EV Charging Status Indication via Power Cable Signal Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle charging is inconvenient due to the lack of real-time status indication, requiring users to check power meters or wait for completion signals, making it difficult to monitor charging progress.
Innovation Solution
A charging apparatus with a power supply device and coupler that uses modulation and demodulation of a status control signal to indicate charging status through colored light beams, allowing users to easily monitor charging progress without entering the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the charging apparatus provides real-time status indication through modulation and demodulation of control signals, then the convenience and user awareness of charging status is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional signal processing units
Solution Approach 1:
The power cable serves multiple functions: it transmits both power and status control signals between the power supply device and the coupler. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated signal transmission lines, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving real-time status indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a modulator in the power supply device and a demodulator in the coupler as intermediary components. These intermediaries enable status information to be transmitted through the existing power cable infrastructure without requiring complex wireless communication systems or additional dedicated signal wires, thus resolving the contradiction between providing real-time status and maintaining system simplicity.
2Loss of information
If the charging apparatus uses colored light beams for status indication, then the information transmission efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to additional indicator components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs colored light beams (red, yellow, green) emitted by the coupler to indicate different charging statuses such as charging in progress, charging complete, or error states. This visual color-coding system efficiently transmits status information to users without requiring complex display screens or multiple indicator lights, thereby limiting the increase in manufacturing cost while significantly improving information transmission efficiency.
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
Enhances convenience by providing real-time status indication through colored lights, enabling users to track charging progress remotely and reducing the need to physically check the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
The signal modulation unit modulates the status control signal and transmits the modulated status control signal through the power cable to the signal demodulation unit
Implementation Method 2
The signal demodulation unit demodulates the modulated status control signal into the status control signal
Implementation Method 3
the indicator unit of the coupler emits light beams of various colors
Data Source
AI summary
A charging apparatus with status indication for charging an electric vehicle. The charging apparatus includes a power supply device and a coupler. The power supply device includes a processing module, an indicator control unit and a signal modulation unit. The coupler is electrically connected to the power supply device through a power cable and includes a signal demodulation unit and an indicator unit. The processing module instructs the indicator control unit to output a status control signal to the signal modulation unit according to the connection status of the coupler and the electrical vehicle. The signal modulation unit modulates the status control signal and transmits the modulated status control signal through the power cable to the signal demodulation unit. The signal demodulation unit demodulates the modulated status control signal into the status control signal and outputs the status control signal to the indicator unit.