ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT HAVING INCREASED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES

• US 20140266040A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Hassan-Ali, Mudhafar, Larson, Jason, Anderson, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/828,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266040A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• 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: 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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

Abstract

An electric vehicle support equipment (EVSE) system that includes a nozzle (122) configured to couple to an electric vehicle, the nozzle including a first microcontroller (MCU). The EVSE also includes a charging circuit interrupt device (CCID) configured to couple to a power source, the CCID including a second MCU and a cable that is coupled between the CCID and the nozzle. The CCID is configured to receive a pilot signal from the electric vehicle, the pilot signal conveying pilot information, and overlay additional information onto the pilot signal.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle support equipment (EVSE) system comprising:

a nozzle configured to couple to an electric vehicle, the nozzle including a first microcontroller (MCU);

a charging circuit interrupt device (CCID) configured to couple to a power source, the CCID including a second MCU;

a cable coupled between the CCID and the nozzle, the CCID configured to

receive a pilot signal from the electric vehicle, the pilot signal conveying pilot information; and

overlay additional information onto the pilot signal.

2. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the first MCU and the second MCU form a full-duplex communication network.

3. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the pilot information and the additional information are transmitted on a single communication line.

4. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the first MCU and the second MCU are each configured to:

transmit the pilot information when the pilot signal is positive; and

transmit the additional information when the pilot signal is negative.

5. The EVS of claim 1, wherein the CCID further includes a communication MCU to determine when the pilot signal is positive or negative.

6. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the pilot signal provides power to the second MCU.

7. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the nozzle includes a DC/DC converter configured to receive power from the pilot signal and provide power to the first MCU

8. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the nozzle includes a latch and flashlight circuit that is powered by the pilot signal.

9. The EVSE of claim 8, wherein the latch and flashlight circuit includes a full bridge rectifier configured to receive the pilot signal and outputs a DC signal that is the power source for the flashlight and latch circuit.

10. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises a magnetic sensor (U1) configured to sense a magnetic field of a nozzle latch and output a visual indication when the latch is depressed.

11. The EVSE of claim 10, wherein the nozzle further comprises a magnetic sensor (U1) configured to activate a flashlight when the nozzle latch is depressed.

12. The EVSE of claim 10, wherein the first MCU is configured to activate at least one switch to short the pilot signal to ground when the latch is depressed.

13. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises a magnetic sensor (U1) configured to activate a flashlight when the nozzle latch is depressed.

14. The EVSE of claim 13, wherein the flashlight is installed in the nozzle and receives power from the pilot signal.

15. The EVSE of claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises a fault detection circuit configured to determine if the pilot signal is approximately positive twelve volts, negative twelve volts, or operating as a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.

17. The nozzle of claim 15, wherein the MCU is configured to form a form a full-duplex communication network with a second MCU installed in a charging circuit interrupt device (CCID).

18. The nozzle of claim 15, wherein the pilot signal provides power to the MCU

19. The nozzle of claim 15, further comprising a latch and flashlight circuit that is powered by the pilot signal.

20. The nozzle of claim 15, further comprising a fault detection circuit configured to determine if the pilot signal is approximately positive twelve volts, negative twelve volts, or operating as a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.

16. A nozzle for coupling an electric vehicle to a power source, the nozzle comprising:

a microcontroller (MCU) configured to

receive a pilot signal (142) from the electric vehicle, the pilot signal conveying pilot information; and

overlay additional information onto the pilot signal.