Apparatus for supplying power to transmitter of fuel cell vehicle

A power supply apparatus for a fuel cell vehicle, and provides a power supply apparatus of a fuel cell vehicle. More specifically, an InfraRed (IR) data transmitter transmits and receives data to/from a hydrogen charger and a power supply apparatus, that is connected to the IR data transmitter, selectively supplies power thereto according to the opening/closing of a fuel door. In particular, a sensing apparatus is connected to the power supply apparatus and senses opening/closing of the fuel door and a normal power source that is connected to the sensing apparatus for opening/closing the fuel door selectively supplies power to the sensing apparatus when the normal power source is off.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0125690 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 9, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying power to a transmitter of a fuel cell vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying power to a transmitter of a fuel cell vehicle that includes a sensing apparatus for opening/closing a fuel door, a normal power source, and the power supply apparatus that selectively supplies power to an InfraRed (IR) data transmitter of a fuel cell vehicle.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Generally, a fuel cell is a nonpolluting power supply apparatus that generates electricity by producing a chemical reaction in a fuel, e.g., hydrogen and oxygen in the air and thus, provide a clean energy alternative which does not require the use of fossil fuels.

An electrical generator system using a fuel cell can be used as a generator in a large building or a power source for electric vehicles. In addition, the fuel cell can utilize a variety of fuels including natural gas and city gas as viable alternative to hydrogen.

Typically, however, a hydrogen charger is used to charge the fuel cell, and the charging is fulfilled by transmitting/receiving between a vehicle and the charger. That is, if the transmitter of the vehicle transmits data to the hydrogen charger, a required amount of fuel is charged by the hydrogen charger as a direct result. The hydrogen is charged into the fuel cell vehicle via data input into the hydrogen charger through a charging nozzle, which connects the fuel cell vehicle to the hydrogen charger.

Particularly, a normal communication charging method is used in a 70 Mpa hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in order to control the hydrogen charging speed for safety reasons. Communication methods include a wireless communication method and a wired communication method, but there is a tendency to use the wired communication method because of its desirable properties. However, there has recently been a tendency to use IR communication, which is enacted in SAE J2799, which is a wireless communication protocol.

When hydrogen is charged in the above method, it is always in a key-off state. Therefore, the required power is supplied to the transmitter of the vehicle by a normal power source, but there is a fear that the normal power source may be discharged. Because hydrogen is charged in a key-off state, the normal power source has to be supplied to transmit inner temperature data and pressure data of the hydrogen storage system to the hydrogen charger in real time. It takes 10 to 20 minutes for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to be charged, so the amount of power consumed is not much. However, the charging time can be lengthened because of a charging speed reduction via a temperature increase in the tank in summer and the capacity of a charger compressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a power supply apparatus for a fuel cell vehicle that automatically supplies power to an IR data transmitter according to opening/closing of the fuel door while charging/non-charging hydrogen into a fuel cell vehicle.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a power supply apparatus for a fuel cell vehicle. In particular, an IR data transmitter transmits/receives data to/from a hydrogen charger. A power supply apparatus, that is connected to the IR data transmitter, selectively supplies power thereto according to the opening/closing of a fuel door and a sensing apparatus, that is connected to the power supply apparatus, senses opening/closing of the fuel door. Also a normal power source, that is connected to the sensing apparatus for opening/closing the fuel door, selectively supplies power to the sensing apparatus.

Even more specifically, the normal power source according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention supplies the sensing apparatus when it is sensed that the fuel door is opened and stops supplying power to the IR data transmitter when hydrogen charging to the fuel cell vehicle is finished and the fuel door is closed.

As described above, the power from the normal power source is supplied only when it is determined that the fuel door is opened/closed, and the power supply by the normal power source is stopped when the hydrogen charging is finished. This prevents a failed start due to battery discharge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a power supply apparatus that supplies power to a transmitter40transmitting data associated with temperatures and pressures of the vehicle while charging, e.g., a 70 Mpa vehicle by using fuel cell.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for supplying power to the transmitter40of the fuel cell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein as much hydrogen can be charged into a fuel cell vehicle as required by transmitting/receiving of an IR data transmitter and sensors40, and an IR data receiver of a hydrogen charger50. Hereinafter, the IR data transmitter and sensors are called the IR data transmitter40.

When hydrogen is charged into the fuel cell vehicle, it is initiated while in a key-off state such that no power except that from a normal power source is supplied. However, the IR data transmitter40, a pressure sensor that measures the inside pressure of the hydrogen storage apparatus, and a temperature sensor that measures the inside temperature must be able to transmit/receive data with the hydrogen charger50in spite of a key-off state. Therefore, power must always be supplied in order to transmit/receive data during hydrogen charging without allowing the battery to be completely discharged resulting is a ignition failure in the vehicle.

To achieve this, a power supply apparatus30supplying power to the transmitter of the fuel cell vehicle, as shown inFIG. 1, includes the IR data transmitter40that transmits/receives data to/from the hydrogen charger50, and a power supply apparatus30that is connected to the IR data transmitter40and selectively supplies power to the IR data transmitter40according to hydrogen charging/non-charging. A sensing apparatus20is connected to the power supply apparatus30and senses the opening/closing of the fuel door, and the normal power source10that is connected to the sensing apparatus20and selectively supplies power accordingly.

If the sensing apparatus20senses that the fuel door is opened, the normal source10supplies power to the sensing apparatus20, and if it is sensed that the fuel door is closed, the power supply to the sensing apparatus20is stopped/cut. In addition, if the hydrogen charging into the fuel cell vehicle is finished and the fuel door is closed, the power supply from the normal power source10into the IR data transmitter40is stopped as well.

Hereinafter, power supply flow to the transmitter40of the fuel cell vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described referring toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2shows power supply/cutoff for the transmitter40of the fuel cell vehicle according to charging/non-charging by a normal power source10according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. If the fuel cell vehicle is in a key-off state and hydrogen charging begins S10, the connection between the sensing apparatus20and the normal power source10is cut S20by turning off the normal power source10. At this time, power is not supplied to the IR data transmitter40in just a key-off state. [If the normal power source is turned off,

Then, if it is determined that the fuel door is open S30, the normal power source is turned on, being connected to the sensing apparatus20S40, and if the fuel door is closed, the connection to the normal power source10is cut. That is, if the fuel door is opened, a sensing apparatus20supplies data to the power supply apparatus30. The power supply apparatus30accepts the data, and supplies power to the IR data transmitter40, temperature sensors, and pressure sensors of the hydrogen storage system.

If the hydrogen charging is finished and the fuel door is closed, the power supply to the IR data transmitter40and the various sensors is stopped/cutoff.

Furthermore, the present invention may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor. Examples of the computer readable mediums include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

By the above apparatus, because there is power supplied only to the sensing apparatus20when it is necessary, dark current is minimized, and failed start situations.