JP6628495B2 - Charging system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention particularly relates to a charging system capable of charging a plurality of vehicles at the same time.

  In recent years, with the spread of plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, demand for a technology relating to a charging system (hereinafter, a multiple vehicle simultaneous charging system) capable of charging a plurality of vehicles simultaneously in an apartment house or a public space has increased. ing.

  As such a simultaneous charging system for a plurality of vehicles, the present applicant also discloses a system that can efficiently charge a plurality of vehicles without exceeding the contract current of the main board (Patent Document 1). .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional simultaneous charging system for a plurality of charging stations is connected to a plurality of charging stations 24 and each of these charging stations via a communication circuit 15 to optimize the power consumption and charging efficiency of the entire system. Each of the charging stands 24 includes a plurality of internal devices (a display device 17 for displaying a charging state, a locking device 18 for a charging connector, a CPLT circuit 19, a circuit switch, and the like). 20 and a control device (hereinafter referred to as an EVCU 21) that transmits information between these basic devices and controls various controls associated with charging. In addition, each charging station 24 includes a communication unit 22 that communicates with the controller 16, and the controller 16 is connected to a server 23 that controls the system.

  Here, the EVCU 21 in each charging station has a function of performing control mainly when the above devices are operating (basically when the vehicle is connected and when the load current fluctuates). Although the operation rate is low, the system is configured by a high-performance and expensive computer for controlling the above-described various devices.

  As described above, in the conventional multiple simultaneous charging system, it is assumed that each charging station is equipped with an EVCU equivalent to a charging device that can be used independently. In the case where the lock device is not required, it is necessary to introduce a system with excessive performance at a high cost in cases where it is unnecessary, etc. However, there is a problem that it cannot be provided at low cost.

JP 2013-153639 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and provide a charging system capable of charging a plurality of vehicles simultaneously at a low cost while providing the functions required in each individual case without excess or deficiency. To provide technologies that can be used.

The present invention made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem is a charging system capable of charging a plurality of vehicles at the same time, comprising: a plurality of charging stations; and a comprehensive control unit that controls charging of the plurality of charging stations. Each charging station includes a plurality of internal devices that configure a charging function, a communication unit that connects each internal device and the general control unit, and a circuit switch that opens and closes a charging circuit that is connected to a connected vehicle. The general control unit controls an internal device of each charging station via the communication unit, and the communication unit includes a detection function for detecting that communication with the general control unit has been established; When a vehicle is connected to the charging station in a state where detection is not performed, an emergency control function for operating the electric circuit switch based on vehicle connection information is provided.

  As in the invention according to claim 2, each charging station includes an electric circuit switch for opening and closing a charging electric circuit connected to the connected vehicle, and the communication unit detects that communication has been established with the general control unit. And a control function for operating the electric circuit switch according to the connection information of the vehicle when the vehicle is connected to the charging station in a state where the detection is not performed.

As in the invention according to claim 2 , the detection function further includes a function of monitoring a communication state with the general control unit after the detection, and when communication is interrupted during the monitoring. It is also possible to switch to the charging control by the emergency control function.

  Conventionally, according to the present invention having the above-described configuration in which the EVCU provided for each charging station is eliminated and an integrated control unit that controls charging of a plurality of charging stations is introduced, the conventional technology has excessive performance. In place of the conventional system, it is possible to provide a low-cost system that is provided with necessary and sufficient functions for each system contractor.

  In addition, the conventional EVCU basically has a long waiting time and a low operation rate, whereas the general control unit of the present invention controls the charging of a plurality of charging stations. As compared with the EVCU, the number of operation can be increased by the number of “charging stations to be controlled”, and a system with less waste can be constructed.

It is a block diagram explaining a reference form. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

  Hereinafter, reference embodiments and embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(Reference form)
As shown in FIG. 1, the charging system according to the present embodiment includes three charging stations 1, 2, and 3, and a server 10 that records data of the system.

  In the present embodiment, one of the three charging stations is set as a high-order model, and the remaining two are set as low-order models. It has a configuration with functions that are simplified compared to higher-end models.

  The charging station 1, which is a higher-level model, transmits information as an internal device such as a display device 4, a lock device 5, a CPLT circuit 6, a circuit switch 7, and the like, and displays information between these basic devices. And a control device (= EVCU8) that controls various controls associated with charging.

  The charging stand 1 is provided with a display unit for displaying the status of the charging stand (standby, authentication, charging, charging completed, etc.) as the display device 4, and covers the claw portion of the charging connector as the lock device 5. / Release mechanism. The CPLT circuit 6 detects that a vehicle is connected to the charging station 1, performs duty control of a CPLT signal (a pilot signal having a duty ratio set according to the magnitude of the rated current), and performs circuit opening / closing. In the case 7, the operation of opening and closing the charging circuit is performed. The electric circuit switch 7 and a conversion unit provided in the communication unit 11 described later provide an electric circuit switch function.

  In addition, the charging stand 1 is provided with a start button for a mode 1 vehicle (when the vehicle to be charged is a mode 1 vehicle (a vehicle that is charged without passing through a CPLT circuit)), the vehicle is charged. Internal operation unit such as a start button used for authentication), an authentication device for authenticating the user of the charging station (for example, card authentication and PIN authentication), and a test device for detecting abnormality before charging starts. It can also be provided as a device.

  For the charging stations 2 and 3, which are lower models, only the necessary functions are selected arbitrarily from the internal devices of the charging station 1 and a simple configuration without the EVCU 8 is adopted. The integrated control unit controls a few internal devices.

  Specifically, the EVCU 8 controls the unlocking of the charging connector after authentication, the connection confirmation with the vehicle (CPLT potential change), the switching control of the electric circuit switch, and the duty of each device for all the charging stations 1, 2, and 3. Supervises ratio control.

  The charging control of the charging stations 2 and 3 by the EVCU 8 is performed via communication between the communication unit 9 provided in the EVCU 8 and the communication unit 11 provided in the other charging stations 2 and 3. The EVCU 8 determines the functions of the charging stations 2 and 3 when the communication is established, integrates information output from these functions, and controls the charging stations 2 and 3 so that optimal charging control is performed in all systems. 3. Determine the control command to be output for each function of 3.

  In the present embodiment, the charging stations 2 and 3 are provided with a display device 4, a CPLT circuit 6, and an electric circuit switch 7. Of these, the electric circuit switch 7 is an essential internal device, but internal devices other than the electric circuit switch 7 can be appropriately selected and incorporated as needed. The communication unit 11 includes a conversion unit that converts communication from the EVCU 8 into a voltage signal, and controls opening and closing of the electric circuit switch 7 by an output signal from the conversion unit.

  In addition, when a new internal device is added to the charging stations 2 and 3 in the charging system already constructed, communication between the corresponding charging station and the EVCU 8 is established, and the EVCU 8 establishes the new internal device. When the EVCU 8 recognizes the presence of the new device, the EVCU 8 immediately performs the correction control so that the optimal charging control is performed in all the systems including the new device.

  Hereinafter, the flow of the charging control in the charging system of the present embodiment (FIG. 1) will be specifically described.

  When the vehicle is connected to the charging stand 2, the CPLT potential in the CPLT circuit 6 of the charging stand 2 drops from 12V to 9V. If this CPLT potential change occurs in a state where communication has been established with the communication unit 11 provided in the charging stand 2, this change in CPLT potential is communicated to the EVCU 8.

  Upon receiving the above communication, the EVCU 8 recognizes that the vehicle is connected to the charging station 2. Subsequently, the EVCU 8 transmits a command for displaying the vehicle connection information to the display unit of the charging station 2.

  Subsequently, the EVCU 8 checks a difference between the current used current of the entire charging system and a preset threshold. When the difference is smaller than a predetermined value, an instruction to change the duty ratio from the initial value and oscillate (for example, change from 16A to 10A and oscillate) is transmitted to the CPLT circuit 6 of the charging station 2. .

  When the CPLT circuit 6 of the charging station 2 enters the 9V oscillation state, the vehicle-side charging control circuit turns on the power receiving permission switch. As a result, the CPLT circuit 6 enters a 6 V oscillation state due to the resistance voltage division of the charge control circuit. This change (change from 9 V oscillation to 6 V oscillation) is communicated to the EVCU 8.

  In response to the above communication, the EVCU 8 recognizes that the vehicle connected to the charging station 2 has made a charging request. Subsequently, the EVCU 8 transmits an ON command (closing command) to the electric circuit switch 7 of the charging stand 2 and transmits a command for displaying “charging” to the display unit of the charging stand 2. I do. The ON command is converted into a voltage signal by the conversion unit of the communication unit and controls the electric circuit switch 7. Note that the conversion unit may be provided in the CPLT circuit.

(Embodiment 1)
In the reference embodiment, when a vehicle is connected to the charging stations 2 and 3, the connection information of the vehicle is once transmitted to the EVCU 8 via the communication unit 11 and then charged from the EVCU 8 via the communication unit 11. Although transmitted to the display device 4, the CPLT circuit 6, and the electric circuit switch 7 of the stands 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the communication unit 11 of the charging stands 2 and 3 includes: A detection function 12 for detecting that a communication circuit has been established with the EVCU 8, and when a vehicle is connected to the charging station in a state where the detection is not performed, connection information of the vehicle is transmitted to the charging station in the charging station. An emergency control function 13 for transmitting to the display device 4, the CPLT circuit 6, and the electric circuit switch 7 is provided.

  When the CPLT potential change occurs, the emergency control function 13 causes the change in the CPLT potential to be directly displayed as the vehicle connection information on the display unit of the charging station 2 without passing through the EVCU 8. Subsequently, the CPLT circuit 6 oscillates with the duty ratio at the initial value, and sets the state of 9 V oscillation. When the CPLT circuit 6 of the charging station 2 enters the 9V oscillation state, the vehicle-side charging control circuit turns on the power receiving permission switch. As a result, the CPLT circuit 6 enters a 6 V oscillation state due to the resistance voltage division of the charge control circuit. This change (change from 9V oscillation to 6V oscillation) is communicated to the emergency control function 13 of the charging station 2. The emergency control function 13 having received this communication transmits an ON command (closing command) to the electric circuit switch 7 and issues a command for displaying “charging” to the display unit of the charging station 2. Send. Note that a converter may be provided as in the first embodiment, and the ON command may be converted into a voltage signal by the converter to control the electric circuit switch 7. With such a configuration, even when a failure cannot establish communication between the charging stations 2 and 3 and the EVCU 8, the charging itself using the charging stations 2 and 3 can be continued.

  The detection function 12 constantly monitors the communication between the EVCU 8 and the charging stations 2 and 3, and when the charging is controlled by the EVCU 8 (normal time), if the communication is interrupted for any reason, The control is immediately switched to the emergency control function 13.

  The emergency control function 13 monitors the control command from the EVCU 8 even in the normal state, and continues the control executed by the EVCU 8 from the time when the communication is cut off. For example, when the duty control of the CPLT signal is performed by the EVCU 8, the emergency control function 13 controls the CPLT circuit by continuing the duty ratio, so that the charging of the vehicle is not interrupted even when the communication is interrupted. It can be carried out.

  If the communication with the EVCU 8 is restored during the operation of the emergency control function 13, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is actually connected and the charging control is being performed. If the result of this determination is that the vehicle is not connected, control is immediately switched to EVCU. That is, when the vehicle is connected, control is performed by the EVCU. When the vehicle is connected and charge control is being performed, control is performed by the emergency control function 13 until the charge is completed, and control is returned to the EVCU after charging is completed. Note that the EVCU does not control the individual charger controlled by the emergency control function 13.

In a state where the establishment of the communication circuit with the EVCU 8 is not detected, the state may be displayed on the display device 4.
Further, in a state where the establishment of the communication circuit with the EVCU 8 is not detected, the charging power is limited to a predetermined value smaller than a normal value such that the contract current is not exceeded even when a plurality of charging stations are used simultaneously. And so on.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first and second embodiments, the charging control of all the charging stations 1, 2, and 3 is controlled by using the EVCU 8 provided in the charging station 1. However, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. Can be provided independently of all the charging stations 1, 2, and 3, for example, in the authentication device 25 or the like.

  In any of the embodiments, the communication unit 11 may be provided inside the CPLT circuit 6.

1, 2, 3 Charging stand 4 Display device 5 Lock function 6 CPLT circuit 7 Electric circuit switch 8 EVCU
9 communication unit 10 server 11 communication unit 12 detection function 13 emergency control function 15 communication circuit (prior art)
16 Controller (Prior Art)
17 Display function (conventional technology)
18 Lock function (conventional technology)
19 CPLT circuit (prior art)
20 Electric circuit switch (prior art)
21 EVCU (Prior art)
22 Communication unit (prior art)
23 server (prior art)
24 Charging stand (prior art)
25 Authentication device

Claims (2)

A charging system that can simultaneously charge a plurality of vehicles,
Equipped with multiple charging stations and a comprehensive control unit that controls charging of the multiple charging stations,
Each of the charging stations includes a plurality of internal devices that configure a charging function, a communication unit that connects each of the internal devices and the general control unit, and a circuit switch that opens and closes a charging circuit that is connected to the connected vehicle ,
The general control unit controls an internal device of each charging station via the communication unit,
The communication unit has a detection function of detecting that communication with the general control unit has been established, and in a state where this detection is not performed, when a vehicle is connected to the charging station, the connection information of the vehicle A charging system comprising an emergency control function for operating a circuit switch . The detection function further includes, after the detection, a function of monitoring a communication state with the general control unit,
The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein when communication is interrupted during the monitoring, switching to charging control by the emergency control function is performed .