EV Charger Control Device Standardizing Measurement Data Formats

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Solution Overview

Problem

Charging devices for electric vehicles face limitations in integrating and configuring different measuring devices due to manufacturer-specific and type-specific command and data formats, hindering the reliable transmission and processing of energy transfer data.

Innovation Solution

A charging device with a measuring device that acquires data in specific formats and a control device that converts this data into a standardized format using a communication interface and protocol, along with a non-volatile memory for conversion rules, enabling flexible adaptation and error-free transmission across various devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If measuring devices from different manufacturers are integrated into a charging device, then the versatility and configuration options increase, but the complexity of handling different manufacturer-specific and type-specific command and data formats increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different measuring devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of data format conversion
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device serves as an intermediary between the measuring device and the charging process. It receives measurement data in various manufacturer-specific formats, converts it to a standardized internal format using stored conversion rules, and processes it uniformly. This mediator approach allows integration of diverse measuring devices without increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores multiple conversion rules in the control device, each containing parameter mappings for different measuring device types. By changing the parameter representation format based on the identified measuring device type, the system adapts to different manufacturers while maintaining a consistent internal processing format.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conversion rules for multiple measuring devices are stored in the control device, then the adaptability to different manufacturers increases, but the memory requirements and configuration data volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of supported measuring device typesVSAvoidvolume of configuration data
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of implementing separate conversion logic for each measuring device type, the system creates copies of conversion rules in a standardized format. Each conversion rule is a data structure containing parameter mappings that can be stored and retrieved efficiently, reducing the complexity of managing diverse device interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If manufacturer-specific command and data formats are used by measuring devices, then the ease of manufacture for individual devices is improved, but the reliability and error-free transmission of measurement data is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of integrating measuring devicesVSAvoidreliability of data transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple measuring device types through a single standardized interface. By implementing a universal conversion mechanism that automatically identifies and applies the appropriate conversion rule, the system ensures reliable data transmission while maintaining ease of manufacture for individual measuring devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2654169B1Charger for an electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2654169B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a charging device 100 for charging an energy storage device, comprising a measuring device 107 for recording first measurement data about a charging process and a control device 105, which is configured to convert the first measurement data into second measurement data according to a predetermined measurement data format.