EV Charging System ECU Auto-Resume After Movement Stop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle charging systems require user intervention to resume charging after temporary interruptions, such as cable breakage during vehicle movement, which can be inconvenient and may lead to further abnormalities in the charging process.

Innovation Solution

A charging system and method that utilize an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to detect vehicle movement and diagnose the charging unit's state, automatically stopping and resuming charging as necessary, ensuring the power storage device is safely charged without user intervention by using sensors and communication with the charging station to manage the charging process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If the vehicle remains connected to the cable during charging, then continuous charging can be maintained, but the cable may break when the vehicle moves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging continuityVSAvoidcable integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ECU performs preliminary diagnosis of the charging unit before resuming charging after a temporary stop. It checks whether the plug and socket are properly connected and whether the charging environment is safe before allowing charging to continue, preventing cable breakage while maintaining charging continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the plug and socket are separated by cable tension when the vehicle moves, then cable breakage is prevented, but user intervention is required to resume charging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable integrityVSAvoidcharging resumption convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The charging system automatically diagnoses its own state after temporary interruption and autonomously resumes charging when conditions are met. The ECU detects plug-socket connection status and charging unit abnormalities, then automatically restarts charging without requiring user intervention, making the system self-serving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The ECU continuously monitors the charging unit's state through diagnostic signals from switches and sensors. When the vehicle moves and charging stops, the ECU receives feedback about the connection status and automatically decides whether to resume charging based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If manual connection of plug and socket is required to resume charging, then charging can be restarted, but user work and time are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging resumption speedVSAvoiduser intervention time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ECU performs preliminary diagnosis of the charging unit before resuming charging, checking connection status and system readiness in advance. This automated preliminary check eliminates the need for user intervention and immediately resumes charging when conditions are met, maximizing productivity while minimizing time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual operation of connecting plug and socket with an automated electronic control system. The ECU uses electronic signals from switches and sensors to detect connection status and automatically control the charging process, substituting mechanical user actions with electronic automation to eliminate time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3418108B1Charging system, and method for controlling vehicle and charging system
Publication Date: 2022.11.16 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3418108B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3418108B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3418108B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An ECU (170) operates a charging unit (300, 240) such that a power storage device is charged by an electric power from a power supply (402). When a vehicle moves while charging unit (300, 240) charges the power storage device, ECU (170) stops charging unit (300, 240) to discontinue the charging of the power storage device. ECU (170) diagnoses a state of charging unit (300, 240) after the charging of power storage device is stopped. ECU (170) determines whether the charging of the power storage device is able to be resumed based on the diagnostic result. When determining that the charging of the power storage device is able to be resumed, ECU (170) resumes the charging of the power storage device by resuming the operation of charging unit (300, 240).