Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a charging connector, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle charging connector.

BACKGROUND

Electric vehicles (EVs) are provided with a preset-rated charging connector for charging purposes of a battery pack in the EVs. These charging connectors are usually rated for higher power capacity allowing for quick charging of the vehicles. Every EV has different charging capacities and accordingly, the charging connectors need to be confirmed to unique charging needs of the EV. Usually, the charging assemblies in the EVs are provided with universal charging capabilities and may be charged from any conventional compatible universal charger. However, a universal charger or the charging connector may not be optimised for the charging requirement of different EVs. Therefore, when a non-specific charging connector is used for charging, a higher amount of power may be drawn from a power outlet than the preset range set for the EVs. This may invariably increase the heat and may be prone to fire hazards.

The drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/limitations of the conventional techniques explained in the background section are just for exemplary purposes and the disclosure would never limit its scope only such limitations. A person skilled in the art would understand that this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome the other drawbacks/disadvantages of the conventional arts which are not explicitly captured above.

SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle charging connector is disclosed. The vehicle charging connector includes a plug having a body with an engaging surface. The plug includes one of a cutout portion formed on the engaging surface of the body and an actuation member formed on the engaging surface of the body. Further, a socket is adapted to be engaged with the plug. The socket includes a first switch in communication with a processor and configured to be actuated by the engaging surface of the plug, when the plug is engaged with the socket. Further, the socket includes a second switch in communication with the processor. The second switch is configured to be one of: actuated by the actuation member, when the plug is engaged with the socket, align with the cutout portion to remain un-actuated, when the plug is engaged with the socket and actuated by the engaging surface of the plug when the plug is engaged with the socket. Furthermore, the processer is configured to: receive an input indicative of the actuation and determine an amount of current to be drawn through the plug for charging based on the received input.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure a socket for a plug is disclosed. The socket includes a body having a receiving end comprising a plurality of walls surrounding a surface and is adapted to support the engagement of the plug with the body, a plurality of charging pins adapted to supply current to the plug. Further, a first switch is disposed on the surface and a second switch is positioned opposite to the first switch and disposed on the surface. Furthermore, each of the first switch and the second switch is in communication with a processor, based on the actuation of the at least one of the first switch and the second switch, the socket draws current through the plug.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure a plug for a socket is provided. The plug includes a body comprising one of: a cutout portion formed on an engaging surface of the body and positioned proximal to the periphery of the body and an actuation member formed on an engaging surface of the body and positioned proximal to a periphery of the body.

The vehicle charging connector provides for an arrangement to detect the type of plug engaged with the socket for the purpose of charging. Further, based on the detected plug type, the vehicle charging connector regulates the amount of current to be drawn. When a plug is engaged with the socket for charging the vehicle, the vehicle charging connector identifies the type of plug and determines if it is capable of drawing higher power or lesser power and accordingly regulates the supply of the power. Different embodiments of the plug and the socket are provided to identify the plug that is engaged and accordingly regulate the amount of current drawn into the vehicle for charging.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1A illustrates a front view of a socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 1B illustrates a sectional side view of a first embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 1C illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a first embodiment of a plug, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of a second embodiment of the plug, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a third embodiment of the plug, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional side view of the first embodiment of the plug engaged with the first embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional side view of the second embodiment of the plug engaged with the second embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7 illustrates a sectional side view of the third embodiment of the plug engaged with the first embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 8 illustrates a sectional side view of the third embodiment of the plug engaged with the second embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more…” or “one or more elements is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1A illustrates a front view of a socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1B illustrates a sectional side view of a first embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1C illustrates a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the socket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The vehicle charging connector may be employed to charge a battery in an Electric Vehicle (EV) (not shown) from a power source. The EV may be embodied as one of a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler, and a four-wheeler, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The vehicle charging connector disclosed in the present disclosure detects a plug 200, 300, 400 engaged for charging the battery of the EV from an external power source.

In an embodiment, the vehicle charging connector may include the plug 200, 300, 400, a socket 100-1, 100-2, and a processor. The plug 200, 300, 400 may be adapted to be engaged with the socket 100-1, 100-2 and transfer the power from the external power source to an internal power storage like the battery pack in the EV. The external power source may be understood as an electric outlet from a common power grid or electric charging stations. Further, each of the socket 100-1, 100-2 may be provided with a body 108 having a receiving end that engages with the plug 200, 300, 400. Further, the socket 100-1, 100-2 may include a plurality of walls 106 surrounding a surface and adapted to support the engagement of the plugs 200, 300, 400 with the body 108. Furthermore, the sockets 100-1, 100-2 may be provided with a plurality of charging pins 110 adapted to draw current through the plug 200, 300, 400, a first switch 102 disposed on the surface and a second switch 104 positioned opposite to the first switch 102 and disposed on the surface. In a first embodiment of the socket 100-1, the first switch 102 aligns with the second switch 104 along an axis 112 inside the body 108. In a second embodiment of the socket 100-2, the first switch 102 is positioned offset to the second switch 104 inside the body 108.

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a first embodiment of the plug 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of a second embodiment of the plug 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a third embodiment of the plug 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity figures 2, 3 and 4 are described together.

Each of the plug 200, 300, 400 may be provided with a body 202 having an engaging surface 206. In a first embodiment of the present disclosure referring to Figure 2, the plug 200 may be provided with a cutout portion 204 formed on the engaging surface 206 of the body and may be positioned proximal to a periphery of the body 202. In a second embodiment of the present disclosure referring to Figure 3, the plug 300 may be provided with an actuation member 304 formed on an engaging surface 306 of a body 302 and may be positioned proximal to the periphery of the body 302. In a third embodiment of the present disclosure referring to Figure 4, the plug 400 may be provided with body 402 having a flat engaging surface 404 devoid of the cutout portion 204 or the actuation member 304. Further in the vehicle charging connector, a processor may be provided which is in communication with the first switch 102 and the second switch 104 of the socket 100-1, 100-2. The processor may be configured to receive an input indicative of the actuation of the at least one of the first switch 102 and the second switch 104 of the sockets 100-1, 100-2 and accordingly determine an amount of current to be drawn through the plugs 200, 300, 400 for charging based on the received input.

Further, it is to be understood that the first embodiment of the plug 200 is adapted to engage with the socket 100-1 and the second embodiment may be adapted to engage with the socket 100-2. Furthermore, the third embodiment of the plug 400 is adapted to engage with both the socket 100-1 and the socket 100-2. In one example, the processor is configured to detect the plug 200, 300, 400 based on the activation of the at least one of the first switch 102 and the second switch 104 of the socket 100-1, 100-2 and accordingly determine the amount of current to be drawn through the plug 200, 300 400. The working of the vehicle charging connector in the engagement of different embodiments of the plug 200, 300, 400 with different embodiments of the socket 100-1, 100-2 are described in detail in subsequent paragraphs.

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional side view of the first embodiment of the plug 200 engaged with the first embodiment of the socket 100-1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the first embodiment of the plug 200 is engaged with the first embodiment of the socket 100-1, the first switch 102 may be actuated by the engaging surface 206 of the plug 200 and the second switch 104 may align with the cutout portion 204 in the plug 200 and may remain un-actuated. The processor may be configured to receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch 102 only. Accordingly, the processor may determine based on the input, a first amount of current to be drawn through the plug 200 for charging. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first amount of current to be drawn through the plug 200 for charging is 16A.

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional side view of the second embodiment of the plug 300 engaged with the second embodiment of the socket 100-2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the second embodiment of the plug 300 is engaged with the second embodiment of the socket 100-2, the first switch 102 may be actuated by the engaging surface 306 of the plug 300 and the second switch 104 may be activated by the actuation member 304 of the plug 300. The processor is configured to receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch 102 and the second switch 104 in the socket 100-2. Accordingly, the processor determines based on the input, the first amount of current to be drawn through the plug 300 for charging. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first amount of current to be drawn through the plug for charging is 16A.

Figure 7 illustrates a sectional side view of the third embodiment of the plug 400 engaged with the first embodiment of the socket 100-1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the third embodiment of the plug 400 is engaged with the first embodiment of the socket 100-1, both the first switch 102 and the second switch 104 are actuated by the engaging surface 404 of the plug 400. The processor is configured to receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch 102 and the second switch 104 in the socket 100-1. Accordingly, the processor determines based on the input, a second amount of current to be drawn through the plug 400 for charging. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second amount of current to be drawn through the plug 400 for charging is 6A.

Figure 8 illustrates a sectional side view of the third embodiment of the plug 400 engaged with the second embodiment of the socket 100-2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the third embodiment of the plug 400 is engaged with the second embodiment of the socket 1000-2, the first switch 102 may be actuated by the engaging surface 404 of the plug 400 and the second switch 104 may remain un-actuated. The processor is configured to receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch 102 only. Accordingly, the processor determines, based on the input, the second amount of current to be drawn through the plug 400 for charging. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second amount of current to be drawn through the plug 400 for charging is 6A.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first amount of current is higher than the second amount of current. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current.

The advantages of the vehicle charging connector are now explained. The vehicle charging connector provides for a unique construction of the plugs 200, 300 and the sockets 100-1, 100-2. Different embodiments of the plugs 200, 300 and the sockets 100-1, 100-2 are provided to identify the plug that is engaged and accordingly regulate the amount of current drawn into the vehicle/EV for charging. Owing to such constructional detail of the plugs 200, 300 and the sockets 100-1, 100-2 in the vehicle charging connector, a regulated amount of power is drawn according to the type of engagement of the plug 200, 300, 400.

Further, unlike existing charging connectors that does not have any mechanism to differentiate between the type of the plug that is engaged for charging resulting in a higher amount of drawn current than the specified limit of the plug, the vehicle charging connector of the present disclosure identifies both the type of plug that is capable of drawing higher power and lesser power and accordingly regulates the supply of the power. Therefore, the vehicle charging connector of the present disclosure is operation-effective, cost-effective, flexible in implementation, and safe for usage.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. , Claims:1. A vehicle charging connector comprising:
a plug (200, 300, 400) comprising a body (202, 302, 402) having an engaging surface (206, 306, 404), the plug (200, 300) comprising one of:
a cutout portion (204) formed on the engaging surface (206) of the body (202); and
an actuation member (304) formed on the engaging surface (306) of the body (302);
a socket (100-1, 100-2) adapted to be engaged with the plug (200, 300, 400), the socket (100-1, 100-2) comprising:
a first switch (102) in communication with a processor and configured to be actuated by the engaging surface (206, 306, 404) of the plug (200, 300, 400), when the plug (200, 300, 400) is engaged with the socket (100-1, 100-2); and
a second switch (104) in communication with the processor and configured to be one of:
actuated by the actuation member (304), when the plug (300) is engaged with the socket (100-2);
align with the cutout portion (204) to remain un-actuated, when the plug (200) is engaged with the socket (100-1); and
actuated by the engaging surface (404) of the plug (400), when the plug (400) is engaged with the socket (100-1, 100-2), wherein the processer is configured to:
receive an input indicative of the actuation; and
determine an amount of current to be drawn through the plug (200, 300, 400) for charging based on the received input.

2. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutout portion (204) is formed on the engaging surface (206) of the plug (200) and positioned proximal to a periphery of the body (202).

3. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the socket (100-1) is provided with a body (108) having a receiving end comprising:
a plurality of walls (106) surrounding a surface and adapted to support the engagement of the plug (200) with the body (202);
a plurality of charging pins (110) adapted to draw current through the plug (200);
the first switch (102) disposed on the surface; and
the second switch (104) positioned opposite to the first switch (102) and disposed on the surface,
wherein the first switch (102) aligns with the second switch (104) along an axis (112).

4. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in any of claims 2 or 3, wherein when the plug (200) is engaged with the socket (100-1):
the first switch (102) is actuated by the engaging surface (206) of the plug (200); and
the second switch (104) aligns with the cutout portion (204) in the plug (200) and remain un-actuated,
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch (102) and de-actuation of the second switch (104); and
determine, based on the input, a first amount of current to be drawn through the plug (200) for charging.

5. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation member (304) is formed on the engaging surface (306) of the plug (300) and positioned proximal to the periphery of the body (302).

6. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the socket (100-2) is provided with the body (108) having the receiving end comprising:
the plurality of walls (106) surrounding the surface and is adapted to support the engagement of the plug (300) with the body (302);
the plurality of charging pins (110) adapted to draw current through the plug (300);
the second switch (104) disposed on the surface;
the first switch (102) positioned opposite to the second switch (104) and disposed on the surface,
wherein the first switch (102) is positioned offset to the second switch (104).

7. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in any of claims 5 or 6, wherein when the plug (300) is engaged with the socket (100-2):
the first switch (102) is actuated by the engaging surface (206, 306, 404) of the plug (300); and
the second switch (104) is actuated by the actuation member (304) of the plug (300),
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch (102) and the second switch (104); and
determine, based on the input, the first amount of current to be drawn through the plug (300) for charging.

8. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the plug (400) is engaged with the socket (100-1):
the first switch (102) and the second switch (104) are actuated by the engaging surface (404) of the plug (400),
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch (102) and the second switch (104); and
determine, based on the input, a second amount of current to be drawn through the plug (400) for charging.

9. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the plug (400) is engaged with the socket (100-2):
the first switch (102) is actuated by the engaging surface (404) of the plug (400); and
the second switch (104) remains un-actuated,
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive an input indicative of the actuation of the first switch (102) and de-actuation of the second switch (104); and
determine, based on the input, the second amount of current to be drawn through the plug (400) for charging.

10. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in any of claims 4-9, wherein the first amount of current is higher than the second amount of current.

11. The vehicle charging connector as claimed in any of claims 4-9, wherein the second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current.

12. A socket (100-1, 100-2) for a plug (200, 300, 400), the socket (100-1, 100-2) comprising:
a body (202, 302, 402) having a receiving end comprising:
a plurality of walls (106) surrounding a surface and adapted to support the engagement of the plug (200, 300, 400) with the body (202, 302, 402);
a plurality of charging pins (110) adapted to supply current to the plug (200, 300, 400);
a first switch (102) disposed on the surface; and
a second switch (104) positioned opposite to the first switch (102) and disposed on the surface;
wherein each of the first switch (102) and the second switch (104) is in communication with a processor, wherein based on the actuation of the at least one of the first switch (102) and the second switch (104), the socket (100-1, 100-2) draws current through the plug (200, 300, 400).

13. A plug (200, 300) for a socket (100-1, 100-2), the plug (200, 300) comprising:
a body (202, 302) comprising one of:
a cutout portion (204) formed on an engaging surface (206) of the body (202) and positioned proximal to the periphery of the body (202); and
an actuation member (304) formed on an engaging surface (306) of the body (302) and positioned proximal to a periphery of the body (302).