DE102012023943A1 - Battery charger for motor car e.g. hybrid propelled motor car, has control unit for connecting primary terminal with power supply of alternating current adapter based on detected geographical territory - Google Patents

Abstract

The charger (1) has a primary terminal (7) connected to a power supply. A secondary terminal is connected with a battery (2) of a motor car. A control unit (3) is provided with a detection unit (5) i.e. radio interface (4), for detecting a geographical territory. The control unit connects the primary terminal with the power supply of an alternating current (AC) adapter based on the detected geographical territory. The radio interface is arranged to receive and evaluate satellite position signals. A display unit (8) displays selected adapter identifying indication.

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an exclusively or supportive electric, via a rechargeable battery, powered motor vehicle and a battery charger for it.

One factor that currently speaks against electric-powered vehicles in the eyes of many consumers is the relatively short range compared to an internal combustion engine, which requires frequent recharging of the battery. Although this disadvantage is alleviated by the fact that a recharge of the vehicle battery is basically possible in any private household by connecting to the existing light network, but in particular in cross-border traffic, problems may arise due to different characteristics of the various national lighting networks. So z. For example, the maximum amount of power a home outlet can supply is limited by law in different countries. In the not previously published German patent application DE 10 2012 012 101.6 a battery charger for a motor vehicle is described, the control unit is set up to detect a geographical territory on which the device is located and to limit the current that it draws from a supply network to a default value associated with the detected territory. Since the control unit thus draws the strongest charge current permissible at this location at any location, the charging times can be kept short.

Another problem is national or regional different connector standards. One can, as in DE 10 2012 012 101.6 take advantage of these different connector standards to close on the basis of an adapter used for charging on the permissible charging current. The disadvantage here, however, that no distinction between the light networks of countries is possible to use the same sockets, and that in countries such as Germany and France, the sockets differ slightly, but are available with a single plug, yet two different types of adapters be required to allow the charger to distinguish between the different supply networks. However, if a separate adapter is needed for almost any country that may possibly be touring a vehicle, then the large number of adapters makes the use of an electrically driven vehicle in cross-border traffic difficult.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the use of such a vehicle in international traffic.

The object is achieved on the one hand by a battery charger for a motor vehicle with a primary connection for connection to a supply network, a secondary connection for connection to a battery of the motor vehicle and a control unit which is provided with means for recognizing a geographical territory on which the battery charger is or and the means for selecting an adapter needed to connect the primary terminal to the utility network based on the detected territory.

The addition of the respectively required adapter to the primary connection could be carried out automatically based on the selection by the control unit; however, in practice, a display unit is preferably provided for displaying an indication identifying the selected adapter to a user of the vehicle so that it can manually attach the appropriate adapter to the primary terminal.

In particular, the indication may include an image of the adapter or at least its contacts on the supply network side.

Preferably, the means for recognizing the geographical territory in which the battery charger is located comprise a radio interface.

In particular, the radio interface may be configured to receive satellite position signals, e.g. As the GPS system to receive and evaluate.

In order to match a position of the device determined by the evaluation with the limits of the territories to be recognized, the device expediently also has a geographical database. In particular, the radio interface and the database can be formed by a navigation system known per se, as it is installed in many modern motor vehicles. In such a vehicle, the battery charger according to the invention is very inexpensive implementable because it hardly needs dedicated hardware.

Alternatively, the radio interface can also be set up to receive and evaluate signals from terrestrial radio stations, in particular RDS signals. Although such signals do not allow immediate and accurate determination of the geographic location of the device, an estimate is possible based on the data field PI, which is included as standard in the RDS data Sender code includes a prefix for the country of the transmitter.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the means for determining the geographical territory may comprise a camera. Cameras and systems for image analysis are known from various driver assistance systems ago, z. B. to detect traffic signs along a path of the vehicle to analyze their importance and to warn the driver when he contravenes the regulatory content of a recognized road sign. Such a camera and image evaluation unit can be made available in the context of the present invention with little effort to recognize the country in which the charger or a vehicle equipped with it, for. For example, by means of road signs marking state borders or, within the borders of a state, by national characteristics of road signage.

To ensure that any adapters that may be needed during a cross-border journey are not forgotten, the control unit may also be set up to detect a geographical area on which the battery charger or the vehicle in which it is installed is not yet located will be located.

In particular, such a control unit can be set up to determine adapter types required along a route to a destination and to display information identifying the determined adapter types. The route can be calculated by a navigation system in a conventional manner and then passed to the control unit; However, the control unit can also be integrated into a navigation system itself to calculate the route using the current location and a destination.

The subject matter of the invention is therefore also a navigation system which is set up to determine the types of adapters required along a route to a destination and to display the data identifying the types of adapter identified.

Another subject of the invention is a motor vehicle with a charger and / or a navigation system as described above.

Such a motor vehicle may expediently have a storage compartment for a set of adapters. If the storage compartment has a plurality of storage locations, each specific to a type of adapters, this makes it easier for a user to check for completeness, and secondly, the information identified for a selected adapter can simply be the name of his storage location.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

1 a block diagram of a battery charger according to the invention;

2 a block diagram of a battery charger according to a second embodiment of the invention;

3 a primary plug and two adapters of the charger; and

4 an equipped with adapters storage compartment in a motor vehicle according to the invention.

1 shows a schematic block diagram of an inventive battery charger 1 with a connected battery 2 , charger 1 and battery 2 are installed in a known manner and not shown here manner in a motor vehicle. In principle, the invention could also be embodied in a charger separate from the vehicle, which only temporarily via a secondary-side plug with the battery 2 is connected. However, it is preferred that the charger 1 installed in the vehicle and on the secondary side fixed to the battery 2 is connected, since so the interaction of the charger described below with a navigation system or other driver assistance systems is easier to implement.

The motor vehicle can take one through the battery 2 powered electric motor as the only drive unit, but it can also be a hybrid vehicle, in which an electric motor supports an internal combustion engine.

An electronic control unit 3 of the charger 1 may be constituted by a microprocessor provided solely for controlling the functions of the charger, which receives from the microprocessor of a navigation system known per se a signal specifying the state on whose territory the navigation system is currently located. In the in 1 The case shown is the control unit 3 at the same time the control unit of the navigation system and is set up by a GPS receiver 4 of the navigation system to receive a signal which is from the receiver 4 determined geographical position or based on which the control unit 3 is able to calculate this position.

The control unit 3 is connected to a geographic database 5 in which geographical positions and courses of traffic routes are recorded, and which is conventionally used to check the plausibility of the position calculated on the basis of the GPS signals, if necessary to correct them and to the driver of the motor vehicle a map section with the determined position on a connected screen 8th display. According to the invention contains the geographical database 5 also the course of state borders concerning data and allows the control unit 3 to decide on the basis of the determined position on which national territory the motor vehicle is located. The geographic database 5 For each state that contains geographical data, it also includes an indication of a standard for power outlets used there, which under certain conditions, especially if the battery 2 Charging needs, on the screen 8th is shown.

In the simplest case, this information can be a number or an alphanumeric symbol. Alternatively or additionally, the indication can also be the graphic or photographic representation of an adapter or a power plug, as is customary in the country in which the vehicle is currently located.

As a primary connection 7 for the power supply of the charger 1 In general, it will be necessary to use a mains plug according to the standard which is customary in the country in which the vehicle is primarily intended for use. For example, if the vehicle is intended for primary use in Germany or France, the primary connection may be 7 a Schukostecker of in 3 be type shown, which fits into German Schuko sockets of the type CEE7 / 4, in French Schuko sockets or even in Russia, for example, in usual contactless socket type CEE7 / 16. An indication that this primary connection 7 specified, can therefore be an indication of existing charging requirements of the battery 2 on the screen 8th displayed when the vehicle is in one of these countries.

Detects the control unit 3 however, that the vehicle is located in Switzerland, will be on the screen 8th an indication of the plug standard used there, z. Example in the form of a picture of an appropriate for a Swiss power outlet, supplied as an accessory to the vehicle adapter 9 , on the screen 8th displayed. If the vehicle is in Italy, a picture of a suitable adapter will be shown instead 10 displayed.

So the included adapter 9 . 10 If necessary, can be reliably available on the vehicle in 4 shown storage compartment 11 be provided to accommodate the adapter. Such a storage compartment, for example, in a cargo space cover 12 provided and by a (in 4 not shown) can be closed lid. In the storage compartment 11 are formed slots, whose shape is for each type of adapter 9 . 10 is specific. An incomplete placement of the storage compartment is therefore immediately recognizable by the empty slot. One of these slots, here the slot 13 of the adapter 9 , is in 4 shown empty to be specific to the adapter 9 adapted recess 14 to show.

In local relation to each slot can, as in 4 shown a check box 15 be provided. Such a field 15 can be provided with a label that z. B. the standard of the adapter or the country (here, for example, Great Britain, Switzerland or Italy), for which it is suitable indicates. If the case of charging the battery 2 from the control unit 3 on the screen 8th If the displayed indication is alphanumeric, it should be labeled with the appropriate check box 15 to match.

However, the check boxes can also be one under the control of the control unit 3 variable display, in particular a light display having. So the user can, if he has the battery 2 Charge to be pointed to the adapter required for this by the control unit 3 The checkbox associated with the adapter 15 lights up.

As in the aforementioned DE 10 2012 012 101.6 described, the control unit can 3 the information about the country in which the vehicle is located, use one between the primary connection 7 and the battery to be charged 2 arranged current transformer 6 of the charger 1 to drive so that the current that this at the primary terminal 7 which does not exceed the maximum permitted value for the determined country.

The navigation system is set up in a way that is customary in the art and therefore not described here in detail in order to calculate a route in knowledge of the determined geographical position and a destination indicated by the driver and, while driving this route, to provide the driver with driving instructions. According to a development of the invention, the control unit 3 further set up for each calculated route to determine the countries through which the route passes, and to issue at the beginning of the journey an indication of the need for this trip adapters. If the navigation system z. For example, if a route from Rüsselsheim to Turin is calculated, it will pass through Germany, Switzerland and Italy. So that the driver can ensure that he is correct for such a ride equipped, shows the control unit 3 when driving on the screen 8th , z. B. as in 3 shown the plug 7 for Germany, the adapter 9 for Switzerland and the adapter 10 for Italy.

One in 2 shown second embodiment of the invention, the control unit 3 of the battery charger 1 at the same time the image evaluation unit of a driver assistance system and with a camera 16 connected, which provides continuous images of the path ahead of the vehicle. The image evaluation unit analyzes the images of the camera 16 In particular, it identifies in the images for the vehicle relevant traffic signs to them, as long as they are valid, the driver on the screen 8th and / or generate a warning signal if it is apparent that the driver is acting contrary to the regulatory content of the plates. Country-specific traffic signs, in particular those containing a text portion, allow the control unit 3 an assessment of which state the motor vehicle is in and which type of adapter is therefore for charging the battery 2 is needed. In addition, a decision on the state territory can also be based on the recognition of traffic signs regularly set up at state borders, eg. For example, those signs that indicate the country just reached within European borders define the speed limits applicable there for city traffic, overland traffic and expressways.

Additionally or alternatively, the control unit 3 with an RDS-capable car radio 17 be connected to each of the RDS signals of the received transmitter to extract the Pi information. Based on the RDS data, a decision on which state the vehicle is in can be made in different ways. For example, the PI field of the transmitter which is received with the highest signal strength can be evaluated, and that in the PI field specified country of the transmitter is assumed as the country of residence of the vehicle. It is also conceivable to evaluate the RDS signals all receivers receivable at a given time and to exclude as the country of residence of the vehicle that country from which the largest group of receivable stations originates.

If the country in which the vehicle is located is determined based on the RDS data of several transmitters in a tuning method, it may also be appropriate to weight each transmitter with its signal strength. Thus, a falsification of the result by a large number of distant foreign stations can be avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

battery charger

2

battery

3

control unit

4

GPS receiver

5

Database

6

Power converter

7

primary connection

8th

screen

9

adapter

10

adapter

11

storage compartment

12

Load compartment trim

13

slot

14

deepening

15

checkbox

16

camera

17

car radio

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102012012101 [0002, 0003, 0033]

Claims (13)

Battery charger for a motor vehicle with a primary connection ( 7 ) to connect to a utility network, a secondary terminal to connect to a battery ( 2 ) of the motor vehicle and a control unit ( 3 ) provided with funds ( 4 . 5 ; 16 ; 17 ) for recognizing a geographical territory where the battery charger ( 1 ) is or is connected, characterized in that the control unit ( 3 ) Means for selecting one to connect the primary terminal ( 7 ) with the supply network required adapter ( 9 ; 10 ) based on the recognized territory. Battery charger according to claim 1, characterized by a display unit ( 8th ) to display a selected adapter ( 9 ; 10 ) identifying information. Battery charger according to claim 2, characterized in that the indication is an image of at least the supply network-side contacts of the adapter ( 9 ; 10 ). Battery charger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for recognizing the geographical territory comprise a radio interface ( 4 ; 17 ). Battery charger according to claim 4, characterized in that the radio interface ( 4 ) is arranged to receive and evaluate satellite position signals. Battery charger according to claim 5, further characterized by a geographical database ( 5 ). Battery charger according to claim 4, characterized in that the radio interface ( 17 ) is arranged to receive signals of terrestrial radio stations, in particular RDS signals, and evaluate. Battery charger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for recognizing the geographical territory comprise a camera ( 16 ). Battery charger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit is set up, along a route to a destination required types of adapters ( 9 ; 10 ) and to display the identifiers identifying the identified adapter types. Navigation system that is set up, along a route to a destination required types of adapters ( 9 ; 10 ) and to display the identifiers identifying the identified adapter types. Motor vehicle, in particular electrically or hybrid powered motor vehicle, with a charger ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and / or a navigation system according to claim 10. Motor vehicle according to claim 11, characterized by a storage compartment ( 11 ) for a set of adapters ( 9 . 10 ). Motor vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the storage compartment ( 11 ) a plurality of receiving places ( 13 ), each for a type of adapter ( 9 ; 10 ) are specific.

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