EV Connector Visual Indicator for Dark Environment Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicle connectors are difficult to navigate and operate in the dark, lacking effective visual and auditory indicators for charging status and safety feedback.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle connector with visual indicators, such as light-emitting diodes under a transparent or tinted cover, and optional sound indicators, to provide clear charging status and safety feedback, including a secure latching mechanism and communication capabilities for user-friendly operation in dark environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional vehicle connectors are used without visual indicators, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation in dark environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit different colors (e.g., green, yellow, red) to indicate various charging states and safety conditions. The visual indicator part incorporates these LEDs to provide intuitive visual feedback to users in dark environments, allowing them to understand connector status without adding complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a visual indicator part as an intermediary element between the connector's internal charging system and the user. This mediator translates internal electrical states into visible optical signals through LEDs and their housing structures, enabling users to perceive charging status without directly interacting with complex electrical components.
2Loss of information
If visual indicators with multiple LEDs and components are added to the connector, then the ease of operation and information provision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information display function into multiple independent light-emitting diodes, each representing a specific charging state or safety condition. This segmentation allows different aspects of connector status (charging in progress, charging complete, fault conditions) to be communicated through distinct visual elements, making the information system modular and easier to manage despite the increased number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator part serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides charging status information, safety feedback, and operational guidance through a single integrated structure. The housing of the visual indicator part accommodates multiple LEDs and can be configured to display various states, making one component perform multiple information delivery functions rather than requiring separate indicators for each function.
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 user safety and convenience by providing clear visual and auditory feedback for charging status and safety, facilitating secure and efficient charging operations, especially in low-light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
visual indicators, such as light-emitting diodes under a transparent or tinted cover
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
An electric vehicle connector, EVconnector, configured for charging an electric vehicle, EV, via a EV plug receptacle, said EV connector (1) comprising: a body (2) having a first plug end (4) configured to be coupled to an EV plug receptacle on an electric vehicle for charging; a second power cable end (5) configured to be coupled to a power cable(20), wherein the first plug end (4) typically includes a terminal interface having one or more terminal receptacles for receiving one or more terminals positioned within the EV charging receptacle, and wherein the first plug end (4) also includes a includes a transparent visual indicator part (4a) having one or more light sources(4c).