EV Charging Station Identification via Cable Signal Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying and controlling the charging process of electric vehicles at charging stations are inefficient, prone to errors, and require additional hardware, leading to delays and security concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a computing unit spatially remote from the charging station and the electric vehicle to identify the vehicle by impressing an electrical signal with alternating amplitudes, allowing for decentralized control and authorization of the charging process without the need for additional technical aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RFID chips or authentication devices are used for identification, then security is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from separate authentication devices (RFID chips, tokens) and integrates it directly into the vehicle's existing communication infrastructure. The vehicle identifier is transmitted through the charging cable's communication lines during the charging connection establishment, eliminating the need for separate identification hardware while maintaining security through the use of encrypted communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging cable's communication lines serve multiple functions: they establish the charging connection, transmit vehicle identifiers for authentication, and enable bidirectional communication between the charging station and vehicle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated identification hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining security through the existing encrypted communication channel.
2Ease of operation
If manual authentication methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle identifier is transmitted and authenticated automatically as soon as the charging cable is connected, before the charging process begins. This preliminary authentication action eliminates the need for subsequent manual steps (inserting cards, entering codes, pressing buttons), thereby reducing authentication delay while maintaining ease of operation through a fully automatic process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-authentication by automatically transmitting the vehicle identifier through the charging cable and verifying it against the charging station's database. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for user intervention in the authentication process, reducing both time loss and maintaining ease of operation through automatic vehicle-to-station communication.
3Productivity
If decentralized control is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging control system into three independent but interconnected components: the charging station that manages local charging operations, the vehicle's battery management system that controls charging acceptance, and a remote server that handles authentication and monitoring. This segmentation enables decentralized control where each component operates autonomously within its domain, improving productivity through parallel operations while managing complexity through clear interface definitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging cable serves as an intermediary that establishes bidirectional communication between the charging station and vehicle, enabling decentralized control without requiring complex direct connections. The cable's integrated communication lines facilitate automatic data exchange for authentication, charging parameter negotiation, and status monitoring, allowing the system to achieve high productivity through coordinated autonomous operation of distributed components.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of charging and controlling a charging process of a device to be charged, for example an electric vehicle, in particular charging of a device to be charged by a method for identifying and controlling the charging process of a device to be charged at a charging station in a public, semi-public or private space by impressing an electric signal by the charging station and assigning the impressed electric signal by a computing unit spatially remote from the device to be charged and the charging station. The method is characterized in that the remote computing unit comprises a computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program product containing instructions for identifying a device to be charged at a charging station and for controlling the charging process of a device to be charged at a charging station.