Charger

Abstract

Provided is a charger using renewable energy that can charge a secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle including an electric car without causing an increase in size or cost. 【Solution means】 It includes a housing erected on the ground surface, a first solar panel provided on the outer surface of the housing with a first light-receiving surface arranged in the horizontal direction, and a second solar panel provided on the upper part of the housing adjacent to the upper part of the first solar panel with a second light-receiving surface arranged so that the angle formed by the virtual surface in the horizontal direction of the housing and the second light-receiving surface is an obtuse angle, and a secondary battery power source built in the lower part of the housing, where the electric power generated by the second solar panel and the first solar panel is charged via a charging circuit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charger, and more particularly to a charger for charging a secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, as part of efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a shift is gradually being made from vehicles driven by internal combustion engines, i.e., engines, to electric vehicles centered on electric vehicles driven by a power source and a motor.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses that in a power supply device mounted on an electric vehicle that runs using a battery, when the remaining capacities of both a high-voltage battery and a low-voltage battery are more than the allowable minimum amount, the operation of a DC / DC converter is stopped to reduce the occurrence of conversion loss of the DC / DC converter.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, this type of electric vehicle runs by charging the secondary battery power source mounted on the electric vehicle with a charger, and since it does not emit carbon dioxide during running, it is considered to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

[0006] On the other hand, since this type of charger receives and supplies large amounts of power from the existing power grid to supply power to an electric vehicle and charge its power source, for example, with the further spread of electric vehicles in the future, it is conceivable that the power generation amount of the power plant that generates the power transmitted to the power grid will increase. If that were the case, it would be assumed that, far from reducing carbon dioxide emissions, carbon dioxide emissions would increase.

[0007] As a countermeasure in such a case, it is also conceivable to mount a solar cell on the charger and supply power from solar power generation as renewable energy to the electric vehicle to charge its power source, thereby avoiding the receipt and supply of power from the existing power grid and aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

[0008] However, in order to charge the secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle, the power output by the solar cell is insufficient. In order to improve the output performance so that the power source mounted on the electric vehicle can be charged, it is necessary to mount a solar cell having an area corresponding to the output performance. However, an increase in dimensions and an increase in cost associated with mounting such a solar cell are a concern.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a charger using renewable energy that can charge a secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle, including an electric vehicle, without causing an increase in dimensions or scale or an increase in cost.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] To achieve the above object, the charger according to the present invention includes a housing erected on the ground surface, a first solar panel provided on the outer surface of the housing with a first light-receiving surface disposed in the horizontal direction, and a second solar panel provided on the upper part of the housing adjacent to the upper part of the first solar panel, with a second light-receiving surface disposed such that the angle formed between the virtual surface in the horizontal direction of the housing and the second light-receiving surface is an obtuse angle. A secondary battery power source built into the lower part of the housing is charged with the electric power generated by the second solar panel and the first solar panel via a charging circuit.

[0011] According to this, since the first solar panel and the second solar panel are provided, it is possible to efficiently receive sunlight during sunshine hours from sunrise to sunset over a long period of time by deploying a small number of small-scale solar panels.

[0012] Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to introduce a large number of solar panels spreading over one side of the roof of a garage or to introduce a large number of large-scale solar panels on a vast site for operating a charger in order to increase the power generation amount by solar power generation to correspond to the charging amount of an electric vehicle. Thus, it is possible to obtain a charger that can charge a secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle including an electric car without causing an increase in dimensions or scale or an increase in cost.

[0013] To achieve the above object, the charger according to the present invention includes a housing erected on the ground surface, a solar panel provided on the upper part of the housing with a light-receiving surface disposed such that the angle formed between the virtual surface in the horizontal direction of the housing and the light-receiving surface is an obtuse angle, and a secondary battery power source built into the lower part of the housing that is charged with the electric power generated by the solar panel via a charging circuit. The solar panel is formed such that the light-receiving surface has a size capable of continuously receiving sunlight during sunshine hours over an arbitrary period of time.

[0014] This charger has a shock input part provided on the outer surface of the housing between the charging circuit and the secondary battery power source, and is equipped with a shock buffer that opens or shorts the connection between the charging circuit and the secondary battery power source when a shock is input to the shock input part.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to this invention, it is possible to obtain a charger that can charge the secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle without causing an increase in size or scale or an increase in cost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Next, based on FIGS. 1 to 8, the charger according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0018] (First Embodiment) First, based on FIGS. 1 to 6, a charger according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of the charger according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the charger. As shown in the figure, the charger 10 mainly includes a housing 20, a first solar panel 30, a second solar panel 40, a DC-DC converter circuit 50, a charging cable 60, wiring 70, a secondary battery power supply 80, and a shock absorber 90.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the housing 20 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an upper part 20A and a lower part 20B with a relatively thin metal plate, for example. The top surface part 20a on the upper part 20A side is formed to be inclined, and it is erected on the ground surface via the pedestal 20b on the lower part 20B side.

[0021] The first solar panel 30 is a device that converts light energy, which is renewable energy, into electric power using the photovoltaic effect. In the present embodiment, it is provided on the outer surface of the housing 20 on the upper part 20A side of the housing 20, and the first light receiving surface 30a is arranged in the horizontal direction H of the housing 20.

[0022] The second solar panel 40 is a device that converts light energy, which is renewable energy, into electric power using the photovoltaic effect. In the present embodiment, it is provided adjacent to the upper part (upper end) of the first solar panel 30 and is inclined following the top surface part 20a on the upper part 20A side of the housing 20.

[0023] Specifically, the second solar panel 40 is provided on the top surface part 20a on the upper part 20A side of the housing 20 with the second light receiving surface 40a arranged such that the angle formed by the virtual plane V in the horizontal direction H of the housing 20 and the second light receiving surface 40a of the second solar panel 40 is an obtuse angle A.

[0024] The DCDC converter circuit 50 is a device that converts a DC voltage into a DC voltage of a different voltage. In the present embodiment, a charging circuit composed of a first charging circuit and a second charging circuit (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is integrally structured and arranged.

[0025] From the perspective of thermal design, it is preferable that the housing 20 between the first solar panel 30 and the second solar panel 40 and the DCDC converter circuit 50 is provided with ventilation holes.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the charging cable 60 is connected to the DCDC converter circuit 50, and the charging terminal provided on the tip side (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is connected to an electric vehicle, whereby the secondary battery power source of the electric vehicle is charged.

[0027] In the present embodiment, the wiring 70 connects between the DCDC converter circuit 50 and the secondary battery power source 80 described below, and transmits a control signal for executing control to switch the energization state or the cut-off state of the secondary battery power source 80.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the secondary battery power source 80 is composed of a battery cell group in which a plurality of nickel-metal hydride secondary battery cells or a plurality of lithium-ion secondary battery cells are connected in series or in parallel, and the electric power generated by the first solar panel 30 and the second solar panel 40 is charged through the charging circuit of the DCDC converter circuit 50.

[0029] In the present embodiment, this secondary battery power source 80 is built in and arranged in the housing 20 at the lower part 20B of the housing 20.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the shock buffers 90 are respectively provided on each surface of the outer surface of the rectangular parallelepiped housing 20 between the DCDC converter circuit 50 in which the charging circuit built in the housing 20 is integrally structured and the secondary battery power source 80.

[0031] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the position between the DCDC converter circuit 50 and the secondary battery power source 80, where the shock absorber 90 is provided on each surface of the outer surface of the housing 20, corresponds to the position of the bumper of the electric vehicle.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the schematic configuration of the shock absorber 90. As shown in the figure, the shock absorber 90 is formed of a relatively thin metal plate having a reverse U-shaped or U-shaped cross-section or end face view, and includes a shock input portion 91 and a plurality of ribs 92 that reinforce the shock input portion 91 inside the shock input portion 91.

[0033] In this embodiment, a slit 92a is formed in the rib 92 in a direction close to the inside of the shock input portion 91, and a wiring 70 that is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through an opening (not shown in FIG. 2) formed in the housing 20 is interposed in the slit 92a, and the wiring 70 is partially accommodated in the shock absorber 90.

[0034] In this embodiment, the case where the shock absorber 90 is mounted and provided on each surface of the outer surface of the housing 20 has been described, but it may be formed to conform to the housing 20 and integrated with the housing 20.

[0035] In this embodiment, the charger 10 having such a configuration is mainly used for charging the secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle including an electric vehicle, which is deployed outdoors or at an arbitrary facility.

[0036] Next, the schematic operation of the charger 10 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the schematic operation of the charger 10 when the secondary battery power source of the electric vehicle is not being charged.

[0037] As shown in the figure, when the charger 10 is irradiated with sunlight by the first solar panel 30 and the second solar panel 40, the first solar panel 30 and the second solar panel 40 generate electricity in response to the irradiation. When a voltage is applied to the first charging circuit 51 incorporated in the DC-DC converter circuit 50 in response to the power generation, the first charging circuit 51 outputs a current Ia.

[0038] On the other hand, the second charging circuit 52 applies a desired voltage to the excitation coil unit 53 via the wiring 70. When the voltage is applied, the excitation coil unit 53 operates so that the relay contact 82 connecting the plurality of battery cell groups 81 constituting the secondary battery power source 80 is in a contact state.

[0039] When the relay contact 82 is in a contact state, in this embodiment, a plurality of, four battery cell groups 81 are in a connection state of two parallel and two series, and the four battery cell groups 81 are charged by the current Ia from the first charging circuit 51.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the operation of the charger 10 in a state where the secondary battery power source of the electric vehicle is being charged.

[0041] As shown in the figure, the charger 10 converts a combined current obtained by combining the current Ia from the first charging circuit 51 and the current Ib discharged from the secondary battery power source 80 into a desired direct current (it is assumed to be a relatively large current), and outputs it to the charging terminal 61 of the charging cable via the second charging circuit 52.

[0042] The current output to the charging terminal 61 is output to the electric vehicle via the charging terminal 61, whereby the secondary battery power source of the electric vehicle is charged.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the operation of the charger 10 when the electric vehicle collides with the charger 10.

[0044] When the electric vehicle collides with the charger 10, the impact input by the collision is absorbed by the deformation of the impact input portion 91 of the shock absorber 90 provided at a position corresponding to the position of the bumper of the electric vehicle.

[0045] When the impact input part 91 deforms, the rib 92 provided inside the impact input part 91 deforms, and the wiring 70 interposed in the slit 92a formed in the rib 92 is short-circuited or opened.

[0046] When the wiring 70 is short-circuited or opened, a desired voltage is not applied from the second charging circuit 52 to the exciting coil part 53 via the wiring 70. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the relay contact 82 is operated to be in a non-contact state, and the series connection and parallel connection states of the battery cell group 81 of the secondary battery power source 80 are released.

[0047] Thus, since the first solar panel 30 and the second solar panel 40 are provided, by deploying a small number of solar panels, it is possible to efficiently receive sunlight during the sunshine hours from sunrise to sunset over a long period of time (it is assumed that the first solar panel 30 receives sunlight from sunrise to noon, and the second solar panel 40 receives sunlight from noon to sunset).

[0048] Therefore, for example, in order to increase the power generation amount by solar power generation and be able to cope with the charging amount of the electric vehicle, it is not necessary to introduce a large number of solar panels spreading over one side of the roof of the garage or to introduce a large number of large-scale solar panels on a vast site for operating a charger. Thus, a charger 10 that can charge the secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle including an electric car can be obtained without causing an increase in size or scale or an increase in cost.

[0049] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a shock absorber 90 is provided between the DCDC converter circuit 50, which is assumed to be at a position corresponding to the bumper of the electric vehicle, and the secondary battery power source 80. When an impact is input to the charger 10, while the impact input part 91 absorbs the impact, the wiring 70 connecting between the DCDC converter circuit 50 and the secondary battery power source 80 is short-circuited or opened, and the series connection and parallel connection states of the battery cell group 81 of the secondary battery power source 80 are released.

[0050] Therefore, it is possible to suppress the development of secondary accidents such as the metal parts of the electric vehicle and the secondary battery power source 80 of the charger 10 being electrically connected and leaking due to damage to the electric vehicle caused by a collision with the charger 10.

[0051] (Second Embodiment) Next, the schematic of the charger according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0052] In addition, in FIG. 7, the same components as those of the charger 10 will be given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] As shown in the figure, the charger 100 is different from the charger 10 having the first solar cell panel 30 and the second solar cell panel 40 in that it includes only a single solar cell panel 110, and the other components have the same configuration as those of the charger 10.

[0054] Although not shown in FIG. 7, the charger 100 may be provided with the shock buffers 90 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 on each surface of the outer surface of the rectangular parallelepiped housing 20 between the DC-DC converter circuit (not shown) and the secondary battery power source (not shown).

[0055] The solar cell panel 110 of the charger 100 is formed such that its light receiving surface 110a has a dimension capable of continuously receiving sunlight during sunlight hours from sunrise to sunset for an arbitrary period of time, that is, a dimension that is a larger area than the first solar cell panel 30 and the second solar cell panel 40 of the charger 10, and can efficiently receive sunlight.

[0056] As a result, similar to the charger 10, it is possible to obtain a charger 100 that can charge the secondary battery power source mounted on an electric vehicle including an electric vehicle without causing an increase in size or cost.

[0057] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described first embodiment and the second embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0058] In the above-described first embodiment, the second solar cell panel 40 and in the second embodiment, the solar cell panel 110 have been described with their light-receiving surfaces being flat. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the first light-receiving surface 40a of the second solar cell panel 40 and the light-receiving surface 110a of the solar cell panel 110 may both be formed to be curved, for example, convex upward.

[0059] In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the shock absorber 90 is provided in the charger 10 and the charger 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, it may be diverted to be disposed on the front bumper, rear bumper, or side door beam of a vehicle.

[0060] In this case, the wiring inside the vehicle may be configured to be opened or short-circuited so as to open the series connection and parallel connection states of the secondary battery cell groups in the secondary battery power supply inside the vehicle.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0061] 10, 100 Chargers 20 Housing 30 First Solar Cell Panel 40 Second Solar Cell Panel 80 Secondary Battery Power Supply 90 Shock Absorber 110 Solar Cell Panel

Claims

1. a shock input unit provided between a charging circuit and a secondary battery power source that is charged via the charging circuit; when an impact is applied to the impact input unit, a connection between the charging circuit and the secondary battery power source is opened or shorted. Shock buffer.

2. the charging circuit and the secondary battery power source are provided in a charger that charges a secondary battery power source of an electric vehicle, The impact input unit is provided on an outer surface of a housing of the charger. The shock absorber according to claim 1 .

3. The charging circuit and the secondary battery power source are provided in an electric vehicle, the impact input unit is disposed on at least one of a front bumper, a rear bumper, and a side door beam between the charging circuit and the secondary battery power source of the electric vehicle; The shock absorber according to claim 1 .

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