EV Charging Socket Planar Lighting Mask Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging devices lack effective lighting solutions that enhance ease of use, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve operational safety, particularly in low-light conditions, while also efficiently utilizing installation space and providing reliable component performance.
Innovation Solution
A charging device with a flat lighting mask surrounding the charging socket, connected to a control unit, which emits different intensities or colors of light to indicate the socket's position, display information, and adapt to ambient light conditions, using LED lighting and light-sensitive sensors to ensure visibility and prevent glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a lamp is provided in the charging port to illuminate the charging connector, then visibility is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lighting function with the charging socket housing to form an integrated lighting mask. The lighting mask is formed as part of the socket housing itself, merging the structural component with the lighting function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining illumination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting mask serves multiple functions: it provides illumination for visibility, acts as a sealing element for the charging port, and serves as a mounting structure for the charging socket. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If lighting means are arranged around the charging socket, then ease of use is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting mask transitions from a traditional three-dimensional bulbous shape to a flat, two-dimensional planar structure. This dimensional reduction allows the lighting means to be integrated into the charging port housing without significantly increasing installation space, while still providing effective illumination around the charging socket.
3Loss of information
If multiple light sources are provided for different information display, then information transmission is improved, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting mask is divided into multiple independently controllable lighting zones or segments. Each segment can be controlled to display different information (e.g., charging status, fault conditions), allowing diverse information display while using a single integrated lighting structure rather than multiple separate light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a single light source (or limited number of light sources) that can change its emission parameters such as intensity, color temperature, or pulsing patterns to convey different information. This parameter-based information encoding reduces the number of physical light sources needed, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution clearly indicates the charging socket's position in poor light, reduces installation complexity, enhances user guidance, and provides multifunctional information display within limited space, improving operational safety and user experience while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one light source can be an LED light
Implementation Method 2
the control device can be connected to a light-sensitive sensor unit and cause the lighting mask to emit light depending on the light values detected by the sensor unit
Data Source
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AI summary
A charging device (5) for an electric vehicle (1) is described, comprising a receiving space (8) which includes a charging socket (7) with electrical contacts (9, 10) for coupling with a charging plug, wherein at least one lighting element (11) is arranged around the charging socket (7) in the receiving space (8). The at least one lighting element forms a planar lighting mask (11) which defines a contour (7B) of an outer surface (7A) of the charging socket (7) and highlights this contour (7B) by a difference in illumination between the lighting mask (11) in its illuminated state and the outer surface (7A) of the charging socket (7). Furthermore, a vehicle with such a charging device is described.