EVSE kit including a portable charging cable, an in-line EVSE controller and an interface tool

• US 9,365,124 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto Charging Systems, Inc. (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Soden, David Paul, Flack, Albert Joseph, Steinbuchel, Herman Joseph IV, Hayashigawa, Larry, O'Donnell, Brendan Francis, Wong, Francis Patrick, Barrosa, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/841,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20150367742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• 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 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 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00
• 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 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 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A portable electric vehicle support equipment (EVSE) kit is provided consisting of an EVSE cord and an interface tool providing external access to a serial port through the control pilot conductor.

Claims

1. An EVSE kit, comprising:

(A) an EVSE cord, comprising;

(1) an EVSE docking connector on a docking end of the cord and a utility plug on a utility end of the cord, said docking connector containing a control pilot conductor,

(2) an in-line EVSE controller and a housing enclosing said controller, said controller comprising a microprocessor having a serial port, said serial port coupled to said control pilot conductor;

(B) an interface tool, comprising;

(1) a tool enclosure,

(2) an EV connector mounted on said tool enclosure, said EV connector adapted to receive said EVSE docking connector and comprising a conductor pin that is connected to said control pilot conductor whenever said EV connector of said tool enclosure is mated with said EVSE docking connector of said EVSE cord,

(3) a serial port connector mounted on said tool enclosure and adapted to receive a serial port connector from an external digital device, said interface tool further comprising a serial data path between said conductor pin and said serial port connector of said tool enclosure.

2. The EVSE kit of claim 1 wherein said EVSE docking connector is adapted to be connected to the EV charging port of an EV whenever the EV is to be charged and to said interface tool whenever digital communication with said in-line controller is to be performed.

3. The EVSE kit of claim 1 wherein said serial port connector comprises a USB connector.

7. The EVSE kit of claim 1 wherein said cord is divided into a docking section enclosed by a first outer sheath and terminated at said docking connector and a utility section enclosed by a second outer sheath and terminated at said utility connector.

8. The EVSE kit of claim 7 wherein said housing is sealed with at least one of said first and second outer sheaths and disposed at an intermediate section of said cord between said docking and utility sections.

4. An EVSE kit, comprising:

(A) an EVSE cord, comprising;

(1) an EVSE docking connector on a docking end of the cord and a utility plug on a utility end of the cord, said docking connector containing a control pilot conductor,

(2) an in-line EVSE controller and a housing enclosing said in-line EVSE controller, said controller comprising a microprocessor having a serial port, said serial port coupled to said control pilot conductor;

(B) an interface tool, comprising;

(1) a tool enclosure,

(2) an EV connector mounted on said tool enclosure, said EV connector adapted to receive said EVSE docking connector and comprising a conductor pin that is connected to said control pilot conductor whenever said EV connector of said tool enclosure is mated with said EVSE docking connector of said EVSE cord,

(3) a processor in said tool enclosure, a display disposed on said tool enclosure, said display controlled by said processor, said processor comprising a serial port coupled to said conductor pin.

5. The EVSE kit of claim 4 wherein said interface tool further comprises a key pad on said tool enclosure, said key pad coupled to said processor.

6. The EVSE kit of claim 4 wherein said display of said interface tool comprises a touch screen for user communication with said processor.

9. The EVSE kit of claim 4 wherein

said cord is divided into a docking section enclosed by a first outer sheath and terminated at said docking connector and a utility section enclosed by a second outer sheath and terminated at said utility connector.

10. The EVSE kit of claim 9 wherein

said housing is sealed with at least one of said first and second outer sheaths and disposed at an intermediate section of said cord between said docking and utility sections.