Wireless Charging Adapter Interface for EV Energy Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle charging systems face challenges with robustness and practicality due to increased size and susceptibility to mechanical and environmental stresses caused by additional electrical contacts for control signal transmission, which impede flexible charging and reliable communication.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a wireless communication device in the adapter interface and adapter allows for control signals to be transmitted wirelessly, eliminating the need for additional electrical contacts, resulting in a compact, robust, and interference-immune charging system with enhanced mechanical and weather resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrical contacts are integrated into the adapter interface and adapters to enable control signal transmission between the charging station and the electric vehicle, then communication capability is improved, but the size of the adapter interface and adapters increases, and handling becomes impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidhandling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based control signal transmission with a wireless communication system. The adapter interface and adapter are equipped with wireless communication devices that enable bidirectional control signal transmission without physical electrical contacts, thereby maintaining communication capability while eliminating the size increase and handling difficulties associated with additional electrical contacts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrical contacts are integrated into the adapter interface and adapters to enable control signal transmission, then communication capability is improved, but the stowing size of the charging device is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidstowing size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the mechanical contact system with wireless communication technology. By integrating wireless communication devices into the adapter interface and adapter, the system achieves control signal transmission without requiring additional physical space for electrical contacts, connectors, and associated shielding, thereby reducing the overall stowing size of the charging device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrical contacts are integrated into the adapter interface and adapters, then control signal transmission is enabled, but the susceptibility to external mechanical stresses and environmental factors such as moisture and corrosion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol signal transmissionVSAvoidresistance to mechanical and environmental stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the vulnerable electrical contact system with wireless communication technology. The wireless communication devices transmit control signals through electromagnetic fields without requiring physical contact points, thereby eliminating the susceptibility to mechanical stresses, moisture ingress, and corrosion that plagues traditional electrical contacts while maintaining reliable control signal transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrical contacts are integrated into the adapter interface and adapters, then control signal transmission is enabled, but the surface area vulnerable to corrosion and mechanical stresses increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol signal transmissionVSAvoidcorrosion and mechanical stress vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for additional electrical contacts by implementing wireless communication devices in both the adapter interface and adapter. This substitution removes the exposed surface area that would otherwise be vulnerable to corrosion and mechanical stresses, as wireless communication relies on electromagnetic field transmission rather than physical contact points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11648841B2Charging cable and adapter for electrically charging an energy storage device at an energy supply device

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 NIEDERL DIETMAR

AI summary

A charging cable including a charging line detachably electrically connected at one end using a connection apparatus to an energy storage device to be charged and electrically connected at the other end to an adapter interface detachably connected in a form fit to an adapter. The adapter is detachably electrically connected to an energy supply device in order to transmit, via the charging cable, electrical energy from the energy supply device to the energy storage device to be charged. To obtain a particularly compact and robust charging cable, the adapter interface includes a communication device enabling a wireless communication with the adapter when the adapter is connected to the adapter interface, so that control signals between the energy supply device and an electronics system of the charging cable and/or of an energy storage device connected to the charging cable can be transmitted wirelessly between the adapter and the adapter interface.