Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] The invention is related to an adapter to power a load from an electric vehicle.

Background of the invention

[0002] Electric vehicle can also be used as a power source. This is a very useful feature during a grid blackout scenario or during vacation to power electric appliances (e.g., camping accessories, coffee machine, vacuum cleaner).

[0003] A patent NL2034533 discloses a charge connection simulator for an electric vehicle designed as a charge plug and programmed, such as by circuit board, for 5 digital communication, beyond PP and low level CP communication as defined in IEC 61851, with the vehicle via the combined charging system (CCS) charging port of an electric vehicle via CP, PLC, or CAN, for bringing the vehicle into a safe state, and wherein the simulator optionally comprises a resistance between 10 PP and PE connection pins.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates an adapter power a load from an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates an adapter to power a load from an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention. The adapter 10 comprises a first set of connecting pins 14 and a second set of charging pins 16. The adapter 10 further comprises a power source 15 for powering at least one connecting pin 14(a) of the first set of connecting pins 14 and a fault detection unit 18 adapted to detect a current leakage in the adapter 10. The adapter 10 comprises a display for providing information on a working state of the power source 15 and power discharge process.

[0006] Further the construction and the working of the adapter and the electric vehicle is explained in detail. The electric vehicle 11 comprises a control unit 20 adapted to control atleast one operation of the electric vehicle 11. Wherein one such operation is the detection of the connection established between the electric vehicle 11 and the adapter 10 , when the adapter 10 is inserted into the electric vehicle 11. The control unit 10 further activates a power discharge process from the electric vehicle 11 to a load 12, when the established connection is identified, and the power is transferred via the second set of charging pins 16. The control unit 20 is chosen from a group of control units comprising a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a digital circuit, an integrated chip and the like.

[0007]According to one embodiment of the invention, the first set of connecting pins 14 comprises two pins 14(a) & 14(b), one is control pilot 14(a) and other one is proximity pilot pin 14(b). The power source 15 of the adapter 10 provides power to the control pilot pin 14(a) circuit for establishing the connection between the electric vehicle 11 and the load 12. The second set of pins 1816 of the adapter 10 is used to transfer the power from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12 upon activation of the power discharge process. The power source 15 is chosen from any one of the power sources comprising a rechargeable battery, a normal battery unit. The adapter 10 comprises a discharge control switch 22 positioned in proximity to the power source for manual establishment of the connection between the electric vehicle and the load.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the power source 15 is a rechargeable battery that can be charged via an alternating current source. In another instance, the power source 15 present in the adapter is a normal battery unit that can run individually. The display 24 present in the adapter 10 , displays the working state of the power source 15 and the discharging state of the power from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12. I.e.., whether the power source 15 is in ON /OFF state and if the discharging of the power is activated/deactivated. The control unit 20 detects the operating state of the discharge control switch 22, for activating the power discharge process from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12. The display 24 of the adapter provides the information on the working /operating state of the power source 15 of the adapter 10 and the power discharge status.

[0009] The load 12 is chosen from a group of loads comprising atleast one camping accessory, a coffee machine, a vacuum cleaner, an electric vehicle, a battery of conventional vehicle. It is to be understood that, the load 12 can be anything that is known to a person skilled in the art, not restricted to the above mentioned load types .

[0010] A method of working of the adapter is explained in detail. The batteries 26 of the electric vehicle 11 acts as a power source to the load 12 and also to rechargeable battery 15. The batteries can be any kind of energy storage device/components that are known to a person skilled in the art. The adapter 10 that is disclosed in the present invention, helps in transferring the power from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12. The load 12 can be any item that is disclosed above, including an another electric vehicle. The different set of pins (14 & 16) in the adapter 10 helps in transferring of the power from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12. As soon as the adapter 10 is plugged into the socket 28 of the electric vehicle 11, the first set of connecting pins 14 establishes a connection between the electric vehicle 11 and the adapter 10. The control unit 20 of the vehicle 11 detects the established connection and initiates the transfer of the power from the electric vehicle 11. The control unit 20 then activates the power discharge process from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12 via the second set of the charging pins 16.

[0011] The power source 15 of the adapter 10 which is a dischargeable battery (according to one embodiment of the invention) , provides power to the control pilot pin 14(a) of the first set of connecting pins 14. This invention uses both the connecting pins 14 (a control pilot 14(a) and a proximity pilot pin 14(b)) for establishing the connection between the electric vehicle 11 and the adapter 10. The invention further comprises the discharge control switch 22 positioned in proximity to the power source 15 for manual establishment of the connection between the electric vehicle 11 and the load 12. When the user of the vehicle 11 operates /switches on the switch 22, the power will be discharged from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12.

[0012] During a fault condition, the fault detection unit 18 present in the adapter 10, detects the leakage current and disconnects the discharge of the power from the electric vehicle 11 to the load 12. In addition to that, the fault detection unit 18 transmits a signal to the control unit 20 regarding the detected fault for alerting the user of the vehicle 11. The adapter 10 comprises the display 24 for displaying the state of the power source 15 and the status of the power discharge process. The display 24 in the form an LED (light emitting diode) present on the adapter 10 indicates status of power source 15 and power supply presence. Once the load 12 no longer requires power, the adapter 10 is removed from the electric vehicle 11.

[0013]With the above disclosed adapter, a robust identification of discharge connection due to validation of both Proximity Pilot 14(b) and Control pilot lines (first set of connecting pins 14) is achieved. The power source 15 which is a 3V battery in the adapter 10 provides supply to control pilot pin 14(a) and the resistor circuit present on the proximity pilot line 14(b) helps the vehicle to identify discharge plug. This kind of arrangement makes the invention unique and novel in nature when compared to the conventional methodologies available in the market. Discharge plug identification is further validated by external constant 3V signal on the control pilot line 14(a), that helps in robust identification.

[0014] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

, Claims:We Claim:
1. An adapter (10) to power a load (12) from an electric vehicle (11), said adapter (10) comprises :
– a first set of connecting pins (14) and a second set of charging pins (16) ;
- a power source (15) for powering at least one connecting pin 14(a) of the first set of connecting pins (14);
- a fault detection unit (18) adapted to detect a leakage current in the adapter (10).

2. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control unit (20) of the electric vehicle (11) detects an establishment of connection ,when the adapter (10) is inserted into the electric vehicle (11).

3. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control unit (20) activates a power discharge process upon detection of the connection, such that, the power from the electric vehicle (11) is transferred to a load (12) via the second set of charging pins (16).

4. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (20) adapted to identify the discharge plug based on the voltage levels at the first set of connecting pins (14).

5. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault detection unit (18) adapted to disconnect the established connection between the electric vehicle (11) and the adapter (10) , upon detecting the leakage current.

6. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a discharge control switch (22) positioned in proximity to the power source (15) for manual establishment of the connection between the electric vehicle (11) and the load (12).

7. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit (20) adapted to detect the operating state of the discharge control switch (22), for activating the power discharge process from the electric vehicle (11) to the load (12).

8. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load (12) is chosen from a group of loads comprising atleast one camping accessory, a coffee machine, a vacuum cleaner, an electric vehicle,

9. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power source (15) is chosen from any one of the power sources comprising a rechargeable battery, a normal battery unit.

10. The adapter (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a display (24) for providing information on a working state of the power source (15) and power discharge status.