ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED CURRENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) system for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a utility cable for receiving electrical power and containing a first pair of power conductors;
a docking cable containing a second pair of power conductors and terminated at a docking connector that is engagable with a charging port of an electric vehicle;
a pair of contactors providing an interruptable connection between said first and second pairs of power conductors;
a microprocessor and a memory coupled to said microprocessor, said pair of contactors being controlled by said microprocessor;
a control pilot conductor extending through said docking cable to said docking connector, said microprocessor being capable of controlling voltage on said control pilot conductor;
a pulse generator coupled to said control pilot conductor and having a pulse duty cycle controlled by said microprocessor;
a temperature sensor having an output representative of a present temperature, said output coupled to said microprocessor;
said memory containing;
(a) a nominal pulse duty cycle corresponding to a nominal value of maximum allowable current, (b) a predetermined threshold temperature, and (c) set of program instructions executable by said microprocessor whenever said present temperature exceeds said predetermined threshold temperature to reduce the pulse duty cycle of said pulse generator from said nominal pulse duty cycle to an adjusted pulse duty cycle by a reduction factor that is a function of an increase of said present temperature above said predetermined threshold temperature.
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Abstract
In electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), interruption of charging due to overheating is prevented by adjusting the pulse duty cycle on the control pilot conductor communicating the maximum allowed current level to the electric vehicle, the adjustment being performed whenever the EVSE temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature below the maximum operating temperature as a function of the approach of the temperature to the maximum operating temperature.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) system for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a utility cable for receiving electrical power and containing a first pair of power conductors; a docking cable containing a second pair of power conductors and terminated at a docking connector that is engagable with a charging port of an electric vehicle; a pair of contactors providing an interruptable connection between said first and second pairs of power conductors; a microprocessor and a memory coupled to said microprocessor, said pair of contactors being controlled by said microprocessor; a control pilot conductor extending through said docking cable to said docking connector, said microprocessor being capable of controlling voltage on said control pilot conductor; a pulse generator coupled to said control pilot conductor and having a pulse duty cycle controlled by said microprocessor; a temperature sensor having an output representative of a present temperature, said output coupled to said microprocessor; said memory containing;
(a) a nominal pulse duty cycle corresponding to a nominal value of maximum allowable current, (b) a predetermined threshold temperature, and (c) set of program instructions executable by said microprocessor whenever said present temperature exceeds said predetermined threshold temperature to reduce the pulse duty cycle of said pulse generator from said nominal pulse duty cycle to an adjusted pulse duty cycle by a reduction factor that is a function of an increase of said present temperature above said predetermined threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) system, comprising:
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a utility cable for receiving electrical power and containing a first pair of power conductors; a docking cable containing a second pair of power conductors and terminated at a docking connector that is engagable with a charging port of an electric vehicle; a pair of contactors providing an interruptable connection between said first and second pairs of power conductors; a microprocessor and a memory coupled to said microprocessor, said pair of contactors being controlled by said microprocessor; a control pilot conductor extending through said docking cable to the docking connector, said microprocessor being capable of controlling voltage on said control pilot conductor; a pulse generator coupled to said control pilot conductor and having a pulse duty cycle controlled by said microprocessor; a temperature sensor having an output representative of a present temperature, said output coupled to said microprocessor; said memory storing;
(a) a nominal pulse duty cycle corresponding to a nominal value of maximum allowable current, (b) a maximum operating temperature, and a (c) set of program instructions executable by said microprocessor to reduce the pulse duty cycle of said pulse generator from said nominal pulse duty cycle to an adjusted pulse duty cycle by a reduction factor that is a function of the closeness of said present temperature to said maximum operating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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providing in an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) a utility cable for receiving electrical power and containing a first pair of power conductors, a docking cable containing a second pair of power conductors and terminated at a docking connector that is engagable with a charging port of an electric vehicle, and a pair of contactors between said first and second pairs of power conductors; providing a control pilot conductor extending through said docking cable to said docking connector; setting a pulse duty cycle on said control pilot conductor to a nominal pulse duty cycle corresponding to a maximum allowable charging current; sensing a present temperature in said EVSE; whenever said present temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, reducing said pulse duty cycle from said nominal pulse duty cycle to an adjusted pulse duty cycle by a reduction factor that is a function of an increase of said present temperature above said predetermined threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification