WO2010145971A1

WO2010145971A1 - Device for connecting to an electrical energy supply network and transport system

Info

Publication number: WO2010145971A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/057985
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoph Ruland
Original assignee: Christoph Ruland
Priority date: 2009-06-15
Filing date: 2010-06-08
Publication date: 2010-12-23
Also published as: CN102458909A; DE102009026936B4; DE102009026936A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for connecting an electrical load and/or an electrical energy source to an electrical energy supply network (104), comprising: connection means (106) for detachably connecting an electrical transmission line (122) of the load or of the energy source to the device; controllable switching means (108) for electrically connecting the connection means to the energy supply network, wherein the switching means can assume a first switching state in which the connection means are disconnected from the energy supply network, and wherein the switching means can assume a second switching state in which the connection means are connected to the energy supply network, wherein the controllable switching means are designed to receive a switching signal (112) from control means (110; 162); and signal transmission means (114; 180) for enabling a signal transmission by means of the connection means regardless of the switching state of the switching means.

Description

Device for connection to an electrical power supply network and

transport system

Description

The invention relates to a device for connecting an electrical load or an electrical energy source to an electrical power supply network and a transport system.

The uses of electric cars are currently very limited, among other things because there is a lack of suitable infrastructure for recharging the batteries. From the CH 688 599 A5 a Zapf space is provided for electric vehicles. An identity code may be superimposed on the charging current at a defined modulated carrier frequency during the charging process. Instead, the identity code can also be transmitted via an induction coil, as used in person access cards.

The invention is based on the object to provide an improved device for connecting an electrical load or an electrical energy source to an electrical power grid. The device includes connection means for releasably connecting an electrical power line of the load or the power source to the device. The connection means may be, for example, a socket. To connect the consumer or the power source, a power cord with a plug is plugged into the socket. Instead of a plug connection, the connection can also be realized via a clamping or screw connection.

The device further has controllable switching means for electrically connecting the connection means to the power supply network. The switching means can assume a first switching state in which the connection means are separated from the power supply network, and a second switching state in which the connection means are connected to the energy supply network.

The apparatus further comprises a transformer which connects the connection means to the power supply network e.g. for a Powerline Communication (PLC) signal coupling regardless of the switching state of the switching means coupled.

A transformer is here understood to mean coupling means via which, for example, a transmission of PLC signals between the electrical energy supply network and the consumer or the energy source can take place. According to embodiments of the invention, the transmitter is a two-port. A first port of the transformer is electrically connected to the connection means and a second port of the transformer is electrically connected to the power supply network. The first and second gates are galvanically isolated. The controllable switching means bridge in the second switching state, the transformer, so that the connection means and the power supply network are electrically connected to each other.

According to embodiments of the invention, PLC signals which contain data are coupled into and out of the electrical energy supply network by means of a PLC module in the electrical energy supply network. The PLC module is galvanically connected to the second port of the transformer but not to the first port of the transformer.

By the transformer, the mains voltage of the electrical power supply network is decoupled from the PLC signals, so that in the first switching state, only the PLC signals are transmitted, but no mains voltage is applied to the socket.

According to embodiments of the invention, no electrical connection between the power supply network and the connection means is made by the coupling means, i. If the switching means are in their first switching state, then there is a galvanic isolation between the electrical power supply network and the connection means. In this case, the transformer has, for example, coupled primary and secondary coils, via which the PLC signals are transmitted.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the coupling means can be realized by means of a capacitor.

Embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because even if the switching means are in their first switching state, the transmission of PLC signals from and / or to the consumer or the power source can take place. So it is not mandatory that the consumer or the power source must first be connected to the electrical power grid before a PLC signal transmission can take place.

A PLC signal transmission here means any powerline communication, i. the transmission of data over an electrical power grid. From the state of the art, it is known per se to transmit data via an electrical energy supply network by means of power line communication (PLC). For so-called off-site PLC systems, the data signal is fed, for example, to the local network transformer and transmitted to the connected end users according to the point-multipoint principle on the 230/400 volt low-voltage distribution network. In an in-house PLC system, data communication occurs via the 230/400 volt low voltage installation inside the house and is also referred to as home networking. A PLC overall system consists of these two subsystems; In principle, however, each of the subsystems can also exist for themselves.

With regard to the frequency spectrum used, two types of PLC are distinguished: narrowband PLC and broadband PLC.

Narrowband PLC is located in the frequency band from 9 kHz to 148.5 KHz and allows data rates up to the order of 150 kbit per second. This narrow-band PLC technology is intended for home networking in the in-house area.

The broadband PLC technology is frequency-localized between 1, 6 MHz and 30 MHz and should allow the transmission of high data rates on the order of a few megabits per second. The overall frequency band can be subdivided into subbands, for example subbands 1, 6 MHz to 13.5 MHz for out-of-home systems and 13.5 MHz to 30 MHz for in-house systems (cf. 2721, Technical Manual, Placing on the Market and / or Operating PLC Plants [Powerline Communications] in Switzerland)

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device has PLC means for transmitting and / or receiving PLC signals in order to exchange PLC signals with the load or the power source.

By PLC means is meant in particular a so-called PLC module, which couples a PLC signal into the electrical energy supply network. The PLC signal is coupled via a so-called phase coupler in one or more phases of the power grid. This phase coupler is considered as part of the PLC module, but can also be designed separately.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device has control means which can process useful signals exchanged via PLC. For example, the control means are designed to generate transmission signals which are transmitted as PLC signals from the PLC means via the electrical power supply network and / or for processing reception signals received from the PLC means via the electrical power supply network.

The control means and / or the PLC means can be implemented by one or more program-controlled processors and / or circuitry.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control means are designed so that a switching signal for changing the switching state of the switching means is issued only on the condition that previously a PLC signal transmission has taken place with the consumer or power source via the transformer.

For example, the control means only control the switching means for switching to the first switching state, ie for connecting the connection means to the Power supply network, after the consumer or energy source has demonstrated its eligibility. Such authorization can be provided, for example, by the consumer or the energy source communicating the contract data of an energy supply or energy supply contract with a power supply company via the PLC signal transmission to the device. There, these contract data can be evaluated locally by the control means. Alternatively or additionally, the control means may communicate with a parent central, such as a server computer, to verify the authorization.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the billing of the energy taken from the electrical power grid or fed into the power grid is done by means of a personalized electronic data medium containing private or secret keys and / or contract data, e.g. a chip card or a USB stick. In this case, the consumer and / or the power source has a smart card reader, with which the control means of the device can communicate via the PLC signal transmission, for example, to exchange billing data.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control means are designed so that an authentication of the consumer or the power source takes place while the switching means are in the first switching state, ie as long as still no removal of electrical energy from the power grid or a supply of energy is possible. Only after a successful authentication of the consumer or the energy source with respect to the device or with respect to a higher-level control center, with which the device is in a communication connection, the control means generate a switching signal to bring the switching means in the second switching state. The authentication can also be mutually configured so that the device must authenticate itself to the consumer or the energy source before the switching signal for switching to the second switching state is generated by the control means. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control means are designed so that the switching signal is generated for switching to the second switching state to enable the authentication of the consumer, if this does not have its own power supply, such as a battery, a rechargeable battery or a photocell , If the authentication of the consumer is successful, then the switching means remain in the second switching state; if the authentication of the consumer fails, the control means generate the switching signal for switching to the first switching state. In this case, the consumer can therefore remove energy from the energy supply network or feed it into the energy supply network only for a short time, namely for the duration of the expiration of an authentication protocol. The amount of energy can be limited over this period of time to that energy that is needed solely for the purpose of performing the authentication protocol.

The authentication may be password-based, based on a symmetric key, or based on a cryptographic asymmetric key pair, or in any other suitable manner. In particular, digital certificates or credentials can be exchanged via the PLC signals for the purpose of authentication.

Standardized methods for authentication are in the following international

Defines standards that can be applied, for example:

ISO / IEC 9798: Information Technology - Security Techniques - Entity Authentication: Part 1: General

ISO / IEC 9798-2: Information Technology - Security Techniques - Entity Authentication: Part 2: Mechanisms using Symmetry Encipherment Algorithms ISO / IEC 9798-3: Information Technology - Security Techniques - Entity Authentication: Part 3: Mechanisms using Digital Signature Techniques ISO / IEC 9798-4: Information Technology - Security Techniques - Entity Authentication: Part 4: Mechanisms using a Cryptographic Check Function ISO / IEC 9798-5: Information Technology - Security Techniques - Entity Authentication: Part 5: Mechanisms using Zero Knowledge Techniques

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device has means for measuring the electrical energy delivered by the energy supply network to the electrical consumer or for measuring the electrical energy fed into the energy supply network from the electrical energy source via the connection means, wherein the control means are designed such that the switching signal in order to bring the switching means into the first switching state, provided that the amount of energy delivered satisfies a condition.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device has PLC means for transmitting a test signal and for receiving a response signal from the electrical load or the electrical energy source, wherein the control means are adapted to deliver a control signal for switching the switching means in the first switching state if no response signal is received on the test signal. This has the advantage that it can be automatically detected by the device whether the consumer or the energy source is connected to the connection means. This implements a keep-alive process.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the check of the presence of one or more of the prerequisites after the initial switching of the switching means to the second switching state is carried out one or more further times, for example with a predetermined periodicity or after a randomly selected time in order to check whether the requirement or the conditions for the second

Switching state still present. This implements a "keep-alive process". For example, by re-examining the authenticity of the consumer or of the energy source, it can be checked whether the consumer or the energy source has not been replaced in the meantime by another consumer or another energy source during energy extraction or energy supply. It is also possible to check whether the consumer's creditworthiness is adequate for the withdrawal of electrical energy, or whether the consumer has sufficient credit to withdraw the desired energy. In particular prepaid or postpaid methods for billing the removal of the electrical energy can be implemented in this manner.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an authentication protocol is carried out periodically or aperiodically, each time with a new challenge, in order to determine not only whether a consumer / energy source is still connected, but also whether it is still the same. If previously mutually authenticated, according to embodiments of the invention here also periodically / aperiodically (for example, at unpredictable times) mutually authenticated. The authentication protocol is therefore carried out once again with "fresh", as yet unused challenges, which has the advantage that replay attacks can be averted.

Embodiments of the device according to the invention may be designed so that only a withdrawal of electrical energy, i. the connection of a consumption is possible, but not the supply of energy.

Embodiments of the device according to the invention may be designed such that only one feed of electrical energy, i. the connection of an energy source is possible, but not the extraction of energy.

Embodiments of the device according to the invention may be designed so that optionally a removal or an injection of electrical energy can take place. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a transport system with an embodiment of a device according to the invention and at least one electrically operable transport. The electrically operable transport means has a rechargeable battery, which serves as an energy source for an electric drive of the means of transport. The means of transport can be connected as an electrical load with the connection means of the device to obtain a charging current from the power supply network, by means of which the batteries of the means of transport are charged. However, the means of transport can also serve as a source of energy and feed electrical energy from the battery into the energy supply network via the device. The means of transport may be, for example, an electric car or an electric boat.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a charging station is provided which is integrated in any street lamp. The street lamp includes a device according to the invention, the socket is accessible from the street, for example, to connect an electric car to it.

In particular, the device may be designed as a so-called charging station.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of devices according to the invention, which are controlled by a central unit,

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of devices according to the invention, which are controlled by a central unit,

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 4,

6 shows a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of devices according to the invention, which are controlled by a central unit,

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 6.

Elements of the following embodiments corresponding to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device 100 according to the invention, which may be formed as a charging station. The device 100 is connected to a phase 102 of an electrical energy supply network 104, to which an alternating voltage of, for example, 50 Hz in the amount of 230 V is applied.

The device 100 further has connection means, which are embodied here as a socket 106. The phase 102 can be connected to the socket 106 via controllable switching means, which here have the two controllable switches 108. The device 100 further has control means, which are designed here as a controller 110. The controller 110 may generate a control signal 112 to toggle the switches 108. FIG. 1 shows the switches 108 in their first switching state, in which the switches 108 are open, so that there is no galvanic connection between the phase 102 and the socket 106.

Control signal 112 closes switches 108, i. placed in the second switching state. As a result, a galvanic connection between the phase 102 and the socket 106 is made, so that can be removed via the socket 106 the electrical power grid 104 energy. Alternatively, in the case of closed switches 108, energy can be fed into the energy supply network 104 via the socket 106.

The device 100 further has a transformer 114. The transformer 114 may be formed, for example, as a so-called pulse transformer, which is not used for energy transmission, but for information transmission. In particular, the transformer 114 can be designed as a bidirectional bandpass filter or high-pass filter that passes signals in a bandpass range in both directions, but not the frequency with which the electrical energy supply network 104 is operated. Preferably, the transmitter 114 has a pass band including a PLC frequency band, for example, a narrowband PLC and / or a broadband PLC.

The transformer 114 is designed here as a 4-PoI, wherein on one side the phase 102 is present and on the other side the socket 106 is connected. In particular, the transmitter 114 is a so-called two-port, wherein a first port of the transmitter 114 with the socket 106 and a second port of the transformer 114 with the phase 102, i. the power supply network 104, is electrically connected.

A PLC module 116 is connected to phase 102 so that the PLC module can send and receive PLC signals through phase 102. The PLC module 116 is thus also galvanically connected to the second port of the transformer 114. The device 100 further has a power supply 120 for supplying power to the active components of the device 100, for example the PLC module 116 and / or the controller 110. The power supply 120 may be connected to the phase 102 and provides a DC voltage of for example, 5V or 3.3V.

To the socket 106 may be connected a cable 122 of an electrical load or an electrical energy source. According to the embodiment of Figure 1, via the cable 122 e.g. the charger 124 of a consumer 126, such. B. a passenger car (car) connected to the device 100, for example, to charge a battery of the car. In particular, the car may be an electric car. The consumer 126 may be designed so that it can also serve as an electrical energy source.

For example, the consumer 126 is operated by a customer of the power grid, where the customer may selectively operate the consumer 126 in a consumption mode in which power is extracted from the power grid or in a feed mode in which power is supplied to the power grid. In the feed mode, the load 126 thus acts as an energy source.

The consumer 126 has a PLC module 130, which may in principle be of the same design as the PLC module 116 of the device 100. The consumer 126 further has a control device, such as a controller 132. The PLC module 130 and / or the Controllers 132 may in particular be part of a so-called Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the consumer 126.

For the power supply, for example of the PLC module 130 and / or of the controller 132 or of the ECU, here serves a DC / DC converter 134, which reduces the on-board voltage of the load 126 in the amount of, for example, 12 V to 5 V or 3, 3 V transformed. Alternatively, the power supply can also be done via a power supply.

To charge the battery of the consumer 126, for example, proceed as follows:

The cable 122 is inserted with its plug into the socket 106. A message 136 is then generated by the controller 132 and input to the PLC module 130. Alternatively, the plugging of the plug into the socket 106 can be recognized unilaterally or on both sides, in which a message 136, or 140 or a test message is periodically sent by the consumer or the charging station. Furthermore, for example, the plugging of the plug into the socket is sensed by a sensor of the consumer 126, e.g. by a mechanical sensor located on the plug. On the basis of the corresponding sensor signal which is transmitted to the controller 132, the latter generates the message 136.

Alternatively or additionally, the socket 106 may have such a sensor to sense the insertion of the plug by the device 100. In this case, the sensor of the socket 106 is coupled to the controller 110 of the device 100. The controller 110 generates the message 140 after the insertion of the plug has been sensed. The consumer 126 then responds to the message 140 at least with the message 136.

The PLC module 130 generates from the message 136 PLC signals 138 that are transmitted over the cable 122. The PLC signals 138 are then received by the PLC module 116 after transmission via the transmitter 114. The PLC module 116 regenerates the message 13 from the PLC signals 138 and forwards them to the controller 110.

The controller 110 processes the message 136. Based on the message 136, the controller 110 checks whether a certain condition is met. If so, the controller 110 outputs the signal 112 to close the switches 108, ie to bring the switch 108 from the first switching state in the second switching state, so that the transformer 114 is bridged. After closing the switch 108, the phase 102 is galvanically connected to the cable 122, so that now a charging current for recharging the battery of the consumer, for example, the PkWs, can flow. Alternatively, a supply current for feeding electrical energy from the consumer's battery may flow into the utility grid 104.

According to embodiments of the invention, the communication does not take place with a single message 136, but the exchange of several protocol elements is required to check the conditions (such as for authentication with challenge / response protocol and / or to transfer the contract data who can for example specify prepaid or postpaid).

A requirement for the closing of the switches 108 by the controller 110, i. the delivery of the control signal 112, it may be that the exchange of PLC signals between the device 100 and the consumer 126 against the controller 110 currently provides evidence that there is an authorization to remove the charging current. This can be done so that with the message 136 contract data of the holder of the consumer 126 with the operator of the power grid 104 are transmitted. The controller 110 then checks, either locally or via a communication link with an external server computer, whether the contract data received via the message 136 is valid. If so, the controller 110 outputs the control signal 112 to close the switches 108.

Alternatively or additionally or in combination with the detection, the exchange of PLC signals, ie PLC messages, between the device 100 and the consumer 126 results in one-sided or mutual authentication. For example, the controller 132 has access to a private key associated with the consumer 126 and / or its owner or operator. The private key, which is also called a secret key, can be found in, for example, a so-called security module, ie, a protected memory area of the controller 132 or on a chip card to which the controller 132 has access via a chip card reader, be stored.

The proof of the authorization of the consumer 126 with respect to the controller 110 can be provided, for example, by means of authentication methods, as described in particular in Chapter 5.1. (Unilateral Authentication) or from Chapter 5.2 (Mutual Authentication) of ISO 9798-3 are known per se.

With the message 136, the controller 132, for example, sends a digital certificate including the public key associated with the private key. The controller 110, upon receiving the certificate from the consumer 126, then generates a so-called challenge to authenticate the consumer 126 or its owner or operator.

For example, the challenge is a random number generated by the controller 110. This is then input as a message 140 from the controller 110 to the PLC module 116 and coupled from the PLC module 116 as a PLC signal 142 in the phase 102.

The PLC signal 142 is received via the transmitter 114, the socket 106 and the cable 122 from the PLC module 130 of the consumer 126, which inputs the random number received with the message 140 into the controller 132.

The controller 132 or the smart card then digitally signs the random number using its private key and responds to the message 140 with another message 136 that includes the digitally-signed random number or digital signature at random. The controller 110 then, upon receipt of the signed random number or digital signature with the public key that the controller 110 previously received with the digital certificate, verifies that the signed random number matches the challenge, ie, the random number sent to the consumer or whether the digital signature is correct. If this is the case, then the consumer 126 or its owner or operator as authenticated, so that the controller 110 outputs the control signal 112 to close the switches 108, so that the charging process can begin.

Alternatively or additionally, the procedure is as follows. For example, the challenge again is a random number generated by the controller 110. This random number is encrypted with the public key contained in the certificate. The resulting ciphertext is then input as a message 140 from the controller 110 to the PLC module 116 and coupled from the PLC module 116 into the phase 102 as a PLC signal 142.

The PLC signal 142 is received via the transmitter 114, the socket 106 and the cable 122 from the consumer 126 and fed to the PLC module 130, which demodulates the message 140 and the message received with the message 140 cipher to the controller 132 sends.

The controller then decrypts the ciphertext 132 using its private key and responds to the message 140 with another message 136 containing the decrypted ciphertext. The controller 110, after receiving the decrypted cipher from the consumer 126, then checks whether the decrypted ciphertext matches the challenge, i. coincident with the random number. If so, the consumer 126 or its owner or operator is considered authenticated, so that the controller 110 issues the control signal 112 to close the switches 108 so that the charging process can begin.

Preferably, the digital certificate obtained from the consumer 126 is checked, for example, before the public key contained in the certificate is used to verify the digital signature of the random number. The verification of the certificate can be carried out by means of a certificate chain check, for example with stored certificates, public keys or with the aid of a public key infrastructure (PKI), in which the public keys / certificate can be verified online. Alternatively or additionally, the device 100 or the network operator can be authenticated to the consumer 126, for example also with the aid of a challenge-response method.

The device 100 may have an electricity meter that measures the amount of energy delivered to the consumer 126. The controller 110 may compare the amount of energy delivered sensed by the electricity meter to a threshold and, upon reaching the threshold, may deliver another control signal 112 to reopen the switches 108.

This threshold value may be set by the controller 110, for example, based on a credit worthiness of the consumer's holder 126 when using a postpaid method to charge the amount of energy delivered. In a prepaid method, the threshold may result from the current balance, which is associated with the consumer 126 or its owner or operator. The current value of this credit can for example be stored on a chip card. The controller 110 can then query the current credit from this chip card by means of the PLC module 116 via a chip card reader of the consumer 126 and set the threshold value for the maximum amount of energy to be dispensed accordingly.

Alternatively, the credit, which is assigned to the consumer 126 or its owner or operator, may also be stored, for example, on a server computer of the network operator. With the aid of the contract data received from the consumer 126 and / or with the aid of the digital certificate, the controller 110 can query the current credit from the server computer in order to set the threshold value for the maximum amount of energy to be dispensed.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the controller 110 periodically or aperiodically sends a message 140 as a test signal to check whether the cable 122 is still connected to the socket 106. After transmitting such a test signal, the controller 110 awaits receipt of a response signal from the consumer 126 within a predetermined maximum time. If the controller 110 does not receive such a response signal within the predetermined time, this means that the cable 122 is no longer connected to the socket 106, so that the controller generates another control signal 112 to reopen the switches 108. Alternatively or additionally, the authentication is also performed periodically or aperiodically several times. This avoids that after the cable 122 is pulled out of the socket 106, another consumer is connected to the socket 106 to remove electrical energy from the power grid 104 at the expense of a third party.

By the device 100 and the consumer 126, such as a PkW, therefore, a transport system is created, which allows a decentralized supply of the consumer 126 and other principally identically constructed consumer.

In particular, the device 100 may be designed as a so-called charging station.

The device 100 may be designed such that, alternatively or in addition to the removal of electrical energy, it is also possible to feed electrical energy into the energy supply network 104.

For example, a solar cell or a wind turbine can be connected to the device 100 via the cable 122, which takes the place of the charger 124 in the embodiment of FIG. The electrical energy fed into the power grid 104 by the solar cell or the windmill via the cable 122 and the apparatus 100 may be measured by the power meter of the apparatus 100. sen and be signaled by signaling the amount of energy supplied from the controller 110 to the server computer.

The meter may be on the side of the device 100 or the consumer 126, bearing in mind that it is a meter under the obligation of verification. However, measuring devices may also be located on both sides.

The present invention also makes it possible to use the batteries of a fleet of consumers 126 as energy storage for the power grid 104, in particular to cover peak loads or as a contribution to a base load, especially during the night hours.

The transport system can be configured, for example, such that at each parking space or in each garage there is a device 100 to which a corresponding consumer 126 is connected when the consumer 126 is not in operation.

Via the charging station 100, the energy supply network 104 can then draw energy from the batteries of the consumers 126, for example to cover short-term peak loads.

2 shows a further embodiment of the device 100 and the consumer 126, wherein a connection of all three phases of the power supply network 104 is carried out. The PLC signal transmission of the PLC signals 138 and 142 takes place via at least the phase, which is coupled to the consumer via the transmitter 114, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which several of the devices 100 are driven by a common central unit 128; the central unit is also referred to below as concentrator 128. Each of the Devices 100 includes a transformer 114 with switches 108, through which a respective switching module 118 is formed. The various transmitters 114 are connected via lines 178 and via the concentrator 128 to the power grid 104. Furthermore, each of the devices 100 is assigned a unique address, ie one of the addresses Ci, C ₂ ,..., C _n- i, C _n . The relevant address may be stored in a memory of each of the devices 100.

The controller 110 and each of the devices 100 each interface with a control bus 176. Through the control bus 176, the controller 110 may send control signals 112 to the devices 100 to open or close the switches 108. The control signal 112 is directed to the address of that device 100 whose switches 108 are to be switched in order to bring this device 100 from one to the other switching state.

Each of the devices 100 is connected to a socket 106, via which a consumer 126 can be connected by means of a plug 182. Each of the n-type consumers 126 can in principle be constructed as explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

It is of particular advantage in the embodiment considered here that not every outlet 106 has to have a separate PLC module 116 and a separate controller 110, but that the PLC module 116 and the controller 110 belong to a central unit which has several of them Devices 100 can control. This significantly reduces the implementation effort.

This embodiment is suitable, for example, for equipping a parking garage with power sockets.

The system may consist of a central office that includes the concentrator 128 and several of the devices 100 to which different loads 126 may be connected. A concentrator 128 is here understood to mean a PLC module 116 with controller 110 and power supply unit 120, which can be connected to the energy supply network 104 in a single-phase or three-phase configuration.

The device 100 is formed here by a switching module 118, which includes a transformer 114 with the switches 108 for single and multi-phase operation, wherein the switching module is in each case connected to a socket 106.

The concentrator 128 is connected via the power supply network 104 to the switching modules 118, via which the current flows and the PLC signals 142 are transmitted. In addition, the concentrator is connected via a control bus 144 or control lines to the switching modules 118, via which or via which the control signals 112 for the switches 108 are sent to bring the switches respectively in the first or second switching state (out-band control of Switching means).

The PLC module 116 of the concentrator 128 can communicate with each PLC module 130 of a consumer because each PLC module has a different address.

When all conditions for the charging or feeding operation are met, the switches 108 of the corresponding switching module 118 are brought into the second switching state by sending the switching signal via the control bus 144 or the control line. Accordingly, when the conditions are met, the switching signal for the first switching state is sent. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the controller 110 can communicate with the devices 100 via the power grid 104; the control bus 176 is therefore omitted in this embodiment. The transmission of the control signal 112 from the controller 110 of the concentrator 128 to one of the switching modules 118 takes place here in the form of a message 140 which is sent from the PLC module 116 of the concentrator 128 to the relevant device 100 and there from a PLC module 160 Will be received. The devices 100 are each assigned unique addresses, so that the message 140 can be directed to a specific device 100 in order to initiate a switching process in this device 100. The devices 100 may be designed here so that they form an integral part of the sockets 106. The control signal 112 is locally generated by the controller 162 of the subject device 100 in this embodiment.

This embodiment is suitable, for example, for an implementation in street lamps of a street or in parking lots.

In this embodiment, a concentrator 128 is connected to a plurality of the devices 100 which are formed as PLC sockets.

A PLC socket here means a PLC module 150 with controller 152, power supply unit 154 and switching module 118, as shown in FIG.

Each PLC outlet is connected to a socket 106 for the connection of a consumer 126.

To control the switching means 108 in the PLC sockets, messages 140 and 146 are exchanged between the controller 110 in the concentrator 128 and the controller 152 in the PLC socket.

The concentrator 128 is connected to the PLC sockets 156 through which the power flows and the PLC messages via the power network, ie, line 178 140, and 136 and 146, respectively. After receiving message 140, controller 152 places switches 108 in either the first or second switching state (in-band control of the switching means).

In one embodiment, communication between the concentrator controllers and the PLC sockets is cryptographically secured to ensure authentication of the exchanged messages. Mechanisms can be used for this purpose, as already described for the communication between the controller 110 in the charger and the controller 132 in the consumer.

Concentrator PLC module 116 may communicate with each consumer PLC module 130 and each PLC module 150 of a PLC outlet 156 because each PLC module has a different address.

If all the conditions for the charging or feeding operation are met, the switches 108 of the corresponding switching module of the PLC socket are brought into the second switching state by a message 140 from the controller 110 to the controller 152 by means of PLC, which then the switch in brings the second switching state. Accordingly, if the conditions are met, a message 146 is sent when the controller 152 is to bring the switches into the first switching state.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the device 100, which is referred to here as a PLC gateway, and its connection to the concentrator via the energy supply network 104. FIG. 7 shows a corresponding embodiment of the device 100 in detail.

In contrast to the embodiment of the device 100 according to FIG. 5, here the communication between the device 100 and the consumer 126 does not take place by means of PLC signal transmission, but via an additional communication channel which is located between the controller 162 of the device 100 and the control device. ler 132 of the consumer 126 can be constructed. This additional communication channel may, for example, be wired by forming a control bus 180 between the controller 162 and the controller 132 when the plug 182 is plugged into the socket 106. For this purpose, one or more further contacts may be present in the socket 106 in addition to the contacts necessary for the power supply, via which the control bus 180 is closed when the plug 182 is inserted into the socket 106. The transmission of messages between the device 100 and the load 126 takes place here via the control bus 180 and not via the lines which are provided for transmitting the electrical energy seen. The transmission of messages between the device 100 and the concentrator 128 is accomplished by PLC signal transmission over the power grid 104.

This scenario thus allows the connection of consumers 126 without PLC module.

In this embodiment, a concentrator 128 is connected to multiple PLC gateways. The PLC communication takes place only between concentrator 128 and PLC gateway and not between charger and consumer. The consumer is connected via a special plug 182 with data interface via the socket to the PLC gateway

This embodiment is particularly suitable for connecting consumers without PLC module and is therefore a very cost-effective variant.

A PLC gateway 158 is here understood to mean a PLC module 160, a controller 162, a power supply 164 and the switching means 108.

To control the switching means 108 in the PLC gateways, messages 140 and 174 are exchanged between the controller 110 in the concentrator and the controller 162 in the PLC gateway. According to one embodiment, the communication between the controller 110 of the concentrator and the controllers 162 of the PLC gateways is cryptographically secured to ensure authentication of the exchanged messages. Mechanisms such as those described above for communication between the controller 110 in the charger and the controller 132 in the consumer may be used.

The concentrator 128 is connected via the power network to the PLC gateways 158 through which the current flows and the PLC messages 140, and 174 are transmitted. The messages 140 cause the controller 162 to bring the switches 108 into each of the first or second switching states in-band control of the switching means.

The connection of the consumer to a socket connected to a PLC gateway is made via a special plug with connections for the mains supply and an additional integrated data interface (control bus 180 or control lines) for the exchange of protocol data for the authentication and billing of the charged, or fed amount of energy with the concentrator.

When all conditions for the charging or feeding operation are met, the switches 108 of the corresponding switching module of the PLC gateways are brought into the second switching state by a message 140 from the controller 110 is transmitted to the controller 162 via PLC, which then switches in brings the second switching state. Accordingly, if the conditions are met, a message 140 is sent when the controller 162 is to bring the switches into the first switching state. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 device

102 phase

104 energy supply network

106 power outlet

108 switches

110 controllers

10 112 control signal

114 transmitters

116 PLC module

118 switching module

120 power supply

15 122 cables

124 charger

126 consumers

128 concentrator

130 PLC module

20 132 controllers

134 converters

136 message from controller (132) (consumer)

138 PLC signal

140 message from controller (110) (charging status)

25 on / concentrator)

142 PLC signal

144 control bus

160 PLC module

162 controllers

30 164 power supply

166 consumers

168 controllers 170 converters

172 charger

174 Message from Controller (162) (PLC Gateway)

176 control bus

178 line

180 control bus

182 plugs

184 control bus

Claims

P a n t a n s p r e c h e

Device for connecting an electrical load and / or an electrical energy source to an electrical energy supply network (104)

Connecting means (106) for releasably connecting an electrical power line (122) of the load or the power source to the device,

controllable switching means for electrically connecting the connection means to the energy supply network, wherein the switching means can assume a first switching state in which the connection means are disconnected from the energy supply network, and wherein the switching means can assume a second switching state in which the connection means are connected to the power supply network, wherein the controllable switching means for receiving a switching signal (112) of control means (110; 162) are formed,

Signal transmission means (114, 180) for enabling signal transmission via the connection means, independently of the switching state of the switching means,

wherein the signal transmission means comprise a transmitter (114), wherein the transmitter (114) is adapted to pass signals in a bandpass range in the direction of and to the electrical load, but not the frequency, with which the electrical power supply network (104) is operated wherein the transmitter (114) is arranged parallel to the controllable switching means (108) and is connected to the connection means (108) and the electrical power supply network (104).

Apparatus according to claim 1, including PLC means (116; 160) for transmitting and / or receiving PLC signals (138, 142) via the signal transmission means.

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control means (110) transmits and / or receives the PLC signals via the PLC means.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means are formed so that the switching signal is issued only on condition that the previously had the PLC signal transmission.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the control means are designed so that the switching signal is delivered only on the condition that via the PLC signal transmission an authorization check of

Consumer or energy source for connection to the electrical power grid is done.

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the control means are embodied such that the switching signal is issued only on condition that an authentication has taken place via the PLC signal transmission.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, comprising means for measuring the output of the power supply network to the electrical load electrical energy or for measuring the electrical energy source in the power supply network via the connection means fed electrical energy, wherein the control means are formed in that the switching signal is made to bring the switching means into the first switching state on the condition that the amount of energy delivered satisfies a condition.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the PLC means for transmitting a test signal and for receiving a response signal from the electrical consumer or the electrical energy source are formed on the test signal, wherein the control means are formed so that a control signal for switching the switching means is delivered in the first switching state, when no response signal is received on the test signal.

9. Device according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the PLC means are designed for performing an authentication protocol with the electrical load or the electrical energy source, wherein the control means are formed so that a control signal for switching the

Switching means is issued in the first switching state, if the authentication fails.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal transmission means for forming an additional communication channel

(180) are formed between the control means (162) and the load and / or the electrical energy source, the additional communication channel extending over the connection means.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection means are designed as a socket (106) for releasably connecting a cable (122).

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the socket has contact means for contacting a plug (182) via which the communication channel can be produced.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is the energy source is a solar system or a wind turbine.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is the transformer to a two-port, a first port of the transformer with the connection means is electrically connected and a second port of the transformer is electrically connected to the power supply network, the first and second gates are galvanically isolated, and the controllable switching means in the second switching state bridge the transformer, so that the connection means and the power supply network are electrically connected ,

15. Street lamp with a device according to one of the preceding claims.

16. Transport system comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and an electrically operable transport means (126) with a rechargeable battery and with PLC means (130) for transmitting and / or receiving the PLC signals (138, 142), wherein the batteries are connected via the terminal means to the power grid when the switching means are in their second switching state.

17. Transport system according to claim 16, wherein the electrically operable transport means is an electric car or an electric boat.

18. Central unit for controlling a plurality of devices (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the central unit first PLC means (116) for transmitting and / or receiving PLC signals (142, 138) via the signal transmission means (118; ) of the device, and wherein the

Control means (110) of the central unit have a bus interface to a control bus (176) for transmitting the switching signal (112) to a particular one of the devices via the control bus.

The central processing unit of claim 18, wherein the control means (110) is adapted to send the switching signal (112) to an address associated with the device via the control bus.

A central processing unit according to claim 18 or 19, wherein each of said devices comprises second PLC means (160), said first and second PLC means being adapted to communicate between said central processing unit and said device via said power grid (104).