EV Charging Station Collision Detection Using Inertial Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle charging stations are vulnerable to collisions, which can cause damage and require effective detection methods to mitigate negative consequences.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing inertial sensors, such as IMUs, to monitor charging stations by measuring acceleration values and powering down the station when a threshold is exceeded, indicated by changing a data ready pulse signal to a discrete voltage level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inertial sensors are used to detect collisions at charging stations, then collision detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical collision detection systems with inertial sensors that use piezoelectric or capacitive principles to detect acceleration and collision events. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining or improving detection reliability through electronic sensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in acceleration parameters detected by inertial sensors to identify collision events. By focusing on parameter changes (acceleration thresholds) rather than complex mechanical structures, the system achieves reliable collision detection with reduced device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the charging station is powered down immediately when collision threshold is exceeded, then protection from damage is improved, but false alarms may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring and subtracting baseline inertial values when powered up, establishing a reference state before monitoring begins. This preliminary calibration helps distinguish actual collisions from normal operational vibrations, reducing false alarms while maintaining protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring unit continuously receives feedback from inertial sensors and compares current acceleration values against thresholds. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between normal operational variations and actual collision events, reducing false alarms while maintaining rapid response to genuine threats.
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
Effectively detects collisions by powering down the charging station to prevent damage, ensuring safety and protection from impact events.
Implementation Method 1
one or more inertial sensors in operative communication with the monitoring unit and configured to be mechanically attached to the electric vehicle charging station. The one or more inertial sensors are operative to produce a data ready pulse signal representative of a time at which the one or more inertial sensors are sampled
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprises a monitoring unit coupled to an electric vehicle charging station, the monitoring unit comprising at least one processor; and inertial sensors in communication with the monitoring unit and mechanically attached to the charging station. The inertial sensors are operative to produce a data ready pulse signal representative of a time at which the inertial sensors are sampled. The monitoring unit includes program instructions that perform a method comprising: measuring and then subsequently subtracting inertial measurement values produced by the inertial sensors when the monitoring unit is powered up; determining whether a measured acceleration value produced by the inertial sensors exceeds a user selected threshold; changing the data ready pulse signal to a discrete voltage level when the measured acceleration value exceeds the user selected threshold; and powering down the charging station in response to the changing of the data ready pulse signal to the discrete voltage level.