DE102017207720A1 - Unlocking a charging cable lock by means of a transponder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for comfortable unlocking a physical charging cable lock by means of a transponder. According to the invention, it is possible to bypass a manual unlocking and to accomplish the unlocking by means of a radio link of the vehicle key. Thus, an integration of the charging socket takes place in the locking system of a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a correspondingly arranged arrangement or an unlocking system. In addition, a computer program product with control commands is proposed which implement the method or operate the proposed arrangement.

Description

The invention relates to a method for comfortable unlocking a physical charging cable lock by means of a transponder. According to the invention, it is possible to bypass a manual unlocking and to accomplish the unlocking by means of a radio link of the vehicle key. Thus, an integration of the charging socket takes place in the locking system of a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a correspondingly arranged arrangement or an unlocking system. In addition, a computer program product with control commands is proposed which implement the method or operate the proposed arrangement.

DE 10 2011 011 099 A1 shows a monitoring of a charging cable locking device for hybrid or electric vehicles with a vehicle-mounted device for receiving a plug of connectable to a charging station charging cable and arranged on the receptacle locking device for locking and releasing the plug in the receptacle.

DE 10 2011 083 554 A1 shows a charging device for motor vehicles, with a charging socket into which a charging cable can be inserted in order to supply the motor vehicle in an energized state of the charging socket with electrical energy.

WO 2010/115927 A1 shows a charging cable locking device for electric vehicles with a vehicle-side device for receiving a connectable to a charging station charging cable and arranged on the receptacle locking device.

PHEV / BEV vehicles are known which use a charging socket to charge the energy storage device. This charging socket or the charging cable is physically locked, so that no unauthorized person can pull the charging plug to steal the charging cable.

If the driver approaches the vehicle, he must unlock the vehicle by hand to disconnect the cable or else he must go to the door handle. This takes time and is unnecessary. Drivers who are unfamiliar with the plug-in are bothered by the locked cable and are annoyed because the customer does not believe the lock or disabling of the cable is at first sight related to locking the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to propose an improved, in particular a more comfortable and more intuitive method for the wireless unlocking of a charging cable. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a correspondingly set up system arrangement and to propose a computer program product with control commands which implement the method or at least partially operate the proposed system arrangement.

The object is achieved with the features of the independent claims. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

Accordingly, there is provided a method of conveniently disarming a physical charging cable latch of an electrically powered motor vehicle, comprising monitoring a presence of a predetermined transponder, detecting a request to release the physical charging cable latch and unblocking the physical charging cable latch if the presence of the transponder is detected; is provided.

In the following, aspects are partially illustrated with respect to purely electric powered vehicles, but this is not to be construed as limiting. As a motor vehicle here is generally any motor vehicle in question, especially an automobile. Particularly preferably, the present invention can also be used in motor vehicles with hybrid drive. Thus, the present invention also relates to PHEV and BEV vehicles. PHEV stands for the English abbreviation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The abbreviation (B) EV stands for the English name (Battery) Electric Vehicle, ie electric vehicle.

1. 1. Der Fahrer zieht zuerst den Stecker an der Wand, was bewirkt, dass das Fahrzeug die Ladekommunikation erkennt und prüft, ob der Schlüssel in der Nähe ist, was im positiven Fall wiederum bewirkt, dass die Ladedose für eine Zeitspanne freigegeben wird.
2. 2. Der Fahrer zieht zuerst die Steckverbindung am Fahrzeug. Das Fahrzeug muss erkennen, dass der Fahrer den Stecker an der Ladedose ziehen möchte. Darauf wird die Ladedose freigegeben.

The vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention has a so-called comfort access function, which can read the key by radio and thus can unlock the vehicle comfortably. The customer no longer has to pick up the key to open the car and start. There is thus an integration of the charging socket lock in the CAS (Comfort Access). For example, two scenarios may occur:

1. 1. The driver first pulls the plug on the wall, causing the vehicle to detect the charging communication and to check if the key is nearby, which in turn, positively causes the charging socket to be released for a period of time.
2. 2. The driver first pulls the connector on the vehicle. The vehicle must recognize that the driver wants to pull the plug on the charging socket. Then the charging socket is released.

1. 1. Die Ladedose oder der Ladestecker haben einen Beschleunigungssensor integriert, der den Betätigungswunsch erkennt, analog einem Türgriffsensor;
2. 2. Das Fahrzeugumfeld wird über Kameras überwacht und ein sich nähernder potenzieller Fahrer wird erkannt;
3. 3. Das zugrunde liegende System ist immer aktiv und sucht bei eingestecktem Ladestecker ständig nach einem Schlüssel in der Nähe; und/ oder
4. 4. Ein Entriegelungsknopf ist in der Ladedose integriert.

The second case represents the more demanding case. Here the following solution possibilities are provided according to the invention:

1. 1. The charging socket or the charging plug have integrated an acceleration sensor that detects the actuation request, analogous to a door handle sensor;
2. 2. The vehicle environment is monitored by cameras and an approaching potential driver is detected;
3. 3. The underlying system is always active and is constantly looking for a key nearby with the charging plug plugged in; and or
4. 4. A release button is integrated in the charging socket.

These scenarios are explained in more detail below. The present invention relates to the locking of a charging cable of an electric vehicle. Here, the application scenario is defined by the fact that a driver drives his electric vehicle to a charging station with a charging station and in this case connects a charging cable both to the vehicle and to the charging station.

In this case, a charging cable typically has two charging plugs, which are each arranged at one end of the charging cable. This charging plug is inserted into the charging socket of the charging station as well as on the other side into the charging socket of the vehicle. Thus, in each case the charging plug establishes a conductive connection with the charging station as well as with the vehicle. In this case, it is also possible that a communication connection is created, such that data can be exchanged between the charging station and the vehicle.

Typically, the charging process of an electric vehicle takes longer, so that the driver moves away from his vehicle. It is urgently to be avoided that an unauthorized third party takes the charging cable and steals. For this purpose, a charging cable lock is provided, which is arranged in each case on both sides of the charging cable. This physical charging cable lock prevents the charging cable from being disconnected by unauthorized persons. The physical charging cable lock thus exerts a physical lock that prevents the charging plug from being removed from the charging socket. In this case, it is sufficient that the cable is not stolen, if one of the ends of the charging cable is locked. Thus, it is not critical if only one end of the charging cable is unlocked.

According to the invention, the disadvantage is overcome that the driver can not unplug his cable readily, but that he must unlock this manually. This is an additional expense for the driver and can thus generally reduce the acceptance of electric vehicles. This is inventively overcome in that a transponder is provided which enters into a radio connection with the charging station, and thus solves the locking of the charging cable lock.

For this purpose, monitoring of a presence of a predetermined transponder takes place in a preparatory method step. The transponder is predetermined by the fact that the transponder is stored when plugging in the charging cable, and thus is also stored, which transponder is entitled to release the charging cable lock. If, for example, a driver drives his electric vehicle to the charging station and inserts the charging cable, then it is possible, for example by means of a communication connection between the vehicle and the charging station, to predetermine the transponder, or else the transponder itself will notify itself when the charging cable is plugged in Charging station on.

Now returns to the driver after a charge back to his vehicle, he would typically like to solve the charging cable lock, because he wants to move his vehicle. However, it should be recognized that an unlocking is imminent and it should be avoided according to the invention that the driver must perform a manual actuation of the unlocking. Here, the driver of conventional dispensers is used to the fact that he can easily solve the corresponding connection, without further action is necessary here. When the driver approaches his vehicle, it is typically recognized that the driver is carrying the transponder that was previously registered. Thus, it is therefore the predetermined transponder and the charging station detects the presence of the driver. Thus, it is therefore possible to release the lock, since now the authorized driver is present and the charging cable can not be stolen.

According to the invention, it is particularly advantageous to further develop the recognition of a request for releasing the physical charging cable connection. Thus, it has been recognized according to the invention that only a check of an authorization of an unlocking on one side of the charging cable is necessary. According to the invention, therefore, not both plug connections must be authorized at the respective end of the charging cable, but according to the invention it is sufficient that only one unlocking device has to be authorized. Thus, it is thus possible to recognize that there is a request to release the physical charging cable latch if a first end of the charging cable is disconnected. Thus, the charging station is clear that now also the second end of the charging cable should be staked. If the authorized driver is present and keeps the corresponding transponder ready, then when releasing the first end of the charging cable, a release or an unlocking of the second end of the charging cable can take place.

In this case, additional methods can be used additively or alternatively. For example, it is possible that the driver deducts a first connector and is thereby detected by means of the movement that now also the second connector should be removed. However, it is also sufficient if an appropriate acceleration sensor or a motion sensor is attached to the charging cable. Thus, with a single removal of the connector can already be checked whether the transponder is present. Thus, only by moving the charging cable is it recognized that there is a request to release the physical charging cable lock.

In the simplest case, the recognition takes place in such a way that the driver simply approaches with his transponder and is thus implicitly assumed that he now wants to unplug the charging cable. In this case, it is also possible to define a radius around the charging station in which the transponder, including the driver, must be, so that the unlocking is unlocked.

According to the invention, it is also possible that the unlocking of the physical charging cable lock only lasts for a certain period of time. Thereafter, regardless of the presence of the transponder, the lock can be reactivated. Thus, therefore, another security element is implemented, which provides that the driver only has a certain period available in which he can solve a corresponding lock. The time period can also be determined so that the driver can make a corresponding input and thus indicates how long it takes to stake out the charging cable when approaching the vehicle.

If, for example, the electric vehicle is always charged in its own garage, it can be specified that a longer period of time is available, and the radius corresponding to that in which the transponder must be unlocked is correspondingly greater. This is the case because a garage provides a secure parking space in which the charging cable is typically not stolen. If, however, always loaded at a public charging station, so a corresponding period or radius can be selected according to short or small.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the detection of the request for release by means of unlocking a first end of the charging cable takes place, wherein in the presence of the transponder unlocking the charging cable lock takes place at a second end of the charging cable. This has the advantage that one end of the charging cable is always free to unlock or solvable and then upon detection of the transponder and the second end can be released because the unlocking person is recognized as authorized due to the transponder. Thus, it is always ensured that only one end is free to unlock and to remove the cable an authorization must be present. Thus, the cable can not be stolen.

According to another aspect of the present invention, when the first end of the charging cable is unlocked in the presence of the transponder, the charging cable latch is unlocked at the second end of the charging cable for a predetermined period of time. This has the advantage that authorization will only last for a limited amount of time, for example a few seconds, and then the cable will be backed up again. Thus, even when leaving the driver of the environment of the charging station, the cable can not be stolen.

According to another aspect of the present invention, detecting the request to release comprises reading out an acceleration sensor in the charging plug. This has the advantage that either the charging plug or the charging cable can be equipped with an acceleration sensor or generally a motion sensor, so that is recognized if the driver wants to pull the plug of the cable. Thus, no further action on the part of the driver is necessary.

According to another aspect of the present invention, detecting the request to release comprises reading out an optical sensor. This has the advantage that a camera can be provided, which recognizes that the driver is approaching and thus likely to release the unlocking. In this case, the person skilled in the art knows further sensors and how he can read them according to the invention. For example, the optical sensor may also be present as a motion detector.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, detecting the solicitation request includes detecting the presence of the predetermined transponder within a spatial region. This has the advantage that a distance, preferably a radius around the charging station can be defined, within which the presence of the transponder is accepted as such. For example, a presence of the transponder is considered fulfilled if the transponder is not more than 5 meters away from the charging station. In general, such a radius can also be defined via the maximum radio path of the transponder. If the transponder is generally recognized, it is also considered as existing.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the recognition of the request for release comprises a readout of a control element. This has the advantage that at the charging station or on the charging plug, a button or a switch can be arranged, which requests a release of the unlocking upon actuation.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the transponder is provided by means of a motor vehicle key. This has the advantage that an existing transponder can be used again. Thus, no new transponder must be purchased and carried. This provides an intuitive procedure for the driver.

The object is also achieved by a system arrangement for comfortably unlocking a physical charging cable lock of an electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising a monitoring device configured to monitor the presence of a predetermined transponder, a recognition device configured to detect a request for releasing the physical charging cable lock, and an unlocking device adapted to Unlock the physical charging cable latch if the presence of the transponder is detected.

It is possible to install individual components in a charging station, in the motor vehicle and / or in the charging cable or charging plug. Preferably, however, the components are installed in the charging station itself.

The object is also achieved by a computer program product with control commands that perform the method and operate the proposed arrangement when executed on a computer.

According to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the method can be used to operate the proposed devices and units. Furthermore, the proposed devices and devices for carrying out the method according to the invention are suitable. Thus, the device implements structural features that are suitable for carrying out the corresponding method. However, the structural features can also be configured as method steps. Also, the proposed method provides steps to implement the function of the structural features.

• 1: ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum komfortablen Entsichern einer physischen Ladekabelverriegelung gemäß einem Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which, with reference to the drawings, aspects of the invention are described in detail. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any desired combination. Likewise, the features mentioned above and further explained here can be used individually or in combination in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as exhaustive, but have exemplary character for explaining the invention. In the figure shows:

• 1 FIG. 12 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for conveniently disarming a physical charging cable latch according to one aspect of the present invention.

1 FIG. 12 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for conveniently disarming a physical charging cable latch of an electrically powered motor vehicle, including monitoring 100 presence of a predetermined transponder, wherein detecting 101 a request to release the physical charging cable lock, and unlock 102 the physical charging cable lock, if the presence of the transponder is detected, is provided. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the steps may have further sub-steps and in particular that the method steps can each be carried out iteratively and / or in a different order.

Further method steps include, for example, predetermining the transponder, which implies registering the transponder at the charging station. Here, therefore, an identification number or generally an identification of the transponder must be deposited. This identification is needed in order to achieve an alignment between the respective vehicle key and the charging plug to be unlocked. This ensures that if the driver returns to his vehicle, exactly the charging cable of his vehicle is released again. Furthermore, it can be offered to the driver that he specifies himself, according to which method he wants to unlock the unlocking. Among other things, the driver can decide for a radius or also specify a certain period of time, how long the release lasts.

In general, it is also possible that both ends of the charging cable are secured according to the invention. Thus, it is not possible to remove even a single end of the charging cable, so a single charging plug. According to the invention Thus, in the presence of the transponder both charging plugs, so both on the side of the charging station and on the side of the vehicle released. For example, this may prevent an unauthorized person from stopping the vehicle from being charged. This is particularly advantageous because vehicles are often charged at public places or public charging stations. It may happen that unauthorized third parties simply remove the charging plug without the intention of stealing the cable. So that the charging process can continue properly and is not prevented, it is thus possible to secure both ends of the charging cable according to the invention.

Thus, both a method and a system arrangement for comfortable Entsichern a physical charging cable connection of an electrically powered motor vehicle is proposed, which can additively or alternatively also refer to the charging station. Thus, therefore, both connectors can be secured, or even only one connector. This too can be specified according to the invention, so that it can be up to the driver whether he secures a plug connection or both plug connections.

The present invention also relates to a retrofit kit, which makes it possible for existing charging stations or existing electric vehicles to be retrofitted according to the invention. Thus, only devices are to be provided which ensure that it is checked whether a transponder is present. As a result, the proposed method steps can also be easily integrated into existing systems or implemented therein.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102011011099 A1 [0002]
• DE 102011083554 A1 [0003]
• WO 2010/115927 A1 [0004]

Claims (10)

A method of conveniently disarming a physical charging cable lock of an electrically powered motor vehicle and a charging station, comprising: - monitoring (100) presence of a predetermined transponder, characterized by - detecting (101) a request to release the physical charging cable lock; and - unlocking (102) the physical charging cable lock if the presence of the transponder is detected. Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the recognition (101) of the request for release by means of unlocking a first end of the charging cable takes place, wherein in the presence of the transponder unlocking the charging cable lock takes place at a second end of the charging cable. Method according to Claim 2 , characterized in that when unlocking the first end of the charging cable in the presence of the transponder unlocking the charging cable lock takes place at the second end of the charging cable for a predetermined period of time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection (101) of the request to release comprises a readout of an acceleration sensor in the charging plug. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recognition (101) of the request to release comprises a readout of an optical sensor. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that detecting (101) the solicitation request comprises detecting the presence of the predetermined transponder within a spatial region. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recognition (101) of the request to release comprises a read-out of a control element. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transponder is provided by means of a motor vehicle key. A system arrangement for conveniently unlocking a physical charging cable lock of an electrically powered motor vehicle and a charging station, comprising: - a monitoring device configured to monitor (100) a presence of a predetermined transponder, characterized in that - a recognition device configured to recognize (101) a request to release the physical charging cable lock; and - an unlocking device is provided for unlocking (102) the physical charging cable latch if the presence of the transponder is detected. Computer program product with control commands, which performs the method according to one of Claims 1 to 8th when executed on a computer.

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