Wireless monitoring of electrical connector
OwnerKevin O'Rourkeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a male electrical plug, a female socket, a housing, and a control system. The male electrical plug, which is supplied with power, is electrically connected to the female socket. The housing contains the male electrical plug, the female socket, and a control system. The control system includes a temperature sensor and a transceiver with the temperature sensor sensing a temperature at a location within the housing and the transceiver transmitting a signal representative of the temperature to an alarm device remotely located from the electrical connector. The electrical connector can include one or more switches that are remotely controllable by the alarm device to interrupt the electrical connection between the male plug and the female socket.
Claims29
An electric vehicle charging system for monitoring temperature, comprising:
- a battery;
- a power line in electrical communication with the battery;
- an electric vehicle charging system comprising electrical contacts in electrical communication with the power line;
- and
- a control system comprising a relay, a temperature sensor, and an input/output (I/O) circuit, the relay selectively providing electrical communication between the electrical contacts and the power line, the temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature corresponding to the electrical contacts, the output circuit for transmitting a temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor.
An electric vehicle charging system for monitoring temperature, comprising:
- a power line;
- an electric vehicle charging system comprising electrical contacts in electrical communication with the power line;
- and
- a control system comprising a relay, a temperature sensor and an output circuit, the relay selectively providing electrical communication between the electrical contacts and the power line, the temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature corresponding to the electrical contacts, the output circuit for transmitting data corresponding to a temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor.
A method of controlling heat in an electric vehicle charging system, the method comprising:
- conducting an electric current to a battery in an electric vehicle through an electrical connector, the electrical connector being an electrical connector between an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle charger;
- sensing a temperature corresponding to the electrical connector;
- and
- in response to the temperature being at or above a determined temperature, opening a relay in electrical communication with the battery, terminating a flow of the electric current through the electrical connector and to the battery in the electric vehicle, and transmitting at least one data item corresponding to a temperature value.
A method of controlling heat in an electric vehicle charging system, the method comprising
- conducting an electric current to a battery in an electric vehicle through an electrical connector, the electrical connector being an electrical connector between an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle charger;
- sensing a temperature corresponding to the electrical connector;
- and
- transmitting a unique identification number associated with the electrical connector in response to determining that the temperature data has met or exceeded the temperature threshold.
A method of controlling heat in an electric vehicle charging system, the method comprising:
- conducting an electric current from an electric vehicle charger, through an electrical connector, through a relay, and to a battery in an electric vehicle;
- sensing a temperature corresponding to the electrical connector;
- generating temperature data;
- communicating the temperature data and a unique identification number associated with the electrical connector;
- and
- in response to the temperature being at or above a determined temperature, automatically opening the relay and terminating a flow of the electric current through the electrical connector and to the battery in the electric vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.