Vehicle Charging Control Apparatus for Automatic Slot Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle charging infrastructure faces inefficiencies as users often have to wait for charging to complete before moving their vehicles, leading to congestion in parking lots, as there is no automated system for vehicles to move to empty charging slots once they are fully charged, or for vehicles waiting in non-charging slots to be directed to available charging slots.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charging control apparatus and method that utilizes a remote smart parking assist system to automatically move and park vehicles when charging is complete or when an empty charging slot is detected, incorporating a communicator, remote parking controller, and charging controller to manage vehicle movement and wireless charging, with priority assignment and route generation for efficient slot utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users park vehicles in charging slots and wait manually for charging completion, then vehicles can be charged, but parking lot congestion increases and waiting time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting charging completion status and proactively controlling vehicle movement to empty slots before users need to manually intervene. The parking lot control system monitors charging states and prepares relocation commands in advance, eliminating the need for users to wait and manually move vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by implementing automated monitoring and control mechanisms that detect charging completion and execute vehicle relocation without user involvement. The control system autonomously manages the entire process from detection to execution, allowing the infrastructure to serve itself rather than requiring manual user operation.
2Productivity
If vehicles remain in charging slots after charging completion, then charging infrastructure is utilized, but subsequent vehicles cannot access empty charging slots
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the parking lot control system continuously monitors charging slot occupancy and vehicle charging status. When charging completion is detected, the system receives feedback about the current state and automatically generates relocation commands to move vehicles to appropriate slots, ensuring continuous optimization of slot utilization and access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the parking slot allocation flexible and adaptive. Instead of fixed assignments, the control system dynamically adjusts vehicle positions based on real-time charging status and slot availability, allowing vehicles to move between charging and non-charging slots as conditions change, thereby optimizing overall system efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If manual vehicle movement is required after charging, then users can relocate vehicles, but system complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary parking lot control system that mediates between the charging infrastructure and vehicles. This intermediary automatically handles the complex coordination of detecting charging status, identifying appropriate destination slots, and controlling vehicle movement, thereby simplifying the user experience while managing the underlying system complexity centrally.
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
This solution enhances the efficiency of the charging infrastructure by enabling automatic vehicle movement and parking, reducing waiting times and congestion, and allows users to monitor the charging and parking state of their vehicles remotely, improving overall user convenience and infrastructure utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a charging controller controlling wireless charging of the vehicle when the vehicle moves to park in the charging slot
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle charging control apparatus includes: a communicator transmitting and receiving a signal to and from a parking lot control system, which is in a parking lot including charging slots and non-charging slots, and a user terminal; a remote parking controller activating an automatic moving and parking function of a vehicle according to the signal received from the user terminal when the vehicle is in a non-charging slot of the parking lot, receiving charging slot information from the parking lot control system when a charging slot among the charging slots is empty, and controlling the vehicle to move and park based on the empty charging slot; and a charging controller controlling wireless charging of the vehicle when the vehicle moves to park in the charging slot.