EV Charging Spot Positioning for Precise Plug Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for positioning electric vehicles on charging spots lack precision, making it difficult to align the charger plug with the vehicle's charging receiver effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing sensors and control units in both the electric vehicle and the charging spot to determine and adjust the vehicle's position precisely, ensuring alignment between the charger plug and the charging receiver, using various sensors such as ultrasonic, radar, lidar, or camera technology to measure distances and guide the vehicle into the correct position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If contoured vehicle guides are used to position the electric vehicle, then the vehicle can be guided to the charging spot, but the positioning precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contoured vehicle guides with an automated sensor-based positioning system. Sensors detect the vehicle's position and a control unit automatically adjusts the charging spot's position, eliminating the need for complex mechanical guiding structures and achieving higher positioning precision through electronic feedback control

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

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning system operates autonomously by using sensors to detect vehicle position and automatically controlling the charging spot's movement. The system serves itself by eliminating manual intervention and complex mechanical guides, achieving precise positioning through automated feedback loops

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual positioning is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the alignment between charger plug and charging receiver is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidpositioning operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor the vehicle's position relative to the charging spot, and the control unit automatically adjusts the charging spot's position based on this feedback. This closed-loop system achieves high alignment precision between the charger plug and charging receiver while requiring minimal manual operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The charging spot is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to move automatically in response to sensor feedback. This dynamic adjustment enables precise alignment without requiring manual positioning operations, resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables high-precision alignment of the charging receiver and charger plug, facilitating easier and more reliable connections, thereby improving the efficiency of the charging process.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing sensors and control units in both the electric vehicle and the charging spot to determine and adjust the vehicle's position precisely, ensuring alignment between the charger plug and the charging receiver, using various sensors such as ultrasonic, radar, lidar, or camera technology to measure distances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic detection: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

using various sensors such as ultrasonic, radar, lidar, or camera technology to measure distances and guide the vehicle into the correct position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar detection: Radar

Implementation Method 3

using various sensors such as ultrasonic, radar, lidar, or camera technology to measure distances and guide the vehicle into the correct position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLidar detection: LIDAR

Data Source

PatentEP3552861B1Method for positioning an electric vehicle on a charging spot and related charging spot
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 HAGER ELECTRO SAS
  • EP3552861B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3552861B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3552861B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3

AI summary

This invention relates to a method for positioning an electric vehicle (1) on a charging spot (2), the electric vehicle (1) comprising one sensor (4), a primary control unit (5) and a chassis (10), the charging spot (2) comprising one parking spot (6) including one reference element (7), a charging station (20) comprising a charger plug (8) for supplying electric energy to the electric vehicle (1) and a secondary control unit (9), the charger plug (8) being able to cooperate with the charging receiver (3) of the electric vehicle (1), method comprising the step of : determining an alignment position (P2) of the electric vehicle (1) where the charging receiver (3) and the charger plug (8) align, by determining a reference distance between one point of the chassis (10) and the reference element (7) by means of the primary control unit (5) of the electric vehicle (1), knowing the distance between the charging receiver (3) and the point of the chassis (10) and knowing the distance between the reference element (7) and the charger plug (8).