Charging control device

Abstract

To provide a charge control device capable of precisely estimating temperature of an inlet.SOLUTION: A charge control device comprises a processor that calculates a temperature change of an inlet. The processor writes temperature information about the inlet in a memory when a power supply of the processor is turned off, and calculates the temperature change of the inlet using the temperature information about the inlet read from the memory when the power supply of the processor is turned on.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a charging control device.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, a technique for controlling authentication when the insertion and removal of a connector are repeated during charging has been proposed. In the technique proposed in Patent Document 1, when the connector is removed during charging and charging is interrupted, this is recorded, and based on this record, when the connector is inserted again, charging is started without re-executing authentication by detecting the reinsertion of the connector.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique proposed in Patent Document 1, when the connector is inserted again, charging is immediately restarted, but the temperature information when the connector is removed is not retained. Therefore, when the insertion and removal of the connector to the inlet are repeated, the temperature rise before the connector is removed is not taken into account, and the temperature of the inlet cannot be accurately estimated.

[0005] This disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a charging control device capable of accurately estimating the temperature of an inlet.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The charging control device according to this disclosure includes a processor that calculates the temperature change of an inlet. When the power to the processor is turned OFF, the processor writes the temperature information of the inlet to a memory, and when the power to the processor is turned ON, it calculates the temperature change of the inlet using the temperature information of the inlet read from the memory. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the temperature of the inlet can be accurately estimated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charging control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of normal temperature monitoring by the charging control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of a method for detecting abnormalities in normal temperature monitoring using a charging control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of temperature monitoring with interruption using a charging control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of a method for detecting abnormalities in temperature monitoring with interruptions using a charging control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the charging control method 1 executed by the charging control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the charging control method 2 executed by the charging control device according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A charging control device according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable or substantially identical to those that are replaceable by a person skilled in the art.

[0010] (Charging control device) A charging control device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The charging control device according to an embodiment is installed, for example, in a vehicle capable of storing electricity. Examples of such vehicles include plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the charging control device 1 comprises a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a battery 13, and an inlet 14.

[0012] The control unit 11 is an electronic control unit (ECU) whose main components are a microcomputer consisting of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The control unit 11 realizes functions that match a predetermined purpose by controlling each component through the execution of various programs.

[0013] The control unit 11 calculates the temperature change of the inlet 14. Based on the temperature change of the inlet 14, the control unit 11 detects an abnormality in the inlet 14. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the control unit 11 calculates the temperature of the inlet 14 at predetermined time intervals. In the same figure, "0" and "T〇" shown in the cells represent the temperature of the inlet 14. Then, for example, as shown in Figure 3, the control unit 11 determines whether the temperature rise ΔT over 5 minutes is above a certain level, and if the temperature rise ΔT is above a certain level, it determines that there is an abnormality in the inlet 14.

[0014] Also, when the charging gun is removed from the inlet 14, the power supply of the control unit 11 is turned off. However, when the power supply of the control unit 11 is turned off (immediately before turning off), the control unit 11 writes the temperature information of the inlet 14 (see FIG. 2) to the storage unit 12. Subsequently, when the charging gun is reconnected to the inlet 14 and the power supply of the control unit 11 is turned on again, the control unit 11 reads the temperature information of the inlet 14 immediately before from the storage unit 12. Subsequently, the control unit 11 calculates the temperature change of the inlet 14 using the temperature information of the inlet 14 read from the storage unit 12. Then, the control unit 11 detects an abnormality of the inlet 14 based on the temperature change of the inlet 14.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the control unit 11 calculates the temperature of the inlet 14 at regular intervals. When charging is resumed after charging interruption, the control unit 11 reads the temperature information of the inlet 14 before charging interruption (see FIG. 4). Then, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the control unit 11 determines whether the temperature rise ΔT over 5 minutes is a certain value or more, taking into account the charging interruption. If the temperature rise ΔT is a certain value or more, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the inlet 14. As shown in the figure, the trend of the temperature change of the inlet 14 changes before and after the charging interruption, and the temperature rise of the inlet 14 becomes gentle after the resumption of charging.

[0016] The storage unit 12 is realized by a non-volatile memory such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a flash memory, or a hard disk drive (HDD). In this storage unit 12, for example, the temperature information of the inlet 14 calculated by the control unit 11, an abnormality flag when the control unit 11 detects an abnormality, etc. are recorded.

[0017] The battery 13 is a power storage device that stores the power supplied from the outside.

[0018] The inlet 14 is for charging the battery 13 by connecting a connector of a power supply unit (ground unit) (hereinafter referred to as "charging gun").

[0019] In the charging control device according to the embodiment described above, when the control unit 11 is powered off, the control unit 11 holds the temperature information of the inlet 14 in the storage unit 12. Thereby, even when the charging gun is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the inlet 14, the temperature change of the inlet 14 can be calculated using the temperature information before the charging gun is removed from the inlet 14 (for example, the temperature information in the transient period when the temperature rises sharply). As a result, the temperature of the inlet 14 can be accurately estimated, and the abnormality determination can be performed with high accuracy.

[0020] (Charging control method 1) A first aspect of the charging control method executed by the charging control device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0021] First, when the charging gun is connected to the inlet 14 (step S1), the control unit 11 is powered on (step S2). Subsequently, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous power-off of the control unit 11 (step S3). This "predetermined time" is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a time such that the tendency of the temperature change of the inlet 14 changes before and after the charging interruption, and can be obtained in advance by experiments, simulations, etc.

[0022] In step S3, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the previous power-off (less than the predetermined time) (No in step S3), the control unit 11 reads the temperature information of the inlet 14 immediately before from the storage unit 12 (step S4). Subsequently, the control unit 11 starts charging (step S5) and calculates the temperature change of the inlet 14 during charging (step S6).

[0023] Subsequently, the control unit 11 determines whether or not an abnormality of the inlet 14 has been detected based on the calculated temperature change of the inlet 14 (step S7). In step S7, if it is determined that an abnormality of the inlet 14 has been detected (Yes in step S7), the control unit 11 writes an abnormality flag indicating this to the storage unit 12 (step S8).

[0024] Next, when charging is complete (step S9) and the charging gun is removed from the inlet 14 (step S10), the control unit 11 writes the temperature information of the inlet 14 to the storage unit 12 (step S11). Subsequently, the control unit 11 turns off its own power (step S12), completing this process.

[0025] In step S3, if it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the last power-off (i.e., it is longer than the predetermined time) (Yes in step S3), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S5. Also, in step S7, if it is determined that no abnormality has been detected in the inlet 14 (No in step S7), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S9.

[0026] Previously, when charging was interrupted, the power to the control unit that monitors the inlet temperature was also turned off, and the inlet temperature information was erased. Therefore, if the inlet was inserted or removed in a short period of time, the transient period of the inlet temperature change would be missed, and the inlet overheating abnormality could not be detected.

[0027] On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the power to the control unit 11 is turned off, the temperature information of the inlet 14 immediately before the inlet is written to the storage unit 12, and at the next charging (when charging resumes), the temperature information of the inlet 14 stored in the storage unit 12 is read and the temperature change of the inlet 14 is calculated. This allows for accurate estimation of the temperature of the inlet 14 and accurate detection of abnormalities.

[0028] (Charging control method 2) A second aspect of the charging control method performed by the charging control device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 7.

[0029] First, when the charging gun is connected to the inlet 14 (step S21), the power to the control unit 11 is turned ON (step S22). Next, the control unit 11 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time the power to the control unit 11 was turned OFF (step S23). This "predetermined time" is, for example, the time during which the temperature change trend of the inlet 14 changes before and after the charging interruption, as shown in Figure 5, and can be determined in advance through experiments or simulations.

[0030] In step S23, if it is determined that a predetermined time has not elapsed since the last power-off (less than the predetermined time) (No in step S23), the control unit 11 reads information regarding the abnormal flag (hereinafter referred to as "abnormal flag information") from the storage unit 12 (step S24). Subsequently, the control unit 11 determines whether the abnormal flag is ON or OFF based on the abnormal flag information (step S25).

[0031] In step S25, if it is determined that the abnormality flag is not ON (No in step S25), the control unit 11 starts charging (step S26). Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not it has detected an abnormality in the inlet 14, for example, based on a temperature change in the inlet 14 (step S27). In step S27, if it is determined that an abnormality in the inlet 14 has been detected (Yes in step S27), the control unit 11 writes an abnormality flag indicating this to the storage unit 12 (step S28).

[0032] Next, when charging is complete (step S29) and the charging gun is removed from the inlet 14 (step S30), the control unit 11 turns off its power (step S31) and completes this process.

[0033] In step S23, if it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the last power-off (more than the predetermined time) (Yes in step S23), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S25. Also, in step S25, if it is determined that the abnormality flag is ON (Yes in step S25), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S30. Also, in step S27, if it is determined that no abnormality has been detected in the inlet 14 (No in step S27), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S29.

[0034] Previously, if charging was retried immediately after an inlet overheating anomaly was detected, there was a possibility that the inlet overheating could not be detected, and the inlet could not be protected. Also, when charging was interrupted, the power to the control unit that monitors the inlet temperature was turned off, and the inlet anomaly flag was cleared.

[0035] On the other hand, in this embodiment, when an overheating abnormality of the inlet 14 is detected, an abnormality flag is written to the memory unit 12, and during the next charge, the abnormality flag of the inlet 14 stored in the memory unit 12 is read to determine if the inlet 14 is abnormal. If the abnormality flag is ON, it is determined that the current charge is also abnormal, and power control / charging stoppage is performed. This ensures that the overheating abnormality of the inlet 14 during the previous charge is not overlooked, and the inlet 14 is protected.

[0036] Further effects and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Therefore, broader aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments expressed and described above. Accordingly, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1. Charging control device 11 Control Unit 12 Storage section 13 Batteries 14 Inlets

Claims

[Claim 1] It is equipped with a processor that calculates the temperature change of the inlet, The aforementioned processor, The temperature information of the inlet is monitored and acquired at predetermined intervals. When the power to the aforementioned processor is turned off, the first temperature information monitored immediately before the power is turned off is written to memory. When the processor is powered on, the first temperature information is read from the memory, and the temperature change between the first temperature information and the second temperature information that has been monitored and acquired since the processor was powered on is calculated. Charging control device.

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