FR3145809A1 - DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY OF/BY A VEHICLE BATTERY - Google Patents

Abstract

A diagnostic method is implemented in a vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment to supply electrical energy to this battery or this external equipment. This method comprises a step (10-20) in which first network information relating to this electrical power supply and to an external electrical power supply of the external equipment, second information relating to at least one electrical parameter concerning this electrical power supply, and third information relating to the operation of the electrical power supply system and the battery are analyzed, in order to determine, in the event of an electrical power supply problem, whether the latter results from a malfunction external or internal to the vehicle or from a user error. Figure 3.

Description

DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY OF/BY A VEHICLE BATTERY Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to vehicles comprising a rechargeable battery, and more specifically to the diagnosis of a problem with the electrical supply of such a battery by external equipment or of external equipment by such a battery.

State of the art

Some vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, include a rechargeable battery and coupled to an electrical power supply system that is capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment to supply electrical energy to this rechargeable battery or this external equipment. This electrical power supply may be either intended to recharge the rechargeable battery when it is coupled to external equipment constituting an external power source, or intended to provide electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to external equipment temporarily coupled by a user to the electrical power supply system of the vehicle. This second alternative is generally designated by the acronym V2X (“Vehicle to Everything”).

Here, the term “electrical power supply system” means a set of components or equipment (possibly electronic) and coupled together so as to allow the recharging of a rechargeable battery of a vehicle via external equipment constituting an external power source or the supply of electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to external equipment. Such an electrical power supply system comprises in particular a power connector capable of being coupled (conductively or inductively) via a power cable or an equivalent system to external equipment, a charger comprising a charger calculator and possibly a converter, and a main electrical circuit. The latter is responsible for ensuring at least the interconnection between the power connector and the charger, between the rechargeable battery and the charger (when the latter comprises a converter), and possibly between the power connector and the rechargeable battery.

Furthermore, the term “external power source” here means a charging station or a socket (possibly wall-mounted) coupled to the mains (and therefore to an electricity meter, possibly via a circuit breaker).

Generally, the rechargeable battery, which is recharged by temporarily coupling its vehicle to an external power source, is in particular responsible for powering an electric motor of the powertrain (or GMP) of this vehicle, and therefore constitutes a main (or traction) battery. This battery also makes it possible to supply electrical energy to external equipment, such as a load, an electronic device, an electrical supply network, another vehicle or a home (V2X mode).

It sometimes happens that the recharging or supply of electrical energy required by a user of a vehicle does not take place at all or only partially, which can, in the case of recharging, significantly limit the mileage range in the best case, and prevent the use of the vehicle in the worst case, or in V2X mode prevent the power supply of external equipment. Such a situation results from a power supply problem that can have several origins. Indeed, it can result from a malfunction external to the vehicle or from an internal malfunction in the vehicle or from a user error.

Some vehicles are capable of performing internal diagnostics that can identify equipment or components involved in charging that are malfunctioning, and then inform the user so that they can call an after-sales service or take their vehicle to an after-sales service when possible.

When the power supply problem results from a user error or a malfunction external to the vehicle, the user is not informed, and is therefore forced to call an after-sales service or bring his vehicle to an after-sales service when possible. However, the intervention of a technician from an after-sales service may be unsuccessful, particularly when the vehicle is brought by the user and therefore the recharging context has become inaccessible. This is a shame because in a significant number of cases the origin of the problem is relatively simple, and therefore could be determined relatively quickly, locally, without having to call an after-sales service, and therefore without the user or an after-sales service wasting time.

The invention is therefore intended in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

For this purpose, it proposes in particular a method for diagnosing electrical power supply intended to be implemented in a vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment to supply electrical energy to this battery or this external equipment.

This diagnostic method is characterized by the fact that it comprises a step in which first network information relating to the electrical power supply and to an external electrical power supply of the external equipment, second information relating to at least one electrical parameter concerning the electrical power supply, and third information relating to the operation of the electrical power supply system and the battery are analyzed, in order to determine, in the event of an electrical power supply problem, whether the latter results from a malfunction external or internal to the vehicle or from a user error.

Thanks to the invention, information of different types and origins is now available, both internal and external to the vehicle, which makes it possible to have an overall view of an electrical energy supply and therefore to diagnose any electrical power supply problem, thus avoiding the user, in many cases, having to call an after-sales service or take his vehicle to an after-sales service, or an after-sales service technician being unable to determine why an electrical power supply has not taken place as expected.

The diagnostic method according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- in its step, an internal malfunction of the vehicle can be determined in the event of detection of a problem in the operation of equipment belonging to a set comprising the battery and the electrical supply system, by analyzing the third information, and, in the presence of this determination, the user can be informed of this determined internal malfunction;

- in its step, it is possible to determine a malfunction external to the vehicle in the event of detection of a problem in the operation of the external equipment or of the external power supply of electrical energy to this external equipment, by analyzing the first and second information, and, in the presence of this determination, it is possible to inform the user of this determined external malfunction;

- in the presence of the last option, in its step, in the presence of the determination of a malfunction external to the vehicle, we can determine an origin of this external malfunction, then we can inform the user of this origin;

- in the presence of the last sub-option, in its step, in the presence of a doubt about the origin of the external malfunction, the user may be asked to carry out at least one check of the external power supply of the external equipment or of a contracted power supply package;

- in its step, a user error can be determined in the event of detection of a coupling fault of the vehicle to the external equipment or of forgetting to supply at least one power supply parameter or of supplying at least one power supply parameter incompatible with the electrical energy supply or of non-activation of an electrical energy supply contract of the external equipment adapted to the electrical energy supply, and, in the presence of this determination, the user can be informed of this determined error, then the user can be asked to carry out at least one operation capable of making this determined error disappear;

- in the presence of the last option, in its step, in the event of determining a user error not consisting of a failure to couple the vehicle to the external equipment or a failure to provide at least one power supply parameter or a provision of at least one power supply parameter incompatible with the electrical energy supply, and in the event of it being impossible to determine whether an electrical energy supply contract for the external equipment has been activated, the user may be asked whether he has activated the electrical energy supply contract for the external equipment, and if not, the user may be offered to proceed with this activation.

The invention also proposes a computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means, is capable of implementing a diagnostic method of the type presented above, in a vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment for supplying electrical energy to this battery or this external equipment, for diagnosing a problem with the electrical power supply of the battery or the external equipment.

The invention also provides a diagnostic device intended to diagnose an electrical energy supply problem in a vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment for supplying electrical energy to this battery or this external equipment.

This diagnostic device is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one processor and at least one memory arranged to carry out the operations consisting in analyzing first network information relating to this electrical energy supply and to an external electrical energy supply of the external equipment, second information relating to at least one electrical parameter concerning this electrical energy supply, and third information relating to the operation of the electrical power supply system and the battery, in order to determine, in the event of an electrical power supply problem, whether the latter results from a malfunction external or internal to the vehicle or from a user error.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, a rechargeable battery coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment to supply electrical energy to this battery or this external equipment, and, on the other hand, a diagnostic device of the type presented above.

The invention also proposes portable communication equipment, on the one hand, capable of communicating wirelessly with a communication module of a vehicle comprising a rechargeable battery and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment to supply electrical energy to this battery or this external equipment, and, on the other hand, comprising a diagnostic device of the type presented above.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which:

schematically and functionally illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle comprising a diagnostic device according to the invention and a GMP transmission chain with an electric motor associated with a rechargeable main battery coupled to a charger comprising a charger calculator,

schematically and functionally illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a charger calculator comprising an exemplary embodiment of a diagnostic device according to the invention, and

schematically illustrates an example of an algorithm implementing a diagnostic method according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention aims in particular to propose a diagnostic method, and an associated diagnostic device DD, intended to enable a diagnosis of an electrical power supply problem concerning a vehicle V comprising a rechargeable battery BP and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment EE to supply electrical energy to this battery BP or this external equipment EE.

In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is of the automobile type. For example, it is a car, as illustrated in the . But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns any type of vehicle comprising a GMP transmission chain with an electric motor associated with a rechargeable battery via an electrical power supply system. Thus, it concerns land vehicles (utility vehicles, campers, minibuses, coaches, trucks, motorcycles, road machinery, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, leisure machinery (snowmobile, kart), tracked machinery, trains and trams, for example), aircraft and boats.

Furthermore, it is considered in the following, as a non-limiting example, that the vehicle V comprises a transmission chain with a powertrain (or GMP) of the all-electric type (and therefore whose drive is provided exclusively by at least one electric motor MME). But the GMP could be of the hybrid type (thermal and electric).

We have schematically represented on the a vehicle V comprising an electric GMP transmission chain (and therefore an electric motor MME), a supervision calculator CS, an on-board network RB, a service battery BS, a rechargeable battery BP associated with an interface device DI and a battery calculator CB, an electrical power supply system, and a diagnostic device DD according to the invention.

The power supply system comprises a main electrical circuit CEP connected to a power connector CR and a charger CH comprising a charger calculator CA as well as here a converter CV, as well as to the interface device DI and to the electric motor machine MME.

The on-board network RB is an electrical power supply network to which electrical (or electronic) equipment (or components) that consume electrical energy are coupled.

The service battery BS is responsible for supplying electrical energy to the on-board network RB, in addition to that supplied by the CV converter powered by the rechargeable battery BP via the main electrical circuit CEP, and sometimes instead of this CV converter. For example, this service battery BS can be arranged in the form of a very low voltage type battery (typically 12 V, 24 V or 48 V). It is rechargeable at least by the CV converter. It is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the service battery BS is of the 12 V Lithium-ion type.

The main electrical circuit (or “high voltage”) CEP is more precisely connected, on the one hand, to the rechargeable battery BP via the interface device DI, and, on the other hand, to electronic equipment, such as for example the converter CV and the electric motor MME. It also allows the rechargeable battery BP to be recharged by an external power source SA temporarily coupled to the power connector CR of the vehicle V. This main electrical circuit CEP therefore comprises at least one coupling circuit P1 ensuring the coupling between the rechargeable battery BP and at least the electric motor MME and converter CV, and a power circuit P2 connected to the power connector CR and allowing either the rechargeable battery BP to be recharged via external equipment EE constituting an external power source and temporarily coupled to the power connector CR via a power cable or an equivalent system, or to supply electrical energy from the rechargeable battery BP to external equipment EE temporarily coupled by a user to the electrical power supply system of the vehicle V.

In the example illustrated without limitation on the the power supply circuit P2 allows the rechargeable battery BP to be recharged not only in direct current (or mode 4), but also in alternating current (or mode 2 or 3), under the control of the charger calculator CA (of the charger CH) and the battery calculator CB (associated with the rechargeable battery BP). But in embodiment variants not illustrated, the power supply circuit P2 could allow only recharges in direct current (or mode 4) or only recharges in alternating current (or mode 2 or 3).

It should be noted that an external EE power source can be a charging station which is connected to an AE electrical energy supply or a socket (possibly wall-mounted) coupled to an AE electrical energy supply (and therefore to an electricity meter possibly via a partial circuit breaker, this electricity meter itself being connected to the mains via a general circuit breaker).

It should also be noted that when it is the rechargeable battery BP which supplies electrical energy to an external equipment EE, the latter (EE) can, for example, be a load, an electronic device, an electrical supply network, another vehicle or a home (V2X mode).

The interface device DI is arranged so as to isolate, if necessary, the rechargeable battery BP from the entire main electrical circuit CEP, as well as individually from the power connector CR, the electric motor MME, and the converter CV. It comprises contactors (or switches), possibly based on MOSFET(s), which can each be placed in an open (or non-conducting) state or a closed (or conducting) state on command from the battery calculator CB, as well as protective fuses.

The transmission chain has a GMP which is, here, purely electric and therefore which comprises, in particular, an electric motor machine MME, a motor shaft AM, and a transmission shaft AT. Here, the term “electric motor machine” means an electric machine arranged so as to provide torque to move the vehicle V when it is supplied with electrical energy, as well as possibly to recover torque in the transmission chain.

The operation of the transmission chain (and therefore of the GMP) is supervised by a CS supervision calculator.

The electric motor MME (here an electric motor) is here coupled to the rechargeable battery BP via the coupling circuit P1 of the main electrical circuit CEP, in order to be supplied with electrical energy, as well as possibly to supply this rechargeable battery BP with electrical energy, for example during a regenerative braking phase.

Furthermore, this electric motor MME is coupled to the motor shaft AM, to provide it with torque by rotational drive. This motor shaft AM is here coupled to a reducer RD which is also coupled to the transmission shaft AT, itself coupled to a first train T1 (here of wheels), preferably via a differential DV.

This first train T1 is here located in the front part PVV of the vehicle V. But in a variant this first train T1 could be the one which is here referenced T2 and which is located in the rear part PRV of the vehicle V.

The CV converter is also responsible, here, during the driving phases of the vehicle V, for converting part of the electric current stored in the rechargeable battery BP to supply the on-board network RB and the service battery BS (to recharge it) with converted electric current.

It should be noted, as illustrated without limitation on the and as indicated above, that the CV converter can be part of the CH charger which also includes the CA charger calculator responsible, at least, for controlling the recharges of the rechargeable battery BP.

The rechargeable battery BP here powers the electric motor MME, it constitutes a main (or traction) battery. It can, for example, include electrical energy storage cells, possibly electrochemical (for example of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) or Ni-Mh or Ni-Cd type). Also for example, the rechargeable battery BP can be of the low voltage type (typically 450 V for illustration purposes). But it could be of the medium voltage or high voltage type.

Furthermore, the rechargeable battery BP is (here) associated with a battery case BB which notably comprises the interface device DI, voltage/current measuring means (not illustrated), and the battery calculator CB. For example, the rechargeable battery BP and the battery case BB can be part of a battery assembly (or “pack”).

It should be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation on the the vehicle V also includes a distribution box BD to which the service battery BS, the converter CV and the on-board network RB are coupled. This distribution box BD is responsible for distributing in the on-board network RB the electrical energy stored in the service battery BS or produced by the converter CV, for the supply of the electrical components (or equipment) coupled to the on-board network RB according to power supply requests received (in particular from the CS supervision calculator of the GMP).

It will also be noted that the vehicle V also includes a communication module MC capable of communicating wirelessly with at least one wireless communication network, as well as possibly with wireless communication equipment located in its vicinity and previously paired.

As mentioned above, the invention notably proposes a diagnostic method intended to enable the diagnosis of a problem with the electrical power supply of the rechargeable battery BP.

This (diagnostic) method can be implemented at least partially by the diagnostic device DD (illustrated at least partially in FIGS. 1 and 2) which comprises for this purpose at least one processor PR1, for example a digital signal processor (or DDP ("Digital Signal Processor")), and at least one memory MD. This diagnostic device DD can therefore be produced in the form of a combination of electrical or electronic circuits or components (or "hardware") and software modules (or "software"). For example, it can be a microcontroller.

The MD memory is RAM in order to store instructions for the implementation by the processor PR1 of at least part of the diagnostic method. The processor PR1 may comprise integrated (or printed) circuits, or several integrated (or printed) circuits connected by wired or wireless connections. An integrated (or printed) circuit is understood to mean any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation.

In the example illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the diagnostic device DD is part of the charger computer CA. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the diagnostic device DD could comprise its own dedicated computer, which is then coupled to the charger computer CA, or could be part of another computer embedded in the vehicle V and providing at least one other function, for example. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the diagnostic device DD could be part of a computer embedded in portable communication equipment, capable of communicating wirelessly with a communication module MC of the vehicle V (such as for example a smart phone (or “smartphone”)). In all cases, the diagnostic device DD can possibly constitute what is called an application dedicated to the diagnosis of power supply problems.

As illustrated without limitation on the , the (diagnostic) method according to the invention comprises a step 10-20 which is implemented at least each time that an electrical supply of the rechargeable battery BP or of an external equipment EE by the rechargeable battery BP is in progress or has just ended, as well as possibly in a driving phase subsequent to an electrical supply phase.

Step 10-20 of the method comprises a substep 10 in which one (the diagnostic device DD) analyzes first network information which relates to an electrical power supply and to an external electrical power supply of the external equipment EE, second information which relates to at least one electrical parameter concerning this electrical power supply, and third information which relates to the operation of the electrical power supply system and the rechargeable battery BP. This analysis is intended to determine, in the event of an electrical power supply problem, whether the latter results from a malfunction external or internal to the vehicle V or from an error by the user of the vehicle V.

The first network information is information that comes from at least one network, possibly a communication network, and that is linked to a recharge of the rechargeable battery BP or the supply of electrical energy AE to the external equipment EE or the supply of electrical energy from the rechargeable battery BP to an external equipment EE temporarily coupled by the user to the electrical supply system of the vehicle V. It can, for example, signal an operating problem at the level of the external equipment EE (in particular when it is a power supply terminal) or of the supply of electrical energy AE to this external equipment EE or with an electrical energy supply contract associated with a user of the vehicle V or to the electricity meter to which the external equipment EE used for a recharge is connected (in particular when the latter (EE) is a socket (possibly a wall socket)). Therefore, they may come from a telephone operator, a website, an electricity supplier, a power source SA or communications equipment of the user of the vehicle V, or be stored in a computing cloud (or “cloud”).

It is recalled that a user can enter into several types of electrical energy supply contract (for example, V2H (“Vehicle to Home”), V2X, or V2G (“Vehicle to Grid”)), and each type of contract can be determined via at least one communication network, or by querying the user, or within the vehicle V or the user’s portable communication equipment when it has been previously stored.

The second information relates to at least one measured or estimated electrical parameter and concerns the electrical supply, such as for example a charging current or a charging voltage. They may be internal to the vehicle V (and therefore determined in its electrical supply system or its battery calculator CB or its interface device DI) or external to the vehicle V (and therefore determined and provided by the external equipment EE (in particular when it is a power supply terminal)).

The third information is internal to the vehicle V and more specifically relates to the operation of equipment or components constituting the electrical power supply system or the rechargeable battery BP (and its battery calculator CB and interface device DI). For example, they may indicate a malfunction (breakdown, overheating, connection cut, insulation fault, charge status or health status problem, in particular).

It will therefore be understood that the first, second and third information are of different types and/or of different origins (internal or external to the vehicle V).

By collecting information of different types and origins, both internal and external to the vehicle V, it is now possible to have a global vision of a power supply and therefore to diagnose any power supply problem, and in particular whether it is due to the user or to a malfunction external or internal to the vehicle V. This can in particular avoid the user having to call an after-sales service or bring his vehicle V to an after-sales service when possible, or an after-sales service technician being unable to determine why a power supply did not occur as expected because the context of this power supply has become inaccessible.

For example, in substep 10 of step 10-20, one (the diagnostic device DD) can determine an internal malfunction of the vehicle V in the event of detection of an operating problem of equipment (or component) that belongs to an assembly comprising the rechargeable battery BP and the electrical power supply system, by analyzing the third information. In the presence of such a determination, the user is informed (the diagnostic device DD triggers the user information) of this determined internal malfunction, in a substep 20 of step 10-20.

It will be understood that in the presence of such a diagnosed internal malfunction, the user is, a priori, not able to remedy it since it concerns equipment or a component of the vehicle V, and therefore he is forced to call an after-sales service or bring his vehicle V to an after-sales service when possible. The repair in the after-sales service will then be facilitated if, in addition, the component (or equipment) subject to the malfunction has been determined during the diagnosis.

The user may be informed by broadcasting an audio message through at least one loudspeaker (of the vehicle V or of the user's portable communications equipment) and/or by displaying a text message on at least one screen of the vehicle V (such as the central instrument panel or the dashboard) or of the user's portable communications equipment.

Also for example, in substep 10 of step 10-20, one (the diagnostic device DD) can determine a malfunction external to the vehicle V in the event of detection of an operating problem of the external equipment EE (temporarily coupled to the power connector CR) or of the external electrical energy supply AE of this external equipment EE, by analyzing the first and second information. In the presence of such a determination, one informs the user (the diagnostic device DD triggers the user information) of this determined external malfunction, in a substep 20 of step 10-20.

It will be understood that in the presence of such a diagnosed external malfunction, neither the user nor an after-sales service is able to remedy it since it concerns equipment or a component external to the vehicle V or a power supply contract from which the user does not benefit. In the case of a recharge, the user must then move his vehicle V to carry out a new recharge or attempt to quickly obtain a power supply contract adapted to the desired recharge via the external EE equipment just used. In the case of a supply of electrical energy to external EE equipment, the user must change the power cable (or equivalent system) or attempt to quickly obtain a power supply contract adapted to the desired supply.

The user may be informed by broadcasting an audio message through at least one loudspeaker (of the vehicle V or of the user's portable communications equipment) and/or by displaying a text message on at least one screen of the vehicle V (such as the central instrument panel or the dashboard) or of the user's portable communications equipment.

It will be noted that in sub-step 10 of step 10-20, in the presence of the determination of a malfunction external to the vehicle V, one (the diagnostic device DD) can also, possibly, determine the origin of this external malfunction. In this case, in sub-step 20 of step 10-20 one informs the user (the diagnostic device DD triggers the user information) of this origin. This makes it easier for the user to make a decision. Indeed, if the malfunction concerns the external equipment EE or the electrical power supply AE of this external equipment EE, the user deduces that he must use another external equipment EE (possibly not impacted by the electrical power supply AE (if it is this which is faulty). Similarly, if the malfunction concerns the power supply contract of the external equipment EE (unsuitable for the desired power supply), the user deduces that he must quickly obtain a power supply contract suited to the desired power supply via/for the external equipment EE which has just been used.

It should also be noted that in sub-step 10 of step 10-20, if there is any doubt about the origin of an external malfunction, the user (the diagnostic device DD) may be asked to perform at least one check of the electrical power supply AE of the external equipment EE or of a contracted power supply package. Such a situation may, for example, arise when it is not possible to determine whether the malfunction results from the external equipment EE or from the electrical power supply AE of this external equipment EE. In this case, it may, for example, start by asking the user to check whether the electricity meter to which the external equipment EE is connected is actually supplied with electrical power (power outage or general circuit breaker) or whether the partial circuit breaker of the electrical power supply panel to which the external equipment EE is connected has tripped. It will be understood that in the event of a general or partial disconnection, the user can reposition the general or partial circuit breaker to the closed position and restart the desired recharge.

Each verification request can be made by broadcasting a specific sound message by at least one loudspeaker (of the vehicle V or of the user's portable communication equipment) and/or displaying a specific text message on at least one screen of the vehicle V (such as the central instrument panel or the dashboard) or of the user's portable communication equipment. When the verification is successful (and therefore allows the power supply to be restarted), the user can inform the diagnostic device DD via a human/machine interface of the vehicle V or of its portable communication equipment, and the diagnostic process ends. When the verification is unsuccessful (and therefore does not allow the origin of the power supply problem to be determined), the user can inform the diagnostic device DD via a human/machine interface of the vehicle V or of its portable communication equipment, then the diagnostic device DD can ask the user to perform at least one other targeted verification and/or to answer at least one targeted question. It will be understood that in cases of complex malfunction, the user may be asked to perform several different successive checks and/or to answer several targeted questions (possibly increasingly targeted). The word "several" here means at least two, but it can designate values equal to three or four, or even five, if necessary. It will be understood that the DD diagnostic device has in memory a large number of verification requests and questions, possibly linked together by hierarchical links and/or scenarios, determined in the factory or test center.

It is important to note that it is not mandatory for the user to inform the DD diagnostic device of the result of a check. Indeed, in certain situations, such as a trip, when the circuit breaker is returned to the closed (or passing) position this can be detected by a second piece of information, and therefore the DD diagnostic device detects it during the next analysis of the information, without the user having to inform it.

It will also be noted that in sub-step 10 of step 10-20, one (the diagnostic device DD) can determine a user error in the event of detection of a coupling fault of the vehicle V to the external equipment EE (bad (or faulty) connection of the power cable to the power connector CR or faulty power cable) or of forgetting to provide at least one power parameter or of providing at least one power parameter incompatible with the desired power supply or of non-activation of an electrical energy supply contract for the external equipment EE adapted to the desired power supply. In the presence of such a determination, the user is informed (the diagnostic device DD triggers the user information) of the determined error, in sub-step 20 of step 10-20, then the user is asked (the diagnostic device DD) to perform at least one operation that is likely to make this determined error disappear. For example, the user may be asked to disconnect the power cable from the power connector CR and/or from the external equipment EE (when possible), then to make a new connection, or to provide all the power supply parameters that are essential for the desired power supply, or to activate a new electrical energy supply contract for the external equipment EE adapted to the desired power supply. If the problem persists after a check of the connection of the power cable to the power connector CR, the user may also, if necessary, be asked to replace the power cable (or the equivalent system), when possible.

It will also be noted that in substep 10 of step 10-20, one (the diagnostic device DD) can determine a user error that does not consist of a coupling fault of the vehicle V to the external equipment EE or a failure to provide at least one power supply parameter or a provision of at least one power supply parameter incompatible with the desired power supply, while being unable to determine whether an electrical energy supply contract for the external equipment EE has been activated. In this case, in substep 20 of step 10-20, one (the diagnostic device DD) can ask the user whether he has activated the electrical energy supply contract for the external equipment EE used, adapted to the desired power supply. If not, one (the diagnostic device DD) can suggest to the user to proceed with this activation.

The request or proposal intended for the user may be made by broadcasting an audio message through at least one loudspeaker (of the vehicle V or of the user's portable communication equipment) and/or displaying a text message on at least one screen of the vehicle V (such as the central instrument panel or the dashboard) or of the user's portable communication equipment. The user's response to a request from the diagnostic device DD may be made via a human/machine interface of the vehicle V or of its portable communication equipment.

If the user responds that the electrical energy supply contract of the external equipment EE used has been activated and is well suited to the desired power supply, the diagnostic device DD may ask the user to perform at least one targeted check and/or to answer at least one other targeted question. The user may be asked to perform several different checks in succession and/or to answer several targeted questions (possibly increasingly targeted). The word "several" here means at least two, but it may designate values equal to three or four, or even five, if necessary. It will be understood that the diagnostic device DD has in memory a large number of verification requests and questions, possibly linked together by hierarchical links and/or scenarios, determined in the factory or test center.

It should also be noted that the rechargeable battery BP can, once separated from the vehicle V (for example because the latter (V) has been in an accident), be used to supply electrical energy to external equipment EE.

It should also be noted, as illustrated without limitation on the , that the CA charger calculator (or the calculator of the diagnostic device DD or even a calculator of a portable communication equipment) can also comprise a mass memory MM1, in particular for storing the first, second and third information, as well as any intermediate data involved in all its calculations and processing. Furthermore, this CA charger calculator (or the calculator of the diagnostic device DD or even a calculator of a portable communication equipment) can also comprise an input interface IE for receiving at least the first, second and third information and any user responses to the question(s) and/or verification request(s) for use in calculations or processing, possibly after having formatted and/or demodulated and/or amplified it, in a manner known per se, by means of a digital signal processor PR2. In addition, this AC charger calculator (or the calculator of the DD diagnostic device or even a calculator of portable communication equipment) can also include an IS output interface, in particular for delivering diagnostic messages (with or without a determined problem origin), and verification or question request messages.

It will also be noted that the invention also proposes a computer program product (or computer program) comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means of the electronic circuit (or hardware) type, such as for example the processor PR1, is capable of implementing the diagnostic method described above to diagnose a problem with the electrical power supply of the battery BP of the vehicle V or of external equipment EE coupled to the electrical power supply system of the vehicle V.

Claims (10)

Method for diagnosing the electrical power supply for a vehicle (V) comprising a rechargeable battery (BP) and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment (EE) for supplying electrical energy to said battery (BP) or said external equipment (EE), characterized in that it comprises a step (10-20) in which first network information relating to said electrical power supply and to an external electrical power supply of said external equipment (EE), second information relating to at least one electrical parameter concerning said electrical power supply, and third information relating to the operation of said electrical power supply system and said battery (BP) are analyzed, in order to determine, in the event of an electrical power supply problem, whether the latter results from a malfunction external or internal to said vehicle (V) or from an error by said user. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said step (10-20) an internal malfunction of said vehicle (V) is determined in the event of detection of an operating problem of equipment belonging to an assembly comprising said battery (BP) and said electrical power supply system, by analyzing said third information, and, in the presence of this determination, said user is informed of said determined internal malfunction. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said step (10-20) a malfunction external to said vehicle (V) is determined in the event of detection of a problem in the operation of said external equipment (EE) or of said external power supply of electrical energy to said external equipment (EE), by analyzing said first and second information, and, in the presence of this determination, said user is informed of said determined external malfunction. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that in said step (10-20), in the presence of said determination of a malfunction external to said vehicle (V), an origin of this external malfunction is determined, then said user is informed of this origin. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that in said step (10-20), in the presence of a doubt about said origin of the external malfunction, said user is asked to carry out at least one check of said external power supply of said external equipment (EE) or of a contracted power supply package. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said step (10-20) an error of said user is determined in the event of detection of a coupling fault of said vehicle (V) to said external equipment (EE) or of a failure to provide at least one power supply parameter or of a provision of at least one power supply parameter incompatible with said electrical energy supply or of non-activation of an electrical energy supply contract of said external equipment (EE) adapted to said electrical energy supply, and, in the presence of this determination, said user is informed of said determined error, then said user is asked to carry out at least one operation capable of making said determined error disappear. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that in said step (10-20), in the event of determining an error by said user not consisting of a fault in coupling said vehicle (V) to said external equipment (EE) or a failure to provide at least one power supply parameter or a provision of at least one power supply parameter incompatible with said electrical energy supply, and in the event of it being impossible to determine whether an electrical energy supply contract for said external equipment (EE) has been activated, said user is asked whether he has activated said electrical energy supply contract for said external equipment (EE), and if not, said user is asked to proceed with this activation. Computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means, is capable of implementing the diagnostic method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in a vehicle (V) comprising a rechargeable battery (BP) and coupled to an electrical power supply system capable of being coupled by a user to external equipment (EE) for supplying electrical energy to said battery (BP) or said external equipment (EE), for diagnosing a problem with the electrical power supply of said battery (BP) or said external equipment (EE). Diagnostic device (DD) for a vehicle (V) comprising a rechargeable battery (BP) and coupled to an electrical power supply system suitable for being coupled by a user to external equipment (EE) for supplying electrical energy to said battery (BP) or said external equipment (EE), characterized in that it comprises at least one processor (PR1) and at least one memory (MD) arranged to perform the operations consisting in analyzing first network information relating to said electrical power supply and to an external electrical power supply of said external equipment (EE), second information relating to at least one electrical parameter concerning said electrical power supply, and third information relating to the operation of said electrical power supply system and said battery (BP), in order to determine, in the event of an electrical power supply problem, whether the latter results from a malfunction external or internal to said vehicle (V) or from an error by said user. Vehicle (V) comprising a rechargeable battery (BP) and coupled to an electrical power supply system suitable for being coupled by a user to external equipment (EE) to supply electrical energy to said battery (BP) or said external equipment (EE), characterized in that it further comprises a diagnostic device (DD) according to claim 9.