Vehicle Charging Cable Protection via Intermittent Braking Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for charging vehicle batteries often result in the vehicle being placed in a braking state without the driver's notice if they forget to shift into the parking position, leading to potential damage of the charging cable, overheating of the brake actuator, increased charging time, and costs due to continuous brake operation.

Innovation Solution

A device equipped with a charging cable connection detecting section, a vehicle body movement detecting section, and a braking section that controls braking force to prevent vehicle movement when the charging cable is connected, alerting the driver to shift into the parking position and avoiding continuous braking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the brake actuator operates continuously to hold the vehicle in braking state when shift position is not P range, then the vehicle is prevented from moving on slope, but the brake actuator overheats and braking performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stability during chargingVSAvoidbrake actuator temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The brake actuator operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit activates the brake actuator only when movement is detected during charging, and deactivates it when the vehicle is stationary, creating a periodic on-off operation pattern that prevents overheating while maintaining vehicle stability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a movement detection unit to continuously monitor vehicle movement and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit intelligently controls the brake actuator - activating only when movement is detected and deactivating when stationary, optimizing brake usage and preventing unnecessary heat generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the brake actuator operates continuously to prevent vehicle movement, then the charging cable is protected from damage, but the charging time increases due to continuous brake operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging cable protectionVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The brake actuator operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit activates the brake actuator only when movement is detected during charging, and deactivates it when the vehicle is stationary, creating a periodic on-off operation pattern that prevents overheating while maintaining vehicle stability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The movement detection unit continuously monitors vehicle movement throughout the charging process, ensuring that the brake actuator is activated only when necessary to prevent cable damage, while allowing charging to proceed without interruption during normal stationary conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the brake actuator operates continuously to hold the vehicle, then the vehicle is prevented from moving, but electric power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stability during chargingVSAvoidelectric power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The brake actuator operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit activates the brake actuator only when movement is detected during charging, and deactivates it when the vehicle is stationary, creating a periodic on-off operation pattern that prevents overheating while maintaining vehicle stability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The movement detection unit automatically detects vehicle movement and triggers the brake actuator operation only when necessary. The system serves itself by using sensor feedback to intelligently control brake activation, eliminating the need for continuous operation and reducing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2821277B1Device for restricting vehicle movement during connection with charging cable

Publication Date: 2017.05.24 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

In a case where a driver exits from a vehicle with holding a shift position other than P range and connects a charging cable to start charging at time t1, the vehicle may move due to a slope or the like, thereby generating vehicle body moving speed VSP and vehicle body moving time ΔT. At time t2 at which the condition of VSP≥VSPs is satisfied, a braking force is generated by operating a brake actuator, and the braking force is increased such that VSP becomes below VSPs. At time t3 at which the condition of VSP<VSPs is satisfied by the increased braking force and afterward, the braking force at time t3 is retained to maintain the condition of VSP<VSPs. At time t4 at which the vehicle body moving time ΔT becomes ΔTs, the vehicle body is restrained from moving by retaining the braking force so as to satisfy the condition of VSP=0. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the charging cable from being damaged when the vehicle body movement is caused due to forgetting shifting to the P range. Through the vehicle body movement (VSP≥0) up to time t4 at which the vehicle is stopped, the driver notices that the shifting to the P range is forgotten, returns into the vehicle and carries out the shifting to the P range at time t5.