DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to charging systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle (EV) charger capable of deterring a theft attempt for electrical components of the EV charger and generating an alert based on the attempted theft.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electrical Vehicles (EVs) have gained widespread popularity in the last few years and significant growth and development are still being witnessed in their realm. The EVs are required to be charged, frequently, for continuous operation. For charging EVs, electric vehicle (EV) chargers are installed on installation platforms such as walls or poles placed at highways, hill areas, and existing refuelling stations. The existing EV chargers include a housing and a service door attached to the housing. The housing is adapted to accommodate electrical components including, but not limited to, a controller board and a charging unit adapted to be accessed by a user to charge the EVs.
[0003] The service door is adapted to be opened by a maintenance operator to access the multiple components installed in the housing for repair and/or servicing of the EV charger. However, there are chances of theft of the electrical components by opening the existing service door in an unauthorized manner as the existing EV charger does not have any provision to prevent the theft of such components. Further, the electrical components such as the controller board are expensive, and the theft of such components increases the overall cost associated with the maintenance of existing EV chargers.
[0004] Therefore, in view of the above, there is an immense need for a configuration of the electric vehicle (EV) charger which eliminates the above-mentioned problem associated with the existing art.
SUMMARY
[0005] 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 nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
[0006] The present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle (EV) charger. The EV charger includes a housing adapted to house a plurality of electrical components. The EV charger further includes an opening formed on a back panel of the housing and adapted to provide access to the plurality of electrical components. The EV charger further includes a service door removably installed over the opening. Furthermore, the EV charger includes a locking fastener adapted to secure the service door to the opening, where the locking fastener is adapted to latch and unlatch by a key designed in accordance with the locking fastener.
[0007] Accordingly, the configuration of the EV charger provided in the present disclosure ensures that the service door secured to the back panel of the housing cannot be removed without losing the locking fasteners, where the locking fasteners may only be loosened or tightened by the key which is particularly designed for the locking fasteners. Therefore, an unauthorized person cannot loosen the locking fastener to remove the service door, thereby the unauthorized person cannot access the electrical components disposed inside the housing.
[0008] Further, the disclosed configuration of the EV charger may advantageously reduce an attempt of theft of the electrical components as the unauthorized access to the electrical components disposed inside the housing is restricted.
[0009] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, 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
[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention 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:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an electric vehicle (EV) with a service door covering an opening, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates the front view of the EV charger depicting the opening, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates the front view of the EV charger in communication with a sensing unit, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] 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 invention 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
[0015] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the various embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the present disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates.
[0016] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the present disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.
[0017] 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.”
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.
[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an electric vehicle (EV) charger 100 with a service door 114 covering an opening 112, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates the front view of the EV charger 100 depicting the opening 112, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the EV charger 100 may be adapted to charge an electric vehicle. In an embodiment, the electric vehicle may be, but not limited to, a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler, or a four-wheeler.
[0024] The EV charger 100 may enable a user to charge the electric vehicle. In an embodiment, the EV charger 100 may be a standalone unit installed on an installation platform such as a wall and a pole positioned at different locations. The different locations may include, but are not limited to, highways, hill areas, and existing refuelling stations, so that the user may easily access the EV charger 100.
[0025] The EV charger 100 may be connected to a power source adapted to supply electrical power to the electric vehicle. Herein, a battery of the electric vehicle may be charged by connecting the electric vehicle to the EV charger 100. Further, the electric vehicle may include, but is not limited to, an electric machine powered by the battery through various converters such as a DC-DC converter and an inverter.
[0026] The EV charger 100 of the present disclosure is provided with an anti-theft protection which makes accessing the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100, complicated. Thus, it becomes difficult for an unauthorized person to access the electrical components 102 which improves the safety of the EV charger 100. Constructional and operational details of the EV charger 100 are explained in the subsequent paragraphs.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the EV charger 100 may include, but is not limited to, a housing 104 adapted to accommodate a plurality of electrical components 102 (shown in FIG. 2). In a non-limiting embodiment, the plurality of electrical components 102 may include a voltage detection unit, a controller board, a microcontroller, and the like. The plurality of electrical components 102 may be electrically connected to the power source.
[0028] The housing 104 may further include, but is not limited to, a back panel 106a and a plurality of walls 106b adapted to define an internal volume from the enclosed portion. The enclosed portion may be adapted to accommodate the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of walls 106b may include four walls 106b, adapted to form the enclosed portion. In another embodiment, the plurality of walls 106b may also include more than four walls 106b or less than four walls 106b, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0029] In a non-limiting embodiment, the housing 104 may have a cuboidal shape, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In another nonlimiting embodiment, the housing 104 may be formed of a sturdy and rigid material selected from at least one of, a metallic material, a polymeric material, and the like, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0030] The back panel 106a may be coupled with the plurality of walls 106b to cover the enclosed portion. In an embodiment, the back panel 106a may include a plurality of first holes 108, a plurality of second holes 110 (shown in FIG. 2), and the opening 112 (shown in FIG. 2). In an embodiment, the plurality of first holes 108 may be adapted to receive a plurality of first screws to secure the housing 104 to the EV charger 100. In an embodiment, the plurality of second holes 110 may be formed in proximity to the opening 112. The plurality of second holes 110 may be adapted to receive a locking fastener. The locking fastener may be adapted to secure the service door 114 to the housing 104.
[0031] In an embodiment, the service door 114 may be removably installed over the opening 112 to conceal the opening 112. Therefore, in order to access the enclosed portion through the opening 112, the service door 114 may have to be removed. Herein, a maintenance operator may remove the service door 114 to access the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100 for repair and/or servicing of the EV charger 100.
[0032] In an embodiment, the service door 114 may also include a plurality of holes 110' corresponding to the plurality of second holes 110 on the back panel 106a. In an embodiment, the plurality of holes 110' on the service door 114 may coincide with the plurality of second holes 110 on the installation of the service door 114 over the opening 112. The service door 114 may be secured to the back panel 106a of the housing 104 via the locking fastener, such that the service door 114 cannot be removed without loosening the locking fasteners fixed in the plurality of second holes 110. In an embodiment, the locking fastener may be adapted to latch and unlatch by a key designed in accordance with the locking fastener. Therefore, the locking fastener may only be loosened or tightened by the key which is particularly designed for the locking fastener. Thus, the unauthorized person cannot loosen the locking fastener to remove the service door 114, in particular, the unauthorized person cannot access the electrical components 102 disposed inside the housing 104.
[0033] In an embodiment, the locking fasteners and the plurality of holes 110' on the service door 114 may be covered by a sticker (not shown). Herein, the sticker may be pasted on the locking fasteners tightened in the plurality of holes 110' on the service door 114, such that a position of the locking fasteners may not be identified by the unauthorized person.
[0034] Now, referring to FIG. 2, the front view of the EV charger 100 is shown with the service door 114 removed, thereby depicting the opening 112. In an embodiment, some of the plurality of electrical components 102 accommodated within the housing may be accessed for immediate service and/or maintenance through the opening 112 formed on the back panel 106a of the housing 104.
[0035] For further accessing the plurality of electrical components 102, the housing 104 may be removed by loosening the plurality of first screws from the plurality of first holes 108. In a non-limiting embodiment, the plurality of first holes 108 may include six holes. In an embodiment, the plurality of first holes 108 may be formed in a manner, such that at least one of the first hole 108a among the plurality of first hole 108 may be concealed behind the service door 114, when the service door 114 may be installed over the opening 112 of the EV charger 100. Therefore, the at least one first hole 108a may not be accessed without removing the service door 114. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes it impossible to remove the housing 104 secured to the EV charger 100 without removing the service door 114, thereby providing additional security to the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100. The implementation of the at least one first hole 108a among the plurality of first holes 108, being concealed from the external appearance of the EV charger 100, may provide additional anti-theft protection for the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100.
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates the front view of the EV charger 100 in communication with a sensing unit 116, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] The sensing unit 116 may be disposed in the housing 104. In particular, the sensing unit 116 may be disposed in the enclosed portion of the housing 104, in proximity to the plurality of second holes 110. The plurality of second hole 110 may be in communication with the sensing unit 116 and the service door 114. In an embodiment, the sensing unit 116 may be adapted to detect a removal of the service door 114 from the opening 112. In particular, the sensing unit 116 may be adapted to detect the loosening of the locking fasteners from the plurality of second holes 110 for the removal of the service door 114. In a non-limiting embodiment, the sensing unit 116 may be a capacitive distance-based door sensor.
[0038] In an embodiment, the sensing unit 116 may include a communication unit operably coupled to the sensing unit 116. The communication unit may be adapted to send an alert to a user equipment, via a network, upon detection of the removal of the service door 114 from the opening 112. In an embodiment, the communication unit may be adapted to send the alert to a server, via the network, upon detection of the removal of the service door 114 from the opening 112. In an embodiment, the network may be a wired network or a wireless network such as Bluetooth or a WIFI network. In addition, the network may include, but is not limited to, a mobile network, a broadband network, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), and a Personal Area Network.
[0039] In an embodiment, the user equipment may be a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer, a smartwatch, a smart television, or an IoT device, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The sensing unit 116 may send an alert to an operator to indicate that the service door 114 of the EV charger 100 has been opened. In an embodiment, based on the alert received from the sensing unit 116, the server may check if a scheduled maintenance is being performed by the maintenance operator, and accordingly, the server may ignore the alert. However, if the scheduled maintenance is not planned, the server may generate an alert to an operator. Additionally, the server may send instructions to the sensing unit 116 to generate an aural alert to inform people near the EV charger 100 that a theft is attempted. Herein, the operator may get information about whether the maintenance operator or the unauthorized person opens the service door 114. Accordingly, the operator may take necessary proactive actions to prevent the theft of the electrical components 102 installed in the EV charger 100.
[0040] Accordingly, the configuration of the EV charger 100 provided in the present disclosure ensures the implementation of the anti-theft protection that makes the access to the electrical components 102 complicated.
[0041] Further, the configuration of the EV charger 100 provided in the present disclosure makes it difficult for any unauthorized person to access the electrical components 102 as the service door secured to the back panel of the housing cannot be removed without losing the locking fasteners, where the locking fasteners may only be loosened or tightened by the key which is particularly designed for the locking fasteners. Thereby advantageously improving the safety of the EV charger 100.
[0042] Furthermore, the configuration of the EV charger 100 provided in the present disclosure may advantageously indicate to the operator when the service door 114 is opened, such that the operator may be aware that the service door 114 of the EV charger 100 is opened, so that proactive actions can be taken to avoid theft of the electrical components 102 accommodated in the housing 104 of the EV charger 100.
[0043] Further, the configuration of the EV charger 100 provided in the present disclosure may detect, via the sensing unit 116, when the service door 114 is opened, and in case of attempted theft, may further generate the aural alert to inform people near the EV charger 100. This further improves the overall safety of the EV charger 100 and prevents the theft of the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100.
[0044] Furthermore, the configuration of the EV charger 100 provided in the present disclosure may significantly reduce the overall cost associated with the maintenance process of the EV charger 100 due to the prevention of theft of the electrical components 102 of the EV charger 100, thereby significantly improving the economics of the maintenance process.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein.
,CLAIMS:1. An Electric Vehicle (EV) charger (100) comprising:
a housing (104) adapted to house a plurality of electrical components (102);
an opening (112) formed on a back panel (106a) of the housing (104) and adapted to provide access to the plurality of electrical components (102);
a service door (114) removably installed over the opening (112); and
a locking fastener adapted to secure the service door (114) to the opening (112), wherein the locking fastener is adapted to latch and unlatch by a key designed in accordance with the locking fastener.

2. The EV charger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (104) includes a plurality of walls (106b) adapted to define an internal volume from the enclosed portion.

3. The EV charger (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sensing unit (116) disposed in the housing (104) and adapted to detect a removal of the service door (114) from the opening (112).

4. The EV charger (100) as claimed in claim 3, comprising a communication unit operably coupled to the sensing unit (116) and adapted to send an alert to a user equipment upon detection of the removal of the service door (114) from the opening (112).

5. The EV charger (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensing unit (116) is a capacitive distance-based door sensor.