APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CHARGE CURRENT
First Claim
1. A charge connector for controlling a current flow to a charging system, the charge connector comprising:
- a plug selectively connectable to a power supply outlet and including a positive connector to receive a current flow from a power supply via the outlet;
a coupler selectively connectable to an inlet of the charging system to flow current to the charging system via the inlet;
wherein the plug includes a temperature sensor to output a temperature signal corresponding to an interface temperature at an interface of the plug and the outlet when the plug is connected to the outlet; and
a control module in communication with the temperature sensor to receive the temperature signal and determine the interface temperature;
wherein the control module is operable to control the current flow through the positive connector at an adjusted level of current flow based on the interface temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling a current flow through a charge connector to a charging system includes a charge connector including a plug connectable to a power outlet to receive a current flow, the plug including a temperature sensor to measure an interface temperature at the plug and outlet interface, the charge connector including a coupler connectable to an inlet of the charging system, where one of a control module of the charge connector and a controller of the charging system is operable to control the current flow to an adjusted level determined by one of the interface temperature and a voltage drop at the plug. A communication link may be established by a coupler element connected to an inlet element to transmit signals between the control module and connector. The charge connector may be connectable to a charging system of a plug-in electric vehicle.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A charge connector for controlling a current flow to a charging system, the charge connector comprising:
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a plug selectively connectable to a power supply outlet and including a positive connector to receive a current flow from a power supply via the outlet; a coupler selectively connectable to an inlet of the charging system to flow current to the charging system via the inlet; wherein the plug includes a temperature sensor to output a temperature signal corresponding to an interface temperature at an interface of the plug and the outlet when the plug is connected to the outlet; and a control module in communication with the temperature sensor to receive the temperature signal and determine the interface temperature; wherein the control module is operable to control the current flow through the positive connector at an adjusted level of current flow based on the interface temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling a current flow through a charge connector to a charging system, the system comprising:
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a charge connector comprising; a plug selectively connectable to a power supply outlet and including a positive connector to receive a current flow from a power supply via the outlet; a coupler selectively connectable to an inlet of a charging system to flow current to the charging system via the vehicle inlet; wherein the charge connector includes a first sensor to output a first signal corresponding to a first interface condition at an interface defined by the plug and the outlet when the plug is connected to the outlet; and wherein the coupler is operable to transmit the first signal via a communication link between the charge connector and the charging system when the coupler is connected to the inlet; the charging system further comprising; a charge controller in communication with the inlet to receive the first signal and determine the first interface condition; wherein the controller is operable to control the current flow through the positive connector at a first adjusted level of current flow based on the first interface condition. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling a current flow through a charge connector to a charging system, the method comprising:
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connecting the charge connector to a power supply outlet; the charge connector comprising; a plug selectively connectable to a power supply outlet and including a positive connector to receive a current flow from a power supply via the outlet; a coupler selectively connectable to an inlet of a charging system to flow current to the charging system via the inlet and to establish a communication link between the charge connector and the charging system, when the coupler is connected to the inlet; a first sensor to output a first signal corresponding to a first interface condition at an interface defined by the plug and the outlet when the plug is connected to the outlet; sensing the first interface condition at the interface using the first sensor; outputting, via the first sensor, the first signal corresponding to the first interface condition to the coupler; the charging system further comprising a charge controller in communication with the inlet; the method further comprising; transmitting the first signal to the charge controller via the communication link; and controlling, via the charge controller, the current flow through the positive connector at a first adjusted level of current flow based on the first interface condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification