[0001] The present invention relates to charging an electric vehicle, and more
particularly relates to a system and method for charging an electric vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Generally, electric vehicle charger can be used to charge a vehicle only
after authenticating a user. Presently, user authentication is performed via
mechanisms such as, RFID card scanning, QR Code scanning or directly via
server (Central Management System, CMS).
[0003] While using mechanisms such as RFID card scanning, an RFID card is
issued to the user after the user registers with the CMS. In this regard, when the
user uses the RFID card to authenticate the charging session, the information is
sent to the CMS and if the tag associated with the RFID matches with the details
of the user stored at the CMS, then the charging session commences. However, in
situations such as the user loses the RFID card, then any third party who finds the
card can utilize the same to charge the vehicle, thereby leading to breach of
security of the user. Also, since the RFID card can be fragile in nature and
therefore susceptible to damage, thereby becoming unusable.
[0004] Similarly, while using the QR code scanning mechanism, the user is
required to scan the QR code through the mobile application, the details of the
scanned QR code is sent to the CMS. The CMS in response transmits the OTP to
the mobile number of the user which is pre-registered with the CMS. Thereafter,
the user is required to input the OTP received at an input/output interface unit of
the charger to authenticate the user and to commence the charging session.
[0005] However, in situations when network connectively is poor or nonexistent in an area, then both the RFID card scanning and the QR code scanning
mechanisms will not function, thereby delaying the operation of the charger for
charging the vehicle.
[0006] Further, in certain situations, the CMS, i.e. the server may be down due
to maintenance, failure, etc. During these situations, the data that is required to be
received from the CMS may be delayed, thereby delaying the time taken to
commence the charging session. In this regard, altering schedules of the user to
reach a particular destination.
3
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One or more embodiments of the present invention, provides a system
and method for charging an electric vehicle.
[0008] In one aspect, a system for charging an electric vehicle is provided. The
system comprising a charger and a communication device. The charger
comprising a charging gun adapted to be plugged into a charging port of the
electric vehicle, a display unit configured to display a plurality of operational
parameters of the charger and a unique identifier of the charger, the plurality of
operational parameters allows a user to select one or more of the operational
parameters based on the user’s requirement. The communication device is in
wireless communication with the charger, the communication device comprising
an installable user interface module operable on a processor, configured to
receive credentials of one of the user and a guest, receive the unique identifier of
the charger, transmit to a server, the credentials of one of the user and the guest
along with the unique identifier of the charger, receive from the server, a profile
of one of the user and the guest generated at the server along with details of the
charger assigned to one of the user and the guest and generate a communication
link between a second communication module of the communication device with
a first communication module of the charger in response to receiving
authenticated data of the charger, thereby allowing one of the user and the guest
to plug the charging gun into the charging port of the electric vehicle and
subsequently allowing a charging session to commence.
[0009] In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for charging an electric
vehicle is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving by a
communication device, credentials of one of a user and a guest and a unique
identifier of a charger, transmitting by the communication device to a server, the
credentials of one of the user and the guest along with the unique identifier of a
charger, receiving by the communication device from the server, a profile of one
of the user and the guest generated at the server along with details of the charger
assigned to one of the user and the guest, and generating by the communication
device, a communication link between a second communication module of the
4
communication device with a first communication module of the charger in
response to receiving authenticated data of the charger, thereby allowing one of
the user and the guest to plug a charging gun of the charger into a charging port
of the electric vehicle and subsequently allowing a charging session to
commence.
[0010] Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the
following description and the accompanying drawings. The features and
advantages described in this summary and in the following detailed description
are not all-inclusive, and particularly, many additional features and advantages
will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, in view of the
drawings, specification, and claims hereof. Moreover, it should be noted that the
language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability
and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or
circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to
determine such inventive subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of
which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended
to be illustrative, not limiting. The accompanying figures, which are incorporated
in and constitute a part of the specification, are illustrative of one or more
embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and together with the description
explain various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and are intended to
be illustrative. Further, the accompanying figures have not necessarily been
drawn to scale, and any values or dimensions in the accompanying figures are for
illustration purposes only and may or may not represent actual or preferred values
or dimensions. Although the invention is generally described in the context of
these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the
scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 1 is an environment for charging an electric vehicle, according to
one or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for charging an electric vehicle,
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;
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[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a registration interface for registering
one of a user and a guest generated on a communication device, according to one
or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a charger assignment interface
generated on a communication device, according to one or more embodiments of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an authentication interface on a
communication device, according to one or more embodiments of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a plurality of operational parameters
that are displayed on a communication device during a charging session,
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method for charging an electric
vehicle, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or
features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. References
to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when
there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references
are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in
the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without
limiting the scope of the invention to the exact number or type of such elements
unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims. Moreover, relational terms such
as first and second, and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity from the
other, without necessarily implying any actual relationship or between such
entities.
[0020] Various embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for
charging an electric vehicle. The present invention is configured to provide
system and method for charging an electric vehicle which can be controlled via a
6
communication device utilizing short distance communication protocols such as,
but not limited to, Bluetooth, infrared and Near Field Communication (NFC).
[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates an environment for charging an electric vehicle. The
environment includes a system 100 and a server 150. The system 100 and the
server 150 communicate with each other over a communications network 170.
[0022] The communications network 170 can be one of, but not limited to,
LAN, cable, WLAN, cellular, or satellite.
[0023] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the system 100
includes a communication device 110 and a charger 130.
[0024] Further, the server 150 includes a communication transceiver 152, a
processor 154 and a storage unit 156. The processor 154 is in communication
with the communication transceiver 152 and the storage unit 156.
[0025] In an embodiment, the server 150 can be a back-end component (e.g., as
a data server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application
server), or that includes a front-end component (e.g., a client computer having a
graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with
an implementation of the systems and techniques described herein).
[0026] The FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the system 100 for charging
the electric vehicle. The system 100 as disclosed above, includes the
communication device 110 and the charger 130.
[0027] In an embodiment, the communication device 110 and the charger 130
communicate with each other over short distance protocols such as, one of, but
not limited to, Bluetooth, Infrared and Near Field Communication (NFC).
Advantageously, the communication device 110 and the charger 130 do not
require the communications network such as, LAN, cable, WLAN and cellular
networks for communication, thereby saving on time for the user.
[0028] The communication device 110 includes a display 112, a user interface
module 114, a memory 116, a second communication module 118 and a
processor 120. The processor 120 controls the operation of the display 112, the
user interface module 114, the memory 116 and the second communication
module 118. The user interface module 114 is required to be installed by the user
7
on the communication device 110. The user interface module 110 is configured to
display and facilitate the user to input and/or view data.
[0029] In an embodiment, the communication device 110 is one of, but not
limited to, a mobile phone, a laptop, a desktop, PDA, tablet and a virtual storage
medium such as, but not limited to, cloud.
[0030] The charger 130 includes a first communication module 132, a
controller 134, a storage unit 136, a display unit 138 and a charging gun 140
shown in Fig. 2. The controller 134 controls the operation of the first
communication module 132, the storage unit 136, the display unit 138 and the
charging gun 140.
[0031] In an embodiment, the charger 130 is configured to provide electric
charge to an electric vehicle. The charger can be one of, but not limited to, AC
charger and DC charger.
[0032] In an embodiment, the display unit 138 of the charger 130 is configured
to display a plurality of operational parameters of the charger 130 and a unique
identifier of the charger. The plurality of operational parameters allows a user to
select one or more of the operational parameters based on the user’s requirement.
[0033] The operational parameters can be one of, but not limited to, session
logs, power button, AC voltage, AC current, CO2 saved, Session kWh, Session
time, Cumulative kWh, Cumulative Time, N-E Voltage, Earth Leakage Current,
charging gun connection status, logs indicating the charging session and alarms
section.
[0034] The processor 120 and the controller 134 explained hereinafter may be
implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers,
digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic
circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational
instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor is configured to fetch and
execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory.
[0035] The memory 116 and the storage unit 136 referred hereinafter, in
general includes memory and any other storage means and/or units may include
any computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile
memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random
8
access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory
(ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks,
and magnetic tapes.
[0036] At the outset, the user is required to register with the system 100 and
create an account. For registration, the user is required to install the user interface
module 114. Once the user interface module 114 is installed, a registration
interface 310 as shown in Fig. 3 is generated on the display 112 of the
communication device 110. The registration interface 310 displays a
questionnaire required to be filled up by the user. The questionnaire requires the
user to input credential details such as, but not limited to, name of the user, age,
personal email address, customer identifier such as, but not limited to, contact
number, residential address and password. Once the credential details are input
by the customer on the interface 310, the processor 120 of the communication
device 110 checks to verify if the details provided are in the right order. In case
there are any errors, the same is indicated to the user to rectify. Thereafter, a
verification code is sent to either the user’s email address or the contact number
of the user. The user is required to input the verification code at the
communication device 110. Once this task is completed, the user is said to be
registered. The credentials of the user which is received at the communication
device 110 is stored in the memory 116.
[0037] In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied
in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a
programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more
software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an
EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprised connected logic
units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such
as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be
implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in
any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device.
[0038] Further, while one or more operations have been described as being
performed by or otherwise related to certain modules, devices or entities, the
operations may be performed by or otherwise related to any module, device or
9
entity. As such, any function or operation that has been described as being
performed by a module could alternatively be performed by a different server, by
the cloud computing platform, or a combination thereof.
[0039] Once the credentials are received at the communication device 110, the
user interface module 114 directs the user to a subsequent charger assignment
interface 410 as shown in Fig. 4.
[0040] In an embodiment, once the charger assignment interface 410 is
generated by the user interface module 114, the user is required to place a bar
code scanning area 412 as shown in Fig. 4 on a bar code displayed on the display
unit 138 of the charger 130. Based on which, the unique identifier of the charger
130 encrypted in the bar code is detected by a scanner module 414 and stored at
the memory 116 of the communication device 110.
[0041] In an alternate embodiment, the user can manually input the unique
identifier details of the charger 130 on the charger assignment interface 410.
[0042] In an embodiment, the unique identifier of the charger 130 can be one
of, a numerical or an alpha numeric sequence of characters.
[0043] Once the credentials of one of the user is received at the communication
device 110 along with the unique identifier of the charger 130, the same is
transmitted to the server 150 over the communication network 170.
[0044] Once the server 150 receives the credentials of the user, the server 150
generates a profile of the user and stores it at the storage unit 156. Thereafter, the
processor 154 of the server 150, checks the unique identifier of the charger 130
assigned by the user with a plurality of pre-registered chargers with the server
150 at the storage unit 156. If the unique identifier of the charger 130 assigned by
the user matches with one of the unique identifier of the plurality of chargers
stored at the storage unit 156, then the processor 154 of the server 150 assigns the
charger 130 to the user and transmits the profile of the user to the communication
device 110.
[0045] In case, the unique identifier of the charger 130 assigned by the user
does not match with any of the pre-registered chargers at the storage unit 156 of
the server 150, then the processor 154 of the server 150 sends a status message to
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the communication device 110 to assign a different charger and thereafter the
user is required to repeat the steps as mentioned above.
[0046] In an alternate embodiment, a guest can also register with the system
100. The guest can register with the system 100 by installing a guest interface
module, inputting the relevant credentials, assigning the charger 130 and
thereafter sending a request to the registered user to authorize registration via the
user interface module 114. Only after the user authorizes the request via the user
interface module 114, the guest will be registered with the system 100. In an
embodiment, for the guest to register with the system 100, the guest is required to
know the profile details of the user.
[0047] In an embodiment, the user or the guest can be any user/organization
intending to charge the electric vehicle.
[0048] In the event, the user or the guest intends to charge the electric vehicle,
the user or the guest is required to first activate the second communication
module 118 of the communication device 110 and also check if the first
communication module 132 of the charger 130 is activated. If the first
communication module 132 of the charger 130 is not activated, then the first
communication module 132 is also required to be activated. Thereafter, the user
or the guest is required to select an option of authentication of the charger 130 via
the user interface module 114.
[0049] Once the user or the guest selects an option of authentication of the
charger 130 via the user interface module 114 or the guest interface module, the
processor 120 of the communication device 110 generates an authentication
interface. Fig. 5 illustrates an example of an authentication interface 510.
[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, the authentication interface 510 includes a bar code
scanning area 512. The user or the guest is required to place the bar code
scanning area 512 of the communication device 110 on the bar code displayed on
the charger 130. If the charger 130 is assigned to the user or the guest, the
scanner module 514 instantly detects the unique identifier of the charger 130
encrypted in the bar code and is recorded at the memory 116 of the
communication device 110. If the charger 130 is not assigned to the user or the
guest, the scanner module 514 instantly provides a notification that the charger
11
130 is not assigned to the user or the guest, therefore doesn’t authenticate the user
or the guest. Advantageously, the scanner module 514 of the communication
device 110 performs the scanning without depending on any external
communications network. In other words, the scanning operation can be
performed using only the first communication module 132 and the second
communication module 118 operating on short distance protocols such as, but not
limited to, Bluetooth, Infrared protocols and the like.
[0051] Further, since for charging the electric vehicle, an authentication is
mandatory, the system 100 ensures that the charging session will not commence
until the charger 130 is assigned to the user or the guest. Further, when guest
intends to use the charger 130, even then the registered user is required to
authorize the guest. Advantageously, ensuring that security of the user or the
guest is maintained and not compromised.
[0052] Once the charger is authenticated, a communication link is established
between the charger 130 and the communication device 110 as shown in Fig. 1.
Here again, the communication link is not dependent on the communications
network such as LAN, Wi-Fi, etc. The communication link is established with
usage of short distance communication protocols such as, but not limited to,
Bluetooth, Infrared, Near Field Communication (NFC). Advantageously,
ensuring that time is not delayed in establishing the communication link and
thereby ensuring that the charging session is completed soon without any delay.
[0053] In an alternate embodiment, the user or the guest can manually input the
unique identifier of the charger 130 at the authentication interface 510 as shown
in Fig. 5.
[0054] Once the communication link is generated between the first
communication module 132 of the charger and the second communication
module 118 of the communication device 110, the user or the guest is allowed to
plug in the charging gun 140 into the charging port (not shown) of the electric
vehicle. Once the charging gun 140 is plugged into the charging port of the
electric vehicle, the display unit 138 of the charger 130 and also the display 112
of the communication device 110 displays a notification whether the connection
between the charging gun 140 and the charging port is successful. If the
12
connection is unsuccessful, the user or the guest is required to insert the charging
gun 140 in a proper format within the charging port. Only when the display unit
138 of the charger or the display 112 of the communication device 110 indicates
and/or notifies that the connection is successful only then will the charging
session commence.
[0055] In an embodiment, the display unit 138 of the charger 130 displays
whether the connection between the charging gun 140 and the charging port is
successful by means such as, but not limited, light and sound indicators.
[0056] In an alternate embodiment, notifications of successful connection
between the charging gun 140 and the charging port is transmitted to the
communication device 110 via the communication link that is generated.
Advantageously, the user or the guest will get notifications in real time on the
user interface module 114 of the communication device 110.
[0057] Further, during the charging session, data of various operational
parameters of the charging session is shared between the charger 130 and the
communication device 110 via the first communication module 132 and the
second communication module 118 respectively in real time. Fig. 6 illustrates an
example of the plurality of operational parameters that are displayed on the user
interface module 114 of the communication device 110. The plurality of
operational parameters is mainly grouped into at least, live data, alarms and logs
sections.
[0058] In an embodiment, the live data section displays operational parameters
such as, but not limited to, AC voltage, AC current, CO2 saved, Session kWh,
Session time, Cumulative kWh, Cumulative Time, N-E Voltage, Earth Leakage
Current, charging gun connection status.
[0059] Further, the alarms section displays notifications when the operational
parameters as included in the live data section crosses a pre-defined threshold.
The alarms section displays notifications when the operational parameters are not
in an ideal state, i.e. indicating some defect in the charger session.
[0060] Further, the logs section indicates that detail of the present and the past
charging session. Further, the logs section also indicates the previous charging
session time of the user or the guest.
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[0061] In an embodiment, the charging session can be selected by the user or
the guest via the user interface module 114 or the display unit 138 of the charger
130.
[0062] Once the charging session is complete, the user interface module/guest
interface module 114 or the display unit 138 of the charger 130 generates a
charging session bill which can be settled by the user or the guest via different
modes of payment.
[0063] In an embodiment, the communication link 142 is a communications
channel that connects two or more devices over short distance protocols, such as,
but not limited to, Bluetooth and infrared.
[0064] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for charging an electric vehicle in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For the purpose of description,
the method is described with the embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 1 to Fig. 6.
The method comprises the steps as indicated below:
[0065] At step 702, receiving by a communication device 110, credentials of
one of a user and a guest and a unique identifier of a charger 130.
[0066] At step 704, transmitting by the communication device 110, the
credentials of one of the user and the guest along with the unique identifier of the
charger 130 to a server 150.
[0067] At step 706, receiving by the communication device 110, a profile of
one of the user and the guest generated from the server 150 along with the details
of the charger 130 assigned to one of the user and the guest.
[0068] At step 708, generating by the communication device 110, a
communication link between a second communication module 118 of the
communication device 110 with a first communication module 132 of the charger
140 in response to one of the user and the guest activating the second
communication module 118 and subsequent to receiving an authenticated data of
the charger 130, thereby allowing one of the user and the guest to plug a charging
gun 140 into a charging port of the electric vehicle and subsequently allowing a
charging session to commence.
[0069] While aspects of the present invention have been particularly shown and
described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by
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those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated
by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without
departing from the scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be
understood to fall within the scope of the present invention as determined based
upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

We Claim:

1. A system for charging an electric vehicle, the system comprising:
a charger, the charger comprising:
a charging gun adapted to be plugged into a
charging port of the electric vehicle;
a display unit configured to display a plurality of
operational parameters of the charger and a unique
identifier of the charger, the plurality of operational
parameters allows a user to select one or more of the
operational parameters based on the user’s requirement,
a communication device in wireless communication with the
charger, the communication device comprising:
an installable user interface module operable on a
processor, configured to:
receive credentials of one of the user and a
guest;
receive the unique identifier of the charger;
transmit to a server, the credentials of one
of the user and the guest along with the unique
identifier of the charger;
receive from the server, a profile of one of
the user and the guest generated at the server along
with details of the charger assigned to one of the
user and the guest; and
generate a communication link between a
second communication module of the
communication device with a first communication
module of the charger in response to receiving
authenticated data of the charger, thereby allowing
one of the user and the guest to plug the charging
gun into the charging port of the electric vehicle
16
and subsequently allowing a charging session to
commence.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first
communication module and the second communication module is a
transceiver operating on one of short distance communication protocols
such as, Bluetooth, Infrared and Near Field Communication (NFC), and
configured to communicate with each other.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is one of,
a unique serial number and a bar code.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user is allowed to manually
enter the unique serial number of the charger at the communication device
via the user interface module when the unique serial number is displayed
on the display unit of the charger.
5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the unique identifier is
the bar code, the user interface module of the communication device
including a scanner module is configured to scan the bar code to
determine the unique identifier of the charger.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging session is allowed
to commence based on the display unit of the charger indicating a
successful connection between the charger gun and the charging port of
the electric vehicle.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface module is
further configured to display on the communication device, the plurality
of operational parameters generated during the charging session.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the authenticated data of the
charger is received at the communication device in response to the
scanning module detecting the unique identifier of the charger, the
scanning module detects the unique identifier of the charger in response to
one of the user and the guest placing a bar code scanning area of the user
interface module on a bar code displayed on the display unit of the
charger.
17
9. A method for charging an electric vehicle, the method comprises the steps
of:
receiving by a communication device, credentials of one of a user
and a guest and a unique identifier of a charger;
transmitting by the communication device to a server, the
credentials of one of the user and the guest along with the unique
identifier of a charger;
receiving by the communication device from the server, a profile
of one of the user and the guest generated at the server along with details
of the charger assigned to one of the user and the guest; and
generating by the communication device, a communication link
between a second communication module of the communication device
with a first communication module of the charger in response to receiving
authenticated data of the charger, thereby allowing one of the user and the
guest to plug a charging gun of the charger into a charging port of the
electric vehicle and subsequently allowing a charging session to
commence.