Control Pilot Switch Toggling for EV Charger Connection Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles often incorrectly communicate with the wrong electric vehicle supply equipment after being plugged in, leading to potential safety issues and inefficiencies in energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control pilot circuitry with a switch and resistor in the vehicle, which can be toggled according to a request from the electric vehicle supply equipment, allowing for confirmation of correct communication and energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is plugged into electric vehicle supply equipment, then energy transfer can occur, but the vehicle may incorrectly communicate with the wrong supply equipment leading to safety issues and inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by toggling the switch before full energy transfer begins. The controller toggles the switch between open and closed states to generate detectable signals on the control pilot line, allowing the supply equipment to confirm proper connection and communication before initiating charging, thus preventing miscommunication with wrong equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The control pilot circuitry provides feedback signals between the vehicle and supply equipment through the control pilot line. The switch toggling creates voltage changes that are detected by the supply equipment, confirming proper connection. This feedback mechanism ensures both parties verify correct communication before energy transfer, resolving the reliability issue
2Reliability
If a switch and resistor are added to control pilot circuitry for connection confirmation, then accurate communication is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control pilot circuitry performs multiple functions: it enables communication between vehicle and supply equipment, provides connection confirmation through switch toggling, and facilitates energy transfer control. By making the control pilot circuitry multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated confirmation circuits, thus limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable connection confirmation
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes control pilot circuitry connected with a charge port and including a control pilot line, a resistor, and a switch that selectively connects the resistor between the control pilot line and a ground of electric vehicle supply equipment plugged into the charge port. The vehicle also includes a controller that toggles the switch between open and closed states after receiving an off-board request defining a number of toggles for the switch.