FR3138360A1 - Method and device for starting an electric vehicle following recharging of its battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for starting an electric vehicle following recharging of a battery of the electric vehicle. If a transformer of a charge controller is not detected (31) as being positioned in a housing of a rear spoiler of the electric vehicle and if a start request (32) is detected then a message is displayed (34, 35, 36) warning a user that the transformer must be positioned in its housing for the electric vehicle to start. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Method and device for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of its battery

The present invention relates to methods and devices for starting an electric vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle.

Technological background

The battery charging of electric vehicles can be carried out according to charging types which are chosen by users among three modes 2, 3 and 4.

In mode 2, the maximum electrical power is 11 kW and charging is carried out with alternating current. To charge a vehicle battery in mode 2, it is necessary to use an electronic box integrated into the charging cable, and connect it to a standard domestic socket.

In mode 3, the maximum electrical power is 22 kW and charging is carried out with alternating current. To charge a vehicle battery in mode 3, you must use a dedicated cable equipped with Type 2 connectors and connect it to a charging station. This charging station integrates control, safety and charge regulation/programming features.

In mode 4, the maximum electrical power is 350 KW and charging is done in direct current. Mode 4 is achieved by means of fast and very fast charging stations that deliver direct current at a very high power level. These stations have a charging cable with a specific connector (Type 2 CCS Combo in Europe).

To enable these battery recharges, electric vehicles are equipped with an Electronic Charging Socket Box (BEPR) compatible with mode 2, 3 and 4 recharges as well as mode 2 and mode 3 recharge cables (sometimes optional for mode 3).

For mode 2, a user must handle a charging cable, i.e. take it out of its storage, unroll it and then connect it on the one hand to the BEPR and on the other hand to the domestic socket.

The currently available Mode 2 charging cable consists of a domestic plug, a voltage controller and a Type 2 plug.

It is known to integrate a charge controller into a housing located in a rear spoiler of an electric vehicle. This charge controller includes a transformer and an indicator light, for example in the form of an LED (Light Emitting Diode in English). This indicator light is used as an additional brake light. When recharging the vehicle battery, the transformer is removed from its housing in the rear spoiler of the vehicle by a user. This transformer is repositioned by the user in its housing as soon as the battery is fully recharged to take advantage of the indicator light of the charge controller as an additional brake light.

However, users may forget to reposition this transformer in its housing after recharging and the electric vehicle therefore no longer benefits from this additional brake light.

Summary of the present invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the electric vehicle, the method being implemented by a computer, the method comprising the following steps: detecting the presence of a transformer of a charge controller positioned in a housing of a rear spoiler of the electric vehicle; triggering a first request to start the electric vehicle; if the transformer is detected as being positioned in its housing, starting an engine of the electric vehicle; if the transformer is not detected as being positioned in the housing, generating and transmitting a signal carrying information indicating that the transformer is not present in its housing; receiving the signal transmitted by a display device; and displaying a message by the display device, the message being formed from the received signal.

Generating a signal when the transformer is not detected as being positioned in the housing provided for this purpose makes it possible to alert the vehicle user that the transformer has been forgotten to be put back in position following a vehicle recharge. This improves vehicle safety by preventing the additional light from being forgotten to be put back in position.

According to a variant, if the transformer is not detected as being positioned in the housing and a second start request is triggered, then a motor of the electric vehicle is started.

Alternatively, the first or second start request is triggered by pressing a start button.

According to one variant, the display device is housed in a dashboard of the electric vehicle.

Alternatively, the presence of the transformer is detected from a contact sensor.

Alternatively, the message is displayed until the engine starts.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for starting an electric vehicle following recharging of a battery of the electric vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to an electric vehicle comprising a device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3, in which:

illustrates an example of an electric vehicle 1 according to a particular and non-limiting example of the present invention.

schematically illustrates a device 2 for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method 3 for starting an electric vehicle following recharging of a battery of the electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Description of examples of implementation

A method and a device for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the electric vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, it is detected whether a transformer of a charge controller is positioned in a housing of a rear spoiler of an electric vehicle. Following a start request initiated by a user and if the transformer is not positioned in its housing then a message is displayed by a display device reminding the user that he must position the transformer in its housing before starting the engine of the electric vehicle.

illustrates an example of an electric vehicle 1 according to a particular and non-limiting example of the present invention.

The electric vehicle 1 comprises a battery (not shown), a transformer 10 of a charge controller positioned in a housing of a rear spoiler of the electric vehicle 1. The charge controller comprises an indicator light 11 and is associated with a contact sensor (not shown) whose role is to emit a signal indicating whether or not the transformer 10 is positioned in its housing.

The electric vehicle 1 also comprises a BEPR and a device 3 for starting the electric vehicle 1 (not shown). The contact sensor 11 is adapted to communicate with the device 3.

At the end of a recharge of the battery of the electric vehicle 1, the device 3 establishes that the electric vehicle 1 is in a standby state.

In a first operation, the contact sensor detects whether the transformer 10 is positioned in its housing.

In a second operation, a first start request is triggered. The state of the electric vehicle 1 then changes to a so-called activated state.

If the transformer 10 is detected as being positioned in its housing, in a third operation, the device 3 triggers the starting of a motor of the electric vehicle 1. The state of the electric vehicle 1 then changes to a so-called operating state (run in English).

If the transformer 10 is not detected as being positioned in the housing, in a fourth operation, the device 3 generates and transmits a signal carrying information indicating that the transformer 10 is not present in its housing. In a fifth operation, a display device receives the transmitted signal and, in a sixth operation, the display device displays a message formed from the received signal.

According to a variant, if the transformer 10 is not detected as being positioned in the housing and a second start request is triggered then in a seventh operation, the device 3 triggers the starting of an engine of the electric vehicle 1. The state of the electric vehicle 1 then changes to a so-called operating state (run in English).

Alternatively, the first or second start request is triggered by pressing a start button.

Alternatively, the first or second start request is triggered by pressing a start button and pressing a pedal, for example the brake pedal.

According to one variant, the first or second start request is triggered electronically, for example by receipt of a signal by the device 3.

According to one variant, the display device is housed in a dashboard of the electric vehicle.

According to one variant, the display device comprises a screen.

Alternatively, the message is displayed until the engine of the electric vehicle 1 starts.

According to one variant, the message indicates that the transformer 10 must be positioned in its housing for the motor of the electric vehicle 1 to start.

schematically illustrates a device 2 for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 2 corresponds for example to a device embedded in the vehicle 1, for example a calculator.

Device 2 is for example configured to implement the operations described with regard to the , and/or steps of the method described with respect to the . Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 2, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and/or in discrete components. The device 2 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and/or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 21.

According to various particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the “cloud”, other nodes of the ad hoc network. The interface elements of the block 22 comprise one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced;

- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”);

- LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

Data, such as for example a start request, are for example loaded to the device 2 via the interface of the block 22 using a Wi-Fi® network such as according to IEEE 802.11, an ITS G5 network based on IEEE 802.11p or a mobile network such as a 4G (or 5G) network based on the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard defined by the 3GPP consortium, in particular an LTE-V2X network.

According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 comprises a communication interface 23 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 24. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 24 such as start-up requests, a signal carrying an indication of the presence or absence of the charge controller in its housing or even a signal carrying information indicating that the charge controller is not present in its housing. The communication interface 23 corresponds, for example, to a wired network of the CAN type (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Network of controllers”), CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Network of controllers with flexible data rate”), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 25, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 26 and/or other peripherals 27 (contact sensor) via output interfaces 28, 29 and 30 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 1 or by the device 2 of the .

In a first step 31, a presence of the transformer 10 of the charge controller positioned in a housing of a rear spoiler of the electric vehicle 1 is detected.

In a second step 32, a first request to start the electric vehicle 1 is triggered.

If the transformer 10 is detected as being positioned in its housing, in a third step 33, a motor of the electric vehicle 1 is started.

If the transformer 10 is not detected as being positioned in the housing, in a fourth step 34, a signal carrying information indicating that the transformer 10 is not present in its housing is generated and transmitted. In a fifth step 35, the transmitted signal is received and in a sixth step 36, a message formed from the received signal is displayed.

According to a variant, if the transformer 10 is not detected as being positioned in the housing and a second start request is triggered then in a seventh step 37, the device 3 triggers the starting of an engine of the electric vehicle 1. The state of the electric vehicle 1 then changes to a so-called operating state (run in English).

According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to the apply to the process steps of the .

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

The present invention also relates to an electric vehicle 1, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous vehicle with a land motor, comprising the device 2 of the .

Claims (10)

Method for starting an electric vehicle following a recharge of a battery of the electric vehicle, said method being implemented by a computer, said method comprising the following steps:
- detection (31) of the presence of a transformer of a charge controller positioned in a housing of a rear spoiler of the electric vehicle;
- triggering (32) a first request to start the electric vehicle;
- if the transformer is detected as being positioned in its housing, starting (33) of a motor of the electric vehicle;
- if the transformer is not detected as being positioned in the housing,
- generation and emission (34) of a signal carrying information indicating that the transformer is not present in its housing;
- reception (35) of the signal emitted by a display device; and
- display (36) of a message by the display device, said message being formed from the received signal. A method according to claim 1, wherein if the transformer is not detected as being positioned in the housing and a second start request is triggered then starting (33) a motor of the electric vehicle. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first or second start request is triggered by pressing a start button. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the display device is housed in a dashboard of the electric vehicle. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the presence of the transformer is detected from a contact sensor. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the message is displayed until the engine starts. Device (2) for starting an electric vehicle following recharging of a battery of the electric vehicle, said device (2) comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Electric vehicle (1) comprising the device (2) according to claim 7. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, when these instructions are executed by a processor. Computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.