JP2000261911A - Wire integrating structure for electric motor coach - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce to a minimum the number of wires of a wire harness connecting an operation box with a controller, while ensuring the amount of information (signals) inputted and outputted between the operation box and the controller in an electric motor coach. SOLUTION: In this electric motor coach, an operation box 2 equipped with switches and display parts and a controller 14 for electrical control are so arranged at mutually isolated positions that the electrical signals can be mutually transmitted via a plurality of wires. In this case, an I/O integrating circuit is installed, and one from among the wires connecting the operation box with the controller 14 is connected with the I/O integrating circuit. As a result, both an input signal (ON/OFF of an 'economizing' SW) from the operation box 2 to the controller 14 and an output signal (lighting of LED) from the controller 14 to the operation box 2 are transmitted through the one wire connected with the I/O integrating circuit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wire harness for connecting an operation box and a controller, which are respectively disposed at distant positions in an electric vehicle, to a wire harness comprising a plurality of electric wires for transmitting electric signals. The present invention relates to an electric vehicle electric wire integration structure for integrating any two of the electric wires into one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electric vehicle such as a bicycle with an electric assist using an electric motor as an auxiliary driving source, various operation switches including a main switch for starting and a pilot lamp for indicating a remaining battery level are used. With the electrical display unit integrated as an operation box,
While the driver is installed at or near the steering wheel so that the driver can easily operate and view it, the controller that is a control device for performing electrical control is located below the seat and near the driving device. The operation box and the controller, which are arranged and are respectively arranged at remote positions of the vehicle, are connected by a wire harness including a plurality of signal lines (electric wires) so that electric signals can be transmitted to each other.

[0003]

The electric vehicle as described above has been actively developed in recent years and the functions thereof have been diversified. Accordingly, the electric vehicle has been required to electrically control the vehicle. In the controller, information (I / O) input / output to / from the controller is used to perform detailed driving control based on inputs from various sensors and to perform output control to various electric display units for displaying the state of the vehicle. Signal) tends to increase, and as a result, the number of wires of the wire harness connected to the controller also tends to increase.

On the other hand, each part of an electric vehicle is required to be designed for high functionality, high performance, miniaturization, and low cost. In terms of cost reduction, how to balance the two is a problem. The increase in the number of wires of the wire harness connected to the controller as described above is a problem in terms of miniaturization and cost reduction. Has become.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems. Specifically, in an electric vehicle, the amount of information (signal) input / output between an operation box and a controller is secured. It is another object of the present invention to reduce the number of wires of the wire harness connecting the operation box and the controller as much as possible.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an operation box provided with a switch and a display unit and a controller for performing electrical control are connected via a plurality of electric wires. In an electric vehicle that is arranged at a distance from the vehicle, an input / output integrated circuit is provided in the controller so that any one of the electric wires connecting the operation box and the controller can be connected to each other so that electric signals can be transmitted to each other. By connecting to the I / O integrated circuit, a single wire connected to the I / O integrated circuit transmits both the input signal from the operation box to the controller and the output signal from the controller to the operation box. It is a feature.

According to the above configuration, the input signal and the output signal, which have conventionally been transmitted by two electric wires, one by one, are transmitted by one electric wire.
The number of wires in the wire harness that connects the operation box and the controller can be reduced by one, which allows the wire harness to be slimmer, making it easier to route the wire harness and reducing the number of wires In addition, the number of pins of the coupler (connector) connected to the wire harness can be reduced, so that cost can be reduced.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electric wire integrated structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entirety of an electric assisted bicycle as an example of an electric vehicle to which the electric wire integrated structure of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 shows a power unit in such an electric assisted bicycle. It shows.

In the bicycle 1 with an electric assist, an operation box 2 provided with an operation switch and an electric display unit as components of the electric assist system is easy to operate and see by a driver holding the steering wheel 3. So that it is disposed near the connection between the head tube 4 and the down tube 5,
A power unit 6 for outputting a combined force of a pedal depression force by an occupant and an auxiliary drive by an electric motor as a traveling drive force is disposed below a connection portion between the down tube 5 and the seat tube 7, and serves as a power supply for the power unit 6. A battery housing 8 containing a battery is detachably installed behind the seat tube 7.

The power unit 6 is a so-called pedal-crankshaft-integrated type in which a crank arm with a pedal attached to the tip is fixed to each end of a crankshaft projecting from the main body case to the left and right sides. As shown in FIG. 2, an electric motor 11 for providing an auxiliary driving force, a pedal crankshaft (pedal, crank arm, and crankshaft) 12 for inputting a pedaling force of an occupant, Electric motor 11
And a unit 1 integrally formed with a resultant force mechanism 13 for combining the rotational driving force of the vehicle and a control device for electrically controlling a drive system of the vehicle.
4 is detachably and integrally attached to the rear side of the power unit 6.

Although not shown, the resultant force mechanism 13 of the power unit 6 includes a pedaling force detecting means for detecting the strength of the pedaling force by the occupant and a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle. The detection value of each detection means is output from the power unit 6 to the controller 14 as an electrical output signal.

The power unit 6 having the controller 14 integrally attached thereto is detachably attached to the lower side of the connecting member 15 which is integrally fixed to the down tube 5 and the sheet tube 7 by welding. The front end of a pair of left and right chain stays 9 is fixed to the rear end of the connecting member 15 whose lower part is opened in a substantially U-shape by welding or the like. The support box 16 is integrally fixed by bolts or the like.

In the vicinity of the lower center of the vehicle body where the power unit 6 is disposed, the rear end of the down tube 5, the lower end of the seat tube 7, and most of the connecting member 15 are covered.
A resin cover member 17 is provided to cover the periphery of the battery support box 16 and to cover most of the power unit 6 from above.

A battery housing 8 containing a plurality of batteries serving as a power source for the electric motor 11 and the controller 14 of the power unit 6 has a lower portion detachably supported in a vertical direction by a battery supporting box 16 and an upper portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right seat stays 10 connecting the rear end of each of the left and right chain stays 9 and the upper end of the seat tube 7 surround the rear side of the seat tube 7 along a pair of right and left seat stays. It is installed detachably.

Although not shown, an outlet (or plug) for outputting the electric power of the battery stored in the battery housing 8 is provided at the bottom of the battery support box 16, and this outlet (or plug) is provided. )
A plug (or outlet) connected to the battery housing 8 is provided at the lower end of the battery housing 8, and the battery housing 8 is fitted into the battery support box 16 from above, so that the outlet (or plug) on the battery housing 8 side is provided. )
The plug (or outlet) on the battery support box 16 side is automatically fitted.

By the way, in the bicycle 1 with the electric assist as described above, in order to control the magnitude of the auxiliary driving force by the electric motor 11, the controller 14
Based on detection signals input from the pedaling force detection means and the vehicle speed detection means provided in the resultant force mechanism 13 of the power unit 6,
The electric current from the battery in the battery housing 8 is supplied to the electric motor 11 through the controller 14 while being controlled by the auxiliary power control means in the controller 14.

That is, the auxiliary power control means in the controller 14 performs control so as to change the amount of electricity flowing from the battery to the electric motor 11 in accordance with the magnitude of the pedaling force with respect to the vehicle speed (the occupant's driving burden is large). Accordingly, the output of the electric motor 11 is changed to change the magnitude of the auxiliary driving force (including the stop of the supply of the auxiliary driving force), and when the vehicle speed becomes a predetermined speed or more, the electric motor 11 is changed regardless of the pedal depression force. By controlling the power supply to the power supply to stop, the auxiliary driving force by the electric motor 11 is not supplied, thereby ensuring safety.

In the control of the auxiliary driving force by the auxiliary power control means in the controller 14, in the present embodiment, the driving force is further supplied according to the magnitude of the driving burden (the magnitude of the pedaling force with respect to the vehicle speed). The auxiliary power control means of the controller 14 includes an assist ratio variable means in the drive control system by the auxiliary power control means so that the magnitude (assist ratio) of the auxiliary drive force by the electric motor 11 can be arbitrarily changed according to the use condition of the vehicle. The assist ratio can be arbitrarily switched by operating a switch.

That is, an economy mode (eco mode) having a lower assist ratio than the normal mode which is a normal assist ratio is provided, and the operation switch (eco switch) for mode switching is operated to operate the vehicle. By allowing the driving mode to be selected between the normal mode and the economy mode (eco mode), for example, when driving on level ground, the amount of wasteful power consumption can be reduced by suppressing the magnitude of the auxiliary driving force. This allows the vehicle to travel longer with the same battery capacity.

Although not shown, the controller 14 serving as a control device for electrically controlling the driving system of the vehicle as described above has an output signal of each detecting means provided in the resultant mechanism 13 of the power unit 6. Are connected via a connector, and each wire connected to each part of the operation box 2 is formed as a wire harness 18 in which each wire is bundled as shown in FIG. It passes through the hollow portion of the down tube 5 and is connected to the controller 14 via a connector (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows the operation / operation of the operation box 2 connected to the controller 14 and the wire harness 18.
FIG. 4 shows the appearance of the display unit, and FIG. 4 shows a wiring state of each input / output wire by a wire harness 18 connecting the operation box 2 and the controller 14.

In the operation box 2, as shown in FIG.
As an operation switch, an operation mode switching switch for switching a vehicle operation mode between a normal mode and an eco mode (economy mode) is provided along with a main switch for turning on / off the supply of power from a battery. It is provided as a switch, and as an electrical display unit, there are provided a plurality of battery remaining amount indicating lamps (LED1 to LED5) using light emitting diodes (LEDs) for indicating the remaining amount of the battery.

Battery indicator lamps (LED1 to L
For ED5), from the fully charged state (F) to the empty state (E), the lamp gradually turns off from top to bottom as the remaining battery power decreases, and the current LED1 to LED4 for displaying the remaining amount of battery at
Is turned off in order from the top according to the remaining amount of the battery, whereas the red LED 5 is
It is always lit when the main switch is ON.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wiring state of each input / output wire by the wire harness 20 connecting the operation box 2 and the controller 14 as described above is as follows.
The electric wire connected to the main switch on the operation box side is
The power supply circuit is connected to a power supply circuit in the controller, and the power supply circuit generates a power supply voltage for operating the control circuit in the controller.

Each of the electric wires connected to the LEDs 1 to 4 of the battery remaining amount display lamps on the operation box side is connected to the CPU (POUT 1 to POU) via each LED driving transistor in the controller.
T4) (in the drawing, only the LED driving transistor 1 is shown, and the LED driving transistors 2 to 4 are omitted).

That is, an input signal for ON / OFF of the main switch inputted from the operation box to the controller, and respective output signals for lighting the respective display lamps LED1 to LED4 outputted from the controller to the operation box. Are unidirectionally transmitted by dedicated wires.

On the other hand, the LED 5 of the battery remaining amount display lamp on the operation box side and the eco switch which is an operation switch for operating mode switching are connected to an input / output integrated circuit in the controller by one electric wire. Connected to the CPU (POUT5 and AD
/ IN).

Accordingly, an input signal for ON / OFF of the eco switch from the operation box to the controller, and an LED 5 from the controller to the operation box.
And an output signal for lighting can be transmitted to each other by a single common wire connected to an input / output integrated circuit in the controller.

In this regard, FIG. 5 shows the ON / OFF state of the LED (at the time of ON / OFF of the main switch) in each part of one wire connected to the input / output integrated circuit of the wiring diagram shown in FIG. The main switch of the operation box is turned on, and a signal for lighting the LED 5 of the operation box is output from the CPU (POUT) of the controller.
5) through the input / output integrated circuit, if the eco switch is ON, R3, R4, and R4 in FIG.
The voltage at point B is determined by each constant of R5 and the battery voltage, and LED5 is turned on.

At this time, the constants of R6 and R7 are R3 and R3, respectively.
Since the value is at least 20 times larger than the constants of R4 and R5, the influence of the voltage on the point B is small, and the brightness when the LED 5 is lit is visually turned on / off of the eco switch.
Hardly affected by

As described above, the controller (CP
In a state where the LED 5 is turned on by the output signal from the U POUT5), the voltage at the point B is also changed according to the ON / OFF of the eco switch (the range of 4.7 to 15V). Change (range of 4.7 to 6.9 V), this change in voltage is the ON / OFF of the eco switch
CPU (AD / I / I) through an input / output integrated circuit in the controller
N), the driving mode of the vehicle is switched between a normal mode and an economy mode (eco mode) by an assist ratio varying means in a controller (not shown) according to this signal.

Note that the voltages at the points shown in FIG. 5 are those when the battery voltage is 15 V, and the voltages at points A and B change with changes in the battery voltage. However, the output from POUT5 does not change with battery voltage. Also, AD
The input voltage at / IN is determined by the voltage dividing ratio of the resistance values of R1 and R2 to the battery voltage,
Since the voltage changes according to the ON / OFF of the eco switch, the ON / OFF determination of the eco switch can be performed by the AD conversion function of the CPU. Such ON / OFF input of the eco switch is effective only while the LED 5 of the operation box is lit (always lit while the main switch is ON).

As described above, the output signal for turning on the LED 5 (always on during operation) of the battery remaining amount indicating lamp and the input signal for detecting the ON / OFF of the eco switch are sent to the controller. According to the electric vehicle electric wire integrated structure of the present embodiment, which can be mutually transmitted by one common electric wire connected to the input / output integrated circuit of the present invention, conventionally, each electric wire is transmitted by two electric wires in total. By transmitting the input signal and the output signal to each other by one common wire, the number of wires of the wire harness 18 connecting the operation box 2 and the controller 14 can be reduced by one.

As a result, the wire harness 18 can be made slimmer, which facilitates the routing of the wire harness 18 and reduces the number of electric wires.
Since the number of pins of the coupler (connector) connected to the wire harness 18 can be reduced, cost reduction can be achieved.

Although the embodiment of the electric wire integrated structure of the electric vehicle according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the bicycle with the electric assist as shown in the above embodiment, and is applicable to an electric tricycle, an electric wheelchair, and other electric vehicles called senior cars.

Further, the switches and display units provided in the operation box are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment, and various switches can be considered depending on the types and functions of the electric vehicles. The switches and the electric display unit for transmitting the input signal and the output signal to each other by one electric wire are also provided with the operation mode switching switch and the battery remaining amount display as shown in the above embodiment. It is needless to say that the design is not limited to the lamp, and can be appropriately changed in design, for example, it can be implemented by an appropriate switch or an electric display unit.

[0038]

According to the electric vehicle integrated wire structure of the present invention as described above, the amount of information (signal) input / output between the operation box and the controller is secured.
The number of wires in the wire harness connecting the operation box and controller can be reduced, and as a result,
The wiring harness can be slimmed down, making it easier to route the wiring harness, reducing the number of wires, and reducing the number of coupler pins connected to the wiring harness, thereby reducing costs. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the entirety of a bicycle with an electric assist as an example of an electric vehicle to which the electric wire integrated structure of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a structure near a power unit of the bicycle with electric assist shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary front view showing an appearance of an operation / display unit of the operation box of the bicycle with electric assist shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram showing a wiring state of each electric wire of a wire harness connecting the operation box and the controller of the bicycle with electric assist shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing voltages at respective parts of one electric wire connected to the input / output integrated circuit of the wiring diagram shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bicycle with electric assist (electric vehicle) 2 Operation box 14 Controller 18 Wire harness (multiple electric wires)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An operation box provided with a switch and a display unit, and a controller for performing electrical control are respectively arranged at remote positions of a vehicle so that electric signals can be transmitted to each other through a plurality of electric wires. In an electric vehicle, an integrated I / O circuit is provided in the controller, and one of the wires connecting the operation box and the controller is connected to the I / O integrated circuit. An electric wire integrated structure for an electric vehicle, wherein both the input signal from the operation box to the controller and the output signal from the controller to the operation box are transmitted by the electric wire. 2. An electric switch connected to the input / output integrated circuit on the controller side, an operation switch for operating mode switching on the operation box side, and a display lamp which is always lit during driving of the vehicle. The electric wire integrated structure for the electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire integrated structure is connected to the electric vehicle.