Vehicle-Integrated Charging Station Activation Without Key Cards

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicle owners face inconvenience and potential inability to charge their vehicles if they lose the physical key or key card required for charging stations, and there is a need for secure activation of charging stations to prevent unauthorized use.

Innovation Solution

A trainable transceiver system integrated with a vehicle's control circuit and user interface, capable of transmitting activation signals to charging stations upon appropriate user input, ensuring secure and convenient charging station activation without the need for physical keys or cards, using components like RFID tags, sensors, and wireless communication protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a physical key or key card is used to activate charging stations, then the charging station can be activated, but the user may lose the key or key card and be unable to charge the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging capabilityVSAvoidaccess convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical key/card system with an electronic authentication system. The vehicle's integrated controller electronically communicates with the charging station to authenticate and activate charging, eliminating the need for physical keys or cards that can be lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's integrated controller serves as an intermediary between the user and the charging station. Instead of the user directly interacting with the charging station using a key or card, the vehicle controller handles the authentication and activation process electronically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a key or key card is required to activate the charging station, then unauthorized use is prevented, but the user must carry the key or key card

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized use preventionVSAvoidsystem requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the physical key/card authentication mechanism with an electronic authentication system. The vehicle controller electronically verifies authorization with the charging station, maintaining security while eliminating the need for users to carry physical authentication devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's integrated controller is given the additional function of authentication and activation for the charging station. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate key or card systems while maintaining security through electronic verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If remote activation is implemented, then physical keys are not needed, but secure activation must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation convenienceVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle's integrated controller acts as a secure intermediary that electronically communicates with the charging station. This enables remote activation convenience while maintaining security through authenticated electronic communication between the vehicle controller and charging station systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables secure and convenient remote activation of charging stations, preventing unauthorized use and ensuring that electric vehicles can be charged without the need for physical keys or cards, while maintaining security through user authentication and vehicle connection confirmation.

Implementation Method 1

The transceiver circuit may be configured to, in response to an appropriate input received at the user interface, transmit an activation signal to a charging station

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

An RFID tag may be configured to be in selective communication with an RFID reader

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12068770B2Activation of vehicle charging devices from vehicle integrated controller

Publication Date: 2024.08.20 GENTEX CORP

AI summary

A trainable transceiver comprises a transceiver circuit, a user interface, and a control circuit in selective communication with the transceiver circuit. The control circuit is further in communication with and configured to process inputs received at the user interface. The transceiver circuit is configured to, in response to a particular input received at the user interface, transmit an activation signal to a vehicle charging station.