ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
The electric vehicle anti-theft system uses a wireless-connected anti-theft cap to secure the vehicle's male socket, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring only legitimate owners can start or remove the vehicle.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023004666
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-05-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing electric vehicle anti-theft systems are vulnerable to unauthorized installation of anti-theft plugs, which can prevent legitimate owners from starting or removing their vehicles.
An anti-theft device resembling a female electrical outlet, paired with electronic equipment, is designed to establish a wireless connection with the vehicle's electronic system, allowing for secure locking and unlocking of the anti-theft cap on the vehicle's male socket.
The system effectively prevents unauthorized use by ensuring that only authorized individuals can unlock and remove the anti-theft cap, thereby safeguarding the vehicle's operation and security.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
[0001] The invention relates to an anti-theft device for an electric vehicle and more particularly to an active device paired with the vehicle, the device being an anti-theft cap simulating an electric charging socket. Prior art
[0002] An electric vehicle is provided with a powertrain comprising a drive battery supplying electricity to an electric motor. To be recharged with electricity, the drive battery is connected to a male electrical socket accessible from outside the vehicle. This male socket is complementary to a female socket arranged at the end of a charging cable of a charging station.
[0003] The male plug is generally hidden in a recess in the vehicle body, a recess closed by a flap that can move between an open position and a closed position. The flap is generally closed so as to hide the male plug and is opened to provide access to the male plug and recharge the vehicle's battery. During charging, the flap is open and the female plug of the charging station is connected to the male plug of the electric vehicle.
[0004] The male and female sockets have several pins that complement each other. One of them, called the proximity pin, prevents the vehicle from starting, as the driver may inadvertently attempt to leave while a charging cable is connected and the battery is still being charged. When the vehicle is not charging, the charging circuit has a predefined electrical resistance by default and, during charging, the proximity pin of the female socket varies the value of this resistance, informing the vehicle that charging is in progress, thereby preventing starting. Inadvertent starting is therefore impossible.
[0005] There are caps that simulate the electrical outlet of a charging station and prevent the vehicle from starting. In order to serve as an anti-theft device, the anti-theft cap is lockable and the flap behind which the anti-theft cap is arranged is also lockable in the closed position.
[0006] A malicious person can install and lock an anti-theft cap on a vehicle that does not have an anti-theft cap and is not theirs. Upon returning, the owner will not be able to start their vehicle or simply remove the anti-theft cap.
[0007] The invention presented here solves this problem and, to do so, the invention relates thus, in its broadest sense, to an anti-theft device for an electric vehicle, the device being an anti-theft cap similar to a female electrical socket of an electric vehicle charging station. The anti-theft cap is additionally arranged on the male socket of the electric vehicle.
[0008] Advantageously, the anti-theft cap is paired with electronic equipment.
[0009] The anti-theft cap comprises an electronic circuit making it possible to establish a proximity wireless connection with the electronic equipment so that the anti-theft cap in place on the vehicle's male socket is recognized by this electronic equipment which can then lock or unlock the anti-theft cap.
[0010] The electronic equipment is integral with the electric vehicle.
[0011] In an alternative, the electronic equipment is a mobile device intended to be carried by a driver.
[0012] The invention also relates to an electric vehicle provided with a flap closing a recess in which the male electrical charging socket is arranged, the flap being movable between an open position and a closed position. The anti-theft device is arranged on the male socket and paired with the electric vehicle or with mobile electronic equipment.
[0013] The vehicle is provided with a lock comprising a bolt movable between a retracted position allowing the anti-theft cap to be freely arranged in place on the male socket of the vehicle, and an extended position in which the bolt is housed in a strike plate arranged in the anti-theft cap and locks it in place.
[0014] In an alternative, the shutter is locked in the closed position.
[0015] The invention also relates to a method for pairing an anti-theft device with an electric vehicle previously described, the pairing method comprising the following steps:
[0016] - an installation step during which the anti-theft device is installed on the male plug,
[0017] - a pairing start step during which the pairing is initiated by a pairing request step. During the pairing request step, a pairing request command is sent from the electric vehicle or from mobile electronic equipment to the anti-theft device,
[0018] - a response step during which an acceptance command of the pairing is sent by the anti-theft device to the electric vehicle or to the mobile electronic equipment;
[0019] - a validation step during which the pairing is validated from the electric vehicle or from mobile electronic equipment.
[0020] In an alternative to pairing, the invention also relates to a method of locking an anti-theft device on an electric vehicle previously described, the locking method comprising the following steps:
[0021] - an installation step during which the device is arranged on the male socket of the vehicle;
[0022] - a locking control step during which a mobile device sending a recognition command to the anti-theft device, the recognition command ordering the locking of the anti-theft device;
[0023] - a locking step during which the anti-theft device is effectively locked in place.
[0024] Once locked, the anti-theft device can be unlocked according to an unlocking method comprising the following steps:
[0025] - an unlocking control step during which a piece of equipment mobile sends a recognition command to the anti-theft device, the recognition command ordering the unlocking of the anti-theft device; - an unlocking step during which the anti-theft device is actually unlocked; - a final step during which the device is removed from the vehicle's male socket. Brief description of the figures
[0026] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments and, on the basis of the appended figures. - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electric vehicle being recharged. - [Fig.2A] schematically illustrates a male electrical socket for charging an electric vehicle. - [Fig.2B] schematically illustrates a female socket of a charging station complementary to the male socket of [Fig.2A]. - [Fig.3A] schematically illustrates an anti-theft device according to the invention. - [Fig.3B] schematically illustrates an alternative to the anti-theft device of the [Fig.3A], - [Fig.3C] schematically illustrates the anti-theft device of figures 3A and 3B from a different point of view. - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the anti-theft device of [Fig.3A], 3B and 3C arranged on the male plug of [Fig.2A]. - [Fig.5A] schematically illustrates the anti-theft cap of figures 3A, 3B and 3C just arranged on the male socket of the vehicle without the anti-theft cap being locked. - [Fig.5B] is similar to [Fig.5A] but with the anti-theft cap locked. - [Fig.6] schematically illustrates an electronic circuit included in the anti-theft device connected to the vehicle's electronic circuit. - [Fig.7] schematically illustrates a method of pairing the anti-theft device. - [Fig.8A] schematically illustrates a method of locking the anti-theft device. - [Fig.8B] schematically illustrates a method of unlocking an anti-theft device. Detailed description
[0027] [Fig.l] represents an electric vehicle V being recharged and therefore connected to a charging terminal B by a cable C. The electric vehicle V comprises a drive battery (not shown) connected to an accessible male electrical socket 10, behind a movable flap 20, in a recess 30 of the bodywork of the electric vehicle V. For the electrical recharge in progress, a female electrical socket 40 arranged at the end of the cable C is additionally connected to the male socket 10.
[0028] [Fig.2A] details the male socket 10 of the electric vehicle V and [Fig.2B] details the female socket 40 of the charging station B. These electrical sockets 10, 40 are complementary to each other so that they can be connected together. They have pins for the passage of current during charging and a pin, called the proximity pin.
[0029] The proximity pin marked 50 on the male socket and 60 on the female socket has a role of immobilizing the electric vehicle V. The electric vehicle V comprises an electronic circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the male proximity pin 50 and this electronic circuit has a predetermined electrical resistance R. The charging station B comprises another electronic circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the female proximity pin 60.
[0030] During recharging, when the sockets 10, 40 are connected, the male 50 and female 60 proximity pins are in contact and the electrical resistance R changes. This variation in resistance is information taken into account by an electronic controller of the electric vehicle (V) which then prohibits any starting of the vehicle. This prevents a driver from inadvertently starting while his electric vehicle is being recharged.
[0031] [Fig.3A] schematically illustrates the anti-theft device 70 according to the invention, [Fig.3B] illustrates an alternative of the anti-theft device 70 shown in [Fig.3A] and [Fig.3C] illustrates the anti-theft device from a different point of view.
[0032] The anti-theft device 70 is a plug simulating the presence of the female socket 40 and preventing the vehicle from starting.
[0033] The anti-theft cap 70, similar to the female socket 40 of the charging station, is complementary to the male socket 10. It also comprises an electronic circuit 80 (symbolized in figures 3C and 4) connected to a proximity pin 90 of the anti-theft cap 70. In a version 3A, the anti-theft cap 70 comprises the same number of pins as the female socket 40 and, in an alternative, represented in 3B, the anti-theft cap only comprises the proximity pin 90.
[0034] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates the anti-theft device 70 connected to the vehicle V. The proximity pins 50 of the vehicle and 90 of the anti-theft cap are connected to each other. The electronic circuit 80 of the anti-theft device 70 is therefore electrically connected to the electronic circuit 100 of the vehicle. This varies the electrical resistance R of said electronic circuit 100 of the vehicle, which prevents the vehicle V from starting.
[0035] To vary the electrical resistance R of the electronic circuit 100 of the electric vehicle, several types of electronic circuit 80 of the anti-theft device 70 are possible, all symbolized by a rectangle 80 in [Fig.6]. In particular, the electronic circuit 80 can be a simple metal part, a tube for example, which comes into contact with the male proximity pin 50 of the vehicle socket.
[0036] Whatever the alternative, when the anti-theft cap 70 is connected to the male socket 10, the proximity pins 50, 90 are connected to each other and the electronic circuit 80 of the anti-theft cap 70 varies the electrical resistance R which, as explained previously, prevents the electric vehicle V from starting.
[0037] [Fig.4] shows schematically the anti-theft cap 70 in place on the male socket 10. To prevent a thief from stealing the vehicle by simply removing the anti-theft cap 70, the flap 20 shown open can be closed and locked.
[0038] However, it may be that a vehicle is not protected by an anti-theft cap, so a malicious person can open the shutter and block the vehicle by adding an anti-theft cap 70. In the event that the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft cap 70, the malicious person could open the shutter and steal the cap.
[0039] To prevent this malicious person from acting, the anti-theft cap 70 according to the invention is paired with the vehicle V or with mobile electronic equipment 100. To do this, from the vehicle V or the mobile equipment 100 which may, for example, be an electronic card, a mobile phone, a key with remote control, the driver emits a short-distance outgoing signal 110, of the Bluetooth wifi type, outgoing signal 110 recognized by the electronic circuit 80 of the anti-theft cap 70 which reacts to the outgoing signal 110 and sends a return signal 120. These signals 110, 120 pair the anti-theft cap 70 with the transmitting device, whether it is the vehicle V or the mobile equipment 100.
[0040] Figures 5A and 5B show schematically the locking of the anti-theft cap 70 on the vehicle V. The pairing triggers the locking of the anti-theft cap 70 before neatly arranged in place on the male socket 10. The pairing activates a lock 130 secured to the vehicle and comprising a bolt 140 engaging in a strike plate 150 provided in the anti-theft cap 70.
[0041] In Figures 3A and 3B the anti-theft cap 70 shown is provided with several strikes 150. When locking the cap, a single bolt 140 can engage in a strike 150 or, in another alternative, the vehicle V can be provided with a lock 130 with several bolts 140, each of them engaging in a strike 150 when locking.
[0042] Several types of locking of the anti-theft cap 70 are possible. [Fig.4] illustrates some of them.
[0043] The locking can be triggered from the vehicle V which has a human-machine interface allowing, according to a pairing method 200, the anti-theft cap 70 and the vehicle V.
[0044] This pairing method 200 can also be triggered from a mobile phone 100, by following instructions from a dedicated application which follows the same pairing method 200. By following exit instructions, the driver unlocks the anti-theft cap 70, removes it and can leave.
[0045] Like certain door security locks, the locking can also be triggered from a simple magnetic card 100 which is brought close to the anti-theft cap 70, once the latter is in place on the male socket 10. By bringing the magnetic card 100 close to the anti-theft cap 70 again, the driver unlocks it and can remove it and leave.
[0046] Also shown in [Fig.4], the locking can be triggered from a remote control 100 for opening the door of the vehicle V. This remote control can be provided with a special button for locking and unlocking the anti-theft cap 70, or else an already existing button, for example that for closing the doors and the shutter 20, can also be used to trigger the locking of the anti-theft cap 70.
[0047] The pairing method 200 is shown diagrammatically in [Fig.7], the method comprises the following steps:
[0048] - an installation step 210 during which the anti-theft device is installed on the male plug 10 so that the proximity pins 50, 90 are in electrical contact,
[0049] - a pairing start step 220 during which the pairing is initiated by the driver by a pairing request step 230 during which a pairing request command is sent from the electric vehicle V or from mobile electronic equipment 100 to the anti-theft device,
[0050] - a response step 240 during which an acceptance command of the pairing is sent by the anti-theft device to the electric vehicle V or up to 100 mobile electronic equipment;
[0051] - a validation step 250 during which the pairing is validated from the electric vehicle V or from 100 mobile electronic equipment.
[0052] In an alternative, Figures 8A and 8B schematically present a locking method 300 and a complementary unlocking method 400 which can be executed by a mobile device, a magnetic card or the door opening remote control.
[0053] The method 300 for locking the anti-theft device on the electric vehicle comprises the following steps:
[0054] - an installation step 310 during which the device is arranged on the socket male 10 of vehicle V;
[0055] - a locking control step 310 during which the driver selects on a mobile device, “smartphone” telephone, remote control, a recognition command to the anti-theft device, the recognition command ordering the locking of the anti-theft device; this step can for example be carried out by bringing the mobile device 110 close to the anti-theft cap 70 or by pressing a button on the remote control;
[0056] - a locking step 330 during which the anti-theft device is effected tively locked in place; this step actuating the lock 130 so as to extend the bolt 140 ([Fig.5B]).
[0057] In addition to the locking method 300, an unlocking method 400 is presented in [Fig.8B]. The anti-theft device, previously locked on the electric vehicle, is unlocked by following the following steps of the unlocking method 400:
[0058] - an unlocking control step 410 during which a piece of equipment mobile, “smartphone”, remote control, magnetic card, sending a recognition command to the anti-theft device, the recognition command ordering the unlocking of the anti-theft device; this step can for example be carried out similarly to the locking step 310 by bringing the mobile equipment 110 close to the anti-theft cap 70 or by pressing a remote control button;
[0059] - an unlocking step 420 during which the anti-theft device is effected tively unlocked; this step actuating the lock 130 so as to engage the bolt 140 ([Fig.5A]).
[0060] a final step 430 during which the device is removed from the male socket 10 of the vehicle V.
[0061] References used
[0062] V electric vehicle
[0063] B charging station
[0064] C cable
[0065] R electrical resistance
[0066] 10 male plug
[0067] 20 shutter
[0068] 30 recess
[0069] 40 female socket
[0070] 50 male proximity pin
[0071] 60 female proximity pin
[0072] 70 anti-theft device - anti-theft cap
[0073] 80 electronic circuit
[0074] 90 proximity pin of the anti-theft cap
[0075] 100 mobile device
[0076] 110 signal go
[0077] 120 return signal
[0078] 130 anti-theft device lock
[0079] 140 bolt
[0080] 150 latch
[0081] 200 Pairing method
[0082] 210 installation step
[0083] 220 pairing start step
[0084] 230 pairing request step
[0085] 240 response step
[0086] 250 validation step
[0087] 260 final pairing step
[0088] 300 locking method
[0089] 310 installation step
[0090] 320 lock control step
[0091] 330 locking step
[0092] 400 unlocking method
[0093] 410 unlocking control step
[0094] 420 unlocking step
[0095] 430 final step.
Claims
Claims
1. Anti-theft device for an electric vehicle (V) characterized in that the device is an anti-theft cap (70) similar to a female electrical socket (40) of a charging station (B) of an electric vehicle, the anti-theft cap (70) being complementary arranged on the male socket (10) of the electric vehicle (V) characterized in that the anti-theft cap (70) is paired with electronic equipment (100), the anti-theft cap (70) comprising an electronic circuit (80) making it possible to establish a wireless proximity connection with the electronic equipment (100) so that the anti-theft cap (70) in place on the male socket (10) of the vehicle is recognized by this electronic equipment (100) which can then lock or unlock the anti-theft cap (70).
2. Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electronic equipment (100) is integral with the electric vehicle (V).
3. Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electronic equipment (100) is a mobile device intended to be carried by a driver.
4. Electric vehicle (V) provided with a flap (20) closing a recess (30) in which the male plug (10) for electric charging is arranged, the flap (20) being movable between an open position and a closed position, characterized in that an anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is arranged on the male plug (10) and paired with the electric vehicle (V) or with mobile electronic equipment (100).
5. Electric vehicle (V) according to claim 4 characterized in that it is provided with a lock (130) comprising a bolt (140) movable between a retracted position allowing the anti-theft cap (70) to be freely arranged in place on the male plug (10) of the vehicle, and an extended position in which the bolt (140) is housed in a striker (150) arranged in the anti-theft cap (70) and locks it in place.
6. Electric vehicle (V) according to claim 4 characterized in that the flap (20) is locked in the closed position.
7. A method of pairing (200) an anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 with an electric vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the pairing method (200) comprising the following steps: - an installation step (210) during which the anti-theft device is installed on the male plug (10), - a pairing start step (220) during which the pairing is initiated by a pairing request step (230) during which a pairing request command is sent from the electric vehicle (V) or from mobile electronic equipment (100) to the anti-theft device, - a response step (240) during which a pairing acceptance command is sent by the anti-theft device to the electric vehicle (V) or to the mobile electronic equipment (100); - a validation step (250) during which the pairing is validated from the electric vehicle (V) or from the mobile electronic equipment (100).
8. A method of locking (300) an anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 on an electric vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the locking method (300) comprising the following steps: - an installation step (310) during which the device is arranged on the male socket (10) of the vehicle (V); - a locking control step (310) during which a mobile device sends a recognition command to the anti-theft device, the recognition command ordering the locking of the anti-theft device; - a locking step (330) during which the anti-theft device is effectively locked in place.
9. Method for unlocking (400) an anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 previously locked on an electric vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the unlocking method (400) comprising the following steps: - an unlocking control step (410) during which a mobile device sends a recognition command to the anti-theft device, the recognition command ordering the unlocking of the anti-theft device; - an unlocking step (420) during which the anti-theft device is actually unlocked; - a final step (430) during which the device is removed from the male socket (10) of the vehicle (V).