System and Method for Detecting Vehicle Proximity in an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment

• US 20140327556A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blink SUB II LLC
• Original Assignee: Semaconnect, Inc. (Blink Charging Co.)
• Inventors: Reddy, Mahidhar, Kollaramajalu, Harsha, Tiwana, Gurdarshan Singh, Kayser, Vincent J., Engel, Joseph, Stanchak, Roman
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• 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
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A system and method is provided for detecting vehicle proximity in an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). A sensor may be configured to detect a presence of a vehicle within a predetermined distance of the EVSE. A processor may be configured to determine that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the vehicle. The processor may be further configured to generate an alert in response to a determination that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a presence of a vehicle within a predetermined distance of the EVSE;

a processor configured to;

determine that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the vehicle; and

generate an alert in response to a determination that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE.

2. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises an audible alert.

3. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a visual alert.

4. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate a message to a remote server regarding the proximity of the vehicle to the EVSE.

5. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a notification to a driver of the vehicle to provide payment information for a charging transaction.

6. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a notification to a driver of the vehicle to provide identifying information.

7. The equipment of claim 6, wherein the identifying information comprises an identification of the driver, an identification of the vehicle, or an account number.

8. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a ranging sensor.

9. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an imaging sensor.

10. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor.

11. A method for detecting vehicle proximity in an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), the method comprising:

detecting, via a sensor, a presence of a vehicle within a predetermined distance of the EVSE;

determining, by at least one computing processor coupled to the sensor, that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the vehicle; and

generating, by the at least one computing processor, an alert in response to determining that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the alert comprises an audible alert generated at the EVSE.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the alert comprises a visual alert generated at the EVSE.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending, by the at least one computing processor to a remote server, a message regarding the proximity of the vehicle to the EVSE.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the alert comprises a notification for a driver of the vehicle to provide payment information for a charging transaction.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the alert comprises a notification to a driver of the vehicle to provide identifying information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying information comprises an identification of the driver, an identification of the vehicle, or an account number.