Accessible electric vehicle charger

Abstract

An electric vehicle charger (10) has a cable (18) and a charging plug (16) that are substantially hidden within and protected by a housing (12) in a stowed state. The charger (10) is activated via a first control input to charge the vehicle, for example, the first control input may be a non-contact capacitive sensor provided on the housing (12). In response to the first control input, the motorized release device releases the charging plug (16) to a to-be-deployed state in which the charging plug (16) and a portion of the shorter length of the cable (18) are located outside the housing. In this state, the charging plug (16) can be easily grasped by a user and can be further released to a deployed position to charge the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to an electric vehicle charger. Background Art

[0002] Electric vehicle chargers are often installed in public places, such as gas stations and supermarket parking lots. They are also commonly installed in private locations, such as driveways and garages.

[0003] Some chargers include a receptacle that receives the plug of a charging cable, and the charging cable needs to be stored separately. When using this type of charger outside, the driver needs to carry the charging cable with them. If this charger is installed in the driver's home, the driver may leave the cable near the charger. However, leaving the cable plugged into the charger is not ideal because the cable can be damaged, exposed to weather, or stolen. Therefore, using this type of charger requires removing the charging cable from its storage location and plugging it into the charger and vehicle at both ends.

[0004] Some electric vehicle chargers, particularly those located in public places, include a charging cable that is permanently connected to the charger. This design eliminates the need for the driver to carry a charging cable with them. However, such cables (which contain valuable copper) are susceptible to theft or vandalism. Such cables are also exposed to the weather and can be accidentally damaged. When not in use, the cable connected to the charger can be stored in a variety of ways, preferably with the plug easily accessible. However, users do not always return the cable to its storage location correctly for the next user, and as a result, the plug may hang out or be placed on the ground. While for most users, picking up the plug from the ground may only be a minor inconvenience, for some users with disabilities, it may make it impossible to use the charger without assistance.

[0005] Even when using a charging station correctly, the charging cable can be heavy and difficult to handle, which is particularly challenging for people with disabilities. The charging plug is sometimes difficult to access when stored, and replacing it after use can be challenging for some users. If a user with a disability accidentally drops the plug, they may be unable to pick it up and be unable to use the charger without assistance.

[0006] The present application aims to address these problems. In particular, the present application aims to provide an electric vehicle charger that protects the cable and plug and is easy to use for users, including those with physical disabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to the present application, an electric vehicle charger is provided, the charger comprising:

[0008] case;

[0009] a charging cable having a charging plug for connecting to an electric vehicle; and

[0010] Electric charging cable release device,

[0011] The charger has a storage state in which the charging plug is at least partially enclosed by the housing; a deployment state in which the charging plug and a shorter portion of the charging cable are located outside the housing; and a deployed state in which the charging plug and a longer portion of the charging cable extend from the housing to allow the charging plug to be connected to a vehicle.

[0012] The charger is provided with a first control input terminal, and is configured to activate the cable payout device in response to the first control input terminal to pay out the charging plug to a ready-to-deploy state.

[0013] Advantageously, the charging plug is at least partially enclosed by the housing when in storage. Preferably, the charging plug is substantially entirely covered or enclosed by the housing when in storage. This protects the charging plug from damage and can also deter or prevent theft of the cable, as it is not visually obvious that the charger comes with a cable. This also provides a neat and aesthetically pleasing appearance, which is particularly advantageous for consumers when choosing a home charging product.

[0014] The first control input terminal can be, for example, a button or a contactless sensor provided on the side of the housing. Alternatively, the first control input terminal can be remote from the housing, for example, provided on a handheld remote control or implemented through an application on a smartphone. When the first control input terminal is activated, the charging plug and a smaller portion of the cable are released from the housing so that the user can easily grab it. In the deployed state, the charging plug needs to protrude sufficiently from the outside of the housing to facilitate easy grabbing. In some embodiments, the charging plug and a smaller portion of the charging cable are exposed to the outside of the housing in this state.

[0015] The first control input can be connected to a payment device, such as a credit / debit card reader. In an embodiment configured for use in a public location, a user may be required to present (or insert or swipe) a payment card to pay for the charging fee, and in response to payment of the charging fee, the plug is released from the housing into a ready-to-deploy state.

[0016] In embodiments configured for installation in the home, the first control input typically does not need to be connected to a payment device. However, a degree of security can be provided by providing a user identification device, such as requiring the scanning of an RFID key fob, or by ensuring that only authorized users can activate the control input and use the charger by controlling the charger via an app pre-paired with the charger.

[0017] The user identification device can provide a way for an authorized user to access and / or operate the first control input. If the user has completed payment or registered as a user authorized to use the charger, then he or she can be considered an authorized user.

[0018] The user identification means may include a biometric verification means, which may include, for example, fingerprint, voice and / or facial recognition means.

[0019] A vehicle may also be considered a user, in which case the user identification device may include a license plate recognition device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first control input can be a capacitive touch sensor comprising a conductive pad disposed on the inside of an insulating cover of the housing. The capacitive touch sensor can act as a very robust switch and allow the cover to be completely sealed to prevent weather. The conductive pad can be made large, for example, approximately the size of a typical human hand, or at least about 25 square centimeters in area. By touching the outside of the charger housing in the area where the conductive pad is located, the charger can be activated to release the cable to a ready-to-deploy state.

[0021] Other alternative types of control inputs may include contactless proximity sensors, such as infrared reflective type proximity sensors.A control device is provided that can be easily activated by touch or waving a hand, and allows for a fully sealed housing cover and ease of use.

[0022] As an alternative to placing the first control input on the charger housing, a handheld remote control can be provided. For example, a small keychain remote similar to a garage door opener could be used as the first control input. Another possibility is to use an app on the user's smartphone. This is particularly useful for, for example, wheelchair users, who may not be able to reach a charger mounted at normal standing height. However, by activating the charger using the handheld remote control, sufficient cable length can be released for the wheelchair user to reach the charging plug.

[0023] Once the user holds the charging plug in their hand, the cable can be further extended to be in a deployed state, as will be described further below.

[0024] In some embodiments, the length of the cable that is paid out to the to-be-deployed position may depend on the signal sent by the first control input. This may be advantageous in providing a charger that can be used by different users with different needs. For example, the charger may be mounted at a height slightly higher than that at which an average standing person would reach out to grab the plug. A standing person (e.g., someone who may have difficulty bending over) may require the cable to be paid out for a shorter length so that only the plug is exposed from the housing so that such a standing person can grab the plug. However, a wheelchair user may require the plug to be paid out for a longer length of cable in the to-be-deployed state so that the plug can be easily reached and grabbed in a sitting position in the wheelchair. This may be achieved by providing a variety of different RFID cards for different users, different user profiles through a smartphone app, or different switches on the housing of the charger.

[0025] Once the user has the charging plug in hand, they may wish to pay the cable further out of the housing to a deployed state, thereby enabling charging the electric vehicle. In some embodiments, this can be accomplished by the user manually pulling the cable, which can be unwound from a spool within the housing, for example. However, it is more preferred that a motorized cable payout mechanism be capable of paying the cable out from the ready-to-deploy state to the deployed state.

[0026] Preferably, a second control input is provided for activating the payout mechanism to pay out the cable from the pre-deployment state to the deployed state. This second control input can be implemented via a switch, button, or other operating device provided on the charging plug. Thus, the first control input can be used to pay out the charging plug to the pre-deployment position. The user can then grasp the charging plug and use the second control input provided on the charging plug to further control the payout of the cable to the deployed state.

[0027] In such an embodiment, the second control input on the charging plug may be concealed and / or inaccessible when the charging plug is in the storage state.

[0028] For example, in the storage state, the second control input may be completely enclosed within the charger housing.The second control input may be exposed and accessible only when the first control input is operated.

[0029] The housing may include a door. In the stored state, the second control input may be disposed within the housing and behind the door. The door may be opened when the first control input is actuated.

[0030] The second control input can be exposed and accessible when the charging plug is in the deployed position. In some embodiments, the second control input can be disabled in any situation where it is difficult or impossible to access the second control input in the stored position. This prevents someone from reaching into the housing (including with a tool) to operate the second control input, for example, if a charge has not been paid or the first control input is not operated by an authorized user.

[0031] Preferably, the second control input allows incremental control of the cable payout device to pay out any length of cable from the housing. In the simplest case, this may simply comprise a button which pays out the cable while it is held depressed and stops paying out when it is released.

[0032] Providing a second control input, preferably one that allows for incremental control, allows users, particularly those with disabilities, to more easily control the cable payout and move the charging plug to their desired location, i.e., near the vehicle's charging point, to begin charging. Depending on the vehicle's parked location and the position of the vehicle's charging receptacle relative to the charger, only the required length of cable needs to be paid out. This prevents unwanted lengths of cable from dragging on the ground, creating a tripping hazard.

[0033] Preferably, the charger also includes a motorized cable retraction device. In one embodiment, this can be configured as a device with motorized cable payout and retraction functions, such as a reversible motor or suitable transmission device so that the motor can rotate the spool in either direction to pay out or retract the cable.

[0034] The cable retraction device can be activated by a signal at a control input to retract the cable into a storage position. The retraction function can be enabled at a first control input, for example on the main body of the charger housing, or by a smartphone application, or at a second control input, such as a switch or button on the charging plug. In normal use, when the user has finished charging the vehicle, they will unplug the charging plug from the vehicle. Therefore, it is very convenient to have a retraction switch on the charging plug. However, when the charging plug is out of the user's reach, for example if it is accidentally dropped on the ground and the user is unable to bend down to pick it up, the retraction function can be enabled by a switch on the charger housing, a smartphone application or a remote control, so such a solution is also very practical. Preferably, a controller can be provided for retracting the cable into a ready-to-deploy state rather than a storage state, so that the charger plug can be recaptured and then deployed to charge the vehicle.

[0035] Similar to the release control, the retract signal can facilitate incremental retraction, for example, when the retract switch is pressed, the cable is retracted into the housing, and when the switch is released, the retraction process stops. This allows the user to control the retraction process, so that they can always hold the charging plug and prevent it from falling to the ground and potentially causing damage.

[0036] However, once the portion of the cable extending outside the housing reaches a length less than a predetermined value, such as less than approximately 30 cm (1 foot), in some embodiments, the cable may automatically continue to retract until the cable is fully retracted into the storage position. This is because when the charging plug is fully retracted into the housing, it is substantially enclosed by the housing, making it difficult or even impossible for the user to continue pressing the retraction switch provided on the charging plug.

[0037] In some embodiments, the cable can be released from the pre-deployment position to the deployed position using a power assist mechanism. In other words, the second control input can be implemented by a device that detects whether the cable is being pulled out of the housing. In these embodiments, the user can pull the charging plug out of the housing by applying a slight pulling force. In response to the user's pulling force, an electric release mechanism is activated to assist in releasing the cable. In some embodiments, the electric release mechanism can then continue to release the cable until it reaches a fully deployed position, as it is often difficult for the user to continue pulling the cable once a certain length of cable has been released.

[0038] The electric vehicle charger may be part of a charging station. The electric vehicle charger may be mounted on a wall. The electric vehicle charger may be installed approximately 70 cm to 120 cm from the ground. When stored, the charging plug may be positioned approximately 70 cm to 120 cm from the ground. The electric vehicle charger may not be a hanging electric vehicle charger. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] For a better understanding of the present application and to show more clearly how it may be put into practice, description will now be given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 shows a perspective cutaway view of a charger according to the present application;

[0041] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A perspective view of the charger shown in FIG. Figure 2 This charger is fully assembled and in storage condition;

[0042] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 A perspective view of the charger shown in FIG. Figure 3 The charger is fully assembled and ready to deploy.

[0043] Figure 4 Shown Figure 1 A perspective view of the charger shown in FIG. Figure 4 This charger is fully assembled and in a deployed state;

[0044] Figure 5 Shown Figure 1 The portion of the charger shown in FIG. 1 is the portion of the housing that covers the capacitive touch sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] First reference Figure 1 , the electric vehicle charger is marked as a whole with 10. Figure 1 In the , the charger is shown with a portion of the housing cut away or removed so that the interior of the charger is visible. Figure 2 In the figure, the charger is shown fully assembled, with all external housing components in place.

[0046] The charger 10 includes a housing 12. The housing 12 provides protection for the components of the charger 10 from weather, accidental or deliberate damage. An opening 14 in the housing provides access so that the charging plug 16 can be substantially stored within the housing 12 to be enclosed and protected by the housing 12. Figure 1 and Figure 2 , or may be deployed externally to the housing 12, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in .

[0047] The charging plug 16 is provided on a charging cable 18 . Figure 1 The cable 18 is shown retracted onto a spool 20. The spool can be rotated by a motor 22 to pay out or retract the cable 18. The cable 18 is paid out by driving the motor 22 in one direction; the cable is retracted by driving the motor in the opposite direction.

[0048] The spool arrangement allows full control of the payout and retraction of the cable 18 by the motor 22 with little chance of jamming and is described in detail in the applicant's co-pending UK patent application number 2203016.7.

[0049] like Figure 1As shown in FIG, in the stored state, the entire cable 18 and most of the charging plug 16 are enclosed by the housing 12. Although there is an opening 14 in the housing 12, the opening is preferably downwardly facing, thereby preventing water from entering. Although a small portion of the charging plug 16 may protrude out of the opening, the majority of the charging plug is enclosed and covered by the housing 12, thereby protecting it from damage. The charging plug 16 is also not easily visible, and therefore it is not immediately apparent that the charger 10 is of the type that includes a permanently connected cable. Therefore, this can deter theft. In any case, the charging plug 16 is difficult to remove when in the stored state. In some embodiments, a locking device can be provided on the spool 20 or other component to prevent the cable from being manually pulled out. Since the plug 16 is substantially enclosed by the housing 12, it is difficult to grasp the plug 16 even if it can be grasped through the opening 14.

[0050] refer to Figure 2 , a user who wishes to use the charger to charge his vehicle needs to operate the first control input. In this embodiment, the first control input is configured as a capacitive sensor that detects the user's hand touching or approaching the outer surface 24 of the housing 12. By touching or simply bringing the hand close to the surface 24 of the housing, the user can activate the first control input. In response, the charger is activated. The motor 22 operates to rotate the spool 20, paying out the cable to a smaller length. This puts the charger in a ready-to-deploy state, such as Figure 3 . The length of the cable released in this state can be, for example, about 30 cm (12 inches) or less. The purpose is to extend only the charging plug 16 or at least a portion of the charging plug 16 to the outside of the housing so that the user can easily grasp it. In particular, the charging plug 16 is sufficiently exposed so that the control buttons 26 and 28 can be reached and operated. In some embodiments, no cable may be exposed to the outside of the housing, but only the plug 16 may be exposed to a degree sufficient to be easily grasped.

[0051] In some embodiments, the length of the cable released in the deployed state can be determined based on the signal of the first control input. For example, an RFID card can be scanned to replace the capacitive sensor. Different users can be assigned different RFID cards, so that the charger can release the corresponding length of cable according to the needs of specific users. For example, a user who can walk may find it most convenient to only release the charging plug 16 from the housing to a short length, so that it can be easily grabbed in a standing position without bending over. However, a wheelchair user may need the charging plug 16 to be released to a slightly longer cable length so that it can be grabbed in a sitting position in the wheelchair.

[0052] In some embodiments, the first control input may be implemented via a smartphone application or other remote control device, which can also be used to distinguish between different users.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first control input can be connected to a payment system. For example, a user can swipe, insert, or present a payment card to pay for charging. Upon payment, the charger is activated and placed in a ready-to-deploy state. Payment for public charging and the corresponding activation of the charger can also be controlled via a smartphone application. The payment card can also identify the user and be associated with the user's profile, allowing the appropriate cable length to be deployed based on the user's needs.

[0054] In other embodiments, a user identification device may be provided. The user identification device may be used to authorize a user to access and / or operate the first control input. If the user has completed payment or otherwise registered as a user authorized to use the charger 10, then the user may be an authorized user.

[0055] The user identification means may include a biometric verification means, which may include, for example, fingerprint, voice and / or facial recognition means.

[0056] A vehicle may also be considered a user, in which case the user identification device may include a license plate recognition device.

[0057] Once the charging plug 16 is released from the housing 12 to the outside, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown in FIG, the user can grasp it with his hands. A second control input is provided on the charging plug 16 in the form of buttons 26, 28 for controlling further release of the cable 18 to place the charger in a fully deployed state, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 In this embodiment, pressing and holding the button 26 rotates the motor 22 in one direction to further pay out the cable 18 , while pressing and holding the button 28 rotates the motor 22 in the opposite direction to retract the cable 18 .

[0058] When the button 26 or 28 is released, the motor 22 stops running.

[0059] Thus, the user can pay out a desired length of cable by using buttons 26 , 28 , and cable payout can be performed at a speed that is convenient for the user, given that the user needs to move plug 16 into the appropriate position to plug into and charge the vehicle.

[0060] Other examples of plug installation controls suitable for use with the present invention are described in the applicant's co-pending UK patent application number 2201545.7.

[0061] When charging is complete, the user can remove the plug 16 from the vehicle and retract the cable using the button 28. Again, in this embodiment, the motor 22 only rotates while the button is held down, so the user can control the retraction process at a desired speed to safely move the plug 16 back into the housing 12 without any damage.

[0062] Once the cable is retracted into the housing to a predetermined length, such as less than about 30 centimeters (1 foot) of cable extending outside the housing, the motor may continue to rotate to fully retract the cable into the storage position, regardless of whether button 28 is held down.

[0063] Additionally, further control may be provided, such as via a smartphone app, remote control, or a simple switch on the housing, to retract the cable if the plug 16 becomes out of reach, such as because it has been accidentally dropped.

[0064] refer to Figure 5 , which shows an exploded view of the housing cover 32. In this embodiment, the housing cover is constructed in two parts 34, 36. The cover assembly 34 encloses the housing and provides a weatherproof seal to protect the internal components. An auxiliary cover 36 is disposed on the outside of the cover assembly 34. A conductive pad 38 is sandwiched between the cover assembly 34 and the auxiliary cover 36. When fully assembled, the conductive pad 38 is located on the inside of the auxiliary cover 36. The auxiliary cover 36 protects the conductive pad 38 but provides a thin wall between the conductive pad 38 and the outside of the housing. The conductive pad forms part of the first control input, i.e., a capacitive touch or proximity sensor. Preferably, the conductive pad has an area of ​​at least about 25 square centimeters and can detect, for example, a human hand approaching the outside of the housing.

[0065] The present application provides a convenient, easy-to-use and compact charger, embodiments of which can be suitable for public use (e.g., at service stations, supermarket parking lots, etc.) and private use, such as being installed at the front of a house for use with vehicles parked in the driveway. By using the charger of the present application, the vehicle does not need to carry a charging cable, and the cable permanently connected to the charger is hidden and protected from damage, theft and vandalism. The charger is easy to use and easy to operate for users with physical disabilities who may have difficulty moving heavy cables to charge the vehicle and then returning them to their correct storage location.

[0066] In some embodiments, the electric vehicle charger can be part of a charging station. The electric vehicle charger can be mounted on a wall.

[0067] The charger is deployed via a two-step process. The first control input allows the user to activate the charger, moving the charging plug into a position where it can be grasped. From there, a second control input on the charging plug itself allows further deployment of the charging cable to be easily operated by users, including those with physical disabilities.

[0068] The above embodiments are provided as examples only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present application as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle charger, comprising: case; a charging cable having a charging plug for connecting to an electric vehicle; as well as Electric charging cable release device, The charger has a storage state in which the charging plug is at least partially enclosed by the housing; and a deployment state in which the charging plug protrudes outside the housing. and a deployed state in which the charging plug and the charging cable extend from the housing to allow the charging plug to be connected to a vehicle, The charger is provided with a first control input terminal, and is configured to activate the cable releasing device in response to an operation of the first control input terminal to release the charging plug from the storage state to the ready-to-deploy state.

2. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 1, wherein The charger is provided with a second control input for activating the payout device to pay out the cable from the ready-to-deploy state to the deployed state, wherein the second control input is configured as an operating device provided on the charging plug, and when the charger is in the storage state, the second control input is hidden and inaccessible, and when the charger is in the ready-to-deploy state, the second control input is accessible.

3. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 2, wherein: The second control input allows incremental control of the cable payout device to pay out cable until a selected length of cable is paid out of the housing and then stop paying out cable.

4. An electric vehicle charger according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The first control input comprises user identification means for authorising a user to access and / or operate the first control input.

5. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 4, wherein The user identification device includes a license plate recognition device.

6. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The user identification device includes a biometric verification device.

7. The electric vehicle charger according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: The length of the cable that is paid out to the location to be deployed depends on the profile associated with the user identified by the user identification means.

8. An electric vehicle charger according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The first control input is configured as a switch or a sensor provided on the housing.

9. An electric vehicle charger according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The first control input terminal is provided on a handheld remote control device.

10. An electric vehicle charger according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The first control input includes a payment acceptance device.

11. An electric vehicle charger according to any preceding claim, further comprising an electric cable retraction device.

12. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 11, when referring to claim 7, wherein: The cable retracting device is configured to be controlled by the first control input or the second control input to retract the cable into the storage state.

13. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: A control input for controlling cable retraction allows incremental control of the cable retraction device to retract the cable until a selected length of cable is exposed exterior of the housing and then stop retracting the cable.

14. The electric vehicle charger according to claim 13, wherein: If the length of the cable exposed outside of the housing is less than a predetermined minimum length, the cable retraction device automatically continues to fully retract the cable to the storage position regardless of user input.

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