EV Charging Socket Locking Actuator With Integrated Plug Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging sockets in electric vehicles face challenges with search and status lighting due to additional cabling and installation space constraints, as well as the need for separate light modules that complicate sealing and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
Integrating lighting functions into the locking actuator's housing, using light guides to illuminate the connector face, which eliminates the need for additional lighting modules and optimizes installation space by directly connecting the actuator to the charging socket, allowing for both search and status lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate light modules are installed in the charging socket area for search lighting and status indication, then the lighting functions are achieved, but additional cabling and installation space are required, and sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lighting functions (search lighting and status indication) with the locking actuator by integrating light guides into the actuator housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate light modules and their associated cabling, directly resolving the technical contradiction between achieving illumination and reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking actuator is designed to serve multiple functions: it performs the locking/unlocking operation and simultaneously provides search lighting and status indication through integrated light guides. This multi-functionality approach allows a single component to fulfill multiple roles, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining all required functions
2Illumination intensity
If additional light modules are installed for search lighting, then illumination is provided, but installation space is consumed and sealing points are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The light guides for search lighting are integrated into the locking actuator housing, merging the lighting function with the existing actuator structure. This eliminates the need for separate light modules that would consume additional installation space, directly resolving the contradiction between providing illumination and preserving installation space
3Loss of information
If separate light modules with light guides are used for status lighting, then status indication is achieved, but additional sealing points are required
Solution Approach 1:
The light guides for status indication are integrated into the locking actuator housing, which is already a sealed component. This merging approach eliminates additional sealing points that would be required for separate light modules, thereby maintaining sealing integrity while achieving reliable status indication
Solution Approach 2:
The locking actuator serves as both a mechanical locking device and a status indication system through integrated light guides. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and their associated sealing requirements, resolving the contradiction between providing status information and maintaining sealing reliability
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
This solution reduces installation space requirements, eliminates the need for additional cabling and modules, and provides efficient and effective lighting for both search and status indications, enhancing user experience and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (320) configured to illuminate the plug contour (104) of the charging receptacle (101)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a locking device for locking a charging plug in a charging socket of an electric vehicle for charging a battery of the electric vehicle, the charging socket having a plug contour which corresponds to a plug contour of the charging plug, the locking device including a locking member configured to move to a locking position upon insertion of the charging plug into the charging receptacle and further configured to move to an unlocking position upon release of the charging plug from the charging receptacle. The locking device also includes a light guide adapted to illuminate the plug contour of the charging receptacle when the locking member is in the unlock position so as to facilitate insertion of the charging plug into the charging receptacle.