Smart Charging Cable Communication for Remote EV Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging systems for electric vehicles lack the ability to remotely monitor and control the charging process, particularly when using direct current at fast charging stations, and do not allow for efficient management of charging current or termination of the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A smart charging cable equipped with control and protection functions, including charging current limitation, polarity control, and protective earthing, which enables communication with a remote computing unit via a data communication interface to monitor and adjust the charging power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional charging cables are used without integrated communication interfaces, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but the ability to remotely monitor and control the charging process is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication interface as an intermediary component within the charging cable that enables data exchange between the cable and external computing units. This intermediary allows remote monitoring and control functionality to be added without fundamentally redesigning the entire cable system, resolving the contradiction between maintaining simplicity and enabling advanced control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging cable is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both power transmission and communication capabilities into a single device. The communication interface can interact with various computing units (smartphones, computers, charging station controllers), making the cable universally applicable for remote control scenarios without requiring separate dedicated control devices.
2Reliability
If charging control functions are integrated into the charging cable, then the charging process can be monitored and controlled, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable performs self-monitoring of its own operational status through the integrated communication interface. The cable can autonomously detect and report its own state (connected, charging, errors) without requiring external monitoring systems, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the need for additional complex control electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication interface establishes a feedback loop between the charging cable and external computing units. The cable reports its operational status and receives control commands, creating a closed-loop system that enhances charging process reliability. This feedback mechanism allows for real-time adjustments without requiring overly complex embedded control systems within the cable itself.
3Productivity
If real-time monitoring of charging power is implemented, then charging efficiency can be optimized, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system implements selective monitoring of charging parameters rather than continuous full-power monitoring. The communication interface can monitor charging power levels and adjust accordingly, but only activates full monitoring and control functions when needed (e.g., during active charging phases), reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining charging efficiency during critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging monitoring and control functions operate periodically rather than continuously. The communication interface can establish periodic status checks and power adjustments, which maintain charging efficiency by ensuring regular optimization while significantly reducing the energy consumed by the monitoring system itself compared to continuous operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of charging power control during charging of a device to be charged, in particular an electric vehicle, in particular the charging power control by a smart charging cable and a method for controlling and/or terminating the charging process of a device to be charged by a smart charging cable. The charging cable according to the invention is characterized by an electronics, comprising a communication interface, which is designed in such a way that it enables coupling with at least one computing unit and thus makes the charging process controllable and/or terminable by a user and/or a computer program product.