Abstract:
A vehicle accumulator connected to a charging device is charged by controlling a configurable charge program executed by a control unit of the charge device. The configurable charge program is obtained from a charge program memory, so that the vehicle accumulator can be charged in an optimal manner with an individual charging characteristic.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/072892, filed Dec. 15, 2011 and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefit of German Application No. 10 2011 002 707.6 filed on Jan. 14, 2011, both applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Described below are a method and a device for charging a vehicle accumulator, in particular a method and a device for providing charge programs or charging profiles for electric vehicles. 
         [0003]    Electric vehicles have chargeable vehicle accumulators which can be electrically charged at a charging station. In this situation different charging modalities can be implemented. The charging operation can depend on a charging characteristic of the vehicle accumulator. It is furthermore possible that the charging operation or the charging profile is designed as dependent on a tariff or on a user profile associated with the vehicle accumulator. There is a great variety of different types of vehicle accumulators which each require a certain physical charging characteristic. Furthermore, there are a great many different user profiles and possible charging tariffs which means that it has not hitherto been possible in the case of known charging posts to provide the vehicle accumulator in question with an accumulator-specific charging profile. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Described below are a method and a device which ensure that an accumulator-specific charging profile or charge program can be provided in the case of the particular charging station to which the vehicle accumulator is connected. 
         [0005]    The charging device charges a vehicle accumulator connected thereto under control of a configurable charge program which is provided by a charge program memory of a control unit of the charging device, and executed by control unit for charging the vehicle accumulator. 
         [0006]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device, the charging device has an authentication unit which is intended for authentication of the vehicle accumulator with respect to the charging device. 
         [0007]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device, a charge program stored in the charge program memory is transferred to the control unit of the charging device from the charge program memory depending on the accumulator type of the vehicle accumulator connected to the charging device and/or on a result of an authentication. 
         [0008]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device, the charge program memory is located in the charging device. 
         [0009]    In a further possible embodiment of the charging device, the charge program memory is located in a charge data server connected to the charging device by way of a data network. The charge data server in question can be a charge data server of the manufacturer of the particular vehicle accumulator. 
         [0010]    In a further possible embodiment of the charging device, the charge program memory is located inside the connected vehicle accumulator. 
         [0011]    In a possible embodiment the charging device is provided in a charging post. 
         [0012]    In an alternative embodiment the charging device is located in an electric vehicle. 
         [0013]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device, at least one associated charge program is stored in each case in the charge program memory for the different vehicle accumulators. 
         [0014]    In a possible embodiment different types of charge programs are provided for each vehicle accumulator or each vehicle accumulator type. 
         [0015]    In a possible embodiment the different charge programs include for example a fast charge program, a normal charge program or a buffer charge program for the particular vehicle accumulator. 
         [0016]    In this situation a fast charge program may be provided for charging the vehicle accumulator with a high charging current in a predetermined short period of time. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, a normal charge program is provided for charging the vehicle accumulator with a low charging current in a predetermined longer period of time. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, a buffer charge program can provided for the particular vehicle accumulator. 
         [0019]    Furthermore, it is possible to provide different charge programs for different charging tariffs. 
         [0020]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device, the charge program for charging the particular vehicle accumulator is transferred from the charge program memory to the control unit of the charging device in cryptographically encrypted form after authentication of the vehicle accumulator has taken place. 
         [0021]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device, the control unit of the charging device obtains from a server of the manufacturer of the particular vehicle accumulator a cryptographic key for decryption of the charge program received in encrypted form. 
         [0022]    The control unit of the charging device subsequently executes the charge program decrypted by the cryptographic key of the vehicle accumulator manufacturer obtained in order to charge the vehicle accumulator connected to the charging device. 
         [0023]    The method for charging a vehicle accumulator by a charging device includes reading a configurable charge program from a charge program memory, depending on the vehicle accumulator, and executing the configurable charge program by a control unit of the charging device to charge the vehicle accumulator. 
         [0024]    In a possible embodiment of the method, after connection to the charging device the vehicle accumulator firstly authenticates itself with respect to the charging device. 
         [0025]    In a possible embodiment of the method, the charge program for charging the vehicle accumulator is selected depending on the result of an authentication and/or on the accumulator type of the vehicle accumulator and is read out from the charge program memory and is subsequently transferred to the control unit of the charging device for execution. 
         [0026]    In this situation, in a possible embodiment the charge program for charging the vehicle accumulator can be transferred in cryptographically encrypted form to the control unit of the charging device. 
         [0027]    With regard to the embodiment, in a possible embodiment variant the control unit of the charging device can obtain a cryptographic key from a server of the manufacturer of the particular vehicle accumulator in order to decrypt the charge program received in encrypted form. 
         [0028]    The charge program received in encrypted form is subsequently decrypted with the aid of the received cryptographic key and executed in order to charge the vehicle accumulator. 
         [0029]    Embodiments of the charging device and the method for charging a vehicle accumulator connected thereto will be described in the following with reference to the attached figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement which has a charging device for charging a vehicle accumulator; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  are block diagrams of different embodiment variants for the arrangement of a charging device; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a signal diagram by way of explanation of an exemplary embodiment of the method for charging a vehicle accumulator; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart by way of illustration of a possible embodiment variant of the method for charging a vehicle accumulator; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart by way of illustration of a further embodiment variant of the method for charging a vehicle accumulator; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart by way of illustration of a further embodiment variant of the method for charging a vehicle accumulator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0038]    As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , with regard to the exemplary embodiment illustrated therein the charging device  1  for charging a vehicle accumulator  2  connected thereto is situated in a charging post  3 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1  the vehicle accumulator  2  is situated inside an electric vehicle  4 . Alternatively, the vehicle accumulator  2  in question can also be an interchangeable vehicle accumulator which can be connected directly to the charging post  3 . The charging device  1  is connected to a power supply network  5  and draws electrical energy by way of the power supply network  5  in order to charge the vehicle accumulator  2 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1  the electrical energy is produced by a generator  6 . Furthermore, the charging device  1  can be connected by way of a data network  7  to a server  8 , in which case the latter can for example be a server of a vehicle accumulator manufacturer. Furthermore, the server  8  in question can be the server of a charging station operator. A plurality of charging stations  3  for charging vehicle accumulators can be connected to the power supply network  5  and to the data network  7 . Each charging post  3  has at least one charging connection for connection of at least one accumulator  2 . 
         [0039]    With regard to the embodiment variant illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the charging device  1  for charging the vehicle accumulator is situated inside the charging post  3 . The vehicle accumulator  2  is charged by the charging device  1  under the control of a configurable charge program, in which case the charge program is transferred from a charge program memory to a control unit integrated in the charging device  1 , which subsequently executes the received charge program for charging the vehicle accumulator  2 . In a possible embodiment, in addition to the charge control unit the charging device  1  also has an authentication unit which is intended for authentication of a vehicle accumulator with respect to the charging device  1 . In a possible embodiment, the charge program memories can likewise be situated inside the charging device  1  or the charging post  3 . Alternatively, it is possible that the charge program memory is actually provided in the vehicle accumulator  2  and is read out by the charging device  1  by way of a data interface. The data interface can be provided parallel to the current charging interface illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the charge program is transferred by way of the current charging interface from the vehicle accumulator  2  to the charging device  1 . In a further embodiment variant the charging device  1  obtains the charge program from a charge program memory which is situated in a remote charge data server  8  or in a database to which a corresponding charge data server has access. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  the charge program memory can for example be provided in the server  8 . In this embodiment the charging device  1  obtains the charge program from the server  8  by way of a corresponding request. The server  8  is for example a server of a vehicle accumulator manufacturer which has manufactured the vehicle accumulator  2 . 
         [0040]    In a possible embodiment a charge program stored in the charge program memory is selected depending on the accumulator type of the vehicle accumulator  2  connected to the charging device  1 . For this purpose the charging device  1  has a recognition facility which makes it possible to recognize the connected vehicle accumulator  2  or the type thereof. In a possible embodiment the connected vehicle accumulator  2  transfers an appropriate type identification to the charging device  1 . In this situation the selection of the charge program can additionally take place on the basis of the result of an authentication delivered by the authentication unit of the charging device  1 . 
         [0041]    One charge program or a plurality of different charge programs can be stored for each vehicle accumulator or each vehicle accumulator type. For example, for the vehicle accumulator  2  a fast charge program is provided for charging the vehicle accumulator with a high charging current in a predetermined short period of time and also a normal charge program for charging the vehicle accumulator  2  with a relatively low charging current in a predetermined longer period of time. Furthermore, a buffer charge program can additionally be provided for the vehicle accumulator  2 . For example, the charging time using a fast charge program is 3 hours at a charging current of 15 A and for example a charging voltage of 15.4 V. Furthermore, the charging time using a normal charge program 2 B is 8 hours at a relatively low charging current of 2 A and a charging voltage of 15.4 V. When using a buffer charge program the charging current is for example 200 mA at a charging voltage of 15.4 V. In another variant a high-voltage fast charge at a charging voltage of for example 400V and a charging current of 60 A is possible. 
         [0042]    In a possible embodiment variant the charge program is transferred unencrypted from the charge program memory in the charging device  1 . In an embodiment, the transfer of the charge program from the charge program memory to the charging device  1  takes place with cryptographic protection. In this situation the charge program for charging the vehicle accumulator  2  can be transferred in cryptographically encrypted form from the charge program memory after authentication of the vehicle accumulator  2  with respect to the charging device  1  has taken place. In this embodiment the control unit of the charging device  1  thus receives the charge program for charging the vehicle accumulator  2  in encrypted form. In this embodiment the control unit of the charging device  1  obtains from a server  8  of the manufacturer of the particular vehicle accumulator a cryptographic key for decryption of the charge program received in encrypted form in a possible embodiment. In this situation, the charge program is thus firstly decrypted by the cryptographic key received and subsequently executed by the control unit of the charging device  1  in order to charge the vehicle accumulator  2 . As a result of the encrypted transfer of the charge program it is possible to achieve an increased level of protection against undesired manipulation. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C show different variants in which the charging device  1  is fitted at different locations. 
         [0044]    The arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 2A  corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment variant the charging device  1  is situated in a charging post  3 . 
         [0045]    With regard to the embodiment variant illustrated in  FIG. 2B  the charging device  1  is situated inside an electric vehicle  4  and controls the charging of the vehicle accumulator  2  in accordance with the associated charge program. 
         [0046]    With regard to the embodiment variant illustrated in  FIG. 2C  the charging device  1  is situated inside the vehicle accumulator  2  to be charged as an integrated component, which means that the vehicle accumulator  2  is readily interchangeable. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows a signal diagram by way of explanation of the operation of the method for charging a vehicle accumulator  2 . In the embodiment variant illustrated in  FIG. 3  the charging device  1  obtains the charge program from a data memory of the vehicle accumulator  2 . After being connected to the charging post the vehicle accumulator  2  to be charged  3  initially transfers an accumulator ID and requests the charging post  3  to initiate a charging operation. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  the connected vehicle accumulator  2  initially identifies itself by a challenge-response method with respect to the charging device  1  which sends the vehicle accumulator  2  a challenge C and checks the response calculated by the vehicle accumulator  2 . When the authentication of the connected vehicle accumulator  2  has been successfully completed, the charging device  1  asks the vehicle accumulator  2  for the charge program stored in its data memory. The charge program is subsequently, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , transferred by the vehicle accumulator  2  with a key K in cryptographically encrypted form to the charging device  1 . As soon as the charging device  1  has received the charge program transferred in encrypted form from the vehicle accumulator  2 , the charging device  1  requests a corresponding key K from a server  8  of the accumulator manufacturer for decryption of the charge program. On receipt of the key K from the server  8 , the charge program received in encrypted form is decrypted with the aid of the key. A charging operation of the vehicle accumulator  2  subsequently takes place under the control of the decrypted charge program or charging profile. 
         [0048]    With regard to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a charge program is thus obtained from a program memory of the vehicle accumulator  2  by the charging device  1 . In an alternative embodiment the charging device  1  receives the charge program LP from a server  8  of the particular vehicle accumulator manufacturer in encrypted or unencrypted form. 
         [0049]    In a further variant the charge program of the charging device  1  is already available in an internal data memory. In this embodiment variant, simply a charge program is selected on the basis of an accumulator type or on the basis of the received accumulator ID. 
         [0050]    In a further possible embodiment the charging post  3  has a user interface which enables the user or driver of the electric vehicle  4  to additionally influence the selection of the charge program. For example, the user can choose between a normal charge program, a fast charge program or a buffer charge program. In a further possible embodiment the charge program is configurable, wherein certain parameters of the configurable charge program can be set by the user by way of the user interface of the charging post  3  within permissible ranges. For example, the user can set the charging time or the charging current amplitude. Furthermore, the charging operation can be performed depending on the time of day or a certain user tariff. 
         [0051]    With regard to the method, the charging of the vehicle accumulator  2  takes place in accordance with a charging profile or charge program, wherein the charge program is selected and activated depending on an identification or an authentication of the connected vehicle accumulator  2 . This means that charge programs which could pose a hazard if used with a different accumulator type, for example result in an explosion of the vehicle accumulator, are only used when an original vehicle accumulator is connected to the charging device  1 . Furthermore, through appropriate choice of a charge program it is possible to ensure that a particularly advantageous charging is performed under the control of the charge program, in other words charging which is particularly efficient, fast and gentle on the vehicle accumulator  2 . 
         [0052]    In a possible embodiment the vehicle accumulator  2  to be charged initially transfers to the charging device  1  a device ID in order to identify itself. Based on the device ID or identifier, the charge profile data for the specific vehicle accumulator type of the charging station can be downloaded from a server  8  or directly from the vehicle accumulator  2 . Charging by the charging device  1  then takes place in accordance with the selected charging profile or charge program. 
         [0053]    In this situation the vehicle accumulator  2  may identify itself to afford protection against manipulation, in other words it authenticates itself with respect to the charging device  1 . Depending on the result of the accumulator identification or authentication, the charge program is chosen and activated, for example in the case of a successful authentication of the vehicle accumulator  2  a fast charge, a normal charge, a buffer charge or a guaranteed charging time. In the case of a failed authentication of the vehicle accumulator  2 , a charge refusal can occur or only a certain charge program can be executed, for example a normal charge or buffer charge. Furthermore, in the case of a failed authentication for example only a charge up to a certain maximum value or up to a maximum possible nominal value, 50% for example, can be performed. 
         [0054]    In a possible embodiment of the charging device  1 , information or address information as to where the charge program or the charge profile data can be obtained from by the charging device  1  is stored directly on the vehicle accumulator  2  itself and can be read out from there. For example, the vehicle accumulator  2  can provide an appropriate URL address from which the charging device  1  can obtain an appropriate charge program. In a further possible variant the charging profile is available as an XML file or text file. In an embodiment, the charge program is available in the form of an executable charging operation control program, for example as Java byte code. In a further possible variant the executable charge program is stored directly on the vehicle accumulator  2  and can be read out there and subsequently executed by the charging device  1 . In a further possible embodiment the charge program is protected cryptographically by an EDRM key. In this case the EDRM protection can be coupled directly to the authentication of the vehicle accumulator  2 . An EDRM license server only issues a corresponding license to the charging device  1  for example which allows the charging device  1  to use the charge program if the charging post  3  proves to the license server that an original accumulator is connected to the charging station  3 . In this way it is possible to ensure that only a certain combination of accumulator and charge program can always be used. This allows a vehicle accumulator manufacturer to provide and to protect series-specific charge routines or charge programs. 
         [0055]    The flowcharts in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6  show different embodiment variants for charging a vehicle accumulator  2  by the charging device  1 . With regard to the embodiment variant according to  FIG. 4 , following the start S  4 - 1  an identification of the vehicle accumulator  2  by the charging device  1  takes place initially in S  4 - 2 . In S  4 - 3  a check is made as to whether the identification of the vehicle accumulator  2  has been completed successfully. If the identification or the authentication of the vehicle accumulator  2  is successful, in S  4 - 4  a check is furthermore made as to whether the charge program is available locally or not. If this is the case, in S  4 - 5  the charge program available in the local data memory is selected and the charging of the vehicle accumulator  2  is subsequently performed in S  4 - 6  by the control unit of the charging device  1 . If the charging profile or the charge program is not available locally, in S  4 - 7  one or more charge programs are downloaded by the charging device  1  for the particular vehicle accumulator  2 , for example from a program memory of a server of the vehicle accumulator manufacturer. A selection or choice of the downloaded charge program is subsequently made in S  4 - 8 . If the connected vehicle accumulator  2  cannot be successfully authenticated, in the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  a standard charge program for example can be chosen by the charging device  1  in S  4 - 9  and subsequently executed in S  4 - 6 . The operation ends at S  4 - 10 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment variant for charging the vehicle accumulator  2  by the charging device  1 . Following the start S  5 - 1 , in S  5 - 2  the authenticity of the connected vehicle accumulator  2  is checked by the charging device  1  of the charging post  3 . In S  5 - 3  a check is made as to whether the vehicle accumulator  2  has been successfully authenticated. If this is the case, in S  5 - 4  a charging operation for the vehicle accumulator  2  can be downloaded by the charging device  1 . If the transfer of the charge program takes place in encrypted form, downloading of a cryptographic key furthermore takes place in S  5 - 5  for decrypting the charge program contained in encrypted form, for example from a server of the vehicle accumulator manufacturer. The charging operation is subsequently performed in S  5 - 6  under the control of the decrypted charge program. If the check in S  5 - 3  determines that the vehicle accumulator  2  could not be authenticated or identified, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  the selection of a trickle charge or buffer charge takes place for example in S  5 - 7  through selection of an appropriate buffer charge program. The operation ends in S  5 - 8 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a charging method. 
         [0058]    Following the start S  6 - 1 , a check on the authenticity of the connected vehicle accumulator  2  by the charging device  1  of the charging post  3  takes place initially in S  6 - 2 . In S  6 - 3  a check is then made as to whether the connected vehicle accumulator  2  could be successfully identified or authenticated. If this is the case, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  loading of an appropriate charge program of the vehicle accumulator  2  takes place from a program memory which is available in a server of the vehicle accumulator manufacturer. As soon as the charging device has received the charge program from the server of the vehicle accumulator manufacturer, the charging operation takes place under the control of the charge program or the charge application in S  6 - 5 . If the vehicle accumulator  2  could not be successfully authenticated or identified, a trickle charge or buffer charge of the vehicle accumulator  2  takes place in S  6 - 6  through execution of an appropriate buffer charge program. The operation ends in S  6 - 7 . 
         [0059]    The method and the device for charging a vehicle accumulator  2  connected thereto permit a flexible handling of charge programs or charging profiles depending on the vehicle accumulator type and on an authenticity check on the vehicle accumulator  2 . Optimized charging profiles or charge programs can thus be provided which can then be used only for the corresponding vehicle accumulator  2 . A physically identical vehicle accumulator can be differentiated by of possible charging profiles or charge programs, for example an inexpensive vehicle accumulator with standard charging or a premium vehicle accumulator with accelerated charging. In addition, the method also allows charge programs or charge program applications to be downloaded during offline operation of the charging post  3  by of an internal memory in the vehicle accumulator  2 . Furthermore, standard charging of the vehicle accumulator  2  is also possible in situations where the authenticity of the vehicle accumulator  2  cannot be verified. The method may use an interchangeable vehicle accumulator  2  into which is integrated an appropriate charging device  1  for charging the vehicle accumulator. Furthermore, the method may charge an electric vehicle in which is situated a charging device  1  for charging vehicle accumulator  2 . The vehicle  4  in question need not necessarily be an electrically powered road vehicle. The vehicle  4  in question can also be a rail vehicle, an aircraft or a water craft. Further variants are possible. For example, a user of the vehicle can have a plurality of different charge programs and corresponding tariffs displayed by way of a user interface, for example a graphical user interface on the charging post  3 , and subsequently manually select a charge program suitable for his purposes. The selection of the charge program can thus on the one hand be made manually by the user of the vehicle or automatically by the charging device  1  on the basis of certain criteria, in particular the vehicle accumulator type. Further selection criteria are a user tariff for the vehicle user, a tariff linked to the vehicle accumulator  2  and also further parameters, in particular environmental parameters which are captured by sensors in the charging post  3 . For example, the charging operation or the charge program can be selected depending on the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the charge program can be selected depending on the amplitude of the supply current provided by the power supply network  5 . 
         [0060]    In a possible embodiment variant, if the charging device  1  determines that the connected vehicle accumulator  2  in question is a plagiarized copy of a manufacturer&#39;s product it can refuse the charging operation and where applicable send an appropriate message to the corresponding vehicle accumulator manufacturer. 
         [0061]    The vehicle accumulator  2  illustrated in  FIG. 1  need not necessarily be situated in a vehicle  4 . In a possible embodiment variant a plurality of accumulators  2 , in particular vehicle accumulators, can be charged in parallel at one charging post  3 . The accumulators  2  in question can be any desired accumulators which for example can also be inserted in other units. 
         [0062]    The downloading of a charge program can, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , take place in wired fashion by way of a data network from a server  8 . The server  8  can be a central server for various manufacturers or charging station operators or a server of one vehicle accumulator manufacturer. Furthermore, a charge program can also be downloaded in wireless fashion by way of a radio network if required. The method also allows the operation of charging stations  3  which have no connection to a data network  7 . With regard to a further possible embodiment variant, the charge program is loaded if required by way of a portable terminal device of the user, for example a mobile telephone, and made available from there to the charging device  1 . In this embodiment the charging device  1  has an interface for downloading the charge program or the charge program application from a cellular mobile telephone of the user of the electric vehicle  4 . The user of a vehicle such as an Audi A6 can for example download appropriate charge programs for the different vehicle accumulators of his vehicle from a home page of the vehicle manufacturer and make available the charge programs to a charging device  1  as required in order to perform the charging operation. In this embodiment variant the charge program is initially downloaded into a program memory of a mobile terminal device of the user and subsequently transferred to the charging device  1  by way of an interface between terminal device and charging device  1  for execution of the charge program. 
         [0063]    A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).