EV Charging Pile Self-Examination for Relay and Pilot Checking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional AC charging piles lack self-examination capabilities for the relay and communication interface, leading to inconveniences when these components malfunction, affecting electric vehicle charging.
Innovation Solution
A charging pile device equipped with a micro-controller unit, control pilot, current transformer, relay, and control unit, which performs self-examination by simulating charging states and checking the operation of the relay and current transformer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If self-examination is performed without connecting to an electric vehicle, then user experience is improved and charging pile availability is increased, but additional examination circuits and control logic are required
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves dual purposes: it manages normal charging operations and performs self-examination functions. The same communication interface and relay control circuits used during charging are repurposed for examination, avoiding the need for completely separate examination hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-examination is performed periodically or at specific intervals (e.g., when the charging pile is idle or before a charging session). This periodic activation of examination functions allows the system to maintain simplicity by not continuously testing all components, while still providing regular health checks to improve user experience.
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
The self-examination method enhances user experience by detecting and addressing potential malfunctions in the charging pile device without requiring connection to an electric vehicle, ensuring reliable charging operations.
Implementation Method 1
a current transformer, configured to detect a current of the charging pile device
Data Source
AI summary
A charging pile device and related self-examination method are provided. The charging pile device includes a control pilot, a control unit, a micro-controller. The control pilot is configured to indicate a charging state of the charging pile device. The control unit includes a control pile state checking circuit and an alternating current charging checking circuit. The micro-controller unit is configured to change an operation voltage of the control pilot via the control pile state checking circuit of the control unit in response to the charging pile being under a non-charging state, and to generate a first charging checking signal to conduct a relay according to a checking signal via the alternating current charging checking circuit of the control unit to form a current path of the relay, a current transformer, and the control unit in response to the charging pile being under the non-charging state.