EV Charging Connector Lockbox With Bluetooth Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to protect and secure electric vehicle charging connectors from environmental factors and unauthorized access, especially in public spaces or external locations.
Innovation Solution
A lockbox for electric vehicle charging connectors featuring a housing with a base and cover member, a latch, a linear actuator controlled by a computer processor, and a Bluetooth transceiver for authorization, which locks and unlocks based on user verification and the presence of the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lockbox is provided for charging connectors in public spaces, then security and environmental protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockbox is designed to accommodate multiple types of charging connectors (Type 1, Type 2, CHAdeMO, CCS, Tesla) within a single housing, making it a universal solution that protects various connector types without requiring multiple separate lockboxes for different connector kinds
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses Bluetooth transceivers and mobile device communication to enable automatic authentication and locking/unlocking operations without requiring manual intervention, security guards, or complex mechanical key systems, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining high security
2Ease of operation
If Bluetooth transceivers and mobile device communication are implemented, then authorized access control is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Bluetooth transceiver operates in periodic intervals rather than continuously - it activates to communicate with mobile devices during authentication events, then enters low-power states between uses, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining secure access control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical locking mechanisms and manual key systems with electronic Bluetooth-based authentication, which consumes significantly less energy than continuous mechanical engagement or human monitoring, while providing more sophisticated access control capabilities
3Reliability
If the lockbox is designed to verify connector presence before locking, then prevention of theft is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the presence of charging connectors within the lockbox and provide feedback signals to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic verification of connector presence before initiating locking sequences, ensuring that only present connectors are secured and preventing theft attempts
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 lockbox provides secure and environmental protection for charging connectors, allowing authorized access and preventing theft by ensuring the connector is returned after use, with optional self-powering to reduce fire risk.
Implementation Method 1
a linear actuator secured to the floor, the linear actuator having a screw or rod, the linear actuator operatively arranged to extend the screw or rod through the aperture to lock the cover member to the base member
Data Source
AI summary
A lockbox for an electric vehicle charging connector, comprising a housing having a base member and a cover member operatively arranged to be connected to one another to form a compartment, the base member having a floor, the cover member having a ceiling; a latch fixedly secured to the ceiling, the latch having an aperture therein, a linear actuator secured to the floor, the linear actuator typically having a screw or rod, the linear actuator operatively arranged to extend the screw through the aperture to lock the cover member to the base member, a computer processor operatively arranged to control the linear actuator, and, a Bluetooth® transceiver or other suitable transceiver mounted within the lockbox, operatively arranged to receive a signal from a mobile device and to communicate the signal to the computer processor to verify the signal and control the linear actuator.