EV Charging Station Disconnection Detection and Safety Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicle charging stations face challenges in detecting and responding to unexpected disconnections, which can lead to unauthorized use and safety hazards, as charging cords can be easily removed or severed during charging sessions.

Innovation Solution

The charging station monitors electricity flow through the power receptacle and de-energizes the power receptacle if the current drops below a threshold for a specified time, preventing further electricity flow and alerting the operator or administrator of the disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the charging station provides easy access to the power receptacle, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against unauthorized use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of access to power receptacleVSAvoidunauthorized use of power receptacle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The charging station performs preliminary authentication via RFID before unlocking the door and enabling power delivery. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized users can access the power receptacle, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security against unauthorized use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary locking mechanism controlled by RFID authentication. The door acts as a mediator between the user and the power receptacle, providing easy access to authorized users while blocking unauthorized access, thus resolving the security-ease of operation contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the charging cord is made easily removable from the vehicle, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the charging connection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of removing charging cordVSAvoidcharging connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The charging station continuously monitors the charging connection status and provides feedback through the user interface. When a disconnection is detected, the system alerts the user and can terminate the charging session, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining ease of removal through proper notification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the charging station continuously monitors electricity flow, then the reliability of detecting disconnections is improved, but the use of energy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy of disconnectionsVSAvoidenergy consumption of monitoring system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The charging station performs periodic monitoring of electricity flow at appropriate intervals during charging sessions. This periodic action maintains reliable detection of disconnections while minimizing energy consumption by not continuously monitoring at maximum intensity, thus resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and energy use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9610852B2Detecting and responding to unexpected electric vehicle charging disconnections

Publication Date: 2017.04.04 CHARGEPOINT INC

AI summary

An electrical vehicle charging station establishes a charging session with an electric vehicle which includes energizing a power receptacle in the charging station and receiving a charging cord at the power receptacle. While the charging session is established and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, the power receptacle is de-energized to prevent electricity from flowing through the charging cord.