DC Meter for EV Charging Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional DC meters in electrical vehicle charging stations typically require two separate meters to measure energy consumption from two EV connectors, which is costly and inefficient since they share the same voltage.
Innovation Solution
A DC meter with two current inputs and one voltage input, equipped with analog-to-digital converters and a processing module, allows simultaneous measurement of energy consumption from two adjacent EV connectors by calculating current and voltage parameters to compute energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two separate DC meters are used to measure energy consumption from two EV connectors, then measurement accuracy is ensured, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate DC meters into a single integrated DC meter that can measure energy consumption from two EV connectors simultaneously. The device includes two current inputs (I1, I2) and one voltage input (V), allowing it to replace two separate meters while maintaining measurement accuracy for both connectors
Solution Approach 2:
The DC meter is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple measurement tasks. It can measure current and voltage parameters from two different EV connectors using shared voltage input, making a single device capable of performing functions that previously required two separate devices
2Measurement precision
If two separate DC meters are used for two EV connectors, then individual energy measurement is accurate, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate DC meter units into one integrated device. The single DC meter contains all necessary components (analog-to-digital converters, processing modules) to measure energy consumption from two EV connectors, reducing the quantity of hardware from two meters to one meter while maintaining individual measurement accuracy
3Quantity of substance
If a single DC meter with two current inputs is used, then hardware cost is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The DC meter internally segments the measurement functions for two connectors while sharing common components. The device processes current inputs I1 and I2 separately through analog-to-digital converters, then combines results in the processing module, achieving functional segmentation without requiring two complete separate meter units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter configuration of the DC meter to accept two current inputs and one voltage input simultaneously. By modifying the input parameter structure, the device achieves multi-connector measurement capability while using shared voltage measurement resources, managing internal complexity through parameter optimization
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a DC meter for an electrical vehicle station. Specifically, the DC meter includes a first current input; a second current input; a voltage input; at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to the first current input, the second current input and the voltage input, and configured for converting analog signal output from the current inputs and voltage input to digital data; at least one processing module coupled the at least one analog-to-digital converter, the at least one processing module is configured to: calculate the first current parameter through the first current input; calculate the second current parameter through the second current input; calculate the voltage parameter from the voltage input; compute a first energy consumption according to the first current parameter and the voltage parameter; compute a second energy consumption according to the second current parameter and the voltage parameter.