Security monitoring systems, methods and devices for electric vehicle charging stations

• US 9,277,191 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rodrguez, Marcela Vernica Arizpe, Caedo, Jose Filiberto Escamilla, Gonzalez, Karla Morena Guajardo, Marrufo, Pablo Alejandro del Angel, Rodriguez, Vladimir Cano, Najera, Gerardo Rodriguez
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Eileen
• Application Number:
  US13/712,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for monitoring an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) are disclosed. A security system is disclosed for monitoring an EVCS having an electrical connector for electrically coupling to an electric vehicle. The security system includes a camera for recording images of a surrounding area of the EVCS. A sensor detects objects near the EVCS and/or detects removal of the electrical connector from the EVCS. A controller, which is operatively coupled to the camera and the sensor, is configured to: receive sensor signals output from the sensor; responsive to the sensor signals indicating that an object is near the EVCS or the electrical connector is removed from the EVCS: direct the camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; output to a user the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and, receive user command signals to control the EVCS and/or the security system.

Claims

1. A security system for monitoring an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) having a connector dock and an electrical connector for electrically coupling to an electric vehicle, the security system comprising:

a digital camera configured to record images of a surrounding area of the EVCS and output a camera signal indicative thereof;

a sensor configured to detect objects within a predetermined proximity of the EVCS or to detect removal of the electrical connector from the connector dock of the EVCS, or both, and output a sensor signal indicative thereof; and

a controller operatively coupled to the digital camera and the sensor, the controller being configured to;

receive the sensor signal output from the sensor; and

responsive to the sensor signal indicating that an object is within the predetermined proximity of the EVCS or the electrical connector is removed from the connector dock of the EVCS;

direct the digital camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS;

output to a user the camera signal indicative of the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and

receive from the user a command signal operable to change an operational state of the EVCS, the security system, or both;

wherein;

the sensor is configured to detect removal of the electrical connector from the connector dock of the EVS, and output a signal indicative thereof; and

the controller is configured to;

receive the sensor signal output indicating that the electrical connector is removed from the connector dock of the EVCS; and

responsive to the sensor signal indicating that the electrical connector is removed from the connector dock of the EVCS;

direct the digital camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS;

output to a user the camera signal indicative of the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and

receive from the user a command signal operable to change an operational state of the EVCS, the security system, or both.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller, responsive to the command signal received from the user, is further configured to change a field of view of the digital camera.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output to the user a status of vehicle charging.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output to the user a notification indicating completion of vehicle charging.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller, responsive to the command signal received from the user, is further configured to enable or disable, or both, a vehicle charging process of the EVCS.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output to the user a notification indicating vandalism or damage to the EVCS.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output to a police department or an independent security company a notification of vandalism or damage to the EVCS.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with the user via a dedicated, standalone mobile software application operating on a mobile computing device, the mobile software application being configured to transfer information to and receive information from the security system.

9. The security system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to output the camera signal to the dedicated, standalone mobile software application operating on the mobile computing device such that the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS can be viewed by the user on the mobile computing device.

10. The security system of claim 8, wherein the user command signal is received by the controller from the dedicated, standalone mobile software application operating on the mobile computing device of the user.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein the digital camera comprises a plurality of printed circuit board (PCB) cameras.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect objects within a predetermined proximity of the EVCS, and a micro switch sensor configured to detect removal of the electrical connector from the EVCS.

13. The security system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm mechanism configured to output an audible warning or a visible warning, or both.

14. The security system of claim 1, wherein the EVCS has a housing, and wherein the digital camera, the sensor, and the controller are mounted to the housing of the EVCS.

15. A method of monitoring an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) with a security system having a sensor and a digital camera, the EVCS having a connector dock and an electrical connector for electrically coupling to an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving from the sensor of the security system a first sensor signal indicating that an object is within a predetermined proximity of the EVCS, or a second sensor signal indicating that the electrical connector has been removed from the connector dock of the EVCS; and

responsive to receiving the first sensor signal or the second sensor signal;

directing the digital camera to record images of a surrounding area of the EVCS and output a camera signal indicative thereof;

transmitting to a user the camera signal indicative of the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and

receiving from the user a command signal operable to change an operational state of the EVCS, the security system, or both;

the method further comprising;

receiving from the sensor of the security system the second sensor signal indicating that the electrical connector has been removed from the connector dock of the EVCS; and

responsive to receiving the second sensor signal;

directing the digital camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS and output a camera signal indicative thereof;

transmitting to a user the camera signal indicative of the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and

receiving from the user a command signal operable to change an operational state of the EVCS, the security system, or both.

16. A security kit for monitoring an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) having a housing, a connector dock, and an electrical connector attached to the housing and configured to electrically couple the EVCS to an electric vehicle, the security kit comprising:

a digital camera configured to attach to the EVCS housing, the digital camera being configured to record images of a surrounding area of the EVCS and output a camera signal indicative thereof; and

first and second sensors configured to attach to the EVCS housing, the first sensor being configured to detect objects within a predetermined proximity of the EVCS and output a first sensor signal indicative thereof, the second sensor being configured to detect removal of the electrical connector from the connector dock of the EVCS and output a second sensor signal indicative thereof,

a controller operatively coupled to the digital camera and the first and second sensors, wherein the controller, responsive to receiving the first sensor signal or the second sensor signal, is configured to;

direct the digital camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS;

output to a user the camera signal indicative of the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and

receive from the user a command signal operable to change an operational state of the EVCS, the security kit, or both;

wherein the controller, responsive to receiving the second sensor signal, is configured to;

direct the digital camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS;

output to a user the camera signal indicative of the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and

receive from the user a command signal operable to change an operational state of the EVCS, the security kit, or both.

17. The security kit of claim 16, further comprising a data bus configured to communicatively connect the security kit to the EVCS.

18. The security kit of claim 16, further comprising a kit housing stowing therein the digital camera and the controller, the kit housing being operable to mount to the EVCS housing.

19. The security kit of claim 16, wherein the first sensor is a proximity sensor and the second sensor is a micro switch sensor, and wherein the digital camera comprises a plurality of printed circuit board (PCB) cameras.

20. The security kit of claim 16, further comprising an alarm mechanism configured to output an audible warning or a visible warning, or both.