Vehicle charging device

Abstract

A vehicle charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a vehicle battery for driving a vehicle motor; an electric vehicle communication controller (EVCC) that performs communication for charging the vehicle battery; a starting battery for driving a vehicle starting motor; and a battery management system (BMS) for monitoring the vehicle battery and the starting battery, wherein the EVCC receives charging state information of the starting battery and controls the BMS to charge the starting battery through the vehicle battery according to the charging state information of the starting battery.

Description

vehicle charging device

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle charging device.

[0002] Eco-friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installed at charging stations to charge their batteries.

[0003] Several standards are actively being developed to facilitate interaction between electric vehicles and EVSE. These standards for electric vehicle charging can be broadly categorized into charging systems, charging interfaces, and communication protocols.

[0004] However, since different regulations are adopted by each country or automobile company, the charging devices, battery packs, and battery management systems (BMS) of electric vehicles must be developed and designed according to the regulations.

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle charging device.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problem, a vehicle charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vehicle battery for driving a vehicle motor; an Electric Vehicle Communication Controller (EVCC) for communicating for charging the vehicle battery; a starter battery for driving a vehicle starter motor; and a Battery Management System (BMS) for monitoring the vehicle battery and the starter battery, wherein the EVCC receives charging status information of the starter battery and controls the BMS to charge the starter battery through the vehicle battery according to the charging status information of the starter battery.

[0007] The above EVCC can periodically receive information on the ambient temperature of the starting battery and the charging status of the starting battery from the time the vehicle is started.

[0008] The EVCC can control the BMS to charge the starting battery through the vehicle battery when the charge level of the starting battery is lower than a preset value.

[0009] The above BMS can turn on or off the connection between the vehicle battery and the starting battery according to the control of the EVCC.

[0010] When the charge of the starting battery is lower than the first value, the BMS can turn on the connection between the vehicle battery and the starting battery, and when the charge of the starting battery is higher than the second value, the BMS can turn off the connection between the vehicle battery and the starting battery.

[0011] The EVCC can transmit information on the charging status of the starting battery to the user's terminal and control the BMS to charge the starting battery through the vehicle battery according to the user's control.

[0012] According to the present embodiments, the EVCC can actively cope with long-term parking and discharge of the starter battery and prevent discharge by periodically monitoring the charge of the starter battery.

[0013] In addition, the method of charging the starter battery by starting the existing vehicle causes safety issues and smoke issues, but according to this embodiment, these issues can be prevented by connecting the vehicle battery and the starter battery for charging.

[0014] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIGS. 3 to 5 are circuit diagrams and drawings for explaining the circuit diagram of a vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment.

[0017] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0018] However, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to some of the embodiments described, but can be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, one or more of the components between the embodiments can be selectively combined or substituted for use.

[0019] In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this embodiment may be interpreted as having a meaning that can be generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this embodiment belongs, unless explicitly and specifically defined and described, and terms that are commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meaning of the relevant technology.

[0020] Additionally, the terms used in this embodiment are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] In this specification, the singular may also include the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase, and when it is described as “A and / or at least one (or more) of B, C”, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, C.

[0022] Additionally, in describing the components of this embodiment, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components.

[0023] And, when a component is described as being 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' to another component, it may include not only cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' directly to the other component, but also cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' by another component between the component and the other component.

[0024] Additionally, when described as being formed or arranged "above" or "below" each component, "above" or "below" includes not only cases where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are formed or arranged between the two components. Furthermore, when expressed as "above" or "below," the meaning may include not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on one component.

[0025]

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are circuit diagrams of the vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment and drawings for explaining the circuit diagram.

[0027] The vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment may include a vehicle battery (14), an EVCC (11), a starting battery (12), and a BMS (13).

[0028] The vehicle battery (14) is used to drive the vehicle motor and can be placed within an electric vehicle. The vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV), and the vehicle battery (14) can be charged from an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). An EVSE is a device that supplies AC or DC and can be placed at a charging station or within a home. The EVSE is not limited to a specific location and can also be implemented to be portable.

[0029] The EVCC (Electric Vehicle Communication Controller, 11) can communicate to charge the vehicle battery (14). The EVCC (11) is a component included in the vehicle and can be connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) within the vehicle. The EVCC (11) can perform charging signals and charging power control within the vehicle. The EVCC (11) can be connected to a BMS (13) by wire or wirelessly. The EVCC (11) can receive charging status information of the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12) from the BMS (13). The EVCC (11) can transmit charging status information of the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12) to a user's terminal through a communication module (15).

[0030] The starter battery (12) is for driving the starter motor, and the charging capacity of the starter battery (12) may be smaller than the charging capacity of the vehicle battery (14). While the vehicle battery (14) is charged from the EVSE, the starter battery (12) is not charged from the EVSE and can only be charged while the vehicle is running. If the starter battery (12) is discharged, the starter motor will not start, making the vehicle inoperable. The starter battery (12) may be discharged when the ambient temperature is low or when the vehicle is not being driven due to long-term parking.

[0031] The BMS (Battery Management System, 13) can monitor the voltage, current, and temperature of the vehicle battery (14) and the starter battery (12) to maintain them in an optimal state. The BMS (13) can comprehensively manage the vehicle battery (14) and the starter battery (12). The BMS (13) can be connected to each of the vehicle battery (14) and the starter battery (12) to individually manage them. The BMS (13) can transmit information on the charging status of the vehicle battery (14) and the starter battery (12) to the EVCC (11).

[0032] The EVCC (11) can receive charging status information of the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12). The EVCC (11) can control the BMS (13) to charge the starting battery (12) through the vehicle battery (14) based on the charging status information of the starting battery (12). The EVCC (11) can transmit the charging status information of the starting battery (12) to the user's terminal through the communication module (15). The BMS (13) can charge the starting battery (12) through the vehicle battery (14) according to the user's control.

[0033] The EVCC (11) can periodically receive information on the ambient temperature of the starting battery (12) and the charging status of the starting battery (12) from the time the vehicle is started. A temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature may be placed on the starting battery (12). When the ambient temperature is below a reference value (e.g., below zero), the possibility of the starting battery (12) being discharged can be determined by considering that the discharge speed of the starting battery (12) becomes faster.

[0034] The EVCC (11) can determine the possibility of discharge based on the voltage detected from the starting battery (12). For example, the EVCC (11) can determine that there is a high possibility of discharge if the voltage detected from the starting battery (12) is less than approximately 12.4 V. This is merely exemplary, and the EVCC (11) can determine the possibility of discharge by comprehensively considering the voltage, current, and ambient temperature of the starting battery (12).

[0035] The EVCC (11) can control the BMS (13) to charge the starting battery (12) via the vehicle battery (14) when the charge level of the starting battery (12) is lower than a preset value. Here, the preset value may mean a value before the starting battery (12) is discharged, and may mean a charge level of the starting battery (12) for driving the starting motor.

[0036] The BMS (13) can turn on or off the connection between the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12) under the control of the EVCC (11). A switching element for selective connection may be arranged between the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12). The BMS (13) can control the on or off of the switching element under the control of the EVCC (11). A charging module for charging the starting battery (12) through the vehicle battery (14) may be arranged between the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12). When the charging specifications of the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12) are different, the charging module may include a configuration such as an inverter unit and a booster unit in which a power conversion operation is performed in order to smoothly charge the starting battery (12) from the vehicle battery (14).

[0037] When the charge level of the starting battery (12) is lower than the first value, the BMS (13) can turn on the connection between the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12). When the charge level of the starting battery (12) is greater than the second value, the BMS (13) can turn off the connection between the vehicle battery (14) and the starting battery (12). Here, the second value may be a value greater than the first value. The first value may mean a charge level at which the starting battery (12) is at risk of being discharged, and the second value may mean a charge level sufficient to drive the starting motor. The first value and the second value may be values ​​preset by the user.

[0038]

[0039] Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram for the X block diagram of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram for the Y block diagram of Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 4, one end (Vehicle Battery) of the circuit diagram of the X block diagram may be connected to a starting battery, and the other end (Vehicle Battery_ADC) may be connected to a starting motor that outputs the output of the starting battery. A circuit (Micro Controller Sensing_EN) for detecting the voltage of the starting battery may be added to monitor the charging status information of the starting battery. The circuit for detecting the voltage of the starting battery may be connected to a BMS. A diode for preventing reverse voltage may be connected to the circuit diagram in which the voltage of the starting battery is output to the starting motor, and a resistor and a switching element may be appropriately connected so that the BMS can detect the voltage of the starting battery according to the law of resistance distribution.

[0040] Referring to Fig. 5(a), one end (Micro Control_SW) of the circuit diagram of the Y block diagram may be connected to an EVCC that generates a control signal, and the other end (BMS Control SW) may be connected to a BMS that receives the control signal generated from the EVCC. Referring to Fig. 5(b), one end (BMS Contorl_SW) of the circuit diagram of the Y block diagram may be connected to a BMS that generates a control signal for connecting a vehicle battery and a starting battery, and the other end (BMS Control_MAIN_ADC) may be connected to a switching element between the vehicle battery and the starting battery that outputs the control signal generated from the BMS. The configuration of the circuit diagram may vary depending on the charging specifications of the vehicle battery and the starting battery, and is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0041] According to these embodiments, the EVCC can proactively address long-term parking and starter battery discharge by periodically monitoring the starter battery charge, thereby preventing discharge. Furthermore, while the existing method of charging the starter battery by starting the vehicle's engine poses safety and exhaust emissions issues, the present embodiment prevents these issues by connecting the vehicle battery and the starter battery for charging.

[0042]

[0043] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed methods can be implemented in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the present invention is set forth in the claims, not the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. Vehicle battery for driving the vehicle motor; EVCC (Electric Vehicle Communication Controller) that communicates for charging the vehicle battery; A starting battery for driving the vehicle's starting motor; and Includes a BMS (Battery Management System) that monitors the vehicle battery and the starting battery, The EVCC is a vehicle charging device that receives charging status information of the starting battery and controls the BMS to charge the starting battery through the vehicle battery according to the charging status information of the starting battery.

2. In paragraph 1, The above EVCC is a vehicle charging device that periodically receives information on the ambient temperature of the starting battery and the charging status of the starting battery from the time the vehicle is started.

3. In paragraph 1, The EVCC is a vehicle charging device that controls the BMS to charge the starting battery through the vehicle battery when the charge level of the starting battery is lower than a preset value.

4. In paragraph 1, The above BMS is a vehicle charging device that turns on or off the connection between the vehicle battery and the starting battery according to the control of the EVCC.

5. In paragraph 1, If the charge of the above starting battery is lower than the first value, The above BMS turns on the connection between the vehicle battery and the starting battery, If the charge of the above starting battery is greater than the second value, The above BMS is a vehicle charging device that turns off the connection between the vehicle battery and the starting battery.

6. In paragraph 1, The above EVCC transmits the charging status information of the starting battery to the user's terminal, A vehicle charging device that controls the BMS to charge the starting battery through the vehicle battery according to the control of the user.

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