# US 2019/0168618 A1 · Battery charging system and method of controlling the same

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- Number: US 2019/0168618 A1
- Document ID: US20190168618A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/004,650
- Filed: 2018-06-11
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Inventors: Jong Seo Yoon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168618A1

## CPC

- B60L 3/0023: {Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train}
- B60L 3/0069: {relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current}
- B60L 3/12: Recording operating variables {; Monitoring of operating variables}
- B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer
- B60L 53/22: Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60L 53/60: Monitoring or controlling charging stations
- B60L 58/10: for monitoring or controlling batteries
- B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC]
- H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00)
- H01M 10/46: Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J7/00)
- H01M 16/00: Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
- H02J 7/443: {using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors (identification by mechanical connections H02J7/751)}
- H02J 7/685: {using connection detecting circuits (H02J7/68 takes precedence)}
- B60L 53/305: {Communication interfaces}
- B60L 2240/547: Voltage
- B60L 2250/10: by alarm
- H01G 11/08: Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
- H01G 11/14: Arrangements or processes for adjusting or protecting hybrid or EDL capacitors (emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for capacitors, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions H02H7/16; emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltages without disconnection H02H9/00)
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H02J 7/62: against overcurrent
- H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV]
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A battery charging system includes a battery, a charging equipment that charges the battery, a charge switch unit that determines an electrical connection between the battery and the charging equipment, a capacitor electrically connected in parallel between the battery and the charge switch unit, and a controller that determines whether an ignition of a vehicle is turned off or charging of the battery is completed, to determine whether the charge switch unit is fused by comparing a discharge rate of the capacitor and a preset first reference value after the charge switch unit is turned on/off when the ignition is turned off, and to determine whether a high voltage remains at an output terminal of the charging equipment by comparing a voltage of the capacitor and a preset second reference value after the charge switch unit is turned off when the charging is completed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A battery charging system, comprising:
a battery configured to store electric energy therein;
a charging equipment configured to provide electric power to the battery;
a charge switch unit configured to determine an electrical connection between the battery and the charging equipment according to an ON/OFF operation thereof;
a capacitor electrically connected in parallel between the battery and the charge switch unit to form an electric potential during charging; and
a controller configured to determine whether an ignition of a vehicle is turned off or charging of the battery is completed, to determine whether the charge switch unit is fused based on a result of comparison between a discharge rate of the capacitor and a preset first reference value after the charge switch unit is turned on/off when the ignition is turned off, and to determine whether a high voltage remains at an output terminal of the charging equipment based on a result of comparison between a voltage of the capacitor and a preset second reference value after the charge switch unit is turned off when the charging is completed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein:
the charge switch unit comprises a first switch connected to a positive terminal of the charging equipment and a second switch connected to a negative terminal thereof; and
the controller turns on the first and second switches when the ignition is turned off, and then turns off the first switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The battery charging system according to claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the first switch is fused when the discharge rate of the capacitor is greater than the preset first reference value, turns off the second switch, and then determines that the second switch is fused when the discharge rate of the capacitor is greater than a preset third reference value by comparing them.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the charge switch unit is fused, the controller outputs a warning message.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein when the voltage of the capacitor is greater than the preset second reference value when the charging is completed, the controller determines that the high voltage remains at the output terminal of the charging equipment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a forced discharge unit comprising a relay and a resistor, the forced discharge unit being electrically connected in parallel between the capacitor and the charge switch unit to discharge the voltage of the capacitor when the relay is turned on,
wherein when it is determined that the high voltage remains at the output terminal of the charging equipment, the controller causes the high voltage to be discharged by the forced discharge unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a fusion determination unit electrically connected in parallel between the charge switch unit and the charging equipment to discharge the voltage of the capacitor when the charge switch unit is turned on.

### Claim 8

A battery charging system, comprising:
a battery for storing electric energy therein;
a main switch unit connected, at one terminal thereof, to an output terminal of the battery, and turned on when the battery is charged;
a charge switch unit connected to the other terminal of the main switch unit, and turned on when the battery is charged;
a charging equipment connected to the other terminal of the charge switch unit, for charging the battery;
a capacitor connected in parallel between the other terminal of the main switch unit and one terminal of the charge switch unit to form an electric potential during charging;
a forced discharge unit connected in parallel between the other terminal of the main switch unit and the one terminal of the charge switch unit to discharge a voltage of the capacitor when a relay is turned on;
a fusion determination unit connected in parallel between the other terminal of the charge switch unit and an output terminal of the charging equipment; and
a controller configured to determine whether ignition of a vehicle is turned off or charging of the battery is completed, to determine whether the charge switch unit is fused based on a result of comparison between a discharge rate of the capacitor and a preset first reference value after the charge switch unit is turned on/off when the ignition is turned off, and to determine whether a high voltage remains at the output terminal of the charging equipment based on a result of comparison between the voltage of the capacitor and a preset second reference value after the charge switch unit is turned off when the charging is completed.

### Claim 9

A method of controlling a battery charging system, comprising:
providing the battery charging system, including:
a battery configured to store electric energy therein;
a charging equipment configured to provide electric power to the battery;
a charge switch unit configured to determine an electrical connection between the battery and the charging equipment according to an ON/OFF operation thereof;
a capacitor electrically connected in parallel between the battery and the charge switch unit to form an electric potential during charging; and
a controller configured to determine whether an ignition of a vehicle is turned off or charging of the battery is completed, to determine whether the charge switch unit is fused based on a result of comparison between a discharge rate of the capacitor and a preset first reference value after the charge switch unit is turned on/off when the ignition is turned off, and to determine whether a high voltage remains at an output terminal of the charging equipment based on a result of comparison between a voltage of the capacitor and a preset second reference value after the charge switch unit is turned off when the charging is completed;
determining whether the ignition of the vehicle is turned off or the charging of the battery is completed;
determining whether the charge switch unit is fused based on the result of comparison between the discharge rate of the capacitor and the preset first reference value after the charge switch unit is turned on/off when the ignition is turned off; and
determining whether the high voltage remains at the output terminal of the charging equipment based on the result of comparison between the voltage of the capacitor and the preset second reference value after the charge switch unit is turned off when the charging is completed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein:
the charge switch unit of the battery charging system comprises a first switch connected to a positive terminal of the charging equipment and a second switch connected to a negative terminal thereof; and
in determining whether the charge switch unit is fused, the first and second switches are turned on when the ignition is turned off, and then the first switch is turned off.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein determining whether the charge switch unit is fused comprises:
determining that the first switch is fused when the discharge rate of the capacitor is greater than the preset first reference value; and
turning off the second switch, and then determining that the second switch is fused when the discharge rate of the capacitor is greater than a preset third reference value by comparing them.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein in determining whether the charge switch unit is fused, when it is determined that the charge switch unit is fused, a warning message is output.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein determining whether the high voltage remains at the output terminal of the charging equipment comprises:
comparing the voltage of the capacitor with the preset second reference value; and
determining that the high voltage remains when the voltage of the capacitor is greater than the preset second reference value as a result of the comparison.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein:
the battery charging system further comprises a forced discharge unit comprising a relay and a resistor, the forced discharge unit being electrically connected in parallel between the capacitor and the charge switch unit to discharge the voltage of the capacitor when the relay is turned on; and
in determining whether the high voltage remains at the output terminal of the charging equipment, when it is determined that the high voltage remains, the high voltage is discharged by the forced discharge unit.