Detecting and Responding to Unexpected Electric Vehicle Charging Disconnections
AssigneeChargepoint, Inc.
InventorsRichard Lowenthal, Milton Tormey, David Baxter, James Solomon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical vehicle charging station establishes a charging session with an electric vehicle which includes energizing a power receptacle in the charging station and receiving a charging cord at the power receptacle. While the charging session is established and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, the power receptacle is de-energized to prevent electricity from flowing through the charging cord.
Claims27
A method for preventing electricity from flowing through a charging cord plugged into a power receptacle of an electric vehicle charging station, comprising:
- establishing a charging session with an electric vehicle including energizing the power receptacle to allow electricity to flow through the charging cord to an electricity storage device of the electric vehicle;
- and
- during the charging session and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, de-energizing the power receptacle to prevent electricity from flowing through the power receptacle and through the charging cord.
An electric vehicle charging station, comprising:
- a power receptacle to receive a charging cord of an electric vehicle;
- an electricity control device coupled with the power receptacle to control electricity to the power receptacle;
- an electricity measuring device coupled with the power receptacle to measure electricity flowing through the power receptacle;
- a charging station controller coupled with the electricity measuring device and the electricity control device, wherein the charging station controller is to perform the following:
- establish a charging session with an electric vehicle including causing the electricity control device to energize the power receptacle,
- detect that a charging connection to the electric vehicle has been unexpectedly disconnected, and
- responsive to the unexpected disconnection of the charging connection, cause the electricity control device to de-energize the power receptacle.
A method performed on an electric vehicle charging station for detecting and responding to unexpected electric vehicle charging disconnections, comprising:
- establishing a charging session with an electric vehicle including allowing electricity to flow through a charging cord toward an electricity storage device of the electric vehicle;
- and
- while the charging session remains established, performing the following:
- monitoring an amount of electricity flowing through a power receptacle attached to the charging cord,
- responsive to detecting a first threshold amount of electricity flowing for a first amount of time, initializing a charging connection unexpected disconnection detection and response mechanism, and
- after initializing the charging connection unexpected disconnection detection and response mechanism and responsive to detecting that the electricity flowing has dropped below a second threshold amount for a second amount of time, preventing electricity from flowing through the charging cord.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.