Identification module and electric vehicle

Abstract

Identification module (1) for the wireless electronic identification of an electric vehicle, comprising an antenna (11) with one or more coil-like conductor loops and an electronic component (12) connected to the antenna (11) in which a unique identification code is stored, wherein the identification module (1) is configured to transmit the identification code wirelessly via the antenna (11) in the event of a query of the identification code by radio signals, wherein the identification module (1) is configured for attachment to a charging port (2) for charging the traction battery of the electric vehicle, characterized in that the identification module (1) has an annular shape with an inner opening (13) which is adapted to a groove-shaped recess (21) of the charging port (2),wherein the conductor loop or conductor loops of the antenna (11) extend around the inner opening (13) of the identification module (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an identification module for the wireless electronic identification of an electric vehicle. The invention also relates to an electric vehicle with such an identification module.

[0002] Currently, there are various ways to bill for the energy transferred from a public or private charging station to an electric vehicle, and to document it for tax purposes. One option is credit card payment, where the electric vehicle driver authorizes payment for the energy subsequently charged until the end of the charging process. A similar process applies when using cards issued by certain energy providers. With these payment methods, the customer receives an invoice detailing when, how much, and at what price energy was charged, as well as who paid for the charging sessions. The electric vehicle's identity is only shown on the invoice if a charging card explicitly assigned to the electric vehicle was used for the charging process, or if the vehicle's identity, such as its license plate number, was manually entered at the charging station during the charging process.In both cases, there is room for manipulation, since a billing card assigned to an electric vehicle can also be used in another vehicle, or by the driver knowingly entering a different license plate number during the charging process.

[0003] One way to identify an electric vehicle during charging is to read its identity via communication with the vehicle before and / or during the charging process. These methods are known as Autocharge and Plug and Charge. Both utilize PLC (Power Line Communication) over one of the existing connection lines to the electric vehicle. The data is modulated onto a high-frequency carrier signal, thus transmitting the information. To distinguish between sender and receiver during communication, each participant has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address. One of the aforementioned methods uses this address of the electric vehicle to establish its identity. The other method uses the charging station to read a certificate stored in the electric vehicle and verifies its validity via an online connection, which necessitates a correspondingly complex security infrastructure.A disadvantage of these methods is that many electric vehicles do not yet support PLC communication and data exchange according to ISO 15118, thus precluding this option. Another disadvantage of the MAC address identification method is that it can be manipulated, thereby falsely identifying the electric vehicle being charged.

[0004] A wireless transponder and a method for reading its data are known from US 2019 / 0156079 A1. A device for electrically charging and discharging electric vehicles is known from AT 508853 A2. A charging port authorization for electric vehicles is known from DE 102019215247 A1. A parameter-dependent control of energy transmission is known from DE 102012222462 A1.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of enabling improved possibilities for the unambiguous identification of an electric vehicle before or during a charging process.

[0006] This problem is solved by an identification module for the wireless electronic identification of an electric vehicle according to claim 1. The identification module comprises an antenna with one or more coil-like conductor loops and an electronic component connected to the antenna in which a unique identification code is stored. The identification module is configured to transmit the identification code wirelessly via the antenna when radio signals are used to query the code. The identification module is designed to be attached to a charging port for charging the electric vehicle's traction battery. The invention has the advantage that it can be used regardless of the type and model of the electric vehicle, and in particular, regardless of the manufacturer. The identification module can, in principle, be attached to any electric vehicle, even retrofitted.In this way, an existing fleet of electric vehicles, e.g., in a car rental company or company vehicles, can also be equipped with such identification modules for improved billing options.

[0007] The identification code can be provided by the identification module via the antenna in any way during a query, for example passively by selectively loading the received waves of the query unit's radio signals with specific frequencies. Alternatively, active transmission of the identification code is also possible.

[0008] Such identification modules can also be very small and cost-effective, allowing them to be installed on any standard electric vehicle. For example, the identification module can be designed as an RFID module (RFID - Remote Frequency Identification) or as an NFC module (NFC - Near Field Communication), specifically as an RFID or NFC transponder. This allows existing short-range radio standards to be used for implementing the identification module and querying the identification code.

[0009] The antenna, with one or more conductor loops, ensures reliable data transmission when querying the identification code. Advantageously, an electronic query unit can be integrated into the counterpart to the charging port, i.e., in or on a connector (e.g., charging plug) of a charging device. This unit is designed to query the identification code of the identification module. In this way, when the connector is plugged into the charging port of the electric vehicle, its electronic query unit can reliably retrieve the identification code from the identification module via radio transmission.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the identification module has an outer shape that is at least partially adapted to the shape of a groove-shaped recess of the charging port, which circumferentially surrounds at least some of the charging port's plug contacts, so that the identification module can be inserted into this recess. In this way, the identification module can be well protected and essentially invisibly mounted on the electric vehicle. This also ensures good data transmission to the connector's query unit. Furthermore, a high level of tamper protection can be achieved, since the design within the recess makes unauthorized replacement of the identification module difficult.

[0011] Conventional connectors for electric vehicle charging devices, such as CCS or Type 2 connectors, have a protective wall surrounding the contacts, which can, for example, extend completely around the contacts in a ring shape. The charging port of the electric vehicle is designed to correspond to this connector shape, so that a corresponding groove-shaped recess is provided on the charging port to accommodate the ring-shaped protective wall, which surrounds at least some or all of the charging port's contacts. The groove-shaped recess can, for example, extend in a ring shape around the charging port's contacts. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, such a recess, which is already present in commercially available charging ports, can be used as a mounting location for the identification module.

[0012] According to the invention, the identification module has an annular shape with an inner opening that is adapted to a groove-shaped recess of the charging port. This allows the identification module to be positioned particularly advantageously in the groove-shaped recess. In particular, the available space in the groove-shaped recess can be utilized to a large extent by the identification module, especially by making the identification module particularly flat. The identification module can have an annular shape, which can be designed as a completely closed ring or as a ring with at least one interruption.

[0013] According to the invention, the conductor loop or loops of the antenna extend around the inner opening of the identification module. This ensures good radio transmission from the identification module to the interrogation unit of the connector.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the identification module has a height that is significantly less than its diameter, in particular a height of less than 10% of the diameter. In this way, the identification module can be easily retrofitted into existing charging ports without hindering its connection to the charging device's connector.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the identification module has an adhesive layer on at least one surface of the identification module, which is arranged for attachment to the charging port, for bonding the identification module to the base of the charging port recess. This allows for simple, quick, and reliable attachment of the identification module to the electric vehicle. In its delivered state, the identification module may, for example, have a protective film covering the adhesive layer. Before attaching the identification module to the electric vehicle, the protective film can be removed, and the identification module can then be bonded to the charging port. The identification module can then be attached to the base of the recess using the adhesive layer.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the identification module has a predetermined breaking point, preventing its removal without damage once it is attached to the base of the charging port recess. This also promotes tamper-proof identification of the electric vehicle. The predetermined breaking point ensures that if the identification module is removed from the electric vehicle, it is damaged to such an extent that it is no longer functional, at least to the extent that the identification code is no longer transmitted. This prevents tampering, particularly when the identification module is attached to the base of the recess using the adhesive layer.

[0017] The aforementioned problem is also solved by the features of claim 6. This comprises an electric vehicle with a charging port for charging the electric vehicle's traction battery, wherein the charging port has a groove-shaped recess that circumferentially surrounds at least some of the charging port's plug contacts, and wherein an identification module for the wireless electronic identification of an electric vehicle is inserted in the recess, through which, in the event of a wireless query of an identification code by radio signals, this code is transmitted, in particular an identification module of the type described above. This also realizes the advantages described above. Advantageously, the identification module can be attached to the base of the charging port's recess. In this way, the insertion of the connector into the charging port is not obstructed.

[0018] For the purposes of this invention, an electric vehicle is understood to be, in particular, a passenger car, truck, or motorcycle equipped with an electric drive and a traction battery for powering the electric drive. Electric vehicles in this sense are, in particular, purely electric vehicles without an internal combustion engine, as well as hybrid electric vehicles, provided they have a charging port for externally charging the traction battery from a separate energy source. The electric vehicle is hereinafter also referred to simply as the "vehicle."

[0019] A charging device for charging the traction battery of an electric vehicle from a suitable energy source is also described. The charging device has at least one connector for connecting to the charging port of the electric vehicle, and an electronic query unit is structurally integrated into the connector. This unit is designed to query the identification code of an identification module of the type described above and / or the identification code of an identification module of an electric vehicle of the type described above. The advantages described above can also be realized in this way. The charging device can be, for example, a portable (mobile) charging cable, such as an intelligent charging cable with its own control electronics, or a stationary charging device such as a charging station or wallbox.By integrating the electronic query unit into the connector, reliable wireless data transmission with the identification module can be ensured, at least when the connector is plugged into the charging port.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least part of the interrogation unit is structurally integrated into the housing contour of the connector. For example, the antenna of the interrogation unit can have essentially the same shape and dimensions as the antenna of the identification module. This ensures reliable radio transmission. The part of the interrogation unit integrated into the housing contour of the connector can, for example, have a ring-shaped form with an inner opening, similar to the identification module. Electrical conductors or plug contacts of the connector can extend through this inner opening.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the charging device is configured to link the requested identification code with charging process data for billing purposes. This has the advantage that the charging device itself ensures correct, tamper-proof billing of charging processes, i.e., with the correct allocation of charging costs to the respective electric vehicle.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the charging device is configured to record the amount of energy charged from the energy source into the electric vehicle during a charging process, or a characteristic parameter describing the amount of energy, and to store this information in a storage device along with an assignment to the queried identification code. This also promotes tamper-proof billing of charging sessions. The charging device can store the data, for example, in its own storage device and / or in a separate storage device, such as in a cloud.

[0023] The storage device can be a storage device of the charging device, i.e., a storage device integrated into the charging device, and / or a remote storage device, such as a server connected or connectable to the charging device via a data network. For example, data storage can be carried out via the internet, for example, in a cloud. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, both types of storage can be carried out simultaneously, i.e., data can be stored in a storage device of the charging device and additionally in a remote storage device.

[0024] According to a beneficial further training program, it is stipulated that a) the charging device is designed to detect an energy source identifier that uniquely identifies the connected energy source, b) wherein the charging device is configured to store the detected amount of charged energy or the characteristic parameter characterizing the amount of energy in the storage device with an assignment to the energy source identifier of the energy source.

[0025] This has the advantage that the energy source used for charging, hereinafter also referred to as the point of withdrawal, can also be recorded in order to record it separately in the data to be stored.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the charging device is configured to store the recorded amount of energy charged, or the characteristic parameter that defines the amount of energy, in the storage device, along with an assignment to a charging device identifier that uniquely identifies the charging device. It is advantageous to perform the storage in an external storage device located remote from the charging device, such as in the cloud, on an internet-connected server, or on a mobile device. This has the advantage that the energy consumption data can also be broken down according to the charging devices used.

[0027] According to an advantageous further development, the charging device has at least one communication interface, wherein the charging device has a communication function configured to communicate via the communication interface with a mobile device, a server, and / or the energy source suitable for or connected to charge the traction battery. This has the advantage that the charging device provides the user with extended communication functions, for example, for communication with a smartphone or other mobile device, or for communication with the internet, for example, for storing energy consumption data in the cloud.

[0028] The communication interface can be wired or wireless. A wired communication interface could, for example, be a powerline communication interface. A wireless communication interface could be one or more of the following components in the charging device: a cellular network module, a Wi-Fi module, or a Bluetooth module. The charging device can also have one or more wired communication interfaces and one or more wireless communication interfaces.

[0029] Furthermore, a method for attaching an identification module of the type described above to an electric vehicle is described, wherein the identification module is inserted into the groove-shaped recess of the charging port. This also realizes the advantages described above. Advantageously, the identification module can be attached to the bottom of the charging port recess, e.g., by gluing. An adhesive layer present on the identification module can be used for this purpose.

[0030] The insertion and / or securing of the identification module to the base of the recess can be accomplished using an auxiliary tool. The auxiliary tool is shaped, at least in part or entirely, to correspond to the groove-shaped recess of the charging port, i.e., essentially like the aforementioned annular protective wall of the connector. In particular, the auxiliary tool can accordingly have an annular shape with an internal opening. The identification module can then be inserted into the groove-shaped recess using the auxiliary tool and pressed against the base of the recess until the adhesive layer effectively bonds the identification module to the base of the recess.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and drawings.

[0032] They show Fig. 1. A charging port of an electric vehicle, an identification module and a connector in perspective view, Fig. 2 the process of attaching an identification module to the charging port, Fig. 3. An identification module with a predetermined breaking point attached to the charging port. Fig. 4. Removing the identification module from the charging port.

[0033] The Fig. Figure 1 shows an identification module 1 with a module body 10, which has a ring-shaped form with an inner opening 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the module body 10 is depicted as a closed ring. The identification module 1 has several conductor loops arranged in or on the module body 10, which form an antenna 11, as well as an electronic component 12 connected to the antenna 11, e.g., an RFID tag or an NFC tag, in which a unique identification code is stored. The shape of the module body 10 is adapted to the groove-shaped recess 21 of a charging port 2 of an electric vehicle shown on the left. The charging port 2 has a housing body 20 in which a contact carrier 23 is arranged, on which several electrical plug contacts 22 of the charging port 2 are arranged and held. This contact carrier 23 is surrounded in a ring shape by the groove-shaped recess 21.

[0034] To the right of the identification module 1, a connector 3 for plugging into the charging port 2 is shown. The connector 3 has a housing 30 from which a connecting cable 31 extends. The connector 3 also has electrical plug contacts, which are designed as counterparts to the plug contacts 22 of the charging port 2 and are located in the Fig. 1 are not shown. The plug contacts of the connector 3 are located in an area surrounded by an annular protective wall 32. The annular protective wall 32 is designed to correspond to the shape of the groove-shaped recess 21. An electronic query unit 33, 34 for querying the identification code of the identification module 1 is structurally integrated into the connector 3. The query unit 33, 34 can, for example, comprise a query circuit 34, such as a circuit board with an RFID or NFC query circuit, as well as an antenna 33 connected to the query circuit 34.

[0035] In this embodiment, the antenna 33 can be located in the housing 30 in front of the actual connector contour or the protective wall 32. Thus, the distance between the antenna 33 and the antenna 11 of the identification module 1 is approximately equal to the depth of the connector contour. To reduce this distance and thus improve the magnetic coupling of the two antennas, the antenna 33 can also be integrated into the protective wall 32. This allows a distance of only a few millimeters between the two antennas to be achieved.

[0036] The antenna 33 is electrically connected to the query circuit 34, i.e., an electronic component containing the controller for communication with the identification module 1. This, in turn, communicates via control lines with the control electronics of the charging cable or wallbox, i.e., the charging device. The collected data on the charging process, which includes, for example, the charging location, charging power, amount of energy transferred, charging time, etc., are linked to the vehicle identified by the identification code from the identification module and are either stored in the charging device and / or transmitted via wired or wireless communication to another storage location, e.g., in the cloud.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the attachment of the identification module 1 to the base 24 of the recess 21. For this purpose, an auxiliary tool 4 is used, which has an annular base body 40 with an inner opening 41. The auxiliary tool 4 is shaped to match the shape of the recess 21, allowing the identification module 1 to be inserted into the annular, groove-like recess 21 and advanced to the base 24. By pressing the identification module 1 against the base 24 using the auxiliary tool 4, it can then be secured there, for example, by bonding it with an adhesive layer.

[0038] If the identification module 1 is attached to the base 24 of the recess 21, the connector 3 can be inserted into the charging port 2 as usual without obstruction from the identification module 1. When inserted, the identification code from the identification module 1 can be read by means of the query unit 33, 34 in the connector 3 and evaluated in the charging device.

[0039] Since the goal of vehicle identification is tamper-proof identification of the vehicle, it must be ensured that the identification module 1 cannot simply be removed and used on another vehicle. For this purpose, a predetermined breaking point 14 can be incorporated into the identification module 1, e.g., a type of slot, as described above. Fig. 3 shows.

[0040] The Fig.Figure 4 shows a tool 5 used to remove the identification module 1. The tool 5 can be, for example, a metal rod with a barb 6 at the end. To remove the identification module 1, the tool 5 is inserted into the recess 21 of the charging port 2 with the barb 6 leading the way, and the barb 6 is then inserted into a hole next to the predetermined breaking point 14. The identification module 1, now attached to the barb 6, is then pulled out of the recess 21 by applying a pulling force to one side of the adhesive identification module 1. This pulling force releases the adhesive, allowing the identification module 1 to be completely removed, but only by breaking the predetermined breaking point 14. This means the identification module 1 is subsequently destroyed and can no longer be used.

Claims

[1] Identification module (1) for the wireless electronic identification of an electric vehicle, comprising an antenna (11) with one or more coil-like conductor loops and an electronic component (12) connected to the antenna (11) in which a unique identification code is stored, wherein the identification module (1) is configured to transmit the identification code via the antenna (11) in the event of a wireless query of the identification code by means of radio signals, wherein the identification module (1) is configured to be attached to a charging port (2) for charging the traction battery of the electric vehicle, characterized by, that the identification module (1) has an annular shape with an inner opening (13) adapted to a groove-shaped recess (21) of the charging port (2), wherein the conductor loop or conductor loops of the antenna (11) extend around the inner opening (13) of the identification module (1). [2] Identification module according to claim 1, characterized by , that the identification module (1) has an external shape which is at least partially adapted to the shape of the groove-shaped recess (21) of the charging port (2), which circumferentially surrounds at least some plug contacts (22) of the charging port (2), so that the identification module (1) can be inserted into this recess (21). [3] Identification module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the identification module (1) has a height that is significantly less than the diameter of the identification module (1), in particular a height of less than 10% of the diameter. [4] Identification module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the identification module (1) has an adhesive layer on at least one surface of the identification module (1) arranged for attachment to the charging port (2) for bonding the identification module (1) to the base (24) of the recess (21) of the charging port (2). [5] Identification module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the identification module (1) has a predetermined breaking point (14) through which an identification module (1) attached to the base (24) of the recess (21) of the charging port (2) cannot be removed from it without destruction. [6] Electric vehicle with a charging port (2) for charging the traction battery of the electric vehicle, wherein the charging port (2) has a groove-shaped recess (21) which circumferentially surrounds at least some plug contacts (22) of the charging port (2), wherein an identification module (1) comprising an antenna (11) with one or more coil-like conductor loops is inserted in the recess (21) for the wireless electronic identification of an electric vehicle, through which, in the case of a query of an identification code carried out wirelessly by means of radio signals, this is transmitted, characterized by , that the identification module (1) has a ring-shaped form with an inner opening (13) adapted to the groove-shaped recess (21) of the charging port (2), wherein the conductor loop or conductor loops of the antenna (11) extend around the inner opening (13) of the identification module (1). [7] Electric vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by , that the identification module (1) is attached to the base (24) of the recess (21) of the charging port (2).

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