EV Charging Inlet Cover Switch for Reservation Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for canceling a charging reservation in electric vehicles are inconvenient, requiring additional actions such as entering the vehicle, using a smart key, and navigating through a navigation screen, which are not directly related to the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a cover open/close switch near the charging inlet to intuitively cancel or maintain a charging reservation, allowing for immediate charging without a separate switch, by generating a release or maintaining command based on switch operations, and adjusting the charging state accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional methods (entering vehicle, using smart key, navigating AVN screen) are used to cancel charging reservation, then the charging reservation can be canceled, but the operation becomes complex and inconvenient requiring multiple separate actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging reservation cancellation function with the charging inlet cover open/close switch. The same physical switch that opens/closes the charging inlet cover is also used to generate the release command for canceling charging reservation, eliminating the need for separate controls inside the vehicle and simplifying the user operation to a single external action.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging inlet cover switch serves dual purposes: it performs its primary function of opening/closing the charging inlet while simultaneously serving as the control mechanism for canceling charging reservation. This self-service approach allows the external cover switch to handle both mechanical and control functions without requiring additional internal vehicle interactions.
2Ease of operation
If a separate switch or control mechanism is added inside the vehicle for canceling charging reservation, then the cancellation function can be achieved, but the vehicle interior design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging reservation cancellation function from the vehicle interior control systems and relocates it to the external charging inlet cover switch. This extraction eliminates the need for additional buttons, switches, or menu operations inside the vehicle, maintaining simple interior design while providing accessible cancellation functionality through the external cover mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the charging inlet cover switch is used to cancel charging reservation, then the operation is simplified and immediate charging is enabled, but the switch signal must be reliably interpreted to distinguish between cover opening/closing and cancellation commands
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the charging reservation state before responding to the cover switch signal. When the cover switch is operated, the controller first checks whether a charging reservation is currently active, then appropriately responds by either canceling the reservation or simply opening the cover. This preliminary state detection resolves the ambiguity of switch signal interpretation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller provides feedback by monitoring the charging reservation status and responding appropriately to cover switch operations. The system detects the switch signal, checks the current reservation state, and executes the appropriate action (cancellation or cover opening), creating a feedback loop that ensures reliable signal interpretation based on the current system state.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for controlling a charge of an electric vehicle are provided. The method includes generating, by a controller, a release command of the charging reservation based on a switch signal generated by operating a cover open/close switch. In addition, the controller is configured to change a setting of the charging inlet to a charging state based on the release command of the charging reservation in an opened state of a charging inlet cover.