EV Charging Plug Temperature Sensing via Power Disruption Signaling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) devices lack the ability to accurately identify and manage the temperature conditions of different plug configurations, leading to potential overcurrent and overtemperature issues during charging, which can compromise safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The EVSE device incorporates a removable grid cord with temperature sensing elements and a control module that communicates plug configuration and temperature conditions via an electrical power carrying conductor, using a predetermined power disruption pattern to indicate logic values, enabling precise control and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensing elements and control module are added to monitor plug temperature, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature sensing elements, control module, and communication functions into an integrated system within the EVSE device. The control module integrates multiple functions including temperature monitoring, plug configuration identification, and communication control, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved safety through comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensing elements are used to monitor each current carrying blade, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature monitoring function into multiple independent temperature sensing elements, with each sensor dedicated to monitoring a specific current carrying blade. This segmentation enables precise individual blade temperature monitoring while allowing the control module to process each sensor's data independently, improving measurement precision without creating unmanageable system complexity.
3Loss of information
If communication via power conductor with predetermined disruption patterns is used to identify plug configuration, then loss of information is reduced, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic power disruptions in predetermined patterns through the electrical power carrying conductor to communicate plug configuration information. The control module generates specific disruption patterns (e.g., presence/absence of power at defined intervals) that encode configuration data, enabling reliable information transmission without requiring continuous high-energy communication signals, thus balancing information accuracy with energy 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
The solution ensures safe and efficient charging by accurately identifying plug types and monitoring temperature conditions, preventing overcurrent and overtemperature, thereby enhancing safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of temperature sensing elements are configured to transmit a plurality of temperature signals that each indicate a current carrying blade temperature
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An electric vehicle supply equipment device (10) comprises a removable grid cord and a control module (38). The removable grid cord has an electrical power carrying conductor (44) terminated by an electrical plug (14) with a plug configuration selected from the list consisting of National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standard 5-15 configured for a 120 V receptacle, NEMA standard 6-20 configured for a 240 V receptacle and CEE7/2 for a 240 V receptacle. The control module (38) is configured to communicate an indication of the plug configuration via the electrical power carrying conductor (44), wherein the control module (38) communicates the indication of the plug configuration by disrupting electrical power (16) carried by the electrical power carrying conductor.