coated with a conductive adhesive, but any other conductive tape made of any other highly conductive material may also be used.

[0033] In the third configuration example, the vehicle components 30 near the wheels 92 are directly connected to the surface members 96 by the wiring 10, which makes it easier for the negative charge generated in the wheels 92 to be supplied to the vehicle surface. This further improves driving performance.

[0034] In the third configuration example, the wiring 10 may be provided for only one wheel 92. In this case, the configuration can be simplified.

[0035] 4 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 90 equipped with a vehicle electrification control device 1 according to a fourth configuration example. The following description will focus on the differences from the first configuration example shown in FIG.

[0036] 4, the vehicle electrification control device 1 further includes a switch 14a inserted into the wiring 10a. The switch 14a is capable of switching between electrically connecting and disconnecting the vehicle component 30a and the ground 32. For example, an operating unit (not shown) may be provided near the driver's seat of the vehicle 90, and a control unit (not shown) may be able to switch the switch 14a between a conductive state and a non-conductive state in response to an occupant of the vehicle 90 operating the operating unit.

[0037] When switch 14a is conductive, negative charge generated on wheel 92 is more likely to be supplied to ground 32 and the vehicle surface. When switch 14a is non-conductive, negative charge generated on wheel 92 is less likely to be supplied to ground 32 and the vehicle surface. In this way, the supply of negative charge from wheel 92 can be controlled in accordance with switching the conductive state of switch 14a, so the charged state of vehicle 90 can be controlled.

[0038] The fourth configuration example may be combined with the second or third configuration example. That is, a switch may be inserted into the wiring 10 for each of the multiple wheels 92 in the second or third configuration example. A switch may be provided for each wiring 10. When the fourth configuration example is combined with the third configuration example, a wiring 10 and a switch may be provided for only one wheel 92.

[0039] 5 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 90 equipped with a vehicle electrification control device 1 according to a fifth configuration example. The following description will focus on the differences from the fourth configuration example shown in FIG.

[0040] 5, the vehicle electrification control device 1 further includes a measurement unit 16 and a control unit 18. The measurement unit 16 measures the electrification state of the surface of the vehicle 90 and supplies the measurement result to the control unit 18. The electrification state includes the amount of charge on the vehicle surface. For example, the measurement unit 16 may measure the current flowing through the wiring 10a when the switch 14a is conductive, and obtain the amount of charge on the vehicle surface based on the measured current value.

[0041] As another example, the measurement unit 16 may have a foil- or plate-shaped conductive measurement electrode (not shown) attached to the surface of the vehicle 90. The measurement unit 16 may measure a current flowing from the measurement electrode to the ground 32 when the measurement electrode receives a positive charge from air ions attracted to the surface of the vehicle 90. Examples of locations where the measurement electrode may be installed include the engine hood, windshield, side window, rear window, side door, and roof. The measured current value is related to the amount of air ions attracted to the vehicle surface, and therefore to the amount of charge on the vehicle surface.

[0042] The control unit 18 controls the switch 14a to a conductive state or a non-conductive state based on the charge state measured by the measurement unit 16. For example, the control unit 18 may control the switch 14a to a conductive state if the amount of charge on the vehicle surface is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and may control the switch 14a to a non-conductive state if the amount of charge on the vehicle surface exceeds the threshold.

[0043] The threshold value can be appropriately determined through experiments or simulations so that when the amount of charge on the vehicle surface is equal to or less than the threshold value, the driving performance is improved compared to when the amount of charge on the vehicle surface exceeds the threshold value.

[0044] In an example in which the measuring unit 16 acquires the amount of charge on the vehicle surface based on the value of the current flowing through the wiring 10a, if the control unit 18 controls the switch 14a to a non-conductive state, the control unit 18 may switch the switch 14a to a conductive state after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed.

[0045] In this way, the supply of negative charge from the wheel 92a can be controlled in response to switching of the conductive state of the switch 14a, so that the charged state of the vehicle 90 can be controlled to an appropriate state, thereby creating a charged state that provides high driving stability.

[0046] The fifth configuration example may be combined with the second or third configuration example. That is, a switch may be inserted in the wiring 10 for each of the multiple wheels 92 in the second or third configuration example, and the control unit 18 may commonly control the multiple switches. When the fifth configuration example is combined with the third configuration example, the wiring 10 and a switch may be provided for only one wheel 92.

[0047] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component and each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1... vehicle electrification control device, 10, 10a, 10b... wiring, 12, 12a, 12b... terminal, 14a... switch, 16... measuring unit, 18... control unit, 30, 30a, 30b... vehicle component, 32... earth, 90... vehicle, 92, 92a, 92b... wheels, 96, 96a, 96b... surface member

Claims

1. 1. A vehicle electrification control device comprising wiring for electrically connecting vehicle components near wheels to which electric charges generated on the wheels as the vehicle moves, to the ground of the vehicle.

2. a wiring is provided for each of the plurality of wheels of the vehicle, the wiring electrically connecting a vehicle component near the wheel to which the electric charge generated in the wheel is supplied to a ground of the vehicle; 2. The electrification control device for a vehicle according to claim 1.

3. the wiring connects the vehicle component to a surface member of the vehicle instead of the earth; 3. The electrification control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 2. The vehicle electrification control device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch inserted in the wiring and capable of switching between electrically connecting the vehicle component and the ground.

5. a measuring unit that measures the charged state of the surface of the vehicle; a control unit that controls the switch based on the measured charge state; 5. The vehicle electrification control device according to claim 4, further comprising:

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