EV Charging Station Queue Visibility via Direct Bluetooth Link

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicle charging stations often result in prolonged waiting times due to occupied stations and lack of transparency regarding availability and order of charging ports, leading to driver confusion and potential conflicts.

Innovation Solution

A direct wireless communication link between the charging station and electric vehicle, using Bluetooth, provides a status message indicating occupancy, waiting list, and estimated waiting time, allowing drivers to make informed decisions and ensuring an orderly charging process without the need for a central control system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a driver approaches a charging station without prior information, then the driver may arrive at an occupied station, but the driver cannot easily ascertain whether a charging port is free

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidease of ascertaining availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically establishing wireless communication and transmitting status information about charging port availability and waiting lists to the driver's device before the driver arrives at the charging station, enabling informed decision-making about where to charge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the charging station and the driver's device, transmitting status messages that include occupancy information, waiting lists, and estimated waiting times, making hidden station status visible to drivers remotely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple electric vehicles wait at the same charging station, then charging demand is met, but conflicts arise regarding the order in which vehicles should be charged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging throughputVSAvoidorder management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by automatically transmitting waiting list information and charging order status to drivers' devices, providing real-time updates on position in queue and estimated waiting time, which reduces conflicts by making the charging order transparent to all waiting drivers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The charging station performs self-service by automatically managing the waiting list and communicating charging order information to drivers without requiring manual intervention or confrontation between drivers, thereby maintaining productivity while reducing conflicts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If authentication procedures are required for charging, then security is maintained, but transactions become complex and comfort is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidtransaction simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication actions by automatically establishing wireless communication and verifying vehicle identity before the driver needs to initiate charging, so that when the driver arrives at the station, authentication is already complete or in progress, maintaining security while simplifying the user experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230322116A1Electric vehicle, charging station and operating method

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 AUDI AG

AI summary

Provided is a method of operating a charging station for an electric vehicle, a charging station for an electric vehicle, and an electric vehicle.