IP Library Granted Patent US 10,093,190
Granted Patent B2
US 10,093,190 · App. 15/144,086 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Charging control device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,093,190
App. No.
15/144,086
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a voltage-between-terminals measurement unit that measures voltage between the terminals of a charging connector connecting an external charger that charges a battery. A release device of the charging connector determines melt of charging contactors, and disconnects main contactors to immediately reduce the voltage between the terminals of the charging connector if it is determined that the charging contactors melt.

Claims (43)

1. A charging control device comprising:

a battery for driving an electric vehicle;

a driving DC line on each of a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side, through which electric power of the battery is supplied to an inverter;

a main contactor on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side that is provided in the driving DC line between the battery and the inverter to disconnect or connect the driving DC line;

a charging connector that is connected to a power supply connector through which electric power is supplied to the battery from an external power source;

a charging DC line on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side that branches from the driving DC line on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, between the main contactor and the inverter, and that is connected to the charging connector;

a charging contactor on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side that is provided in the corresponding charging DC line on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side to disconnect or connect the charging DC line;

a control unit that controls the main contactor and the charging contactor;

a voltage-between-terminals measurement unit that measures voltage between the charging DC lines on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, or voltage between terminals of the charging connector;

a connector locking unit that locks connection between the charging connector and the power supply connector if the voltage between the terminals is more than a threshold voltage; and

a melting determination section that determines whether the charging contactor melts on the basis of whether the voltage between the terminals is more than the threshold voltage,

wherein the control unit disconnects the main contactor if the melting determination section determines that the charging contactor melts.

2. The charging control device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit prohibits the main contactor from being connected again after the main contactor is disconnected, while it is determined that the charging contactor melts.

3. The charging control device according to claim 1 , wherein the melting determination section performs the determination after charging of the battery from the external power source is finished.

4. The charging control device according to claim 2 , wherein the melting determination section performs the determination after charging of the battery from the external power source is finished.

5. The charging control device according to claim 1 , wherein the melting determination section performs the determination when the control unit outputs a command to disconnect the charging contactor on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side.

6. The charging control device according to claim 2 , wherein the melting determination section performs the determination when the control unit outputs a command to disconnect the charging contactor on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side.

7. The charging control device according to claim 3 , wherein the melting determination section performs the determination when the control unit outputs a command to disconnect the charging contactor on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side.

8. The charging control device according to claim 4 , wherein the melting determination section performs the determination when the control unit outputs a command to disconnect the charging contactor on each of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side.

9. The charging control device according to claim 5 , wherein the melting determination section determines that both of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melt, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

10. The charging control device according to claim 6 , wherein the melting determination section determines that both of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melt, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

11. The charging control device according to claim 7 , wherein the melting determination section determines that both of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melt, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

12. The charging control device according to claim 8 , wherein the melting determination section determines that both of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melt, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

13. The charging control device according to claim 1 , wherein when the control unit outputs a command to connect only one of the charging contactors of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, the melting determination section determines that the other of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melts, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

14. The charging control device according to claim 2 , wherein when the control unit outputs a command to connect only one of the charging contactors of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, the melting determination section determines that the other of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melts, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

15. The charging control device according to claim 3 , wherein when the control unit outputs a command to connect only one of the charging contactors of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, the melting determination section determines that the other of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melts, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

16. The charging control device according to claim 4 , wherein when the control unit outputs a command to connect only one of the charging contactors of the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, the melting determination section determines that the other of the charging contactors on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side melts, if the voltage between the terminals is the threshold voltage or more.

17. The charging control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover with which the charging connector is covered, the cover being openable; and

a cover locking unit that regulates opening of the cover,

wherein the cover locking unit prohibits the cover from opening again after the cover is closed when the main contactor is disconnected, while it is determined that the charging contactor melts.

18. The charging control device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a cover with which the charging connector is covered, the cover being openable; and

a cover locking unit that regulates opening of the cover,

wherein the cover locking unit prohibits the cover from opening again after the cover is closed when the main contactor is disconnected, while it is determined that the charging contactor melts.

19. The charging control device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a cover with which the charging connector is covered, the cover being openable; and

a cover locking unit that regulates opening of the cover,

wherein the cover locking unit prohibits the cover from opening again after the cover is closed when the main contactor is disconnected, while it is determined that the charging contactor melts.

20. The charging control device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a cover with which the charging connector is covered, the cover being openable; and

a cover locking unit that regulates opening of the cover,

wherein the cover locking unit prohibits the cover from opening again after the cover is closed when the main contactor is disconnected, while it is determined that the charging contactor melts.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 1, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 055472/0944 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2016
From: MORO, KOSUKE; HATSUMI, NORIHIKO
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 038446/0855 →