Lighting concept for a charging park

Abstract

Method for operating a charging system for charging electric vehicles, wherein the charging system has a charging station (25) and at least two spatially separated charging columns (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) each having at least one charging connection, wherein each charging column (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) has a light sensor (13) and a lighting means (11) and / or a display means, wherein the method comprises: Receiving signals from the individual light sensors (13), each received signal indicating a brightness value determined by the corresponding sensor; collective evaluation of the received signals; and Adjusting the brightness of the illuminant (11) and / or the display means of at least one of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) depending on a result of the collective evaluation of the received signals, Determining a temperature of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) and / or the charging connection cable of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24); and Comparing the determined temperatures of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) with the determined brightness values ​​of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24), thereby checking the plausibility between the determined values.

Description

The present invention relates generally to a light concept for a parking lot, in particular to a method for controlling lighting and / or display means on charging columns of the parking lot, which depends on the ambient brightness.Nowadays, charging stations for charging electric vehicles are often still set up individually, especially since there is usually no mains connection which allows the setting up of a plurality of charging stations at once. These individually set charging stations are operated individually and are not considered to be charging parks. However, as the number of electric vehicles increases, the requirements for the charging infrastructure also increase. Based on present-day gas stations, which may have a large handling capacity depending on the number of gas stations, charging stations are constructed analogously and have a plurality of charging stations at which electric vehicles may be charged. In addition to the necessary structural devices, a charging park usually has a plurality of charging columns, a cooling unit and power electronics. The cooling unit together with the power electronics can be present centrally in a charging station which is coupled to the individual charging columns.It is desirable that the charging operations for the users of the parking lot function smoothly. On the one hand, the user interfaces, HMI (human machine interfaces) for short, which are attached to the charging stations, for example, in the form of touch-sensitive displays or screens, should always be easily readable. For this purpose, the illumination intensity of the displays can be adapted to the brightness of the environment, so that they are illuminated more strongly during the day, for example in the case of direct solar radiation, and less weakly during the night. For brightness-adjusted control of the display of a charging column, a light sensor attached to the charging column is usually used. The ambient light-controlled adaptation of the illumination intensity of a display presupposes a functioning light sensor. It is therefore desirable that defective, damaged or blocked light sensors be detected as quickly as possible and corresponding repair measures are initiated. Similarly, an optimal control of the lighting means (e.g. lamps or other lightings) adapted to the brightness of the environment likewise represents a factor which can increase the charging comfort in particular at night.The publication US 2010 / 0 230 193 A1 discloses an electric vehicle having a screen connected to the charging system for displaying charging information, wherein the brightness of the screen can be adjusted on the basis of the detected ambient light level. CN 106849316 A describes a charging station for an electric vehicle with a screen, wherein the ambient light intensity is detected. The documents US 2016 / 0 016 663 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 9,718,341 B1 and WO 2011 / 163623 A1 likewise disclose charging stations for an electric vehicle having a screen in which the brightness can be adjusted.The document US 2011 / 0 145 141 A1 describes a charging station for electric vehicles, which has a touchscreen as a user interface and shows a selection of charging and payment options. The charging station comprises, with respect to the display, a brightness setting on the basis of a light sensor and a temperature monitoring device which causes the switching on of air cooling when the display temperature is too high.The document DE 10 2017 111 208 A1 discloses a charging unit with a brightness sensor and a temperature sensor.The object of the present invention is to provide a light concept for a charging park in which the illumination intensity of the displays and / or lighting means used can be set both as required and in a fail-safe and failsafe manner.The object is achieved by a method for operating a charging system for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1 and the corresponding charging system according to claim 10. Advantageous further developments are evident from the dependent patent claims and the accompanying description.According to the invention, a method for operating a charging system for charging electric vehicles is provided, wherein the charging system has a charging station and at least two charging stations which are spatially separated from one another and each have at least one charging connection, wherein each charging station has a light sensor and a lighting means and / or a display means. The method comprises receiving signals of the individual light sensors, wherein each received signal indicates a brightness value determined by the corresponding light sensor, collectively evaluating the received signals, and adjusting the brightness of the lighting means and / or of the display means of at least one of the charging stations depending on a result of the collectively evaluating the received signals.In today's cargo holds, it is not known that the data provided by sensors of the cargo stations are collectively evaluated and utilized. This means that the lighting means and the brightness of the display (display) of a charging column are individually regulated on the basis of signals / data provided by the light sensor of the associated charging column. In contrast, the idea on which the invention is based is that the charging stations of a charging park are considered collectively with the other charging stations with respect to the prevailing light conditions, that is to say as a combination overall. Consequently, the signals / data of the light sensors, preferably from all charging stations of the charging park, are collected and collectively evaluated (e.g. compared), i.e. for example with the inclusion of all participating charging stations of the charging park. On the basis of a result of this collective comparison, the brightness or illumination intensity of the displays and / or of the lighting means of each individual charging column can then be adjusted individually or collectively. In the collective evaluation of the received signals of the light sensors, it is not necessarily necessary to take all the charging stations of the parking store into account. The evaluation of the received signals of the light sensors can also be limited to any subgroup of light sensors and thus any subgroup of charging stations of the charging park. However, although a charging column typically includes a light sensor, in other embodiments, a charging column may also include more than one light sensor, each of which is oriented in a different direction (e.g., space area in front of the charging column and space area behind the charging column), for example. From the result of the collective evaluation of the signals of the light sensors, findings can be obtained in any case which influence the control of the displays and / or the lighting means of the charging stations according to requirements or adapted to the ambient brightness. In the event that the sensor data of all charging stations are not included in the collective evaluation, the corresponding subgroup of charging stations can be understood as a representative group of charging stations. On the basis of the evaluation of the signals / data of this representative subgroup of light sensors, the ambient light conditions at the location of the charging station can be determined and the displays and / or lighting means of all charging columns can be controlled in an optimum manner with regard to their brightness or brightness. In particular, location disadvantages of individual charging stations within the charging station ensemble can be detected and taken into account when controlling the displays and / or lighting means. The collective evaluation of the sensor data of the charging stations can also lead to further findings about the installed charging park.The charging system according to the invention can be a charging park which substantially has a charging station and a number of charging stations which function as independent charging points and are usually arranged spatially separated from one another, for example are arranged on parking bays arranged next to one another. The charging station can have a cooling unit and the power electronics. The power electronics regulate the current conversion (current intensity, current voltage and, if appropriate. Electricity type (DC or AC)) between the electricity source (e.g. electricity network connection of the charging station and / or buffer store) and the charging stations. Alternatively, in the charging system according to the invention, the current conversion can be decentralized, so that each charging column has the power electronics required for the charging current provision. Embodiments are also conceivable in which the current conversion takes place in two stages and both the charging station and the charging columns each have power electronics, so that overall the current conversion takes place in two stages.Each charging column can have at least one light sensor, which can detect the brightness of the environment. The detected ambient brightness level can be transmitted, for example, by means of a signal proportional to this from the light sensor to a central processing unit in the charging station for evaluation. Based on the ascertained brightness or the ascertained brightness pattern (e.g. brightness distribution in the region of the charging station, as ascertained from the individual sensor data), the brightness of the lighting means and / or of the display means of each charging column can be adjusted. The lighting means of the charging column can have any desired arrangement of lamps / lights and serve for illuminating the charging column, so that it can be used without problems, for example even at night.According to further exemplary embodiments, the collective evaluation of the received signals can comprise a comparison of the received signals with one another. By means of a comparison of the signals received by the light sensors, it can be determined, for example, whether all sensors supply the same or a similar signal. In particular, such a calibration can be carried out at night in order to eliminate disturbing and locally variable light influences (for example shadows caused by the sun or objects). If, for example, one light sensor supplies a signal different from all other light sensors, this can mean that it is defective. A matching of the signals provided by the light sensors can be useful in particular when deviations that are not plausible are already detected during the day. Deviations can be classified as not plausible if, for example, they do not correlate with the time-of-day variation of the ambient brightness or cannot be explained by spatial conditions at the location of the charging stations. If, for example, a charging post is located in the shadow of a building (e.g. a roof covering) or a tree, it can be expected that the associated light sensor will report a relatively lower brightness. A deviation of the light sensor signal from the other light sensor signals, which is determined in the day in question and the charging stations of which are not in shadow, is then classified as plausible.Furthermore, comparisons of the sensor data with one another and / or also comparisons of data of a sensor (for example of a sensor suspected of functioning improperly) can be carried out at different weather conditions and / or day times and thus at different brightness levels of the environment. By means of a comparison at different brightness levels, not only can defective light sensors be determined, but the proper function of the light sensors can also be examined (for example by comparing the brightness differences of the light sensors over different weather conditions). Overall, therefore, according to further exemplary embodiments, the method can also comprise establishing a light sensor that is not functioning properly on the basis of the result of the collective evaluation of the received signals.According to further exemplary embodiments, the method can furthermore have sending a maintenance request to a maintenance point in the event that the presence of a light sensor that is not functioning properly is determined. The presence of a light sensor that is not functioning properly can be manifested, for example, in a permanent and implausible deviation of the signal of the light sensor from the signals of the other light sensors. Generally, the time evolution of the signal of one sensor may also be studied and compared, for example, with those of the other light sensors to increase or oppose the suspected of functioning improperly. If, for example, the signal of one light sensor is permanently strongly attenuated over days and / or different weather conditions compared to the signals of the other light sensors and if this attenuation is not plausible, the light sensor can be classified as defective. Generally, a light sensor may be defective, damaged, or blocked. A sensor may be blocked, for example, by a chewing gum, a label or a graffiti. Within the scope of this description, a defective sensor is intended to cover at least all three cases.According to further exemplary embodiments of the method, the collective evaluation of the received signals can comprise ascertaining an average value of the received signals. By comparing a signal of one light sensor with the mean value of all signals considered (i.e. mean value of all other signals or of a subgroup of the other signals), it is possible on the one hand to establish the deviation of the signal of each of the light sensors from the mean value. Finally, defective light sensors can be determined therefrom. On the other hand, the prevailing brightness of the environment of the charging park can be shot from the mean value of the received signals and thus, for example, at night time or a strong vaulting (for example in conjunction with a time of day balancing).According to further embodiments of the method, the determination of an improperly functioning light sensor can be carried out if the mean value of the received light sensor signals is below a predetermined threshold value. In other words, the matching of the sensor data directed to the detection of a defective light sensor can only take place if the mean value is below a predetermined threshold value. As a result, the decision as to whether a sensor is defective can be restricted to cases of low brightness of the environment, that is to say, for example, to night times or to times of severe vaulting. If an evaluation of the signals of the light sensors is then carried out, the disruptive influence of a (too) bright environment of the charging stations can be minimized. This can increase the reliability of the detection of defective light sensors.If a light sensor has been classified as defective, its provided signals, if they are still provided at all, are not usable or do not correctly reflect the brightness of the environment. In such a case, according to further exemplary embodiments, a determined mean value of the signals of the other light sensors can be assumed to be a signal transmitted by the sensor that is not functioning properly. Alternatively, the brightness signal provided by an adjacent charging column or an average value of the brightness values of adjacent charging columns can also be assumed to be the signal transmitted by the light sensor that is not functioning properly. This ensures high availability of each individual charging column-even in cases in which the light sensor is defective and consequently no activation of the display and / or of the lighting means can take place depending on the brightness of the environment of the charging column concerned.According to further exemplary embodiments of the method, the collective evaluation of the received signals can comprise ascertaining a deviation of the signal of a specific light sensor from the mean value of the remaining received signals. The degree of deviation can be checked for plausibility. Furthermore, with a relatively high mean value indicating a bright environment, for example sunny weather, a direct solar radiation of a charging post can be ascertained or estimated from the degree of this deviation. Sunny weather can also be derived from the local weather data, additionally in combination with the collective evaluation of the data of the light sensors. If, for example, the sensor signal of a non-defective light sensor deviates strongly upward from the collective mean value during the day (i.e. it indicates a very high brightness), while the remaining light sensors likewise indicate a high brightness, it can be assumed that the charging column associated with the light sensor is exposed to direct sunlight. The detection of such an event may be relevant for the cooling of the charging stations, since a charging station exposed to direct solar radiation, in particular a charging cable exposed to direct solar radiation, heats up more quickly.According to the invention, the method comprises determining a temperature of the charging stations, preferably of the charging connection cable of the charging stations, and comparing the determined temperatures of the charging stations with the determined brightness values of the charging stations. Comparing these two values can be understood to mean setting or examining for a correlation with respect to one another, i.e. for example checking plausibility between a high brightness value and a high temperature. The temperature can be determined by means of suitable temperature sensors, for example by means of a thermocouple. By relating the determined temperature to the reported brightness value of a light sensor of a charging column, the assumption can be confirmed or can be made that this is exposed to direct solar radiation.According to further exemplary embodiments, the method can furthermore have regulating a cooling circuit of the charging station as a function of the result of the comparison of the determined temperatures of the charging stations with the determined brightness values of the charging stations. In other words, on the basis of a brightness-determined solar radiation of a charging column, in particular of the charging cable of the charging column, which solar radiation is preferably verified by temperature measurement, a cooling circuit can be controlled in such a way that the cooling capacity at the charging column in question is increased. This makes it possible to avoid excessive heating of the charging column, which can lead to a failure.Overall, efficient fault detection can be carried out by comparing the signals or data of a light sensor with results which are obtained from the collective evaluation of the signals or data of all or at least one group of most light sensors (with or without inclusion of the light sensor under consideration, the signals or data of which are compared), and higher reliability can be achieved by simultaneous compensation of the missing / incorrect signals or data. In general, by comparing the measured values of the light sensors with results of the collective evaluation of the measured values of the other light sensors (e.g. a mean value), it is possible to avoid non-optimal or even erroneous actuation of a display and / or of a lighting means on the basis of incorrect brightness information of a defective light sensor.In further exemplary embodiments, a charging system for charging electric vehicles is provided having a charging station and at least two charging stations which are spatially separated from one another and each have at least one charging connection, wherein each charging station has a light sensor and a lighting means and / or a display means. The charging station has a control unit which is coupled to the light sensors of the charging stations and is configured to carry out the method described hereinbefore. In particular, the control unit can be configured to transmit signals for the brightness setting of the displays and / or the lighting means of the charging stations to the latter.Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawings by way of embodiments and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a charging column. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a parking facility with four charging stations, in which the method according to the invention is used.Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a schematic view of a charging column 10 useful in the method of the present invention. The charging column 10 has a lighting means 11 which is provided for illuminating the region around the charging column 10. Furthermore, the charging column 10 has a user interface 12 by means of which a user can handle a charging process at the charging column 10. The user interface 12 can be a display means, for example a touch-sensitive screen. The charging column 10 furthermore has a light sensor 13 for detecting the brightness level prevailing at the charging column 10. The charging column 10 additionally has a charging cable, which is not explicitly shown in FIG. 1, however.An exemplary cargo store 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2, which has four cargo stations 21- 24, wherein each of the cargo stations 21- 24 may correspond to the cargo station 10 shown in FIG. 1. The charging stations 21- 24 represent structurally and spatially separate units and are all coupled to a charging station 25 which, for example, has, in addition to the power electronics (not explicitly shown) and optionally a cooling unit, a central processing unit 26 which is in particular coupled to the light sensors 13 of the charging stations 21- 24. The arithmetic unit 26 is configured to process the signals / data received from the light sensors 13. The arithmetic unit 26 is furthermore coupled to the lighting means 11 and the displays 12 of the charging stations 21- 24 and is configured to actuate these with regard to their brightness as a function of a result of the collective evaluation of the brightness signals transmitted by the light sensors 13. Each of the charging stations 21- 24 can, however, also additionally have its own control loop for brightness setting, which functions autonomously as long as it can be assumed that the corresponding light sensor 13 functions properly. Viewed in this way, the arithmetic unit 26 can perform a monitoring function and disable the autonomous brightness setting of the lighting means 11 and of the display 12 on a charging column 21- 24 if the associated light sensor 13 has been identified as defective. In such a case, the control unit 26 can take over the regulation of the brightness of the lighting means 11 and of the display 12. The monitoring function by the computing unit 26 can be carried out, for example, by a continuously running comparison of the reported brightness values with their mean value.In the area of the exemplary charging park 20 shown in FIG. 2, a tree 27 is arranged, which represents an exemplary shading object and casts a shadow 28 onto the second charging column 22 and the third charging column 23 at the time of day. If an average value of the brightness signals of all four light sensors 13 is formed on a sunny day, the average value will be relatively large, wherein the brightness values of the sensors 13 of the second and third charging stations 22, 23 will deviate downward therefrom and the brightness values of the sensors 13 of the first and fourth charging stations 21, 24 will deviate upward therefrom. On a cloudy day, the mean will be less than on a sunny day with an expected lower standard deviation. At night, shading 28 by the tree should be of no consequence and a relatively small mean value of the transmitted brightness values should be obtained with a small standard deviation.By collectively evaluating the brightness values of the light sensors 13, for example averaging, and by comparing the average value with the individual brightness values, defective light sensors 13 can be identified. If, for example, a brightness signal of a light sensor 13 is permanently at very small values and in particular at times at which the mean value is relatively high, it can be assumed that the light sensor 13 does not output a signal proportional to the ambient brightness and is therefore defective. For adjusting the brightness of the lighting means 11 and of the display 12 of a charging column 21- 24 with a defective light sensor 13, it is possible to use, for example, the mean value of the brightness values of the other light sensors 13 originating from the collective evaluation. That is, the standard brightness of the illuminant 11 and the display 12 may be changed in proportion to the decrease (i.e., the darker environment tends to be) and the increase (i.e., the lighter environment tends to be) of the average value, for example.If the shading effect of the tree 27 and consequently its effect on the brightness values of the light sensors 13 are not known from experience, the collective comparison of the light sensor data for determining defective light sensors can take place in the case of heavy vaulting, at night, in morning gray before sunrise and / or in the evening after sunset. These times that are favorable for the comparison of the light sensors 13 can correspond, for example, to times in which the mean value of the brightness signals of the light sensors 13 is low and preferably has a small standard deviation.

Claims

Method for operating a charging system for charging electric vehicles, wherein the charging system has a charging station (25) and at least two charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) which are spatially separated from one another and each have at least one charging connection, wherein each charging station (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) has a light sensor (13) and a lighting means (11) and / or a display means, wherein the method has: receiving signals from the individual light sensors (13), wherein each received signal indicates a brightness value determined by the corresponding sensor; collectively evaluating the received signals; and adjusting the brightness of the light fixture (11) and / or of the display means of at least one of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) as a function of a result of the collective evaluation of the received signals, ascertaining a temperature of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) and / or of the charging connection cable of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24); and comparing the ascertained temperatures of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) with the ascertained brightness values of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24), whereby a plausibility between the ascertained values is checked.The method of claim 1, wherein collectively evaluating the received signals comprises comparing the received signals to each other.Method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: determining an improperly functioning light sensor (13) based on the result of the collective evaluation of the received signals.Method according to claim 1, further comprising: sending a maintenance request to a maintenance location in the event that the presence of an improperly functioning light sensor (13) is detected.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the collective evaluation of the received signals comprises ascertaining a report value of the received signals.Method according to claim 5, wherein the detection of an improperly functioning light sensor (13) is performed if the mean value of the received signals is below a predetermined threshold value.The method of claims 5 and 6, further comprising the step of: using the determined average as a signal transmitted from the improperly functioning sensor.Method according to claim 3, wherein collectively evaluating the received signals comprises determining a deviation of the signal of a particular light sensor (13) from the mean value of the remaining received signals.Method according to claim 8, further comprising: regulating a cooling circuit of the charging station (25) depending on the result of the comparison of the determined temperatures of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) with the determined brightness values of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24).Charging system for charging electric vehicles, having a charging station (25) and at least two charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) which are spatially separated from one another and each have at least one charging connection, wherein each charging station (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) has a light sensor (13) and a lighting means (11) and / or a display means, wherein the charging station (25) has a control unit (26) which is coupled to the light sensors (13) of the charging stations (10, 21, 22, 23, 24) and is configured to carry out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 9.

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