VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING VEHICLE

Abstract

The electrified vehicle includes an all-solid-state battery in which a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer are stacked in the front-rear direction (predetermined direction) of the electrified vehicle. The electrified vehicle also includes an acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a second acceleration in the longitudinal direction. In an electrified vehicle, charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery is prohibited when the first acceleration exceeds the first reference value, and the all-solid-state battery is prohibited until the second acceleration exceeds a second reference value that is larger than the first reference value, charging/discharging is allowed.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: an all-solid-state battery in which a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer are stacked in a predetermined direction; and an acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction and a second acceleration in the predetermined direction, wherein charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery is prohibited when the first acceleration exceeds a first reference value, and the charging and discharging is allowed until the second acceleration exceeds a second reference value that is larger than the first reference value.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is a direction along a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is a direction along a direction of gravity.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects accelerations in three axes that are orthogonal to each other.

5. A method of controlling a vehicle including an all-solid-state battery in which a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer are stacked in a predetermined direction, the method comprising: prohibiting charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery when a first acceleration in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction exceeds a first reference value; and allowing the charging and discharging until a second acceleration in the predetermined direction exceeds a second reference value that is larger than the first reference value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electrified vehicle according to the first embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an acceleration sensor;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration and stacking direction of the all-solid-state battery according to the first embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a method for controlling an electrified vehicle according to the first embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electrified vehicle according to the second embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration and stacking direction of an all-solid-state battery according to the second embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method for controlling an electrified vehicle according to the second embodiment; and

[0031] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure and stacking direction of an all-solid-state battery according to a modification of the first and second embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same or corresponding portions in the drawings are designated by the same reference signs and repetitive description will be omitted.

First Embodiment

Overall Structure

[0033] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an electrified vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment. The electrified vehicle 100 includes a battery 200 that stores power for driving. The electrified vehicle 100 is configured to be able to travel using electric power stored in the battery 200. In the first embodiment, the electrified vehicle 100 is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) without an engine (internal combustion engine), but is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with an engine or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Note that the electrified vehicle 100 is an example of a vehicle in the present disclosure.

[0034] The electrified vehicle 100 includes a control device (Electronic Control Unit (ECU)) 110. ECU 110 is configured to perform charge control and discharge control of battery 200. ECU 110 includes a processor 111, a random access memory (RAM) 112, and a storage device 113.

[0035] ECU 110 may be a computer. Processor 111 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

[0036] RAM 112 functions as a working memory that temporarily stores data processed by processor 111.

[0037] The storage device 113 is configured to be able to save stored information. The storage device 113 stores programs as well as information used in the programs (for example, maps, formulas, and various parameters). Various controls in the ECU 110 are executed by the processor 111 executing programs stored in the storage device 113.

[0038] Monitoring module 120 includes various sensors that detect the state of battery 200 (e.g., voltage, current, and temperature), and outputs detection results to ECU 110. The monitoring module 120 may be a Battery Management System (BMS) further including a State Of Charge (SOC) estimation function, a State of Health (SOH) estimation function, a function of equalizing cell voltages, a diagnosing function, and a communication function, in addition to the above-mentioned sensor function. ECU 110 can obtain the status of battery 200 (e.g., temperature, current, voltage, SOC, and internal resistance) based on the output of monitoring module 120. Note that the battery 200 is charged (externally charged) with power supplied from a charging facility.

[0039] The electrified vehicle 100 further includes a travel drive unit 130, an acceleration sensor 140, and drive wheels W.

[0040] Travel drive section 130 includes a Power Control Unit (PCU), a Motor Generator (MG), and a relay (hereinafter referred to as System Main Relay (SMR)) (none of which are shown), and is connected to battery 200. The electrified vehicle 100 is configured to run using the stored electric power.

[0041] The PCU includes, for example, an inverter and a converter. The PCU is controlled by ECU 110.

[0042] MG is, for example, a three-phase AC motor generator. The MG is driven by the PCU and is configured to rotate the drive wheels W. The PCU drives the MG using power supplied from the battery 200. Further, the MG is configured to perform regenerative power generation and supply the generated power to the battery 200.

[0043] The SMR is configured to switch connection/cutoff of the power path from the battery 200 to the PCU. The SMR is placed in a closed state (connected state) when the electrified vehicle 100 is running.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the direction in which the acceleration sensor 140 detects acceleration. The acceleration sensor 140 is a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in three axes that are orthogonal to each other. Specifically, acceleration sensor 140 is mounted on electrified vehicle 100 to detect acceleration in the longitudinal direction of electrified vehicle 100, acceleration in the lateral direction of electrified vehicle 100, and acceleration in the direction of gravity. Note that the acceleration sensor 140 is arranged, for example, at the rear of the electrified vehicle 100 (see FIG. 1). Note that the front-back direction is an example of the predetermined direction of the present disclosure. Further, each of the left-right direction and the gravitational direction is an example of a direction intersecting a predetermined direction in the present disclosure.

[0045] Battery 200 includes an all-solid-state battery 210. Next, the configuration of the all-solid-state battery 210 will be explained.

All-Solid-State Battery

[0046] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the all-solid-state battery 210. All-solid-state battery 210 includes a positive electrode layer 211, a negative electrode layer 212, and a solid electrolyte layer 213 as power storage elements. All-solid-state battery 210 may include an exterior body (not shown) for housing the power storage element. The exterior body is, for example, a pouch made of a metal foil laminate film.

[0047] Note that the all-solid-state battery 210 may be a single battery (cell) or a stacked battery. The stacked battery may be a monopolar stacked battery (parallel-connected stacked battery) or a bipolar stacked battery (series-connected stacked battery). The shape of the battery may be, for example, a coin shape, a laminate shape, a cylindrical shape, or a square shape.

Positive Electrode Layer

[0048] The positive electrode layer 211 includes a positive electrode active material layer 211a and a positive electrode current collector 211b. The positive electrode active material layer 211a is formed by applying a positive electrode slurry (slurry prepared by kneading the material of the positive electrode active material layer 211a and a solvent) onto the surface of the positive electrode current collector 211b and drying it. The positive electrode active material layer 211a is in close contact with the solid electrolyte layer 213. The thickness of the positive electrode active material layer 211a is, for example, 0.1 ?m or more and 1000 ?m or less.

Negative Electrode Layer

[0049] The negative electrode layer 212 includes a negative electrode active material layer 212a and a negative electrode current collector 212b. The negative electrode active material layer 212a is formed by applying a negative electrode slurry (slurry prepared by kneading the material of the negative electrode active material layer 212a and a solvent) onto the surface of the negative electrode current collector 212b and drying it. The negative electrode active material layer 212a is in close contact with the solid electrolyte layer 213. The thickness of the negative electrode active material layer 212a is, for example, 0.1 ?m or more and 1000 ?m or less.

Solid Electrolyte Layer

[0050] Solid electrolyte layer 213 is interposed between positive electrode layer 211 and negative electrode layer 212. Solid electrolyte layer 213 separates positive electrode layer 211 from negative electrode layer 212. The thickness of the solid electrolyte layer 213 is, for example, 0.1 ?m or more and 1000 ?m or less.

[0051] Further, the positive electrode layer 211, the solid electrolyte layer 213, and the negative electrode layer 212 are stacked in the front-rear direction (traveling direction) of the electrified vehicle 100. That is, in the first embodiment, the all-solid-state battery 210 is arranged such that the stacking direction of each layer of the all-solid-state battery 210 matches the longitudinal direction of the electrified vehicle 100.

[0052] Here, when the electrified vehicle 100 collides with another vehicle or the like, the all-solid-state battery 210 is also subjected to impact. For this reason, an internal short circuit or the like may occur in the all-solid-state battery and a large current may flow, so it is necessary to stop charging and discharging the all-solid-state battery. However, conventional systems do not take into account the impact that is applied to all-solid-state batteries. Therefore, depending on the form of the impact (magnitude and/or direction), charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery may be stopped even if no particular problem occurs.

[0053] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ECU 110 (processor 111) activates the all-solid-state battery 210 when the acceleration of the electrified vehicle 100 in the left-right direction and the gravity direction, which is detected by the acceleration sensor 140, exceeds the first reference value. Stops charging and discharging. Furthermore, the processor 111 allows charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 until the acceleration of the electrified vehicle 100 in the longitudinal direction (stacking direction) detected by the acceleration sensor 140 exceeds a second reference value that is larger than the first reference value. do. In other words, the processor 111 stops charging and discharging the all-solid-state battery 210 when the acceleration of the electrified vehicle 100 in the longitudinal direction (stacking direction) exceeds the second reference value. Note that charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 may be stopped by controlling to shut off the SMR or by controlling to stop the inverter and converter of the PCU.

[0054] Here, in the all-solid-state battery 210, the mechanical strength of each layer in the stacking direction is higher than the mechanical strength in the direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the stacking direction. Each of the first reference value and the second reference value is a value set in advance through tests or the like during the development of the electrified vehicle 100, taking this property into account. More specifically, the first reference value is a threshold value (lower limit value) of acceleration at which damage (cracking) or the like may occur in the all-solid-state battery 210 in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the all-solid-state battery 210. The second reference value is a threshold value (lower limit value) of acceleration at which damage (cracking) or the like may occur in the all-solid-state battery 210 in the stacking direction of the all-solid-state battery 210.

[0055] By controlling charging and discharging as described above, charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 is allowed when the acceleration in the stacking direction is greater than the first reference value and less than or equal to the second reference value. Thereby, it is possible to suppress charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 from being stopped unnecessarily even though the all-solid-state battery 210 is not damaged.

Method of Controlling Vehicle

[0056] Next, a method of controlling the electrified vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Note that the flow shown in FIG. 4 may be executed at predetermined intervals, or may be executed when any of the three axes of acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 140 exceeds a predetermined value (for example, a value smaller than the first reference value).

[0057] In S1, the processor 111 determines that the acceleration (typically negative acceleration associated with a collision of the electrified vehicle 100) in the longitudinal direction (stacking direction) of the electrified vehicle 100 detected by the acceleration sensor 140 (absolute value) is the second reference. Determine whether it is greater than the value. If the longitudinal acceleration is greater than the second reference value (YES in S1), the process proceeds to S3. If the longitudinal acceleration is less than or equal to the second reference value (NO in S1), the process proceeds to S2.

[0058] In S2, the processor 111 determines whether at least one of the acceleration (absolute value) in the left-right direction and the acceleration (absolute value) in the direction of gravity of the electrified vehicle 100 detected by the acceleration sensor 140 is larger than the first reference value. judge. If at least one of the above values is larger than the first reference value (YES in S2), the process proceeds to S3. If at least one of the above values is less than or equal to the first reference value (NO in S2), the process ends. In this case, charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 is allowed. Note that the process of S2 may be executed before the process of S1, or may be executed simultaneously with the process of S1. Further, the first reference value corresponding to the left-right direction and the first reference value corresponding to the gravity direction may be equal to each other or may be different from each other.

[0059] In S3, the processor 111 performs processing to stop charging and discharging the all-solid-state battery 210.

[0060] As described above, in the first embodiment, when the acceleration in the direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the stacking direction of the all-solid-state battery 210 exceeds the first reference value, charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 is prohibited, and the all-solid-state battery 210 is allowed to be charged and discharged until the acceleration in the stacking direction exceeds the second reference value. As a result, since the reference value corresponding to the stacking direction (second reference value) is higher than the reference value corresponding to the crossing direction (first reference value), the entire solid body is It is possible to suppress charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 from being stopped unnecessarily. As a result, the electrified vehicle 100 can travel a certain distance (limp home) after receiving a relatively small impact due to a minor collision or the like.

Second Embodiment

[0061] Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which the stacking direction of each layer of the all-solid-state battery 210 is the front-rear direction of the electrified vehicle 100, the stacking direction is in the direction of gravity. Note that the same components as in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be repeatedly described.

Overall Structure

[0062] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an electrified vehicle 300 according to the second embodiment. The electrified vehicle 300 includes a battery 400 that stores power for driving. Note that the electrified vehicle 300 is an example of a vehicle in the present disclosure.

[0063] The electrified vehicle 300 includes an ECU 310. ECU 310 is configured to control charging and discharging of battery 400. ECU 310 includes a processor 311, RAM 312, and storage device 313.

[0064] Battery 400 includes an all-solid-state battery 210 (see FIG. 6). Next, the configuration of the all-solid-state battery 210 will be explained.

All-Solid-State Battery

[0065] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the all-solid-state battery 210. In the second embodiment, the positive electrode layer 211, the solid electrolyte layer 213, and the negative electrode layer 212 are stacked in the direction of gravity. That is, in the second embodiment, the all-solid-state battery 210 is arranged such that the stacking direction of each layer of the all-solid-state battery 210 coincides with the direction of gravity.

Method of Controlling Vehicle

[0066] Next, a method of controlling the electrified vehicle 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Note that the same controls (processes) as in the first embodiment will not be repeatedly explained.

[0067] In S11, the processor 311 determines whether the acceleration (absolute value) in the direction of gravity detected by the acceleration sensor 140 is larger than the second reference value. If the acceleration in the direction of gravity is larger than the second reference value (YES in S11), the process proceeds to S3. If the acceleration in the direction of gravity is less than or equal to the second reference value (NO in S11), the process proceeds to S12.

[0068] In S12, the processor 311 determines that at least one of the horizontal acceleration (absolute value) of the electrified vehicle 300 and the longitudinal acceleration (absolute value) of the electrified vehicle 300 detected by the acceleration sensor 140 is larger than the first reference value. Determine whether. If at least one of the above values is larger than the first reference value (YES in S12), the process proceeds to S3. If at least one of the above values is equal to or less than the first reference value (NO in S12), the process ends. In this case, charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 is allowed. Note that the process of S12 may be executed before the process of S11, or may be executed simultaneously with the process of S11. Further, the first reference value corresponding to the left-right direction and the first reference value corresponding to the front-rear direction may be equal to each other or may be different from each other.

[0069] Note that the other configurations and controls of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0070] In the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the stacking direction of each layer of the all-solid-state battery 210 is the front-rear direction of the electrified vehicle 100, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the stacking direction may be inclined by a predetermined angle ? with respect to the front-rear direction. In this case, for example, the acceleration component in the stacking direction may be calculated based on the acceleration in the longitudinal direction and the acceleration in the direction of gravity (or the lateral direction) detected by the acceleration sensor 140, and charging/discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 may be prohibited. It may be determined whether. Note that the second embodiment may also be controlled in the same manner.

[0071] In the first and second embodiments described above, an example was shown in which the stacking direction of the all-solid-state battery 210 is the longitudinal direction of the electrified vehicle 100 and the gravity direction, respectively, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the stacking direction may be the left-right direction of the electrified vehicle.

[0072] In the first and second embodiments described above, an example is shown in which a three-axis acceleration sensor is used as the acceleration sensor 140, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, a two-axis acceleration sensor may be used. Further, for example, two or more uniaxial acceleration sensors may be used. In this case, acceleration in the direction of gravity (or acceleration in the left-right direction) may not be detected.

[0073] In the first and second embodiments described above, an example was shown in which charging and discharging of the all-solid-state battery 210 is prohibited (permitted), but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Only one of charging and discharging may be prohibited (permitted).

[0074] In the first and second embodiments described above, an example was shown in which the acceleration sensor 140 detects accelerations in a plurality of mutually orthogonal directions, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The acceleration sensor may detect acceleration in a plurality of directions that are not orthogonal to each other but intersect with each other.

[0075] Note that the configurations (processing) of the above-described embodiment and each of the above-described modifications may be combined with each other.

[0076] The embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is shown by the claims, rather than the above embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and the scope equivalent to those of the claims.