Distance-Based EV Charging Controller with Automatic Shutoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved systems and techniques in electric vehicle charging that allow for efficient and controlled power transfer between vehicles, particularly in emergency situations where one vehicle may need to charge another based on a specific distance, ensuring that the source vehicle's battery is not depleted.

Innovation Solution

A charging cable with a distance-based automatic shutoff mechanism that includes a controller to monitor and calculate the amount of power transferred, using an efficiency metric to determine when sufficient power has been transferred for the specified distance, thereby disabling the power transfer to prevent further depletion of the source vehicle's battery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If power is transferred from one electric vehicle to another via charging cable, then the destination vehicle receives sufficient energy to reach its destination, but the source vehicle's battery may be depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsource vehicle battery depletion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously monitors the power transfer process and compares the transferred energy against the calculated target amount. When the transferred energy reaches the predetermined threshold (distance × efficiency metric), the controller automatically terminates the power transfer by disabling the switch, preventing source vehicle battery depletion while ensuring destination vehicle receives sufficient energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Before initiating power transfer, the system calculates the required energy amount by multiplying the input distance by the efficiency metric. This preliminary calculation establishes a target energy transfer amount that guides the controlled power transfer process, ensuring the source vehicle retains sufficient battery while the destination vehicle receives adequate energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If manual monitoring of power transfer is used, then the charging process can be controlled, but the system complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic shutoff capabilityVSAvoidcontroller and monitoring system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-termination of the power transfer process. The controller automatically tracks the transferred energy, compares it against the target amount, and independently decides when to terminate charging without human intervention. This automation simplifies operation while the added controller complexity is justified by the elimination of manual monitoring requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9260024B1Distance-based charging for electric vehicles

Publication Date: 2016.02.16 LAU LAWRENCE MICHAEL

AI summary

An electric vehicle receives an amount of power sufficient to travel a particular distance. The distance is received. The amount of power required by the electric vehicle to travel the distance is calculated. Power is allowed to be transferred to the electric vehicle. When an amount of power transferred is sufficient for the distance, the transfer of power is terminated.