Feeding connector for feeding electric power from vehicle to external power receiving device, method for identifying the connector, system for identifying the connector, and feeding system using the connector

A feeding connector, wherein

• the feeding connector connects a vehicle with an external power receiving device when electric power is fed from the vehicle to the power receiving device, wherein
• the feeding connector is configured to be fitted to a connecting portion to which a charging connector that connects the vehicle with an external feeding device is fitted when an electric storage device installed on the vehicle is charged with electric power from the feeding device;
• and wherein
• when the feeding connector is in a particular condition of fit with the connecting portion, an impedance of a particular signal path provided in the feeding connector falls within an impedance range for feeding which is set as a range of impedance that is different from an impedance range for charging which is set as a range of impedance of a signal path provided in the charging connector and corresponding to the particular signal path.

A connector identifying method for determining whether a connector that is fitted to a connecting portion to which a charging connector that connects a vehicle with an external feeding device is fitted when an electric storage device installed on the vehicle is charged with electric power from the feeding device is a feeding connector to be fitted to the connecting portion when electric power is fed from the vehicle to an external power receiving device, the connector identifying method comprising:

• detecting an impedance of a particular signal path provided in a connector fitted to the connecting portion when the connector is in a particular condition of fit with the connecting portion, the impedance of the particular signal path provided in the feeding connector falling within an impedance range for feeding which is set as a range of impedance that is different from an impedance range for charging which is set as a range of impedance of a signal path provided in the charging connector and corresponding to the particular signal path;
• determining that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the charging connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for charging;
• and
• determining that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the feeding connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for feeding.

A connector identifying system, comprising:

• a feeding connector configured to be fitted to a connecting portion to which a charging connector that connects a vehicle with an external feeding device is fitted when an electric storage device installed on the vehicle is charged with electric power from the feeding device, the feeding connector being configured such that, in a particular condition of fit with the connecting portion, an impedance of a particular signal path provided in the feeding connector falls within an impedance range for feeding which is set as a range of impedance that is different from an impedance range for charging which is set as a range of impedance of a signal path provided in the charging connector and corresponding to the particular signal path;
• and
• a controller configured to detect the impedance of the particular signal path provided in the connector fitted to the connecting portion when the connector is in the particular condition of fit with the connecting portion in a case in which electric power is fed from the vehicle to an external power receiving device, the controller being configured to determine that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the charging connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for charging, and the controller being configured to determine that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the feeding connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for feeding.

A feeding system comprising:

• a feeding connector configured to be fitted to a connecting portion to which a charging connector that connects a vehicle with an external feeding device is fitted when an electric storage device installed on the vehicle is charged with electric power from the feeding device, the feeding connector being configured such that, in a particular condition of fit with the connecting portion, an impedance of a particular signal path provided in the feeding connector falls within an impedance range for feeding which is set as a range of impedance that is different from an impedance range for charging which is set as a range of impedance of a signal path provided in the charging connector and corresponding to the particular signal path;
• and
• a controller configured to detect the impedance of the particular signal path provided in the connector fitted to the connecting portion when the connector is in the particular condition of fit with the connecting portion in a case when electric power is fed from the vehicle to an external power receiving device, the controller being configured to determine that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the charging connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for charging, the controller being configured to determine that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the feeding connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for feeding, and the controller being configured to control so as to feed electric power from the vehicle to the power receiving device when the controller determines that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the feeding connector.

A vehicle for use in a feeding system,

• the feeding system including a feeding connector configured to be fitted to a connecting portion to which a charging connector that connects the vehicle with an external feeding device is fitted when an electric storage device installed on the vehicle is charged with electric power from the feeding device, the feeding connector being configured such that, in a particular condition of fit with the connecting portion, an impedance of a particular signal path provided in the feeding connector falls within an impedance range for feeding which is set as a range of impedance that is different from an impedance range for charging which is set as a range of impedance of a signal path provided in the charging connector and corresponding to the particular signal path, and the electric storage device and the connecting portion being mounted in the vehicle,
• the vehicle comprising:
• a charge system configured to charge the electric storage device using electric power which is supplied from the feeding device via the connecting portion and the charging connector;
• a controller configured to detect the impedance of the particular signal path provided in the connector fitted to the connecting portion when the connector is in the particular condition of fit with the connecting portion in a case when electric power is fed from the vehicle to an external power receiving device, the controller being configured to determine that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the charging connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for charging, the controller being configured to determine that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the feeding connector when the detected impedance of the particular signal path falls within the impedance range for feeding, and the controller being configured to control so as to feed electric power from the vehicle to the power receiving device when the controller determines that the connector fitted to the connecting portion is the feeding connector.