Vehicle charging device

Abstract

A vehicle charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first coil disposed to face a charging coil of a first vehicle; a second coil disposed to face a charging coil of a second vehicle; a communication unit for communicating with an EVCC of the first vehicle and an EVCC of the second vehicle; and a control unit for designating any one of the first coil and the second coil as a transmission coil and the other as a reception coil so as to charge a battery of one vehicle from a battery of the other vehicle.

Description

vehicle charging device

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

[0002] Vehicles typically use gasoline or diesel as fuel. However, gasoline and diesel not only emit harmful substances and cause air pollution, but also, due to the depletion of crude oil, each industry is rushing to develop alternative energy sources and is developing and operating electric vehicles as an alternative.

[0003] However, in the case of electric vehicles, the charging time is currently longer than that of gasoline and diesel vehicles, which causes disruption to driving, and the charging infrastructure is also insufficient, making it difficult to commercialize electric vehicles.

[0004] In addition, as the demand for electricity is expected to increase explosively due to the increase in demand for electric vehicles, an energy supply and demand strategy that can meet the demand for electricity will be necessary for the commercialization of electric vehicles.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need to develop a vehicle-to-vehicle charging method that connects charging cables between multiple electric vehicles to charge an electric vehicle with a low battery.

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle charging device.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problem, a vehicle charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first coil arranged to face a charging coil of a first vehicle; a second coil arranged to face a charging coil of a second vehicle; a communication unit that communicates with an EVCC of the first vehicle and an EVCC of the second vehicle; and a control unit that charges a battery of another vehicle from a battery of one vehicle by designating one of the first coil and the second coil as a transmitting coil and the other as a receiving coil.

[0008] The above communication unit can perform PWM communication with the first coil and the second coil.

[0009] The above communication unit may include a first communication unit that communicates with the EVCC of the first vehicle and a second communication unit that communicates with the EVCC of the second vehicle.

[0010] When the battery charge of the first vehicle is greater than the battery charge of the second vehicle, the control unit may designate the first coil as a receiving coil, designate the second coil as a transmitting coil, and transmit power received from the first coil to the second coil.

[0011] If the absolute value of the difference between the battery charge of the first vehicle and the battery charge of the second vehicle is greater than or equal to a first value, the control unit may perform an operation of charging the battery of the other vehicle from the battery of one vehicle, and if the absolute value of the difference between the battery charge of the first vehicle and the battery charge of the second vehicle is less than the first value, the control unit may not perform a vehicle-to-vehicle charging operation.

[0012] The above communication unit communicates with the user's terminal, and the control unit can designate one of the first coil and the second coil as a transmitting coil and designate the remaining one as a receiving coil according to the user's designation.

[0013] According to the present embodiments, if there is no electric vehicle power supply device for charging the electric vehicle, charging can be performed using an adjacent electric vehicle.

[0014] Additionally, the vehicle charging device can be simplified and miniaturized by including a coil pad capable of wireless vehicle charging.

[0015] Additionally, by checking the charge level between vehicles, the user can select a more active charging mode by selecting a vehicle to be charged (Rx) and a vehicle to be discharged (Tx) to charge the vehicle.

[0016] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are drawings for explaining a vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment.

[0019] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] Additionally, the terms used in this embodiment are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027]

[0028] 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 and 4 are drawings for explaining a vehicle charging device according to the present embodiment.

[0029] In this embodiment, the vehicle charging device (100) may include a first coil (130), a second coil (140), a communication unit (110), and a control unit (120).

[0030] The first coil (130) may be arranged to face the charging coil of the first vehicle (10). The second coil (140) may be arranged to face the charging coil of the second vehicle (20). The first coil (130) and the second coil (140) may be arranged to face the charging coils of different vehicles. The first coil (130) and the second coil (140) may each be formed in a coil pattern on a pad. When the charging coil of each vehicle is located at the bottom of the vehicle, the pad on which the first coil (130) or the second coil (140) is formed may be arranged at the bottom of the vehicle to face the charging coil.

[0031] The communication unit (110) can communicate with the EVCC of the first vehicle (10) and the EVCC of the second vehicle (20). The communication unit (110) can include a first communication unit (111) that communicates with the first vehicle (10) and a second communication unit (112) that communicates with the second vehicle (20). The EVCC (Electric Vehicle Communication Controller) is a component included in each vehicle (10, 20) and can be connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) in each vehicle (10, 20). The EVCC can perform charging signals and charging power control within the vehicle. The communication unit (110) can communicate with a BMS (Battery Management System) of each vehicle (10, 20). The EVCC can be connected to the BMS by wire or wirelessly. The control unit (120) can collect various information about the state of charge (SoC) of the battery placed in each vehicle (10, 20) through the communication unit (110). The communication unit (110) can communicate with the first coil (130) and the second coil (140) using PWM. Through this, the power transmitted and received from the first coil (130) and the second coil (140), the charging speed, and whether the battery is operating normally can be monitored.

[0032] The control unit (120) can designate one of the first coil (130) and the second coil (140) as a transmitting coil and the other as a receiving coil. The control unit (120) can charge the battery of another vehicle facing the transmitting coil from the battery of one vehicle facing the receiving coil. Here, the vehicle facing the receiving coil can be referred to as a discharging vehicle, and the vehicle facing the transmitting coil can be referred to as a charging vehicle.

[0033] The control unit (120) can compare the battery charge levels of each vehicle (10, 20) and designate a vehicle with a higher battery charge level as a discharging vehicle and a vehicle with a lower battery charge level as a charging vehicle. If the battery charge level of the first vehicle (10) is higher than that of the second vehicle (20), the control unit (120) can designate the first vehicle (10) as a discharging vehicle and designate the first coil (130) as a receiving coil, and designate the second vehicle (20) as a charging vehicle and designate the second coil (140) as a transmitting coil.

[0034] If the absolute value of the difference between the battery charge levels of the first vehicle (10) and the battery charge levels of the second vehicle (20) is greater than or equal to a first value, the control unit (120) may perform an operation of charging the battery of the other vehicle from the battery of one vehicle. If the absolute value of the difference between the battery charge levels of the first vehicle (10) and the battery charge levels of the second vehicle (20) is less than the first value, the control unit (120) may not perform a vehicle-to-vehicle charging operation. Here, the first value may be a value preset by the user.

[0035] The communication unit (110) can communicate with the user's terminal. By transmitting information on the battery charge level of each vehicle (10, 20) to the user's terminal, the communication unit (110) can guide the user to designate which vehicle is a charging vehicle or a discharging vehicle. The control unit (120) can designate either the first coil (130) or the second coil (140) as a transmitting coil and designate the remaining coils as receiving coils according to the user's designation.

[0036] Alternatively, the first coil (130) may be designated as a transmitting coil and the second coil (140) may be designated as a receiving coil in advance. In this case, the user may place the second coil (140), designated as a receiving coil, facing the vehicle to be discharged, and place the first coil (130), designated as a transmitting coil, facing the vehicle to be charged.

[0037] The communication unit (110) can transmit charging status information for each vehicle to the user terminal when charging a charging vehicle from a discharging vehicle. For example, the charging status information can include information on charging mode, battery charging reservation, battery charging start / end, charging error, charging control, charging current, voltage, and power. The battery status information can include information on battery charging rate, battery temperature (cell internal / external temperature), voltage / current charging constant, etc.

[0038] The vehicle charging device (100) may include a backflow prevention circuit that prevents current from flowing backwards in the opposite direction of the charging direction. The backflow prevention circuit may include a switching circuit that can select a backflow prevention diode depending on the direction of the current. Each of one end and the other end of the backflow prevention circuit may be connected to both the first coil (130) and the second coil (140) through a switch. The control unit (120) may control the on or off of the switch depending on the charging and discharging directions of the first coil (130) and the second coil (140), thereby preventing backflow.

[0039] The vehicle charging device (100) may include a converter that boosts the voltage supplied to charge the vehicle. To charge a vehicle, the voltage of the charging side must be higher than the voltage of the charging side. Therefore, when power is received from a discharging vehicle through the receiving coil, the converter boosts the voltage and transmits it to the transmitting coil.

[0040]

[0041] Referring to FIG. 3, a vehicle charging device (100) may include a portable charging module box including a communication unit and a control unit, a charging cable connected to the portable charging module box, and a coil pad. The coil pad may be connected to one end of the charging cable and positioned to face the charging coil of the vehicle. The charging cable may include a power line and a communication line, and the communication line may transmit and receive signals using a PWM communication method. The charging cable may be designed to be wound inside the portable charging module box, making it easy to carry. This allows a user to receive emergency charging from an electric vehicle parked nearby, regardless of time and location.

[0042]

[0043] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the above-described description. 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 being encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A first coil arranged to face the charging coil of the first vehicle; A second coil arranged to face the charging coil of the second vehicle; A communication unit that communicates with the EVCC of the first vehicle and the EVCC of the second vehicle; and A vehicle charging device including a control unit that charges a battery of another vehicle from a battery of one vehicle by designating one of the first coil and the second coil as a transmitting coil and the other as a receiving coil.

2. In paragraph 1, A vehicle charging device in which the above communication unit performs PWM communication with the first coil and the second coil.

3. In paragraph 1, A vehicle charging device, wherein the communication unit includes a first communication unit that communicates with the EVCC of the first vehicle and a second communication unit that communicates with the EVCC of the second vehicle.

4. In paragraph 1, If the battery charge of the first vehicle is greater than the battery charge of the second vehicle, A vehicle charging device in which the control unit designates the first coil as a receiving coil, designates the second coil as a transmitting coil, and transmits power received from the first coil to the second coil.

5. In paragraph 1, If the absolute value of the difference between the battery charge of the first vehicle and the battery charge of the second vehicle is greater than or equal to the first value, the control unit performs an operation of charging the battery of the other vehicle from the battery of one vehicle, A vehicle charging device in which the control unit does not perform vehicle-to-vehicle charging operation when the absolute value of the difference between the battery charge amount of the first vehicle and the battery charge amount of the second vehicle is less than the first value.

6. In paragraph 1, The above communication unit communicates with the user's terminal, A vehicle charging device in which the control unit designates one of the first coil and the second coil as a transmitting coil and the other as a receiving coil according to a user's designation.

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