U.S. patent application number 13/377782 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-05 for electrical connecting device for hybrid and electric vehicles and associated method for charging.
Invention is credited to Holger Niemann, Volkmar Wuensch.
Application Number | 20120081073 13/377782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43734500 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120081073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Niemann; Holger ; et
al. |
April 5, 2012 |
ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE FOR HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND
ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR CHARGING
Abstract
An electrical connecting device having an output connection,
which is designed to be detachably connected to a charging
connection of an accumulator device of a vehicle operated using
current, the electrical connecting device also including a supply
connection that is designed to be detachably connected to a network
connection of an alternating current low-voltage interconnected
network. The connecting device is characterized in that the
electrical connecting device includes an alternating current/direct
current converter, which is suitable for converting the alternating
voltage of the supply connection to an electric DC voltage suitable
for the accumulator device. A method is also described for charging
an accumulator device of a vehicle operated by current using an
electrical connecting device.
Inventors: |
Niemann; Holger; (Shanghai,
CN) ; Wuensch; Volkmar; (Untergruppenbach,
DE) |
Family ID: |
43734500 |
Appl. No.: |
13/377782 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
October 8, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP10/65134 |
371 Date: |
December 12, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
320/109 ;
180/65.21; 320/137; 903/902 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 11/02 20130101;
Y02T 90/12 20130101; Y02E 60/00 20130101; Y02T 10/72 20130101; G01R
31/3828 20190101; B60L 53/305 20190201; B60L 53/66 20190201; H02J
2310/48 20200101; G01R 31/3648 20130101; Y02T 10/7072 20130101;
G01R 31/006 20130101; B60L 55/00 20190201; B60L 53/62 20190201;
B60L 2210/30 20130101; H02J 7/0042 20130101; Y02T 90/14 20130101;
Y02T 90/16 20130101; Y02T 10/70 20130101; Y04S 10/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
320/109 ;
320/137; 180/65.21; 903/902 |
International
Class: |
H02J 7/04 20060101
H02J007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 13, 2009 |
DE |
10-2009-045-639.2 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. An electrical connecting device, comprising: an output
connection which is configured to be detachably connected to a
charging connection of an accumulator device of a vehicle operated
using current; and a supply connection that is configured to be
detachably connected to a network connection of an alternating
current low-voltage interconnected network; wherein the electrical
connecting device includes an alternating current/direct current
converter, which is configured to convert alternating voltage of
the supply connection to an electric DC voltage suitable for the
accumulator device.
12. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 11,
wherein the output connection is configured to be connected to the
charging connection of the accumulator device of one of a hybrid or
an electric passenger motor vehicle.
13. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 11,
wherein the alternating current/direct current converter is
configured to output a DC voltage of an adjustable level, and the
alternating current/direct current converter one of: includes a
memory in which a value is stored which defines a level of the DC
voltage as a setpoint value, includes an input into which the level
of the DC voltage is able to be entered as a setpoint value for the
alternating current/direct current converter, includes a switch
whose setting defines the level of the DC voltage as a setpoint
value, or includes a potentiometer whose setting defines the level
of the DC voltage as a setpoint value.
14. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 11,
further comprising: at least one cable, and a cable drum which is
designed for complete accommodation of the cable, wherein the
alternating current/direct current converter is accommodated
completely in the cable drum, and the at least one cable connects
the output connection to the supply connection via the alternating
current/direct current converter.
15. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 11,
further comprising: a sensor which is provided one of in the output
connection or on the alternating current/direct current converter,
and which is configured one of to ascertain, one of electronically
or mechanically, whether the output connection is plugged into a
charging connection connectible to it, or to ascertain whether the
electrical connecting device is in a completely rolled-up
state.
16. The electrical connecting device as recited in claim 11,
wherein the output connection further has a data interface, which
is configured for connection to a data interface of a charging
connection that is connectible to the output connection, the
electrical connecting device being at least one of: i) configured
to output one of sensor data or control data to the data interface
of the charging connection via the data interface of the output
connection, the sensor data describing a plugged-in state of the
output connection or other state data of the electrical connecting
device, and the control data describing one of a travel operation
blocking command, a charge-beginning command, a compensation
charging command, or other charging data or travel operation data,
and ii) configured to receive sensor data or control data from the
data interface of the charging connection via the data interface of
the output connection, the sensor data describing one of a charging
state of the accumulator device or other operating state data of
the vehicle or of the accumulator device, and the control data
describing a setpoint charging voltage, a setpoint charging
behavior or other charging parameters, which are provided for
implementation by the alternating current/direct current
converter.
17. A method for charging an accumulator device of a vehicle
operated using current, using an electrical connecting device, the
method comprising: converting an alternating voltage of an
alternating current low-voltage interconnected network to a DC
voltage, which is suitable for charging or compensation charging an
accumulator device using an alternating current/direct current
converter; supplying the DC voltage to a charging connection of the
vehicle via an output connection of the electrical connecting
device, the electrical connecting device including the alternating
current/direct current converter and the electrical connecting
device inclusive of the alternating current/direct current
converter being provided outside the vehicle during charging, and
during the charging, the output connection is connected detachably
to the charging connection.
18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:
detecting one of a plugged-in state or an unrolled state of the
electrical connecting device; and blocking a travel operation of
the vehicle at least one of: i) if it is ascertained by the
detecting that the electrical connecting device is connected to a
charging connection of the vehicle, or ii) if it is ascertained by
the detecting step that the electrical connecting device is in a
not completely rolled-up state.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the detecting is
carried out by the electrical connecting device, and the blocking
includes: generating and transmitting a blocking command to one of
the vehicle or to a travel control of the vehicle, using the
electrical connecting device.
20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the blocking command
is transmitted via a data interface which is provided by the
electrical connecting device, and which, during the detaching or
during the plugging in of the output connection, is separated or
connected to a data interface of the charging connection because of
a mechanical connection between the data interface of the
electrical connecting device and the output connection.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device and a
method for charging hybrid and electric vehicles, particularly for
charging using the electric power of a supply network.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Conventionally, one may charge hybrid and electrical
vehicles by a connecting cable using a supply network. Electrical
supply networks supply an alternating voltage of 230 V (or other
standardized voltage values, such as 110 V), which, however, on the
one hand, based on the high value of the voltage, and on the other
hand, based on its type, that is, alternating voltage, is not
directly suitable for charging accumulators of electrically
operated vehicles. Accumulator devices for the traction of
electrically operated vehicles require DC voltage, the charging
current being defined by the level of the DC voltage.
[0003] For charging accumulator devices, using an alternating
voltage supply network, it is therefore necessary to provide an
alternating current/direct current converter which rectifies, for
one thing, and supplies a direct voltage having an adjustable and
suitable level for another. The direct voltage may also be fixed
ahead of time, as a function of the charging mechanism, in which
case, however, in usual supply networks of 230 V or 110 V, no
suitable voltage level is able to be achieved by mere
rectification.
[0004] Therefore, alternating current/direct current converters are
required which are conventionally provided particularly at the
accumulator device, generally within the vehicle.
[0005] Consequently, in conventional charging processes, the
connection between an alternating current interconnected network
and a vehicle is a simple cable, via which, for charging the
accumulators, the vehicle is connected to an alternating voltage
supply network. On the one hand, the conversion as well as the
adjustment to the suitable voltage level is provided within the
vehicle, so that, for different supply networks, there is
compatibility, especially when vehicles are exported to countries
having different supply voltages. On the other hand, alternating
current/direct current converters have to be designed specifically
for the accumulator device and specifically for the voltage, which
an interconnected network, i.e., the electrical supply, provides in
an area in which the vehicle is being operated.
SUMMARY
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
simplifying electrical connecting device and a simplifying method
for charging an accumulator device.
[0007] In accordance with an example embodiment of the present
invention, the alternating current/direct current converter is not
provided at the accumulator device and in the vehicle in which the
accumulator device is located, but instead to provide the required
conversion, and thus also the converter itself, outside the
vehicle, i.e., within an electrical connecting device which is
designed to connect a fixed network terminal of a low voltage
interconnected network and the charging terminal of the
vehicle.
[0008] An example electrical connecting device according to the
present invention includes a supply terminal by which the
connecting device is able to be connected to the network terminal.
In the same way, the electrical connecting device according to the
present invention includes an output terminal which is able to be
connected to the charging terminal. Both the network connection and
the charging connection of the vehicle are not a part of the
electrical connecting device, but represent complementary
connecting elements for the supply connection and for the output
connection. Consequently, during charging, the supply connection is
connected to the network connection using a (lockable and
detachable) plug connection to the network connection, for
instance, via a usual network plug, and the output connection is
connected via a (lockable and detachable) plug connection to the
charging connection of the vehicle, these connections to the
vehicle and the interconnected network being detachable. The
alternating current/direct current converter is provided between
the supply connection and the output connection of the connecting
device, so that the input of the converter is connected to the
supply connection, and the output of the converter is connected to
the output connection. Furthermore, the electrical connecting
device includes at least one cable, the at least one cable being
able to be provided between the supply connection and the
converter; the at least one cable being able to include an
additional cable which connects the converter to the output
connection. The electrical connecting device may further include a
cable drum, for winding up the cable, on which the at least one
cable (preferably all the cable pieces of the at least one cable)
may be wound up. In this cable drum, or fastened to it, there is an
alternating current/direct current converter, in order to be able
to adjust the DC voltage output by it or to provide it according to
a desired charging mode. In the same way, the converter is
preferably designed to work with different alternating voltages
and/or different frequencies, without the output voltage thereby
changing (with the configuration remaining the same). In
particular, the converter is preferably designed to be connected to
a 110-Volt network and to a 230-Volt network having alternating
voltage at a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz, and from this to generate an
adjustable output DC voltage, which is output at the output
connection.
[0009] The connecting device according to the present invention may
thus be provided in a simple manner to have an additional safety
mechanism, which first detects whether the output connection is
still plugged into the charging connection or whether at least a
part of the cable is still located outside the cable drum, in order
to conclude from this that the vehicle is connected at least
mechanically to the connecting device. If it is thus detected that
the connecting device has not yet been detached from the vehicle,
then, via a data interface or a control interface, the electrical
connecting device is able to prevent the vehicle from going over
into driving mode. This may be provided, for instance, by a command
of the electrical connecting device, which is transmitted to the
vehicle via the still-existing connection between the output
connection and the charging connection, a driving operation control
of the vehicle thereby receiving the information that the driving
mode is to be blocked.
[0010] Moreover, a data exchange may be provided by the connecting
device, in which the charging connection, or rather, the vehicle
itself, via its control, transmits data to the electrical
connecting device and to the converter, in order to charge the
converter according to the charging voltage requested by the
vehicle. In the same way, the vehicle control or a charging control
may transmit a command via the charging connection and the output
connection, and consequently via the data interface provided
thereby, namely, a parameter or a control command to the converter,
which gives a desired charging mode. Such a charging mode may
describe, for instance, a charging or a compensation charging, the
converter being set according to this command, so as to output a
corresponding current and/or a corresponding voltage to the output
connection. The electrical connecting device thereby becomes
universally applicable, since it is not a fixed entity for one
specific accumulator type, but is freely configurable by the
respective vehicle. This permits the use of the electrical
connecting device for a multitude of vehicle models.
[0011] In the same way, one and the same electrical connecting
device is suitable for a plurality of charging modes, to the extent
that the latter are able to be transmitted to the connecting device
via the data connection. In one particularly simple embodiment, a
voltage value is output to the connecting device via a normalized
data transmission protocol, which applies as a setpoint value for
the converter. In particular, by repeated transmission of such
voltage values, any voltage profile or any charging mode may be set
by the control of the vehicle, the converter of the connecting
device according to the present invention thereby being able to
output any desired voltage via the output connection to the
accumulator of the vehicle. In this case, only a normalized data
interface is required, which is preferably cable-bound (such as in
the manner of an USB connection) or may be provided as a connection
via a radio interface, or using near field induction, or via an
infrared interface. Preferably, however, a cable-supported data
interface is used, which provides a plug connection that is
provided mechanically within the output connection (or, in
complementary fashion, within the charging connection , in parallel
to a power connection, via which the charging voltage or the
charging current is transmitted to the vehicle at the output
connection. The data interface or its bodily manifestation (for
instance, as a plug connection) within the output connection is
preferably fixedly connected to connecting components of the output
connection, via which a charging current is transmitted from the
converter to the vehicle via the output connection, if the
connecting device is connected to the vehicle.
[0012] The electrical connecting device according to the present
invention therefore includes an output connection that is designed
to be detachably connected to a charging connection of an
accumulator device of a vehicle operated by current. The electrical
connecting device also includes a supply connection that is
designed to be detachably connected to a network connection of an
alternating current low-voltage interconnected network. The output
connection of the electrical connecting device and the charging
connection of a vehicle that is to be connected to it are thus
complementary connecting elements. In the same way, the supply
connection of the electrical connecting device and the network
connection of the alternating current low-voltage interconnected
network are complementary to each other. The network connection of
an alternating current low-voltage interconnected network is
usually supplied by a usual alternating current supply connection
of a 230 Volt or 110 Volt current connection to which the supply
connection is complementary. The network connection has the form of
a usual 230 Volt alternating current/direct current converter
socket outlet, for instance, and the supply connection is therefore
developed like a usual mains plug. The output connection preferably
differs from the supply connection, so as to avoid
interchanges.
[0013] The electrical connecting device according to the present
invention includes an alternating current/direct current converter,
that is also designated as an AC/DC converter. The converter
preferably has a nominal power at which the desired charging
currents may be implemented, for instance, a nominal power of at
least 0.5 kW, 1 kW, 2 kW, or 5 kW or 10 kW. The input of the
alternating current/direct current converter is preferably designed
to be two-phase, but may also be provided for a three-phase
connection. In the case of a three-phase connection, the supply
connection of the connecting device according to the present
invention is designed as a three-phase connection and is embodied
to be connectible with a usual three-phase socket. The converter of
the connecting device according to the example embodiment of the
present invention is designed to convert alternating voltage of the
supply connection to an electric DC voltage that is suitable for an
accumulator device. For this, the converter is configurable and
adjustable, so that the output voltage may be selected.
[0014] The output connection preferably has a two-pole plug
connection element by which the connecting device is able to be
connected to the charging connection of a vehicle. For this, a
plurality of cables having sufficient cross section are suitable,
which make possible a current transmission of at least 5 A, 10 A,
20 A or 50 A. The output connection is therefore suitable for being
connected to a charging connection of an accumulator device of a
vehicle, the vehicle being able to be an hybrid or an electric
passenger motor vehicle, and the accumulator device being suitable
in its capacity and power for use as a traction energy store within
an hybrid or an electric passenger motor vehicle. In particular,
the output connection is designed to be connected to a charging
connection of the accumulator device, which is used as a traction
energy store for an hybrid or an electric passenger motor vehicle,
and thus has an high capacity, especially higher than the
capacities of accumulators of an internal combustion engine-driven
motor vehicle.
[0015] According to one preferred specific embodiment of the
present invention, the converter is designed to output a DC voltage
of adjustable level. The adjustable level may be provided by a
memory within the electrical connecting device, or may be
transmitted via an input of the electrical connecting device.
Consequently, the alternating current/direct current converter
includes a memory in which a value is stored that defines the level
of the voltage as a setpoint value. Alternatively or in combination
with this, the alternating current/direct current converter (or the
connecting device) may have an input at which the level of the
voltage may be input as setpoint value for the converter.
Alternatively or in combination with this, the converter or the
connecting device may include a switch, whose setting defines the
level of the voltage as a setpoint value. Alternatively or in
combination with this, the connecting device or the converter may
include a potentiometer, whose setting defines the level of the
voltage as a setpoint value. One is thereby able to set the voltage
as output voltage of the converter, as a function of the vehicle
that is to be connected.
[0016] In a further preferred specific embodiment, the electrical
connecting device also includes a cable drum or another device for
accommodating the at least one cable of the electrical connecting
device. Thus, the connecting device also includes at least one
cable, for connecting the converter to the supply connection, to
the output connection or to both. The cable drum offers sufficient
inner space for accommodating the cable, and preferably also
includes a roll-up mechanism, for drawing the cable generally
completely into the cable drum. By "drawing the cable generally
completely into the cable drum" one should understand that the
cable drum, or rather its inner space, encloses the connecting
cable for the most part, and only short cable pieces (if present)
and perhaps the supply connection and the output connection are
provided completely or partially outside the cable drum, and the at
least one cable is generally accommodated completely in the cable
drum. Thus, by "complete accommodation" a condition is also
understood in which the supply connection or the output connection
project completely or partially from the cable drum. The same
applies for short sections of the cable, which is directly
connected to the supply connection or the output connection. The at
least one cable connects the output connection to the supply
connection via the converter. In this instance, the at least one
cable may include two sub-pieces, which are provided between the
converter and the output connection or between the converter and
the supply connection. Furthermore, however, only one single cable
may be provided which connects the converter to the supply
connection, or which connects the converter to the output
connection, an additional external cable being required for the
connection to the network connection or to the charging
connection.
[0017] According to one further preferred specific embodiment, the
electrical connecting device is provided with a safety mechanism,
which prevents a vehicle that is connected to this from a driveaway
of the vehicle. Such a connecting device also includes a sensor,
that is provided in the output connection or at the alternating
current/direct current converter. The sensor is designed to
ascertain, electronically or mechanically, whether the output
connection is plugged into a charging connection connected to it.
Thus, the sensor is in a position of detecting the connection state
between the output connection and the charging connection, so that
the sensor is able to provide data that are able to be used for the
safety mechanism. Alternatively or in combination with this, the
sensor is designed to ascertain whether the electrical connecting
device is in a generally completely rolled-up state. The sensor is
therefore in a position to detect whether the at least one cable is
completely accommodated on the cable drum. If this is the case, one
may assume that no connection exists between charging connection
and output connection. This specific embodiment relates
particularly to a connecting device according to the present
invention, in which a piece of cable of at least one cable is
provided between the converter and the output connection. Using a
switch, the sensor is able to detect, for example, the plugged-in
state, or it is able to detect whether the cable drum is
extensively rolled up. As an alternative, optical detection
mechanisms, or the like, may be used. According to a further
specific embodiment, the sensor is provided by at least one
electrical contact that is provided at the output connection, and
which is connected by a connecting element in the charging
connection, if the output connection is provided in the charging
connection, and which is not connected if the output connection is
located outside the charging connection.
[0018] These sensor data are preferably passed on to a controller,
in order to stop a vehicle (that is, to block an active travel
condition) based on the sensor data, and to release a vehicle to
travel when it is ascertained that the output connection is not
connected to the charging connection. Therefore, the connecting
device according to the present invention, preferably its output
connection, has a data interface which is able to be connected to a
data interface of a charging connection of a vehicle. The data
interface of the output connection is designed to output control
data and sensor data to the data interface of the charging
connection that is complementary to it. The sensor data describe a
plugged-in state of the output connection or other state data of
the connecting device. In particular, the sensor data describe
whether the output connection is still connected to the charging
connection or not. Based on the sensor data, the connecting device
according to the present invention, preferably the converter,
generates control data, in order to output these via the data
interface of the output connection to the vehicle, or rather to a
vehicle controller. The control data therefore include a driving
operation control command which induces the vehicle controller to
ignore a starting instruction and/or to suppress all possible
transitions to a travel state of the vehicle. The control data,
especially the driving operation command, are generated by the
electrical connecting device, which is arranged to do this, sensor
data being also generated by the electrical connecting device and
output connection via the output connection. Furthermore, the data
interface of the output connection is designed to transmit data in
the opposite direction. Control data that are transmitted by the
connecting device to the vehicle via the output connection
especially include the driving operation control command. Control
data that are transmitted in the opposite direction, that is,
towards the connecting device (and starting from the vehicle),
include a charging command or a compensation charging command.
According to this command, the converter is either induced to
output a charging current or to output a compensation charging
current. Alternatively, instead of the command, control data may
also be transmitted which specify a voltage setpoint value or a
current setpoint value, according to which the converter is
operated. Moreover, sensor data that are transmitted from the
output connection to the connecting device, are able to describe a
setpoint charging response or other charging parameters, especially
operating state data of the vehicle, from which the converter may
draw a conclusion on a suitable mode.
[0019] According to that, the output connection of the connecting
device, according to the example embodiment of the present
invention, is outfitted with a current transmission element, for
instance, in the form of power current plugs, as well as with a
preferably cable-bound plug connection, which provides the data
interface of the output connection. The data interface is
preferably a serial data interface according to a normalized
protocol. That means that vehicles only have to master the data
transmission protocol in order to be charged by the connecting
device according to the present invention, when prompted by
specifications internal to the vehicle.
[0020] In a further specific embodiment, the data interface is
provided as a radio connection, the converter having an appropriate
send/receive device, together with a control which controls
components provided for current conversion according to data
received using the radio interface.
[0021] The present invention is further provided by an example
method for charging an accumulator device of a vehicle operated
using current. The example method is preferably based on using the
electrical connecting device, so that at least charging using the
electrical connecting device described above is provided. The
example method includes converting an alternating current of an
alternating current low-voltage interconnected network into DC
voltages, which is suitable for charging an accumulator device.
Alternatively, the alternating voltage may be converted to a DC
voltage (by the converter of the connecting device), which is
suitable for the compensation charging of the accumulator device,
i.e., for providing a DC voltage from which, together with the
accumulator, a charging current results which, generally,
corresponds to the self-discharge and the standby current use of
the vehicle. The DC voltage of the converter is supplied to a
charging connection of the vehicle, via the output connection of
the electrical connecting device, according to the present
invention. However, the converter is not located within the
vehicle, as is the conventional case, but outside the vehicle in
the electrical connecting device, which provides the connection
between the vehicle and the network connection. The electrical
connecting device, in particular the alternating current/direct
current converter, is therefore provided outside the vehicle,
during charging. Because the converter is provided outside the
vehicle, it is in a position to detect the state of connection
between the output connection and the charging connection, and to
react accordingly (for instance, by activating a vehicle controller
to block a driving mode) and it is also in a position of being able
to be used for different vehicles. In particular, the connecting
device provides a detachable interface by which the converter is
able to be separated from the accumulator, so that one is able to
use the converter for other vehicles, and so that the converter is
provided outside the vehicle, for this purpose. The example method
therefore includes particularly the connecting of the connecting
device to the vehicle via a separable connection. This is provided,
as was described above, by an output connection of the connecting
device and a charging connection of the vehicle, which are
complementary to each other, and provide a detachable plug
connection.
[0022] An example method according to the present invention
preferably also includes the safety mechanism described above,
which is based on the idea that the example connecting device
according to the present invention detects whether the output
connection is still connected to the charging connection or not,
and accordingly prevents the vehicle from starting or traveling, by
generating appropriate control signals and/or control commands.
Alternatively to detecting the plug-connected state between output
connection and charging connection (which are complementary to each
other) the unrolled state of the electrical connecting device may
also be detected. The unrolled state denotes the position of the at
least one cable with respect to the inner space of the cable drum,
it being assumed that the cable and the output connection are
generally located completely inside the cable drum if the output
connection and a majority of the cable are provided inside the
cable drum. In this case, it is assumed that the connecting device
according to the present invention has not been rolled out, but the
output connection is present separately from the charging
connection, so that a starting process or driving operation of the
vehicle is not prevented. According to that, the travel operation
of the vehicle is blocked if it is ascertained by the detection
step that the electrical connecting device is connected to a
charging connection of the vehicle, that is, that the output
connection is connected to the charging connection. Alternatively,
it is ascertained by the detection step that the electrical
connecting device is not in a generally completely rolled up state,
whereby the travel operation is also blocked.
[0023] According to one additional specific embodiment of the
method according to the present invention, the electrical
connecting device according to the present invention is an active
component of the blocking mechanism, and generates and transmits a
blocking command to the vehicle, or to a driving control of the
vehicle. The blocking command is thus not only transmitted by the
electrical connecting device, but also generated by it, preferably
by a control of the converter.
[0024] In this instance, the blocking command is transmitted via a
data interface, which is provided by the electrical connecting
device. The data interface is particularly formed by the data
interfaces of the output connection and the charging connection
that are complementary to each other. The output connection and its
data interface are preferably mechanically connected to each other,
whereby during the removal and during plugging in the output
connection by the mechanical connection between this output
connection and its data interface, the latter is separated from the
data interface of the charging connection or is connected to it.
The removal and the plugging in of the output connection from/to
the charging connection, and the connection for the electrical
energy transfer to the connection to the data transmission (i.e.,
using the data interface) are synchronized via the mechanical
connection, so that both are simultaneously removed or plugged
in.
[0025] Furthermore, not only is the mechanical connection between
the output connection and the charging connection able to be
detected by electrical or mechanical sensors, but the connection
between the output connection and the charging connection may also
be monitored electrically by having the connecting device, and
particularly the converter, check an electrical connection by
recording a current flow and sensing a contact accordingly. In
response to a missing contact between the output connection and the
charging connection, no current is able to flow through the
connecting device, from which it may be concluded, just on the
basis of the current flow in the at least one cable, in the
converter or even at the supply connection or at the output
connection, that no contact exists between the output connection
and the charging connection. A current flow of generally zero
therefore leads to the lifting of the travel blocking, whereas a
current flow of greater than zero is evaluated as a connection
between the output connection and the charging connection, and
consequently the travel operation is blocked, preferably using
control commands via the data interfaces of the output connection
and the charging connection. Instead of an active transmission of
control data by the electrical connecting device, the electrical
connecting device, according to a polling method, may also give out
control data/sensor data upon a retrieval request by a vehicle
control.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0026] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the electrical connecting
device according to the present invention, in a basic
representation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic representation a specific
embodiment of the electrical connecting device according to the
present invention, having an output connection 10 and a supply
connection 20. The electrical connecting device also includes an
alternating current/direct current converter 30, which is furnished
with a converter control 32 and a power converter 34 for converting
an alternating current to a direct current. Converter 30 therefore
does not only include current converter component 34 in the form of
the converter itself, but also converter control 32. Converter 30
of the connecting device according to the present invention also
includes a cable drum 36, so as to be able to take up at least one
cable section. In FIG. 1 the converter is shown only symbolically,
the functions of controlling, converting and the storing of cable
sections being shown symbolically under reference numerals 32, 34
and 36, and converter 30 unifies these functions in the form of the
rectangle that circumscribes the illustrations of the functions of
converter 30. In the real implementation, on the other hand, the
converter may be defined bodily generally by the cable drum in
which the cable, control 32 and converter 34 are accommodated.
[0028] According to the present invention, output connection 10 is
designed to be connected to a charging connection 12 of a vehicle
(not shown). Output connection 10 and charging connection 12 are
consequently complementary plug connection elements.
[0029] In the same way, supply connection 20 is provided to be
connected to a network connection 22, so that supply connection 20
is developed to be complementary to network connection 22. Network
connection 22 is connected to an alternating current low-voltage
interconnected network (not shown). The electrical connecting
device according to the present invention, according to FIG. 1,
further includes two cables 40, 42, cable 40 or cable section 40
being provided between alternating current/direct current converter
30 and supply connection 20, so as to connect these two to each
other. In the same way, cable 42 or cable section 42 is provided
between converter 30 and output connection 10, and provides an
electrical connection between these components. The electrical
connection for the transmission of charging energy from network
connection 22 to charging connection 12, provided by the cables, is
shown by a solid line.
[0030] Over and above that, the connecting device according to the
present invention includes control connections and data connections
which are shown by dotted lines. For one thing, converter control
32 is connected to converter 34 via such a control connection, to
activate it with respect to setpoint value specifications. In
addition, cable 42, besides a connection for the transmission of
electrical charging energy, also provides a data connection, which
is shown as a dotted line. This data connection 44 extends between
converter 30 and output connection 10. Output connection 10 also
includes devices for data transmission 46, which form a data
interface for output connection 10. The contacts which implement
this interface 46 are preferably connected in a fixed manner to the
contacts which provide the power-transmitting part of output
connection 10. Data interface 46 of the output connection is
developed in a complementary fashion to data interface 48, which is
associated with the charging connection. Because of that, a data
connection is provided between data interface 48 of charging
connection 12, of data interface 46, complementary to it, of output
connection 10 and of data connection 44, which runs between the
converter and the output connection. According to a first specific
embodiment, data connection 44 is embodied as a physical channel
which is separate from cable 42. Alternatively, data connection 44
may be logically separated from power connection 42, but developed
physically by the same entity. In this case, for instance, cable 42
is provided for transmitting charging power, and data connection 44
is provided by a signal that is modulated upon the cable, which is
logically separated at output connection 10 (for example, by
filtering) from power transmission 42. In this case, control 42
provides such a modulation and/or filtering for transmitting and
receiving. Furthermore, data connection 44 may be designed to be in
the other direction, in which case interface 48 of charging
connection (or a controller of the vehicle) modulates a signal upon
the existing cable and output connection 10, in order to separate
the modulated-upon signal by controller 32 logically from cable
connection 42.
[0031] Independently of the actual implementation, the embodiment
of FIG. 1 shows a cable connection 44, via which, for instance,
control date of the vehicle (not shown) are transmitted via the
data interfaces of the charging connection and of output connection
46, 48, via data connection 44 to converter 30. The controller
records the signals and accordingly activates converter 34 via
control connection 32'. In the same transmission direction, a
sensor may be provided through interfaces 46, 48, using which one
is able to detect whether the output connection is plugged into the
charging connection or not. For this, an additional sensor (not
shown) may be provided within output connection 10 or on it, which
detects the plugged-in state. The sensor signal corresponding to
the plugged-in signal is transmitted to converter 30 by data line
44, whose controller 32 records this signal and derives from it
whether output connection 10 is still connected to charging
connection 12 or not. (Alternatively, the current flow through
cable 42 may be recorded, for instance, by converter 34 or by
controller 32, in order to conclude from the current flow whether
output connection 10 is still connected to charging connection 12).
If it is detected (independently of the detection method) that
output connection 10 is connected to charging connection 12 (or its
data interfaces 46, 48 are connected to each other), controller 32
of converter 30 generates a control signal which is transmitted via
data connection 44 by converter 30 to data interface 46 of output
connection 10, from there to data interface 48 of the charging
connection, and starting from this data interface 48, further to a
controller (not shown) via a data line 50 that is internal to the
vehicle. Via this path, converter 30 according to the present
invention transmits a blocking command, which prevents the vehicle
(not shown) from going over to a travel state.
[0032] As was noted before, the connecting device according to the
present invention is neither a component of a vehicle nor a part of
a network connection or of an alternating current low-voltage
interconnected network. Rather, output connection 10 and supply
connection 20 provides a connecting element in each case, which is
complementary to the network connection or the charging connection.
The corresponding interfaces are shown by dashed lines 60, 62,
interface 60 being used for the energy transmission between network
connection 22 and supply connection 20, but which separates the
connecting device from the network connection and the
interconnected network, and interface 62 being used for power
transmission (and also data transmission) between output connection
10 and charging connection 12 (or its interfaces 46, 48). Both
interface 60 and interface 62 are provided by detachable electrical
connections, so that the electrical connecting device is basically
separable from the vehicle and separable from the network
connection.
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