EV Charging Option Display With Color-Coded Connector Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle charging is complicated due to varying connector types and power levels, making it difficult for users to find compatible charging stations and estimate charging times, as existing systems lack a unified communication language and user-friendly representation of charging parameters.
Innovation Solution
A standardized coding system using colors and numbers to identify charging connector types and power levels, allowing for a unified communication language between electric vehicles and charging stations, which simplifies the process of locating compatible charging stations and estimating charging times by converting disparate technical information into a user-friendly format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If technical information for charging parameters (connector types, power levels) is provided in detailed technical formats, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded indicators to represent different charging parameters. Connector types are represented by specific colors (e.g., Type 1 in blue, Type 2 in red, CHAdeMO in green, Tesla in yellow), and power levels are indicated by color intensity or additional color layers. This visual encoding allows users to quickly identify charging compatibility without reading technical specifications, resolving the contradiction between precise identification and ease of understanding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms one-dimensional technical data (text-based connector types and power levels) into a two-dimensional visual representation using color codes and graphical indicators on charging station displays and mobile applications. This dimensional transformation enables users to comprehend complex charging parameters at a glance, maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If multiple charging networks are queried separately to find compatible stations, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple charging networks into a single unified display interface. The system simultaneously queries multiple charging networks and consolidates their responses into one comprehensive list of compatible charging stations, presented with unified color-coded indicators. This eliminates the need for users to separately access and cross-reference multiple charging network interfaces, maintaining accurate compatibility identification while significantly reducing the time required to locate suitable charging stations.
3Ease of operation
If charging parameters are displayed using standardized color codes, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested information display where color-coded visual indicators serve as the outer layer providing immediate visual identification, while detailed technical specifications are nested within or adjacent to these visual elements. Users can see the color-coded summary at a glance and access detailed connector types, power levels, and charging rates by interacting with the visual indicator (e.g., tapping or hovering). This nested structure preserves complete information while maintaining ease of visual identification.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are provided for identifying charging options for charging an electric vehicle. In one method, the charging options may be identified by receiving a charging station query including one or more parameters, accessing a charging station database, the charging station database storing connector codes identifying a connector type and a connector power level for charging connectors provided at a plurality of charging stations, and comparing parameters of the charging station query to the connector codes of the charging station database to identify a first subset of the plurality of charging stations that fit the parameters of the charging station query. The method may also include transmitting mapping data for the first subset of the plurality of charging stations to a client device.