Plug-in electric vehicle supply equipment with indicators

• US 9,121,073 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Garret, Muller, Michael, Yankitis, Charles K., Schuping, Matthew C., Futkos, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/485,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/3204 Probiotics, living bacteria to be ingested for action in the digestive tract
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/324 having an effect on the immune system
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/66 Ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/30 by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• 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 3/12 : Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 : characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 : DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• 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: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 : Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 : Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 : in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 : Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 : Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/205 : Bacterial isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/225 : Lactobacillus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A system for connecting an electric vehicle to a high voltage power source. The system including electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having an electrical plug compatible with a high voltage power outlet, the plug connected to a power cord. The power cord is connected to a housing containing a number of electrical components configured to control the power flow to an electric vehicle to recharge the vehicle'"'"'s batteries. The housing includes a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to indicate a status of the EVSE. The LEDs can flash, illuminate a solid color, not illuminate a solid color or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting an electric vehicle to an electrical socket, comprising:

a socket connector configured to couple with the electrical socket;

a power conduit connected to the socket connector and configured to convey a voltage from the electrical socket;

a power control device connected to the power conduit, wherein the power control device is a voltage regulator configured to step up or step down the voltage;

a control circuit connected to the power conduit and configured to generate signals corresponding to the voltage along the power conduit;

a vehicle connector configured to connect the power conduit to the electric vehicle;

a processor connected to the control circuit and configured to receive signals from and send signal to the control circuit; and

a housing to house at least the power conduit, the control circuit and the processor, wherein a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is on a surface of the housing to indicate a status of the apparatus, wherein the status includes that the apparatus has power but the vehicle connector is not connected to the electric vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power control device includes an electrical relay configured to bridge portions of the power conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage monitor connected to the processor;

a current monitor connected to the power conduit;

a pulse width modulator connected to the processor; and

a display connected to the processor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a current monitor is a ground fault interrupter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the LEDs indicates the status of the apparatus through no illumination, solid illumination or flashing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs goes through at least two of the following phases:

a no illumination phase, a solid illumination phase and a flashing phase.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of LEDs indicates the status of the apparatus by alternating between solid illumination and flashing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is connected to the vehicle connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to isolate the processor from the voltage along the power conduit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the status is a fault in the apparatus.

11. An apparatus for connecting an electric vehicle to an electrical socket, comprising:

means for coupling with the electrical socket;

means for conveying a current from the electrical socket, the means for conveying the current being coupled to the means for coupling;

means for controlling power connected to the means for conveying the current, wherein the means for controlling is configured to step up or step down a voltage;

a control circuit connected to the means for conveying the current and configured to generate signals corresponding to the current along the means for conveying the current;

means for connecting the means for conveying the current to the electric vehicle;

means for processing connected to the control circuit and configured to receive signals from and send signal to the control circuit; and

means for housing at least the means for conveying the current, the control circuit and the means for processing, wherein a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is on a surface of the means for housing to indicate a status of the apparatus, wherein the status includes that the apparatus has power but the means for connecting is not connected to the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of the LEDs indicates the status of the apparatus through no illumination, solid illumination or flashing.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs goes through at least two of the following phases:

a no illumination phase, a solid illumination phase and a flashing phase.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of plurality of LEDs indicates the status of the apparatus by alternating between solid illumination and flashing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the status is a fault in the apparatus.

16. A method of indicating a status of a vehicle charging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

receiving a high electrical voltage from a power source;

conducting the high electrical voltage from the power source to an electrical vehicle via a power conduit;

controlling the high electrical voltage flowing on the power conduit with a switching relay;

changing an amount of voltage by stepping up the voltage or stepping down the voltage with a voltage regulator;

isolating a processor from the high electrical voltage with a control circuit; and

indicating a status of the vehicle charging apparatus with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein the status includes that the apparatus has power but a vehicle connector is not connected to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the indicating step further comprising:

not illuminating the plurality of LEDs.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the indicating step further comprising:

illuminating the plurality of LEDs.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the indicating step further comprising:

flashing the plurality of LEDs.