Charging Plug Biometric Authentication for Secure EV Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electric vehicle charging stations require a separate authentication step, which can complicate intuitive operation and reduce user comfort, often involving contactless or contact-based identification methods that may risk security code interception.
Innovation Solution
A biometric authentication method using a charging plug with a sensor unit for detecting biometric data, such as fingerprint scanners, that evaluates features in multiple stages to authenticate users seamlessly during plug insertion, eliminating the need for separate authentication objects and minimizing security risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate authentication step is implemented using contactless or contact-based identification devices, then security is improved, but user comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to the additional step and need to carry identification devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the authentication function with the charging plug insertion action. The sensor unit in the charging plug captures biometric data (fingerprint) during the natural plug insertion process, merging authentication with the charging initiation action. This eliminates the need for separate authentication steps and identification devices, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own biometric data (fingerprint) already present on their finger to perform authentication, eliminating the need for external identification devices. The charging plug itself serves as both the charging device and the authentication device, making the system self-sufficient and improving user comfort while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If traditional separate authentication steps are used, then security codes can be intercepted or copied, but integrating biometric authentication into the charging plug reduces this risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication function from the traditional separate authentication system and integrates it directly into the charging plug. By embedding the sensor unit and control unit within the charging plug, the system eliminates the need for separate authentication devices and infrastructure, reducing the attack surface for security code interception while simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensor elements are used to capture complex biometric features, then authentication accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is designed with multiple sensor elements that can capture various biometric features (fingerprint patterns, ridge details, minutiae points) using a single integrated component. This multi-functional sensor design achieves high authentication accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same sensor structure serves multiple measurement purposes.
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 method provides quick, secure, and intuitive operation of charging stations, enhancing user comfort by integrating biometric authentication within the charging process while ensuring robust security without the need for additional identification objects and reducing the risk of security code interception.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor unit for capturing biometric data of a user can comprise optical, capacitive and/or acoustic sensor elements
Implementation Method 2
the sensor unit for capturing biometric data of a user can comprise optical, capacitive and/or acoustic sensor elements
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a security system (100) of a charging station (101) for charging electric vehicles, wherein the security system (100) comprises the following elements: a charging plug (10), the charging plug (10) comprising a sensor unit (11) for acquiring biometric data (D) of a user, which serves to authenticate the user to the security system (100), and a control unit (20) for evaluating the biometric data (D) of the user. According to the invention, the control unit (20) extracts several features (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) from the biometric data (D) of the user, and the control unit (20) evaluates the features (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) of the biometric data (D) in several stages (I, II).