Interface module for managing a set of electric charging stations

Abstract

An interface module (10) for managing a set of charging stations for electric vehicles, comprising a housing for fixing between a charging station (100) among the set of charging stations and a socket (T2S) of said charging station (100), the interface module (10) comprising an electronic circuit (12) controlled by a control unit (102), the electronic circuit (12) being configured to: receive, from the control unit (102), a primary control signal (Sp); and, depending on the value of the primary control signal (Sp), act on the value of a secondary control signal (Ss) transmitted by a control line (PP) between the charging station (10) and the socket (T2S), said control line (PP) being dedicated to communication between the charging station (100) and a vehicle (101) and determining an permissible charging value. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Interface module for managing a set of electric charging stations Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the management of a set of charging stations for electric vehicles, intended to be used in all kinds of parking lots: underground or above ground, private or commercial. State of the art

[0002] It is known that electric vehicle charging facilities can be supplied with public electricity via a public distribution network or privately in private low-voltage electrical installations.

[0003] In both types of distribution, public or private, there is a problem related to managing the limited amount of electricity available to power a set of charging stations: • either the power supply is not sized to simultaneously power all available charging stations; • either to avoid deploying an architecture sized to the maximum of potential consumption in terms of electrical network, but also of energy production.

[0004] The problem is therefore linked to energy sobriety and the optimization of a resource, in our case it is the limited quantity of electricity available, when it is shared between several charging stations in order to avoid infrastructure work and / or to avoid oversizing energy production.

[0005] The best-known optimization method is load balancing, which involves smoothing the maximum load across all the charging stations involved through a process similar to a game of musical chairs. Based on user-defined criteria, commands are issued to each of the charging stations in the network whose overall consumption is to be optimized. There are three types of commands for this purpose: • Power is allocated to a charging station (normal operation); • the current transmission to a charging station is cut off (concept erasure); • a reduced amount of current is allocated to a charging station (concept of stepping down).

[0006] Charging stations can communicate with electric vehicles to exchange information, for example, when a charging cable is plugged in or when charging is complete and the battery is full. However, charging stations cannot communicate with each other so that one charging station can temporarily go into standby mode in favor of a charging station considered to have a higher priority.

[0007] To solve this communication problem between charging stations, it is possible to use a control terminal which measures the electrical consumption of all charging stations and then reduces or lowers the current for a charging station in order to create a diversity.

[0008] This solution is only usable when all the charging stations are supplied by the same manufacturer as the control station. However, this is not always the case, as a building's parking lot, for example, may be equipped with charging stations from different manufacturers.

[0009] Furthermore, some older installations equipped with a single electric vehicle charging station may be equipped with a first-generation station that was not capable of performing a lowering or erasure function. Object of the invention

[0010] The present invention aims to optimize the management of a set of charging stations for electric vehicles, by providing an interchangeable and scalable solution, compatible for use with any brand of charging station and allowing the optimization of the consumption of electric vehicles.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to an interface module for managing a set of charging stations for electric vehicles, comprising a housing intended to be fixed between a charging station among the set of charging stations and a socket of said charging station, the interface module comprising an electronic circuit controlled by a control unit, the electronic circuit being configured to: • receive a primary control signal from the control center, • act, depending on the value of the primary control signal, on the value of a secondary control signal transmitted by a control line connected between the charging station and the socket, said control line being dedicated to communication between the charging station and a vehicle and determining an permissible value of the charge.

[0012] The interface module may further include one or more of the following features.

[0013] According to a feature of the interface module, the electronic circuit has two operating modes depending on the value of the primary control signal: • a normal operating mode in which the electronic circuit does not modify the secondary control signal transmitted by the control line and the maximum permitted current is transmitted to the vehicle; • a lowering operating mode in which the electronic circuit modifies the secondary control signal transmitted by the control line to lower the current transmitted to the vehicle.

[0014] According to a feature of the interface module, the electronic circuit is configured to receive, from the control unit, a first primary control signal allowing the definition of the normal operating mode and the lowering operating mode and a second primary control signal, the electronic circuit being able to define, according to the value of the second primary control signal, a third erasure operating mode in which the secondary control signal transmitted by the control line is interrupted and the charging station transmits no current to the vehicle.

[0015] According to a feature of the interface module, the electronic circuit includes a resistor mounted between an input of the control line downstream of the charging station and upstream of the interface module and an output downstream of the interface module intended to be connected to the vehicle through the socket, the electronic circuit further includes a first switch controlled by the primary control signal mounted in parallel with the resistor,

[0016] the first controlled switch being in the closed state in normal operating mode, and

[0017] the first controlled switch being in the open state in the lowering operating mode, the resistance adding to the resistance of the control line to modify the secondary control signal transmitted by the control line and lower the current transmitted to the vehicle.

[0018] According to a feature of the interface module, the first controlled switch is controlled by the first primary control signal, the electronic circuit further includes a second controlled switch controlled by the second primary control signal, the second controlled switch being mounted in series with the resistor between the control line input and the control line output, the second controlled switch being in the open state in the third erasure operating mode, the second controlled switch being in the closed state in the normal operating mode and in the lowering operating mode.

[0019] According to a feature of the interface module, the first controlled switch and / or the second controlled switch is an electromechanical relay or a MOSFET transistor.

[0020] According to a feature of the interface module, the first controlled switch and / or the second controlled switch is an optocoupler.

[0021] According to a feature of the interface module, the housing is an insulating housing, the interface module comprising a first connection area configured for the connection of at least one control wire belonging to the control line of the charging station and a second connection area comprising at least one conductive control pin configured to be connected to the socket and a third connection area for the connection of at least one control wire from the control unit.

[0022] According to a feature of the interface module, the first connection area is configured for the connection of at least two power wires from the charging station and one protective wire connected to earth, and the second connection area includes at least two power conductive pins and one protective conductive pin configured to be connected to the socket.

[0023] According to a feature of the interface module, the first connection area is arranged on a first face of the housing and the second connection area is arranged on a second face of the housing, inclined with respect to the second face of the housing, in particular the first and second faces being opposite.

[0024] The physical realization and the shape of the housing advantageously gives a very small footprint to the interface module allowing it to adapt to any commercially available charging station and thus to combat planned obsolescence since existing charging stations are retained.

[0025] According to a characteristic of the interface module, it is possible to define a system comprising: - an interface module according to the invention; and - a control unit comprising: • a current sensor to measure the current value supplying the charging station, • an analysis unit enabling the analysis of information from the current sensor and the generation, according to criteria previously defined by the user, of a primary control signal to the electronic circuit, • a command transmitter allowing the primary control signal to be sent to the electronic circuit.

[0026] According to a feature of the interface module, the command transmitter is a dry contact. Dry contacts are widely known in the prior art, easy to implement, and do not involve a proprietary language (i.e., a computer protocol linked to a specific brand). This type of universal contact is advantageous for the interchangeability of the invention, enabling the management of charging stations from different brands.

[0027] Other advantages and features may become apparent from the detailed description that follows. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings attached and listed below.

[0029] Fig. 1 represents a block diagram schematically describing the assembly of an interface module according to the invention.

[0030] Fig. 2 represents a perspective view schematically illustrating the mounting of an interface module housing on a charging station.

[0031] Fig. 3 represents a block diagram schematically describing an example of an assembly comprising 3 charging stations for 3 electric vehicles according to the invention.

[0032] Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the interface module of Fig. 2 with and without the housing, in order to show more clearly three connection areas in the interface module allowing the interface module to be mounted on the charging station.

[0033] Fig. 5 represents an electrical diagram of a first embodiment of an electronic circuit of the interface module of Fig. 2.

[0034] Fig. 6 represents an electrical diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic circuit of the interface module of Fig. 2. Detailed description

[0035] In the figures and throughout the description, the same reference numerals represent identical or similar elements. Furthermore, the various elements are not drawn to scale in order to enhance the clarity of the figures. Moreover, the different embodiments and variants are not mutually exclusive and may be combined.

[0036] Figures 1 and 2 schematically represent the assembly of an interface module 10 for managing a set of charging stations for electric vehicles. An example of said set of charging stations for electric vehicles according to the invention is shown in [Fig. 3] with 3 charging stations 100a, 100b, 100c corresponding respectively to 3 electric vehicles 101a, 101b, 101c.

[0037] The interface module 10 includes a housing 11 (shown in [Fig.2] and 4) intended to be fixed between a charging station 100 among the set of charging stations and a socket of said charging station 100. By "socket of said charging station", we mean any connection and charging device such as a charging cable, a standardized type T2 or T2S socket.

[0038] A power supply 103 (shown in Figures 1 and 3) provides power to the charging station: either through a public distribution network (PDN) supplying all the charging stations, where each charging station is downstream of its own meter; or through a "private" electrical installation, where all the charging stations are downstream of a single meter.

[0039] The interface module 10 further comprises an electronic circuit 12 controlled by a control unit 102. For the set of charging stations in [Fig. 3], it is possible to imagine an architecture where the control unit 102 and the charging station 100a are manufactured by the same manufacturer C, but different, for example, from two other manufacturers A and B who respectively manufacture charging stations 100b and 100c. This is a non-limiting example illustrating the possibility of adapting the interface module 10 to architectures that are not necessarily single-manufacturer and that allow users to freely choose the manufacturer of the charging station.

[0040] Referring to the block diagram in [Fig. 1], the electronic circuit 12 is configured to receive a primary control signal Sp from the control unit 102 and, depending on the value of the primary control signal Sp, to act on the value of a secondary control signal Ss transmitted by a PP control line connected between the charging station 10 and the T2S socket. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, the interface module 10 includes several conductive terminals, one of which allows the connection of the PP control line between the charging station 10 and the T2S socket. The PP control line is dedicated to communication between the charging station 100 and a vehicle 101; it allows the presence of a charging cable to be detected and the permissible charging value to be determined (in particular, the permissible current value).In particular, within the framework of a T2S socket, the PP control line can be constituted by the "Proximity Pilot" line.

[0041] According to a first embodiment, the electronic circuit 12 has two operating modes, depending on the value of the primary control signal Sp: • a normal operating mode in which the electronic circuit 12 does not modify the secondary control signal Ss transmitted by the PP control line, in this case the maximum permitted current is transmitted to the vehicle 101; • a lowering operating mode in which the electronic circuit 12 modifies the secondary control signal Ss transmitted by the PP control line to lower the current transmitted to the vehicle 101.

[0042] According to a second embodiment, the electronic circuit 12 is configured to receive, from the control unit 102, a first primary signal of The first primary control signal, Spl, and a second primary control signal, Sp2, define the normal operating mode and the lowering operating mode, as mentioned above. Furthermore, the electronic circuit 12 can define, depending on the value of the second primary control signal, Sp2, a third operating mode, called clearing, in which the secondary control signal Ss transmitted by the PP control line is interrupted and the charging station 100 transmits no current to the vehicle 101.

[0043] According to the first and second embodiments, and in particular during the second lowering mode of operation and the third erasure mode of operation, the interface module 10 interfaces with the PP control line to modify the secondary control signal S s transmitted to the vehicle 101 by simulating a lowering signal or an erasure signal allowing respectively either to transmit information to the vehicle 101 that a charging cable of lower nominal current has been connected (in this case the vehicle 101 will automatically draw less current which leads to a lowering), or to order the cessation of the charging of the vehicle 101 by interrupting the secondary control signal S s transmitted to the vehicle 101.

[0044] Referring to the electrical diagram of the first embodiment in [Fig. 5] and the block diagram in [Fig. 1], the electronic circuit 12 includes a resistor RI connected between an input PPin of the PP control line downstream of the charging station 100 and upstream of the interface module 10, and an output PPout downstream of the interface module 10 intended to be connected to the vehicle 101 via the T2S connector. The electronic circuit 12 further includes a first switch controlled by the primary control signal Sp, connected in parallel with the resistor RL. In the closed state, the first switch controlled by SWab can be considered as a simple wire allowing the normal operating mode to be defined, by short-circuiting the resistor RI so as not to modify the resistance of the PP control line (and therefore the signal it transmits to the vehicle 101).In the open state, the first controlled switch SWab allows the lowering operating mode to be defined. In this case, the resistance RI, not being short-circuited, adds to the resistance of the PP control line to modify the secondary control signal Ss transmitted by the PP control line and lower the current transmitted to the vehicle 101.

[0045] Referring now to the electrical diagram of the second embodiment in [Fig. 6], the electronic circuit is configured, as previously described, to receive, from the control unit 102, the first primary control signal Spl and the second primary control signal Sp2. The first controlled switch SWab is now controlled by the first primary control signal Spl. The electronic circuit 12 further includes a second SWeff is a controlled switch operated by the second primary control signal Sp2. In this second embodiment, the second SWeff is connected in series with the resistor RI between the input PPin and the output PPout of the PP control line. In the open state, the second SWeff enables the third operating mode of load shedding, in which no current is transmitted from the charging station 100 to the vehicle 101. In the closed state, the second SWeff enables the two operating modes of normal and load shedding.

[0046] The first controlled switch SWab and / or the second controlled switch SWeff can be an electromechanical relay or a MOSFET transistor. In this case, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6 for the two embodiments described, a power supply (a 3.3V supply, for example) is essential for the operation of the interface module 10. This power supply can be, for example, a battery, a standard external power supply (connected to the existing electrical network inside the charging station), or via a voltage transformer integrated into the interface module 10, which draws current from a phase L1 and the neutral N of the charging station, shown in Figures 2 and 4. It should be noted that in the present and non-restrictive embodiment of the invention, only a single-phase power supply between phase L1 and neutral is considered.The other two phases L2 and L3 of the charging station 100 (shown in [Fig.2]) are connected directly to the T2S socket, without being interfaced by the interface module 10.

[0047] The first controlled switch SWab and / or the second controlled switch SWeff may be an optocoupler. In this case, in addition to the power supply required for the operation of the interface module 10, the electronic circuit 12 further includes two biasing resistors R2 and R3 for the protection and biasing of the optocoupler. Resistor R2 is connected between the positive terminal of the optocoupler (SWab in [Fig. 5] and SWeff in [Fig. 6]) and the power supply (potential equal to 3.3 V), while resistor R3 is connected between the negative terminal of the optocoupler (for SWab and SWeff in both embodiments) and ground (potential equal to 0 V).

[0048] Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, the housing 11 is an insulating housing that can be made, for example, of plastic. The interface module 10 comprises a first connection area Zcl configured for connecting two control wires belonging to the PP control line and a second CP (Control Pilot) control line of the charging station 100. A second connection area Zc2 includes at least one control conductive pin configured to be connected to the T2S socket, and a third area of connection Zc3 for connecting at least one control wire from the control unit 102.

[0049] Furthermore, the first connection zone Zcl is configured for the connection of at least two power wires (neutral N and phase L1 in the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2]) from the charging station 100 to supply the electronic circuit 12, and a PE protective wire connected to earth, allowing for the dissipation of parasitic currents and ensuring signal quality. The second connection zone Zc2 comprises at least two power conductive pins and one protective conductive pin configured for connection to the T2S socket.

[0050] The first connection zone Zcl is arranged on a first face of the housing 11 and the second connection zone Zc2 is arranged on a second face of the housing 11, inclined with respect to the second face of the housing 11, in particular the first and second faces being opposite.

[0051] In order to consider the invention more generally, a system S, as represented by the dotted line in [Fig. 1], can be defined, comprising an interface module 10 according to the invention and a control unit 102. The control unit 102, disposed in a container such as a cabinet or a master terminal, for example, includes a current sensor 1021 for measuring the value of the current supplying the charging station 100. The current sensor 1021 can measure the current on a main line serving all the charging stations (as can be seen on the set of charging stations in [Fig. 3]) or for each power supply line of each charging station in the set.

[0052] The control unit 102 further includes an analysis unit 1022, which analyzes the information from the current sensor 1021 and generates, according to criteria previously defined by the user, a primary control signal to the electronic circuit 12. Referring to the set of charging stations in [Fig. 3], an example of a scenario implemented by the control unit 102 will now be described. If the current value exceeds a certain value, initially set by the user and corresponding to the maximum current that the line supplying the charging stations can transmit or the maximum available current, the analysis unit 1022 sends a command to reduce the current to the charging station 100a, for example, for a first duration set by the user, in the form of a primary control signal Sp to the electronic circuit 12.If this current reduction is insufficient to bring the current below the user-set value, the current supplying charging station 100b and / or possibly charging station 100c is also reduced. For a second user-set duration, the current reduction at the affected charging stations is stopped, and the current is measured again. The results are adjusted accordingly. Once obtained, it would be possible to maintain normal operation or switch to one of the lowering or erasure operating modes.

[0053] The control unit 102 also includes a command transmitter 1023 for sending the primary control signal Sp to the electronic circuit 12.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the command transmitter can be a dry contact, i.e., a simple switch controlled by the control unit 102 (in particular the analysis unit 1022) to open or close it according to the primary control signal Sp representing the current value supplying the charging station. The number of wires to be used for the implementation of the dry contact can be 2 wires in the case of the lowering mode of operation (illustrated in [Fig. 5]) or 4 or 3 wires (by connecting one wire for the two controlled switches) in the case of the clearing mode of operation (illustrated in [Fig. 6]).

Claims

1. Demands Interface module (10) for managing a set of charging stations for electric vehicles, comprising a housing (11) intended to be fixed between a charging station (100) among the set of charging stations and a (T2S) socket of said charging station (100), the interface module (10) comprising an electronic circuit (12) controlled by a control unit (102), the electronic circuit (12) being configured to: • receive, from the control unit (102), a primary control signal (Sp), • act, according to the value of the primary control signal (Sp), on the value of a secondary control signal (Ss) transmitted by a control line (PP) connected between the charging station (10) and the socket (T2S), said control line (PP) being dedicated to communication between the charging station (100) and a vehicle (101) and determining an permissible value of the charge. the electronic circuit (12) exhibiting two operating modes depending on the value of the primary control signal (Sp): • a normal operating mode in which the electronic circuit (12) does not modify the secondary control signal (Ss) transmitted by the control line (PP) and the maximum permissible current is transmitted to the vehicle (101); • a lowering operating mode in which the electronic circuit (12) modifies the secondary control signal (Ss) transmitted by the control line (PP) to lower the current transmitted to the vehicle (101), The electronic circuit (12) includes a resistor (RI) mounted between an input (PPin) of the control line (PP) downstream of the charging station (100) and upstream of the interface module (10), and an output (PPout) downstream of the interface module (10) intended to be connected to the vehicle (101) via the (T2S) connector. The electronic circuit (12) further includes a first switch. controlled (SWab) by the primary control signal (Sp) mounted in parallel with the resistor (RI), • the first controlled switch (SWab) being in the closed state in normal operating mode, and • the first controlled switch (SWab) being in the open state in the lowering operating mode, the resistor (RI) adding to the resistance of the control line (PP) to modify the secondary control signal (S s) transmitted by the control line (PP) and lower the current transmitted to the vehicle (101).

2. Interface module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit (12) is configured to receive, from the control unit (102), a first primary control signal (Spl) enabling the definition of the normal operating mode and the lowering operating mode and a second primary control signal (Sp2), the electronic circuit (12) being able to define, according to the value of the second primary control signal (Sp2), a third erasure operating mode in which the secondary control signal (Ss) transmitted by the control line (PP) is interrupted and the charging station (100) transmits no current to the vehicle (101).

3. Interface module (10) according to claim 2, wherein the first controlled switch (SWab) is controlled by the first primary control signal (Spl), the electronic circuit (12) further comprises a second controlled switch (SWeff) by the second primary control signal (Sp2), the second controlled switch (SWeff) being mounted in series with the resistor (RI) between the input (PPin) of the control line (PP) and the output (PPout) of the control line (PP), the second controlled switch (SWeff) being in the open state in the third erasure operating mode, the second controlled switch (SWeff) being in the closed state in the normal operating mode and in the lowering operating mode.

4. Interface module (10) according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first controlled switch (SWab) and / or the second controlled switch (SWeff) is an electromechanical relay or a MOSFET transistor.

5. Interface module (10) according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first controlled switch (SWab) and / or the second controlled switch (SWeff) is an optocoupler.

6. Interface module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing (11) is an insulating housing, the interface module (10) comprising a first connection area (Zcl) configured for the connection of at least one control wire belonging to the control line (PP) of the charging station (100) and a second connection area (Zc2) comprising at least one conductive control pin configured to be connected to the socket (T2S) and a third connection area (Zc3) for the connection of at least one control wire from the control unit (102).

7. Interface module (10) according to claim 6, wherein the first connection area (Zcl) is configured for the connection of at least two power wires from the charging station (100) and one protective wire connected to earth, and the second connection area (Zc2) comprising at least two power conductive pins and one protective conductive pin configured to be connected to the socket (T2S).

8. Interface module according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the first connection zone (Zcl) is disposed on a first face of the housing (11) and the second connection zone (Zc2) is disposed on a second face of the housing (11), inclined with respect to the second face of the housing (11), in particular the first and second faces being opposite.

9. System (S) comprising: - an interface module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims; and - a control unit (102) comprising:

10. • a current sensor (1021) to measure the value of the current supplying the charging station (100), • an analysis unit (1022) enabling the analysis of information from the current sensor (1021) and the generation, according to criteria previously defined by the user, of a primary control signal to the electronic circuit (12), • a command transmitter (1023) allowing the primary control signal to be sent to the electronic circuit (12). System (S) according to claim 9, wherein the command transmitter (1023) is a dry contact.

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