Charging system and method for controlling the same

Abstract

Vehicle information is reliably acquired from each electric vehicle without reducing efficiency due to charging interruptions. [Solution] When a new electric vehicle (V) is connected to the second vehicle connection device (40), the control unit (10) of the charging system (1) performs communication with the electric vehicle by starting a charging sequence for the electric vehicle in parallel with the charging by the first vehicle connection device (40) and then terminating it midway.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system and a control method thereof.

Background Art

[0002] There has been proposed a charging system that includes a plurality of charging stands each having a charging connector for connecting to an electric vehicle, shares a power supply unit, and automatically charges a plurality of electric vehicles by performing charging in rotation for the plurality of electric vehicles (Patent Document 1). Further, when a new electric vehicle is newly connected to a charging stand, charging by the charging stand during charging is interrupted, vehicle information (charging setting information) is acquired from each electric vehicle including the newly connected electric vehicle, a charging plan is established, and a charging system that sequentially charges each electric vehicle has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is desired to realize a charging system that can surely acquire vehicle information from each electric vehicle and perform appropriate sequential charging for a plurality of electric vehicles without reducing efficiency due to interruption of charging.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a charging system that includes a control unit and further includes a plurality of vehicle connection devices for connecting to electric vehicles, and is capable of sequentially charging a plurality of electric vehicles, wherein the control unit performs one charge for the electric vehicle in the order in which it is to be charged in the sequential charging, according to a charging sequence that is commonly agreed upon with the electric vehicles, which is a series of procedures from preparing for charging until the completion of charging, and if a second electric vehicle is newly connected to a second vehicle connection device, which is another vehicle connection device, while a first vehicle connection device is charging a first electric vehicle, the control unit starts the charging sequence for the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device in parallel with the charging of the first electric vehicle by the first vehicle connection device, and then terminates the charging sequence before the procedure to start charging the second electric vehicle, thereby performing communication with the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device.

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a charging system that is equipped with a plurality of vehicle connection devices for connecting to electric vehicles and is capable of sequentially charging a plurality of electric vehicles, comprising the steps of: performing one charge for the electric vehicle in the order in which to be charged in the sequential charging according to a charging sequence commonly agreed upon with the electric vehicles, which is a series of procedures from preparing for charging until completion of charging; and, when a second electric vehicle is newly connected to a second vehicle connection device, which is another vehicle connection device, while a first vehicle connection device is charging a first electric vehicle, which is one of the vehicle connection devices, the control method includes the steps of: starting the charging sequence for the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device in parallel with the charging of the first electric vehicle by the first vehicle connection device, and then terminating the charging sequence before the procedure to start charging the second electric vehicle, thereby performing communication with the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device.

[0007] The control unit of the charging system according to each aspect of the present invention may be implemented by one or more computers. In this case, a control program for the charging system that implements the control unit on each computer by causing each computer to operate as a software element of the charging system, 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]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a charging system can be realized that reliably acquires vehicle information from each electric vehicle without reducing efficiency due to charging interruptions, and can perform appropriate sequential charging for multiple electric vehicles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows the main components of a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control unit of a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the charging sequence applied to a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It shows the steps leading up to the start of charging. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the charging sequence applied to a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It shows the steps from the charging state to the end of the charging sequence. [Figure 5] This flowchart explains the operation of a vehicle connection device, from the moment an electric vehicle is newly connected to the device until it is charged. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a vehicle charging device until the charging of a connected electric vehicle is completed. [Figure 7] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the procedure by which a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention acquires charging information from an electric vehicle using a charging sequence. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 7. 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 in, or it may be supplied to a load within the base station.

[0011] [Embodiment] <Overview of Charging System 1> Figure 1 shows the main components of a charging system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The charging system 1 includes a control unit 10, a power supply unit 20, a switching unit 30, and a plurality of vehicle connection devices 40. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the control unit 10.

[0012] 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…).

[0013] The charging system 1 according to this embodiment 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…). Hereinafter, the secondary batteries of electric vehicles V may be simply referred to as batteries.

[0014] The control unit 10, the power supply unit 20, and the switching unit 30 constitute a central control unit 1A, which is the core part of the charging system 1. The central control unit 1A is a higher-level device with respect to the vehicle connection device 40 as a terminal device. Note that the central control unit 1A may have a physical form as a device housed in an integrated housing, but such a configuration is not necessarily limited to this.

[0015] <Vehicle connection device 40> Here, the vehicle connection device 40 is a device provided adjacent to the space where the electric vehicle V parks, including a charging connector 42 and various devices attached thereto. The vehicle connection device 40 is a terminal device for connecting to the electric vehicle V during charging, also referred to as a charging stand, a charging station, etc. Physically, for example, two charging connectors 42 may be provided in an integrated housing. Even in such a case, each charging connector 42 and various devices attached thereto can be regarded as one set of vehicle connection devices 40.

[0016] The vehicle connection device 40 is equipped with a connection detection circuit 45 (451, 452, 453, 454...) for detecting whether the charging connector 42 is connected to the inlet on the electric vehicle V side. The charging connector 42 is provided with a locking mechanism 44 (441, 442, 443, 444...) that can lock the charging connector 42 so that it cannot be removed when inserted into the inlet on the electric vehicle V side by the user. Since such a connection detection circuit 45 and locking mechanism 44 are well-known technologies, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0017] In addition, the vehicle connection device 40 may be appropriately provided with a display unit using a lamp or the like, a button for switching the charging on and off, a button for forcibly stopping the charging by the user's operation, etc. The form of the vehicle connection device 40 may be a so-called self-standing stand erected on the vehicle driving surface. Alternatively, when there is a building wall surface or the like near the parking space, the form of the vehicle connection device 40 may be a wall-mounted type.

[0018] <Power supply unit 20, switching unit 30> The power supply unit 20 is a power supply that supplies power for charging the secondary battery of the electric vehicle V. The switching unit 30 is a circuit that switches the connection so that, during sequential charging of a plurality of electric vehicles V, only one charging connector 42 out of the plurality of charging connectors 42 (421, 422, 423, 424...) provided in the charging system 1 is connected to the power supply unit 20 at a time. "Rotary charging" in which charging of a plurality of electric vehicles V is repeated alternately in order is a concept included in "sequential charging".

[0019] The switching unit 30 has a switch for switching the opening and closing of the circuit to the power supply unit 20 of the vehicle connection device 40 for 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 an instruction from the control unit 10. Each switch may specifically be an electromagnetic relay or a semiconductor switch whose opening and closing are controlled by the control unit 10.

[0020] <Control unit 10> The control unit 10 is a functional block that executes information processing, controls each part of the charging system 1, and exchanges information with the electric vehicle V via the vehicle connection device 40 to which the electric vehicle V is connected. As is well known for a system capable of executing information processing, the hardware of the control unit 10 may be physically concentrated in one device or may be distributed, and in some cases, a part of its function may be configured on the cloud. FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the control unit 10.

[0021] In the example shown in Figure 2, the functions of the control unit 10 are mainly realized by a computer 10A located in the central control unit 1A. In addition, some functions of the control unit 10 are physically realized by microcomputers 41 (411, 412, 413, 414…) located in the vehicle connection devices 40 (401, 402, 403, 404…). Specifically, the microcomputers 41 of the vehicle connection devices 40 control various parts of the vehicle connection devices 40, including the connection detection circuit 45 and the locking mechanism 44 of the charging connector 42.

[0022] Each vehicle connection device 40 (401, 402, 403, 404…) is equipped with a second transceiver unit 43 (431, 432, 433, 434…). The second transceiver unit 43 relays communication between the electric vehicle V connected to the vehicle connection device 40 and the computer 10A or microcomputer 41, as well as communication between the microcomputer 41 and the computer 10A. In addition, a first transceiver unit 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…) corresponding to each second transceiver unit 43 (431, 432, 433, 434…) is provided in the central control unit 1A.

[0023] The first transceiver units 13 (131, 132, 133, 134…) and the second transceiver units 43 (431, 432, 433, 434…) are connected via a wired communication path, which is not shown in Figure 1. Such a wired communication path is provided along each power line 60. The first transceiver units 13 and the second transceiver units 43 may be composed of products called transceivers, transceiver ICs (Integrated Circuits), etc., that communicate with each other via the wired communication path.

[0024] Regarding the installation of a charging system 1 equipped with multiple vehicle connection devices 40, the distance between the vehicle connection devices 40 installed adjacent to the space where the electric vehicle V is parked and the central control unit 1A cannot necessarily be made short. For example, when 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 1A.

[0025] Furthermore, due to constraints on the installation location of the central control unit 1A, which has a power supply unit 20, within the base, it may be necessary to install the central control unit 1A in a location far from the vehicle connection device 40. However, in the charging system 1 according to this embodiment, the first transceiver unit 13 and the second transceiver unit 43 are connected one-to-one, so even if the distance of the wired communication path between them is several hundred meters, stable communication is possible between the central control unit 1A and the vehicle connection device 40. Therefore, even if they are physically dispersed, information processing, including control by the control unit 10, can be performed stably, and the operation of the charging system 1 is reliably executed.

[0026] In the central control unit 1A, a selector 14 is provided between the computer 10A and the multiple first transceivers 13 to select some of the multiple first transceivers 13 and connect them to the communication port of the computer 10A. The selector 14 may be composed of a product called a selector IC (Integrated Circuit), multiplexer, etc., or it may be a circuit composed of multiple relays.

[0027] More specifically, under the control of the computer 10A, the selector 14 selects the first transceiver 13 connected to the vehicle connection device 40 that is currently charging, and connects it to one of the communication ports of the computer 10A. In this way, the computer 10A can communicate with the electric vehicle V connected to the vehicle connection device 40 that is currently charging, as necessary for controlling the charging operation.

[0028] Furthermore, the selector 14 cycles through the first transceiver units 13 connected to the vehicle connection devices 40 that are in charging standby mode, selects one of them, and connects it to another communication port of the computer 10A. In this way, the computer 10A can cycle through and communicate with multiple vehicle connection devices 40 that are in charging standby mode. That is, the computer 10A can communicate with multiple vehicle connection devices 40 that are in charging standby mode in rotation. In this case, the computer 10A may also communicate with the electric vehicle V connected to the vehicle connection device 40 that is in charging standby mode, if necessary.

[0029] Thus, since the control unit 10 has a selector 14 between the computer 10A and the multiple first transceivers 13, the number of communication ports for the computer 10A to connect to the vehicle connection device 40 can be as few as two, for example. Also, the processing capacity of the data received from the vehicle connection device 40 that the computer 10A must process simultaneously can be limited to that of two electric vehicles V. Therefore, the resources and processing capacity required by the computer 10A for communication with the vehicle connection device 40 or the electric vehicles V are reduced, and the charging system 1 can be realized at a low cost.

[0030] <Charging Sequence> The following describes the charging sequence followed by electric vehicles V and the charging systems that charge them. The charging sequence defined by the CHAdeMO standard is one example. Such charging sequences enable charging between various types of electric vehicles V and charging systems by conforming to them. The following description assumes a typical charger system with only one charging connector. Figures 3 and 4 are sequence diagrams illustrating the charging sequence.

[0031] After parking the electric vehicle V in a designated charging space, the user plugs the charging system's charging connector into the inlet on the electric vehicle V. When the charging system determines that it is ready to start the charging sequence, it begins transmitting a trigger signal to the electric vehicle V through the charging connector (procedure T1). The trigger signal is a signal emitted by the charging system to notify the electric vehicle V that the charging sequence is about to begin.

[0032] Specific examples of conditions under which the charging system determines it is safe to start a charging sequence include detection of the charging connector being inserted into the inlet, detection of connection to the electric vehicle V by the vehicle connection device, user authentication, detection of an explicit request to start charging by the user via button operation, and instructions to start charging from an administrator via remote communication from an external source such as a cloud (management server).

[0033] Upon detecting the reception of a trigger signal, the electric vehicle V begins transmitting vehicle information, including vehicle-side information related to charging, through the inlet (procedure T2). Examples of vehicle information include vehicle ID (vehicle identification information), battery charge rate, battery capacity, battery voltage, current command value, maximum chargeable time, and charging type such as high current support.

[0034] Upon receiving vehicle information, the charging system begins transmitting charging system information, including charging-related information from the charging system itself, via the charging connector (procedure T3). Examples of charging system information include identifier, output voltage value, output current value, abnormal voltage upper limit value, CHAdeMO sequence management number, current output voltage value, current charging current value, charging indicator / fault flag, and remaining charging time. The identifier is an identification signal indicating whether the charger's output circuit characteristics correspond to the welding diagnosis of the vehicle contactor, and the CHAdeMO sequence management number indicates the version of the CHAdeMO standard, with newer versions taking precedence.

[0035] If the electric vehicle V determines, based on the results of mutual communication, that charging can begin, it transmits a charging permission signal to the charging system through the inlet (procedure T4). Upon receiving the charging permission signal, the charging system may lock the connector using the locking mechanism of the charging connector. The charging system also performs an insulation diagnosis to check for ground faults in the charging circuit, including the connection between the charging connector and the inlet.

[0036] Once the insulation diagnostic confirms that no abnormalities are detected, the charging system sends an acceptance start instruction to the electric vehicle V via the charging connector, requesting it to allow charging to begin (procedure T5). Upon receiving the acceptance start instruction, the electric vehicle V closes (turns on) the relay that controls the opening and closing of the connection between the battery and the inlet. As a result, the vehicle voltage, which is the battery voltage, is applied to the charging connector (procedure T6). Such a relay is also called a vehicle contactor, and the acceptance start instruction may also be called a vehicle contactor close instruction.

[0037] Furthermore, the electric vehicle V begins transmitting a current command value, which is the instructed value of the charging current, through the inlet (procedure T7). The charging system, which detects the vehicle voltage and receives the current command value, supplies power for charging to the electric vehicle V according to the vehicle voltage and the current command value (procedure T8). In this way, the charging system begins charging the battery of the electric vehicle V. Note that the battery voltage mentioned above may be synonymous with the vehicle voltage.

[0038] If the charging system or the electric vehicle V determines that charging should be terminated during charging, it sends a charge termination instruction to the other party (procedure T9). The charging system that sends or receives the charge termination instruction stops supplying power for charging to the electric vehicle V (procedure T10).

[0039] When an electric vehicle V transmits or receives a charging completion instruction, it transmits a charging prohibition signal through the inlet (procedure T11). The transmission of the charging prohibition signal may also be achieved by stopping the charging permission signal, which is transmitted starting in procedure T4. Furthermore, the electric vehicle V opens (turns off) the relay that controls the opening and closing of the connection between the battery and the inlet. As a result, the vehicle-side voltage, which is the battery voltage, is no longer applied to the charging connector (procedure T12).

[0040] When the charging system detects that the vehicle-side voltage supply to the charging connector has been cut off, it transmits an acceptance termination instruction through the charging connector (procedure T13). This acceptance termination instruction may also be referred to as a vehicle contactor open instruction. The charging system also stops transmitting a trigger signal through the charging connector (procedure T14). The electric vehicle V, detecting the cessation of the trigger signal, stops transmitting vehicle information (procedure T15). The charging system stops transmitting charging system information (procedure T16). Thus, the charging sequence is completed.

[0041] <Operation of Charging System 1> The operation of the charging system 1 when an electric vehicle V that accepts charging from a charger according to the charging sequence procedure described above is connected to the vehicle connection device 40 of the charging system 1 according to the embodiment and charging is performed is described below.

[0042] Figures 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the charging system 1, and in particular, show the operation of the vehicle connection device 401. The operation of other vehicle connection devices 401 in the charging system 1 is the same as the operation (flow) shown in the flowcharts of Figures 5 and 6, and each flow is executed independently in parallel with the operation of the vehicle connection device 401.

[0043] Here, the operation of the charging system 1 is specifically described, assuming that at the start of the flow, electric vehicle V1 (the second electric vehicle) is newly connected to the vehicle connection device 401 to which electric vehicle V1 is not connected. At this time, charging of electric vehicle V may be being performed in one of the other vehicle connection devices 40.

[0044] Step S1: The control unit 10 determines whether the connection detection circuit 451 of the vehicle connection device 401 has detected that the charging connector 421 has been connected to the electric vehicle V1. If it determines that detection has been detected, the flow proceeds to step S2 (YES in S1); otherwise, step S1 is repeated (NO in S1).

[0045] When the electric vehicle V1 is parked in a parking space for charging with the vehicle connection device 401, and the user inserts the charging connector 421 into the inlet of the electric vehicle V1, the connection detection circuit 451 of the vehicle connection device 401 detects that the charging connector 421 has been connected to the electric vehicle V1 and notifies the control unit 10, resulting in a YES determination in step S1. If the electric vehicle V1 is not connected to the vehicle connection device 401 and is in connection waiting state, a NO determination will be made in step S1.

[0046] Furthermore, when the computer 10A visits and communicates with multiple vehicle connection devices 40 that are in charging standby mode, the control unit 10 may determine whether or not the above-mentioned detection has occurred at the time the computer 10A communicates with the microcomputer 411 of the vehicle connection device 401.

[0047] Step S2: The control unit 10 starts sending a trigger signal to the electric vehicle V1 through the charging connector 421 (procedure T1), and together with the electric vehicle V1, starts the charging sequence shown in Figures 3 and 4. The control unit 10 and the electric vehicle V1 exchange vehicle information and charging system information according to procedures T2 and T3 of the charging sequence.

[0048] In this way, the control unit 10 can acquire the data necessary for charging the electric vehicle V1 that has been newly connected to the charging system 1. The control unit 10 and the electric vehicle V1 advance the charging sequence to step T4. The control unit 10 also controls the locking mechanism 441 of the charging connector 421 to lock the connector and prevent the charging connector 421 from coming out of the inlet.

[0049] Step S3: Next, upon receiving a charge permission signal from the electric vehicle V1 in step T4 of the charging sequence, the control unit 10 skips steps T5 through T13 of the charging sequence and performs step T14, stopping the transmission of the trigger signal. The stopping of the trigger signal indicates the end of the charging sequence, and the charging sequence is terminated prematurely at step T5. The electric vehicle V1 and the control unit 10 then perform steps T15 and T16 of the charging sequence, which correspond to the closing process, to terminate the charging sequence.

[0050] Figure 7 shows each step of the charging sequence performed in steps S2 and S3. In this way, the control unit 10 forcibly terminates the charging sequence after it has started but before the charging procedure is completed. As a result, the control unit 10 can obtain the data necessary for charging from the electric vehicle V1 that accepts charging according to the charging sequence without having to perform charging on the electric vehicle V1 that has just been connected to the charging system 1.

[0051] Although not shown in the flowcharts of Figures 5 and 6, the control unit 10 creates or updates a sequential charging schedule for each electric vehicle V connected to the vehicle connection devices 40 (401, 402, 403, 404…) in a timely manner. In particular, when a new electric vehicle V is connected to any of the vehicle connection devices 40, the control unit 10 creates or updates a sequential charging schedule for each electric vehicle V, including the newly acquired electric vehicle V. Next, the flow proceeds to step S4.

[0052] Step S4: The control unit 10 determines whether charging is being performed in any of the other vehicle connection devices 40 besides the vehicle connection device 401. If charging is being performed for the electric vehicle V (first electric vehicle) in any of the other vehicle connection devices 40, the flow proceeds to step S5 (YES in S4); otherwise, it proceeds to step S6 (NO in S4).

[0053] Step S5: The control unit 10 determines, based on the sequential charging schedule, whether it is the vehicle connection device 401's turn to charge. If it is determined that it is the turn, the flow proceeds to step S6 (YES in S5); otherwise, step S5 is repeated (NO in S5). In other words, once the electric vehicle V1 is newly connected to the vehicle connection device 401 and the control unit 10 has acquired the data necessary for charging from the electric vehicle V1, it waits for the vehicle connection device 401 to begin charging until it is the vehicle connection device 401's turn for sequential charging.

[0054] Step S6: The control unit 10 starts sending a trigger signal to the electric vehicle V1 through the charging connector 421 (procedure T1), and starts the charging sequence shown in Figures 3 and 4 for the electric vehicle V1. The control unit 10 and the electric vehicle V1 proceed through the charging sequence to procedure T8, and the charging system 1 starts charging the electric vehicle V1 using the vehicle connection device 401. Next, the flow proceeds to step S7.

[0055] Step S7: During charging, the control unit 10 determines whether an event has occurred that warrants stopping charging by the vehicle connection device 401, or whether the charging sequence of the vehicle connection device 401 has ended based on the sequential charging schedule. If it is determined that an event has occurred that warrants stopping charging, or that the charging sequence has ended, the flow proceeds to step S8 (YES in S7); otherwise, it proceeds to step S9 (NO in S7).

[0056] Here, the occurrence of circumstances requiring the stopping of charging, as detected by the control unit 10, include, for example, the detection of an abnormality, a command to stop charging from the user, such as by pressing a stop button on the vehicle connection device 401, and the receipt of a command to stop charging from an administrator via remote communication from an external source such as a cloud (management server).

[0057] Step S8: The control unit 10 sends a charging completion instruction to the electric vehicle V1 via the charging connector 421. When this step is reached, the charging system 1 executes step T9 of the charging sequence. Next, the flow proceeds to step S10.

[0058] Step S9: The control unit 10 determines whether or not it has received a charging termination instruction from the electric vehicle V1. If it is determined that it has received the instruction, the flow proceeds to step S10 (YES in S9); otherwise, it returns to step S7 (NO in S9). If it is determined that YES in step S9, it means that the electric vehicle V1 has executed procedure T9 of the charging sequence. If it is determined that NO in both step S9 and step S10, charging of the electric vehicle V1 connected to the vehicle connection device 401 continues.

[0059] Step S10: Following procedure T9, the control unit 10 and the electric vehicle V1 proceed through procedures T10 to T16 of the charging sequence until the end of the charging sequence. In this way, one charge cycle of the electric vehicle V1 connected to the vehicle connection device 401 in sequential charging is completed.

[0060] Step S11: The control unit 10 determines whether the battery of the electric vehicle V1 was fully charged based on the vehicle information obtained from the electric vehicle V1 in the charging sequence that ended in step S10. If it is determined that the battery was fully charged, the flow proceeds to step S12 (YES in S11); otherwise, it returns to step S4 (NO in S11). If it is determined that the battery was fully charged, the connector lock remains on, and the vehicle connection device 401 and the connected electric vehicle V1 wait for the next charge in the sequential charging process.

[0061] Step S12: The control unit 10 controls the locking mechanism 441 of the charging connector 421 to release the connector lock. The charging connector 421 is then ready to be removed from the inlet of the electric vehicle V1. The flow then ends.

[0062] In a series of sequential charging, after the flow shown in Figures 5 and 6 using a certain vehicle connection device 40 is completed, the vehicle connection device 40 will not be assigned another sequential charging sequence. However, if the charging connector 42 of the vehicle connection device 40 is removed from the inlet of the electric vehicle V that has been charged, the flow may be restarted for the vehicle connection device 40 in the sequential charging.

[0063] <Other> According to the charging system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in steps S6 to S10 above, one charge to the electric vehicle V in the order in which charging is performed in sequential charging is carried out according to a charging sequence commonly agreed upon with the electric vehicle, which is a series of procedures from preparing for charging until it is completed. Furthermore, if an electric vehicle V (first electric vehicle) is being charged by the first vehicle connection device, which is a vehicle connection device 40, and a new electric vehicle V (second electric vehicle) is connected to the second vehicle connection device, which is another vehicle connection device 40, the control unit 10 will operate the charging system 1 as follows.

[0064] The control unit 10 starts a charging sequence for the newly connected electric vehicle V (second electric vehicle) to the second vehicle connection device (step S2 in the second vehicle connection device) in parallel with the charging of the electric vehicle V (first electric vehicle) by the first vehicle connection device (the "charging execution" state in the first vehicle connection device). Subsequently, the control unit 10 performs communication with the newly connected electric vehicle V (second electric vehicle) to the second vehicle connection device by prematurely terminating the charging sequence before the procedure to start charging the electric vehicle (premature termination at step S3, procedure T4 and execution of closing process).

[0065] Thus, according to the charging system 1 of this embodiment, when an electric vehicle V is newly connected to an available vehicle connection device 40 during sequential charging, information about the newly connected electric vehicle V can be acquired without interrupting the charging of the electric vehicle V that is currently being charged. Therefore, vehicle information can be acquired from each connected electric vehicle V without reducing efficiency due to the interruption of charging.

[0066] Furthermore, according to the charging system 1 of this embodiment, the acquisition of vehicle information of a newly connected electric vehicle V is cleverly performed by skipping some steps during the start and end of the charging sequence. Therefore, as long as the electric vehicle V is capable of accepting charge according to the charging sequence, the vehicle information of the electric vehicle V can be reliably acquired without using a separate special communication procedure for the electric vehicle V.

[0067] In order for the charging system 1 according to this embodiment to achieve the above operations, the charging sequence only needs to include at least the following steps: (Step 1) When the electric vehicle V is connected to the vehicle connection device, the charging system sends a first notification to the electric vehicle V indicating that the charging sequence is starting. (Step 2) Thereafter, the charging system exchanges data with the electric vehicle V, including information related to charging.

[0068] (Step 3) Subsequently, the charging system receives a second notification from the electric vehicle V indicating that it is authorized to charge. (Step 4) Subsequently, the charging system begins charging the electric vehicle V. (Step 5) Subsequently, the charging system terminates charging the electric vehicle V. (Step 6) Subsequently, the charging system sends a third notification to the electric vehicle V indicating that the charging sequence has ended.

[0069] Procedure T1 corresponds to Procedure 1 above, and the start of transmission of the trigger signal corresponds to the first notification. Procedures T2 and T3 correspond to Procedure 2 above. Procedure T4 corresponds to Procedure 3 above, and the charge permission signal corresponds to the second notification. Procedure T8 corresponds to Procedure 4 above, and Procedure T10 corresponds to Procedure 5 above. Procedure T14 corresponds to Procedure 6 above, and the stop of transmission of the trigger signal corresponds to the third notification.

[0070] Furthermore, when communicating with an electric vehicle V connected to the vehicle connection device 40 that is in standby mode for charging, as described above, the control unit 10 may acquire vehicle information from the electric vehicle V in the following manner. The control unit 10 acquires vehicle information from the electric vehicle V in accordance with steps S2 to S3 described above, that is, the sequence shown in Figure 7.

[0071] In other words, during sequential charging, the control unit 10 starts a charging sequence for the electric vehicle V (second electric vehicle) that is waiting to be charged and connected to another vehicle connection device (second vehicle connection device) while the electric vehicle V (first electric vehicle) is being charged by the first vehicle connection device (when the first vehicle connection device is in the "charging execution" state). Furthermore, the control unit 10 then performs communication with the electric vehicle V that is waiting to be charged by prematurely terminating the charging sequence before starting the procedure to charge the electric vehicle V that is waiting to be charged.

[0072] [Examples of implementation using software] The functions of the control unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "device") can be realized by a program that causes the device to function as a computer. In this case, the device includes at least one 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.

[0073] By executing the above program using this control device and storage device, the functions described in each of the above embodiments are realized. The above program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, not temporary. This recording media may or may not be provided by the above device. In the latter case, the above program may be supplied to the above device via any wired or wireless transmission medium. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 1 Charging System 1A Central Control Unit 10 Control Unit 10A Computer 13 (131, 132) First Transmitter / Receiver Unit 14 Selector 20 Power supply section 30 Switching section 40 (401, 402~) Vehicle connection device 41 (411, 412) Microcomputer 42 (421, 422~) Charging connector 43 (431, 432) Second transmitting / receiving unit 44 (441, 442~) Locking mechanism 45 (451, 451) Connection detection circuit V (V1, V2~) Electric Vehicles

Claims

1. It is equipped with a control unit, and further, Equipped with multiple vehicle connection devices for connecting to electric vehicles, A charging system capable of sequentially charging multiple electric vehicles, The control unit, In the aforementioned sequential charging, one charge for the electric vehicle in the order in which charging is performed is carried out according to a charging sequence that is commonly agreed upon with the electric vehicle, which is a series of procedures from preparing for charging until completion. A charging system characterized in that, while a first vehicle connection device is charging a first electric vehicle, if a second electric vehicle is newly connected to a second vehicle connection device, which is another vehicle connection device, the charging system starts the charging sequence for the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device in parallel with the charging of the first electric vehicle by the first vehicle connection device, and then terminates the charging sequence before the procedure to start charging the second electric vehicle, thereby performing communication with the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device.

2. The charging sequence is performed by the control unit, (Procedure 1) When the electric vehicle is connected to the vehicle connection device, a first notification is sent to the electric vehicle indicating that the charging sequence is to start. (Step 2) Subsequently, data including charging information is exchanged with the electric vehicle. (Step 3) After that, when a second notification is received from the electric vehicle indicating permission to charge, (Step 4) After that, the charging system starts charging the electric vehicle, (Step 5) After that, the charging of the electric vehicle by the charging system is terminated. (Step 6) The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: sending a third notification to the electric vehicle indicating that the charging sequence has ended.

3. The control unit, The charging system according to claim 2, wherein after starting the charging sequence, the process is terminated prematurely at the stage of step 3, thereby enabling communication between the second vehicle connection device and the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device.

4. The charging system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in sequential charging, the control unit initiates the charging sequence for an electric vehicle waiting to be charged, connected to another vehicle connection device, while the first electric vehicle is being charged by the first vehicle connection device, and then terminates the charging sequence before the procedure to begin charging the electric vehicle waiting to be charged, thereby performing communication with the electric vehicle waiting to be charged.

5. A control method for a charging system that includes multiple vehicle connection devices for connecting to electric vehicles and is capable of sequentially charging multiple electric vehicles, The process of performing one charge for the electric vehicle in the order in which the charging is to be performed, according to a charging sequence that is commonly agreed upon with the electric vehicle, which is a series of steps from preparing for charging until the charging is completed, A method for controlling a charging system, comprising the step of performing communication with the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device when a second electric vehicle is newly connected to the second vehicle connection device, which is another vehicle connection device, while the first electric vehicle is being charged by the first vehicle connection device, which is one of the vehicle connection devices, the charging sequence for the second electric vehicle newly connected to the second vehicle connection device is started in parallel with the charging of the first electric vehicle by the first vehicle connection device, and then terminating the charging sequence before the procedure for starting to charge the second electric vehicle.

Images