EV Charging Station Sensor Authentication System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicle charging stations require cumbersome user interaction and may be blocked by illegally parked vehicles, leading to inefficiencies in the reservation and charging process.

Innovation Solution

A charging station equipped with a sensor to detect vehicle occupancy and a controller for initiating authentication wirelessly with a mobile device, allowing automatic authentication upon vehicle arrival and preventing tampering, along with a system for managing reservations and status updates via a network interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional charging stations use manual authentication processes, then users can access charging services, but user interaction becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidauthentication time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting vehicle arrival through sensors before the user arrives, and pre-prepares the authentication process. The controller initiates authentication automatically when the vehicle is detected, eliminating the need for users to manually start the authentication process at the charging station.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The charging station performs self-service by automatically detecting vehicle presence through sensors and initiating the authentication process without user intervention. The system autonomously manages the authentication workflow, reducing manual user interaction and saving time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If charging stations rely on reservation systems with server communication, then charging station availability can be monitored, but the system cannot detect illegally parked vehicles blocking charging places

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging station availabilityVSAvoidillegal parking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual or server-based monitoring systems with automated sensor-based detection. Optical sensors, pressure sensors, or magnetic sensors automatically detect the presence of vehicles on charging spots, providing reliable real-time information about both available charging stations and illegally parked vehicles blocking access.

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

3Reliability

If charging stations require user credentials and card insertion, then authentication can be performed, but the process becomes complex and requires multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveauthenticationVSAvoidauthentication process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authentication credentials from physical media (cards, tokens) and integrates them directly into the vehicle's electronic systems. The vehicle's onboard computer or communication module stores authentication data and communicates it wirelessly or via direct connection, eliminating the need for physical card insertion and reducing authentication complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Extent of automation

If charging stations are equipped with sensors for vehicle detection, then illegal parking can be prevented, but automatic authentication can be initiated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication initiationVSAvoiduser interaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensor feedback to detect vehicle presence and automatically triggers the authentication process. When sensors detect a vehicle on the charging spot, the controller receives this feedback signal and automatically initiates authentication, creating a seamless user experience where the system responds to vehicle presence without requiring user initiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3656603A1Charging station and system with vehicle presence sensor and authentication function
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 THIELE HENRIK
  • EP3656603A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3656603A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3656603A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a charging station for charging an electric vehicle on a parking place allocated to the charging station. The charging station comprises a power source for providing electric power to the vehicle, a sensor for detecting whether the parking place is occupied or not; and a controller for performing an authentication process and for enabling charging of the vehicle with electric power provided by the power source in response to a result of the authentication process. The controller is configured to initiate the authentication process when a detection result of the sensor has changed from not occupied to occupied.