Rotatable Charge Port Door with Dual-Side Battery Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle charge ports lack an efficient and user-friendly method to display the state of charge of the vehicle's battery, particularly when the cover is in a closed position, which can hinder user convenience and battery health monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A charge port with a rotatable cover featuring a display assembly and controller that illuminates indicators on both sides of the cover to show the battery's state of charge, activating only when the cover is open or when the vehicle is deactivated, ensuring visibility and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the display assembly is always illuminated to show battery state of charge, then user convenience and information visibility are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly is illuminated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The controller activates the display only when the cover is in the open position or when the vehicle is deactivated, reducing energy consumption while ensuring information is available when the user needs it.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system automatically activates based on cover position detection or vehicle state, eliminating the need for manual user activation. The controller monitors cover position and vehicle activation state to determine when illumination is appropriate, providing information service automatically without continuous power consumption.
2Loss of information
If indicators are placed on both surfaces of the cover, then visibility is improved when cover is open, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays information on both the first and second surfaces of the cover, allowing the same display components to provide visibility from either side depending on cover position. This multi-functional design improves visibility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The display assembly utilizes both surfaces of the cover (first and second surfaces) to provide information display, effectively using the three-dimensional space of the cover structure. By placing indicators on both sides, the system maximizes information visibility in different spatial orientations without adding excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables clear and energy-efficient display of the battery's state of charge to the user, enhancing user convenience and battery health monitoring by providing real-time information without unnecessary power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The display assembly has a first indicator coupled with the first surface and a second indicator coupled with the second surface. The controller is configured to, in response to the cover defining an open position, illuminate the indicators to display a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle on the first and second surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery charge display system includes a display assembly attached to a cover of a charge port, and a controller. The display assembly having a first indicator coupled to a first surface of the cover and a second indicator coupled to a second surface of the cover. The controller is configured to, in response to the cover being in an open position after vehicle deactivation, illuminate the display assembly such that the first and second indicators display a battery state of charge.