WO2013076542A1

WO2013076542A1 - Power supply control device

Info

Publication number: WO2013076542A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/002323
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hironobu Oe; Shinichi Nakamura; Tatsuya Mukai; Noboru Inagaki
Original assignee: Panasonic Corporation
Priority date: 2011-11-22
Filing date: 2012-11-09
Publication date: 2013-05-30
Also published as: JP5879561B2; JP2013109983A

Abstract

A power supply control device (1) includes a main body (2), a first cable (3), and a second cable (4). A power supply control circuit for controlling power supply from a power source to an electric motor vehicle is accommodated in the main body (2). The first cable (3) electrically connects the power source to the power supply control circuit. The second cable (4), which is detachably connected to the electric motor vehicle, electrically connects a charging circuit (101) provided in the electric vehicle to the power supply control circuit. The first cable (3) is detachably connected to the main body (2). Further, when the first cable (3) is connected to the main body (2), the magnet (16) provided on the main body (2) attract metallic attachment plates (26) provided on the first cable (3) by a magnetic force, so that the first cable (3) and the main body (2) are held connected to each other.

Description

POWER SUPPLY CONTROL DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power supply control device.

Background of the Invention

Conventionally, there is proposed a power . supply control device for controlling power supply from a power source to an electric motor vehicle (a vehicle driven by an electric motor, such as a battery powered vehicle or a plug- in hybrid electric vehicle) (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-176920) .

The power supply control device disclosed in the above cited reference includes a body block accommodating a power supply control circuit. A cable that includes a plug adapted to be connected to a power receptacle (receptacle side cable) and a cable that includes a plug adapted to be connected to the electric motor vehicle (vehicle side cable) are extended from the body block.

Meanwhile, different countries have different shapes of connection ports for power receptacles. In the power supply control device disclosed in the above cited reference, the receptacle side cable is detachably connected to the body block. Further, the vehicle side cable is detachably connected to the body block. The receptacle side and vehicle side cables are, however, fixed to the body block with screws, or a cover unit for covering a connection part of the cables and the body block is fixed with screws. Accordingly, when the cables are replaced, a tool is required to loose and tighten the screws, thus making it cumbersome to replace the cables.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control device capable of replacing a cable easily.

A power supply control device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a main body for accommodating a power supply control part for controlling power supply from a power source to an electric motor vehicle; a first cable connected to the main body for receiving the power supply from the power source; and a second cable connected to the main body for feeding the power supply to the electric motor vehicle. At least one of the first and second cables is detachably connected to the main body. A holding unit is provided to magnetically hold the state where the at least one of the cables and the main body are electrically connected.

The power supply control device may include a terminal unit with different poles for electrically connecting the at least one of the cables to the power supply control part, and the holding unit may be provided outside an area where the terminal unit is arranged.

In the connecting part between the at least one of the cables and the main body, a level difference may be provided between a position where the terminal is disposed and a position where the holding unit is provided.

The power supply control device may include a terminal unit for electrically connecting the at least one of the cables to the power supply control part; and a seal for sealing a gap between the at least one of the cables and the main body to prevent water from infiltrating into the terminal unit through the gap. In this case, the holding unit is disposed outside an area surrounded by the seal.

In accordance with the present invention, the holding unit magnetically holds the state where the first cable or the second cable, which is detachably attached to the main body, and the main body are electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, the cable can easily be replaced without any special tool.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1A and IB are enlarged perspective views of the main part of a power supply control device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a first cable removed from a main body;

Figs. 2A and 2B are enlarged perspective views of the main part of the power supply control device with the first cable connected to the main body;

Fig. 3 is an external view of the power supply control device; Figs. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing the main part of the power supply control device; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic block circuit diagram of the power supply control device.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1A to 5.

The power supply control device of the present embodiment is of a portable type, and used for controlling power supply to an electric motor vehicle from a power source (e.g., a commercial AC power source). Note that the electric motor vehicle may include an electric vehicle (EV) , a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) , a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) , an electric motorcycle, and the like. The electric vehicle has only an electric motor as a driving source. The hybrid electric vehicle and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle include a gasoline engine and an electric motor as a driving source.

Fig. 3 is an external view of the power supply control device 1. Fig. 5 is a schematic block circuit diagram of the power supply control device 1. The power supply control device 1 includes a main body 2, a first cable 3, and a second cable 4.

The main body 2 is formed into a substantially rectangular box shape. A power supply control circuit 30 for controlling the power supply to an electric motor vehicle 100 from a power source (see Fig. 5) is accommodated in the main body 2. Note that the electric motor vehicle 100 includes a secondary battery 102 serving to drive an electric motor, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery; and a charge circuit 101 for charging the secondary battery 102.

The first cable 3, which electrically connects the power supply control circuit 30 accommodated in the main body 2 to a power receptacle (not shown) installed on a wall of a building to feed electric power, is extended from one end of the main body 2 in a longitudinal direction thereof (the left-hand side in Fig. 3) . The first cable 3 is constituted by two power lines 3a, 3b and a ground line 3c. At a leading end of the first cable 3, there is provided a power side plug 5 to be plug-in connected to the power receptacle .

The second cable 4, which electrically connects the power supply control circuit 30 accommodated in the main body 2 to a charge circuit 101 in the electric motor vehicle 100, is extended from the other end of the main body 2 in the longitudinal direction (the right-hand side in Fig. 3) . The second cable 4 is constituted by two power lines 4a, 4b, a ground line 4c, and a signal line 4d for transmitting and receiving signals between the power supply control circuit 30 and the electric motor vehicle 100. At a leading end of the second cable 4, there is provided a charging connector 6 (a so-called charging gun) to be detachably connected to a connector (not shown) of the electric motor vehicle 100.

As shown in Fig. 5, the power supply control circuit 30 accommodated in the main body 2 mainly includes a relay 31, a zero-phase current transformer (ZCT) 32, a control circuit 33, and a power supply circuit 34. The relay 31 includes double-pole contacts 31a, 31b, which are turned on and off in response to a control signal from the control circuit 33. .The contact 31a is connected on an internal wiring LI that electrically connects the power line 3a of the first cable 3 to the power line 4a of the second cable 4. The contact 31b is connected on an internal wiring L2 that electrically connects the power line 3b of the first cable 3 to the power line 4b of the second cable 4. By turning on and off these contacts 31a, 31b in response to the control signal from the control circuit 33, a feed line from the power source to the electric motor vehicle 100 is opened and closed. Note that an internal wiring L3 electrically connects the ground line 3c of the first cable 3 to the ground line 4c of the second cable 4.

The zero-phase current transformer 32 is provided to detect an unbalanced current caused by the occurrence of an electric leakage in the electric motor vehicle 100. The internal wirings LI, L2 pass through a core of the zero- phase current transformer 32 disposed on the primary side (power-source side) of the relay 31. The output signal of the zero-phase current transformer 32 is inputted into the control circuit 33.

The control circuit 33 mainly includes a microcomputer, and controls each part of the power supply control device 1 collectively. The control circuit 33 opens and closes the feed line from the power source to the electric motor vehicle 100 by turning on and off the relay 31 based on a signal (a so-called CPLT signal) inputted from the charge circuit 101 of the electric motor vehicle 100 via the signal line 4d of the second cable 4. Further the control circuit 33 determines that the electric leakage has occurred in the electric motor vehicle 100 when detecting the unbalanced current based on the detection output of the zero-phase current transformer 32. Then, the control circuit 33 opens the relay and shuts off the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100 (electric leakage protecting operation) . Note that the control circuit 33 may notify a user of the occurrence of the electric leakage by flashing a lamp, or sounding an alarm through a buzzer or a speaker when the electric leakage protection is performed.

The power supply circuit 34 is connected to the internal wirings LI, L2 at the primary side of the relay 31. The power supply circuit 34 receives the power supply via the internal wirings LI, L2 to generate an electric power for driving the control circuit 33 and the like.

The power supply control circuit 30, which has the above configuration, controls the power supply from the power source to the electric motor vehicle 100.

In the power supply control device 1, the second cable 4 on the electric-vehicle side is wired to a terminal block (not shown) disposed in the main body 2. Accordingly, when the second cable 4 is replaced, the main body 2 is necessary to be disassembled. On the other hand, the first cable 3 on the power source side is connected to the main body 2 via the connector.

Now, a structure of the connection part between the first cable 3 and the main body 2 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1A to 4B.

One end surface 2a in the longitudinal direction of the main body 2 has a circular engaging recess 11. An annular peripheral wall 12 is provided around the engaging recess 11 on the end surface 2a. Magnets 16, 16 are disposed on the left and right sides of the peripheral wall 12, respectively. On the bottom surface of the engaging recess 11, three rod-shaped terminals 13, which are electrically connected to the internal wirings Ll, L2, L3 respectively, are arranged to form an equilateral triangle. The rod-shaped terminals 13 are positioned at the respective vertexes of the equilateral triangle. As shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, each rod-shaped terminal 13 is inserted through a hole 11a provided in the bottom surface of the engaging recess 11, and is movable in the right-left direction in Fig 4A. Each rod-shaped terminal 13 is biased toward the right- hand side (toward a plug connector 7 to be described below) in Fig. 4A by a coil spring 14 accommodated in the main body 2. Note that a spring receiving plate 13a having an external diameter larger than an inner diameter of the hole 11a is integrally provided at a rear end of each rod-shaped terminal 13. Since each spring receiving plate 13a is in direct contact with the periphery of the corresponding hole 11a, the corresponding rod-shaped terminal 13 is restricted to move further in the right-hand direction, thereby preventing the rod-shaped terminal 13 from falling out.

On the other hand, the plug connector 7 provided at one end of the first cable 3 is detachably connected to a receptacle connector 10 provided in the main body 2. The plug connector 7 includes a _,plug body 20 formed into a substantially cylindrical shape made of synthetic resin. A cylindrical engaging part 21 is provided on the front surface of the plug body 20 (facing the main body 2) . The external diameter of the engaging part 21 is relatively smaller than that of the plug body 20, and slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the peripheral wall 12. Around the engaging part 21, there is formed an annular groove 22 into which the peripheral wall 12 is to be inserted. In the engaging part 21, a positioning key groove 23 is formed to extend in an axial direction of the engaging part 21 from the front surface to a middle portion of the outer periphery of the engaging part 21. A protrusion 15 provided at the inner periphery of the engaging recess 11 is engaged in the key groove 23. In the front surface of the engaging part 21, three terminals 24 are arranged to form an equilateral triangle. Each of the terminals 24 is positioned at the respective vertexes of the equilateral triangle. The three terminals 24 are electrically connected to the internal wirings LI, L2 , L3 included in the first cable 3, respectively. Further, on the outer periphery of the plug body 20, protrusion parts 25, 25 are provided to protrude outward from opposite sides of the plug body 20 with respect to its central axis respectively. Attachment plates 26, 26 made of magnetic material (e.g., metallic material) are disposed on the front surface of the respective protrusion parts 25, 25 ^' to correspond to the magnets 16, 16 on the main body 2. The rod-shaped terminals 13 and the terminals' 24 serve as a terminal unit for electrically connecting the power supply control circuit 30 and the cables.

In the case where the plug connector 7 is connected to the receptacle connector 10, the key groove 23 is aligned with the protrusion 15, and then the engaging part 21 is inserted into the engaging recess 11. Thus, the rod-shaped terminals 13 come into contact with the corresponding terminals 24, so that the power supply control circuit 30 and the first cable 3 are electrically connected to each other. At this time, each of the coil spring 14 is compressed to generate a spring force. The spring force presses the rod-shaped terminal 13 against the corresponding terminal 24 to connect them. Further, when the engaging part 21 is inserted into the engaging recess 11 and reaches a predetermined position, a magnetic force acts between the magnet 16 disposed on the main body 2 and the attachment plate 26 on the plug connector 7, so that the plug connector 7 remains connected to the receptacle connector 10. Herein, the attachment plate 26 on the plug connector 7 and the magnet 16 on the main body 2 serve as a holding unit. Although, in the present embodiment, the magnet 16 is provided on the main body 2 and the attachment plate 26 is provided on the plug connector 7, the magnet 16 may be provided on the plug connector 7 and the attachment plate 26, which is attracted by the magnet 16, may be provided on the main body 2.

In the case where the plug connector 7 needs to be disconnected from the receptacle connector 10, by pulling the plug connector 7 with a force greater than the attractive force of the magnet, 16, the attachment plate 26 is separated from the magnet 16. Thus, the plug connector 7 is disconnected from the receptacle connector 10.

In this way, when the plug connector 7 is connected and disconnected to and from the receptacle connector 10, no special tools are required. This makes it easier to connect and disconnect the plug connector 7 to and from the receptacle connector 10.

As described above, the power supply control device 1 of the present embodiment includes: the main body 2 accommodating the power supply control circuit 30 (power supply control unit) for controlling the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100 from the power source; the first cable 3, connected to the main body 2, for receiving the electric power from the power source; and the second cable 4, connected to the main body 2, for feeding the electric power to the electric motor vehicle 100. At least one of the first cable 3 and the second cable 4 (the first cable 3 in the present embodiment) is detachably connected to the main body 2. Further, there is provided the holding unit (including the magnet 16 and the attachment plate 26) for magnetically holding the state where both or one of the cables (the first cable 3 in the present embodiment) is electrically connected to the main body 2.

Accordingly,' the cable detachably connected to the main body 2 among the first cable 3 and the second cable 4 remains electrically connected to the main body 2 by the magnetic force. This requires no special tools, thereby making it easier to connect and disconnect the cable to and from the main body 2. If a force exceeding the magnetic force is applied to remove the above cable from the main body 2, the cable will be separated from the main body 2. Accordingly, an excessive force exceeding the magnetic force is prevented from being applied to the connection part between the cable and the main^ body 2. In the case where a claw provided on one side is engaged with a hole provided on the other side to hold the state where the cable and the main body 2 are connected, the force required to disengage the cable from the main body 2 may be varied due to a poor engagement condition between the claw and the hole, long- term deformation of the claw and the hole, or the like. On the other hand, in the power supply control device 1 of the present embodiment, since the first cable 3 and/or the second cable 4 remain connected to the main body 2 by the magnetic force, the force required to disconnect the cable from the main body 2 would not be varied.

Further, the power supply control device 1 of the present embodiment has the terminal unit with different poles (including the rod-shaped terminals 13 and the terminals 24) for electrically connecting the first cable 3 and the power supply control circuit 30. Furthermore, the holding unit (including the magnets 16 and the attachment plates 26) is disposed outside, the region where the terminal units with different poles are disposed (outside the triangle areas defined by the rod-shaped terminals 13 and the terminals 24, respectively).

Herein, the holding unit is constituted by the magnets 16 provided on one of the main body 2 and the cable (the first cable 3 in the present embodiment) ; and the metallic members (the attachment plates 26) provided on the other. If the holding unit is disposed inside the region where the terminal unit with different poles is disposed, a distance between the different poles of the terminal unit may be shortened due to the presence of the metallic members serving as a part of the holding unit. On the other hand, the holding unit (including the magnets 16 and the attachment plates 26) is disposed outside the region where the terminal unit with different poles is disposed. Accordingly, the distance between the different poles of the terminal unit can be increased, thereby improving the insulation performance between the terminal units with different poles.

Furthermore, in the power supply control device 1 of the present embodiment, a level difference Dl is provided between a position where the rod-shaped terminals 13 are disposed (the bottom surface of the engaging recess 11 in the present embodiment) and a position where the magnets 16 are disposed (the end surface 2a of the main body 2), as shown in Fig. 4A.

Thus, in the connection part between the main body 2 and the cable (the first cable 3 or the second cable 4) that is detachably connected to the main body 2, there is provided the level difference Dl between the position where the rod-shaped terminals 13 are disposed and the position where the magnets 16 are disposed. Accordingly, even when the holding unit is constituted by the magnets 16 provided on one of the main body 2 and the cable; and the metallic members provided on the other, the creeping distance between the holding unit and the terminal unit is increased because the level difference Dl is provided, thereby improving its insulation performance.

Furthermore, in the power supply control device 1 of the present embodiment, an O-ring groove 21a is circumferentially formed on the outer periphery of the engaging part 21 inwardly of the key groove 23. An O-ring 27 is engaged in the O-ring groove 21a. In the state where the plug connector 7 is connected to the receptacle connector 10, the O-ring 27 is in press contact with the inner periphery of the engaging recess 11, thereby sealing the gap between the engaging part 21 and the engaging recess 11. Accordingly, rain water is prevented from infiltrating into the area where the terminal unit (including the rod- shaped terminals 13 and the terminals 24) is disposed through the gap between the engaging part 21 and the engaging recess 11.

Herein, in the present embodiment, the holding unit

(including the magnets 16 and the attachment plates 26) is disposed outside an area surrounded by the O-ring 27 serving as a seal material. Accordingly, compared to the case where the terminal unit and the holding unit are surrounded by the seal material, the area surrounded by the seal material is made smaller and miniaturization is realized as a whole.

In the present embodiment, the first cable 3 on the power source side is configured to be detachably connected to the main body 2. Thus, for example, the first cable 3 can easily be replaced depending on different power plug shapes in different countries. Further, in cases where the second cable 4 is detachably connected to the main body 2, a holding unit may be provided to magnetically hold the state that the second cable 4 is electrically connected to the main body 2. This makes it easy to replace the second cable 4 on the electric-vehicle side. Furthermore, in the case where both the first cable 3 and the second cable 4 are detachably connected to the main body 2, holding units may be provided to magnetically hold the state that the first cable 3 and the second cable 4 are electrically connected to the main body 2. This makes it easy to replace both the power-source side cable and the electric-vehicle side cable.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. A power supply control device, comprising:

a main body accommodating a power supply control part for controlling power supply from a power source to an electric motor vehicle;

a first cable, connected to the main part, for receiving the power supply from the power source; and

a second cable, connected to the main part, for feeding the power supply to the electric motor vehicle,

wherein at least one of the first cable and the second cable is detachably connected to the main body, and

wherein a holding unit is provided on the at least one of the cables and the main body, the holding unit magnetically holding the state that the at least one of the cables is electrically connected to the main body.

2. The power supply control device as set forth in Claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal unit with different poles for electrically connecting the at least one of the cables to the power supply control part,

wherein the holding unit is disposed outside an area where the terminal unit with different poles is disposed.

3. The power supply control device as set forth in Claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal unit for electrically connecting the at least one of the cables and the power supply control part, wherein in a connection part between the at least one of the cables and the main part, a level difference is provided between a position where the terminal unit is disposed and a position where the holding unit is disposed.

4. The power supply control device as set forth in Claim 2, wherein

in a connection part between the at least one of the cables and the main part, a level difference is provided between a position where the terminal units are disposed and a position where the holding unit is disposed.

5. The power supply control device as set forth in Claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal unit for electrically connecting the at least one of the cables to the power supply control part; and

a seal material for sealing a gap between the at least one of the cables and the main part to prevent water from infiltrating into the terminal unit,

wherein the holding unit is disposed outside an area surrounded by the seal material.

6. The power supply control device as set forth in Claim 2 or 4, further comprising:

7. The power supply control device as set forth in Claim 3, further comprising: