EV Charger Plug Locking and Fault Detection for Rental Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging plugs in rental chargers are prone to damage and theft due to frequent use by unspecified users, making it difficult to diagnose malfunctions and identify responsible users.
Innovation Solution
A charger system with a plug-locking mechanism, current-voltage controller, detector, and report controller that applies test currents and voltages to the charging plug, detects abnormalities, and reports them to users and providers, allowing only authenticated providers to replace the plug.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the charging plug is left unlocked for easy access by users, then ease of operation is improved, but the charging plug becomes prone to damage and theft
Solution Approach 1:
The charging plug automatically locks after use and can only be unlocked by authenticated providers, making the system self-protecting without requiring constant human intervention. The locking mechanism activates automatically when the charging session ends, and the authenticator ensures only authorized personnel can access the plug for replacement or maintenance.
2Reliability
If the charging plug is locked to prevent damage and theft, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The authenticator acts as an intermediary between the locking mechanism and the provider, verifying credentials before granting access. This mediator enables authorized users to easily unlock the plug while maintaining security against unauthorized access, resolving the contradiction between locked protection and easy access for legitimate users.
3Ease of repair
If the charging plug is made replaceable for quick maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but the risk of theft and misuse increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking state of the charging plug is dynamic rather than static - it automatically transitions from locked to unlocked only when the authenticator verifies the provider's credentials. This dynamic control allows the plug to be easily replaceable when needed by authorized personnel while preventing theft and misuse during normal operation when the plug remains locked.
4Reliability
If the charging plug is made fixed and non-replaceable to prevent theft, then reliability is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging plug is designed as a separable component that can be easily detached and replaced, but access to this replacement function is segmented by authentication requirements. The plug itself remains a discrete, replaceable unit while the system controls who can perform replacement, achieving both security and maintainability through functional segmentation.
Data Source
AI summary
A charger that charges a battery for a vehicle includes a cable unit, a plug-locking mechanism, a connector-locking mechanism, a current-voltage controller, a detector, a report controller, and an authenticator. The cable unit includes a charging plug that is plugged into the vehicle, a connector that is coupled to a charger's main body, and a charging cable coupled to the charging plug and the connector. The plug-locking mechanism locks the charging plug. The connector-locking mechanism locks the connector. The current-voltage controller applies test current and voltage to the charging plug. The detector detects abnormality of the charging plug based on a condition of the charging plug when the test current and voltage are applied to the charging plug. The report controller reports whether the abnormality is detected by the detector. The authenticator authenticates a provider of the charger. The connector-locking mechanism unlocks the connector when the provider is authenticated.