DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein generally relates to a electric drive vehicle including hybrid and electric vehicles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to charging an electric vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A hybrid electric vehicle may combine an internal combustion engine and an electric motor powered by an energy storage device such as a main battery to propel the vehicle. Such combination increases the overall fuel efficiency by allowing the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to operate within their respective ranges of increased efficiency. For example, an electric motor may be efficient in accelerating from a standing start, while an internal combustion engine (ICE) may be efficient during the duration of certain engine operations such as highway operation. is there. By increasing the initial acceleration of the electric motor, the combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle can be made smaller and more fuel efficient.
[0003] A pure electric vehicle may use stored electrical energy to power an electric motor, thereby propelling the vehicle and actuating an auxiliary drive. A pure electric vehicle may use one or more stored electrical energy sources. For example, a first stored electrical energy source may be used to provide long lasting energy (such as a low voltage battery), while a second stored electrical energy source may be used, for example for acceleration, high power energy (such as high voltage batteries or ultracapacitors) may be provided.
[0004] Plug-in electric vehicles are configured to recharge energy storage devices using electrical energy from an external power source, whether hybrid or pure electric. Such vehicles may include, by way of example, road and off-road vehicles, golf carts, nearby electrical transport equipment, forklifts, and light trucks. These vehicles use either a non-vehicle fixed charger, an on-vehicle charger, or a combination of a non-vehicle fixed charger and an on-vehicle charger, from the electrical system or from a renewable energy source. Electric energy may be transferred to the in-vehicle main battery. A plug-in vehicle may include circuitry and connections to facilitate recharging the main battery from, for example, an electrical system or other external power source.
[0005] Battery chargers are an important component in the development of electric vehicles (EVs). Historically, two types of chargers for EV applications are known. One is a stand-alone type that is comparable in function and style to a gas station that performs rapid charging. The other is an on-vehicle type that is considered to be used for charging a slower charge rate (C-rate) from a household socket. EV is usually a low voltage battery (for example, for one charge mileage and travel), a high voltage battery (for boost and acceleration), and (for example, for boost and acceleration).
[0006] A charging station, also called an EV charger or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), is a piece of equipment that supplies electrical power for charging plug-in electric vehicles (including hybrids, neighbourhood electric vehicles, trucks, buses, and others).
[0007] Although batteries can only be charged with DC power, most electric vehicles have an onboard AC-to-DC converter that allows them to be plugged into a standard household AC electrical receptacle. Inexpensive low-power public charging stations will also provide AC power, known as "AC charging stations". To facilitate higher power charging, which requires much larger AC-to-DC converters, the converter is built into the charging station instead of the vehicle and the station supplies already-converted DC power directly to the vehicle, bypassing the vehicle's onboard converter. These are known as "DC charging stations". Most fully electric vehicle models can accept both AC and DC power.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description of the present subject matter is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Same reference signs are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0009] Figure 1 exemplarily illustrates a method of identification of low battery state of charge in accordance with existing art.
[00010] Figure 2 exemplarily illustrates a method of charging the battery without the requirement of any external aid in accordance with existing art.
[00011] Figure 3 exemplarily illustrates a method of charging a vehicle from a private charging station in accordance with existing art.
[00012] Figure 4 exemplarily illustrates a method of charging a vehicle from a public charging station in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[00013] Figure.5 exemplarily illustrates system of charging a battery through a charging station in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00014] Traditional electric vehicle charging stations require manual insertion of a corded plug from the electric vehicle charging station into an outlet of the electric vehicle, followed by a wait time while the battery is getting charged, and then removal of the corded plug from the outlet of the electrical vehicle when charging is complete. Generally, the charging starts with the help of an ignition key. When the ignition key is rotated, the charging lid of the battery opens and the connector from the vehicle charging station can be connected for charging the battery. This causes severe inconvenience to a customer or a user of the vehicle. Every time the customer has to use the ignition key to initiate the process of charging. Even to check the status of charge, the customer has to turn the ignition key repeatedly to check the status on instrument cluster. Further, the customer will have to wait to remove the ignition key and continue with his business till the time charging of the vehicle is completed. If the customer leaves the ignition key inside the vehicle and leave it like that to continue his business while the vehicle is at charge, there is a danger of vehicle getting stolen from the charging station. Also, in such situation, another customer may also remove the vehicle from the charge and instead put his vehicle in place of the previous customer’s vehicle.
[00015] To avoid problem mentioned above, a system and method of charging a vehicle is required where the requirement for the usage of ignition key is eliminated.
[00016] Therefore, an object of present invention is to provide a system and method of charging a vehicle where the customer no longer requires to carry an ignition key to charge the battery of the vehicle and to check the charging status of the vehicle thereof.
[00017] As per an aspect of present invention, a system for charging a battery of a vehicle comprises a charging station, a charging inlet and a charging unit. The charging station further comprises of a charging connector to supply power. The charging inlet being configured to receive power supply from the charging station through the charging connector. The charging unit being present on vehicle side. The charging unit being configured to receive power from the charging inlet and supply required power to the battery. Further, a power connection between the charging connector and the charging inlet being established automatically without an external aid, to charge the battery.
[00018] As per another aspect of present invention, said external aid being an ignition key.
[00019] As per yet another aspect of present invention, the vehicle comprises of an instrument cluster which displays status of the battery when the power connection is being established.
[00020] As per another aspect of present invention, the vehicle comprises of a DC-DC convertor to supply required power to one or more auxiliary loads of the system.
[00021] As per yet another aspect of present invention, the instrument cluster is enabled to receive bypass power supply from the DC-DC converter.
[00022] As per another aspect of present invention, a user can authenticate the power connection through an application installed in a user device.
[00023] As per yet another aspect of present invention, a charging station to charge a vehicle is disclosed. The charging station comprising a charging port, a protection unit and a charging connector.
[00024] As per another aspect of the present invention, the charging port being configured to supply power from one of a private electrical power supply and a public electrical power supply. The protection unit being configured to prevent power leakages and fluctuations during power transmission. The charging connector being configured to receive a charging inlet of a vehicle to charge a battery of the vehicle wherein, the charging station being activated and controlled by a user device through a wireless connection.
[00025] As per yet another aspect of present invention, the wireless connection being a short-range radio frequency signal, being at least one of a Bluetooth signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a near field communication signal (NFC) and a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal.
[00026] As per another aspect of present invention, the wireless connection established between the charging unit and the charging inlet being acknowledged and authenticated by a user.
[00027] As per yet another aspect of present invention, the user can switch on and switch off the charging unit through the user device.
[00028] As per yet another aspect of present invention a method of charging a vehicle through a private charging station is disclosed. The method comprising steps of:
identification of a vehicle by scanning one of a vehicle information and a user information,
linking of one of a vehicle identification number (VIN) and said private charging station with a user device,
initiating a wireless communication between said private charging unit and a user device,
authenticating and acknowledging a power connection request between said private charging station and a user device by an owner of said private charging station,
establishing a power connection between said private charging station and a user device,
initiating a power transmission from said private charging station to said vehicle through the power connection.
[00029] As per another aspect of present invention, a stop charging request being send by the user device to the owner of the private charging station to stop the power transmission from the private charging station to the vehicle.
[00030] As per yet another aspect of present invention, the stop charging request being acknowledged by the owner of the private charging station to stop the power transmission from the private charging station to the vehicle.
[00031] As per yet another aspect of present invention, a diagnostic trouble code being send on the user device when the owner refuses to authenticate and acknowledge the power connection request.
[00032] As per another aspect of present invention, a method of charging a vehicle through a public charging station is disclosed. The method comprising steps of:
detecting and displaying a low battery state of charge by one of an instrument cluster or a user device,
locating one or more public charging stations near to a location of a user by one of the instrument cluster or the user device,
sending suggestions of the one or more public charging stations on the user device,
selecting a public charging station from the one or more public charging stations,
reserving a charging slot based on convenience of the user through the user device,
connecting said vehicle with a charging connector from the public charging station
authenticating a power connection between the vehicle with the public charging station by a service provider of the public charging station.
[00033] As per yet another aspect of present invention, the suggestion of the public charging station from one or more public charging stations being based on availability, price, public review, or connector type of the public charging station.
[00034] As per yet another aspect of present invention, wherein the authentication being done through generation of one-time password (OTP) and sending one-time password (OTP) on user device for user verification.
[00035] The present invention advantageously discloses a system and method to charge a battery of a vehicle without any external aid. The method disclosed in the present invention is less time consuming than the existing technology. This is a theft proof system since the user need not leave the ignition key to charge the vehicle. The user can continue with his work while the vehicle is at charge, this significantly decreases user’s waiting time. Further, accessing the status of charge, initiating and ending the process of charge through a user’s device makes the overall process of charging a system much flexible and convenient. The drainage of battery while the battery is on charge is also prevented in the present invention since only the instrument cluster is switched on to display the status of the charge of battery and other auxiliary loads are kept off.
[00036] The details provided above explains the basic features of the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. The nature and further characteristic features of the present subject matter will be made clearer from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[00037] Exemplary embodiments detailing features of an internal combustion engine, in accordance with the present subject matter will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various aspects of different embodiments of the present subject matter will become discernible from the following description set out hereunder. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[00038] The present subject matter along with all the accompanying embodiments and their other advantages would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following paragraphs.
[00039] Fig.1 exemplarily illustrates a method of identification of low battery state of charge. When a vehicle is driven by a user, he/she will check the status of battery i.e. state of charge either on an instrument cluster 508 (shown in Fig 5) or a user device 502 (shown in Fig 5) (step 101). If the user does not check the status on his own and a vehicle battery is lower than the pre-defined threshold (step 102), an alarm will be triggered (step 103) to intimate the user regarding the current low charge state of the battery. Accordingly, the warning will again be displayed on the vehicle (step 104 and step 105) or on the user’s device (step 106 and step 107).
[00040] Fig.2 exemplarily illustrates a method of charging the battery without the requirement of any external aid. After the detection of low battery state of charge (step 201) and due to non-availability of an ignition key (step 202), the user can connect the vehicle from a private charging station or a public charging station (step 203 and step 208). If the user chooses to connect the vehicle to a home charging station, he can initiate the charging through a wireless connection via any user device such as mobile, laptop etc. The wireless connection being a short-range radio frequency signal, being at least one of a Bluetooth signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a near field communication signal (NFC) and a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal (steps 203-206). After the user authenticates the charging of the battery through the user device, the battery will start charging and the status of battery state of charge will be reflected on the instrument cluster and the user devices (step 207).
[00041] Further, if the user chooses to charge the battery via a public charging station, he has to upfront raise a request with the charging station service provider to allocate a charging slot and wait for a service provider’s/owner’s authentication. Once the service provider acknowledges the request of the user, the service provide needs to send a one-time password on the user mobile for user verification and accordingly, the user can schedule time and reserve a slot to start charging the battery (steps 208-210).
[00042] Fig.3 exemplarily illustrates a method of charging a vehicle from a private charging station. The method disclosed in the present invention comprises the steps of : identification of a vehicle by scanning one of a vehicle information and a user information (step 301), linking of one of a vehicle identification number (VIN) and the private charging station with a user device (step 302), initiating a wireless communication between the private charging unit and a user device (step 303), authenticating and acknowledging a wireless connection request between the private charging station and a user device by an owner of the private charging station (step 304), establishing a wireless connection between the private charging station and a user device (step 305), making a power connection of the vehicle charging port with the private charging station, initiating a power transmission from the private charging station to the vehicle (step 308). In case the owner of the private charging station is different from the user, the owner will authenticate the wireless connection request send by the user (steps 305-306). Only after approval from the owner, the user will be able to use the power from a private charging station. If the acknowledgement is rejected, a diagnostic troubleshoot code (DTC) will be sent to user’s device (step 309). This is done to prevent the usage of the private charging station without the owner’s permission. Further, when a user wants to terminate the charging of the vehicle, he will send a stop request which will again be approved by the service provider (step 310-311).
[00043] Fig.4 exemplarily illustrates a method of charging a vehicle from a public charging station. The method disclosed in the present invention comprises the steps of : detecting and displaying a low battery state of charge by one of a instrument cluster or a user device (step 401), locating one or more public charging stations near to a location of a user by one of the instrument cluster or the user device (step 402), sending suggestions of the one or more public charging stations on the user device (step 403), selecting a public charging station from the one or more public charging stations (step 404), reserving a charging slot based on convenience of the user through the user device (step 406), connecting the vehicle with a charging connector from the public charging station (step 408), and authenticating the connection between the vehicle with the public charging station by a service provider of the public charging station (step 408). The suggestion of the public charging station from the one or more public charging stations being based on one or more factors like availability, price, public review, or connector type of the public charging station (step 403). The authentication being done through generation of one-time password (OTP) and sending the one-time password (OTP) on the user device for verification of the user (step 407).
[00044] Fig.5 exemplarily illustrates a system (500) of charging a battery of a vehicle through a private charging station. The private charging station 501 comprises of a charging port 504, a protection unit 505 and a charging connector 506. The charging port 504 being configured to supply power from a private electrical power supply. The protection unit 505 is being configured to prevent power leakages and fluctuations during power transmission. Further, a charging connector 506 is being configured to receive a charging inlet 510 of a vehicle to charge a battery 512 of the vehicle. The private charging station 501 being a private station can be operated by a user device 502 through a wireless connection i.e., the private charging station 501 can be activated and controlled via a user device 502. The wireless connection being a short-range radio frequency signal, being at least one of a Bluetooth signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a near field communication signal (NFC) and a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal. The wireless connection established between the charging station 501 and the charging inlet 510 being acknowledged and authenticated by a user.
[00045] On the vehicle side, there is a charging inlet 510 and a charging unit 511. The charging inlet 510 being configured to receive power supply from the charging station 501 through the charging connector 506. The charging inlet 510 of the vehicle is plugged in a charging connector of the charging station 501 to receive the power supply. Once the connection is established between the charging inlet 510 and the charging connector 506, the power supply will be initiated automatically without any external air or any ignition key. Further, the onboard charger 511 present on the vehicle converts the power from a AC power supply to a DC power supply to ensure that the battery 512 receives the AC power. The DC power generated in the battery 512 will be further converted by the DC-DC convertor 509 to either step up the power supply or step down the power supply as per the requirements of the auxiliary loads of the vehicle. However, the DC power is supplied to the auxiliary loads as soon as an ignition key is turned on.In the existing art, initiating the charging of the battery through turning of an ignition key drains the battery, since other auxiliary loads also consumes power during the charging of the battery. In the present invention, since an ignition key is not required to initiate charging and operation of other auxiliary loads, the charge of the battery 512 is preserved while charging. A bypass power supply 503 from the DC-DC converter 509 is provided to the instrument cluster 508 to display the status of the battery 512 while charging.
[00046] Many modifications and variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of above disclosure. Therefore, within the scope of claims of the present subject matter, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100-107: steps for a method of identification of low battery state of charge
200-210: steps for a method of charging the battery without the requirement of any external aid
300-311: steps for a method of charging a vehicle from a private charging station
400-408: steps for a method of charging a vehicle from a public charging station
500: system of charging a battery through a charging station
501: Charging station
502: User Device
503: Bypass Power Supply
504: Charging port
505: Protection unit
506: Charging connector
507: Ignition key
508: Instrument cluster
509: DC-DC convertor
510: Charging inlet
511: Charging unit
512: Battery
,CLAIMS:I/We claim:

1. A system (500) for charging a battery (512) of a vehicle, said system (500) comprising:
a charging station (501), said charging station (501) comprises of a charging connector (506) to supply power,
a charging inlet (510) provided on said vehicle, said charging inlet (510) being configured to receive power supply from said charging station (501) through said charging connector (506),
a charging unit (511) being provided on said vehicle, said charging unit (511) being configured to receive power from said charging inlet (510) and supply required power to said battery (512),
wherein,
a power connection between said charging connector (506) and said charging inlet (510) being established wirelessly without an external aid or trigger, said power connection being configured to charge said battery (512).

2. The system (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external aid or trigger being an ignition key (507).

3. The system (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises of an instrument cluster (508), said instrument cluster (508) displays status of said battery (512) when said connection is being established.

4. The system (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises of a DC-DC convertor (509) to supply required power to one or more auxiliary loads of said system (500).

5. The system (500) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said instrument cluster (508) being enabled to receive bypass power supply (503) from said DC-DC converter (509).

6. The system (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user can authenticate said wireless power connection through an application installed in a user device (502).

7. A charging station (501) to charge a vehicle, said charging station (501) comprising:
a charging port (504), said charging port (504) being configured to supply power from one of a private electrical power supply and a public electrical power supply,
a protection unit (505), said protection unit (505) being configured to prevent power leakages and fluctuations during power transmission,
a charging connector (506), said charging connector (506) being configured to receive a charging inlet (510) of a vehicle to charge a battery (512) of said vehicle,
wherein,
said charging station (501) being communicatively connected to a user device (502) through a wireless connection.

8. The charging station (501) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 7, wherein said wireless connection being a short-range radio frequency signal, being at least one of a Bluetooth signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a near field communication signal (NFC) and a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal.

9. The charging station (501) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wireless connection established between said charging station (501) and said charging inlet (510) being acknowledged and authenticated by a user.

10. The charging station (501) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said user can switch on and switch off an operation of said charging station (501) through said user device (502).

11. A method of charging a vehicle through a private charging station, said method comprising steps of:
identification of a vehicle by scanning one of a vehicle information and a user information (step 301),
linking of one of a vehicle identification number (VIN) and said private charging station with a user device (step 302),
initiating a wireless communication between said private charging station and a user device (step 303),
authenticating and acknowledging a connection request between said private charging station and a user device by an owner of said private charging station (step 304),
establishing a power connection between said private charging station and a user device (step 305),
initiating a power transmission from said private charging station to said vehicle (step 308).

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a stop charging request being send by said user device to said owner of said private charging station to stop said power transmission from said private charging station to said vehicle (steps 310-311).

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said stop charging request being acknowledged by said owner of said private charging station to stop said power transmission from said private charging station to said vehicle (step 307).

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a diagnostic trouble code being send on said user device when said owner refuses to authenticate and acknowledge said connection request (step 309).

15. A method of charging a vehicle through a public charging station, said method comprising steps of:
detecting and displaying a low battery state-of-charge by one or more of an instrument cluster and a user device (step 401),
locating one or more public charging stations near to a location of a user by one of said instrument cluster or said user device (step 402),
sending suggestions of said one or more public charging stations on said user device (step 403),
selecting a public charging station from said suggestions of said one or more public charging stations (step 404),
reserving a charging slot based on convenience of said user through said user device (step 406),
connecting said vehicle with a charging connector from said public charging station (step 408) to establish a power connection, and
authenticating said power connection between said vehicle with said public charging station by a service provider of said public charging station (step 408).

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said suggestion of said public charging station from said one or more public charging stations being based on one or more of an availability, price, public review, and connector type of said public charging station (step 403).

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said authentication being done through generation of one-time password (OTP) and sending said one-time password (OTP) on said user device for verification of said user (step 407).