Electrical equipment and vehicles

Abstract

To enable a specification of a short circuit generation place at the time of external power supply or external power charging by using an electric device connected to a vehicle onto which a power storage device is mounted.SOLUTION: An EVSE (electric device) 200 supplies a power of a battery 130 to an external part for an electric load 300. The EVSE 200 charges the power of a power system 400 to a battery 130 in an external part. Both of a vehicle side ECU 100 and an ECU 201 are connected by a CPLT signal line CL. During the external power supply or the external charging, the ECU 201 specifies a short circuit generation place on the basis of a detection value of current sensors M1, M2, and M3 when a short circuit is generated on the EVSE 200 side by a charging and discharging device 120. Also, information on the short circuit generation place is communicated to the vehicle side ECU 100 from the ECU 201 by using the CLPT signal line CL.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrical equipment and vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-118684 (Patent Document 1) describes that in an electric vehicle equipped with an externally rechargeable power storage device, when the stop condition of external charging is satisfied, the potential of a pilot signal input from a charging device to the electric vehicle is changed in a predetermined pattern. In this Patent Document 1, the change pattern when fully charged and the change pattern when not fully charged are different. Thus, it is said that it is possible to convey to the charging device from the electric vehicle whether the power storage device is in a fully charged state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is known to utilize a power storage device mounted on a vehicle and supply power from the power storage device to an external load (electrical load) (for example, V2L (Vehicle to Load)). When performing external power supply, it is conceivable to provide a device (having an interaction function) for adjusting external power supply between the vehicle and the external load. When a short circuit occurs between this device and the external load, discharging from the vehicle (power storage device) is stopped and external power supply is stopped. At this time, it is desirable to identify whether the short circuit has occurred in the device or the external load and the location where the short circuit has occurred.

[0005] When an external charge is performed on a vehicle's onboard energy storage device, a device (for example, a charging station) is installed between the vehicle and the external power source, such as the power grid, to regulate the external charge. If a short circuit occurs between this device and the external power source, the power supply to the vehicle (energy storage device) is stopped, and external charging is halted. In this case, it is desirable to identify whether the short circuit occurred in the device or the external power source, and to pinpoint the location of the short circuit. Patent Document 1 does not address the identification of the short circuit location.

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to enable the identification of short-circuit locations when using electrical equipment connected to a vehicle equipped with an energy storage device for external power supply or external charging. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The electrical equipment of this disclosure is an electrical device connected between at least one of an electrical load and / or a power system and a vehicle equipped with an energy storage device. The electrical equipment comprises a first current sensor for detecting the current of a first power line connected to the vehicle, a second current sensor for detecting the current of a second power line connected to either the electrical load or / or the power system, communication means for communicating with the vehicle, and a control device. When a short circuit occurs in a circuit including either the electrical load or / or the power system and the electrical equipment, the control device identifies the location of the short circuit based on the values ​​detected by the first current sensor and the second current sensor, and transmits information about the location of the short circuit to the vehicle via the communication means.

[0008] In this configuration, the electrical equipment is connected between the vehicle and the electrical load, or between the vehicle and the power system (external power source). The first current sensor detects the current in the power line connected to the vehicle, and the second current sensor detects the current in the power line connected to the electrical load or power system.

[0009] When a short circuit occurs in a circuit including an electrical load (or power system) and electrical equipment, a short-circuit current flows at the point of the short circuit. Depending on the location where this short-circuit current flows (the point of the short circuit), changes occur in the current of the power lines connected to the vehicle and the current of the power lines connected to the electrical load or power system. The control device detects this current change using a first current sensor and a second current sensor and identifies the point of the short circuit. By transmitting this information about the point of the short circuit to the vehicle via communication means, the vehicle can identify the point of the short circuit.

[0010] Preferably, the control device identifies the short-circuit location as an electrical load or power system when current is detected by the first current sensor and the second current sensor due to power supplied from the energy storage device to the electrical equipment. Alternatively, the control device identifies the short-circuit location as an electrical device when current is detected only by the first current sensor due to power supplied from the energy storage device to the electrical equipment.

[0011] When a short circuit occurs in electrical equipment, and power is supplied from the energy storage device to the equipment, current flows through the first power line but not through the second power line. Therefore, if current is detected only by the first current sensor, the location of the short circuit can be identified as the electrical equipment. When a short circuit occurs in an electrical load or power system, and power is supplied from the energy storage device to the electrical equipment, current flows through both the first and second power lines. Therefore, if current is detected by both the first and second current sensors, the location of the short circuit can be identified as the electrical load or power system.

[0012] Preferably, when the connector of the electrical equipment is connected to the vehicle's inlet, power can be exchanged between the energy storage device and the electrical equipment, and the device is configured to communicate with the vehicle using the signal line connected when the connector is connected to the inlet. The communication means transmits information about the location of the short circuit to the vehicle using the signal line.

[0013] Vehicles equipped with energy storage devices may have a control pilot (CPLT) signal line at the inlet for processing charging sessions in accordance with IEC61851 and high-level communication (HLC) as defined in ISO15118. By utilizing this CPLT signal line as the signal line, communication can be performed without the need for a separate signal line.

[0014] The vehicle of this disclosure is a vehicle connected to the electrical equipment described above. The vehicle comprises a vehicle-side control device and a notification device. The vehicle-side control device notifies of the location of a short circuit based on information about the location of the short circuit received from the communication means of the electrical equipment.

[0015] This configuration allows the vehicle user to be notified of the location of the short circuit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to this disclosure, when using electrical equipment connected to a vehicle equipped with an energy storage device to supply or charge external power, the location of a short circuit can be identified. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the schematic configuration of the charge / discharge system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows the sequence of the short-circuit location diagnosis process in this embodiment. [Figure 3] (A), (B), and (C) are diagrams showing the relationship between the location of a short circuit and the current. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charge / discharge system S according to the present embodiment. The charge / discharge system S includes a vehicle 1 and an electric device 200. The vehicle 1 includes a battery 130 that stores power for traveling. The battery 130 corresponds to the "power storage device" of the present disclosure. The vehicle 1 may be a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that can travel using only the power stored in the battery 130, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that can travel using both the power stored in the battery 130 and the output of an engine (not shown).

[0020] The battery 130 is a battery pack. The battery pack is configured by a plurality of single cells (cells) electrically connected to each other. The cell may be a lithium-ion battery. The cell may be a secondary battery other than a lithium-ion battery (for example, a nickel-metal hydride battery).

[0021] The vehicle 1 includes a vehicle-side ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 100. The vehicle-side ECU 100 is configured to perform charge control and discharge control of the battery 130. The vehicle 1 further includes a monitoring module 140 that monitors the state of the battery 130. The monitoring module 140 includes a battery sensor that detects the state of the battery pack included in the battery 130 and a signal processing circuit that processes the output signal of the battery sensor, and outputs the sensor signal processed by the signal processing circuit to the vehicle-side ECU 100. The battery sensor includes a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor that respectively detect the voltage, current, and temperature of the battery pack. The vehicle-side ECU 100 can acquire the state of the battery pack (for example, temperature, current, voltage, SOC (State Of Charge), and internal resistance) based on the output of the monitoring module 140.

[0022] Vehicle 1 includes an inlet 110 and a charger 120. The inlet 110 is configured to be connectable to a connector 210 of an electrical device 200. The inlet 110 is connected to the charger 120 via a power line. The charger 120 is located between the inlet 110 and the battery 130. The charger 120 is connected to the battery 130 by a power line Ls. The charger 120 includes a relay (both not shown) that switches the connection / disconnection of the power path from the inlet 110 to the battery 130, and a power conversion circuit. In the present embodiment, the power conversion circuit includes a DC / AC converter, which converts the DC power of the battery 130 into AC power and supplies it to the inlet 110 side. Also, the power conversion circuit converts the AC power input from the inlet 110 into DC power to charge the battery 130. Each of the relay and the power conversion circuit included in the charger 120 is controlled by the vehicle-side ECU 100.

[0023] Vehicle 1 includes a monitoring module 121 that monitors the state of the charger 120. The monitoring module 121 includes various sensors that detect the state (e.g., voltage, current, and temperature) of the charger 120, and outputs the detection results to the vehicle-side ECU 100. In this embodiment, the monitoring module 121 is configured to detect the voltage and current input to the power conversion circuit and the voltage and current output from the power conversion circuit.

[0024] The vehicle-side ECU 100 includes a processor 101 and a storage device 102. Also, the vehicle-side ECU 100 includes a CPLT signal processing unit 103 as a functional block. By the processor 101 executing a program stored in the storage device 102, various controls in the vehicle-side ECU 100 are executed. The CPLT signal processing unit 103 processes a CPLT signal described later. The vehicle-side ECU 100 corresponds to an example of the "vehicle-side control device" of the present disclosure.

[0025] Vehicle 1 further comprises a drive unit 150, an input device 160, a notification device 170, and drive wheels W. The drive unit 150 includes a PCU (Power Control Unit) and an MG (Motor Generator) (not shown), and is configured to drive vehicle 1 using electricity stored in the battery 130.

[0026] The input device 160 is a device that receives input from the user. The input device 160 is operated by the user and outputs a signal corresponding to the user's operation to the vehicle-side ECU 100. The notification device 170 is configured to perform a predetermined notification process to the user (for example, the occupants of vehicle 1) when requested by the vehicle-side ECU 100. The notification device 170 may be a display device such as a touch-up display, in which case the touch-up display can serve as both the input device 160 and the notification device 170. The notification device 170 may include at least one of a speaker and a lamp (for example, a MIL (fault warning light)). The notification device 170 may be a meter panel, a head-up display, or a car navigation system.

[0027] The charging and discharging system S includes an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) 200. In this embodiment, the EVSE 200 supplies power (power stored in the battery 130) output from the charger / discharger 120 to an electrical load 300. The electrical load 300 may be, for example, a household appliance. In this disclosure, the supply of power to the electrical load 300 is also referred to as external power supply. External power supply becomes possible when the power line L2 of the electrical load 300 is connected to the EVSE 200 via a connector. The EVSE 200 also charges the battery 130 via the charger / discharger 120 with power supplied from a power system (external power source) 300. In this disclosure, charging the battery 130 using power from a power system is also referred to as external charging. External charging becomes possible when the power line L3 of the power system 400 is connected to the EVSE 200 via a connector.

[0028] In this embodiment, the EVSE200 has the functions of external power supply and external charging, but it may have only one of the functions of external power supply and external charging. The EVSE200 corresponds to an example of "electrical equipment" in this disclosure.

[0029] The EVSE200 includes an ECU201, a power circuit202, a power line L1, and a connector210. The ECU201 has the same configuration as the vehicle-side ECU100 and includes a processor, a memory device, and a CPLT signal processing unit (not shown). The ECU201 is an example of a “control device” in this disclosure. The connector210 is provided at the end of the power line L1, and when the connector210 is connected to the inlet110, power can be exchanged between the power circuit202 and the charger / discharger120. The power circuit202 includes relays that switch between connecting / disconnecting the power path between power line L1 and power line L2, and relays that switch between connecting / disconnecting the power path between power line L1 and power line L3 (neither of which are shown). The power circuit202 may also include a current control circuit that controls the power supply current and the charging current.

[0030] ECU201 controls the connection / disconnection of the relays in the power circuit 202 and the current control circuit. ECU201 and connector 210 are connected by a CPLT signal line CL. Inlet 110 and vehicle-side ECU100 are also connected by a CPLT signal line CL. The connection of connector 210 and inlet 110 enables vehicle-side ECU100 and ECU201 to exchange signals via the CPLT signal line CL, thereby enabling communication. The CPLT signal line CL and power line L1 between ECU201 and connector 210 are housed within the charge / discharge cable of EVSE200. The CPLT signal line CL is provided to perform communication (information exchange) as defined in IEC61851 and ISO15118. Communication between vehicle-side ECU100 and ECU201 using the CPLT signal line CL corresponds to an example of the "communication means" in this disclosure.

[0031] A current sensor M1 is provided on the power line L1. The current sensor M1 detects the current value flowing through the power line L1. The EVSE200 includes a current sensor M2. The current sensor M2 detects the current supplied from the power circuit 202 to the power line L2. The EVSE200 also includes a current sensor M3. The current sensor M3 detects the current supplied from the power line L3 to the power circuit 202. The detection signals from the current sensors M1, M2, and M3 are input to the ECU201. The current sensor M1 corresponds to the "first current sensor" of this disclosure. The current sensor M2 or the current sensor M3 corresponds to an example of the "second current sensor" of this disclosure.

[0032] When connector 210 is connected to inlet 110, vehicle-side ECU 100 and ECU 201 communicate via CPLT signal line CL. Communication via CPLT signal line CL is also called CPLT communication. When vehicle-side ECU 100 and ECU 201 exchange information via CPLT communication and both have completed preparations for external power supply, external power supply is started. Alternatively, when both have completed preparations for external charging, external charging is started. If a short circuit occurs in the power circuit between power line L1 and electrical load 300 during external power supply, external power supply is stopped. Also, if a short circuit occurs in the power circuit between power line L1 and power system 400 during external charging, external charging is stopped. In this embodiment, when these short circuits occur, the detection values ​​of current sensors M1, M2, and M3 are used to identify the location of the short circuit.

[0033] Figure 2 shows the sequence of the short-circuit location diagnosis process in this embodiment. When a short circuit occurs in the power circuit between power line L1 and electrical load 300, or in the power circuit between power line L1 and power system 400 (see step 0; hereafter, steps are abbreviated as "S"), in S1, external power supply / external charging is stopped. Stopping external power supply / external charging is done, for example, by tripping the relays of the charger / discharger 120 and power circuit 202, and stopping the operation of the power conversion circuit of the charger / discharger 120. Note that short circuits may be detected by short-circuit detection circuits provided in the charger / discharger 120 and EVSE 200, or they may be detected based on the input / output power detected by the monitoring module 121. For example, when supplying external power, a short circuit may be determined to have occurred when the current output from the charger / discharger 120 becomes an overcurrent, and when charging externally, a short circuit may be determined to have occurred when the voltage input to the charger / discharger 120 becomes 0.

[0034] Next, the charger / discharger 120 performs a test power supply (S10). During the test power supply, the charger / discharger 120 supplies a predetermined current (predetermined voltage) to the EVSE 200 via the power line L1 for a predetermined time. If the external power supply is stopped in S1, the EVSE 200 (ECU 201) connects the relay in the power path between power line L1 and power line L2. Also, if the external charging is stopped in S1, the EVSE 200 (ECU 201) connects the relay in the power path between power line L1 and power line L3.

[0035] When the relay in the power path between power line L1 and power line L2 is connected (when external power supply is stopped), ECU201 (EVSE200) detects the current using current sensors M1 and M2 (S20). When the relay in the power path between power line L1 and power line L3 is connected (when external charging is stopped), ECU201 detects the current using current sensors M1 and M3 (S20).

[0036] During the test power supply, ECU201 determines whether or not current is detected only in current sensor M1 (S21). If current is detected only in current sensor M1, ECU201 transmits a signal of pattern A to the vehicle-side ECU100 via the CPLT signal line CL (S22). If current is detected in both current sensor M1 and current sensor M2 (or current sensor M1 and current sensor M3), ECU201 transmits a signal of pattern B to the vehicle-side ECU100 via the CPLT signal line CL.

[0037] The signal for pattern A indicates that a short circuit has occurred in EVSE200. Figure 3 shows the relationship between the location of the short circuit and the current. When a short circuit occurs in EVSE200, a short-circuit current flows at the location of the short circuit in EVSE200. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 3(A), the current due to the test power supply flows to current sensor M1, but this current does not flow to current sensor M2 and current sensor M2. If current is detected only by current sensor M1, it means that a short circuit has occurred in EVSE200. The signal for pattern A may set the potential of the CPLT signal to a predetermined potential, or the potential of the CPLT signal may change in a predetermined pattern. Alternatively, it may set the duty cycle of the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal superimposed on the CPLT signal (potential change) to a predetermined value.

[0038] When a relay is connected in the power path between power line L1 and power line L2 for test power supply, if a short circuit occurs in electrical load 300, a short-circuit current will flow at the point of the short circuit in electrical load 300. Therefore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3(B), the current due to the test power supply flows to current sensors M1 and M2. If current is detected in current sensors M1 and M2, it indicates that a short circuit has occurred in electrical load 300.

[0039] When a relay in the power path between power line L1 and power line L3 is connected and a test power supply is being performed, if a short circuit occurs in power system 400, a short-circuit current will flow to the short-circuit location in power system 400. Therefore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3(C), the current due to the test power supply flows to current sensors M1 and M3. If current is detected in current sensors M1 and M3, it indicates that a short circuit has occurred in power system 400.

[0040] The signal for pattern B indicates that a short circuit has occurred in electrical load 300 or power system 400. The signal for pattern B may set the potential of the CPLT signal to a predetermined potential different from that of pattern A, and the potential of the CPLT signal may change in a predetermined pattern different from that of pattern A. In addition, the duty cycle of the PWM signal superimposed on the CPLT signal (potential change) may be set to a predetermined value similar to that of pattern A.

[0041] When the vehicle-side ECU 100 receives a signal of pattern A or pattern B via the CPLT signal line CL, it notifies the location of the short circuit (S11). The notification of the short circuit location is performed using the notification device 170. For example, if the notification device 170 is a display device, when it receives a signal of pattern A, it displays a message indicating "A short circuit has occurred in the electrical equipment." Also, when the vehicle-side ECU 100 receives a signal of pattern B, it displays a message indicating "A short circuit has occurred in the connected electrical load" or "A short circuit has occurred in the power system." At the same time, the MIL may be illuminated, and the location of the short circuit may be announced by voice from the speaker.

[0042] According to this embodiment, the EVSE200 is connected between the vehicle 1 and the electrical load 300. The EVSE200 is also connected between the vehicle 1 and the power system (external power supply) 400. The current sensor M1 detects the current in the power line connected to the vehicle 1, and the detection signal is input to the ECU201. The current sensor M2 detects the current in the power line connected to the electrical load 300, and the detection signal is input to the ECU201. The current sensor M3 detects the current in the power line connected to the power system 400, and the detection signal is input to the ECU201.

[0043] When a short circuit occurs in the circuit including the electrical load 300 (or power system 400) and the EVSE 200, a short-circuit current flows at the short-circuit location when test power is supplied from the charger / discharger 120. Depending on the location where this short-circuit current flows (the short-circuit location), current sensors M1 and M2 (or M3) will show different reactions. As a result, the short-circuit location can be identified by the detection signals from current sensors M1 and M2 (or M3). By transmitting this information about the short-circuit location to the vehicle-side ECU 100 via the CPLT signal line CL, the short-circuit location can be identified in vehicle 1.

[0044] According to this embodiment, information about the short-circuit location (signals for pattern A and pattern B) is transmitted from the vehicle-side ECU 100 to the ECU 201 using the CPLT signal line CL. Since the CPLT signal line CL is provided in advance to perform communication (information exchange) as defined in IEC61851 and ISO15118, information about the short-circuit location can be transmitted from the vehicle-side ECU 100 to the ECU 201 without providing a new communication line.

[0045] In the above embodiment, when a short circuit occurred during external power supply, the external power supply was temporarily stopped, and then a test power supply was performed to identify the location of the short circuit. When a short circuit occurs in the EVSE200 during external power supply, the detection signal of the current sensor M2 becomes 0, but the current sensor M1 detects a current. When a short circuit occurs in the electrical load 300 during external power supply, both the current sensor M1 and the current sensor M2 detect a current. Therefore, when a short circuit occurs during external power supply, the location of the short circuit can be identified without performing a test power supply by using the detection signals of the current sensor M1 and the current sensor M2 immediately before the short circuit occurs. Thus, the location of the short circuit during external power supply may be identified using the detection signals of the current sensor M1 and the current sensor M2 immediately before the short circuit occurs, without performing a test power supply.

[0046] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 1 Vehicle, 100 Vehicle-side ECU, 110 Inlet, 120 Charger / Discharger, 121 Monitoring Module, 130 Battery, 140 Monitoring Module, 150 Drive Unit, 160 Input Device, 170 Notification Device, 200 EVSE, 201 ECU, 210 Connector, 300 Electrical Load, 400 Power System, CL CPLT Signal Line, M1, M2, M3 Current Sensors, S Charge / Discharge System, W Drive Wheels.

Claims

1. Electrical equipment connected between at least one of an electrical load and a power system and a vehicle equipped with an energy storage device, A first current sensor for detecting the current in the power line connected to the vehicle, A second current sensor for detecting the current in a power line connected to the electrical load or one of the power systems, A communication means for communicating with the aforementioned vehicle, A control device is provided, The control device is When a short circuit occurs in a circuit including the electrical load or one of the power systems and the electrical equipment, Based on the values ​​detected by the first current sensor and the second current sensor, the location of the short circuit is identified. An electrical device that transmits information about the location of the short circuit to the vehicle via the communication means.

2. The control device is The power supplied from the aforementioned energy storage device to the aforementioned electrical equipment, When current is detected by the first current sensor and the second current sensor, the location of the short circuit is identified as the electrical load or the power system. The electrical equipment according to claim 1, wherein if a current is detected by the first current sensor alone, the location of the short circuit is identified as the electrical equipment.

3. When the connector of the electrical device is connected to the inlet of the vehicle, power can be exchanged between the energy storage device and the electrical device, and the device is configured to communicate with the vehicle using the signal line connected when the connector is connected to the inlet. The electrical equipment according to claim 1, wherein the communication means transmits information about the short-circuit location to the vehicle using the signal line.

4. A vehicle connected to an electrical device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, Vehicle-side control device, Equipped with a notification device, The vehicle-side control device notifies the location of the short circuit based on the information of the short circuit location received from the communication means.

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