EV Charging Cable Detection via Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles often experience the issue of forgotten or misplaced charging cables, leading to inconvenience and impaired mobility, especially in fleets and car sharing services, as the cable is not detected until it's needed for recharging, causing potential travel disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A charging cable recognition system that uses a control unit to detect the presence of the charging cable before engine activation, trunk closure, or after charging, preventing engine start if the cable is absent, and includes sensors like weight sensors, RFID/NFC tags, and mobile notifications to alert the user and facilitate cable retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the charging cable is accommodated loosely in the vehicle without detection systems, then the device complexity is reduced, but the charging cable may be forgotten or left behind causing loss of time and mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors (weight sensors, RFID readers, optical sensors) to detect the charging cable's presence and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit then provides feedback to the user through visual or acoustic signals, creating a closed-loop system that ensures the cable is noticed and retrieved, eliminating the time loss associated with forgetting the cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary detection systems (sensors, RFID tags, weight sensors) that mediate between the charging cable and the user. These intermediaries automatically detect the cable's presence and communicate this information to the user, eliminating the need for the user to manually search for the cable.
2Reliability
If a charging cable recognition system with multiple sensors is implemented, then the reliability of cable detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple independent sensor modules (weight sensor, RFID reader, optical sensor), each responsible for a specific detection function. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high reliability through multiple detection methods while keeping each individual sensor module relatively simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple different sensing principles (mechanical weight detection, electromagnetic RFID detection, optical detection) into a single integrated recognition system. By merging these complementary detection methods, the system achieves high reliability through cross-validation while sharing common control and processing infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents unauthorized movement of the vehicle without the charging cable, simplifies charging procedures, and aids in locating the cable through alerts and position tracking, ensuring the vehicle can be moved safely and reducing the risk of cable loss.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one sensing unit comprises a weight sensor that is able to sense a weight exerted on the charging cable holder by the charging cable
Implementation Method 2
The reader (370) is able to read a transponder (380)
Data Source
AI summary
A charging cable identification system is provided for a vehicle driven at least partially electrically, wherein the vehicle has an energy store that can be connected to an electrical energy source by a charging cable. The charging cable system has a control unit that is configured to enable or prevent the starting of the vehicle motor. The control unit is also configured to detect, prior to every event that is or can be predetermined, whether the charging cable is in the vehicle, and if the control unit detects that the charging cable is not in the vehicle, the control unit prevents the vehicle motor from starting.