EP3898317A1

EP3898317A1 - Charging system for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3898317A1
Application number: EP19828239.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Theimer
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2018-12-20
Filing date: 2019-12-12
Publication date: 2021-10-27
Also published as: WO2020126828A1; DE102018009907A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging system (100) for a vehicle (1), comprising: a charging interface (10) for connecting the vehicle (1) to a charging station (2), and at least one communication interface (21, 22) for establishing a data connection with a network (101, 102), designed to register the vehicle (1) as a mobile edge node and/or base station in the network (101, 102).

Description

description

Charging system for a vehicle

The invention relates to a charging system for a vehicle according to the independent

Device claim, a vehicle according to the independent independent

Device claim, a network according to the independent system claim and a method for charging a vehicle according to the independent method claim

Future electric vehicles will be connected to charging stations and the power grid longer because they need to be charged. During this time, the vehicle is stationary and can draw electrical power from the network for charging the battery, but also for other consumers in the vehicle. In future radio standards, such as 5G, the radio cells will have to be smaller and more closely meshed due to the increasing demands on data throughput. Frequently, a higher data transmission capacity is required at focal points of the network (e.g. public events), but this cannot be completely covered with the static network at base stations.

With many radio standards, mesh networks are set up in which the information is passed on via several nodes in order to get to the receiver. Mesh networks put a strain on the processors and batteries of the devices involved, which are not necessarily charged at the same time.

For example, it is known from a document DE 102014 225 593 A1 that a vehicle can take over certain computing tasks from an external server. In this publication there is only talk of an external server. A data connection to a network is not discussed here. The problem of network coverage at focal points of the network is also not taken into account here. Furthermore, the energy costs for data communication with the network are not problematic.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved charging system and an improved vehicle. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved charging system and an improved vehicle which make it possible to provide the computing resources and / or communication resources of a vehicle dynamically and efficiently to a network. It is also an object of the invention to provide a corresponding vehicle. It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved network that has a dynamic, changing infrastructure of base stations and / or edge nodes. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to enable an improved method for charging a vehicle.

The object of the invention is achieved by an improved charging system for a vehicle with the features of the independent device claim, by an improved vehicle with the features of the independent independent device

Device claim, by an improved network with the features of the independent system claim and by a method for charging a vehicle with the features of the independent method claim in the dependent

Preferred refinements of the invention are set out in the claims. Features which are disclosed in relation to the individual aspects of the invention can be combined with one another in such a way that reference is always made or can be made to one another with regard to the disclosure of the inventive aspects.

The invention provides a charging system, in particular in the form of a charging plug, for a vehicle, comprising: a charging interface for connecting the vehicle to a charging station and at least one communication interface for producing one

Data connection to an (edge node and / or core) network, which is designed to register the vehicle as a mobile edge node and / or a base station in the network.

The invention recognizes that the vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, receives electrical power as soon as it is connected to a preferably intelligent charging station. In the future, intelligent charging stations with expanded functionalities and

Data connections used. The idea of the invention is that in

Charging system in addition to the charging interface, a communication interface (e.g. an optical communication interface with coupling optics) is installed, the one

Establishes data connection to a network or a data network infrastructure. The vehicle is supplied with electricity during charging. This means that electrical energy is available for further tasks such as data processing and / or communication. In this way, the vehicle can be operated as a powerful computer, the computing power of which can be made available by connecting to a charging station where the

Computing power is necessary. In other words, such a vehicle can be operated as a mobile edge node of an edge node network, which exchanges its data with a (wireless or wired) network via the charging system according to the invention. In addition, the vehicle can be used as a base station with a

powerful coupling to the wired connection network (core network) a mesh network. Each intelligent charging station can thus potentially provide a mobile edge node and / or a base station. In this way, the computing resources and / or communication resources of the vehicle can be made available dynamically and efficiently to a network.

Furthermore, the invention can provide in a charging system that the charging interface is designed in the form of a galvanic and / or an inductive charging interface. A galvanic interface can be designed in the form of a charging plug with contacts. An inductive charging interface can be advantageous to enable contactless charging of a vehicle battery. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the charging interface can have both connections in order to enable flexible use of different charging stations.

Furthermore, in a charging system, the invention can provide that the at least one communication interface has a contact-based communication interface in order to establish a data connection with a connection network. Advantageously, the contact-based communication interface can be implemented directly in a charging plug. This makes handling the charging system considerably easier.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the contact-based communication interface can be designed in the form of an optical communication interface. This enables a high bandwidth for data transmission (e.g. via fiber optics). More information can be transmitted per unit of time. In addition, the optical

Data transmission is insensitive to electrical and magnetic interference fields and is to a high degree secure against eavesdropping. The vehicle can thus perform a computing or charging process at a defined and known location of the charging station

Take on communication task. This enables planning in the network.

It is also conceivable that the contact-based communication interface is a

Can have coupling optics. An improved communication interface for receiving optical signals can thus be provided.

In addition, the invention can provide in a charging system that the at least one communication interface has a non-contact communication interface in order to establish a data connection with a wireless network and / or with end devices that can act as network participants. Thus, a flexible, dynamic network can be provided in a simple manner, to which the vehicle is flexible and dynamic can join.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the contact-free communication interface can be designed in the form of a modem, preferably a wireless high-speed modem. With the help of the modem, efficient data transmission can be made possible.

Furthermore, the invention can provide a router for a charging system, in particular in the form of a charging plug, in order to address data packets between the vehicle and the network. A router can also be used to coordinate an internal network within the vehicle. The router can advantageously be integrated within the charging plug. In principle, however, it is also possible for the router to be connected to the charging plug from the outside.

Furthermore, the invention can provide a storage subsystem for a charging system, in particular in the form of a charging plug, in order to temporarily store data before it is processed. This means that quickly arriving large amounts of data can be buffered and only processed further when the connected vehicle is ready to process further data. Are an example of this

Software updates that may need to be received quickly, but whose further processing should not be done while driving. The storage subsystem can advantageously be integrated within the charging plug. In principle, however, it is also conceivable that the storage subsystem can be connected to the charging plug from the outside.

In addition, the invention in a charging system, in particular in the form of a

Charging plug, provide a mobile edge server to provide computing power from the vehicle to external network participants in the network and / or to use the vehicle as a base station of the network. The mobile edge server can also be designed as software or a program that can communicate with another program, so-called users, in the client-server model. As a result, the user can use certain functionalities provided by the server software, for example utilities, network services, access to a file system or a database. It is also conceivable that the mobile edge server can run in a hardware server or a computer on which one or more server programs can run. The hardware server or the computer can be in a control unit and / or a navigation device of the Be implemented vehicle. However, it is conceivable that the hardware server or the computer can be connected electrically and / or in terms of communication technology to the charging plug in order to transmit data from the mobile edge server via the

To enable charging plugs to the network.

In addition, the invention in a charging system, in particular in the form of a

Charging plug, provide a computing unit to provide computing power on the vehicle. The vehicle can thus act as a mobile edge node of an edge node network.

It is also conceivable that the computing unit is designed in the form of a control device and / or a navigation device of the vehicle. That way it can

Loading system improve the functionality of the vehicle in the manner according to the invention. However, it is conceivable that the computing unit is electrical and / or

can be connected in terms of communication technology to the charging plug in order to enable data transmission from the computing unit via the charging plug to the network.

Furthermore, the object according to the invention is achieved by a vehicle with a charging system, which can be designed as described above. The same advantages are achieved by the vehicle according to the invention as in connection with the above

charging system according to the invention have been described. These advantages are referred to in full in the present case.

According to a further advantage, the invention provides an (edge node and / or core) network with a vehicle, which is designed as described above and which can serve as a mobile edge node and / or a base station of the network. The network according to the invention can be designed as a wireless or wired mesh network. The data communication between the vehicle and the

The network according to the invention can take place either via a contact-based (for example via glass fiber) or a contact-free communication interface (for example via WLAN). The network according to the invention enables a dynamic, variable infrastructure at edge nodes and / or base stations, in which areas of poor network coverage can be specifically covered with vehicles, which can serve as mobile edge nodes and / or a base station of the network. The infrastructure of the network can be expanded in an advantageous manner by the charging infrastructure, which charges vehicles in the sense of the invention at certain points of the charging infrastructure, which can serve as mobile edge nodes and / or base stations. Furthermore, the object according to the invention is achieved by a method for charging a vehicle. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that the vehicle is charged using a charging system which can be designed as described above. The method according to the invention achieves the same advantages that were described above in connection with the charging system according to the invention. These advantages are referred to in full in the present case.

Furthermore, in a method for charging a vehicle, the invention can provide that the vehicle is navigated to a charging station for charging, which is located in the area of poor network coverage in order to generate computing power from the

To make vehicle available to external network participants of the network and / or to use the vehicle as a base station of the network. This enables improved, dynamic network coverage even at focal points of a network.

Further measures improving the invention are described below with the

Description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the figure. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. It should be noted that the figure is only descriptive and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. It shows

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a charging system according to the invention

FIG. 1 shows a charging system 100 according to the invention for a vehicle 1, comprising: a charging interface 10 for connecting the vehicle 1 to a charging station 2 and at least one communication interface 21, 22 for establishing a data connection with a network 101, 102

A charging station 2 is only shown schematically in the figure. The charging station 2 can be designed as an intelligent charging station 2, preferably with expanded functionalities and data connections. In the charging system 100 according to the invention, in addition to the charging interface 10, a communication interface 21, 22 (e.g. an optical one

Installed communication interface 21 with a coupling optics) that a data connection to a network 101, 102 (for example, to a connection network 101) or to a

Establishes data network infrastructure (mesh network). The communication interface 21 is designed according to the invention to register the vehicle 1 as a mobile edge node and / or a base station in the network 101, 102. The charging system according to the invention 100 can advantageously be designed as a charging plug.

The vehicle 1 is supplied with power during charging. The electrical energy that is obtained can be used for other tasks such as data processing and / or

Communication. In this way, the vehicle 1 as a

powerful computer can be operated, the computing power of which can be made available by connecting to a charging station 2 where the computing power is required, for example at parking lots, festival sites, airports, etc. Thus, such a vehicle can act as a mobile edge node of an edge node -Network are operated, which uses the charging system 100 according to the invention to exchange its data with the (wireless or wired) edge node network. In addition, the vehicle 1 can act as a base station with an efficient coupling to the wired one

Connection network 102 (Gare network) of a mesh network can be used. Each intelligent charging station 2 can thus potentially provide a mobile edge node and / or a base station. In this way, the computing resources and / or

Communication resources of the vehicle are made available dynamically and efficiently to a (wireless or wired) network.

The charging interface 10 can be designed, for example, in the form of a galvanic and / or an inductive charging interface 10.

On the one hand, it is conceivable that the at least one communication interface 21, 22 can have a contact-based communication interface 21 in order to have a

Establish data connection with a connection network 101, for example with a wire, preferably by means of glass fiber. The contact-based communication interface 21 can be designed, for example, in the form of an optical communication interface 21 and can optionally have a coupling optics.

On the other hand, it is conceivable that the at least one communication interface 21, 22 has a contact-free communication interface 22 in order to establish a data connection with a wireless network 102. The contact-free communication interface 22 can, for example, be in the form of a modem, preferably a wireless high-speed modem.

Furthermore, the charging system 100, in particular in the form of a charging plug, can have a router 30 in order to address data packets between the vehicle 1 and the network 101, 102. The router 30 can be connected to the charging system 100 Device or be designed as an integral part of the charging system 100 in the form of a charging plug.

Furthermore, the invention can provide a storage subsystem 40 for a charging system 100, in particular in the form of a charging plug, in order to temporarily store data before it is processed. It is conceivable that data can be received while the vehicle is traveling via a contactless communication interface 22 and can only be processed when the vehicle 1 is connected to a charging station 2

it is conceivable for the storage subsystem 40 to be connected to the charging system 100

connectable device or as an integral part of the charging system 100 in the form of a charging plug.

In addition, the charging system 100, in particular in the form of a charging plug, can provide a mobile edge server 50 in order to provide computing power from the vehicle 1 to external network participants in the network 101, 102 and / or that

To use vehicle 1 as a base station of the network 101, 102. The Mobile Edge server 50 can be designed as software or a program that can be stored and run in a hardware server or a computer on which one or more server programs can be stored and run. The hardware server or the computer can be implemented in a control device and / or a navigation device of the vehicle 1. The hardware server or the computer can be connected electrically and / or in terms of communication technology to the charging plug in order to enable data transmission from the mobile edge server 50 to the network 101, 102 via the charging plug.

In addition, the charging system 100, in particular in the form of a charging plug, can

Computing unit 60 to provide computing power on vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 can thus act as a mobile edge node of an edge node network. The computing unit 60 can be designed in the form of a control device and / or a navigation device of the vehicle 1. The computing unit 60 can be connected electrically and / or in terms of communication technology to the charging plug in order to enable data transmission from the computing unit 60 to the network 101, 102 via the charging plug.

A vehicle 1 with a charging system 100, which can be configured as described above, represents a further aspect of the invention. The vehicle 1 can be used as a mobile edge node and / or when charging with the charging system 100 according to the invention serve a base station of the network 101, 102.

Yet another aspect of the invention is a method of loading a

For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that the vehicle 1 is charged with the aid of a charging system 100, which can be designed as described above. Advantageously, the vehicle 1 can be navigated for charging to a charging station 2 which is in the area of poor network coverage in order to provide computing power from the vehicle 1 to external network participants in the network 101,

102 and / or to provide the vehicle 1 as a base station of the

Network 101, 102 to use.

In this way, an improved, dynamic network 101, 102 or, in other words, a dynamically changed infrastructure of base stations and / or edge nodes can be made available, which builds up a more closely meshed network 101, 102 where many people or communicating Stop machines. The network 101, 102 is also an aspect of the present invention. The network 101, 102 can advantageously have a wired broadband mesh network and, with the aid of a contact-free communication interface 22 on the charging system 100, enable wireless communication with end devices.

The foregoing description of the figure describes the present invention

exclusively within the scope of examples Of course, individual features of the embodiments can, if it makes technical sense, be freely combined with one another without going beyond the scope of the invention.

Reference number list vehicle

Charging station charging system

Charging interface

Communication interface, contact communication interface communication interface, contactless communication interface router

Storage subsystem

Mobile edge server

Computing unit network, connection network

Network, wireless network

Claims

1 charging system (100) for a vehicle (1), comprising;

a charging interface (10) for connecting the vehicle (1) to a charging station (2) and at least one communication interface (21, 22) for producing a

Data connection to a network (101, 102), which is designed to use the vehicle (1) as a mobile edge node and / or a base station in the network (101, 102)

to register.

2. loading system (100) according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the charging interface (10) in the form of a galvanic or an inductive

Charging interface (10) is executed.

3. loading system (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

that the at least one communication interface (21, 22) has a contact-based communication interface (21) in order to establish a data connection with a

Connecting network (101),

and / or that the contact-based communication interface (21) is in the form of an optical communication interface (21),

and / or that the contact-based communication interface (21) has a coupling optics.

4. Loading system (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the at least one communication interface (21, 22) has a contact-free communication interface (22) in order to establish a data connection with a wireless network (102),

and / or that the contactless communication interface (22) is in the form of a modem.

5. Loading system (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that a router (30) is provided to address data packets between the vehicle (1) and the network (101, 102). Loading system {100} according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that a storage subsystem (40} is provided to temporarily store data before it is processed loading system (100} according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that a mobile edge server (50} is provided to provide computing power from the vehicle (1} to external network participants in the network (101, 102} and / or the vehicle (1} as a base station of the network ( 101, 102} to use charging system (100} according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that a computing unit (80} is provided in order to compute computing power on the

To provide vehicle (1),

and / or that the computing unit (60) is designed in the form of a control device and / or a navigation device of the vehicle (1). Vehicle (1) with a charging system (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 0 network (101, 102) with a vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, which serves as a mobile edge node and / or a base station of the network (101, 102} 1 method for charging a vehicle (1),

characterized,

that the vehicle (10) using a charging system (100) according to one of the

preceding claims 1 to 8 is loaded method according to the preceding claim,

characterized,

that the vehicle (1) is navigated for charging to a charging station (2) which is located in the region of poor network coverage, in order to provide computing power from the vehicle (1} to external network participants in the network (101, 102) and / or to use the vehicle (1) as a base station of the network (101, 102}.