EV Charger Handshake Protocol for Bidirectional Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Establishing a reliable bidirectional charging session between electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations with different communication protocols is challenging, leading to inefficient or unreliable power conveyance due to mismatches in hardware or software systems.

Innovation Solution

A handshake process is implemented using a data structure with a field indicating minimum current, allowing EVs and chargers to establish a bidirectional power delivery session through a power cable or network, enabling communication across various manufacturers' protocols without unnecessary resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different communication protocols are used by EVs and chargers from various manufacturers, then device compatibility and adaptability improve, but communication reliability and session establishment success deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a standardized data structure as an intermediary layer between different communication protocols. This data structure includes standardized fields (such as minimum current, maximum current, voltage levels) that act as a common language, allowing EVs and chargers from different manufacturers to exchange information reliably without requiring direct protocol compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system is designed with universal data structures that can handle multiple communication scenarios and protocol types. The standardized fields in the data structure serve multiple purposes: they work across different manufacturers' protocols, support various charging modes (bidirectional and unidirectional), and accommodate different power levels, thereby achieving multi-functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If bidirectional power delivery capability is added to charging sessions, then functionality and versatility improve, but system complexity and configuration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsession configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter-based configuration where the bidirectional capability is indicated through specific parameter values in the standardized data structure. For example, the minimum current field can have negative values to indicate power flow direction, and various parameter combinations define different charging modes. This allows complex bidirectional functionality to be controlled through simple parameter adjustments rather than complex configuration procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary capability exchange during the handshake phase before actual power delivery. The standardized data structure is exchanged in advance to establish mutual understanding of bidirectional capabilities, power limits, and communication protocols. This preliminary configuration simplifies the main charging process by resolving complexity upfront.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If standardized data structures with signed current values are used, then communication efficiency and resource utilization improve, but implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoiddata structure implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using separate fields or complex data structures to indicate power flow direction, the patent inverts the conventional approach by using signed numerical values in standard current fields. Negative values indicate one direction of power flow, while positive values indicate the opposite direction. This inversion simplifies the data structure while maintaining full bidirectional capability information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from always-positive current values to signed current values that encode both magnitude and direction. This parameter change allows the same data structure to convey bidirectional power flow information efficiently without requiring additional fields or complex encoding schemes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11701983B1Bidirectional vehicle to load charging communication

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 RIVIAN HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

The present solution can execute a handshake process to establish a bidirectional session utilizing communications that can be implemented on EVs and chargers from various manufacturers. The present solution relates to a charger that can execute a handshake process communication between the charger and an electric vehicle to establish a session for bidirectional power delivery between the charger and the electric vehicle via a power cable. The charger can transmit, in the handshake process to the electric vehicle, a data structure comprising a field for a minimum current with a value for the field that is less than zero. The charger can configure, subsequent to transmission of the data structure comprising the value for the minimum current, the session for bidirectional power delivery between the charger and the electric vehicle via the power cable.