EV Charger Wake-Up Circuit for Power-Outage Feed Mode

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicle chargers fail to enable the system controller when the electric vehicle feeds power back to the charger, leading to operational inconvenience and difficulty in setting the charging and discharging mode due to lack of a power source.

Innovation Solution

A wake-up circuit for electric vehicle chargers that includes a switch, controller, and connection end, enabling the system controller to receive power from an energy storage device during a power outage, allowing the electric vehicle to provide vehicle power and facilitate a handshake communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the power device is disconnected and the auxiliary power circuit fails to provide power to the system controller, then the system controller enters a power outage state and cannot operate, but the electric vehicle charger cannot enable the system controller when the electric vehicle feeds power back

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem controller enablementVSAvoidfeed mode operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wake-up circuit as an intermediary component that mediates between the power outage state and the system controller. This circuit includes a switch, controller, and connection end that can detect power status and activate the system controller using energy storage voltage even when the auxiliary power circuit is not providing power, thus enabling feed mode operation during power outages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by preparing an energy storage device connected to the connection end of the wake-up circuit before power outage occurs. This energy storage device maintains sufficient voltage to enable the system controller during power outage, allowing the charger to switch to feed mode without waiting for power restoration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the auxiliary power circuit requires external power supply to operate the system controller, then the system controller can be enabled normally, but the electric vehicle charger cannot operate in power outage state without external power supply

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outage operationVSAvoidexternal power supply dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service principle by enabling the system controller to draw power from the energy storage device within the wake-up circuit during power outage, rather than requiring external power supply. The connection end detects power status and activates the controller using stored energy, making the charger self-sufficient during power outages and capable of operating in feed mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4674673A1Wake-up circuit of electric vehicle charger and method for operating the same
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 DELTA ELECTRONICS INC(CN)
  • EP4674673A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674673A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674673A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A wake-up circuit (5) for an electric vehicle charger (100) which includes a power path (1) coupled to a power device (300) and an electric vehicle, an auxiliary power circuit (3) coupled to the power path (1), and a system controller (4). The wake-up circuit (5) includes a switch (52), a controller (4A) and a connection end (56), and the switch (52) is used to receive a trigger (Tg). When the electric vehicle charger (100) is in a power outage state, the controller (4A) is enabled according to an energy storage voltage (Vb) provided by an energy storage device (400) coupled to the connection end (56). When the controller (4A) is in the power outage state, the controller (4A) notifies the electric vehicle to be set to a feed mode according to the trigger (Tg), so that the electric vehicle provides a vehicle power (Pv) to the power path (1), and the auxiliary power circuit (3) provides a first DC voltage (Vdc1) to supply power to the system controller (4) according to the vehicle power (Pv).