External Vehicle Power Indicator for Battery Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle drivers face inconvenience while waiting for their batteries to charge, as they cannot easily monitor the charging progress without entering the vehicle, which may lead to unnecessary delays in their activities.
Innovation Solution
A power indicator system that externally displays the battery condition using a controller and sensors, providing information through displays or lights on the vehicle's windows or body, allowing drivers to check the charge level and estimated time to full charge without needing to access the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the driver enters the vehicle to check battery charge level, then the driver can obtain accurate battery information, but the driver loses time and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external display device as an intermediary between the battery system and the driver. This display shows battery charge level and charging status information outside the vehicle, allowing drivers to obtain battery information without entering the vehicle, thus resolving the contradiction between information access and time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically displaying battery information externally without requiring driver intervention to enter the vehicle and check internal displays. The external display autonomously presents charging status, enabling drivers to monitor battery levels conveniently from outside the vehicle
2Reliability
If the driver waits for full battery charge before leaving, then the driver ensures sufficient range, but the driver experiences unnecessary delays
Solution Approach 1:
The external display provides real-time feedback on charging status, charge level, and estimated time to full charge. This feedback mechanism enables drivers to make informed decisions about whether to wait for full charge or leave with partial charge, optimizing the balance between reliability and time efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation and display of estimated time to full charge, allowing drivers to plan their activities in advance. Drivers can determine beforehand whether the charging time aligns with their schedule, eliminating unnecessary waiting and enabling better time management
3Ease of operation
If no external display is provided, then the vehicle system remains simple, but the driver cannot monitor charging progress from outside
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the information display function from the vehicle's internal system and places it externally. This separation allows the display to be independently positioned and designed, providing monitoring convenience without significantly complicating the core vehicle system
Solution Approach 2:
The external display serves multiple functions: showing charge level, charging status, and estimated time to full charge. By consolidating these information delivery functions into a single external display unit, the system achieves ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system includes a battery and a power indicator system. The power indicator system includes an external indicator visible on an outer surface of a vehicle that shows a battery condition. The system includes a sensor that detects the battery condition, and a processor that receives a first signal from the sensor indicative of the battery condition. The processor controls the external indicator in response to the first signal to visually display the battery condition.