EV Charge State Indicator with Color-Coded LED Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electric vehicle chargers face challenges in determining when a charger has sufficiently charged the battery for safe driving and in identifying electrical faults, as existing systems lack comprehensive monitoring and status indication.
Innovation Solution
A battery charging monitoring and status indication system that includes a charging coupler port, a door switch for status signaling, a battery charge state circuit, a fault detection circuit, and a lighting circuit to provide visual and color-coded feedback on charging status and faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If comprehensive monitoring and status indication systems are added to electric vehicle chargers, then users can accurately assess charging status and detect faults, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-coded LED indicators (green, yellow, red) to represent different charging statuses and fault conditions. This visual encoding system allows users to quickly assess battery charge levels and detect electrical faults without complex displays or interfaces, resolving the contradiction by providing comprehensive monitoring through simple, intuitive color signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is segmented into distinct functional components: a door switch for physical status detection, a charge state circuit for battery level monitoring, a fault detection circuit for electrical fault identification, and a lighting circuit for visual indication. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
2Loss of information
If multiple status indicators and fault detection circuits are implemented, then users can identify electrical faults and charging progress, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting circuit serves multiple functions: it indicates door status, battery charge levels, and electrical fault conditions through different color combinations. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate indicator systems, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining complete information delivery to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control circuit as an intermediary that processes signals from the door switch, charge state circuit, and fault detection circuit, then coordinates the lighting circuit's output. This intermediary simplifies manufacturing by centralizing the logic control in a single circuit rather than requiring complex interconnections between multiple independent indicator systems.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy to the battery and to provide a charger connection signal indicative of a connection to an external power source. The embodiment also includes a lighting circuit coupled to the charging coupler port and the charge state circuit to control the brightness and color of an illuminated indicator responsive to the charge state signal and the charger connection signal.