Overcurrent and ground fault protection in a networked charging station for electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for protecting against ground fault conditions in a networked charging station for electric vehicles, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from an operator of an electric vehicle to establish a charging session for the electric vehicle;
establishing the charging session including energizing a charging point connection of the networked charging station to allow current to flow through a charging cord towards the electric vehicle;
responsive to detecting a ground fault condition, performing the following;
preventing current from flowing through the charging cord by de-energizing the charging point connection, andsuspending the charging session;
receiving a remote request to clear the detected ground fault condition; and
responsive to receiving the remote request to clear the ground fault condition, performing the following;
clearing the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a ground fault circuit interrupter device,energizing the charging point connection, andresuming the charging session.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A networked charging station for electric vehicles protects against overcurrent and ground fault conditions. Upon detecting an overcurrent condition or a ground fault condition, the networked charging station for electric vehicles de-energizes a charging point connection to prevent electric current from flowing between an electric vehicle and the networked charging station and suspends the charging session. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition upon receipt of an authorized request which is transmitted remotely. The authorized request can be received from the vehicle operator that is associated with the charging session or from an administrator of the charging station through a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) tag enabled device or through a text message or an email message. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a circuit breaker or a GFCI device respectively.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for protecting against ground fault conditions in a networked charging station for electric vehicles, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from an operator of an electric vehicle to establish a charging session for the electric vehicle; establishing the charging session including energizing a charging point connection of the networked charging station to allow current to flow through a charging cord towards the electric vehicle; responsive to detecting a ground fault condition, performing the following; preventing current from flowing through the charging cord by de-energizing the charging point connection, and suspending the charging session; receiving a remote request to clear the detected ground fault condition; and responsive to receiving the remote request to clear the ground fault condition, performing the following; clearing the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a ground fault circuit interrupter device, energizing the charging point connection, and resuming the charging session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A networked charging station for electric vehicles, comprising:
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a charging point connection to couple electric vehicles to a power line coupled with a power grid; an electricity control device coupled with the charging point connection to control the flow of electricity to the charging point connection; a current measuring device coupled with the charging point connection to measure electric current flowing on the power line through the charging point connection; a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) device coupled with the electricity control device, the GFCI device to detect ground fault conditions and cause the electricity control device to de-energize the charging point connection when it detects a ground fault condition; and the charging station controller coupled with the electricity control device, the current measuring device, and the GFCI device, wherein the charging station controller is to perform the following; suspend a charging session responsive to the GFIC device detecting a ground fault condition, and responsive to receipt of an authorized request to clear a ground fault condition, cause the electricity control device to energize the charging point connection without a manual reset of the GFCI device and resume the charging session. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor, will cause said processor to perform operations comprising:
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receiving a request from an operator of an electric vehicle to establish a charging session for the electric vehicle; establishing the charging session including energizing a charging point connection of a networked charging station to allow current to flow through a charging cord towards the electric vehicle; responsive to detecting a ground fault condition, performing the following; preventing current from flowing through the charging cord by de-energizing the charging point connection, and suspending the charging session; receiving a remote request to clear the detected ground fault condition; and responsive to receiving the remote request to clear the ground fault condition, performing the following; clearing the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a ground fault circuit interrupter device, energizing the charging point connection, and resuming the charging session. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification