STATUS INDICATING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION, LIGHTGUIDE ASSEMBLY AND METHODS

• US 20130021162A1
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: DeBoer, John, Cowans, John Quentin, Biedrzycki, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

An electric vehicle charging apparatus is disclosed. The electric vehicle charging apparatus has a housing having a body, and a light guide assembly adapted to display a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus. The light guide assembly generates and displays one or more colors, flashing lights, or combinations thereof on a light exit region of the light guide. In another aspect, a locking hinged lid configuration of the electric vehicle charging apparatus is provided. In yet another aspect, a mechanical control panel including lighted status indicators on the lid is provided. In another aspect, the electric vehicle charging apparatus has one or more low voltage terminals contained in a first front cavity under the lid, whereas high voltage components are provided in a separate second front cavity. Methods of operating the electric vehicle charging apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a body; and

a light guide assembly mounted to the body and adapted to display status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus.

2. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the status comprises at least one of:

a readiness to charge,

a charging state,

charging,

a state of charging completeness,

a fault,

a fault condition,

a charge delay,

a charge delay time,

a pause,

an operational mode,

a communication mode, and

a remote access condition.

3. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide assembly comprises:

a light guide having a light receiving region located adjacent to one or more light sources, a light guiding region, and a light exit region.

4. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the light exit region comprises a roughened surface.

5. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the light exit region comprises a side surface having an angle of between about 30 degrees and 50 degrees.

6. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide assembly comprises:

one or more light sources; and

a shield having one or more restricted apertures positioned adjacent to the one or more light sources and adapted to limit spread of light emitted from the one or more light sources.

7. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide assembly comprises:

one or more light sources;

a shield; and

a light guide having a light receiving region located adjacent to the one or more light sources, a light guiding region, and a light exit region.

8. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide assembly comprises a light guide and one or more light sources adapted to emit light into a light receiving region of the light guide wherein the one or more light sources are mounted to a printed circuit board.

9. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first front cavity and a second front cavity and the light guide assembly is mounted over the second front cavity.

10. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 9, comprising a first inner cover covering the second front cavity, and wherein the light guide assembly is mounted over the first inner cover.

11. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide assembly comprises a light guide comprising a transparent material.

12. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, comprising a lid received over at least a portion of the light guide.

13. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, comprising a light guide having a light receiving region located adjacent to the one or more light sources, a light guiding region, and a light exit region, wherein the a light receiving region and the light guiding region reside under the lid when the lid is closed, and the light exit region is viewable adjacent to an edge of the lid, when the lid is closed.

14. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 1, comprising a lid hinged to the body.

15. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:

a housing; and

a light guide assembly configured and operable to generate and display one or more selected from a group consisting of one or more colors and one or more flashing lights, on a light exit region located on an exterior of the housing that indicate a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus.

16. The electric vehicle charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the status comprises at least one of:

a readiness to charge,

a charging state,

charging,

a state of charging completeness,

a fault,

a fault condition,

a charge delay,

a charge delay time,

a pause,

an operational mode,

a communication mode, and

a remote access condition.

17. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a body having a front and a rear; and

a lid rotationally mounted to the front of the body by one or more hinges, the one or more hinges including hinge elements received in elongated pockets and operable to slide in the pockets toward the rear when opening the lid.

18. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a body;

a lid coupled to the body;

a first front cavity and a second front cavity within the body, the first cavity being accessible by opening the lid and the second front cavity remains dosed when opening the lid;

a charging cable exiting from the second front cavity;

one or more high voltage electric terminals in the first cavity;

one or more low voltage terminals contained in the first front cavity; and

a contactor and electrical connections to the charging cable located in the second front cavity.

19. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a body;

a lid coupled to the body;

a control panel on the lid; and

lighted status indicators on the control panel, wherein the lid is devoid of electrical connections.

20. A method of operating an electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:

providing a housing and a light guide assembly coupled to the housing, the light guide assembly having a light exit region; and

displaying one or more colors, flashing lights, or combinations on the light exit region that indicate a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus.