Charging control apparatus, charging control method

Abstract

A charging control apparatus is adapted to control an alternator which is operable to generate a voltage to charge a battery which is operable to supply the voltage to an electric component. An interface is connected to the alternator, the battery, and the electric component and operable to input and output a signal therebetween. A microcomputer is connected to the inter face and operable to execute a gradual change process in which a generating voltage of the alternator is gradually changed to a target generating voltage of the alternator and a sudden change process in which the generating voltage is suddenly changed to the target generating voltage. The microcomputer is operable to detect a using status of the electric component based on the signal. The microcomputer is operable to judge whether the gradual change process is required or the sudden change process is required based on the detected using status. The microcomputer executes the sudden change process when the microcomputer judges that the sudden change process is required. The microcomputer executes the gradual change process when the microcomputer judges that the gradual change process is required.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a charging control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of a charging control apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a functional configuration of the charging control apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a gradual change requirement determination process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a first former gradual change requirement determination process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a second former gradual change requirement determination process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a first latter gradual change requirement determination process at a first latter stage according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a battery voltage and a charging rate according to the first embodiment according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between liquid temperature and a correction coefficient of a charging rate according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a second latter gradual change requirement determination process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a third latter gradual change requirement determination process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a fourth latter gradual change requirement determination process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a gradual change rate decision process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a first gradual change rate table according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a second gradual change rate table according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a sudden change process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a gradual change process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a charging control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of the charging control apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing functional configuration of the charging control apparatus;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a relationship between an open voltage of a battery and a battery charging rate according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a relationship between a liquid temperature and a correction value of a battery charging rate according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a relationship between a battery charging rate and a correction value of a voltage according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a relationship between a liquid temperature and a correction value of a voltage according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a relationship between a consumption current of an electric component and a correction value of a voltage according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a relationship between a battery charging rate and a time to determine whether or not a correction process is performed again according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a relationship between a battery charging rate and a time to interrupt a voltage correction process according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a relationship between remaining fuel and a time to stop a voltage correction process according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a data structure of a charging rate-correction value table according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a data structure of a vehicle condition-correction value table according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing a process of battery charging control according to the second embodiment.

Claims

1. A charging control apparatus adapted to control an alternator which is operable to generate a voltage to charge a battery which is operable to supply the voltage to an electric component, the charging control apparatus comprising: an interface, connected to the alternator, the battery, and the electric component and operable to input and output a signal therebetween; anda microcomputer, connected to the inter face and operable to execute a gradual change process in which a generating voltage of the alternator is gradually changed to a target generating voltage of the alternator and a sudden change process in which the generating voltage is suddenly changed to the target generating voltage, wherein:the microcomputer is operable to detect a using status of the electric component based on the signal;the microcomputer is operable to judge whether the gradual change process is required or the sudden change process is required based on the detected using status;the microcomputer executes the sudden change process when the microcomputer judges that the sudden change process is required; andthe microcomputer executes the gradual change process when the microcomputer judges that the gradual change process is required.

2. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the microcomputer is operable to predict the using status based on an external information; andthe microcomputer is operable to judge whether the gradual change process is required or the sudden change process is required based on the predicted using status.

3. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the microcomputer is operable to detect a running condition of a vehicle; andthe microcomputer judges whether the gradual change process is required or the sudden change process is required when the running condition is changed.

4. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the charging control apparatus is mounted on a vehicle;the microcomputer is operable to predict a running condition of the vehicle based on an external information; andthe microcomputer is operable to judge whether the gradual change process is required or the sudden change process is required when the running condition is changed.

5. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the using status of the electric component is recognizable by a user.

6. A charging control method for controlling an alternator which is operable to generate a power to charge a battery which is operable to supply the power to an electric component, the charging control method comprising: detecting a using status of the electric component;judging whether the gradual change process in which a generating voltage of the alternator is gradually changed to a target generating voltage of the alternator is required or sudden change process in which the generating voltage is suddenly changed to the target generating voltage based on the detected using status;executing a sudden change process when the sudden change process is required; andexecuting the gradual change process when the gradual change process is required.

7. A charging control apparatus adapted to control an alternator which is operable to output an electric quantity to charge a battery mounted on a vehicle, the charging control apparatus comprising: a detecting section operable to detect a condition of the vehicle;a determining section operable to determine a target electric quantity of the alternator;a correcting section operable to correct the target electric quantity based on the detected condition.

8. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the target electric quantity is a target generating voltage of the alternator; andthe determining section is operable to determine the target generating voltage based on a target charging voltage of the battery.

9. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the detecting section includes: a vehicle condition detecting section, operable to detect a running condition of the vehicle;a battery condition detecting section, operable to detect a battery condition including at least one of a voltage of the battery, a current of the battery, an internal resistance of the battery, and an liquid temperature of the battery; andan electric component condition detecting section, operable to detect a using status of an electric component which is mounted on the vehicle; andthe condition of the vehicle includes at least one of the running condition, the battery condition, and the using status.

10. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the detecting section includes: a battery condition detecting section, operable to detect a battery condition;an electric component condition detecting section, operable to detect a using status of an electric component which is mounted on the vehicle; anda vehicle condition detecting section, operable to detect a running condition of the vehicle.

11. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: after the correcting section corrects the target electric quantity, the alternator outputs the electric quantity based on the corrected target electric quantity; andwhen a predetermined time elapses after the alternator outputs the corrected electric quantity, the correcting section corrects the corrected target electric quantity in a case where a charging voltage of the battery remains constant or decreases.

12. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: a charging rate detecting section, operable to detect a charging rate of the battery based on the detected condition of the vehicle, wherein:the predetermined time is determined based on the charging rate.

13. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the detecting section includes: an external environment detecting section, operable to detect an external environment of the vehicle; anda remaining fuel detecting section, operable to detect remaining fuel of the vehicle.

14. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: the correcting section is operable to calculate a threshold value based on the detected external environment; andthe correcting section repeatedly corrects the target electric quantity at a predetermined interval, when the detected remaining fuel is less than the calculated threshold value.

15. The charging control apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a charging rate detecting section, operable to detect a charging rate of the battery based on the detected condition of the vehicle, wherein:the battery is operable to supply the electric quantity to an electric component mounted on the vehicle; andthe correcting section limits supplying the electric quantity to the electric component when the detected remaining fuel is less than the threshold value and the charging rate is less than a predetermined value.