Vehicle connection circuit and vehicle battery structure

Abstract

In vehicles equipped with multiple batteries, relay malfunctions are detected using the minimum necessary temperature sensors. [Solution] The junction block 20 is interposed between the first battery 11 and the second battery 12, which are provided in the vehicle and configured to be connectable to each other, and the motor 40, and electrically connects the first battery 11, the second battery 12, and the motor 40. The junction block 40 includes a first path 51 for charging only the first battery 11, a second path 52 for charging only the second battery 12, a third path 53 for charging both the first battery 11 and the second battery 12, and a thermistor 39 provided in the overlapping portion of the first path 51, the second path 52, and the third path 53.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle connection circuit and a vehicle battery structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a battery radiation noise measurement device that prohibits measurement of radiation noise by a sound sensor when the change amount per unit time of the temperature index value of a wiring box detected by a temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and permits measurement of radiation noise by a sound sensor when the change amount is less than the threshold value.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a vehicle equipped with a plurality of batteries, a vehicle connection circuit (hereinafter, also referred to as a "junction block") that can be connected to the plurality of batteries may be provided. In this junction block, a temperature sensor may be arranged to detect malfunction of a relay. In this case, it is desired to arrange the minimum necessary temperature sensors from the viewpoints of cost reduction and structure simplification, but depending on the location where the temperature sensor is arranged, malfunction of the relay may not be detected.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle connection circuit and a vehicle battery structure that can detect malfunction of a relay with a minimum necessary temperature sensor in a vehicle equipped with a plurality of batteries.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1 is a vehicle connection circuit interposed between a first battery and a second battery, which are provided in a vehicle and configured to be connectable to each other, and a motor, and electrically connects the first battery, the second battery, and the motor, and includes a first path for charging only the first battery, a second path for charging only the second battery, a third path for charging both the first battery and the second battery, and a temperature sensor provided in the portion where the first path, the second path, and the third path overlap.

[0007] In the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1, in a vehicle equipped with multiple batteries, relay malfunctions can be detected using the minimum necessary number of temperature sensors. Here, "minimum necessary" means that the number of temperature sensors is the minimum necessary, for example, relay malfunctions can be detected for multiple paths using at least one temperature sensor. This reduces costs and simplifies the structure.

[0008] The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 2 is the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1, wherein a fuse and a relay are provided in the portion where the first path, the second path and the third path overlap, and the temperature sensor is provided between the fuse and the relay.

[0009] In the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 2, a single temperature sensor can detect malfunctions of relays in multiple paths.

[0010] The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 3 is the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1, wherein a fuse and a relay are provided in the portion where the first path, the second path and the third path overlap, and the temperature sensor is provided integrally with the relay.

[0011] In the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 3, the installation area can be reduced and the structure simplified by integrating the temperature sensor and relay.

[0012] The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 4 is the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is provided in the portion where the first path and the third path overlap but does not overlap with the second path, and in the portion where the second path and the third path overlap but does not overlap with the first path, instead of in the portion where the first path, the second path, and the third path overlap.

[0013] In the vehicle connection circuit according to claim 4, malfunctions of relays in multiple paths can be detected by two temperature sensors.

[0014] The vehicle battery structure according to claim 5 comprises a first battery, a second battery configured to be connectable to the first battery, and a vehicle connection circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is interposed between the first battery, the second battery, and a motor, and electrically connects the first battery, the second battery, and the motor.

[0015] In the vehicle battery structure according to claim 5, in a vehicle equipped with multiple batteries, a relay malfunction can be detected using the minimum necessary temperature sensors. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to this disclosure, in a vehicle equipped with multiple batteries, a relay malfunction can be detected using the minimum necessary temperature sensors. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows an example of the configuration of a vehicle battery structure mounted on a vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the circuit configuration of a vehicle battery structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the circuit configuration of a vehicle battery structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]It is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the vehicle battery structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing another arrangement example of the thermistor according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the vehicle battery structure according to the modification example.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, an example of a mode for carrying out the technology of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle battery structure 100 mounted on a vehicle 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 200 according to the present embodiment is equipped with a vehicle battery structure 100 and a motor 40 for driving the vehicle 200. The vehicle battery structure 100 includes a battery 10 and a junction block 20, and the battery 10 includes a first battery 11 and a second battery 12. The first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are configured to be connectable to each other. The junction block 20 is an example of a vehicle connection circuit, and is interposed between the first battery 11, the second battery 12, and the motor 40 to electrically connect the first battery 11, the second battery 12, and the motor 40.

[0020] FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams showing an example of the circuit configuration of the vehicle battery structure 100 according to the present embodiment. The circuit configurations of FIGS. 2 to 4 are the same. FIG. 2 shows a first path 51 (thick line), FIG. 3 shows a second path 52 (thick line), and FIG. 4 shows a third path 53 (thick line). The dotted arrows in FIGS. 2 to 4 indicate the direction of current flow.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when rapid charging is performed using the DC inlet 68, the junction block 20 is connected to the DC inlet 68 for rapidly charging the first battery 11 and the second battery 12. On the other hand, when normal charging is performed using the 2-in-1 charger 60, the junction block 20 is connected to the solar panel 64 and the accessory battery 65 for normally charging the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 via the 2-in-1 charger 60. Further, the junction block 20 may be connected to a wiring plug connector (so-called AC100V outlet) 66 or an AC inlet 67 for charging the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 via the 2-in-1 charger 60. The 2-in-1 charger 60 includes a filter 61, a DC-DC converter 62, and an OBC (On-board Battery Charger) 63. The DC-DC converter 62 is connected to the solar panel 64 and the accessory battery 65, and converts the DC voltage supplied from the solar panel 64 and the accessory battery 65 into a predetermined DC voltage corresponding to the first battery 11 and the second battery 12. The OBC 63 is connected to the wiring plug connector 66 or the AC inlet 67, and converts the AC voltage supplied from the wiring plug connector 66 or the AC inlet 67 into a predetermined DC voltage corresponding to the first battery 11 and the second battery 12. Each of the DC-DC converter 62 and the OBC 63 is connected to the junction block 20.

[0022] The junction block 20 includes a positive system main relay 21, a first current sensor 22, a first DC relay 23, a first fuse 24, a DC fuse 25, a second DC relay 26, a second current sensor 27, a second fuse 28, a third DC relay 29, a third fuse 30, a negative system main relay 31, a limiting resistor 32, a precharge system main relay 33, an AC fuse 34, a positive system sub-relay 35, a fourth DC relay 36, a fifth DC relay 37, a voltage sensor 38, and a thermistor 39. The thermistor 39 is an example of a temperature sensor, and is a resistor whose electrical resistance changes significantly with temperature changes. Note that the temperature sensor is not limited to thermistor 39, but any sensor capable of detecting temperature changes is acceptable.

[0023] One end of wiring W1 is connected to the positive side of DC inlet 68, and the other end is connected to wiring W2 via contact P1. One end of wiring W2 is connected to motor 40, and the other end is connected to the positive side of first battery 11. One end of wiring W3 is connected to the negative side of first battery 11, and the other end is connected to wiring W5 via contact P4. One end of wiring W4 is connected to wiring W3 via contact P3, and the other end is connected to wiring W6 via contact P5. One end of wiring W5 is connected to motor 40, and the other end is connected to the positive side of second battery 12. One end of wiring W6 is connected to the negative side of second battery 12, and the other end is connected to motor 40. One end of wiring W7 is connected to the negative side of DC inlet 68, and the other end is connected to wiring W6 via contact P6. One end of wiring W8 is connected to the positive side of OBC63, and the other end is connected to wiring W1 via contact P8. One end of wiring W9 is connected to the negative side of OBC63, and the other end is connected to wiring W7 via contact P9. One end of wiring W10 is connected to the positive side of DCDC converter 62 and the positive side of OBC63, and the other end is connected to wiring W2 via contact P2. One end of wiring W11 is connected to the negative side of DCDC converter 62 and the negative side of OBC63, and the other end is connected to wiring W6 via contact P7.

[0024] The junction block 20 according to this embodiment includes a first path 51 (shown by a thick line in Figure 2), a second path 52 (shown by a thick line in Figure 3), and a third path 53 (shown by a thick line in Figure 4). The first path 51 is a path that charges only the first battery 11 from the DC inlet 68 and passes through wirings W1, W2, W3, W4, W6, and W7. The second path 52 is a path that charges only the second battery 12 from the DC inlet 68 and passes through wirings W1, W2, motor 40, and wirings W5, W6, and W7. The third path 53 is a path that charges both the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 from the DC inlet 68 and passes through wirings W1, W2, W3, W5, W6, and W7.

[0025] The positive-side system main relay 21 is positioned between contact P1 of wiring W1 and contact P2 of wiring W2, and switches between the first path 51 and the second path 52. The first current sensor 22 is positioned between the negative side of the first battery 11 of wiring W3 and contact P3, and measures the current flowing through the first path 51 or the third path 53. The first DC relay 23 is positioned between contact P3 of wiring W3 and the first fuse 24 of wiring W4, and switches between the first path 51 and the third path 53. The first fuse 24 is positioned between the first DC relay 23 and contact P5 of wiring W4. The DC fuse 25 is positioned between contact P3 of wiring W3 and the second DC relay 26. The second DC relay 26 is positioned between the DC fuse 25 of wiring W3 and contact P4, and switches between the first path 51 and the third path 53. The second current sensor 27 is located between contact P4 of wiring W5 and the positive side of the second battery 12, and measures the current flowing through the second path 52 or the third path 53. The second fuse 28 is located between contact P4 of wiring W5 and the third DC relay 29. The third DC relay 29 is located between the second fuse 28 of wiring W5 and the motor 40, and switches between the first path 51 and the second path 52. The third fuse 30 is located between contact P5 of wiring W6 and the negative side system main relay 31. The negative side system main relay 31 is located between the third fuse 30 of wiring W6 and contact P7, and switches the first path 51, the second path 52, and the third path 53 on / off. The limiting resistor 32 and the precharge side system main relay 33 are connected in parallel with the negative side system main relay 31, forming a precharge circuit. The AC fuse 34 is located between the positive side system sub-relay 35 of wiring W10 and contact P2. The positive-side system sub-relay 35 is located between the AC fuse 34 of wiring W10 and the positive side of the DC-DC converter 62 and OBC 63, and switches the connection / disconnection with the 2-in-1 charger 60. The fourth DC relay 36 is located between contacts P9 and P6 of wiring W7, and switches the connection / disconnection with the DC inlet 68. The fifth DC relay 37 is located between contacts P1 and P8 of wiring W1, and switches the connection / disconnection with the DC inlet 68.The voltage sensor 38 is placed between wiring W1 and wiring W7 and measures the voltage between wiring W1 and wiring W7. The thermistor 39 is placed between the third fuse 30 and the negative side system main relay 31.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the thermistor 39 according to this embodiment is provided in the area where the first path 51, the second path 52, and the third path 53 overlap. More specifically, as described above, the thermistor 39 is positioned between the third fuse 30 and the negative side system main relay 31. The area where the first path 51, the second path 52, and the third path 53 overlap is an area where a relatively large current flows, and therefore it is an area where temperature changes can be easily detected in response to changes in current. If the thermistor 39 detects a sudden temperature change, it is considered that a relay malfunction has occurred in one of the paths of the first path 51, the second path 52, and the third path 53.

[0027] Specifically, let's consider the case where the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are connected in parallel. In this case, current flows through the first path 51 shown in Figure 2 and the second path 52 shown in Figure 3, and the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are charged in parallel. The thermistor 39 can detect temperature changes caused by short-circuit current if a relay malfunction occurs during charging. On the other hand, let's consider the case where the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are connected in series. In this case, current flows through the third path 53 shown in Figure 4, and the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are charged in series. The thermistor 39 can detect temperature changes caused by short-circuit current if a relay malfunction occurs during charging.

[0028] Figure 5 shows another example of the arrangement of the thermistor 39 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, the thermistor 39 may be provided integrally with the negative system main relay 31. In other words, the thermistor 39 and the negative system main relay 31 constitute one element 310. By providing the thermistor 39 and the negative system main relay 31 in one element 310, the installation area can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

[0029] Figure 6 shows the circuit configuration of a modified vehicle battery structure 100A. For the sake of clarity, the first path 51, the second path 52, and the third path 53 are omitted from the illustration in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the modified vehicle battery structure 100A includes a junction block 20A. In the junction block 20A, two thermistors 39A and 39B are provided instead of thermistor 39 (see Figures 2 to 4). That is, thermistor 39A is located in the part where the first path 51 and the third path 53 overlap, but not where the second path 52 overlaps. More specifically, thermistor 39A is located between contact P2 of wiring W2 and the positive side of the first battery 11. The part where the first path 51 and the third path 53 overlap may be, for example, the part between contact P2 and endpoint E1 of the junction block 20. Endpoint E1 is connected to the positive side of the first battery 11. On the other hand, thermistor 39B is positioned in a location where the second path 52 and the third path 53 overlap, but not in a location where the first path 51 does not. More specifically, thermistor 39B is positioned between the negative side of the second battery 12 and contact P5 of the wiring W6. The overlapping section of the second path 52 and the third path 53 may be, for example, the section between contact P5 and endpoint E2 of the junction block 20. Endpoint E2 is connected to the negative side of the second battery 12. As shown in the example in Figure 6, if thermistor 39A detects a sudden temperature change, it is considered that a relay malfunction has occurred in either the first path 51 or the third path 53. Similarly, if thermistor 39B detects a sudden temperature change, it is considered that a relay malfunction has occurred in either the second path 52 or the third path 53.

[0030] Specifically, let's consider the case where the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are connected in parallel. In this case, current flows through the first path 51 shown in Figure 2 and the second path 52 shown in Figure 3, and the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are charged in parallel. Thermistor 39A can detect temperature changes caused by short-circuit current if a relay malfunction occurs during charging. Similarly, thermistor 39B can detect temperature changes caused by short-circuit current if a relay malfunction occurs during charging. On the other hand, let's consider the case where the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are connected in series. In this case, current flows through the third path 53 shown in Figure 4, and the first battery 11 and the second battery 12 are charged in series. Thermistor 39A or thermistor 39B can detect temperature changes caused by short-circuit current if a relay malfunction occurs during charging.

[0031] Thus, according to this embodiment, in a vehicle equipped with multiple batteries, relay malfunctions can be detected using the minimum necessary temperature sensors.

[0032] The technical scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit, and such modified or improved forms are also included within the technical scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 11. Battery No. 1 12 Second Battery 20 Junction Blocks 39, 39A, 39B Thermistors 40 motors 30 Third Fuse 31 Negative side system main relay 51 First Route 52 Second Route 53 Third Route 100 Vehicle Battery Structure 200 vehicles

Claims

1. A vehicle connection circuit interposed between a first battery and a second battery, which are installed in a vehicle and configured to be connectable to each other, and a motor, which electrically connects the first battery, the second battery, and the motor, A first path for charging only the first battery, A second path that charges only the second battery, A third path for charging the first battery and the second battery, A temperature sensor is provided in the portion where the first path, the second path, and the third path overlap, Vehicle connection circuit including.

2. A fuse and a relay are provided in the portion where the first path, the second path, and the third path overlap. The temperature sensor is provided between the fuse and the relay. The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1.

3. A fuse and a relay are provided in the portion where the first path, the second path, and the third path overlap. The temperature sensor is provided integrally with the relay. The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1.

4. The temperature sensor is provided in the portion where the first path and the third path overlap but not the second path, and in the portion where the second path and the third path overlap but not the first path, instead of in the portion where the first path, the second path, and the third path overlap. The vehicle connection circuit according to claim 1.

5. First battery and A second battery configured to be connectable to the first battery, A vehicle connection circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, interposed between the first battery and the second battery and the motor, and electrically connecting the first battery, the second battery and the motor, A vehicle battery structure equipped with the following features.

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