EV Charging Contact Connection With Resistance Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems require manual intervention for connection to a charging station, lacking safety and convenience, and do not reliably verify electrical connections before initiating the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A device with contact elements and measuring contacts that automatically connect to a charging station, ensuring secure electrical contact through resistance measurements and continuous monitoring, and a control unit to initiate charging only when resistance values are within predefined limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual connection to charging station is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system performs self-verification of electrical connections through automated resistance measurements. The control unit automatically checks contact resistances between charging components without requiring manual verification, enabling the system to self-assess connection quality and initiate charging only when safety criteria are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary resistance measurements and connection verification before initiating the charging process. The control unit checks contact resistances of power connections and protective earth connections in advance, ensuring safety conditions are met before energy transfer begins.
2Reliability
If connection verification is added, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors contact resistances and uses this feedback to determine whether to initiate or continue the charging process. The system measures resistance values, compares them against safety thresholds, and automatically adjusts charging operation based on the measured values, ensuring ongoing connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the physical connection components and the charging process. It mediates by performing resistance measurements through the contact elements and using these measurements to control the charging operation, separating the verification function from the power transfer function.
3Ease of operation
If automated connection is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual visual inspection and physical verification with automated electrical resistance measurements. The control unit uses electrical measurements to detect connection quality, substituting mechanical/manual verification methods with automated electrical sensing and control.
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
Enables safe, reliable, and automated connection of electric vehicles to charging stations, preventing hazards by continuously monitoring contact integrity and ensuring secure electrical connections throughout the charging process.
Implementation Method 1
The control unit is designed to determine a first contact resistance between the first power terminal and the first measuring terminal, to determine a second contact resistance between the second power terminal and the second measuring terminal
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a device and a method for contact-connecting an electric vehicle to a charging station and to a corresponding charging station. The electric vehicle can be contact-connected to the charging station by automatically lowering contact elements of the electric vehicle onto corresponding contact pads of the charging station. There is provision for additional measurement contacts in order to check reliable contact-connection of the electric vehicle to the charging station. These measurement contacts can be used to check reliable contact-connection of the connections of the electric vehicle to the contact pads of the charging station before the charging process is approved.