EV Charging Station Locking Mechanism for Bicycle Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The widespread availability of public electric charging stations does not address the density issues in urban areas, making it difficult for electric vehicle drivers to navigate through congested urban environments, as they often struggle to find charging stations near bicycle rental locations.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle charging system with a computing device that initiates charging and provides access to a secondary vehicle, such as a bicycle, while the primary vehicle is being charged, by locking and unlocking the charge cord and controlling access to the secondary vehicle through a user interface and authentication processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electric charging stations are concentrated in particular areas, then charging infrastructure density is improved, but accessibility to all urban areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary vehicle (bicycle) as an intermediary mode of transportation. The system allows EV drivers to park at concentrated charging stations, rent a bicycle through the user interface, and use it to travel to areas without charging stations. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling access to remote areas while maintaining charging infrastructure concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transportation journey into two distinct phases: (1) electric vehicle travel to a concentrated charging station area, and (2) bicycle travel to the final destination in areas without charging stations. This segmentation allows the system to optimize charging infrastructure density while providing flexible access to all urban areas.
2Reliability
If charge cord is locked to prevent theft, then security is improved, but ease of removal by authorized user deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from authentication processes to control the lock mechanism. When a user completes charging and authenticates through the user interface (providing credentials, confirming completion), the system receives this feedback and responds by sending an unlock signal to the charge cord lock. This ensures security while enabling easy removal for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge cord lock system operates autonomously based on authentication outcomes. The computing device automatically sends lock signals when charging begins and unlock signals when charging completes and authentication succeeds, without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains security while simplifying the removal process for authorized users.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle charging system includes a computing device having a processor and a memory storage device. The computing device is programmed to initiate electric charging of an electric vehicle and provide access to a different vehicle while the electric vehicle is charging. An example method that may be executed by the charging station includes detecting a first vehicle at a charging station, initiating electric charging of the first vehicle at the charging station, transmitting a lock signal to a charge cord of the charging station to lock the charge cord to the first vehicle, providing access to a second vehicle while the first vehicle is charging, detecting a return of the second vehicle to the charging station, and transmitting an unlock signal to the charge cord to unlock the charge cord from the first vehicle.