System and method for enabling the charging of an electrical energy storage device of a motor vehicle at a charging station

Abstract

System (1) for enabling the charging of an electrical energy storage device of a motor vehicle (2) at a charging station (8), comprising: - a vehicle key (3) with an RFID transponder (4); - a vehicle-side interface (5) and / or an interface on a smartphone (6) which is configured to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the vehicle key (3) which enables charging of the electrical energy storage device at specified charging stations (8); - wherein the vehicle key (3) is configured to verify the certificate by means of the RFID transponder (4) at the specified charging stations (8).

Description

The invention relates to a system and a method for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle at a charging column.It is known per se to carry out an identification and payment function at electric fuel stations or at charging stations by means of a separate electric fuel card which has an RFID transponder for authentication. For example, US 2010 / 0 211 643 A1 shows a method in which a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle on a charging column is made possible by a user holding a device with an RFID transponder on the charging column, more precisely on a reading device of the charging column. The device with the RFID transponder is, for example, a smart card, a key fob or the like. The user must therefore carry this separate device when he wishes to use the charging stations to charge the energy store of the motor vehicle.In addition, it is known per se to transmit an initialization signal for starting a charging process from a user-side RFID tag to a charging column for charging an electric vehicle, as described in DE 10 2009 039 651 A1.DE 20 2011 100 062 U1 also describes a method in which an RFID tag is bonded to a windshield of a motor vehicle. By means of this label, a charging current obtained via a charging station is permitted to be charged via the Internet.US 2015 / 0 199 685 A1 describes a system for authorising and unwinding a refueling process of a truck at a gas station. The system offers the possibility that a driver of the truck can input information from the vehicle interior for identification, on the basis of which the authorization for the refueling process is carried out by the system. An RFID transponder is arranged in the lorry, which is detected by means of a reading device of the filling station when the lorry approaches the filling station. After the RFID transponder has been recognized, it triggers a communication device which subsequently prompts the driver to input the information for identification at the communication device. The communication device can be a part of the truck or else a mobile terminal. The RFID transponder can be inserted into the communication device, for example.It is the object of the present invention to enable a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle on a charging column in a particularly simple manner.This object is achieved by a system and by a method for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle having the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.The system according to the invention for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle at a charging column comprises a vehicle key with an RFID transponder. Furthermore, the system has a vehicle-side interface and / or an interface on a smartphone, which is configured to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the vehicle key, which certificate makes it possible to charge the electrical energy store at predetermined charging stations. The vehicle key is configured to detect the certificate at the predetermined charging stations by means of the RFID transponder.The certificate required for enabling the charging process of the electrical energy store of the motor vehicle at a charging column can therefore be transmitted to the vehicle key on the vehicle side and / or via a smartphone via the interfaces mentioned. The certificate acquired in this way and stored in the vehicle key then allows particularly simple and problem-free charging of the electrical energy store of the motor vehicle at the charging stations released for this purpose, which preferably is a pure electric vehicle or else a hybrid vehicle. Because the certificate can be assigned to the vehicle key, a user does not have to carry along the separate radio tank card mentioned at the beginning or other separate equipment in order to be able to charge his motor vehicle at the predetermined charging stations.This is because the certificate that can be stored on the vehicle key allows communication between the motor vehicle and a charging infrastructure in the form of the specified charging stations in a particularly simple manner. As a result, the prerequisite for a plug-in charge is created via the vehicle key, which permits automatic billing at the specified charging stations. In particular, individual electronic certificates can be loaded onto the vehicle key in this way, which allow particularly reliable authentication and authorization.An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the vehicle-side interface and / or the interface of the smartphone are configured to transmit the certificate to the vehicle key by means of near-field communication. Near field communication, commonly abbreviated as NFC, is an international transmission standard based on RFID technology for contactless exchange of data by electromagnetic induction by means of loose, coupled coils over short distances of a few centimeters. The certificate can be transmitted to the vehicle key in a particularly simple and energy-saving manner via the said near-field communication.A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the vehicle-side interface and / or the interface of the smartphone are configured to transmit the certificate to the vehicle key via a Bluetooth connection. The certificate can also be transmitted particularly easily and comfortably to the vehicle key via the Bluetooth connection.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the system has a server device which is configured to transmit the certificate to the motor vehicle and / or to the smartphone as soon as a registered user requests the certificate on the vehicle side and / or via the smartphone. The user can register with the server device with a user name and password, for example. Furthermore, the user of the server device can also have stored bank data and the like for payment functions. If the user then requests the transmission of the certificate on the vehicle side or via the smartphone, the user can be authenticated unambiguously by means of the server device. The issued certificate can be unambiguously assigned to the user and then loaded onto the vehicle key.In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the certificate enables cashless charging of the electrical energy store with a payment process connected downstream in time. As a result, the user who has to carry along the vehicle key in any case for operating the vehicle can charge the electrical energy store particularly conveniently and the payment process as such can take place automatically in the follow-up.A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the vehicle-side interface is part of an infotainment system of the motor vehicle. For example, a driver can initiate the transmission of the certificate to the vehicle key in a very simple manner via a vehicle-side display and corresponding operating devices, such as touch screens, rotary push actuators and the like.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the smartphone has an app by means of which the transmission of the certificate to the vehicle key can be initiated. By calling the app on the smartphone, a user can initiate the transmission of the certificate to the vehicle key in a particularly convenient manner.A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that different tariffs for charging the electrical energy store can be selected via the vehicle-side interface, via the interface of the smartphone and / or via the vehicle key and can be assigned to the certificate. A display can be provided on the vehicle key itself, for example, so that a user can easily select the various tariffs for charging via the display on the vehicle key. Alternatively or additionally, the different tariffs can also be selected via the vehicle-side interface or via the smartphone. As a result, particularly favorable tariffs can be selected in each case, so that a user of the vehicle can charge his motor vehicle in an always particularly favorable manner.In the method according to the invention for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle at a charging station, a certificate which enables charging of the electrical energy store at predetermined charging stations is wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle key by means of a vehicle-side interface or by means of an interface at a smartphone. An advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention is to be considered as advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention and vice versa, wherein the system has in particular means for carrying out the method steps.Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the combination indicated, but also alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.The drawing shows in: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a system for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle on a charging column; and FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle which is arranged on a charging column in order to charge the energy store of the motor vehicle.In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements have been provided with the same reference numerals.A system 1 for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle 2 first shown in FIG. 2 is shown in a schematic illustration in FIG. 1. The system 1 comprises a vehicle key 3 with an integrated RFID transponder 4. the system 1 further comprises a vehicle-side interface 5 and an interface 6 on a smartphone, which is configured to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the vehicle key 3, which certificate enables charging of the electrical energy store of said motor vehicle 2 at predetermined charging stations. The vehicle key 3 is configured to detect the certificate at the predetermined charging stations by means of the RFID transponder 4. Furthermore, the system 1 also has a server device 7 which can transmit the certificate mentioned to the motor vehicle 2 or to the smartphone 6.In FIG. 2, the motor vehicle 2 already mentioned is shown in a perspective view, while the latter is parked on a charging column 8 in order to charge the energy store of the motor vehicle 2. A driver of the motor vehicle 2 merely has to hold his vehicle key 3, to which the certificate has already been transmitted, to a reading device 9 of the charging station 8. As soon as it has thus authenticated itself on the charging column 9, a charging process is enabled or authorized. The driver can then use the charging column 8 for cashless charging of the electrical energy store of the motor vehicle 2. A payment process is then carried out automatically and downstream.The certificate can be transmitted to the vehicle key 3 for example via the vehicle-side interface 5 or via the interface of the smartphone 6 by means of near-field communication or also via a Bluetooth connection. The certificate can be transmitted previously wirelessly to the motor vehicle 2 and / or to the smartphone 6 via the server device 7 already mentioned. The vehicle-side interface 5 can be, for example, a part of an infotainment system of the motor vehicle 2. The smartphone 6 in turn preferably comprises an app installed thereon, by means of which the transmission of the certificate to the vehicle key 3 can be initiated in a particularly simple manner.In addition, there is the possibility that the driver of the motor vehicle 2 can select different tariffs for charging the electrical energy store and assign them to the certificate. The tariff can, for example, select directly in the motor vehicle 2 via suitable user interfaces. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible that the driver can select different electricity rates via the smartphone 6, more precisely via an app correspondingly set up and installed for this purpose. In addition, it is also possible for the vehicle key 3 to have a corresponding user interface, in particular also a display, by means of which the driver can select different electricity rates. Thus, the driver can select the rate currently matching for him and assign it to the certificate, so that he can always refill electricity in a particularly favorable manner.By means of the system 1 explained, in particular by the possibility of storing the certificate on the vehicle key 3, a driver can drive to charging stations 8 and charge his motor vehicle 2 in a particularly simple manner.

Claims

System (1) for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle (2) at a charging column (8), comprising - a vehicle key (3) with an RFID transponder (4); - a vehicle-side interface (5) and / or an interface at a smartphone (6) which is configured to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the vehicle key (3) which enables charging of the electrical energy store at predetermined charging columns (8); - wherein the vehicle key (3) is configured to detect the certificate at the predetermined charging columns (8) by means of the RFID transponder (4).System (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle-side interface (5) and / or the interface of the smartphone (6) is configured to transmit the certificate to the vehicle key (3) by means of near-field communication.System (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle-side interface (5) and / or the interface of the smartphone (6) is configured to transmit the certificate to the vehicle key (3) via a Bluetooth connection.System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1) has a server device (7) which is configured to transmit the certificate to the motor vehicle (2) and / or to the smartphone (6) as soon as a registered user requests the certificate on the vehicle side and / or via the smartphone (6).System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the certificate enables cashless charging of the electrical energy store with a payment process which is connected downstream in time.System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle-side interface (5) is part of an infotainment system of the motor vehicle (2).System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the smartphone (6) has an app, by means of which the transmission of the certificate to the vehicle key (3) can be initiated.System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different tariffs for charging the electrical energy store can be selected and assigned to the certificate via the vehicle-side interface (5), via the interface of the smartphone (6) and / or via the vehicle key (3).Method for enabling a charging process of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle (2) at a charging station (8), in which a certificate is wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle key (3) by means of a vehicle-side interface (5) or by means of an interface at a smartphone (6), which certificate enables the electrical energy store to be charged at predetermined charging stations (8).

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