Charging adapter for a charging station for an electrically powered vehicle and methods for charging an electrically powered vehicle

Abstract

Charging adapter (20) for a charging station (40) for an electrically powered vehicle (50), comprising an input connection point (21) for data signals (22) and incoming energy (23) which can be electrically connected to the charging station, an output connection point (24) for the data signals and outgoing energy (25) which can be electrically connected to the vehicle, a switching device (26) which is connected between the input connection point and the output connection point and which, in a closed operating position, allows an energy flow from the input connection point to the output connection point and, in an open operating position, prevents the energy flow between the input connection point and the output connection point, a control device (27) coupled to the switching device which has a data transmission interface (28) for data transmission with a remote device (30, 31,32) and a signal transmission interface (33) for transmitting the data signals to the input connection point and output connection point, wherein the control device, based on data (29) received via the data transmission interface, switches the switching device between the open and closed operating positions and, in the closed operating position, allows signal transmission and, in the open operating position, prevents signal transmission and transmits simulated data signals (34) to the input connection point and / or output connection point; and a method for charging an electrically powered vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging adapter for a charging station for an electrically driven vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and to a method for charging an electrically driven vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

[0002] Electrically powered vehicles (here also generally referred to as electric vehicles, EVs for short), i.e. those with exclusively electric drive (so-called battery electric vehicles, BEV for short) as well as those with mixed drive (so-called hybrid vehicles, HEV for short) have an accumulator (also referred to as battery) as an electrical energy storage device.

[0003] The prevalence and use of electric vehicles have increased rapidly in recent years. As a result, there is a growing need to charge electric vehicles and their energy storage devices. Many electric vehicle owners have private chargers or charging stations to charge their vehicles at home when not in use. These private charging points are often located in or near driveways, designated parking spaces, or garages.

[0004] Public electric vehicle charging stations are also available for charging on the go. These are often located in shopping malls, leisure facilities, public parking lots, and gas stations. However, deploying public charging infrastructure on a large scale is costly and slow, leading to concerns that the expansion of public charging infrastructure will not keep pace with the rapid adoption of electric vehicles.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to integrate private charging stations into a publicly accessible charging infrastructure.

[0006] US 2024 / 0 025 275 A1, for example, describes a charging adapter for an electric vehicle that is intended to enable a user to charge their electric vehicle at a charging station provided by the owner under predeterminable conditions. For example, a charging time window, charging duration, charge quantity, and the like, during which the EV user can charge their vehicle at the charging station, can be specified by the owner or requested by the user.

[0007] A sudden interruption of a charging process that has already begun, for example, by stopping the energy transfer from the charging station to the electric vehicle after a specified charge quantity or charging time has been reached, or after a specified charging time window has been exceeded, can result in undesirable error states with corresponding error messages in both the charging station and the electric vehicle. These, in turn, cause irritation for the vehicle user and / or the owner of the charging station and negatively impact the acceptance and spread of such systems.

[0008] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a charging adapter for a charging station for an electrically driven vehicle and a method for charging an electrically driven vehicle, which enable a reliable charging process and avoid fault conditions in the vehicle and in the charging station.

[0009] This object is achieved by a charging adapter having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 10. Further particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the respective subclaims.

[0010] It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically reasonable manner (even across category boundaries, for example, between methods and devices) and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

[0011] It should also be noted that a conjunction "and / or" used herein between two features and linking them together is always to be interpreted in such a way that in a first embodiment of the subject matter according to the invention only the first feature can be present, in a second embodiment only the second feature can be present and in a third embodiment both the first and the second feature can be present.

[0012] The invention relates to a charging adapter for a charging station (e.g., wall-mounted charging station, wall box) for an electrically powered vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle (e.g., a BEV or HEV), which has an input connection point for data signals and incoming energy, an output connection point for the data signals and outgoing energy, a switching device connected between the input connection point and the output connection point, and a control device coupled to the switching device. The input connection point is designed to be electrically connected to the charging station. The output connection point is designed to be electrically connected to the vehicle.The switching device is designed to permit a flow of energy from the input connection point to the output connection point in a closed operating position and to prevent the flow of energy between the input connection point and the output connection point in an open operating position. Furthermore, the control device has a data transmission interface for transmitting data to a remote device and a signal transmission interface for transmitting the data signals to the input connection point and the output connection point.The control device is designed to switch the switching device between the open operating position and the closed operating position based on data received via the data transmission interface and, in the closed operating position, to allow the signal transmission of the data signals between the input connection point and the output connection point via the signal transmission interface and, in the open operating position, to prevent the signal transmission of the data signals between the input connection point and the output connection point and to transmit fictitious data signals with the input connection point and / or the output connection point.

[0013] A remote device is defined as a device other than the charging adapter itself. Examples of remote devices in this sense include a cloud server, internet server, data server, billing server, a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc., a control device of the charging station, a control device of the vehicle being charged, and similar devices. The mobile device can be a remote device of a user of the vehicle being charged and / or a remote device of an owner of the charging station.

[0014] The term "owner" can refer to the owner of the charging station. The charging station can be privately owned, for example, on private property such as a house, driveway, or garage.

[0015] The term “user” may refer to any user of the charging adapter who charges an electric vehicle with the charging adapter connected to a charging station.

[0016] The data transmission interface can be wired or wireless. For example, the data transmission interface can be based on transmission standards such as LAN, WLAN, GSM (2G), LTE (4G), 5G, LoraWan, Zigbee, and others.

[0017] Communication protocols such as MQTT, HTTPS or others can be used for data transmission.

[0018] A data signal is a signal that transmits information. It can be in the form of electrical voltage or current, for example. The information can be transmitted in digital or analog encoded form. Data signals can be, for example, simple handshake signals, pulse-width modulated signals, electrical signals defined according to a bus standard (e.g., serial bus), and the like.

[0019] Fake data signals are data signals generated by the control device that are indistinguishable for the charging station connected to the input connection point and / or for the vehicle connected to the output connection point from the data signals generated by the charging station and / or the vehicle itself. The fake data signals transmitted to the input connection point deceive the charging station connected to the input connection point into believing that they are data signals from the vehicle, while the fake data signals transmitted to the output connection point deceive the vehicle connected to the output connection point into believing that they are data signals from the charging station.

[0020] In this way, the control unit can actively intervene in and dictate the signal transmission from the charging station to the vehicle and / or from the vehicle to the charging station. Signal transmission can be carried out using the protocols commonly used for electrically powered vehicles, for example, according to the Type 2 standard or similar standards. If, for example, a charging process is terminated or aborted before the vehicle is fully charged, the control unit uses the fictitious data signals to pretend to the vehicle that it is a charging station and properly terminates the charging process. This prevents potential error states in the vehicle with corresponding error messages. Since no error state exists, a mechanical lock at the output connection point can, for example, be automatically released by the vehicle.

[0021] On the other hand, if the charging process is terminated or aborted before the vehicle is fully charged, the control unit uses the fake data signals to pretend to be a vehicle to the charging station and terminates the charging process properly. This prevents potential error conditions in the charging station with corresponding error messages.

[0022] The active intervention in the signal transmission by the control device by means of the fictitious data signals preferably only takes place when this is necessary, i.e. when an interruption of the charging process by preventing the energy transmission between the input connection point and the output connection point in the vehicle or in the charging station could or would lead to an error state of the charging station connected to the input connection point and / or the vehicle connected to the output connection point.

[0023] Regardless of predictable conditions for the charging process, such as charging time window, charging duration, energy / charge quantity, etc., the charging process is carried out reliably and error conditions in the vehicle and the charging station are avoided.

[0024] The control device may comprise at least one microprocessor, microcontroller, and the like, e.g., ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, and the like.

[0025] The switching device may comprise, for example, relays or semiconductor switches (e.g. MOSFETs) for interrupting and establishing the flow of energy between the input connection point and the output connection point.

[0026] Advantageous embodiments provide that the signal transmission interface has at least one switching element controllable by the control device (for example, a relay or semiconductor switch such as an FET, MOSFET, or similar). This switching element establishes the signal transmission in a closed switching state between the input connection point and the output connection point directly without (active) interposition of the control device, and actively routes the signal transmission in an open switching state via the control device. Direct signal transmission without interposition of the control device ensures delay-free transmission of the data signals between the input connection point and the output connection point. Only when the control device wishes to generate and transmit fictitious data signals is it electrically connected to the input connection point or the output connection point in a signal-transmitting manner.At the same time, the opening of the switching element automatically interrupts the direct signal transmission between the input connection point and the output connection point by separating a direct signal transmission path between both connection points via a signal line.

[0027] In other embodiments, the control device is further configured to switch the switching device to the open operating position by means of an interruption request in the data received via the data transmission interface. For example, an ongoing charging process can be prematurely aborted via the remote device (e.g., by a user of the charging adapter with a mobile device / smartphone) to ensure safety-relevant functions and / or to enable time-based charging. Alternatively or additionally, the charging adapter can be locked by an owner of the charging station via the data transmission interface to prevent charging during certain lock-out times.

[0028] In yet other advantageous embodiments, the charging adapter has a measuring device configured to determine the amount of energy and / or electrical power transmitted between the input connection point and the output connection point and to provide the determined value(s) to the control device. For example, the transmitted power can be measured using Hall sensors (current), alternatively a current transformer (current), and an analog-to-digital converter (voltage), and from this, both active power, reactive power, and apparent power can be determined to ensure correct and accurate power measurement.

[0029] By selecting suitably precise components of the measuring device, the requirements of calibration laws can be met and the measuring device or charging adapter can be calibrated.

[0030] In further preferred embodiments, the control device is further configured to receive a maximum amount of energy to be charged from the data received via the data transmission interface and to switch the switching device to the open operating position when the amount of energy determined by the measuring device reaches or exceeds the maximum amount of energy to be charged. This allows the charging process to be terminated even if the vehicle is not fully charged. A permanent connection to the remote device (e.g., to monitor the amount of energy transferred) is not necessary, since the charging adapter can monitor the amount of energy transferred itself using the measuring device. The charging adapter can thus operate autonomously, independent of a permanent data transmission connection to the remote device (e.g., server).

[0031] The term “amount of energy” is used herein as a synonym for the term “amount of charge”.

[0032] In another preferred embodiment, the control device is further configured to transmit the amount of energy determined by the measuring device to the remote device via the data transmission interface, for example, for information and / or billing purposes. Thus, an automatic billing system can be implemented using the charging adapter, for example, via a cloud connection (remote device). The generated bills can then be automatically transmitted to other remote devices, e.g., a device belonging to the user and / or the owner of the charging station.

[0033] In another embodiment, the switching device is further configured to limit the energy flow from the input connection point to the output connection point to a predeterminable maximum charging power. The actually transmitted charging power can, for example, be determined by the measuring device and monitored by the control device and, if necessary, adjusted to the predetermined maximum charging power. Without feedback of the measured actual charging power by the measuring device, the maximum charging power can alternatively be controlled by appropriate configuration or control of the switching device by means of the control device for the respective charging process. In any case, a charging station designed, for example, for a charging power of 22 kW can be used as an 11 kW charging station in order to optimize the use of different energy storage devices in vehicles to be charged and / or to specifically prevent charging from occurring too quickly.

[0034] In preferred embodiments, the control device is further configured to receive the predeterminable maximum charging power from the data received via the data transmission interface and / or to determine it from the data signals transmitted via the signal transmission interface. In the second case, the control device can be configured to passively "listen" to the data signals at the signal transmission interface while the switching device is in the closed operating position, without actively intervening in the signal transmission. This allows the charging adapter to automatically detect the vehicle connected to the output connection point or its maximum possible charging power. Misuse of the charging adapter or the charging station connected to the input connection point and / or potentially dangerous situations due to manipulation are thus reliably prevented.

[0035] Further advantageous embodiments provide that the output connection point comprises a charging cable with a plug designed for electrical connection to the vehicle. A conventional charging cable, which would have to be connected to the output connection point of the charging adapter for connecting the vehicle, can thus be omitted, since the charging adapter itself provides the charging cable. In other words, this embodiment represents a charging cable with an integrated charging adapter according to the invention.

[0036] The plug of the charging cable and / or the output connection point and / or the input connection point can be designed as a Type 1 connection, Type 2 connection, CCS or Combo connection, Chademo connection, Supercharger connection or simply as a SchuKo or CEE connection.

[0037] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for charging an electrically driven vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which comprises the steps: - Electrically connecting an input connection point for data signals and incoming energy to a charging station, - Electrically connecting an output connection point for the data signals and outgoing energy to the vehicle, - switching a switching device connected between the input connection point and the output connection point from an open operating position, in which a flow of energy between the input connection point and the output connection point is prevented, to a closed operating position, in which the flow of energy from the input connection point to the output connection point is permitted, based on data received via a data transmission interface for data transmission with a remote device, - Allowing signal transmission of the data signals between the input connection point and the output connection point via a signal transmission interface in the closed operating position and - Preventing the signal transmission of the data signals between the input connection point and the output connection point and transmitting fictitious data signals with the input connection point and / or the output connection point in the open operating position.

[0038] It should be understood that with regard to process-related definitions of terms as well as the effects and advantages of process-related features, the disclosure of corresponding definitions, effects, and advantages of the charging adapter according to the invention can be fully relied upon, and vice versa. Repetition of explanations of similar features, their effects, and advantages can thus be omitted in favor of a more concise description, without such omissions being interpreted as a limitation of any of the disclosed subject matter of the invention.

[0039] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, which are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In this drawing, schematically show: Fig. 1 is a functional diagram of a charging situation using a charging adapter according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 a more detailed functional diagram of the charging adapter Fig. 1.

[0040] In the different figures, parts that are equivalent in terms of their function are always provided with the same reference symbols, so that they are usually only described once.

[0041] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary charging situation 10 using a charging adapter 20 according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a more detailed functional diagram of the charging adapter 20 Fig. 1. In the following, reference is made alternately to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 taken.

[0042] As in Fig. 1, the charging adapter 20 connects a charging station 40 to an electrically driven vehicle 50 to be charged, in this case, for example, a motor vehicle.

[0043] Fig. 2 that the charging adapter 20 has an input connection point 21 for data signals 22 and incoming energy 23, which is designed to be electrically connected to the charging station 30. Furthermore, it has an output connection point 24 for the data signals 22 and outgoing energy 25, which is designed to be electrically connected to the vehicle 40. Furthermore, a switching device 26 (e.g., relay, semiconductor switches such as MOSFETs, or the like) of the charging adapter 20 can be seen, which is connected between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 and is designed, in a closed operating position, to allow a flow of energy from the input connection point 21 to the output connection point 24 and, in an open operating position, to prevent the flow of energy between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24. A control device 27 (e.g.,Microprocessor, microcontroller or similar) which has a data transmission interface 28 (e.g. wired or wireless) for transmitting data 29 with a remote device - in the present case, three remote devices 30, 31 and 32 by way of example - and a signal transmission interface 33 for transmitting the data signals 22 with the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24.

[0044] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1, the first remote device 30 is an end device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop, server, or similar) of an owner of the charging station 40, the second remote device 31 is an end device, such as a smartphone, of a user of the vehicle 50 or the charging adapter 20, and the third remote device 32 is, for example, a cloud, internet, data, billing server, or similar. The remote devices 30 and 31 can be connected to the remote device 32 in a data-transmitting manner. The remote devices 30 and / or 31 can transmit data 29 to the charging adapter 20 via the data transmission interface 28.

[0045] The control device 27 is configured to switch the switching device 26 between the open operating position and the closed operating position based on the data 29 received via the data transmission interface 28, and to permit signal transmission between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 via the signal transmission interface 33 when the operating position is closed, and to prevent signal transmission between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 when the operating position is open. If signal transmission is prevented, the control device 27 transmits fictitious data signals to the input connection point 21 and / or the output connection point 24 instead, preferably only when necessary to avoid fault conditions in the charging station 40 and / or in the vehicle 50 (e.g., as a result of a premature interruption of a charging process).In this way, the control device 27 can actively intervene in the signal transmission.

[0046] The Fig. The charging situation 10 shown in Figure 1 can be described as follows.

[0047] The input connection point 21 for transmitting the data signals 22 and the incoming energy 23 is electrically connected to the charging station 40.

[0048] The output connection point for transmitting the data signals 22 and the outgoing energy 25 is connected to the electrically driven vehicle 50.

[0049] The switching device 26 connected between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 is switched from the open operating position, in which the flow of energy between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 is prevented, to the closed operating position, in which the flow of energy from the input connection point 21 to the output connection point 24 is permitted, based on data received via the data transmission interface 28 from at least one of the remote devices 30, 31, 32.

[0050] During the closed operating position of the switching device 26, the signal transmission of the data signals 22 between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 via the signal transmission interface 33 is permitted unhindered.

[0051] When the switching device 26 is in the open operating position, the signal transmission of the data signals 22 between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 is prevented and fictitious data signals 34 are transmitted to the input connection point 21 and / or the output connection point 24 if this is necessary to avoid error conditions in the charging station 40 and / or in the vehicle 50.

[0052] The signal transmission interface 33 can have at least one switching element (e.g. semiconductor switch, not shown) controllable by the control device 27, which establishes the signal transmission in a closed switching state between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 directly without the interposition of the control device 27 and actively conducts the signal transmission in an open switching state via the control device 27.

[0053] The Fig.The exemplary charging adapter 20 shown in Figure 2 comprises a measuring device 35. This measuring device is designed to determine the amount of energy and / or electrical power transmitted between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 and to provide the determined value to the control device 27.

[0054] In a variant of the charging adapter 20 not shown here, the output connection point 24 can have a charging cable with a plug designed for electrical connection to the vehicle 40. This means that in such an embodiment, the charging adapter is to be understood as an integrated component of a charging cable.

[0055] Via the data 29, for example, a start request to close the switching device 26, an interrupt request to open the switching device 26, a maximum amount of energy to be transferred (amount of charge), a maximum charging time, and the like can be transmitted to the control device 27. After the charging process is completed, the control device 27 can transmit the actually transferred amount of energy (amount of charge) to at least one of the remote devices 30, 31, 32 via the data transmission interface 28 (e.g., for information / billing purposes).

[0056] The remote device 30 on the charging station side can, for example, specify charging time windows via the data transmission interface 28 of the charging adapter 20 during which charging of the vehicle 50 should be possible at the charging station 40. Outside of these time windows, the charging adapter 20 does not allow any energy flow between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 at this charging station 40.

[0057] The vehicle-mounted remote device 31 can, for example, determine a maximum amount of energy (charge quantity) to be transferred during a charging process via the data transmission interface 28 of the charging adapter 20. Alternatively or in addition to the amount of energy, the remote device 31 can specify a maximum charging time, a maximum billing amount, and the like, so that the charging adapter 20 automatically interrupts the energy flow between the input connection point 21 and the output connection point 24 if one of the predetermined criteria is reached or exceeded.

[0058] The remote device 32 may also provide the remote device 31 with information about available charging stations 40, e.g., within a predetermined distance from the device 31. List of reference symbols 10 Charging situation 20 charging adapters 21 Input connection point 22 data signals 23 Incoming Energy 24 Output connection point 25 Outgoing Energy 26 Switching device 27 Control device 28 Data transmission interface 29 data 30 First remote device 31 Second remote device 32 Third remote device 33 Signal transmission interface 34 Fake data signals 35 Measuring device 40 charging stations 50 Electric vehicle

Claims

[1] Charging adapter (20) for a charging station (40) for an electrically driven vehicle (50), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an input connection point (21) for data signals (22) and incoming energy (23), which is designed to be electrically connected to the charging station (40), an output connection point (24) for the data signals (22) and outgoing energy (25), which is designed to be electrically connected to the vehicle (50), a switching device (26) which is connected between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) and is designed to allow a flow of energy from the input connection point (21) to the output connection point (24) in a closed operating position and to prevent the flow of energy between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) in an open operating position, a control device (27) coupled to the switching device (26),which has a data transmission interface (28) for data transmission with a remote device (30, 31, 32) and a signal transmission interface (33) for signal transmission of the data signals (22) with the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24), wherein the control device (27) is designed,based on data (29) received via the data transmission interface (28), to switch the switching device (26) between the open operating position and the closed operating position and, in the closed operating position, to allow the signal transmission of the data signals (22) between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) via the signal transmission interface (33) and, in the open operating position, to prevent the signal transmission of the data signals (22) between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) and to transmit fictitious data signals (34) with the input connection point (21) and / or the output connection point (24). [2] Charging adapter according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmission interface (33) has at least one switching element controllable by the control device (27), which establishes the signal transmission in a closed switching state between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) directly without the interposition of the control device (27) and conducts the signal transmission in an open switching state via the control device (27). [3] Charging adapter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device (27) is further designed to switch the switching device (26) into the open operating position by means of an interruption request in the data (29) received via the data transmission interface (28). [4] Charging adapter according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a measuring device (35) which is designed to determine an amount of energy and / or electrical power transmitted between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) and to provide it to the control device (27). [5] Charging adapter according to claim 4, wherein the control device (27) is further designed to receive a maximum amount of energy to be charged in the data (29) received via the data transmission interface (28) and to switch the switching device (26) into the open operating position when the amount of energy determined by means of the measuring device (35) reaches or exceeds the maximum amount of energy to be charged. [6] Charging adapter according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the control device (27) is further designed to transmit the amount of energy transmitted determined by means of the measuring device (35) to the remote device (30, 31, 32) via the data transmission interface (28). [7] Charging adapter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching device (26) is further designed to limit the energy flow from the input connection point (21) to the output connection point (24) to a predeterminable maximum charging power. [8] Charging adapter according to the preceding claim, wherein the control device (27) is further designed to receive the predeterminable maximum charging power in the data (29) received via the data transmission interface (28) and / or to determine it from the data signals (22) transmitted via the signal transmission interface (33). [9] Charging adapter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the output connection point (24) comprises a charging cable with a plug which is designed for electrical connection to the vehicle (40). [10] Method for charging an electrically driven vehicle (50), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising the steps: - electrically connecting an input connection point (21) for data signals (22) and incoming energy (23) to a charging station (40), - electrically connecting an output connection point (24) for the data signals (22) and outgoing energy (25) to the vehicle (50), - switching a switching device (26) connected between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) from an open operating position, in which a flow of energy between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) is prevented, into a closed operating position, in which the flow of energy from the input connection point (21) to the output connection point (24) is permitted, based on data (29) received via a data transmission interface (28) for data transmission with a remote device (30, 31, 32), - allowing signal transmission of the data signals (22) between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) via a signal transmission interface (33) in the closed operating position and - preventing the signal transmission of the data signals (22) between the input connection point (21) and the output connection point (24) and transmitting fictitious data signals (34) to the input connection point (21) and / or the output connection point (24) in the open operating position.

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