Vehicle Charging Cable Automatic State Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging cables for electric vehicles require frequent user authentication and are inconvenient for users, as they need to authenticate each time the battery is charged, and there is a risk of theft due to the need for continuous authentication.
Innovation Solution
A charging cable with a switcher and connection determinator that automatically switches between charging enable and disable states based on user authorization and connection state changes, eliminating the need for continuous authentication and deterring theft by automatically disabling when unauthorized use is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user authentication is required each time the charging cable is disconnected and reconnected, then security against unauthorized use is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to troublesome procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable performs user authentication in advance when connected to the external power source, before actual charging begins. The authentication result is stored, and subsequent charging operations can proceed without repeated authentication as long as the cable remains connected to the power source, thus improving convenience while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The charging cable automatically manages the authentication state and charging enable/disable status without requiring user intervention. The system self-determines whether to enable charging based on the stored authentication result and current connection state, eliminating the need for users to manually authenticate each time
2Ease of operation
If the charging cable remains in charging enable state after authentication, then user convenience is improved by eliminating repeated authentication, but security against theft deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable continuously monitors the connection state between the connection plug and the external power source. When disconnection is detected, the system receives feedback about the changed state and automatically transitions to charging disable state, preventing unauthorized use while maintaining convenience during legitimate use
Solution Approach 2:
The charging enable/disable state is dynamically adjusted based on real-time connection status. The system transitions between enabled and disabled states automatically according to whether the connection plug is connected to the external power source, providing both convenience during use and security when not in use
Data Source
AI summary
A charging cable to charge an electric power storage device mounted on a vehicle with electric power from an external power source includes a switcher that switches the charging cable between a charging enable state where a charging of the electric power storage device is enabled and a charging disable state where the charging of the electric power storage device is disabled, a connection plug to be connected to the external power source, and a connection determinator that determines whether a connection state between the connection plug and the external power source changes between a conduction state and a non-conduction state. The switcher puts the charging cable into the charging enable state in accordance with a command from a user. The switcher puts the charging cable into the charging disable state when the connection state changes.