WO2023164808A1

WO2023164808A1 - Charging adapter for charging couplers of electric vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2023164808A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/078647
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shuai HUANG; Johannes MAYET
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2022-03-01
Filing date: 2022-03-01
Publication date: 2023-09-07
Also published as: CN118369242A

Abstract

Provided is a charging adapter for use with charging couplers of electrical vehicles and chargers, wherein the charging adapter comprises at least one lighting device adapted to light up depending on at least one applied voltage level, and an analog switching circuitry, which is interconnected such that different states of a charging process, each of which causes a change in voltage level at the analog switching circuitry, are used to light up the lighting device in a predefined manner.

Description

Charging adapter for charging couplers of electric vehicles

The invention relates to the field of charging systems for electrical vehicles, specifically for charging adapters for charging couplers of electric vehicles.

Charging interlock systems serve as electrical interfaces between an external charging station (charger) and a charging socket of electrical or hybrid vehicles. Charging interlocks normally comprise a charging cable with charging elements in the form of a plug or connector placed at their ends. The charging elements fit into the external charging station (charger) or the charging socket, respectively.

Since there is still room for improvement with respect to status indication of adapters, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved charging adapter. This object is solved by means of the characteristics of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims.

Proposed is a charging adapter for use with charging couplers of electrical vehicles and chargers, wherein the charging adapter comprises at least one lighting device adapted to light up depending on at least one applied voltage level, and an analog switching circuitry, which is interconnected such that different states of a charging process, each of which causes a change in voltage level at the analog switching circuitry, are used to light up the lighting device in a predefined manner.

According to one aspect, the lighting device is adapted to emit light in one or more colors depending on the applied voltage level.

According to one aspect, at least one of the following events is assigned to one of the states: E1: Plugging the charging adapter into the charging socket of the vehicle, E2: Locking the charging adapter with the charging socket, E3: Plugging the charging cable into the charging adapter, thus being connected with the external charging station (charger) , E4: Start charging the vehicle.

According to one aspect, each event triggers a different light color emitted by the lighting device.

According to one aspect, lighting devices are placed at different positions in or on the charging adapter, the positions being at an outer circumferential area and/or within and/or at a field of vision of the charging adapter.

According to one aspect, the lighting devices assigned to a predefined event light up at least at one predefined position in or on the charging adapter, when the event is detected.

Further proposed is a method for displaying a state of a described charging adapter, wherein at least one event out of the following events is detected and displayed by lighting up of at least one of the lighting devices: E1: Plugging the charging adapter into the charging socket of the vehicle, E2: Locking the charging adapter with the charging socket, E3: Plugging the charging cable into the charging adapter, thus being connected with the external charger, E4: Start charging the vehicle.

According to one aspect, in case of Events E1 and/or E2, lighting devices at an outer circumferential area of the charging adapter light up, and/or in case of Events E3 and/or E4, lighting devices at an outer circumferential area and/or a field of vision of the charging adapter light up.

Embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic charging adapter according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic charging adapter according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a circuit arrangement for a charging adapter according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of the events triggering the illumination of the charging adapter according to an embodiment of the invention.

The figures are merely schematic representations and serve only to illustrate examples of the invention. Identical or equivalent elements are in principle provided with the same reference numerals.

The basic principle of the invention is to provide a charging adapter with lighting for charging couplers of electrical vehicles and (external) chargers. In the following, only four states S1-S4 will be described. However, it is also possible to add one or more state and/or to merge two of the states S1-S4 into one state.

There is a sequence, which has to be followed when charging an electrical vehicle (short: EV) when the EV is in charging position. This sequence is:

- Sq1: Opening the charging socket cover and plugging in the charging adapter, thus waking up the vehicle,

- Sq2: Mechanically locking the charging adapter by the vehicle,

- Sq3: Plugging the charging cable (hereinafter charging cable refers to the entire assembly of charging connector and cable) into the charging adapter, thus being connected with the external charger

- Sq4: (Start) charging.

The interior of charging sockets of electrical vehicles comprises analog switching circuits including electrical wires, resistors and switches, which are used for e.g. safety issues. Depending on the actual sequence Sq1-Sq4, different voltage levels V1-V4 are present in the analog switching circuits and 4 can be detected by the analog switching circuit of the charging adapter. The core of the invention is to use the different voltage levels V1-V4 for indicating the charging state S1-S4 to the outside, e.g. to a user.

This is done by providing one or more lighting devices 10-12 at dedicated areas of the charging adapter 1, as shown in figures 1 and 2. Those lighting devices 10-12 emit light depending on the voltage level V1-V4 and thus indicate the current charging state. The decision, which lighting device 10-12 shall emit light, is done by way of using an analog switching circuit (see figure 3) , which is connected with the vehicle after plugging in the charging adapter 1 (and the charger after plugging the charging cable in) , as shown in figure 3. Each time an action of one of the sequences Sq1-Sq4 is done, the voltage level at the analog switching circuit changes and is detected by the analog switching circuit by its circuitry. The different voltages are received due to the reason that each state S1-S4 of the of the sequences Sq1-Sq4 causes one or more switches (not shown) in the circuitry of the charger and/or the vehicle to open or to close. Thus, the voltage level as received by the analog switching circuit (at lines CC1 and CC2) changes. Since the lighting devices 10-12 emit light depending on the applied voltage, the actual state S1-S4 can be shown to a user by the charging adapter 1. It is further important that the used lighting devices 10-12 need to be taken into account when designing the resistance of the adapter 1, since the resistances Rc’ and Rc” are defined in the actual standard applied to charging adapters for electrical vehicles.

The voltage levels V1-V4 are triggered by predefined events (shown in figure 4) , which correspond to the sequence Sq1-Sq4 of charging the vehicle:

- E1: Plugging the charging adapter 1 into the charging socket of the vehicle,

- E2: Locking the charging 1 adapter with the charging socket,

- E3: Plugging the charging cable into the charging adapter 1, thus being connected with the external charger,

- E4: Start charging the vehicle.

All those events E1-E4 cause a dedicated voltage level V1-V4 within the analog switching circuit of the vehicle and thus the charging adapter 1. Depending on the actual voltage level V1-V4, one or more lighting devices 10-12 emit light and thus the charging adapter 1 displays the current charging state S1-S4.

In one embodiment, the lighting device 10-12 is preferably selected to react on different voltage levels V1-V4 by changing its color. Thus, each event E1-E4 results in a dedicated color, i.e. each charging state S1-S4 has a different color. Thus, an external user is informed about the actual state S1-S4 of the charging adapter 1.

Further, the lighting device 10-12 not only indicates the actual state S1-S4, but also lights up the front of the charging adapter 1 in order to make it easier for a user to connect the charging cable with the charging adapter 1.

A lighting device 10-12 used for the invention is preferably a LED, since LED’s are energy efficient. Also, some LED’s can emit light at different colors depending on the applied voltage level V1-V4. Thus, one sort of LED can be used for indicating the actual charging state S1-S4.

The positioning of the lighting device (s) 10-12 can be chosen e.g. depending on the charging state S1-S4. There can be one lighting device 10-12, only, indicating each charging state S1-S4 with the same or different colors. There can also be several lighting devices 10-12 indicating each charging state S1-S4 with the same or different colors.

There can be one or more lighting device 10-12, which is placed at an outer circumferential area of the charging adapter 1, as shown in figure 1, and/or inside the charging adapter 1, as shown in figure 2. It can light up after the charging adapter 1 is plugged into the vehicle’s charging socket and/or the charging socket is locked, i.e. indicate state S1 and/or state S2. In this embodiment, the light indicating state S1 and/or state S2 also provides an illumination of the charging adapter, which makes it easier for a user to plug in the charging cable into the charging adapter 1.

There can also be one or more lighting devices 10-12, which are placed at an outside area of the charging adapter 1, preferably an upper external surface, as also shown in figure 1, such that states S3 and S4 are shown. Thus, a better visibility to the user can be provided, since in these states S3, S4, the charging cable is already plugged into the charging adapter 1. However, also e.g. a lighting device 10-12 placed at an outer circumferential area may be suitable for indicating state S3 and S4, depending on its position and implementation. There can also be several lighting devices 10-12 that are placed at different positions in or at the charging adapter 1 depending on the function they shall fulfill, as shown in figure 1.

Since there is still no digital communication between the charging adapter 1 and charger and the charging adapter 1 and the vehicle, the lighting devices 10-12 light up due to a change in voltage level V1-V4 as detected by the analog switching circuitry within the charging adapter 1, only.

Since the connection between the charging adapter 1 and the vehicle also provides an electrical connection between charging adapter 1 and the vehicle, this energy can be used for supplying the lighting device (s) 10-12, as can be seen from figure 3.

A specific embodiment is to provide a charging adapter 1 for vehicles having the new ChaoJi standard, enabling them to charge at charging points having other standards.

In one embodiment, electric lines can be used that are not used in the new ChaoJi standard for supply of the lighting device (s) with electric energy.

After the connection between the charger and the vehicle’s charging socket is confirmed, further communication can be established, e.g. via CAN-BUS, thus enabling further features to be provided such as flashing of the lighting device etc. This can be done by the MCU (Microcontroller Unit) .

List of reference numerals

1 charging adapter

10-12 lighting device

Sq1-Sq4 charging sequence

E1-E4 charging event

S1-S4 charging state

V1-V4 voltage level

Claims

Charging adapter (1) for use with charging couplers of electrical vehicles of electrical vehicles and external chargers, wherein the charging adapter (1) comprises:

- at least one lighting device (10-12) adapted to light up depending on at least one applied voltage level (V1-V4) , and

- an analog switching circuitry, which is interconnected such that different states (S1-S4) of a charging process, each of which causes a change in voltage level (V1-V4) at the analog switching circuitry, are used to light up the lighting device (10-12) in a predefined manner.
Charging adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device (10-12) is adapted to emit light in one or more colors depending on the applied voltage level (V1-V4) .
Charging adapter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the following events is assigned to one of the states (S1-S4) :

- E1: Plugging the charging adapter (1) into the charging socket of the vehicle,

- E2: Locking the charging adapter (1) with the charging socket,

- E3: Plugging the charging cable into the charging adapter (1) , thus being connected with the external charger,

- E4: Start charging the vehicle.
Charging adapter (1) according to claim 3, wherein each event triggers a different light color emitted by the lighting device (10-12) .
Charging adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein lighting devices (10-12) are placed at different positions in or on the charging adapter (1) , the positions being at an outer circumferential area and/or within and/or at a field of vision of the charging adapter (1) .
Charging adapter (1) according to claim 5, wherein lighting devices (10-12) assigned to a predefined event (E1-E4) light up at least at one predefined position in or on the charging adapter (1) , when the event is detected.
Method for displaying a state (S1-S4) of a charging adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one event (E1-E4) out of the following events (E1-E4) is detected and displayed by lighting up of at least one of the lighting devices (10-12) :

- E1: Plugging the charging adapter (1) into the charging socket of the vehicle,

- E2: Locking the charging adapter (1) with the charging socket,

- E3: Plugging the charging cable into the charging adapter (1) , thus being connected with the external charger,

- E4: Start charging the vehicle.
Method according to claim 7, wherein in case of

- Events E1 and/or E2, lighting devices (10-12) at an outer circumferential area of the charging adapter (1) light up, and/or

- Events E3 and/or E4, lighting devices (10-12) at an outer circumferential area and/or a field of vision of the charging adapter (1) light up.