Inline Charging Protocol Controller for Upgradeable EVSE Cables
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems require significant electronic modifications and replacements when new charging standards or protocols are introduced, as they lack common circuit and software components to support multiple standards, leading to high costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a charging protocol controller within the cable circuitry, such as an inline cable controller, that manages EV charging states and communicates with the EVSE, allowing for field upgrades and reconfiguration of the cable components to support new or different charging configurations without replacing the entire EVSE electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an EVSE is designed to support multiple charging standards with different circuit and software components, then the EVSE can accommodate various charging protocols, but the device complexity increases and requires significant electronic modifications when new standards are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging system into a fixed EVSE unit and a separate, replaceable cable assembly. The cable contains an inline controller that handles protocol-specific circuitry and software, while the EVSE maintains a standardized interface. This segmentation allows the EVSE to support multiple standards by simply swapping cables rather than modifying the main device.
Solution Approach 2:
The inline controller within the cable acts as an intermediary between the EVSE and the vehicle. It translates between the standardized EVSE interface and the specific charging protocol requirements, isolating the EVSE from protocol-specific complexity while enabling support for multiple standards through cable replacement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a new charging standard or protocol is introduced, then the EVSE can support the new standard, but significant electronic modification of the communication circuitry is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates protocol-specific controllers and circuitry into the cable assembly during manufacturing, before deployment. When a new charging standard is introduced, pre-manufactured cables with the appropriate inline controllers can be deployed without requiring any electronic modification to the EVSE itself, significantly easing the manufacturing and deployment process.
3Ease of operation
If an inline EVSE controller is embedded in the charging cable, then the cable can provide complete EVSE functionality, but the cable complexity increases and termination of power and signal wires is required at the cable level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the EVSE control functionality with the charging cable by integrating an inline controller within the cable assembly. This combines the power delivery and communication functions into a single integrated unit, allowing the cable to operate as a complete charging solution while maintaining standardized interfaces at both the EVSE and vehicle ends.
Data Source
AI summary
An attached cable circuitry assembly of an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) that includes a charging protocol controller. The charging protocol controller includes a first connector to terminate one or more signal wires of a charging cable. The charging protocol controller further includes a second connector to connect via a cable to a third connector of the EVSE, the second connector to terminate supply voltage and communication from the EVSE received over the cable that connects the second connector to the third connector. The charging protocol controller further includes one or more charging communication circuits. The charging protocol controller further includes a processor to perform: signal handshake and control, and communication between the EVSE and the charging protocol controller.