Method and apparatus for electric powered vehicle recharging safety

• US 8,717,160 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jinshui
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US13/889,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 340/455, 340/636.2, 340/636.3, 340/568.4, 340/693.1, 320/107, 320/108, 320/109, 439/136, 439/142, 439/144, 439/668, 439/911, 439/924.1
• US Class Current: 340/455
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to receive a signal from a component in a recharging inlet of an electric powered vehicle (EPV) recharging inlet, determine whether the signal indicates that a housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and alert a driver if the signal indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, wherein the signal comprises an electric voltage level, and wherein an “UNMATED” voltage level indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and wherein a “MATED” voltage level indicates that the housing cap is properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to;

receive a signal from a component in a recharging inlet of an electric powered vehicle (EPV) recharging inlet;

determine whether the signal indicates that a housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet; and

alert a driver if the signal indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, wherein the signal comprises an electric voltage level, and wherein an “

UNMATED”

voltage level indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and wherein a “

MATED”

voltage level indicates that the housing cap is properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the “

UNMATED”

voltage level is detected where a light detector detects substantial light in the recharging inlet, and wherein the “

MATED”

voltage level is detected where the light detector does not detect substantial light in the recharging inlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a second signal from a second light detector in the recharging inlet;

determine if the second signal indicates that external light intensity is sufficient to determine without using the signal from the light source that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet; and

turn off the light source if external light intensity is sufficient to determine that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to:

operate the light source intermittently; and

receive the signal from the light source to determine if the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet when the light source is turned on.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the “

UNMATED”

voltage level is detected on the “

MATED”

signal where a safety pin in the recharging inlet is not connected to a corresponding pin slot in the housing cap, and wherein the “

MATED”

voltage level is detected on the “

MATED”

signal where the safety pin is connected to the corresponding pin slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

operate the DC power source intermittently; and

receive the signal from the “

MATED”

signal to determine if the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet when the DC power source is turned on.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from a component in a recharging inlet of an electric powered vehicle (EPV);

determining if the sinal indicates that a housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet; and

alerting a driver if the signal indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, wherein the signal comprises an electric voltage level, and wherein an “

UNMATED”

voltage level indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and wherein a “

MATED”

voltage level indicates that the housing cap is properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the “

UNMATED”

voltage level is detected where a light detector detects substantial light in the recharging inlet, and wherein the “

MATED”

voltage level is detected where the light detector does not detect substantial light in the recharging inlet.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a second signal from a second light detector in the recharging inlet;

determining if the second signal indicates that external light intensity is sufficient to determine without using the signal from the light source that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet; and

turning off the light source if external light intensity is sufficient to determine that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

operating the light source intermittently; and

receiving the signal from the light source to determine if the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet when the light source is turned on.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the “

UNMATED”

voltage level is detected on the “

MATED”

signal where a safety pin in the recharging inlet is not connected to a corresponding pin slot in the housing cap, and wherein the “

MATED”

voltage level is detected on the “

MATED”

signal where the safety pin is connected to the corresponding pin slot.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating the DC power source intermittently; and

receiving the signal from the “

MATED”

signal to determine if the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet when the DC power source is turned on.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium that when executed by a processor cause the processor to;

receive a signal from a component in a recharging inlet of an electric powered vehicle (EPV);

determine if the signal indicates that a housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet; and

alert a driver if the signal indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, wherein the signal comprises an electric voltage level, and wherein an “

UNMATED”

voltage level indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and wherein a “

MATED”

voltage level indicates that the housing cap is properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the “

UNMATED”

voltage level is detected where a light detector detects substantial light in the recharging inlet, and wherein the “

MATED”

voltage level is detected where the light detector does not detect substantial light in the recharging inlet.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive a second signal from a second light detector in the recharging inlet;

determine if the second signal indicates that external light intensity is sufficient to determine without using the signal from the light source that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet; and

turn off the light source if external light intensity is sufficient to determine that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

operate the light source intermittently; and

receive the signal from the light source to determine if the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet when the light source is turned on.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the “

UNMATED”

voltage level is detected on the “

MATED”

signal where a safety pin in the recharging inlet is not connected to a corresponding pin slot in the housing cap, and wherein the “

MATED”

voltage level is detected on the “

MATED”

signal where the safety pin is connected to the corresponding pin slot.