Charging device and control method for performing charging function based on super capacitor

KR103011244B1Active Publication Date: 2026-09-01VINATECH CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
KR1020250126906
Authority / Receiving Office
KR · KR
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-09-05
Publication Date
2026-09-01
Estimated Expiration
2045-09-05

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Abstract

The present disclosure provides a charging device that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor and a method for controlling the same. A charging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an interface connected to an electric mobility and a charging unit that supplies power to the electric mobility through said interface. The charging unit includes a memory comprising at least one instruction, a communication interface, a supercapacitor, and a control unit that supplies power to the electric mobility based on said supercapacitor when the connection of the electric mobility through said interface is detected by executing said at least one instruction.
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Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging device that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor and a method for controlling the same. Background Technology

[0002] With the recent increase in the use of electric mobility devices such as electric vehicles, scooters, bicycles, and drones, the need for infrastructure capable of charging these devices in various environments has significantly grown. In response, methods such as fixed charging stations and wall-mounted chargers are being introduced; however, these approaches suffer from poor user accessibility due to limited installation space and the requirement to operate only in specific locations. Furthermore, user inconvenience is exacerbated by a lack of charging infrastructure in areas where installing charging stations is difficult, such as suburban areas or densely populated residential districts. In particular, despite the fact that smaller electric mobility devices generate charging demand in relatively more diverse locations compared to electric vehicles, the charging infrastructure to accommodate this demand remains insufficient.

[0003] Meanwhile, existing charging systems are primarily wired, which entails the inconvenience of requiring users to manually connect charging cables, and makes charging difficult unless the vehicle or device is stopped precisely at a specific location. Furthermore, despite the potential for safety accidents such as collisions or fires during charging, many systems lack sufficient safety devices to detect or respond to these incidents in real time.

[0004] Meanwhile, since locations where charging infrastructure is installed often overlap with pedestrian traffic, there is a possibility that charging devices could compromise pedestrian safety. However, current charging devices are operated in a structure separated from urban infrastructure functions such as pedestrian protection, leaving room for improvement in terms of space utilization efficiency and safety.

[0005] As such, there is a growing demand for charging infrastructure that can charge various forms of electric mobility more safely and efficiently, while harmonizing with the urban environment. The problem to be solved

[0006] The present disclosure is devised to solve the aforementioned problem and aims to provide a charging station that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor and a method for controlling the same.

[0007] However, the problems to be solved in this disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems may be clearly understood based on the description below. means of solving the problem

[0008] A charging device that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure for realizing the aforementioned task includes an interface connected to an electric mobility and a charging unit that supplies power to the electric mobility through said interface, and said charging unit includes a memory including at least one instruction, a communication interface, a supercapacitor, and a control unit that supplies power to the electric mobility based on said supercapacitor when the connection of the electric mobility through said interface is detected by executing said at least one instruction.

[0009] Additionally, the device includes a bollard body installed on the road surface, the interface is provided on one side of the bollard body, and the charging part may be disposed inside the bollard body or buried underground in the road surface where the bollard body is installed.

[0010] In addition, the charging unit further includes a light-emitting unit comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the upper part of the bollard body, and the control unit can control the light-emitting unit to emit light when power supply to the electric mobility begins.

[0011] In addition, the control unit can control the light-emitting unit to change the color of the emitted light according to the remaining charging time based on the preset charging time.

[0012] In addition, when power supply to the electric mobility begins, the control unit can transmit location information where the charging device is installed and preset charging time information to the control center through the communication interface.

[0013] In addition, the charging unit further includes a sensing unit, and the control unit detects a fire in the electric mobility based on sensing information obtained through the sensing unit, and when a fire in the electric mobility is detected, it can transmit fire occurrence information to the control center through the communication interface.

[0014] Additionally, the device further includes a water supply unit comprising a water supply tank that stores a fire extinguishing fluid, which is disposed on the road surface where the bollard body is installed and is connected to the sprinkler through a water supply pipe formed by protruding upward and a sprinkler disposed on the upper surface of the bollard body, and the control unit can open a valve that controls the opening and closing of the water supply pipe to discharge the fire extinguishing fluid through the sprinkler when a fire in the electric mobility is detected.

[0015] Additionally, the control unit may further include a speaker, and when a fire in the electric mobility is detected, the control unit may output a warning sound through the speaker.

[0016] In addition, the charging device is installed within a parking space where the electric mobility is parked, and the interface is positioned on the floor area of ​​the parking space and can be connected to the electric mobility through a wireless charging module.

[0017] A method for controlling a charging device that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure for realizing the aforementioned task may include the step of detecting a connection of an electric mobility through an interface, and the step of supplying power to the electric mobility based on the supercapacitor when the electric mobility is detected to be connected. Effects of the invention

[0018] According to the charging device and control method that perform a charging function based on the supercapacitor of the present disclosure, by utilizing bollard structures already installed in urban areas as charging infrastructure, it is possible to install a charging station without securing separate space, thereby improving space utilization efficiency and effectively solving the problem of insufficient charging infrastructure.

[0019] In addition, by providing a charging interface compatible with various types of electric mobility devices (e.g., electric scooters, electric bicycles, drones, etc.), a universal charging service can be provided without being limited to specific vehicles.

[0020] Conventional batteries pose a risk of thermal runaway due to humidity, temperature, and lack of management when embedded inside bollards or underground to serve as charging stations, but supercapacitors can be applied as power sources for charging stations because they are resistant to the surrounding environment and there is no concern about thermal runaway. In particular, EDLCs, a type of supercapacitor, have the advantage of storing energy through "electrostatic accumulation of an electric double layer," so there is no major electrode reaction or oxygen release, and the chain reaction structure, which causes self-heating to be explosively amplified like that of batteries, is weak. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a charging device that performs a charging function based on a super capacitor (123) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method for a charging device that performs a charging function based on a super capacitor (123) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing a charging device implemented as a bollard according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagram of a method for monitoring whether a charging device is in use and the charging status according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing a wireless charging device installed in a parking space according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0022] The embodiments described herein are subject to various modifications and may have various forms; specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of specific embodiments and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In relation to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar components.

[0023] In describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present disclosure, such detailed description is omitted.

[0024] Additionally, the following embodiments may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more faithful and complete and to fully convey the technical concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0025] The terms used in this disclosure are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the rights. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0026] In the present disclosure, expressions such as “have,” “may have,” “include,” or “may include” indicate the presence of such features (e.g., numerical values, functions, actions, or components such as parts) and do not exclude the presence of additional features.

[0027] In the present disclosure, expressions such as “A or B,” “at least one of A or / and B,” or “one or more of A or / and B” may include all possible combinations of items listed together. For example, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A or B” may refer to cases including (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) both at least one A and at least one B.

[0028] Expressions such as "first," "second," "first," or "second" used in this disclosure may modify various components regardless of order and / or importance, and are used only to distinguish one component from another and do not limit said components.

[0029] Where it is stated that a component (e.g., Component 1) is "(operatively or communicatively) coupled with / to" or "connected to" another component (e.g., Component 2), it should be understood that the component may be directly connected to the other component or connected through the other component (e.g., Component 3).

[0030] On the other hand, when it is stated that a certain component (e.g., a first component) is "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component (e.g., a second component), it may be understood that no other component (e.g., a third component) exists between the certain component and the other component.

[0031] As used in this disclosure, the expression “configured to” may be replaced, depending on the context, with, for example, “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “made to,” or “capable of.” The term “configured to” may not necessarily mean only “specifically designed to” in hardware.

[0032] Instead, in some situations, the expression “device configured to do something” may mean that the device is “capable of doing something” together with other devices or components. For example, the phrase “processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor for performing those operations (e.g., an embedded processor), or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a CPU or application processor) capable of performing those operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

[0033] In the embodiments, a 'module' or 'part' performs at least one function or operation and may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, a plurality of 'modules' or a plurality of 'parts' may be integrated into at least one module and implemented by at least one processor, except for the 'module' or 'part' that needs to be implemented in specific hardware.

[0034] Meanwhile, the various elements and areas in the drawings are depicted schematically. Accordingly, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by the relative sizes or spacing depicted in the attached drawings.

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a charging device (100) that performs a charging function based on a super capacitor (123) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, the charging device (100) may include an interface (110) and a charging unit (120). However, the configuration of the charging device (100) is not limited to that described above, and may include additional configurations or omit some configurations.

[0037] An interface (110) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure connects a charging device (100) and an electric mobility. Specifically, the interface (110) may include physical or wireless connection means for delivering power provided by a charging unit (120) to a battery of the electric mobility. For example, the interface (110) may be implemented in the form of a wired charging port, a connector, or a wireless charging pad, and may be designed to be compatible with various types of electric mobility, such as electric scooters, electric bicycles, and drones. The interface (110) may perform the function of safely supplying power received from the charging unit (120) to the electric mobility by converting or adjusting it into an appropriate format.

[0038] A charging unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure generates and stores power (or electric energy) provided to electric mobility. To this end, the charging unit (120) may include a memory (121), a communication interface (122), a super capacitor (123), and a control unit (124). However, the configuration of the charging unit (120) is not limited to that described above, and may include additional configurations or omit some configurations.

[0039] The memory (121) may store at least one instruction for operating the charging device (100). Additionally, the memory (121) may store an operating system (O / S) for operating the charging device (100). Furthermore, the memory (121) may store a software program or application for operating the charging device (100) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, the memory (121) may store various information, such as various data that is input, set, or generated during the execution of the program or application. For example, the memory (121) may store information regarding a previously learned neural network model and program code for executing it.

[0040] Depending on the purpose of data storage, the memory (121) may be implemented in the form of a memory (121) embedded in the charging device (100) or in the form of a memory (121) that can be attached to and detached from the charging device (100). For example, data for operating the charging device (100) may be stored in the memory (121) embedded in the charging device (100), and data for the expansion function of the charging device (100) may be stored in the memory (121) that can be attached to and detached from the charging device (100).

[0041] Meanwhile, the memory (121) embedded in the charging device (100) may be implemented as at least one of volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (dynamic RAM), SRAM (static RAM), or SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., OTPROM (one time programmable ROM), PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable and programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), mask ROM, flash ROM, flash memory (e.g., NAND flash or NOR flash), hard drive, or solid state drive (SSD).

[0042] In addition, the memory (121) that can be attached to and detached from the charging device (100) can be implemented in the form of a memory (121) card (e.g., CF (compact flash), SD (secure digital), Micro-SD (micro secure digital), Mini-SD (mini secure digital), xD (extreme digital), MMC (multi-media card), etc.) or an external memory that can be connected to a USB port (e.g., USB memory (121)).

[0043] The communication interface (122) may include a wireless communication interface (122), a wired communication interface (122), or an input interface (110). The wireless communication interface (122) may communicate with various external devices using wireless communication technology or mobile communication technology. Such wireless communication technologies may include, for example, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, CAN communication, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, ultrawide band (UWB), Zigbee, infrared data association (IrDA), or near field communication (NFC), and mobile communication technologies may include 3GPP, Wi-Max, LTE (Long Term Evolution), 5G, etc.

[0044] The wireless communication interface (122) can be implemented using an antenna, a communication chip, a substrate, etc., capable of transmitting electromagnetic waves to the outside or receiving electromagnetic waves transmitted from the outside.

[0045] Depending on the embodiment, either the wireless communication interface (122) or the wired communication interface (122) may be omitted. Accordingly, the charging device (100) may include only the wireless communication interface (122) or only the wired communication interface (122). In addition, the charging device (100) may be equipped with an integrated communication interface (122) that supports both wireless connection via the wireless communication interface (122) and wired connection via the wired communication interface (122).

[0046] The charging device (100) is not limited to having one communication interface (122) that performs a communication connection in one manner, but may include a plurality of communication interfaces (122) that perform communication connections in multiple manners.

[0047] The charging device (100) can be connected to an external electronic device via a communication interface (122) to transmit and receive various data. For example, the communication interface (122) can transmit information indicating the status of the charging device (100) (e.g., whether it is connected to electric mobility, information on the charging amount of the charging device (100), charging time information, etc.) to an external manager terminal device or a control center.

[0048] Meanwhile, the charging device (100) may include a power supply unit comprising a super capacitor (123). The power supply unit may supply power stored in the super capacitor (123) to an electric mobility connected to the charging device (100). To this end, the super capacitor (123) may be composed of a separator and an electrolyte located between two opposing electrodes, and these electrodes, separator, and electrolyte may be placed inside a housing.

[0049] The supercapacitor (123) can be charged and discharged by storing or releasing charge through a process in which ions in the electrolyte are adsorbed and desorbed onto the electrode surface or through a surface chemical reaction with the electrode.

[0050] Supercapacitors (123) can be classified into several types based on their operating principles. Examples include an Electrical Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) that stores energy by forming an electrical double layer through ion adsorption and desorption on the electrode surface, a Pseudocapacitor that involves electrochemical reactions such as oxidation and reduction reactions on the electrode surface, and a Hybrid Supercapacitor (123) that combines these two characteristics and is implemented through an asymmetric electrode structure.

[0051] An electric double layer capacitor generally includes a porous carbon electrode, and a pseudo-capacitor may include an electrode composed of a pseudo-capacitive material such as a metal oxide or a conductive polymer. A hybrid supercapacitor (123) may be constructed by combining such a porous carbon electrode and an electrode composed of a pseudo-capacitive material at the positive and negative electrodes, respectively.

[0052] However, the type, configuration, and operation method of the super capacitor (123) are not limited to the above examples and can be implemented based on various materials and structures.

[0053] Additionally, the charging and discharging module is configured to perform the function of charging by supplying power to the super capacitor (123) or discharging power stored in the super capacitor (123) to the outside, operates under the control of the control unit (124), and can be utilized for supplying power to an electric vehicle or for power distribution within the system.

[0054] However, the type, configuration, and operating principle of the super capacitor (123) are not limited to those described above, and the super capacitor (123) may be configured and operated in various ways.

[0055] The charging and discharging module is configured to charge power to the super capacitor (123) or discharge power stored in the super capacitor (123).

[0056] The charging device (100) can receive power from an external power grid or other power source and store electrical energy in a super capacitor (123). For example, if the charging device (100) is in the form of a bollard installed on an urban sidewalk or the edge of a road, the bollard is connected to an underground power supply line so that power can be supplied at all times or at regular intervals. The power supplied in this way is stored in the super capacitor (123) under the control of the charging unit (120), and the stored power can subsequently be supplied to various electric means of transportation, such as electric scooters and electric bicycles, when they are connected to the charging device (100).

[0057] Alternatively, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging device (100) may further include a solar charging module. In this case, the supercapacitor (123) may be charged by receiving power from the solar charging module. The solar charging module may include a solar module, a charging controller, and a power supply line connected to the supercapacitor (123).

[0058] A solar charging module is installed on the top of a bollard body (110) or on the outside of a nearby structure to convert sunlight into electrical energy and can generate direct current power (DC power) by concentrating sunlight. The solar charging module can be configured to stably supply the generated direct current power to a super capacitor (123) after regulating it through a charging controller to enable charging. At this time, the charging controller controls the voltage and current according to the charge state of the super capacitor (123) and can apply a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm to prevent overcharging and ensure efficient energy transfer. Thus, the charging device (100) can operate as an autonomous charging system capable of independently charging a supercapacitor via solar power and supplying power to electric mobility even without being connected to an external power grid. Additionally, when the charging device (100) is configured in the form of a wireless charging pad embedded in the floor of a parking lot or an outdoor parking space, power is supplied through a power input device installed underground or a solar-based energy storage system, and the power is stored in a supercapacitor (123) bank. Subsequently, when a means of transportation such as a vehicle or a drone stops or lands on the charging pad, the control unit (124) detects such a state and can supply the power stored in the supercapacitor (123) to the means of transportation wirelessly.

[0059] In this way, the charging device (100) can perform the charging function for various types of electric mobility means while minimizing space constraints within the city by using a super capacitor (123) to temporarily store power supplied from the outside and then supplying the necessary power quickly and stably when a connection or contact with a charging target is detected.

[0060] Conventional batteries are embedded inside bollards and underground and pose a risk of thermal runaway due to humidity, temperature, and lack of management, but supercapacitors (123) can be applied as power sources for charging stations because they have strong characteristics against the surrounding environment and there is no concern about thermal runaway. In particular, EDLC, which is a type of supercapacitor (123), has the advantage of storing energy through the 'electrostatic accumulation of an electric double layer,' so there is no major electrode reaction or oxygen release, and the chain reaction structure in which self-heating is explosively amplified like in batteries is weak.

[0061] The control unit (124) can control the charge / discharge module to charge power to the super capacitor (123) and discharge the super capacitor (123) to supply the power stored in the super capacitor (123) to each component of the vehicle connected to the charging device (100).

[0062] The control unit (124) can perform operations to control various device configurations described later using the electrical energy stored in the super capacitor (123).

[0063] The control unit (124) may include at least one processor. The processor controls the overall operation of the charging device (100). Specifically, the processor is connected to the configuration of the charging device (100) including the memory (121) as described above, and can control the overall operation of the charging device (100) by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory (121) as described above. In particular, the processor may be implemented as a single processor as well as as a plurality of processors.

[0064] The processor may be implemented in various ways. For example, one or more processors may include one or more of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), APU (Accelerated Processing Unit), MIC (Many Integrated Core), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), NPU (Neural Processing Unit), hardware accelerator, or machine learning accelerator. One or more processors may control one or any combination of other components of the charging device (100) and may perform operations or data processing related to communication. One or more processors may execute one or more programs or instructions stored in memory (121). For example, one or more processors may perform a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure by executing one or more instructions stored in memory (121).

[0065] When a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by a single processor or by a plurality of processors. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to one embodiment, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by a first processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by a first processor (e.g., a general-purpose processor) and the third operation may be performed by a second processor (e.g., an artificial intelligence dedicated processor).

[0066] One or more processors may be implemented as a single-core processor including one core, or as one or more multicore processors including multiple cores (e.g., homogeneous multicore or heterogeneous multicore). When one or more processors are implemented as multicore processors, each of the multiple cores included in the multicore processor may include internal processor memory (121), such as on-chip memory (121), and a common cache shared by the multiple cores may be included in the multicore processor. Additionally, each of the multiple cores included in the multicore processor (or some of the multiple cores) may independently read and execute program instructions for implementing a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, or all (or some) of the multiple cores may be linked together to read and execute program instructions for implementing a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0067] When a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one of the plurality of cores included in a multi-core processor, or may be performed by a plurality of cores. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to one embodiment, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by a first core included in a multi-core processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by a first core included in a multi-core processor and the third operation may be performed by a second core included in a multi-core processor.

[0068] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a processor may refer to a system-on-chip (SoC) in which one or more processors and other electronic components are integrated, a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, or a core included in a single-core processor or a multi-core processor, wherein the core may be implemented as a CPU, GPU, APU, MIC, DSP, NPU, hardware accelerator, or machine learning accelerator, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0069] A control unit (124) including a processor can be connected wirelessly or via wired connection to the above-described interface (110), memory (121), communication interface (122), and super capacitor (123) to perform the operation of controlling each device configuration.

[0070] FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a charging device (100) that performs a charging function based on a super capacitor (123) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit (124) can detect the connection of the electric mobility through the charging interface (110) (S210). Specifically, in the case of a wired charging method, the control unit (124) can detect whether the electric mobility is physically connected through the connection of the charging port, current flow, or contact signal, and in the case of a wireless charging method, it can detect whether the electric mobility has accurately stopped or landed at the charging location using wireless communication (RFID, NFC, etc.), a magnetic field sensor, or a parking location detection sensor. Such connection detection can be used as a criterion for determining the validity of the charging start condition, and multiple detection conditions may be combined and utilized to prevent malfunction.

[0072] And, when the control unit (124) detects that the electric mobility is connected, it can supply power to the electric mobility based on the super capacitor (123) (S220). Specifically, the control unit (124) checks the charge state (e.g., voltage, residual capacity) of the super capacitor (123) and, if the charging conditions are satisfied, can open or operate the output circuit to supply power stored in the super capacitor (123) to the electric mobility through the charging interface (110).

[0073] At this time, the control unit (124) may control the output voltage using a CV (Constant Voltage) method to maintain a voltage above a certain level, or limit the output current according to the battery condition of the charging target to ensure charging safety and battery life. Additionally, when charging begins, the light-emitting unit may be controlled to visually display the charging status, and the charging start time and location information may be transmitted to the control system via the communication interface (122).

[0074] Meanwhile, the supercapacitor (123) may be composed of a single cell, but depending on the required power supply conditions (e.g., voltage, storage capacity, etc.), it may be composed of a supercapacitor bank (123) in which multiple supercapacitor (123) cells are connected in series, parallel, or a mixed series-parallel manner. For example, a series connection is intended to increase the voltage, and a parallel connection is intended to increase the energy storage capacity, and an appropriate number of cells may be selectively combined according to the electrical characteristics of the electric mobility to be charged. In this case, the supercapacitor bank (123) may additionally include a cell balancing circuit to maintain voltage balance between each cell, and the control unit (124) can monitor the status of each cell in real time and control it so that safe charging and discharging are performed.

[0075] FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing a charging device (100) implemented as a bollard according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a charging device (100) may include a bollard body (130) installed on the road surface. The bollard body (130) is generally formed of a metal material or a high-strength composite material to ensure durability against external impacts and can be utilized as a structure that protects pedestrian safety by physically blocking the entry of vehicles. In addition, it may be designed in various shapes such as cylindrical, prismatic, or hemispherical to consider urban aesthetics, and reflective tape or a light-emitting device for night identification may be attached to the outer surface as needed.

[0077] The charging interface (110) is provided on one side of the bollard body (130) and may be composed of a wired port or a wireless charging module capable of transmitting power through a connection with the electric mobility (200). The charging unit (120) may be placed inside the bollard body (130) or buried underground beneath the road surface where the bollard body (130) is installed, and may store power supplied from an external power grid in a super capacitor (123) and provide the stored power to the electric mobility (200).

[0078] For example, the charging device (100) may be implemented by being embedded in each of the multiple bollards installed on the road surface or sidewalk. At this time, the multiple bollards may be placed at regular intervals in areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as main urban streets, entrances to public places, and around parks. Each bollard receives power from an external power grid or a nearby distribution box and can store electricity through a supercapacitor (123) of a charging unit (120) installed inside or underground. At this time, the electric mobility (200) to be charged can automatically start charging by the user approaching a specific bollard and connecting via a wired charging cable included in the charging interface (110), or by stopping at a charging location adjacent to a wireless charging module included in the charging interface (110).

[0079] At this time, the power supply unit including the supercapacitor may be housed in a case equipped with waterproof and dustproof functions to ensure resistance to heat, moisture, and vibration from the external environment. In particular, the supercapacitor may be suitable for an outdoor charging device in that it has a long charge and discharge cycle life, enables rapid charging, and has excellent characteristics regarding temperature changes. Accordingly, the charging device (100) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can operate stably even in installation locations with unstable environmental conditions, such as the road surface in an urban area or the underground of a parking space. In particular, it can effectively prevent risk factors such as thermal runaway or fire that occur in conventional lithium-ion battery-based charging systems.

[0080] FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagram of a method for monitoring whether a charging device is in use and the charging status according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0081] Meanwhile, each charging device (100) configured in the form of a bollard is connected to a control system or a city operation server through a communication interface (122) and can transmit charging history, location information, remaining charging time, abnormal status, etc. in real time. Referring to FIG. 4, through this, the control system manager can monitor the status of each charging device (100) and plan a maintenance schedule, and the user can check the location and status of nearby available charging bollards through a smartphone app (400) or a public kiosk.

[0082] At this time, the charging unit (120) may further include a light-emitting unit comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements positioned on the upper part of the bollard body (130). At this time, the control unit (124) may control the light-emitting unit to emit light when power supply to the electric mobility (200) begins. Specifically, the light-emitting unit may be formed as an LED array composed of a plurality of light-emitting diodes (e.g., LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements), and the LED array may be arranged in a circular or linear manner on the upper edge or side outer surface of the bollard body (130) to enhance visual recognition. When charging of the electric mobility (200) begins, the control unit (124) may turn on the LED array so that the user or surrounding pedestrians can recognize the charging status, and when charging ends, it may turn off the LED or change the color to indicate the charging completion status.

[0083] In particular, the control unit (124) can control the light-emitting unit to change the color of the light emitted according to the remaining charging time based on the preset charging time. Specifically, the control unit (124) can be configured to change the light-emitting color of the LED array in stages according to the progress rate of the total charging time. For example, it can be set to emit blue light when charging starts, switch to yellow light when charging is 50% or more, and change to red light or green light when charging is complete. These color changes intuitively express the remaining charge amount so that the user can immediately recognize the charging status, and the lighting cycle or brightness adjustment can also be performed as needed. Here, the preset charging time can be set by the user of the electric mobility (200) or based on the charging time required to fully charge based on the remaining charge amount of the electric mobility (200).

[0084] When power supply to the electric mobility (200) begins, the control unit (124) can transmit location information where the charging device (100) is installed and pre-set charging time information to the control center via the communication interface (122). Specifically, the location information can be obtained via GPS, Wi-Fi, or a geomagnetic-based location sensor, and is stored along with a timestamp at the start of charging and transmitted to a cloud-based control system or a local government server, thereby being utilized for managing charging history and detecting abnormal charging.

[0085] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging unit (120) may include a converter (e.g., a DC-DC converter) that regulates the voltage output from a super capacitor (123) so as to supply power corresponding to a charging voltage set for each of a plurality of electric mobility devices that can be connected to an interface (122). At this time, the control unit (124) may identify the charging voltage for the electric mobility device and control the converter based on the identified voltage.

[0086] Specifically, the control unit (124) can identify the required voltage of the connected electric mobility (e.g., 24V, 36V, 48V, etc.) through a communication protocol or initial current feedback analysis when connecting an interface with the electric mobility, and the converter can operate in a Boost or Buck manner to automatically adjust the voltage of the supercapacitor (123) to the corresponding voltage level. Through this, the charging device (100) can effectively respond to various charging targets such as electric kickboards, E-bikes, and electric scooters, and optimal charging conditions can be provided automatically without user intervention.

[0087] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging unit (120) may further include a sensing unit. At this time, the control unit (124) detects a fire in the electric mobility (200) based on sensing information obtained through the sensing unit, and when a fire in the electric mobility (200) is detected, it may transmit fire occurrence information to a control center through a communication interface (122).

[0088] Specifically, the sensing unit may include at least one of a temperature sensor, an infrared-based heat detection sensor, a smoke detection sensor, or a thermal imaging camera to detect fire situations that may occur during or immediately after charging in real time. For example, the temperature sensor can detect when the surface temperature outside the charging port or bollard exceeds a threshold value, and the heat detection sensor can detect a rapid temperature rise within a short period of time to detect initial signs of fire. The smoke detection sensor can determine whether a fire has occurred by detecting smoke particles in the surrounding air, and the thermal imaging camera can detect abnormally high temperature areas in specific parts early by capturing the surface temperature distribution of the entire electric mobility (200) in real time. This sensing information is comprehensively analyzed by the control unit (124), and if a fire risk is determined, an alarm is immediately transmitted to the control center, and in some cases, an autonomous fire extinguishing device may be activated.

[0089] Meanwhile, the charging device (100) may further include a water supply unit comprising a water supply tank that stores a fire extinguishing fluid and is disposed on the lower part of the road surface where the bollard body (130) is installed, and is connected to the sprinkler through a sprinkler and a water supply pipe formed by protruding upward.

[0090] Meanwhile, the sprinkler is normally housed in the upper internal space of the bollard body (130) and can be configured to protrude upward when a fire is detected. To this end, the sprinkler may further include a lifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism may be composed of at least one of, for example, a compression spring, an electric actuator, a linear motor, or a fluid pressure cylinder.

[0091] More specifically, the sprinkler may be combined with a guide rail or slide structure so as to be movable in a vertical direction by an internally mounted electric actuator, and the control unit (124) can control the sprinkler to protrude to the upper outside of the bollard body (130) when it receives a fire detection signal by transmitting an operation signal to the actuator, and then spray fire extinguishing fluid through a water supply pipe.

[0092] When a fire in the electric mobility (200) is detected, the control unit (124) can perform fire suppression by opening an electronic valve that controls the opening and closing of the water supply pipe and releasing fire extinguishing fluid upward through a sprinkler. Specifically, the sprinkler may be installed at the upper center or edge of the bollard body (130) and formed as a rotary or fixed spray structure capable of uniformly spraying fire extinguishing fluid within a certain radius.

[0093] The water supply tank can be installed buried beneath the bollard or in a nearby underground space and can store various forms of fire extinguishing fluids, such as water, inert gas, and eco-friendly fire extinguishing agents. Furthermore, through integration with urban infrastructure, it can be directly connected to public sewer pipes or urban water supply networks buried beneath the road instead of the water supply tank, so that fire extinguishing fluid is automatically supplied from an external source upon fire detection. In this case, the water supply pipe is equipped with a backflow prevention valve and a water purification filter to maintain the cleanliness and safety of the incoming water above a certain level, and a booster pump can be added as needed to assist the spray pressure of the sprinkler.

[0094] According to this configuration, the charging device (100) can directly spray a fire extinguishing fluid around the charging target when a fire occurs, thereby inducing initial fire suppression, and can stably perform the water supply function without maintenance burden through connection with urban infrastructure.

[0095] Additionally, the charging device (100) may further include a speaker. At this time, when a fire is detected in the electric mobility (200), the control unit (124) may output a warning sound through the speaker. Specifically, the speaker is installed on the upper or outer side of the bollard body (130) and, under the control of the control unit (124), generates a repetitive warning sound of a certain volume or higher, thereby immediately notifying nearby pedestrians and vehicle drivers of the fact that a fire has occurred. The warning sound output at this time may be configured in the form of a constant frequency or an intermittent warning siren, and may be set so that it can be clearly heard even at night or in crowded areas.

[0096] In addition, the control unit (124) can output a warning sound and simultaneously control the light-emitting unit to provide a visual warning. For example, the LED array of the light-emitting unit can be operated in a high-speed flash mode, or a warning color (e.g., red, white) different from the normal charging state can be flashed to visually indicate a fire situation.

[0097] Additionally, the control unit (124) can transmit fire occurrence information, including sensing data such as location information, detection time, temperature, or smoke concentration, to the control center in real time through the communication interface (122). Based on the received information, the control center can quickly perform follow-up measures such as verifying the connection with nearby CCTVs, coordinating fire dispatch, and sending user alarms, and the connection with the control system can be made via a wired or wireless network. In this way, the charging device (100) can provide a fire warning by utilizing auditory, visual, and remote communication means when a fire occurs, and can maximize initial response capabilities through real-time linkage with public safety infrastructure.

[0098] Meanwhile, according to various embodiments, the charging device (100) is placed inside the bollard body (130) and may be equipped with a temperature sensor at a position above a preset height from the ground, and the control unit (124) may control the sprinkler to spray a fire extinguishing fluid if the amount of temperature change per unit time is above a preset value based on the value sensed through the temperature sensor.

[0099] Specifically, the control unit (124) can transmit an operating signal to the actuator to cause the sprinkler to protrude outward from the upper part of the bollard body (130), and then control it to spray fire extinguishing fluid through the water supply pipe.

[0100] At this time, the control unit (124) can control the sprinkler so that the fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed in a direction that is perpendicular to the ground and facing the sky, such that the angle formed with the ground is less than the first critical angle, or the sprinkler so that the fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed simultaneously in all 360° directions while the angle formed with the direction that is horizontal to the ground is less than the second critical angle.

[0101] In this case, the control unit (124) can control the sprinkler so that, based on the value sensed through the temperature sensor, if the amount of temperature change per unit time is greater than or equal to a preset value A, the fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed in a direction that is less than the first critical angle formed with the direction facing the sky perpendicular to the ground.

[0102] And, the control unit (124) identifies the amount of fire extinguishing fluid that can be supplied per unit time from the water supply pipe based on information such as piping work, water supply work, and sewage work received from an external device, server, etc., and if the amount of fire extinguishing fluid that can be supplied per unit time is less than a preset value, the above-mentioned value A can be set to a smaller value, A-1. In this case, when it is difficult to supply fire extinguishing fluid, the outer surface of the body part of the charging device (100) is soaked with fire extinguishing fluid in advance to suppress the occurrence of fire itself, thereby having the effect of preventing fire, heat generation, etc. in advance.

[0103] In addition, if the temperature change per unit time is greater than or equal to a preset value A, and the sensed temperature value reaches a critical temperature and then the sensed temperature value is maintained at a temperature greater than or equal to the critical temperature for a preset time or longer, the sprinkler can be controlled so that the fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed in a direction where the angle formed with the direction facing the sky perpendicular to the ground is less than a first critical angle, and at the same time, the sprinkler can be controlled so that the fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed simultaneously in all 360° directions where the angle formed with the direction horizontal to the ground is less than a second critical angle.

[0104] And, the control unit (124) can set the aforementioned threshold temperature to a first value when it is the summer season from June to August based on date information received from an external device, server, etc., set the aforementioned threshold temperature to a second value when it is the winter season from November to February, and set the aforementioned threshold temperature to a third value when it is the winter season from November to February.

[0105] In this case, the first value is greater than the second value by a first critical multiple, and the second value may be greater than the third value by a second critical multiple, but is not limited thereto.

[0106] As described above, when a fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed through a sprinkler, in the case of a relatively small fire or internal heat generation of the charging device (100) (when the temperature change amount per unit time is greater than or equal to the first value), the fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed upwards to cool the bollard body (130) itself, thereby allowing the fire extinguishing fluid to fall back onto the bollard body (130) to cool the bollard body (130) itself. When the fire reaches a critical temperature beyond this initial heat generation or small fire stage and is maintained above the critical temperature for a preset time or longer, it is considered that the fire has grown larger, so the fire extinguishing fluid is controlled to be sprayed to an area at a certain distance from the charging device (100), thereby enabling effective extinguishing.

[0107] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing a wireless charging device (100) installed in a parking space according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. According to the present embodiment, the charging device (100) may be installed in a parking space where an electric mobility (200) is parked, and may be implemented in a manner that supplies power wirelessly at the same time as parking.

[0108] Specifically, the charging device (100) may include a wireless charging pad placed in the floor area of ​​a parking space, and the wireless charging pad includes a transmitting coil to form a magnetic field and transmits power through inductive coupling with a receiving coil mounted on an electric mobility (200). The wireless charging pad may be designed to have a multi-coil structure or a wide effective charging area to accommodate means of transportation of various sizes and shapes.

[0109] This wireless charging pad can be driven by being connected to a charging unit (120), and the charging unit (120) receives power from the power grid, stores it in a super capacitor (123) bank, and controls the supply of stable power to the wireless charging pad. The charging control can be performed in a constant voltage (CV) manner that maintains a constant voltage according to the battery characteristics of the electric mobility (200), and output adjustment can also be performed according to the state of the super capacitor (123).

[0110] Additionally, the charging device (100) may further include a parking detection sensor. The parking detection sensor detects when a vehicle or drone has stopped or landed at a charging location and can control the charging unit (120) to start or stop supplying power to the wireless charging pad. The parking detection sensor may be composed of a contact sensor, an infrared sensor, an image recognition sensor, or a magnetic field change detection sensor, and can support precise position alignment, particularly in the case of small and irregular moving means such as drones.

[0111] The charging device (100) configured in this way can increase convenience by allowing the user to perform charging without a separate wired connection, and can improve the space utilization efficiency of the charging infrastructure by enabling expanded installation to suit various environments.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided by being included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed online (e.g., download or upload) through an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., downloadable app) may be temporarily stored or temporarily created on a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server.

[0113] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. It is understood that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essence of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or perspective of the present disclosure. Explanation of the symbols

[0114] 100: Charging device 110: Interface 120: Charging part 121: Memory 122: Communication Interface 123: Supercapacitor 124: Control unit

Claims

Claim 1 A charging device that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor comprises: a bollard body installed vertically on the road surface; a water supply unit disposed on the upper surface of the bollard body and including a water supply tank that stores a fire extinguishing fluid; a speaker that outputs a warning sound when a fire in the electric mobility is detected; a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the electric mobility; an interface connected to the electric mobility; and a charging unit that supplies power to the electric mobility through the interface; wherein the charging unit comprises: a light-emitting unit disposed on the upper surface of the bollard body and including a plurality of light-emitting elements; a memory including at least one instruction; a communication interface; a power supply unit including a supercapacitor; and a control unit that supplies power to the electric mobility based on the supercapacitor included in the power supply unit when a connection of the electric mobility is detected through the interface by executing the at least one instruction.The control unit includes, if the temperature change amount per unit time of the electric mobility is greater than or equal to a preset first value, controls the water supply unit so that a fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed simultaneously in all 360° directions, such that the angle formed with the direction facing the sky perpendicular to the ground is less than a first critical angle, or the angle formed with the direction horizontal to the ground is less than a second critical angle; identifies the amount of the fire extinguishing fluid, and if the amount of fire extinguishing fluid that the water supply unit can supply per unit time is less than a preset value, sets the preset first value to a preset second value which is smaller, sets the magnitude of the preset first value based on received date information, and if the amount of fire extinguishing fluid per unit time that the water supply unit can supply is less than a preset value, applies the fire extinguishing fluid to the outer surface of the charging device, the interface is provided on one side of the bollard body, and the charging unit is disposed inside the bollard body or buried underground in the road surface where the bollard body is installed, and the control unit, based on the charging state of the electric mobility, from the light-emitting unit A charging device that controls the light-emitting part to change the color of the emitted light.; Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A charging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits location information where the charging device is installed and preset charging time information to a control center via the communication interface when power supply to the electric mobility begins. Claim 6 A charging device according to claim 5, wherein the charging unit further includes a sensing unit, and the control unit detects a fire in the electric mobility based on sensing information obtained through the sensing unit, and when a fire in the electric mobility is detected, transmits fire occurrence information to the control center through the communication interface. Claim 7 delete Claim 8 delete Claim 9 A charging device according to claim 1, wherein the charging device is installed within a parking space where the electric mobility is parked, and the interface is positioned in the floor area of ​​the parking space and connected to the electric mobility through a wireless charging module. Claim 10 In claim 1, the power supply unit is positioned in the lower part inside the bollard body and is a charging device buried in the floor underground where the charging device is installed. Claim 11 In claim 10, the charging unit further includes a solar charging module, and the supercapacitor is charged by receiving power from the solar charging module, forming a charging device. Claim 12 A charging device according to claim 1, wherein the charging unit comprises a converter that regulates the voltage output from the supercapacitor to supply power corresponding to a charging voltage set for each of a plurality of electric mobility devices connectable to the interface, and the control unit identifies the charging voltage for the electric mobility devices and controls the converter based on the identified voltage. Claim 13 A method for controlling a charging device that performs a charging function based on a supercapacitor, comprising: detecting the connection of an electric mobility through an interface; supplying power to the electric mobility based on the supercapacitor when the electric mobility is detected to be connected; changing the color of light emitted from a light-emitting part based on the charging state of the electric mobility; if the temperature change amount per unit time of the electric mobility is greater than or equal to a preset first value, spraying a fire extinguishing fluid simultaneously in all 360° directions, such that the angle formed with the direction facing the sky perpendicular to the ground is less than a first threshold angle, or the angle formed with the direction horizontal to the ground is less than a second threshold angle; identifying the amount of the fire extinguishing fluid, and if the amount of fire extinguishing fluid that can be supplied per unit time is less than a preset value, setting the preset first value to a preset second value which is smaller; setting the magnitude of the first value based on received date information; and if the amount of fire extinguishing fluid per unit time is less than a preset value, applying the fire extinguishing fluid to the outer surface of the charging device.

Citation Information

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