Method for handling a locking mechanism for an electric charging cable for a vehicle and control unit

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for handling a locking mechanism of an electric charging cable (L) on a vehicle (F), comprising determining (S1) whether the electric charging cable (L) is plugged into the vehicle (F) and / or a charging station (LS) for a charging process; determining (S2) whether an authorized user is in a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle (F); determining (S3) whether an electric charging process on the vehicle (F) via the charging cable (L) has ended or ending the electric charging process on the vehicle (F) via the charging cable (L) when an authorized user is in a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle (F); and automatically unlocking (S4) the locking mechanism of the charging cable (L) on the vehicle (F) and / or on a charging station (LS) when the authorized user is in the predetermined area surrounding the vehicle (F) and the electric charging process on the vehicle (F) via the charging cable (L) has ended.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for handling a locking device of an electric charging cable for a vehicle and a control device. State of the art

[0002] In conventional electrically chargeable vehicles, a charging cable can be plugged into a charging socket on the vehicle or into a charging socket on a charging station and locked for a charging process to prevent the charging cable plug from being unplugged during the charging process. Furthermore, a charging cable brought by the user can be secured against theft by the locking mechanism. Known solutions for charging cables usually feature such a locking device, in which the locking mechanism is typically not automatically released even after the charging process is completed. The locking usually has to be manually released by the user, for example, by pressing a button on the vehicle key or in the vehicle.

[0003] DE 10 2018 220 483 A1 describes a charging system for an electrically powered vehicle. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a method for handling a lock of an electric charging cable for a vehicle according to claim 1 and a control device according to claim 8.

[0005] Preferred further training is the subject of the subclaims. Advantages of the invention

[0006] The idea underlying the present invention is to provide a method with which the unlocking of a lock of an electrical charging cable of a charging station and / or on a vehicle can be improved.

[0007] The invention allows for increased convenience when unplugging the charging cable, as the lock no longer needs to be released manually by pressing a button on the vehicle key or in the vehicle.

[0008] According to the invention, the method for handling a locking device for an electrical charging cable for a vehicle comprises determining whether the electrical charging cable is plugged into the vehicle and / or a charging station for a charging process; determining whether an authorized user is located in a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle or is moving into it; determining whether an electrical charging process on the vehicle via the charging cable has ended or ending the electrical charging process on the vehicle via the charging cable when an authorized user is located in a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle, and automatically unlocking the locking device of the charging cable on the vehicle and / or at a charging station when the authorized user is located in the predetermined area surrounding the vehicle and the electrical charging process on the vehicle via the charging cable has ended.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the determination of whether an authorized user is located in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle is carried out in such a way that the presence of a mobile signal transmitter in the predetermined surrounding area, which the authorized user carries with him, is detected.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the mobile signal transmitter is a vehicle key or a mobile phone.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, automatic unlocking is automatically enabled when the presence of the mobile signal generator in the predetermined environmental area is detected.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the automatic release occurs when the user's authorization is recognized by the mobile signal generator.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the determination of whether the authorized user is located in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle is carried out by a sensor on the vehicle.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the sensor system comprises a capacitive sensor and / or a camera and / or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0015] The approach of a person to the charging socket can advantageously be determined using additional sensors or sensors already present in the vehicle, for example as a capacitive sensor near the charging socket, as an ultrasonic sensor, for example also using an existing ultrasonic sensor near the charging socket, which can be present as a parking aid and / or as a camera, for example as an existing camera in the vehicle that is directed towards the charging socket, which can already be present on the vehicle due to driver assistance functions such as blind spot assistant or automated driving.

[0016] According to the invention, a control device for locking an electric charging cable for a vehicle is designed to carry out a method according to the invention, wherein the control device is designed to control and unlock a locking mechanism for the charging cable on a charging station and / or on the vehicle.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the control device, it is designed to detect an authorized user in a predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle by means of a signal from a mobile signal generator and / or from a sensor system.

[0018] The authorized user of the vehicle can advantageously be identified using a so-called "keyless-go" function. This allows the user to verify their authorization to use the vehicle and unplug the charging cable, for example, using a remote key fob, a mobile phone with stored vehicle authorization, or another authorization device.

[0019] For this purpose, simply approaching the vehicle with the authorization object carried on board may be sufficient and no further user interaction (e.g. pressing a button) may be necessary.

[0020] It may be specified that the locking of the charging cable on the vehicle and / or on the charging station can only be released when no charging process is active.

[0021] For this reason, a control device of the vehicle and for carrying out the method can be configured to either check that no charging process is active and only then release the plug, or alternatively (depending on the configuration of the vehicle) terminate the charging process and then release the plug.

[0022] The control device can also be characterized by the features and advantages mentioned in connection with the method and vice versa.

[0023] Unlocking can involve the locking mechanism on the vehicle and / or the charging station, which can lock or unlock the respective charging cable plug, if present, with a mechanism on the charging station or the vehicle. Alternatively, or additionally, the respective charging cable plug can also have a locking mechanism on the socket of the vehicle or the charging station and can be automatically unlocked when the above conditions are met. The control device according to the invention can be configured to control and unlock each of these locking mechanisms when the above conditions are met.

[0024] The recognition of the user's authorization and / or his / her localization (whether he / she is moving into or located within the predetermined environmental area) can be carried out by a mobile signal transmitter, alternatively or additionally also camera-based and / or by a capacitive sensor and / or a camera and / or by an ultrasonic sensor.

[0025] The predetermined environmental area for detection by the mobile signaling device can be the same predetermined environmental area as the camera and sensors, but the sensors and / or camera can have a different predetermined environmental area than the mobile signaling device, which can then be understood as the "sensor area." This can be relevant if the sensors and / or camera monitor other areas around the vehicle and / or if the mobile signaling device is to be detected in the same area as scanned by the sensors (as redundant detection in the same area or to verify movement into the predetermined area of ​​the sensors).

[0026] Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Short description of the drawings

[0027] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures of the drawing.

[0028] They show: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of method steps of the method for handling a locking mechanism of an electrical charging cable on a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a charging process of a vehicle with a charging cable for the application of the method according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a sequence of the method according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b Positions of a sensor for applying the method according to the invention.

[0029] In the figures, the same reference symbols denote the same or functionally identical elements.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of method steps of the method for handling a locking of an electrical charging cable on a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] According to the method for handling a locking of an electrical charging cable on a vehicle, a determination S1 is made as to whether the electrical charging cable is plugged into the vehicle and / or into a charging station for a charging process; a determination S2 is made as to whether an authorized user is located in a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle; a determination S3 is made as to whether an electrical charging process on the vehicle via the charging cable has been completed or the electrical charging process on the vehicle via the charging cable is completed when an authorized user is located in a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle; and an automatic unlocking S4 of the locking of the charging cable on the vehicle and / or at a charging station when the authorized user is located in the predetermined area surrounding the vehicle and the electrical charging process on the vehicle via the charging cable has been completed.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a charging process of a vehicle with a charging cable for the application of the method according to the invention.

[0033] A charging cable L can be connected between the charging station LS and the vehicle F. A first locking mechanism VR1 on the vehicle can lock the plug of the charging cable L inserted there for the charging process, and a second locking mechanism VR2 on the charging station LS can lock the plug of the charging cable L inserted there for the charging process. A control device 10 according to the invention can be present in the vehicle F.

[0034] The locking mechanism VR1 can be part of the vehicle and can be controlled by the vehicle's control unit. Alternatively, there may be charging systems in which the charging cable is permanently connected to the charging station and the locking mechanism VR1 is integrated into the charging plug and controlled by the charging station.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a process according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] If the charging cable is still plugged in and the lock is active (on at least one of the locks), the user's authorization status can be determined in a first step B1.

[0037] This determination can be made wirelessly and can detect from a mobile phone or a vehicle key that it is the authorized key or the authorized mobile phone (or another device), which can be similar to a so-called "keyless-go" function for vehicles.

[0038] At the same time or before or after this, the user's proximity status can be determined in a further step B2, in particular whether the user is in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle and whether an intention to unplug the charging cable can be inferred.

[0039] The next step, B3, can then query whether authorization and proximity are present. If this is not the case, a decision can be made in step B5 that no further action regarding the locking will be taken. If the conditions from B1 and B2 are met, a further step, B4, can determine whether the charging process on the vehicle is still active. If this is no longer active, the charging cable can be unlocked in a further step, B6.

[0040] If charging is still active, the charging process can be stopped in step B7 and then step B6 can be performed. However, if charging is active, step B8 can be performed, which maintains the charging process and does not trigger any further action.

[0041] For charging systems where the locking is controlled by the charging station, B6 can also be carried out by a control unit in the charging station after the charging process has been terminated by a control unit in the vehicle.

[0042] Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b show positions of a sensor for applying the method according to the invention.

[0043] The vehicle F can unlock a connector with its first locking mechanism VR1 if an authorized user of the vehicle F is detected in the predetermined surrounding area. For this purpose, for example, after Fig. 4a, a sensor ST2, for example a capacitive sensor, may be mounted on the side of the vehicle F or may already be present for other vehicle functions.

[0044] This sensor can be located next to the charging socket of the vehicle F (at a predetermined distance) and detect the approach of the user into the predetermined surrounding area.

[0045] After Fig. 4b, a further sensor ST1, for example, a camera, can also be present and optically detect the user in the predetermined surrounding area. This camera can, for example, be attached to the vehicle's exterior mirror and directed toward the charging socket on vehicle F.

[0046] Furthermore, another sensor ST3 may be present on the vehicle, for example an ultrasonic sensor for the parking aid installed on the vehicle, via which the presence of the user in the predetermined surrounding area can be detected.

[0047] The results of multiple sensors can be used to verify the user's presence.

[0048] Although the present invention has been fully described above using the preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto but can be modified in many ways. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2018 220 483 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Method for handling a locking device of an electric charging cable (L) for a vehicle (F), comprising the steps: - Determining (S1) whether the electrical charging cable (L) is plugged into the vehicle (F) and / or into a charging station (LS) for a charging process; - Determining (S2) whether an authorized user is located in or moving into a predetermined area surrounding the vehicle (F); - Determining (S3) whether an electrical charging process on the vehicle (F) via the charging cable (L) has been completed or terminating the electrical charging process on the vehicle (F) via the charging cable (L) if an authorized user is in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle (F), - automatic unlocking (S4) of the locking of the charging cable (L) on the vehicle (F) and / or on the charging station (LS) when the authorized user is in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle (F) and the electrical charging process on the vehicle (F) via the charging cable (L) has been completed. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the determination (S2) of whether an authorized user is located in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle (F) is carried out in such a way that a presence of a mobile signal transmitter in the predetermined surrounding area is detected, which the authorized user carries with him. [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the mobile signal transmitter is a vehicle key or a mobile phone. [4] Method according to one of claims 2 to 3, in which an automatic release for the automatic unlocking (S4) takes place when the presence of the mobile signal transmitter in the predetermined environmental area is detected. [5] Method according to claim 4, wherein the automatic release occurs when an authorization of the user is recognized by the mobile signal transmitter. [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the determination (S2) of whether the authorized user is located in the predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle (F) is carried out by a sensor system (ST) on the vehicle (F). [7] Method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor system comprises a capacitive sensor and / or a camera and / or an ultrasonic sensor. [8] Control device (10) for locking an electric charging cable (L) for a vehicle (F), which is designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control device (10) is designed to control and unlock a locking mechanism for the charging cable (L) on a charging station (LS) and / or on the vehicle (F). [9] Control device (10) according to claim 8, which is designed to detect an authorized user in a predetermined surrounding area of ​​the vehicle (F) by a signal from a mobile signal generator and / or from a sensor system.

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