Charging system

Abstract

Communication with electric vehicles is achieved using a configuration suitable for rotational charging. [Solution] The communication control device (100) of the charging system (1) controls each of the second transceiver units (43) of the multiple vehicle connection devices (40) waiting in line for sequential charging to communicate with the communication control device in turns, while each of them is connected one-to-one with the first transceiver unit (13) of the communication unit (1B) via wired communication paths (71, 72).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system.

Background Art

[0002] A charging system including a charging connector for connecting to an electric vehicle is known. Also, a charging system has been proposed that includes a plurality of charging stands each equipped with a charging connector, shares a power supply unit, and automatically charges a plurality of electric vehicles by performing charging in turn for each electric vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a charging system capable of performing charging in a rotation manner as described above, the optimization of the configuration for communication with an electric vehicle has not been sufficiently studied in the past.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a charging system that includes a plurality of vehicle connection devices for connecting to electric vehicles, and is capable of performing sequential charging to a plurality of electric vehicles, further comprising a communication unit that communicates with the electric vehicles via the vehicle connection devices, the communication unit having a communication control device and a first transceiver unit, each of the vehicle connection devices having a second transceiver unit, and the communication control device is configured to control the sequential charging so that when charging to an electric vehicle is being performed by any of the vehicle connection devices, each of the second transceivers of the plurality of vehicle connection devices waiting in line for sequential charging is connected one-to-one with the first transceiver unit via a wired communication path, and takes turns communicating with the communication control device.

[0006] The communication control device for the charging system according to each aspect of the present invention may be implemented by a computer. In this case, a control program for the charging system that implements the communication control device by a computer, by operating the computer as a software element of the communication control device, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a charging system can be realized that enables proper management of rotational charging at low cost through communication with electric vehicles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows the main components of a charging system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating the main part of the charging system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, relating to communication with an electric vehicle. [Figure 3] This figure shows the main components of a charging system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 4]This is a block diagram illustrating the main part of the charging system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, relating to communication with an electric vehicle. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram illustrating the main part of the charging system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, relating to communication with an electric vehicle. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram illustrating the main part of the charging system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, relating to communication with an electric vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In these embodiments, the function of the charger to charge a battery mounted on an electric vehicle will be mainly described, but the charger may also be a charge / discharge device that has a function to discharge the power stored in the battery. If the charger has a discharge function, the power output from the discharge may be connected to the grid and flowed back into the grid, or it may be supplied to a load within the base station.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] <Overview of the charging system> Figure 1 shows the main parts of a charging system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The charging system 1 is a device that can charge electric vehicles V (V1, V2, V3, V4…) through charging connectors 42 (421, 422, 423, 424…). Each charging connector 42 is provided on a vehicle connection device 40 (401, 402, 403, 404…).

[0011] Here, the vehicle connection device 40 is a device installed adjacent to the space where the electric vehicle V is parked, and each includes a charging connector 42 and various devices associated with it. The vehicle connection device 40 is a terminal device for connecting to the electric vehicle V during charging, and is also called a charging stand or charging station. Physically, two charging connectors 42 may be provided in a single housing. In such cases, each charging connector 42 and the various devices associated with it can be considered as a single vehicle connection device 40.

[0012] The vehicle connection device 40 may be equipped with indicator lights or other displays, and buttons to switch between charging and discharging, as appropriate. The vehicle connection device 40 may be a so-called freestanding stand erected on the vehicle's running surface. Alternatively, if there is a building wall or the like near the parking space, the vehicle connection device 40 may be a wall-mounted type.

[0013] The charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can supply power for charging the secondary batteries of electric vehicles V (V1, V2, V3, V4…) to only one electric vehicle V at a time via any of the vehicle connection devices 40 (401, 402, 403, 404…). The charging system 1 comprises a control unit 10, a power supply unit 20, a switching unit 30, and a plurality of vehicle connection devices 40.

[0014] The power supply unit 20 is a power source that supplies power for charging. The switching unit 30 is a circuit that, during sequential charging, switches the connection so that at one time only one of the multiple charging connectors 42 (421, 422, 423, 424…) provided by the charging system 1 is connected to the power supply unit 20.

[0015] Therefore, the switching unit 30 has a switch for switching the opening and closing of the circuit to the power supply unit 20 of each vehicle connection device 40 (401, 402, 403, 404...). That is, each switch is provided for each power line 60 connected to each charging connector 42 (421, 422, 423, 424...). The switching unit 30 executes the opening and closing of each switch according to the instruction of the control unit 10. Specifically, each switch may be an electromagnetic relay or a semiconductor switch whose opening and closing are controlled by the control unit 10.

[0016] The control unit 10, the power supply unit 20, and the switching unit 30 constitute a charging unit 1A which is the core part of the charging system 1. The charging system 1 further includes a communication unit 1B described later. The charging unit 1A and the communication unit 1B constitute a central control unit 1C of the charging system 1. The central control unit 1C is a higher-level device with respect to the vehicle connection device 40 as a terminal device. Note that the central control unit 1C may have a physical form as a device housed in an integrated housing, but such a configuration is not necessarily limited to this.

[0017] <Configuration of communication unit etc.> FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part related to communication with the electric vehicle V of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Each vehicle connection device 40 (401, 402, 403, 404...) has a second transmission / reception unit 43 (431, 432, 433, 434...). In FIG. 2, the case where there are six vehicle connection devices 40 is shown as an example, but the number of vehicle connection devices 40 in the charging system 1 can be arbitrarily set as long as it is a plurality of three or more.

[0018] The communication unit 1B has a plurality of first transmission / reception units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134...) corresponding to the respective second transmission / reception units 43 (431, 432, 433, 434...). The communication unit 1B further includes a communication control device 100, a first switching circuit 14a, and a second switching circuit 14b.

[0019] The communication control device 100 mainly executes data transmission and reception with the electric vehicle V while cooperating with the control unit 10 of the charging unit 1A so that the charging unit 1A can perform required charging. As the hardware configuration of the communication control device 100, for example, it may be a microcomputer. Alternatively, although the control unit 10 corresponds to a higher-level device of the communication control device 100, as the hardware configuration, it does not matter if the control unit 10 and the communication control device 100 are integrated devices, for example, configured by a microcomputer.

[0020] The first transceiver unit 13 and the second transceiver unit 43 are connected one-to-one. Each of the first transceiver unit 13 and the second transceiver unit 43 is a communication device that mediates communication between the communication control device 100 and the electric vehicle V. The first transceiver unit 13 and the second transceiver unit 43 may be composed of products called transceivers, transceiver ICs (Integrated Circuits), etc., which perform mutual communication via communication paths 71 and 72 that are wired communication paths.

[0021] In this way, since the first transceiver unit 13 and the second transceiver unit 43 are connected one-to-one, the communication paths 71 and 72 are not branched to other transceiver units. Hereinafter, transmitting data from the communication control device 100 side to the electric vehicle V side connected to the vehicle connection device 40 may be referred to as downlink, and transmitting data from the electric vehicle V side connected to the vehicle connection device 40 to the communication control device 100 side may be referred to as uplink.

[0022] The communication path 71 (711, 712, 713, 714 …) is a communication path for transmitting data from the first transceiver unit 13 (131, 132, 133, 134 …) to the second transceiver unit 43 (431, 432, 433, 434 …). The communication path 72 (721, 722, 723, 724 …) is a communication path for transmitting data from the second transceiver unit 43 (431, 432, 433, 434 …) to the first transceiver unit 13 (131, 132, 133, 134 …). It is desirable that these communication paths 71 and 72 are bundled as one cable together with the power line 60.

[0023] Since the first transceiver 13k and the second transceiver 43k are connected one-to-one, the downlink transmitting port of the first transceiver 13k and the downlink receiving port of the second transceiver 43k are directly connected via the downlink communication channel 71k. In addition, the uplink transmitting port of the second transceiver 43k and the uplink receiving port of the first transceiver 13k are directly connected via the uplink communication channel 72k (where k = 1, 2, 3, 4…).

[0024] The communication control device 100 has one transmission port (i.e., downlink) to the first transceiver unit 13, and the line 11a connected to this transmission port branches off and connects to the downlink receiving ports of each of the first transceiver units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…). In this way, the data transmitted from the communication control device 100 to the electric vehicle V is transmitted within the communication unit 1B from the communication control device 100 to each of the first transceiver units 13 via a common line 11a.

[0025] On the other hand, the communication control device 100 has two receiving ports (i.e., uplink ports) from the first transmitting / receiving unit 13, which are connected to the first switching circuit 14a via line 12a and to the second switching circuit 14b via line 12b.

[0026] The first switching circuit 14a is a switching circuit that, in accordance with the instructions of the communication control device 100, selects one of the first transmitting / receiving units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…) as the destination for the receiving port of the communication control device 100 connected to the line 12a. Therefore, the first switching circuit 14a is connected to each of the lines 12 (121, 122, 123, 124…) that are connected to the uplink transmitting ports of each of the first transmitting / receiving units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…).

[0027] The second switching circuit 14b is a switching circuit that, in accordance with the instructions of the communication control device 100, selects one of the first transmitting / receiving units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…) as the destination for the receiving port of the communication control device 100 connected to line 12b. Therefore, the above-mentioned lines 12 (121, 122, 123, 124…) connected to the uplink transmitting ports of each of the first transmitting / receiving units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…) are branched and connected to the second switching circuit 14b.

[0028] In this way, the communication control device 100 can simultaneously receive and process uplink data from two selected first transceivers 13 via two receiving ports by controlling the first switching circuit 14a and the second switching circuit 14b. The first switching circuit 14a and the second switching circuit 14b may be products called selector ICs (Integrated Circuits), multiplexers, etc., or they may be circuits composed of relays.

[0029] <Operation of the charging system> The charging unit 1A of the charging system 1 performs sequential charging of the electric vehicles V connected to the vehicle connection device 40 (charging connector 42). If electric vehicles V1 to V6 are connected to each of the vehicle connection devices 401 to 406, for example, charging of each electric vehicle V is performed sequentially for the required period in the order of V1 → V2 → V3 → V4 → V5 → V6, and this is repeated thereafter. In this case, the communication control device 100 of the communication unit 1B communicates with the electric vehicles V1 to V6 as appropriate.

[0030] Hereinafter, the period during which the vehicle connection device 40k is charging the electric vehicle Vk will be referred to as period Ck (k=1,2,3,4…). During rotational charging, for example, during period C1 in which the charging unit 1A is charging the electric vehicle V1 connected to the vehicle connection device 401 (charging connector 421), the communication unit 1B operates as follows.

[0031] The communication control device 100 controls the first switching circuit 14a to set the destination of the receiving port of the communication control device 100, which is connected to the line 12a, as the first transmitting / receiving unit 131. In other words, the communication control device 100 causes the first switching circuit 14a to select the line 121 as the destination of the line 12a. In this way, during period C1, the communication control device 100 can continuously receive data transmitted from the electric vehicle V1 via the second transmitting / receiving unit 431 of the vehicle connection device 401, the first transmitting / receiving unit 131 which is connected one-to-one with the second transmitting / receiving unit 431, and the first switching circuit 14a.

[0032] Therefore, the communication control device 100 can communicate frequently with the electric vehicle V1 during charging, and can adequately exchange information necessary for controlling charging. Furthermore, when the electric vehicle V1 during charging issues a notification of any abnormality related to charging, the charging unit 1A can respond immediately. Moreover, because it constantly receives data transmitted from the electric vehicle V1, it will not miss any such abnormality notifications.

[0033] The communication control device 100 controls the second switching circuit 14b to alternate the connection destination of the receiving port of the communication control device 100, which is connected to line 12b, between the first transmitting / receiving units 132 to 136 at predetermined intervals. In other words, the communication control device 100 causes the second switching circuit 14b to sequentially select lines 122 to 126 alternately as the connection destination of line 12b.

[0034] In this way, during period C1, the communication control device 100 can sequentially receive data transmitted from electric vehicles V2 to V6 that are waiting to be charged in the rotational charging system, for predetermined periods of time each. For example, the communication control device 100 can receive data transmitted from any of the electric vehicles V in the order of V2 → V3 → V4 → V5 → V6 for predetermined periods of time each.

[0035] In other words, even if data is transmitted from a standby electric vehicle V that is not selected by the second switching circuit 14b at a certain point during period C1, it will not reach the communication control device 100. However, since electric vehicles V2 to V6 are in charging standby mode, high-frequency communication with these electric vehicles is unnecessary.

[0036] The communication control device 100 acquires information from electric vehicles V2 to V6, which are waiting to be charged, at a relatively low frequency by periodically querying them for information such as whether charging is necessary, the battery charge rate, and the maximum charging current, which also depends on the charge rate and battery temperature. This information is used by the control unit 10 to determine or update the rotational charging procedure in order to efficiently charge electric vehicles V1 to V6.

[0037] Furthermore, in the communication unit 1B of Embodiment 1 equipped with the circuit configuration described above, such operation prevents congestion in the path from which data transmitted from each electric vehicle V, which are independent devices, enters the two receiving ports of the communication control device 100.

[0038] <Mechanism of action, effect> Regarding the setup of the charging system 1, it is not always possible to shorten the distance between the space where the electric vehicle V is parked, i.e., the installation location of the vehicle connection device 40, and the communication control device 100 of the central control unit 1C. For example, if the charging system 1 is large-scale and there are many vehicle connection devices 40, it is impossible to install all of the vehicle connection devices 40 in the vicinity of the central control unit 1C.

[0039] Furthermore, due to constraints on the location of the central control unit 1C within the base, it may be necessary to install the central control unit 1C in a location far from the vehicle connection device 40. When the communication path between the communication control device 100 and the electric vehicle V connected to the vehicle connection device 40 becomes long, stable communication generally becomes difficult if there are branches in the communication path.

[0040] However, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, the first transceiver 13 and the second transceiver 43 are connected on a one-to-one basis, so stable communication is possible even if the distance between them is long. For example, if communication between the first transceiver 13 and the second transceiver 43 is performed using CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, reliable transmission at 500 kbit / second is possible even if the lengths of the communication paths 71 and 72 are 100 m each.

[0041] Thus, in a charging system that performs rotational charging, stable communication with the electric vehicle V is enabled, while also ensuring high-frequency communication with the electric vehicle V during charging, which is necessary for controlling the charging, and communication with the electric vehicle V waiting to charge, which is necessary for planning efficient rotational charging. Moreover, the communication control device 100 only needs two receiving ports from the electric vehicle V side, and the amount of received data that the communication control device 100 and the control unit 10 must process simultaneously is only for two electric vehicles V. Therefore, the processing power required for the communication control device 100 and the control unit 10 is reduced, and the charging system 1 can be realized at a low cost.

[0042] Such a charging system 1 is extremely useful, for example, in situations where it is necessary to complete the charging of a large number of electric vehicles at a bus operator's vehicle depot during off-hours, such as at night. With the charging system 1 according to this embodiment, by connecting a large number of charging connectors 42 to each electric vehicle V and performing a rotational charging operation, it is possible to automatically complete the charging of each electric vehicle V before the start of operation for a significantly larger number of vehicles than before. Therefore, by using the charging system 1, the number of charging equipment units that need to be installed can be reduced, making it possible to drastically reduce equipment costs in bus operations and the like.

[0043] [Embodiment 2] Figure 3 shows the main components of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Unlike the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 1, the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 2 can charge up to two electric vehicles V simultaneously. Therefore, the charging unit 1A of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 2 is equipped with two power supply units 20a and 20b.

[0044] Each of the power supply units 20a and 20b can be connected to the respective vehicle connection devices 40 (401, 402, 403, 404…) via the switching unit 30. The switching unit 30 also has an isolation switch 31, and when the isolation switch 31 is in the off position, the power supply units 20a and 20b are separated inside the switching unit 30, and power supply unit 20a can be connected to vehicle connection devices 401 to 403, and power supply unit 20b can be connected to vehicle connection devices 404 to 406.

[0045] With the separation switch 31 turned off, the charging unit 1A can perform sequential charging of electric vehicles V1 to V3 connected to vehicle connection devices 401 to 403, respectively, using the power supply unit 20a. Simultaneously, the charging unit 1A can also perform sequential charging of electric vehicles V4 to V6 connected to vehicle connection devices 404 to 406, respectively, using the power supply unit 20b. In other words, when the separation switch 31 is turned off, the charging system 1 can charge two electric vehicles simultaneously.

[0046] Furthermore, with the separation switch 31 turned ON, the charging unit 1A can perform sequential charging of electric vehicles V1 to V6 connected to the vehicle connection devices 401 to 406 using the power supply units 20a and 20b. In this case, the charging system 1 charges only one electric vehicle V, but since the two power supply units 20a and 20b can be used together to charge one electric vehicle V, it is possible to charge with a larger capacity compared to when two electric vehicles V are charged simultaneously. The charging system 1 according to Embodiment 2 can be used by switching between a low-capacity charging mode for two vehicles simultaneously and a high-capacity charging mode for one vehicle at a time by switching the separation switch 31.

[0047] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the part of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 2 that is related to communication with the electric vehicle V. In order to support simultaneous charging of two vehicles by the charging unit 1A, the communication unit 1B of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 2 is equipped with a first switching circuit 14a2 having the same configuration as the first switching circuit 14a, in addition to the first switching circuit 14a. The first switching circuit 14a2 is connected to the third receiving port of the communication control device 100 via the line 12a2.

[0048] The first switching circuit 14a2 is a switching circuit that, in accordance with the instructions of the communication control device 100, selects one of the first transmitting / receiving units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…) as the destination for the receiving port of the communication control device 100 connected to line 12a2. Therefore, the first switching circuit 14a2 is connected to the lines 12 (121, 122, 123, 124…) that are connected to the uplink transmitting ports of each of the first transmitting / receiving units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…).

[0049] In the communication unit 1B of Embodiment 2, the communication control device 100 controls the first switching circuit 14a and the first switching circuit 14a2 to select two electric vehicles V that are being charged simultaneously. In this way, the communication control device 100 can communicate at all times with each of the two electric vehicles V that are being charged simultaneously. Also, as in Embodiment 1, the communication control device 100 controls the second switching circuit 14b to alternately receive data from the electric vehicles V that are waiting to be charged.

[0050] [Embodiment 3] The charging system 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention differs from the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the communication unit 1B. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the part of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention that is related to communication with the electric vehicle V. In Figure 5, five vehicle connection devices 40 are shown as an example.

[0051] The communication unit 1B of Embodiment 3 has two first transceiver units 13. The first transceiver unit 13a is a first transceiver unit 13 for communicating with an electric vehicle V that is being charged. The first transceiver unit 13b is a first transceiver unit 13 for communicating with an electric vehicle V that is in standby mode. The first transceiver unit 13a is connected to the transmit port and receive port of the communication control device 100 via a downlink line 111p and an uplink line 121p, respectively. The first transceiver unit 13b is connected to the transmit port and receive port of the communication control device 100 via a downlink line 112p and an uplink line 122p, respectively.

[0052] In other words, in Embodiment 3, the communication control device 100 has two sets each of a transmitting port and a receiving port for communicating with the electric vehicle V. The third switching circuit 140 is located between the two first transmitting / receiving units 13 (first transmitting / receiving unit 13a and first transmitting / receiving unit 13b) and the downlink communication paths 71 (711-715) and uplink communication paths 72 (721-725) connected to each of the second transmitting / receiving units 43 (431-435).

[0053] The third switching circuit 140 has switches 141a to 145a that control the connection between the first transmitting / receiving unit 13a and the respective communication paths 71 (711 to 715) and 72 (721 to 725). Each of the switches 141a to 145a is a switch that opens and closes the downlink and uplink lines in conjunction with each other.

[0054] Switches 141a to 145a are connected to the first transceiver unit 13a via the downlink line 111q and the uplink line 121q. That is, the downlink line 111q and the uplink line 121q branch off and are connected to their respective switches 141a to 145a.

[0055] Furthermore, switches 141a to 145a are connected to the second transceivers 431 to 435 via the downlink communication paths 711 to 715 and the uplink communication paths 721 to 725, respectively. The communication control device 100 operates switches 141a to 145a to control the first transceiver 13a so that it is connected one-to-one with the second transceiver 43 of the vehicle connection device 40 connected to the electric vehicle V that is being charged.

[0056] The third switching circuit 140 has switches 141b to 145b that control the connection between the first transmitting / receiving unit 13b and the respective communication paths 71 (711 to 715) and 72 (721 to 725). Each of the switches 141b to 145b is a switch that opens and closes the downlink and uplink lines in conjunction. The third switching circuit 140 may be composed of products such as selector ICs (Integrated Circuits) or multiplexers.

[0057] Switches 141b to 145b are connected to the first transceiver unit 13b via the downlink line 112q and the uplink line 122q. That is, the downlink line 112q and the uplink line 122q branch off and are connected to their respective switches 141b to 145b.

[0058] Furthermore, switches 141b to 145b are connected to the second transceivers 431 to 435 via the downlink communication paths 711 to 715 and the uplink communication paths 721 to 725, respectively. The communication control device 100 operates switches 141b to 145b to control the first transceiver 13b so that it is connected one-to-one with each of the second transceivers 43 of the vehicle connection devices 40 connected to multiple standby electric vehicles V in a sequential, alternating manner.

[0059] In this way, the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 3, like the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, can perform continuous communication with the electric vehicle V being charged and sequential alternating communication with multiple electric vehicles V waiting to be charged in a rotating charging system.

[0060] [Embodiment 4] The charging system 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention differs from the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the communication unit 1B. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the part of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention that is related to communication with the electric vehicle V. In Figure 6, five vehicle connection devices 40 are shown as an example.

[0061] The first transceiver units 13 (131-135) and the second transceiver units 43 (431-435) are connected to each other on a one-to-one basis via communication lines 71 (711-715) and 72 (721-725). The first transceiver units 13 (131-135) are connected to the transmission port of the communication control device 100 via line 11t. That is, line 11t connected to the transmission port of the communication control device 100 branches off and is connected to the downlink receiving port of each of the first transceiver units 13 (131-135).

[0062] Furthermore, the first transceivers 13 (131-135) are connected to the receiving port of the communication control device 100 via a line 12t. That is, the lines 12t connected to the uplink transmitting ports of each of the first transceivers 13 (131-135) merge and are connected to the receiving port of the communication control device 100.

[0063] The first transmitting / receiving unit 13 (131-135) of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 4 can switch between communication execution and communication stop states according to instructions from the communication control device 100. For example, if electric vehicle V1 connected to vehicle connection device 401 is being charged, and the remaining electric vehicles V2-V5 connected to vehicle connection devices 402-405 are on rotational standby, the communication control device 100 will perform communication with electric vehicles V1-V5 as follows.

[0064] (1) The communication control device 100 controls the first transceiver 131, which is connected one-to-one with the second transceiver 431 of the vehicle connection device 401 that is charging, to a state of communication execution, and controls the other first transceivers 132 to 135 to a state of communication stop. Then, the communication control device 100 communicates with the electric vehicle V1 that is charging via the first transceiver 131 and the second transceiver 431 for a predetermined time, and thereafter controls the first transceiver 131 to a state of communication stop.

[0065] (2) The communication control device 100 controls the first transceiver 132, which is connected one-to-one with the second transceiver 432 of the vehicle connection device 402, which is one of the vehicle connection devices in standby charging mode, to a state of communication execution, and controls the other first transceivers 131, 133-135 to a state of communication stop. Then, the communication control device 100 communicates with the standby electric vehicle V2 via the first transceiver 132 and the second transceiver 432 for a predetermined time, and thereafter controls the first transceiver 132 to a state of communication stop.

[0066] (3) Communication with the electric vehicle V1 that is charging is performed for a predetermined time in the same manner as in (1). (4) Communication with the electric vehicle V3 that is in standby is performed for a predetermined time in the same manner as in (2) by controlling only the first transceiver 133 to the state of communication execution.

[0067] In the following steps, the communication control device 100 sequentially communicates with only one electric vehicle V at a time, while taking turns communicating with the standby electric vehicles V. That is, when the charging unit 1A is charging electric vehicle V1, the communication control device 100 repeatedly switches the communication destination in the order of electric vehicles V1 → V2 → V1 → V3 → V1 → V4 → V1 → V5, and performs communication with each electric vehicle V for a predetermined amount of time.

[0068] Thus, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 4, a simple communication unit 1B ensures more frequent communication with the electric vehicle V being charged, while also enabling the acquisition of data necessary for planning the rotational charging from the electric vehicle V in standby mode. The application of such a simple communication unit 1B is particularly effective in small-scale systems where the number of vehicle connection devices 40 is not large.

[0069] [Examples of implementation using software] The functions of the control unit 10 and / or the communication control device 100 (hereinafter referred to as "device") can be realized by a program that causes the device to function as a computer. In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., memory) as hardware for executing the program. By executing the program using this control device and storage device, each of the functions described in each of the embodiments above is realized.

[0070] The above program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, not temporary ones. These recording media may or may not be provided by the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium. Furthermore, some or all of the functions of each of the above control blocks can also be implemented by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which logic circuits functioning as each of the above control blocks are formed is also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 1 Charging System 1C Central Control Unit 1A charging unit 10 Control Unit 20, 20a, 20b power supply section 30 Switching section 1B Communication Unit 100 Communication control device 13 (131-136, 13a, 13b) First Transmitter / Receiver Unit 14a, 14a2 First switching circuit 14b Second switching circuit 140 Third switching circuit 40 (401~406) Vehicle connection device 42 (421~426) Charging connector 43 (431~436) Second Transmitter / Receiver Unit 71 (711-716), 72 (721-726) Communication Channel (Wired Communication Channel) V(V1~V6) Electric vehicle

Claims

1. A charging system comprising multiple vehicle connection devices for connecting to electric vehicles, and capable of performing sequential charging for multiple electric vehicles, The system further includes a communication unit that communicates with the electric vehicle via the vehicle connection device. The communication unit comprises a communication control device and a first transmitting / receiving unit. Each of the aforementioned vehicle connection devices has a second transmitting / receiving unit, The communication control device, in the rotational charging, when charging of the electric vehicle is being performed by any of the vehicle connection devices, A charging system in which each of the second transmitting and receiving units of the multiple vehicle connection devices waiting in line for the aforementioned rotating charging is connected one-to-one with the first transmitting and receiving unit via a wired communication path, and controls the system so that communication is performed alternately with the communication control device.

2. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit has a plurality of first transmitting and receiving units, each of which is connected one-to-one with the second transmitting and receiving unit.

3. The communication unit is provided in the receiving circuit for the communication control device to receive from the second transmitting / receiving unit. A first switching circuit selects the first transceiver connected to the second transceiver of the vehicle connection device performing charging and connects it to the communication control device, and The charging system according to claim 2, further comprising: a second switching circuit that connects the first transceiver unit, which is alternately selected from among a plurality of first transceivers connected to the second transceivers of a plurality of vehicle connection devices waiting in line, to the communication control device.

4. The communication unit includes two first transmitting / receiving units that can communicate simultaneously with the communication control device, and a third switching circuit that connects each of the two first transmitting / receiving units to one of the second transmitting / receiving units on a one-to-one basis. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the communication control device controls the third switching circuit to connect one of the first transmitting and receiving units to the second transmitting and receiving unit of the vehicle connection device that is performing charging.

5. The communication control device controls the first transmitting / receiving unit so that only one of the first transmitting / receiving units performs a transmission to the communication control device at any given time. A first operation causes the first transceiver connected to the second transceiver of the vehicle connection device performing the charging to transmit to the communication control device, The second operation, which causes the first transceiver connected to the second transceiver of the other waiting vehicle connection device to transmit to the communication control device, is performed alternately, and further, The charging system according to claim 1, wherein each time the second operation is performed, the first transmitting / receiving unit that causes the communication control device to transmit is replaced.

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