Vehicle Charging Audio Cues for Connection and Charge Status
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle users lack feedback on the establishment of a charging connection and the status of the charging process, especially when using public charging facilities.
Innovation Solution
A charging cue system for vehicles that includes a battery controller, a charging port sensor, an electronic control unit (ECU), a speaker system, and a proximity sensor, which provides audible cues through an audible progress monitor to inform users about connection, authorization, and charge status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual feedback systems are used to display charging status, then users can monitor charging progress, but users must maintain constant visual attention and be present at the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual feedback mechanisms with acoustic feedback mechanisms. The charging status information that would traditionally be displayed on a visual interface is instead transmitted through audio signals via speakers, allowing users to receive charging status feedback without visual contact with the vehicle or charging station.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces audio signals as an intermediary medium to convey charging status information. The system uses speakers to emit acoustic waves that carry encoding information about charging parameters, serving as a mediator between the charging system and the user, enabling remote monitoring without direct visual inspection.
2Loss of information
If detailed charging parameters are continuously monitored and displayed, then users receive comprehensive feedback, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms multiple charging parameters (current, voltage, power, charge level) into a single unified acoustic output. Instead of displaying each parameter separately through complex visual interfaces, the system encodes all relevant charging information into audio signals with varying characteristics (frequency, amplitude, timing), simplifying the feedback delivery mechanism while maintaining comprehensive information transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the audio output system multi-functional by using it to convey multiple types of charging information simultaneously. The same speaker system that provides audible cues also transmits detailed charging parameters, combining notification and information delivery functions into a single channel, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging cue system for a vehicle includes a battery including a battery controller storing battery data and a speaker system. The charging cue system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) that is communicatively coupled with the battery controller and the speaker system. The ECU includes data processing hardware that is configured with an audible cue application and memory hardware that stores charging parameters. The audible cue application includes an audible progress monitor that is configured as a function of the charging parameters and configured to project at least one cue at the speaker system in response to the battery data.