EV Charging Port Current Display via Segmented Light Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional electric vehicles, users cannot easily recognize the charging or discharging current quantity near the charging port, as display units are typically located away from the charging port, making it difficult to determine if charging is ongoing or if current is flowing.
Innovation Solution
A charging and discharging current quantity display device is provided with current quantity display units surrounding the charging ports, using light indicators to visually represent the current flow, with control signals from a current sensor to turn on or off specific display areas based on detected current levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the display unit is provided at a location away from the charging port (such as on the instrument panel), then the display can be clearly visible to the user, but the user cannot easily recognize the charging amount when near the charging port
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is segmented into two locations: the instrument panel for general visibility and the charging port vicinity for specific charging status recognition. This allows each display location to serve its specific purpose effectively without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
A new display unit is introduced as an intermediary element near the charging port to bridge the gap between the charging operation and user awareness. This intermediary display provides localized information without interfering with the main instrument panel display
2Device complexity
If no display is provided near the charging port, then the device structure remains simple, but the user cannot know how much electric power is being supplied during charging
Solution Approach 1:
The charging status display function is extracted from the main instrument panel and placed near the charging port. This extraction allows the charging information to be displayed where it is most relevant to the charging operation, improving information availability without significantly complicating the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The charging port area serves its primary function of electrical connection while simultaneously providing charging status information through the integrated display unit. This self-service approach allows the charging port vicinity to provide both functional and informational services
3Ease of operation
If the display unit is integrated with the charging port, then the user can easily recognize charging status near the charging port, but the display unit may interfere with the charging connector insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is designed with local quality characteristics - it is positioned near the charging port but with visual and physical properties that ensure it does not interfere with connector insertion. The display uses lighting and positioning to provide information without creating physical obstacles
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit utilizes the vertical or radial dimension around the charging port rather than occupying the horizontal insertion path. By arranging display elements in a different dimensional space, the display provides information without interfering with the charging connector insertion operation
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
In order to provide a charging and discharging current quantity display device for an electric vehicle, with which it is possible for a current quantity during charging or discharging of a battery to be easily ascertained in the vicinity of a power-feed unit, an electric vehicle (1) provided with a power-feed unit (14) having charging ports (141 and 142) and a battery (11) which is charged by means of electric power supplied from an external power supply, by way of the power-feed unit (14), is provided with: a current sensor (15) which detects a charging current quantity or a discharging current quantity flowing to or from the battery (11); a current quantity display unit (143) which comprises a plurality of display bodies (143a to 143d) arranged on the power-feed unit (14), and which displays the magnitude of a current quantity (i) by varying the lighting state of each display body (143a to 143d) ; and a current quantity display control unit (16) which controls the lighting state of each of the display bodies (143a to 143d) in accordance with the current quantity detected by the current sensor (15).