Hybrid communication control device for charging electric bus and method thereof

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hybrid communication control device for charging an electric bus comprises: a pantograph communication unit which processes a first communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from a pantograph charger to a battery mounted on the electric bus; a wired charging communication unit for processing a second communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from a wired charger to the battery; a Wi-Fi signal reception unit which is connected to a Wi-Fi module mounted on the electric bus through wireless communication and receives a wireless signal from the Wi-Fi module; and a Wi-Fi signal verification unit which is connected to the pantograph communication unit, the wired charging communication unit, and the Wi-Fi signal reception unit over a wired / wireless network and drives any one of the pantograph communication unit or the wired charging communication unit according to the reception strength of the wireless signal.

Description

Hybrid communication control device and method for charging electric buses

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging and a method thereof, which can prevent electric bus charging failure due to communication failure in advance by automatically connecting to wired charging communication when pantograph communication is not possible due to a wireless communication (Wi-Fi, etc.) error.

[0002] An electric bus is a bus that runs on electric energy as its power source. Compared to conventional buses that use fossil fuels, electric buses are environmentally friendly as they do not emit harmful gases.

[0003] Recently, due to strengthening international regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, research on eco-friendly electric buses is actively being conducted. In addition to research on electric buses, research on charging infrastructure for charging electric buses is also actively being conducted.

[0004]

[0005] Unlike regular internal combustion engine buses, electric buses are composed of batteries, electric motors, inverters, converters, and BMS (Battery Management System), and the batteries must be charged periodically to operate the electric bus.

[0006] There are two types of charging methods for these batteries: the 'Plug-In Type' charging method, which charges the batteries by directly connecting wires to the batteries fixed to the electric bus, and the charging method using a pantograph.

[0007]

[0008] However, there is a problem that when charging electric buses using pantographs, wireless communication errors may cause electric bus charging failures.

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a hybrid communication control device and method for electric bus charging that can prevent electric bus charging failure due to inability to charge a pantograph due to a wireless communication (Wi-Fi, etc.) error.

[0010] Other problems to be solved by the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description and drawings.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a hybrid communication control device for charging an electric bus includes: a pantograph communication unit that processes a first communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from a pantograph charger to a battery mounted on an electric bus; a wired charging communication unit that processes a second communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from a wired charger to the battery; a Wi-Fi signal receiving unit that is wirelessly connected to a Wi-Fi module mounted on the electric bus and receives a wireless signal from the Wi-Fi module; and a Wi-Fi signal verification unit that is connected to the pantograph communication unit, the wired charging communication unit, and the Wi-Fi signal receiving unit via a wired or wireless network, and drives one of the communication units of the pantograph communication unit and the wired charging communication unit according to the reception strength of the wireless signal.

[0012] Here, the Wi-Fi signal verification unit can drive the wired charging communication unit when the reception strength is below a threshold, and can drive the pantograph communication unit when the reception strength is above a threshold.

[0013]

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a hybrid communication control method for charging an electric bus may include a signal receiving step of receiving a wireless signal from a Wi-Fi module mounted on an electric bus; and a communication unit driving step of driving one of a pantograph communication unit and a wired charging communication unit depending on the reception strength of the wireless signal.

[0015] Here, the pantograph communication unit can process a first communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from the pantograph charger to the battery mounted on the electric bus.

[0016] In addition, the wired charging communication unit can process a second communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from the wired charger to the battery.

[0017] In addition, it is preferable that the communication unit driving step is a step of driving the wired charging communication unit when the reception strength is below a threshold, and driving the pantograph communication unit when the reception strength is above a threshold.

[0018] The hybrid communication control device and method for charging an electric bus according to the present invention have a remarkable effect of preventing electric bus operation failure due to failure in charging by automatically switching to wired charging when pantograph charging is not possible due to a wireless communication (Wi-Fi, etc.) error.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining a hybrid communication control method for electric bus charging according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached Figures 1 and 2. The embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various ways, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. These embodiments are provided to explain the present invention in more detail to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shapes of each element shown in the drawings may be exaggerated to emphasize a clearer description.

[0022]

[0023] Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be “connected” to another part, this includes not only the case where it is “directly connected” but also the case where it is “electrically connected” with another element in between. Furthermore, when a part is said to “include” a component, this should be understood to mean that, unless specifically stated to the contrary, it may include other components rather than excluding other components, and does not preclude the presence or possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0024]

[0025] Before we begin, let me clarify that there are two charging methods for electric buses: plug-in charging and pantograph charging. Plug-in charging involves connecting a cable directly to the battery mounted on the electric bus.

[0026] The pantograph charging method is a method in which a pantograph moves above the electric bus along the power rail, descends, and charges the electric bus by making contact with the contact bar installed on the top of the electric bus.

[0027]

[0028] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining a hybrid communication control method for electric bus charging according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, since the hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is only an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0029]

[0030] The hybrid communication control device (1) for electric bus charging according to the present embodiment is intended to automatically switch the charging sequence from pantograph (OppCharge (HLC, High Level Communication)) charging to 'Plug-In Type' wired charging (Conductive Charging) when pantograph communication becomes impossible due to a deterioration in communication quality of wireless communication such as Wi-Fi.

[0031]

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging according to the present embodiment includes a Wi-Fi signal receiving unit (21), a Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22), a pantograph communication unit (23), and a wired charging communication unit (25).

[0033] The Wi-Fi signal receiver (21) is connected wirelessly to the Wi-Fi module (11) mounted on the EVCC of the electric bus through antenna 2 (2) and antenna 1 (1) to perform data communication.

[0034] The Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) is connected to the pantograph communication unit (23), wired charging communication unit (25), and Wi-Fi signal receiving unit (21) via a wired or wireless network.

[0035] The Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) periodically checks the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the Wi-Fi signal receiving unit (21). The Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) selects and operates one of the communication units among the pantograph communication unit (23) and the wired charging communication unit (25) depending on the reception strength of the wireless signal.

[0036] Specifically, the Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) can drive the wired charging communication unit (25) when the reception intensity is below a threshold. On the other hand, the Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) can drive the pantograph communication unit (23) when the reception intensity is above a threshold.

[0037] At this time, the reception strength may include Wi-Fi transmission speed, signal interference rate, etc.

[0038]

[0039] The pantograph communication unit (23) can process the first communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from the pantograph charger to the battery mounted on the electric bus.

[0040] The wired charging communication unit (25) can process a second communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from the wired charger to the battery. The wired charging communication unit (25) can process the second communication sequence according to a communication protocol (ISO 15118, DIN Spec. 70121, etc.). The wired charging communication unit (25) can be connected to the electric bus wired charging plug via the PLC module (30) and CP Connection (31).

[0041]

[0042] Hereinafter, a hybrid communication control method for electric bus charging according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In the following description of each step, any overlapping content with that described with reference to the hybrid communication control device for electric bus charging described above will be omitted or briefly described.

[0043]

[0044] First, the Wi-Fi signal receiving unit (21) receives a wireless signal from the Wi-Fi module (11) mounted on the electric bus (S10).

[0045] Next, the Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) compares the reception strength of the wireless signal and drives one of the pantograph communication unit (23) and the wired charging communication unit (25) (S20).

[0046]

[0047] Specifically, the Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) drives the wired charging communication unit (30) when the reception strength is below the threshold (S30). At this time, the wired charging communication unit (30) performs the charging sequence (S31 to S33).

[0048]

[0049] On the other hand, the Wi-Fi signal verification unit (22) drives the pantograph communication unit (40) when the reception strength is above a threshold (40). At this time, the pantograph communication unit (40) performs a charging sequence (S41 to S43).

[0050]

[0051] The pantograph communication unit (23) drives a first charging sequence in which charging power is supplied from the pantograph charger to the battery mounted on the electric bus. The pantograph charger may include a contact bar (not shown) capable of receiving charging power. At this time, charging information may be transmitted and received via Wi-Fi communication between antenna 1 (1) and antenna 2 (2).

[0052]

[0053] Pantograph chargers charge large commercial vehicles, such as electric buses, and can be installed at bus stops or garages. Pantograph chargers are equipped with a pantograph bar (not shown), which physically contacts the contact bar to provide a wired communication path and a charging power supply path.

[0054]

[0055] The wired charging communication unit (25) drives a second charging sequence, supplying charging power from the wired charger to the battery mounted on the electric bus. The wired charger is equipped with a plug port to enable the battery to be charged via wired connection. Charging information is transmitted and received via wired communication, such as Power Line Communication (PLC).

[0056]

[0057] The wired charger performs the electric bus charging sequence through interaction between the charging cable (not shown) and the electric bus. The electric bus may include an electric vehicle communication controller (EVCC) for communication with other external devices. The electric bus can control the wired charging by communicating with the wired charger.

[0058]

[0059] As a result, the hybrid communication control device and method for charging an electric bus according to the present embodiment have a remarkable effect of preventing electric bus charging failure due to communication failure in advance by automatically connecting to wired charging communication when pantograph communication is unavailable due to a wireless communication (Wi-Fi, etc.) error.

[0060]

[0061] While the present invention has been described in detail through preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the technical spirit and scope of the claims set forth below are not limited to the preferred embodiments.

[0062] The hybrid communication control device and method for charging an electric bus according to the present invention can prevent electric bus operation failure due to failure in charging by automatically switching to wired charging when pantograph charging is not possible due to a wireless communication (Wi-Fi, etc.) error, and thus can be considered an invention with industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A pantograph communication unit that processes a first communication sequence to supply charging power from a pantograph charger to a battery mounted on an electric bus; A wired charging communication unit that processes a second communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from a wired charger to the battery; A WiFi signal receiving unit that is connected to the WiFi module mounted on the electric bus via wireless communication and receives a wireless signal from the WiFi module; and A hybrid communication control device for charging an electric bus, comprising: a Wi-Fi signal verification unit connected to the pantograph communication unit, the wired charging communication unit, and the Wi-Fi signal receiving unit via a wired or wireless network, and driving one of the communication units of the pantograph communication unit and the wired charging communication unit according to the reception strength of the wireless signal.

2. In paragraph 1, The above WiFi signal verification unit, A hybrid communication control device for charging an electric bus, which operates the wired charging communication unit when the reception strength is below a threshold value, and operates the pantograph communication unit when the reception strength is above the threshold value.

3. A signal receiving step for receiving a wireless signal from a WiFi module mounted on an electric bus; and Including a communication unit driving step in which one of the pantograph communication unit and the wired charging communication unit is driven according to the reception strength of the above wireless signal, The above pantograph communication unit processes the first communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from the pantograph charger to the battery mounted on the electric bus. A hybrid communication control method for charging an electric bus, wherein a wired charging communication unit processes a second communication sequence so that charging power is supplied from a wired charger to the battery.

4. In paragraph 1, The above communication unit driving step is: A hybrid communication control method for charging an electric bus, comprising: a step of driving the wired charging communication unit when the reception strength is below a threshold value; and a step of driving the pantograph communication unit when the reception strength is above a threshold value.

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