JP5097289B1 - Battery charger and charging device for electric vehicle charging - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charger for charging a storage battery of an electric vehicle inexpensively and safely by a pulsating charging method.
A first communication unit that performs communication of control data used for charging control with an electric vehicle to be charged, and charging that supplies a pulsating charging current to a storage battery that is mounted on the electric vehicle. The circuit unit 11 and the control circuit unit 12 that controls the current supply of the charging circuit unit 11 based on the control data are provided, and the first communication unit 13 includes at least an integrated value of the charging current for each predetermined time unit before starting charging. Alternatively, control data including a target current index value that is a target value of the current index value given as an average value is acquired from the electric vehicle, and the control circuit unit 12 determines that the current index value of the charging current is the target current based on the control data. Control to be an index value.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention is a charger for supplying a charging current to a storage battery (secondary battery) mounted on a battery-powered electric vehicle, and charging the electric vehicle used in a charging stand provided separately from the electric vehicle. The present invention relates to a battery charger and a charging device that accepts a supply of charging current from the battery charger and charges an in-vehicle storage battery on the electric vehicle side.

  As a charging system for a storage battery mounted on a battery-type electric vehicle, a constant voltage constant voltage (CVCC) system is generally used. In the CVCC method, charge control is normally performed in the sequence of 1) constant current charge (rapid charge), 2) constant voltage charge, and 3) full charge determination. When the battery voltage rises to near the full charge voltage after starting the constant current charge, switching to the constant voltage charge is performed. In constant voltage charging, the charging current decreases as the charging capacity of the storage battery increases. When the current value of the charging current decreases to a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the battery is fully charged, and charging is terminated.

  Also, in order to perform rapid charging with the above-mentioned CVCC method for a large number of unspecified electric vehicles using a charger provided separately from an electric vehicle used at a charging stand or the like instead of an in-vehicle charger. As an example, the CHAdeMO Association has decided on the CHAdeMO protocol as a standard. In the CHAdeMO protocol, CAN (Controller Area Network) communication is used between the quick charger and the electric vehicle, and the operation status is transmitted from the quick charger side to the electric vehicle side, and then from the electric vehicle side to the quick charger side. Then, the charging permission signal and the current instruction value are transmitted, and the quick charger performs DC charging with a constant current on the electric vehicle based on the received current instruction value. Thereby, if it is a quick charger based on the said standard, quick charge will be attained with respect to any electric vehicle based on the said standard, and it will contribute to the spread of an electric vehicle.

  In a quick charger for DC charging used in a charging stand or the like, high power charging is performed because it is necessary to perform quick charging in a short time. The quick charger includes an AC / DC converter that converts an AC input of a commercial AC power supply (for example, three-phase 200V) into DC, but from the necessity of outputting a DC current of a large current and a constant current / constant voltage, In general, a configuration including a DC / DC converter for maintaining the output current or the output voltage constant at the subsequent stage of the AC / DC converter is employed. However, the quick charger is equipped with an AC / DC converter that can output a large capacity of 50 kW and a DC / DC converter with a large capacity in order to suppress charging current ripple by controlling the DC / DC converter. This is necessary and the cost of the quick charger is high, which is an obstacle to the spread of charging stations using the quick charger.

  On the other hand, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a charging device that does not include an AC / DC converter and a DC / DC converter separately, reduces the DC / DC converter, and charges the storage battery by pulsating current. ing. In Patent Document 1, when a charging device is mounted on an electric vehicle, a film capacitor having a large capacity and a high withstand voltage cannot be satisfied due to environmental resistance problems of an electrolytic capacitor used as a smoothing capacitor. It is pointed out that the use of the battery increases the size of the charging device, and it is described that the use of pulsating charging can provide a small charging device while ensuring environmental resistance. In the charger disclosed in Patent Document 2, the charger side and the electric vehicle side are connected via an inductive coupler, and the electric vehicle side receives AC power from the charger side by the secondary coil of the inductive coupler. The storage battery is charged with a pulsating flow obtained by receiving and full-wave rectifying. Therefore, although it is assumed that the charger is used separately from the electric vehicle, the charging current is not directly supplied from the charger to the storage battery of the electric vehicle.

JP 2009-247101 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-103585

  As a charging method for a charger for charging an electric vehicle used in a charging stand or the like provided separately from the electric vehicle, a pulse current that directly supplies a pulsating charging current from the charger side is used instead of the CVCC DC charging. When the direct current charging method is adopted, the current value of the charging current input to the storage battery changes periodically, and the voltage applied to the storage battery also changes periodically due to the charging current, so it is necessary to solve the following problems There is.

  First, when it is not an in-vehicle charger, that is, when the charger and the electric vehicle are separated and independent from each other, it is necessary to perform pulsating charging between an unspecified number of chargers and an unspecified number of electric vehicles. Therefore, the characteristics of the pulsating charging current supplied from the charger, the type of storage battery mounted on the electric vehicle, the charging state, etc. are various, so the charging current supplied from the charger is It is necessary to adapt to the type of storage battery, the state of charge, etc. Secondly, the charging power varies depending on the specifications of the charger, the type of storage battery on the electric vehicle side, the charging state, and the charging current includes an AC component (ripple). If the integrated value or the average value is unknown, the charge power cannot be accurately grasped. If the charging power cannot be accurately grasped, it is difficult to predict the charging end time of the storage battery. Furthermore, it becomes difficult to accurately grasp the state of charge of the storage battery, and an error may occur in the calculation of the travelable distance of the electric vehicle. Third, if there is a discrepancy between the charging power supplied from the charger and the charging power received by the electric vehicle, there is a possibility that the metered charge for the charging power cannot be made. Furthermore, when there is a flaw in the charging power between the charger and the electric vehicle, there is a possibility that a short circuit current has occurred, and there is a risk of heat generation and ignition due to the short circuit current.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a charging device that charges a storage battery by a pulsating current, but both are configured to directly supply a pulsating charging current from a charger to an unspecified number of electric vehicles. Therefore, there is no description or suggestion about the above problem and its solution.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the purpose thereof is a pulsating charging method capable of supplying a charging current suitable for the type and state of charge of an in-vehicle storage battery and capable of grasping accurate charging power. In addition, an electric vehicle-side charging device suitable for the pulsating charging is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first communication unit that communicates control data used for charging control with an electric vehicle to be charged, and a pulsating current in a storage battery mounted on the electric vehicle. A charging circuit unit that supplies a charging current; and a control circuit unit that controls the current supply of the charging circuit unit based on the control data, and the first communication unit includes at least the charging current before starting charging. The control data including a target current index value, which is a target value of a current index value given as an integrated value or an average value for each predetermined time unit, is acquired from the electric vehicle, and the control circuit unit adds the control data to the control data. A charger for charging an electric vehicle is provided that controls the current index value of the charging current to be the target current index value.

  According to the charger having the above characteristics, the current index value is instructed from the electric vehicle in any charger regardless of whether the charger is connected in any combination to an unspecified number of electric vehicles. The vehicle-mounted storage battery can be charged with the charging current controlled to be the target current index value suitable for the type of storage battery to be charged, the state of charge, and the like. As a result, the charging power can be grasped on the charger and the electric vehicle side, and the charging end time can be accurately predicted, the driving distance can be accurately calculated, and the like.

  The electric vehicle to which the charger having the above characteristics can be applied is a battery-powered electric vehicle that runs by driving a motor with electric power charged in the storage battery, and the storage battery can be charged by supplying a charging current from the outside. All electric vehicles such as plug-in hybrid cars are included. The electric vehicle to which the charger having the above characteristics can be applied is not necessarily limited to a four-wheeled vehicle, and may be, for example, a two-wheeled vehicle or limited to an electric vehicle traveling on a public road. For example, it may be an electric vehicle that travels on a track.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, after the start of charging, the first communication unit sequentially acquires the control data updated as the storage battery progresses from the electric vehicle, and the control circuit unit The current index value is controlled so as to be the target current index value included in the control data obtained sequentially. As a result, even when the battery voltage increases with the progress of charging of the storage battery, an appropriate target current index value indicating value according to the increase of the battery voltage is received from the electric vehicle side. Can be maintained at an appropriate target current index value and charging can be continued. As a result, even if the battery voltage increases with the progress of charging of the storage battery, it is possible to prevent an excessive charging voltage or charging current from being applied to the storage battery, and there is no risk such as a decrease in the life of the storage battery and ignition. Charging by a charging method is possible.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, before the start of charging, the first communication unit transmits information to the electric vehicle that the charging circuit unit is pulsating charging for supplying a pulsating charging current. Then, the control data is received from the electric vehicle. As a result, on the side of the electric vehicle that accepts the charging current of the pulsating current, it can be known in advance whether the charger to be connected is charged by the pulsating charging method or is charged by, for example, the CVCC method. The control data suitable for the charging method of the charger can be transmitted to the charger side separately from the control data of the CVCC method.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control circuit unit performs control to gradually increase the current index value of the charging current toward the target current index value in a certain period immediately after the start of charging. When the charging state of the storage battery is almost fully charged, suddenly, if a charging current is supplied in which the current index value of the charging current becomes the target current index value, the charging current is pulsating, so the peak value of the charging current (ripple (The maximum value for each repetition period) may exceed the maximum allowable upper limit value for the instantaneous value of the charging current, or the pulsating charging current is supplied to the storage battery and applied to the storage battery. The peak value of the charging voltage may exceed the upper limit value of the charging voltage, but by controlling the charging current index value gradually toward the target current index value, such a situation can be prevented. Can be avoided.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the charging circuit unit includes an LC type low-pass filter in the final stage. As a result, the AC component in the high frequency range included in the charging current is removed, so the bottom value (minimum value) of the charging current does not decrease to 0, and a current value (instantaneous value) that is always greater than the measurement error is ensured. Therefore, the measurement accuracy of the charging current is improved, and as a result, the control accuracy of the charging current is improved. Also on the electric vehicle side, the accuracy of charging current measurement is improved by improving the charging current measurement accuracy, so the charging end time prediction accuracy and travelable distance calculation accuracy are improved. improves.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control circuit unit calculates the current index value based on the measured value of the charging current, and the charging circuit is controlled by a control value adjusted based on the control data. Configured to control an on / off duty ratio of a switching element constituting a booster circuit provided in a section, and when the current index value exceeds the target current index value beyond a predetermined error range, the current Feedback control is performed to adjust the control value so that the index value decreases. As a result, control for making the current index value of the charging current become the target current index value is realized by feedback control for adjusting the control value.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control data includes a maximum current upper limit value of the charging current, and the control circuit unit sets the charging current to be equal to or less than the maximum current upper limit value based on the control data. Control to be. As a result, regardless of the unspecified number of electric vehicles, any number of unspecified chargers can be connected in any combination, and in any charger, depending on the power supply capacity on the charger side, The on-vehicle storage battery can be charged with the charging current controlled to be equal to or lower than the maximum current upper limit value instructed by the electric vehicle according to the type and the charging state of the storage battery. As a result, it is possible to provide a safe and inexpensive pulsating charging method charger, which prevents the life of the storage battery from being shortened and the risk of ignition due to pulsating charging.

More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control circuit unit calculates the peak value of the charging current and the current index value based on the measured value of the charging current, and is adjusted based on the control data. The control value is configured to control an on / off duty ratio of a switching element constituting a booster circuit provided in the charging circuit unit, and the current index value exceeds the target current index value beyond a predetermined error range. Further, the peak value of the charging current is equal to the maximum current upper limit value within a predetermined error range, or the peak value is decreased when exceeding, so that the current index value decreases when exceeding. to so, perform to that feedback control adjusts the control value. As a result, the control for setting the current index value of the charging current to be the target current index value and the control for setting the charging current to the maximum current upper limit value or less are simultaneously realized by feedback control for adjusting the control value.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control data includes an indication value of the current index value of the charging current, and the control circuit unit calculates the current index value from the measured value of the charging current. When the calculated value of the current index value deviates from the indicated value of the current index value beyond a predetermined error range, control for stopping the supply of the charging current is performed. In the case of pulsating charge, it is difficult to accurately determine whether the charging power supplied from the charger side and the charging power received on the electric vehicle side are the same, but as described above, the calculated value of the current index value By comparing the indicated values with each other, it is possible to accurately check whether or not the charging powers of both are the same. Further, when there is a difference between the charging powers of the two, there is a possibility that a short-circuit current has occurred on the charger side or the electric vehicle side, and an accident such as ignition due to the short-circuit current may occur. However, the occurrence of the accident can be prevented in advance. In addition, regarding the billing of the electricity bill, if there is a difference between the actual received power and the supplied power, there is a possibility that unreasonable payment may be forced, but this can be prevented by the present invention.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control data includes a maximum current upper limit value of the charging current, and the control circuit unit calculates a peak value of the charging current from the measured value of the charging current, When the peak value is larger than the maximum current upper limit value exceeding a predetermined error range, control is performed to stop the supply of the charging current. As a result, even if a situation occurs in which the charging current exceeds the maximum current upper limit value under the control of setting the current index value of the charging current to the target current index value, it is caused by the excessive charging current. It is possible to provide a pulsating charging system charger that is safe and inexpensive and that can prevent dangers such as a decrease in the life of the storage battery and ignition.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, the control data includes a charge stop lower limit value with respect to a current determination value given as a peak value, a bottom value, or an integrated value or an average value for each predetermined time unit. The control circuit unit calculates the current determination value from the measured value of the charging current, and when the current determination value is less than or equal to the charging stop lower limit value, the supply of the charging current is stopped and charging is performed. Control to end the operation. In the case of pulsating charge, unlike the CVCC method, even if the storage battery approaches full charge, it does not become constant voltage charge, but the peak value of the voltage applied to the storage battery does not exceed the predetermined upper limit value on the electric vehicle side. As described above, when the target current index value is transmitted to the charger side while sequentially decreasing, the charger side controls the current index value of the charging current so as to be the target current index value instructed from the electric vehicle side. Since the charging current decreases as it approaches full charge, the full charge determination can be performed in the same manner as in the CVCC method by monitoring the current determination value of the charge current.

  More preferably, in the charger having the above characteristics, when the first communication unit receives a charge stop instruction from the electric vehicle, the control circuit unit performs control to stop the supply of the charging current. The comparison determination between the calculated value of the current index value and the instruction value, the comparison determination between the peak value of the charging current and the maximum current upper limit value, or the full charge determination can be performed not on the charger side but on the electric vehicle side. Therefore, for example, when the determination is performed on the electric vehicle side, the charger side receives a charge stop instruction based on the determination from the electric vehicle, and the same as when the determination is performed on the charger side. The supply of charging current can be stopped. The charge stop instruction may be generated as a result of abnormality determination other than the above three determinations.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an in-vehicle charging device for charging an in-vehicle storage battery on the electric vehicle side by a charging current supplied from the charger having the above characteristics, and communication of the control data with the charger. A setting value included in the control data is set based on at least one of an electrical specification and an internal state of the storage battery before starting charging, and according to a change in the internal state after starting charging And a control data setting unit that sequentially updates the set value.

  According to the charging device of the above feature, since control data including at least a target current index value of the charging current according to at least one of the electrical specifications and the internal state of the storage battery can be transmitted to the charger of the above feature, On the charger side, the current index value of the charging current can be controlled to be a target current index value corresponding to the electrical specification or internal state of the storage battery. As a result, it is possible to grasp the charging power on the electric vehicle side, and it is possible to accurately predict the charging end time, accurately calculate the travelable distance, and the like.

  More preferably, in the charging device having the above characteristics, the control data setting unit sequentially acquires the latest internal state of the storage battery before and after the start of charging, and is included in the control data based on the internal state. The set value to be calculated is calculated, and the second communication unit sequentially transmits the calculated control data to the charger before and after the start of charging. As a result, even when the target current index value decreases with the progress of charging of the storage battery, an appropriate target current index value can be transmitted to the charger side. It is possible to receive the charging current maintained in the battery and prevent an excessive load from being applied to the storage battery. Therefore, the pulsating charging method without danger such as a reduction in the life of the storage battery and ignition can be more reliably performed.

  More preferably, the charging device of the above feature includes a voltmeter that measures a charging voltage applied to the storage battery by the charging current, and the control data setting unit sets a peak value of the charging voltage to a predetermined threshold value. When exceeding, at least the set value of the target current index value among the set values included in the control data is lowered. More preferably, the charging device of the above feature includes a voltmeter that measures a charging voltage applied to the storage battery by the charging current, and the control data setting unit sets a peak value of the charging voltage to a predetermined threshold value. When exceeding, the set value of the maximum current upper limit value among the set values included in the control data is lowered. As a result, the control for preventing the peak value of the charging voltage from exceeding the upper limit value of the charging voltage becomes more reliable.

  More preferably, in the charging device having the above characteristics, the control data setting unit is configured to calculate the product of the maximum current upper limit value and the internal impedance and the battery voltage based on the battery voltage and the internal impedance which are internal states of the storage battery. The maximum current upper limit value is set so that the sum does not exceed the upper limit value of the battery voltage and the maximum current upper limit value does not exceed the allowable maximum current value of the storage battery.

  When the battery voltage of the storage battery rises above a certain level, the CVCC method controls the voltage drop at the internal impedance as the difference between the charging voltage value of the constant voltage and the battery voltage by switching from constant current charging to constant voltage charging. By doing so, the current value of the charging current can be suppressed. That is, the charging current decreases as the battery voltage increases. On the other hand, in the case of the pulsating charging method, constant voltage control is not performed on the charger side. Control is performed so that the peak value of the current decreases, and the peak value of the voltage applied to the storage battery can be controlled to be equal to or lower than the upper limit value of the battery voltage, and the same effect as the constant voltage charging period in the CVCC method can be obtained. .

  More preferably, in the charging device having the above characteristics, the control data setting unit confirms that the charger is a pulsating charging type charger that supplies a pulsating charging current before starting charging, A set value of control data is calculated and transmitted to the charger via the second communication unit. Thereby, it can confirm that the charger to connect is a charger of a pulsating charge system, and can transmit the control data suitable for a pulsating charge system to the charger side. Therefore, when the charger to be connected is a CVCC charger, the CVCC control data can be transmitted to the charger side separately from the pulsating charge control data.

  More preferably, the charging device having the above characteristics includes an ammeter that measures the charging current supplied from the charger side, and the control data setting unit is configured to measure the current index based on the measured value of the charging current. A value is calculated, and the second communication unit transmits the current index value calculated by the control data setting unit to the charger as an instruction value of the current index value.

  More preferably, the charging device having the above characteristics includes an ammeter that measures the charging current supplied from the charger side, and the second communication unit is based on the measured value of the charging current on the charger side. The current index value calculated by the control data setting unit calculates the current index value based on the charging current measured on the electric vehicle side, and the current calculated on the charger side Compared with an index value, when the current index values of both deviate beyond a predetermined error range, a charge stop instruction to stop the supply of the charging current is sent via the second communication unit, Send to charger.

  In the case of pulsating charging, the charging power cannot be accurately grasped, so that it is difficult to predict the charging end time or to calculate the travelable distance when charging is stopped during charging. When the control data setting unit calculates the current index value, it is possible to predict the charging end time, calculate the travelable distance, and the like. Furthermore, the calculated value of the current index value is transmitted to the charger side as an instruction value, or the current index value calculated on the charger side is received, so that both on the charger side or on the electric vehicle side, respectively. It is possible to compare the calculated current index values. If there is a flaw in the comparison result, a short-circuit current may have occurred on the charger side or the electric vehicle side, and an accident such as ignition due to the short-circuit current may occur. Therefore, the occurrence of the accident can be prevented in advance by stopping the charging operation based on the comparison result.

  More preferably, the charging device having the above-described characteristics includes an ammeter that measures the charging current supplied from the charger side, and the control data setting unit sequentially sets the storage battery before and after the start of charging. Obtaining the latest internal state, calculating the maximum current upper limit value of the charging current based on the internal state, calculating the peak value of the charging current based on the charging current measured on the electric vehicle side, Compared with a peak value and the maximum current upper limit value, when the peak value exceeds a predetermined error range and exceeds the maximum current upper limit value, a charge stop instruction to stop the supply of the charging current, It transmits to the said charger via a 2nd communication part. As a result, even if a situation in which the charging current exceeds the maximum current upper limit value can be prevented, the situation can be prevented from continuing, so there is a risk of a decrease in the life of the storage battery and ignition due to the excessive charging current. It is possible to provide a pulsating charging charger that is prevented, safe and inexpensive.

  According to the charger and the charging device having the above characteristics, a pulsating charging method that can supply a charging current suitable for the type and charging state of the in-vehicle storage battery from the charger to the charging device and that can accurately grasp the charging power. It is possible to provide an inexpensive charger and further to provide an in-vehicle charging device suitable for the pulsating charge. As a result, the charging power can be grasped on the charger and the electric vehicle side, and the charging end time can be accurately predicted, the driving distance can be accurately calculated, and the like.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of one Embodiment of the charger and charging device which concern on this invention The circuit block diagram which shows an example of the circuit structure of the charging circuit part and control circuit part of the charger which concerns on this invention The flowchart which shows the sequence of the charge control in the charger and charging device which concern on this invention Current waveform diagram explaining the difference in charging current with and without the low-pass filter circuit in the charging circuit section

  An embodiment of a charger for charging an electric vehicle according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “charger” as appropriate) and an in-vehicle charging device according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “charger” as appropriate) are based on the drawings. I will explain.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the charger 10 and the charging device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the charger 10 includes a charging circuit unit 11, a control circuit unit 12, a first communication unit 13, ammeters 14 and 15, and a voltmeter 16. It is mounted on an electric vehicle and includes a storage battery 21, a second communication unit 22, a control data setting unit 23, an ammeter 24, and a voltmeter 25. Further, the charger 10 is provided with a charging cable 17 and a charging connector 18 connected to the tip thereof, and the electric vehicle is provided with a charging socket 26. In the charging cable 17, a power supply cable 17 a that supplies the charging current output from the charging circuit unit 11 to the storage battery 21, and communication for performing data communication between the first communication unit 13 and the second communication unit 22. A cable 17b is provided. When the charging connector 18 is inserted into the charging socket 26 and connected, the charging circuit unit 11 and the storage battery 21 are electrically connected, and the first communication unit 13 and the second communication unit 22 are connected to be communicable with each other.

  First, the configuration on the charger 10 side will be described. As an example, the charging circuit unit 11 includes a power factor improving AC / DC converter as shown in FIG. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, the charging circuit unit 11 includes a choke coil 31 and 32, a switching element 34, and a bridge circuit of four diodes used as a chopper circuit for high frequency noise removal and power factor improvement, as shown in FIG. A full-wave rectifier circuit 35, a smoothing capacitor 36, and a low-pass filter circuit including a coil 37 and a capacitor 38. A commercial AC power supply 30 is connected to each input terminal of the pair of choke coils 31 and 32. 1 and 2 illustrate a case where a single-phase three-wire system 200V is connected. In the charging circuit unit 11 shown in FIG. 2, the current that has passed through the full-wave rectifier circuit 34 is removed from the high-frequency AC component (ripple) by the low-pass filter circuit, but has a period that is half that of the AC input. It is output with the pulsating flow of Tm. The circuit constants of the coil 37 and the capacitor 38 are determined in consideration of the ripple rate, the size and cost of the filter circuit. In this embodiment, since the charging current is output as a pulsating current, it is necessary to provide a DC / DC converter and a large-capacity smoothing capacitor for controlling the charging current to a constant current or a constant voltage after the charging circuit unit 11. There is no.

  In the control circuit unit 12, the integrated value Ia1 (corresponding to the current index value) for each cycle Tm of the charging current output from the charging circuit unit 11 is the target current integrated value Ima1 (target current index) instructed from the charging device 20 side. The duty ratio of the ON / OFF time of the switching element 34 is controlled so as to be equivalent to the value. As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit unit 12 includes absolute value calculation units 41 and 42, a control value setting unit 43, a multiplier 44, a subtracter 45, a PI calculation unit 46, a control pulse signal output unit 47, and a current integrator. 48 and a comparator 49. As shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit unit 12 includes a user interface that includes an operation unit 19 a that is installed in the charger 10 and receives a user operation input, and a display unit 19 b that displays information necessary for the user. The unit 19 is connected.

  The ammeter 14 is provided between the connection node N1 of the choke coil 31 and the switching element 34, for example, and measures the instantaneous value Iin of the input current. The instantaneous value Iin is AD (analog / digital) converted at a predetermined sampling period and input to the absolute value calculation unit 41. The AD conversion function is built in a digital arithmetic processing device (for example, a digital signal processor) described later, and is performed by inputting an analog signal to an AD conversion port of the digital arithmetic processing device. The AD-converted data is preferably used after being subjected to noise processing (digital filter processing calculation) as necessary.

  The ammeter 15 is provided, for example, between the positive output terminal T1 and the coil 37, and measures the instantaneous value Iout of the output current. The instantaneous value Iout is AD-converted at a predetermined sampling period and input to the control value setting unit 43 and the current integrator 48. The AD conversion is performed by, for example, an ammeter 15. The AD-converted data is preferably used after being subjected to noise processing (digital filter processing calculation) as necessary.

  The voltmeter 16 measures the instantaneous value Vin of the input voltage between the two voltage lines of the commercial AC power supply 30. The instantaneous value Vin is AD-converted at a predetermined sampling period and input to the absolute value calculation unit 42. The AD conversion function is built in, for example, the voltmeter 16 or a digital arithmetic processing device (for example, a digital signal processor) described later, and is performed by inputting an analog signal to the AD conversion port of the digital arithmetic processing device. The AD-converted data is preferably used after being subjected to noise processing (digital filter processing calculation) as necessary.

  The absolute value calculators 41 and 42 calculate the absolute values | Iin | and | Vin | of the instantaneous values Iin and Vin respectively input.

  The control value setting unit 43 sets and adjusts the control value A in the manner described later. The multiplier 44 multiplies the absolute value | Vin | of the instantaneous value Vin of the input voltage calculated by the absolute value calculator 42 and the control value A, and outputs the product B (= | Vin | × A).

  The subtracter 45 subtracts the absolute value | Iin | of the instantaneous value Iin of the input current calculated by the absolute value calculation unit 41 from the product B output from the multiplier 44 to obtain an error C (= B− | Iin |) Is output to the PI calculation unit 46.

  The PI calculation unit 46 calculates the duty ratio D by performing PI compensation calculation on the input error C based on the calculation formula shown in the following formula 1. In the following arithmetic expression, P is a constant and Ti is an integration period.

(Equation 1)

  The duty ratio D calculated by the PI calculation unit 46 is D / A converted and input to the control pulse signal output unit 47 as a voltage value Vd. The control pulse signal output unit 47 includes a sawtooth wave generator 47a and a comparator 47b. The voltage value Vd is input to the non-inverting input of the comparator 47b, and the sawtooth wave of the sawtooth wave generator 47a is inverted by the comparator 47b. Enter in the input. The sawtooth wave (or triangular wave) is such that the voltage value changes linearly between a voltage value Vd0 when the duty ratio D is 0 and a voltage value Vd1 when the duty ratio D is 1 at a predetermined switching frequency. Is set. Set the switching frequency to an audible frequency or higher. However, from the viewpoint of noise regulation by EMC (electromagnetic environment compatibility), it is preferable to set the switching frequency within a range of 20 to 50 kHz. In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 2, 50 kHz is assumed as an example.

  With this configuration, the comparator 47b outputs a control pulse signal S that repeatedly turns on and off at the switching frequency and the duty ratio D, and the switching operation of the switching element 34 that uses the control pulse signal S as a gate input is controlled. .

  Next, a method for setting and adjusting the control value A by the control value setting unit 43 will be described. When the charging operation starts in a sequence to be described later, the control value A starts from the initial value 0, and executes, for example, a soft start operation that sequentially increases, for example, 1, 2, 3,... At a predetermined time interval. . After the start of the soft start operation, the pulsating charging current output from the charging circuit unit 11 gradually increases. The current integrator 48 calculates the instantaneous value Iout of the charging current (output current of the charging circuit unit 11) measured by the ammeter 15 for each pulsating current cycle Tm (for example, a half cycle from zero cross to zero cross of the input AC voltage). The integrated value Ia1 is calculated. The first communication unit 13 receives the latest target integrated value Ima1 that is sequentially transmitted from the charging device 20 in the manner described later. The control value setting unit 43 compares the integrated value Ia1 with the target integrated value Ima1, and while the integrated value Ia1 is below the target integrated value Ima1 (Ia1 <Ima1), the control value A is gradually increased as described above. increase. When the integrated value Ia1 reaches, for example, 97% of the target integrated value Ima1, the soft start operation is terminated and the increase of the control value A is stopped. After the soft start operation is finished, the control value A is adjusted so that the integrated value Ia1 falls within the range of 97% to 103% of the target integrated value Ima1, for example. Specifically, for example, when the integrated value Ia1 exceeds, for example, a 100% value of the target integrated value Ima1, the reduction rate represented by, for example, (Ima1 / Ia1) is set to the control value A set at that time. Is used to decrease the set value of the control value A, and the control value A is updated. Such feedback control makes it possible to perform control so that the integrated value Ia1 of the charging current becomes the latest target integrated value Ima1. The soft start operation period is assumed to be about 1 second to several seconds.

  Further, in the control circuit unit 12, the duty ratio control shown in Equation 1 is performed to control the charging current, so that the alternating current input voltage Vin and the alternating current input current Iin have the same phase and the same waveform. The harmonic component contained in the input current Iin is reduced, and the power factor is improved.

  The comparator 49 includes the current integrated value Ia1 calculated by the current integrator 48 and the current integrated value Ia2 for each cycle Tm of the charging current calculated on the charging device 20 side included in the control data transmitted from the charging device 20 side. And a charge stop signal S1 is output when there is a discrepancy greater than or equal to a predetermined error (eg, 3%).

  In the present embodiment, the absolute value calculation units 41 and 42, the control value setting unit 43, the multiplier 44, the subtractor 45, the PI calculation unit 46, the current integrator 48, and the comparator 49 of the control circuit unit 12 It comprises a digital arithmetic processing device such as a processor or a digital signal processor, and the functions of each part are realized by digital arithmetic processing.

  The first communication unit 13 is connected to the second communication unit 22 on the charging device 20 side via the communication cable 17b, so as to exchange control data necessary for pulsating charge, for example, by CAN communication. The communication protocol is not limited to the CAN protocol.

  Examples of the charging cable 17, the charging connector 18, and the charging socket 26 include a standard product (JEVS G105) standardized by the Japan Automobile Research Institute, a standard product standardized by SAE J1772, IEC62196-2 Type1, and the like. Can be used.

  Next, the configuration on the charging device 20 side will be described. Although the storage battery 21 is not specifically limited, For example, use of a lithium ion secondary battery etc. is assumed. The second communication unit 22 is connected to the charger 10 via the communication cable 17b, thereby transferring control data necessary for pulsating charge by, for example, CAN communication.

  The control data setting unit 23 is configured in, for example, an electronic control unit mounted on an electric vehicle, and the electrical specifications (nominal current capacity, optimum charging current value, charging voltage upper limit value, etc.) of the storage battery 21 or charging Acquire the internal state such as the charging state (charging rate or charging capacity), battery voltage and internal impedance before starting, and transmit to the charger 10 side by digital arithmetic processing based on the electrical specification, internal state or both A setting value included in the control data is calculated. For each data value of the electrical specification, a data value stored in advance in the storage device of the control data setting unit 23 is read and used.

  The control data setting unit 23 sets the target current integrated value Ima1 based on the nominal current capacity of the storage battery 21 or the optimum charging current value recommended by the storage battery manufacturer before the start of charging. Specifically, in the case of a storage battery with a nominal current capacity of 50 Ah, a value (unit: ampere) obtained by multiplying a value (unit: ampere hour) of the nominal current capacity by a predetermined ratio (for example, about 40% to 60%) And the charging current cycle Tm (unit: second) is calculated as a target current integrated value Ima1 (unit: ampere second). Alternatively, when the optimum charging current value is 25 A with respect to the nominal current capacity 50 Ah, the product of the optimum charging current value (unit: ampere) and the charging current cycle Tm (unit: second) is the target for each cycle Tm. Calculated as a current integrated value Ima1 (unit: ampere second). In addition, since the set value of the target current integrated value Ima1 is sequentially reviewed at the start of charging, the set value before the start of charging is only an initial set value.

  The control data setting unit 23 sequentially updates the target current integrated value Ima1 in the following manner at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 milliseconds) after the start of charging. The peak voltage is calculated from the instantaneous value measured by the voltmeter 25, and the calculated value Vcpk is compared with the charge voltage upper limit value Vcmax of the storage battery 21, for example, the calculated value Vcpk exceeds 97% of the upper limit value Vcmax. In this case, the target current integrated value Ima1 calculated or updated before is multiplied by, for example, a reduction ratio represented by ((Vcmax × 0.97) / Vcpk) to obtain a new target current integrated value Ima1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control data setting unit 23 estimates the internal impedance Zi of the storage battery 21 based on the battery temperature, the open circuit battery voltage Vb, and the degree of battery deterioration before starting charging. For example, the charging device 20 may be provided with an internal impedance measuring device, and may be measured every predetermined time, and the result may be stored and calculated. Further, the internal impedance may be measured from the impedance data at the time of previous charging and the discharge data at the time of driving the vehicle, and stored for use. In brief, the internal impedance is a value obtained by dividing a voltage increased at a predetermined charging current from an open circuit battery voltage by a predetermined charging current at that time. The degree of deterioration of the battery is calculated based on the accumulated amount of charge before the start of charging. The open circuit battery voltage is measured by the voltmeter 25 in the state where there is no input of the charging current before the start of charging and the storage battery 21 is not connected to the load. The voltmeter 25 measures the voltage between the terminals of the storage battery 21. Then, the control data setting unit 23 sets the maximum current upper limit value Imax0 of the charging current at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 milliseconds) before the start of charging and after the start of charging, as shown in the following equation 2. Calculation is based on the battery voltage Vb and the internal impedance Zi during open circuit. Vbmax on the right side of Equation 2 is the upper limit value of the battery voltage Vb.

(Equation 2)

Imax0 × Zi + Vb ≦ Vbmax

  When the maximum current upper limit value Imax0 calculated in the above manner exceeds the allowable maximum current value Ibmax unique to the storage battery 21, the allowable maximum current value Ibmax is set as the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value, and the allowable maximum current When the value Ibmax is not exceeded, the calculated maximum current upper limit value Imax0 is set as the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value. The battery voltage Vb increases with the progress of charging, but the voltage value in the closed state is the instantaneous value (or peak value) of the charging current flowing into the storage battery 21 measured by the ammeter 24 and the voltmeter. 25, the instantaneous value (or peak value) of the charging voltage between the terminals of the storage battery 21 and the internal impedance Zi calculated before the start of charging. The instantaneous value of the charging current measured by the ammeter 24 and the instantaneous value of the voltage between the terminals of the storage battery 21 measured by the voltmeter 25 are AD-converted at a predetermined sampling period, respectively, and control data setting is performed. Input to the unit 23. The AD-converted data is preferably used after being subjected to noise processing (digital filter processing calculation) as necessary.

  Even after the start of charging, as in the case before the start of charging, the maximum current upper limit value Imax0 calculated based on Equation 2 is compared with the allowable maximum current value Ibmax to calculate the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value. The method (first update method) for updating the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value set before that has been described. However, the charge voltage applied to the storage battery 21 is eventually reduced by the first update method. Since the control is performed so that the peak value does not exceed the upper limit value of the charging voltage, the control data setting unit 23 calculates the peak voltage from the instantaneous value measured by the voltmeter 25, and calculates the calculated value Vcpk. The charging voltage upper limit value Vcmax is compared. For example, when the calculated value Vcpk exceeds 97% of the upper limit value Vcmax, the setting value Imax calculated or updated before that is, for example, ( Vcmax × 0.97) / Vcpk) multiplied by the reduction ratio represented by, may be employed to update method according to a new setting value Imax (second updating method). The second updating method is the same as the updating method of the target current integrated value Ima1, can simplify the calculation, and can omit the process of calculating the internal state of the storage battery 21 each time after the start of charging. Furthermore, it is preferable that the smaller one of the set values Imax updated by the two update methods is set as a new set value Imax.

  The control data setting unit 23 further includes a current integration function for calculating an integrated value Ia2 for each cycle Tm of the charging current with respect to an instantaneous value of the charging current flowing into the storage battery 21 measured by the ammeter 24. The same processing as that of the current accumulator 48 on the device 10 side is performed.

  In addition to the above, the control data setting unit 23 stops charging the maximum allowable voltage (charging voltage upper limit value Vcmax) between the terminals of the storage battery 21 and the charging current based on the internal state or type of the storage battery 21 before starting charging. The lower limit value Istp, the state of charge (SOC) before the start of charging, the charging end time Tstp, and the like are calculated or set. The charge stop lower limit value Istp set in the control data setting unit 23 is preferably set in a range that can be measured without error from the measurement accuracy of the current sensor 24 owned by the electric vehicle. For example, if a 100A sensor is used, about 5A is preferable. The actual set value changes according to the definition of a later-described current determination value Ij to be compared with the charge stop lower limit value Istp. Further, when the current determination value Ij is an integrated value for each cycle Tm, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the current value by the cycle Tm or an integrated value (unit: ampere second) between the current values in the cycle Tm.

  The control data setting unit 23 calculates the state of charge before the start of charging by a known calculation method. For example, in addition to the ammeter 24 that measures the instantaneous value of the charging current, an ammeter (not shown) that measures the instantaneous value of the discharging current is provided, and the charging current and the integrated value of the discharging current are calculated, respectively. The current charge state can be estimated by measuring and monitoring the charge flow related to the discharge and the charge flow related to the discharge (Coulomb counting method). The charging state calculation method is not limited to the above-described coulomb counting method, and may be calculated using a method that estimates based on the open circuit battery voltage Vb, internal impedance, and the like.

  The control data setting unit 23 uses the target current integrated value Ima1, the charging current integrated value Ia2, the charging voltage upper limit value Vcmax, the charging stop lower limit value Istp, the charging end time Tstp, the state of charge (SOC), etc. as control data. 2 Transmit to the charger 10 side via the communication unit 22. The target current integrated value Ima1 and the charging current integrated value Ia2 are calculated at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 msec) after the start of charging, and are connected to the charger via the second communication unit 22 at the same time interval. Send to the 10 side. At this time, the trigger signal of the sampling timing of each current measurement value is synchronized on the charger 10 side and the charging device 20 side, and sampling is performed simultaneously. Furthermore, the control data setting unit 23 performs charge abnormality determination described later. In the present embodiment, the setting value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value calculated by the control data setting unit 23 is not transmitted to the charger 10 side as control data, and is used in the charging abnormality determination described later on the charging device 20 side. The

  Next, a charging sequence of the storage battery 21 by the charger 10 and the charging device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, the flow of each process in the charger 10 and the charging device 20 is indicated by a solid line, and the flow of data or signals is indicated by a broken line.

  First, the charging connector 18 of the charger 10 is inserted into the charging socket 26 of the electric vehicle, and both are connected (step A1). The user presses the charge start button on the operation unit 19a installed in the charger 10 to instruct the start of charging (step A2). The control circuit unit 12 receives the start instruction and transmits a charge start notification to the control data setting unit 23 of the charging device 20 via the first communication unit 13, the communication cable 17b, and the second communication unit 22 ( Step A3). The control data setting unit 23 receives the charging start notification and returns a notification to that effect, thereby establishing a communication path between the charger 10 and the charging device 20 (step B1), and then transmitting and receiving control data in the following manner. I do.

  The control data setting unit 23 determines whether the charging start notification transmitted from the charger 10 in Step A3 or the newly transmitted message includes information indicating pulsating charge (Step B2). When the information is included, it is determined that the storage battery 21 is charged by pulsating charge (YES in step B2). In step B2, if the information indicating that the charging is pulsating charge is not included, or if the information indicating that the charging is based on the CVCC method is included, it is determined that the storage battery 21 is charged by the CVCC method. (NO in step B2). In the latter case, a charging sequence based on the normal CVCC method is executed, but the description is omitted because it is not related to the gist of the present invention. Hereinafter, a charging sequence when it is determined as pulsating charging will be described.

  Before the start of charging, the control data setting unit 23 acquires the electrical specifications of the storage battery 21, the internal state such as the charging state before the start of charging, and based on the acquired information, the target current integrated value Ima1 included in the control data. The charging voltage upper limit value Vcmax, the charging current charging stop lower limit value Istp, the charging state before starting charging, the charging end time Tstp, and the like are calculated or set, respectively, and the internal state such as the battery voltage and internal impedance is set. Based on this, a set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value is calculated (step B3).

  The control data setting unit 23 transmits each set value of the calculated control data to the control circuit unit 12 of the charger 10 (step B4).

  The control circuit unit 12 displays the charging state (SOC) before the start of charging, the charging end time Tstp, and the like among the set values of the received control data on the display unit 19b and notifies the user, and pulsating charging And the charging current is controlled based on the received target current integrated value Ima1 and the charging stop lower limit value Istp of the charging current.

  First, immediately after the start of charging, the above-described soft start operation is executed. In the soft start operation, control is performed in which the control value A is increased stepwise for a certain period (for example, 100 milliseconds) so that the integrated value Ia1 of the charging current gradually increases toward the target current integrated value Ima1. (Step A4). After the soft start operation is started, a soft start end condition (for example, the current integrated value Ia1 exceeds 97% of the target current integrated value Ima1) is determined (step A5), and if the condition is satisfied (step A5) YES), the increase in the control value A is stopped, and the routine proceeds to a steady control operation of the charging current. The control circuit unit 12 sequentially executes the calculation of the current integrated value Ia1 of the charging current by the current integrator 48 throughout the operation periods of the soft start operation and the steady control operation (step A6). In the steady control operation, every time the current integrator 48 calculates the integrated value Ia1, the control value A is adjusted so that the integrated value Ia1 does not exceed, for example, 100% of the target current integrated value Ima1 (step A7).

  On the other hand, since the battery voltage Vb increases as the charging of the storage battery 21 progresses on the charging device 20 side, the calculated value Vcpk of the peak voltage of the charging voltage may exceed the charging voltage upper limit value Vcmax of the storage battery 21. The control data setting unit 23 updates the target current integrated value Ima1 of the charging current set before the start of charging at a constant cycle (for example, 100 ms cycle) as described above (step B5).

  Furthermore, in parallel with the update of the target current integrated value Ima1 in step B5, the control data setting unit 23 sets the battery voltage Vb based on the instantaneous values (or peak values) of the charging current and charging voltage and the internal impedance. The battery voltage Vb is updated by recalculation, and the maximum current upper limit value Imax is newly calculated and updated based on the updated battery voltage Vb (step B6). Further, in step B6, the maximum current upper limit value Imax is updated by the first update method. However, the maximum current upper limit value Imax may be updated by the second update method, and the first and second update values may be updated. The smaller one of the instruction values Imax updated by the method may be updated as a new instruction value Imax.

  Further, after starting charging, the control data setting unit 23 sets the current integrated value Ia2 for each charging current cycle Tm with respect to the instantaneous value of the charging current measured by the ammeter 24 in parallel with Steps B5 and B6. Calculate (step B7).

  The target current integrated value Ima1 updated in step B5 and the integrated value Ia2 calculated in step B7 are sequentially updated as the update data of the set value of the control data for each predetermined period (for example, 100 msec period). (Step B8). When the fixed period is 100 milliseconds and the period Tm is 10 milliseconds, the integrated value Ia2 is calculated for 10 periods, so the current integrated value Ia2 for 10 periods may be transmitted as control data, respectively, or You may transmit those average values or total values as control data.

  Further, in parallel with Steps B5 to B7, the control data setting unit 23 sequentially performs the following charging abnormality determination at regular intervals (for example, 100 msec cycle) (Step B9). In one charge abnormality determination, first, when the instantaneous value (or peak value) of the charging current flowing into the storage battery 21 measured by the ammeter 24 exceeds the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value. The charging is determined to be abnormal (first determination). Second, when the instantaneous value (or peak value) of the charging voltage applied to the storage battery 21 measured by the voltmeter 25 exceeds the charging voltage upper limit value Vcmax, it is determined that the charging is abnormal (second determination). ). In the actual determination process of the first and second determinations described above, for example, the instantaneous value (or peak value) of the charging current is 103 of the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value in order to allow a measurement error of about 3%. The% value and the instantaneous value (or peak value) of the charging voltage are respectively compared with the 103% value of the upper limit value Vcmax of the charging voltage. Furthermore, in the first determination, as the charging progresses, the set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value gradually decreases, so the effect of reducing the instruction value is not reflected instantaneously on the charging device 20 side, Since it is reflected with a fixed time delay, the set value Imax set before a fixed time (for example, about 1 to 3 seconds) may be used as a comparison target. In one charge abnormality determination, when it is determined as abnormal in at least one of the first determination and the second determination (YES in step B9), the charge stop signal S2 is sent via the second communication unit 22. Then, the data is transmitted to the charger 10 side (step B10), and the processing of steps B5 to B9 is stopped (step B11). When it is not determined to be abnormal in Step B9 (No in Step B9), the charging operation is continued, and Steps B5 to B9 are repeatedly and continuously performed. In addition, when it determines with abnormality by one charge abnormality determination, it does not transmit the charge stop signal S2 immediately and stops the process of step B5-B9, but is the same in several continuous charge abnormality determinations. When the charging abnormality (first determination or second determination) continues, it is determined that the charging abnormality has occurred, and the processing of steps B5 to B9 may be stopped by transmitting a charging stop signal S2.

  On the charger 10 side, the control data update data (target current integrated value Ima1 and current integrated value Ia2) transmitted at regular intervals in step B8 are sequentially received through each operation period of the soft start operation and the steady control operation. (Step A8). In step A5, the soft start end condition is determined as described above based on the updated target current integrated value Ima1 of the control data. In step A7, based on the updated target current integrated value Ima1 of the control data, the control value is set so that the integrated value Ia1 of the charging current is within the range of 97% to 103% of the target current integrated value Ima1, for example. In the unit 43, the control value A is adjusted as described above. On the other hand, the comparator 49 performs, for example, the current integrated value Ia2 sequentially received in step A8 and the current integrated value Ia1 calculated in step A6 for each fixed period throughout the operation periods of the soft start operation and the steady control operation. The total value (or average value) is compared (step A9). In step A9, when there is a discrepancy greater than or equal to a predetermined error (for example, 3%) between the current integrated values Ia1 and Ia2, the comparator 49 outputs a charge stop signal S1 (step A10). However, the comparison of the current integrated values Ia1 and Ia2 may be started, for example, after the peak value Ipk of the charging current exceeds the lower limit value of the measurable range of the ammeter 15 and the ammeter 24 by a certain level or more.

  Furthermore, through each operation period of the soft start operation and the steady control operation, the control circuit unit 12 performs the following abnormal termination determination (step A11), and in the determination, the output of the charge stop signal S1 in step A10, or step When at least one of the reception of the charge stop signal S2 transmitted in B10 is confirmed (YES in Step A11), the charging circuit unit 11 stops the charging current supply operation, and the charge stop notification S3 is displayed. To the control data setting unit 23 (step A12).

  In addition, when the user presses the charge end button on the operation unit 19a installed in the charger 10 during each operation period of the soft start operation and the steady control operation, the control circuit unit 12 accepts the charge end instruction. (YES in step A13), the charging current supply operation of the charging circuit unit 11 is stopped, and a charging stop notification S3 is transmitted to the control data setting unit 23 of the charging device 20 (step A14).

  After the transition from the soft start operation to the steady control operation, in the abnormal end determination in step A11, neither the output of the charge stop signal S1 nor the reception of the charge stop signal S2 is confirmed (NO in step A11). If the charging operation proceeds smoothly without accepting the charging end instruction by pressing (NO in step A13), the target current integrated value Ima1 gradually decreases as described above, and thus the integrated value Ia1 of the charging current is also the same. It is controlled to gradually decrease. Therefore, in the steady control operation, as the charging operation progresses, as the charging current integrated value Ia1 decreases, the peak value Ipk, the bottom value Ibt, the average value Iave, and the integrated value Ia1 for each charging current cycle Tm. Since the current determination value Ij defined by any of the above also decreases, the current determination value Ij is calculated for each period Tm and compared with the charge stop lower limit value Istp (step A15). When it is determined in step A15 that the current determination value Ij is equal to or less than the charge stop lower limit value Istp (YES in step A15), the charging circuit unit 11 stops the charging current supply operation, and the charge stop notification S3 is charged. It transmits to the control data setting part 23 of the apparatus 20 (step A16). If the current determination value Ij is not less than or equal to the charge stop lower limit value Istp in step A15 (NO in step A12), the adjustment of the control value A in the steady control operation (step A6) is continued.

  The control data setting unit 23 determines whether or not the charge stop notification S3 transmitted in step A12, A14 or A16 is received (step B12). When the charge stop notification S3 is received (YES in step B12), The processing of B5 to B9 is stopped (step B11). If the charging abnormality determination has been made on the charging device 20 side (YES in step B9), the processing in steps B5 to B9 is stopped regardless of whether or not the charging stop notification S3 is received (step S9). B11).

  Next, the effect of providing a low-pass filter circuit composed of a coil 37 and a capacitor 38 at the final stage of the charging circuit unit 11 will be briefly described. FIG. 4 shows an example of the simulation result of the output waveform of each charging current Iout with and without the low-pass filter circuit, together with the input AC voltage waveform Vin. From FIG. 4, when the low-pass filter circuit is not provided, the charging current Iout decreases to 0 A although the current amplitude is large. In this case, the bottom value Ibt cannot be used as the current determination value Ij in the comparison determination (step A15) between the current determination value Ij of the charging current and the charge stop lower limit value Istp. On the other hand, when the low-pass filter circuit is provided, the current amplitude is suppressed, the peak value Ipk of the charging current Iout decreases, and the bottom value Ibt increases. Therefore, since the charging current Iout is always within the measurable range of the ammeter 15 and the ammeter 24, the measurement accuracy of each instantaneous value used for the charge control is maintained, and the charge control can be performed with high accuracy. The circuit constants of the coil 37 and the capacitor 38 are sufficient if the bottom value Ibt is equal to or greater than the lower limit value of the measurable range of the ammeter 15 and the ammeter 24, and need not be unnecessarily large. Further, in the comparison determination (step A15) between the current determination value Ij of the charging current and the charge stop lower limit value Istp, the bottom value Ibt can be used as the current determination value Ij.

  Next, another embodiment of the above embodiment will be described.

  <1> In the above-described embodiment, the integrated value Ia1 and the target current integrated value Ima1 for each charging current cycle Tm are used as the current index value and the target current index value, and the control data setting unit 23 performs before charging and after charging starts. The target integrated value Ima1 is set and updated at, and the current integrator 48 calculates the integrated value Ia1 for each cycle Tm of the pulsating flow from the instantaneous value Iout of the charging current measured by the ammeter 15, and the control value setting unit 43 However, the configuration in which the control value A is adjusted by comparing the integrated value Ia1 and the target integrated value Ima1 has been described. However, as the current index value and the target current index value, the average value Ib1 (= Ia1 / Tm) and the target current average value Imb1 (= Ima1 / Tm) may be used. In this case, an average value Ib2 (= Ia2 / Tm) is used instead of the integrated value Ia2 of the charging current calculated on the charging device 20 side.

  <2> In the above embodiment, the maximum current upper limit value Imax calculated or updated in steps B3 and B6 on the charging device 20 side is transmitted to the charger 10 side in steps B4 and B8 as part of the control data. In each operation period of the soft start operation and the steady control operation on the charger 10 side, the control value setting unit 43 adjusts the control value A for the transmitted maximum current upper limit value Imax in addition to the target current integrated value Ima1. You may make it use for.

  Specifically, in the soft start operation, the control value setting unit 43 calculates the peak value Ipk for each cycle Tm from the instantaneous value Iout measured by the ammeter 15 and the maximum current upper limit sequentially transmitted from the charging device 20. The latest setting value Imax of the value is received by the first communication unit 13, and the peak value Ipk is compared with the setting value Imax. While the peak value Ipk is lower than the setting value Imax (Ipk <Imax), The control value A is gradually increased as described above. When the peak value Ipk reaches, for example, 97% of the set value Imax, the soft start operation is terminated and the increase of the control value A is stopped. In other words, the soft start operation is terminated at the earlier timing when the integrated value Ia1 reaches, for example, 97% of the target integrated value Ima1, or the peak value Ipk reaches, for example, 97% of the set value Imax. After the soft start operation is finished and the routine shifts to the steady control operation, if the peak value Ipk exceeds 97% of the indicated value Imax, for example, the control value A set at that time is set to ((Imax The control value A is updated by reducing the set value of the control value A by multiplying the reduction ratio represented by × 0.97) / Ipk). Such feedback control enables control so that the peak value Ipk of the charging current does not exceed the latest set value Imax of the maximum current upper limit value. That is, in this embodiment, the control value A is such that the integrated value Ia1 falls within the range of 97% to 103% of the target integrated value Ima1, and the peak value Ipk of the charging current is the maximum current upper limit value. The control value A is adjusted so as not to exceed the latest set value Imax. Further, the storage battery peak voltage measured on the charging device 20 side is received on the charger 10 side, and the voltage reading value on the charger 10 side and the voltage reading on the charging device 20 side are constantly read (for example, updated every 100 ms). You may make it perform abnormality determination whether the deviation | shift between values has produced mutually.

  <3> In the charging abnormality determination (step B9) of the above embodiment, instead of or in addition to at least one of the first and second determinations, on the charger 10 side for each cycle Tm of the pulsating flow The peak value of the measured charging current is received each time, and compared with the peak value of the charging current measured on the charging device 20 side at the same period Tm, both peak values deviate by more than a predetermined error range (for example, ± 3%). In this case, it is also preferable to determine that charging is abnormal (third determination). In this case, in order to ensure that the two peak values to be compared are peak values based on the instantaneous value of the charging current sampled within the same pulsating cycle, for example, the input AC voltage on the charger 10 side. The zero-crossing point is detected and the detection timing is used as a synchronization signal in common on the charger 10 side and the charging device 20 side, and the pulsating flow period Tm on the charger 10 side and the pulsating flow on the charging device 20 side It is preferable to match the periods Tm. Thereby, the peak values detected within the same period Tm can be compared. When the third determination is performed on the charger 10 side, the peak value of the charging current measured on the charging device 20 side may be received on the charger 10 side.

  Further, the synchronization signal may be generated based on the output of the timer element by providing a timer element on either the charger 10 side or the charging device 20 side without depending on the detection timing. The synchronization signal is used when the current integrator 48 and the control data setting unit 23 calculate the integrated values Ia1 and Ia2 for each charging current cycle Tm on the charger 10 side and the charging device 20 side, respectively. Thus, it is also preferable that the periods Tm used for calculation of the integrated values Ia1 and Ia2 are matched.

  <4> In the above embodiment, the maximum current upper limit value Imax calculated or updated in steps B3 and B6 on the charging device 20 side is transmitted to the charger 10 side in steps B4 and B8 as part of the control data. You may make it perform the 1st determination in the charging abnormality determination (step B9) performed on the charging device 20 side by the charger 10 side. In this case, a means for calculating the peak value Ipk for each cycle Tm from the instantaneous value Iout measured by the ammeter 15 is compared with the peak value Ipk and the maximum current upper limit value Imax in the control circuit unit 12 of the charger 10. In parallel with the comparison process between the current integrated values Ia1 and Ia2 in step A9, the peak value Ipk is compared with the maximum current upper limit value Imax, and the peak value Ipk exceeds the maximum current upper limit value Imax. If it is determined that the charging is abnormal, the charging stop signal S2 as a result of the charging is transmitted to the charging device 20 side. Alternatively, a means for comparing the instantaneous value Iout measured by the ammeter 15 with the maximum current upper limit value Imax is provided, and in parallel with the comparison processing between the current integrated values Ia1 and Ia2 in step A9, the instantaneous value Iout and the maximum current are compared. The upper limit value Imax is compared, and when the instantaneous value Iout exceeds the maximum current upper limit value Imax, it is determined that charging is abnormal, and a charging stop signal S2 as a result is transmitted to the charging device 20 side. Since the details of the comparison process are the same as the charging abnormality determination in step B9, the overlapping description is omitted.

  Furthermore, the second determination of the charging abnormality determination (step B9) performed on the charging device 20 side is also performed on the charger 10 side, and the charging stop signal S2 as a result thereof is transmitted to the charging device 20 side. It is also good.

  <5> In the above embodiment, the case where the control data setting unit 23 sets the target current integrated value Ima1 based on the nominal current capacity of the storage battery 21 or the optimum charging current value recommended by the storage battery manufacturer before the start of charging will be described. However, the target current integrated value Ima1 may be set according to the state of charge before the start of charging. For example, the predetermined ratio multiplied by the value of the nominal current capacity may be set to be smaller as the charging rate before the start of charging is higher, for example, within a predetermined range.

  <6> In the above embodiment, the charging circuit unit 11 has the circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, but the charging circuit unit 11 is not limited to the circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, as disclosed in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2, after full-wave rectification of the AC input of the commercial AC power supply 30, it is connected to the primary side of the transformer via an inverter circuit of a switching element having a full bridge configuration. A full-wave rectifier circuit may be further provided on the secondary side of the transformer. Further, in the case of an insulating AC / DC converter, the primary coil of the transformer may be used also as a choke coil constituting the chopper circuit instead of the inverter circuit. It is preferable to control the charging current so as to perform the power factor correction operation while insulating at one stage of the AC / DC converter. In any circuit configuration, on / off control of the switching elements constituting the inverter circuit or chopper circuit may be performed in the same manner as described in the above embodiment. When using an insulation type AC / DC converter, the output side and the input side (commercial AC power supply 30 side) of the charging circuit unit 11 can be insulated by a transformer. Safety is improved.

  Further, since the commercial AC power supply 30 is not limited to the single-phase three-wire type 200V, for example, when the commercial AC power supply 30 is a three-phase 200V, the circuit configuration of the charging circuit unit 11 is also the commercial AC power supply 30. It will be changed according to. While performing the power factor correction operation, the control with respect to the charging current in the pulsating flow can be performed as in the case of the single phase.

  In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, the switching element 34 has a configuration in which two IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors) are connected in series with a common collector, and can be completely turned on and off in both directions. For example, a power MOSFET or the like may be used instead of the IGBT, or a single switching element that can be completely turned on and off in both directions may be used.

  <7> In the above embodiment, the control circuit unit 12 is configured to control the duty ratio of the on and off times of the switching element 34, but the control pulse signal output unit 47 is based on the output value of the PI calculation unit 46. Thus, a circuit (voltage frequency converter circuit or the like) in which the output frequency of the control pulse signal S is changed may be configured so that the duty ratio of the control pulse signal S substantially changes with the change in frequency.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the duty ratio is calculated by the PI correction calculation shown in Formula 1 using the PI calculation unit 46, but by the PID correction calculation in which the differential term is added in parentheses on the right side of the calculation formula of Formula 1. The duty ratio may be calculated.

  <8> In the above embodiment, the comparison of the current integrated values Ia1 and Ia2 (step A9) is performed on the charger 10 side, and the resulting charge stop signal S1 is transmitted to the charging device 20 side. The current integrated value Ia1 may be transmitted to the charging device 20 side, and the comparison process may be performed on the charging device 20 side. In this case, in the configuration in which the charging abnormality determination (step B9) is performed on the charging device 20 side, the comparison process may be included in the charging abnormality determination.

  <9> Further, in the above-described embodiment, a comparison determination (Step A15) between the current determination value Ij of the charging current and the charge stop lower limit value Istp is executed on the charger 10 side, and a charge stop notification is sent to the charging device 20 side. Although it is configured to transmit, the calculation of the current determination value Ij and the comparison determination between the current determination value Ij and the charge stop lower limit Istp are executed on the charging device 20 side, and as a result, the charge stop signal S1 is transmitted to the charger 10 side. It is good also as a structure which transmits to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Charger 11: Charging circuit part 12: Control circuit part 13: 1st communication part 14,15,24: Ammeter 16,25: Voltmeter 17: Charging cable 17a: Power supply cable 17b: Communication cable 18: Charging connector 19: User interface unit 19a: Operation unit 19b: Display unit 20: In-vehicle charging device 21: Storage battery 22: Second communication unit 23: Control data setting unit 26: Charging socket 30: Commercial AC power supply 31, 32: Choke coil 34: Switching element 35: Full wave rectifier circuit 36: Smoothing capacitor 37: Coil 38: Capacitor 41, 42: Absolute value calculation unit 43: Control value setting unit 44: Multiplier 45: Subtractor 46: PI calculation unit 47: Control pulse signal Output unit 47a: sawtooth wave generator 47b: comparator 48: current accumulator 49 Comparator N1: connection node S: control pulse signal S1, S2: charge stop signal S3: charging stop notification T1: Output terminal

Claims (21)

A first communication unit for communicating control data used for charging control with an electric vehicle to be charged;
A charging circuit unit for supplying a pulsating charging current to a storage battery mounted on the electric vehicle;
A control circuit unit for controlling the current supply of the charging circuit unit based on the control data,
The first communication unit includes the control data including a target current index value, which is a target value of a current index value given by at least an integrated value or an average value of the charging current for each predetermined time unit before starting charging. Obtained from electric cars,
The charger for charging an electric vehicle, wherein the control circuit unit controls the current index value of the charging current to be the target current index value based on the control data. After the start of charging, the first communication unit sequentially acquires the control data updated as the storage battery progresses from the electric vehicle,
The charger according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit unit performs control so that the target current index value is included in the control data obtained by sequentially acquiring the current index value.   The first communication unit transmits information indicating that the charging circuit unit is a pulsating charge supplying a pulsating charging current to the electric vehicle before starting charging, and then transmits the control data from the electric vehicle. The charger according to claim 1, wherein the charger is received.   The control circuit unit performs control to gradually increase the current index value of the charging current toward the target current index value in a certain period immediately after the start of charging. The charger according to item 1.   The charger according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the charging circuit unit includes an LC-type low-pass filter in a final stage.   The control circuit unit calculates the current index value based on the measured value of the charging current, and switching that constitutes a booster circuit provided in the charging circuit unit based on a control value adjusted based on the control data The device is configured to control an on / off duty ratio of an element, and when the current index value exceeds the target current index value beyond a predetermined error range, the control value is set so that the current index value decreases. 6. The charger according to claim 1, wherein feedback control for adjustment is performed. The control data includes a maximum current upper limit value of the charging current,
The charger according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control circuit unit controls the charging current to be equal to or lower than the maximum current upper limit value based on the control data. The control circuit unit calculates the peak value of the charging current and the current index value based on the measured value of the charging current, and is provided in the charging circuit unit by a control value adjusted based on the control data. The ON / OFF duty ratio of the switching elements constituting the booster circuit is controlled, and the current index value decreases when the current index value exceeds the target current index value beyond a predetermined error range. as further or peak value of the charging current is equal the maximum current limit and within a predetermined error range, or if it exceeds, as the peak value decreases, you adjust the control value charger according to claim 7, characterized in that performing feedback control. The control data includes an indication value of the current index value of the charging current,
The control circuit unit calculates the current index value from the measured value of the charging current, and the calculated value of the current index value deviates from the indicated value of the current index value beyond a predetermined error range The charger according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein control for stopping the supply of the charging current is performed. The control data includes a maximum current upper limit value of the charging current,
The control circuit unit calculates a peak value of the charging current from the measured value of the charging current, and supplies the charging current when the peak value is larger than a predetermined error range than the maximum current upper limit value. The charger according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein control for stopping the charging is performed. The control data includes a charge stop lower limit value for a current determination value given as a peak value, a bottom value, or an integrated value or an average value for each predetermined time unit,
The control circuit unit calculates the current determination value from the measured value of the charging current, and when the current determination value is equal to or lower than the charging stop lower limit value, stops the supply of the charging current and performs a charging operation. The charger according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein control to be terminated is performed.   The said control circuit part performs control which stops supply of the said charging current, when the said 1st communication part receives the charge stop instruction | indication from the said electric vehicle, The any one of Claims 1-11 characterized by the above-mentioned. The charger described. An in-vehicle charging device for charging an in-vehicle storage battery on an electric vehicle side by a charging current supplied from the charger according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A second communication unit for communicating the control data with the charger;
Prior to the start of charging, a set value included in the control data is set based on at least one of an electrical specification and an internal state of the storage battery, and the set value is sequentially updated according to a change in the internal state after the start of charging. And a control data setting unit. The control data setting unit sequentially obtains the latest internal state of the storage battery before and after charging, and calculates a setting value included in the control data based on the internal state.
14. The charging device according to claim 13, wherein the second communication unit transmits the calculated setting value of the control data to the charger sequentially before and after the start of charging. A voltmeter for measuring a charging voltage applied to the storage battery by the charging current;
The control data setting unit reduces a set value of at least the target current index value among the set values included in the control data when a peak value of the charging voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The charging device according to claim 13 or 14. A voltmeter for measuring a charging voltage applied to the storage battery by the charging current;
The control data setting unit, when the maximum current upper limit value of the charging current is included in the control data, and when the peak value of the charging voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control data setting unit of the setting value included in the control data The charging device according to claim 15, wherein a set value of the maximum current upper limit value is reduced.   The control data setting unit, when the control data includes the maximum current upper limit value of the charging current, based on the battery voltage and the internal impedance that is the internal state of the storage battery, the maximum current upper limit value and the internal impedance of The maximum current upper limit value is set so that the sum of the product and the battery voltage does not exceed the upper limit value of the battery voltage, and the maximum current upper limit value does not exceed the allowable maximum current value of the storage battery. The charging device according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein   The control data setting unit calculates a set value of the control data after confirming that the charger is a pulsating charging type charger that supplies a pulsating charging current before starting charging, The charging device according to claim 13, wherein the charging device is transmitted to the charger via a second communication unit. An ammeter for measuring the charging current supplied from the charger side;
The control data setting unit calculates the current index value based on the measured value of the charging current,
The said 2nd communication part transmits the said current index value which the said control data setting part calculated to the said charger as the instruction value of the said current index value, The any one of Claims 13-18 characterized by the above-mentioned. The charging device according to item. An ammeter for measuring the charging current supplied from the charger side;
The second communication unit receives the current index value calculated based on the measured value of the charging current on the charger side,
The control data setting unit calculates the current index value based on the charging current measured on the electric vehicle side, compares it with the current index value calculated on the charger side, and both the current index values The charging stop instruction for stopping the supply of the charging current is transmitted to the charger via the second communication unit when the battery is deviating beyond a predetermined error range. The charging device according to any one of 13 to 18. An ammeter for measuring the charging current supplied from the charger side;
The control data setting unit sequentially acquires the latest internal state of the storage battery before starting charging and after starting charging, calculates a maximum current upper limit value of the charging current based on the internal state, Based on the measured charging current, a peak value of the charging current is calculated, compared with the peak value and the maximum current upper limit value, and the peak value exceeds the maximum current upper limit value exceeding a predetermined error range. The charging stop instruction for stopping the supply of the charging current is transmitted to the charger via the second communication unit when the charging current is being supplied. The charging device described.

Images