DE102020209581A1 - Device and method for diagnosing a state of a charging interface - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention presented relates to a device (100) for diagnosing a state of a charging interface (101, 201, 301). The device (100) comprises a sensor (103) connected to a charging interface (101, 201, 301) for acquiring measurement data of a temperature and/or voltage present at the charging interface (101, 201, 301), a computing unit (105) and an interface (107) to an output unit (109). The computing unit (105) is configured to assign measurement data determined by the sensor (103) while the charging interface (101, 201, 301) is being supplied with electrical current using an assignment table to a code (111) which indicates a state of the charging interface (101 , 201, 301) and to output the code (111) on the output unit (109).

Description

The presented invention relates to a device and a method for diagnosing a state of a charging interface, a management server for managing a charging infrastructure, a charging station and a vehicle.

A charging interface, such as the charging plug of a vehicle or the charging sockets of a charging station, wears out over its lifetime. In particular, corrosion at a charging interface can result in loss of functionality or failure.

Since wear and tear on a charging interface is not immediately recognizable to a user, situations can arise in which, for example, the charging time of a vehicle increases due to a corroded charging plug without the cause being identified.

As a rule, simple measures such as cleaning the electrical contacts of a charging connector can quickly and easily reduce wear if this is known.

the WO 2012/139778 A2 describes a method for setting a charging rate with which an electricity storage device is charged based on a comparison of a measured temperature at a charging plug or a charging socket with a predetermined threshold value. The charging rate is selected in such a way that the charging plug or charging socket does not get too hot.

the U.S. 2009/0167537 A1 describes a system for determining a state of wear of an electrical interface, in which a warning message is issued if a measured value measured at the interface exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Against this background, it is an object of the invention presented to show a user the current status of a charging interface. In particular, one object of the presented invention is to dynamically adapt a maintenance interval of a charging interface to a current state of the charging interface in order to prevent a malfunction of the charging interface.

The above object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Further features and details of the invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features and details that are described in connection with the device, the management server, the charging station and the vehicle also apply vice versa, of course, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention is always referred to or can be referred to alternately.

In a first aspect, the presented invention relates to a device for diagnosing a state of a charging interface. The device comprises a sensor connected to a charging interface for acquiring measurement data of a temperature and/or voltage present at the charging interface, a computing unit and an interface to an output unit. The arithmetic unit is configured to assign measurement data determined by the sensor while the charging interface is being supplied with electrical current using an assignment table to a code that quantifies a state of the charging interface and to output the code on the output unit.

The device presented serves in particular to determine a quality or a characteristic number of a state of a charging interface such as a charging socket of a vehicle or a charging plug of a charging station. For this purpose, the device includes a sensor arranged at the charging interface, such as a temperature sensor and/or a voltage sensor.

Since measured values of a voltage present at a charging interface or a temperature present at the charging interface change depending on a state of the charging interface, e.g. due to corrosion, the presented device is configured to infer a current state of a charging interface based on corresponding measured values . In particular, a user can use the code to identify whether a charging interface can currently be used or requires maintenance.

The assignment table provided according to the invention assigns a characteristic number, ie a numerical value, in particular a numerical value from a scale, to each measured value determined by means of the sensor provided according to the invention. A user can use the code to deduce a state or a quality of a charging interface. For example, a key figure can have a value on a scale from 1 to 6, analogous to a school grade. Accordingly, the index indicates the suitability of a charging interface for transmitting electrical current. In particular, the index can indicate a quality of the charging interface using a color scheme, for example a traffic light scheme in which green encodes a state that is well suited for electric charging and red encodes a worn or corroded state.

The assignment table provided according to the invention comprises an assignment logic, based on which the respective measured values determined are assigned or are to be assigned to a code number. In this case, the assignment table can, for example, include value ranges or conditions that are assigned to a respective key figure.

The assignment table provided according to the invention makes it possible to select a current status from a large number of statuses and to enable a fine differentiation between extreme ranges, such as brand new and defective. In particular, the allocation table enables a gradual progression of a wear state of a charging interface to be mapped, in that the index is continuously updated with each charging process, for example. The key figure can be displayed as a percentage, for example.

The sensor provided according to the invention can be configured to detect a voltage and/or a temperature. Correspondingly, the assignment table can also include an assignment of voltage values and/or temperature values to a code number. When voltage values and temperature values are provided in combination by one or more sensors, it can be provided that those measured values that can be assigned to a poorer key figure, i.e. a more worn condition, are used to determine the key figure in order to make a false positive biased assignment avoid.

It can be provided that the processing unit is configured to request information about the maintenance date from a counter-interface connected to the charging interface and to compare this with a maintenance date of the charging interface, and wherein the processing unit is configured to indicate the charging interface or the counter-interface whose maintenance date is more recent , to select as a reference and to assign the key figure to deviations from measured values determined at the charging interface or counter-interface connected to the reference to measured values determined at the reference using the allocation table.

In order to minimize the influence of environmental conditions on a process for determining the characteristic number provided according to the invention, a state of a charging interface can be assessed in relation to a reference. By selecting a reference that has a particularly high quality, such as a new or a freshly serviced interface, a charging interface to be assessed can be assessed relative to the known high quality by a distance between measured values determined during a charging process between an as Reference selected charging interface and a charging interface to be assessed is assigned a key figure. Accordingly, the index indicates the extent to which a status of the charging interface to be assessed differs from a status of the reference. This means that the respective charging interfaces to be assessed by using a charging interface with a quality or a state that is particularly good due to a recent maintenance, in particular a recent maintenance in connection with a delivery, regardless of variances in a respective charging process, such as an outside temperature or a respective charging current can be assessed with regard to their quality or condition.

Provision can furthermore be made for the sensor to be a voltage sensor, and for the computing unit to be configured to use measurement data determined by the voltage sensor of a voltage present at the charging interface to assign a deviation value of a deviation in the measurement data to a counter-interface connected to the charging interface determine and use the assignment table to assign the key figure to the deviation value.

Since a voltage drop is characteristic of a corroded or worn charging interface, a comparison of first voltage values, which were determined at a charging interface to be assessed, with second voltage values, which were determined at a counter-interface, i.e. a charging interface connected to the charging interface during a charging process, can reliably reflect a state of the charging interface to be assessed. Correspondingly, a key figure that was determined on the basis of a deviation determined in this way is a particularly reliable indicator of a state of the charging interface. In this case, the charging interface can be a charging plug or a charging socket of a vehicle and the counter-interface can be a charging socket or a charging plug of a charging station or vice versa.

Provision can furthermore be made for the sensor to be a temperature sensor, and for the computing unit to be configured to use measurement data provided by the temperature sensor of a temperature present at the charging interface to assign a deviation value of a deviation in the measurement data to a counter-interface connected to the charging interface determine and use the assignment table to assign the key figure to the deviation value.

Since an increase in temperature is characteristic of a corroded or worn drawer interface, a comparison of first temperature values, which were determined at a charging interface to be assessed, with second temperature values, which were determined at a counter-interface, i.e. a charging interface connected to the charging interface during a charging process, can reliably reflect a state of the charging interface to be assessed. Accordingly, a key figure that was determined using a deviation determined in this way is a particularly reliable indicator of a state of the charging interface. In this case, the charging interface can be a charging plug or a charging socket of a vehicle and the counter-interface can be a charging socket or a charging plug of a charging station or vice versa.

Provision can also be made for the device to include multiple temperature sensors at multiple measurement locations on the charging interface, and for the computing unit to be configured to determine a temperature difference between temperature values determined by respective temperature sensors and, if the temperature difference is above a predetermined threshold value, to conclude that there is a faulty component at the measurement location whose temperature is highest and to output an error message for the measurement location.

A temperature measurement at different measuring locations of a charging interface can determine the state of a respective measuring location. For example, different electrical connections can be selected as measurement locations, so that a possibly worn or corroded connection can be detected. Since a first connection at which a higher temperature is measured than at a second connection can be regarded as worn, provision is made in particular for the second measurement location to be assigned a correspondingly poor or high characteristic number.

It can further be provided that the device comprises multiple voltage sensors at multiple measurement locations of the charging interface, and the computing unit is configured to determine a voltage difference between voltage values determined by respective voltage sensors and, in the event that the voltage difference is above a predetermined threshold value to close a faulty component at the measurement location whose voltage is lowest and issue an error message for the measurement location.

A state of a respective measurement location can be determined by measuring the voltage at different measurement locations of a charging interface. For example, different electrical connections can be selected as measurement locations, so that a possibly worn or corroded connection can be detected. Since a first connection at which a lower voltage is measured than at a second connection can be regarded as worn, provision is made in particular for the first measurement location to be assigned a correspondingly poor or high characteristic number.

Provision can furthermore be made for the computing unit to be configured to adjust a maintenance interval and/or a charging duration as a function of the index and to use the index as a correction factor when calculating the maintenance interval and/or the charging duration.

A user can be protected from a charging process that lasts longer than expected by correcting a charging duration calculation using the code number provided according to the invention.

A failure of a charging interface or damage to a respective charging station or a respective vehicle can be avoided by correcting a maintenance interval using the code provided according to the invention, for example by shortening a maintenance interval if the code exceeds a threshold value. As an alternative or in addition, a user can be given a message about maintenance of the charging interface if the index exceeds a threshold value.

In a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a management system for managing a charging infrastructure. The management system includes a management server and a number of possible configurations of the device presented, with respective computing units of the number of devices being configured to transmit data determined by the devices to the management server. The management server is configured to compare data received from a device with an action table and to carry out actions specified by the action table, the action table comprising at least that a characteristic number of a quality of a charging interface connected to the device is output on an output unit.

Using a management server, which is designed as a cloud server, for example, and can be connected to the respective devices via a communication interface, such as a mobile radio network, the respective determined key figures can be recorded and processed centrally. For example, devices that report particularly bad or particularly high key figures, ie key figures greater than a predetermined threshold value, can be configured for this to issue a warning message and/or to switch to protective mode.

Furthermore, the management server can evaluate a large number of key figures in order to determine a maintenance strategy in which, for example, preventive maintenance of charging interfaces takes place if a respective key figure exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

In a third aspect, the presented invention relates to a charging station with a possible configuration of the presented device.

In a fourth aspect, the presented invention relates to a vehicle with a possible configuration of the presented device.

In a fifth aspect, the presented invention relates to a method for diagnosing a state of a charging interface during the charging process between a charging station and a vehicle. The method comprises a provision step for providing a possible configuration of the presented device, a determination step for determining a code number for a state of the charging interface by assigning measurement data determined by the sensor of the device while the charging interface is being supplied with electric current to a code number using an assignment table, and an output step of outputting the identification number on an output unit.

The presented method is used in particular for the operation of the presented device.

• 1 eine mögliche Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,
• 2 eine mögliche Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Ladesäule,
• 3 eine mögliche Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeugs,
• 4 eine mögliche Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• 5 eine mögliche Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Verwaltungssystems.

Further configurations of the invention result from the following description of the figures. All of the features resulting from the claims, the description or the figures, including structural details and spatial arrangements, can be used both on their own and in various combinations. They show schematically:

• 1 a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention,
• 2 a possible embodiment of the charging station according to the invention,
• 3 a possible embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention,
• 4 a possible embodiment of the method according to the invention,
• 5 a possible embodiment of the management system according to the invention.

In 1 an apparatus 100 is shown. The device 100 comprises a sensor 103 connected to a charging interface 101 for acquiring measurement data of a temperature and/or voltage present at the charging interface 101, a computing unit 105, and an interface 107 for communication with an output unit 109.

The arithmetic unit 105 is configured to assign a code number 111, which quantifies a state of the charging interface 101 and the code number 111 via the interface to the output unit 109, to measurement data determined by the sensor 103 while the charging interface 101 is being supplied with electrical current using an assignment table transfer.

A user can use the code number 111 output on the output unit 109 to recognize and assess the current status of the charging interface 101 . Code number 111 can encode the status of charging interface 101, for example according to a color scheme in which green indicates a status that is well suited for electric charging and red indicates a worn or corroded status in which electric charging is not possible or only to a limited extent is possible.

The charging interface 101 can be designed here as part of a vehicle or as part of a charging station.

In 2 a charging station 200 is shown. The charging station 200 includes a charging interface 201 in the form of a charging plug and the device 100 according to FIG 1 .

To determine a state of the charging interface 201, the charging interface 201 is connected to a charging interface of a vehicle and is supplied with electric power from a voltage source.

While the charging interface 201 is being supplied with electrical power, the sensor 103 determines measured values of a temperature and/or a voltage at the charging interface 201. Using the assignment table, the arithmetic unit 105 determines a code number assigned to the measured values and transmits this to the output unit 109, which, for example, stands in a monitoring room of a company operating the charging station 200

A particularly valid index can be determined when the charging interface of the vehicle has a maintenance date that is younger than a maintenance date of the charging interface 201 of the charging station 200 by the charging interface of the vehicle being selected as a reference and a deviation from the charging interface 201 of the charging station 200 measured values determined at the Charging interface of the vehicle determined measured values and is used to determine the code. By determining the key figure in this way, situational or environmental influences on the respective measured values can be ruled out.

In 3 a vehicle 300 is shown. The vehicle 300 includes a charging interface 301 in the form of a charging socket and the device 100 according to FIG 1 .

To determine a state of the charging interface 301, the charging interface 301 is connected to a charging interface of a charging station and is supplied with electric power from a voltage source.

While charging interface 301 is being supplied with electrical power, sensor 103 determines measured values for a temperature and/or a voltage at charging interface 301. Using the allocation table, processing unit 105 determines a code number assigned to the measured values and transmits this to output unit 109, which, for example, , located in an instrument panel of the vehicle 300 .

In 4 a sequence of a method 400 is shown. The method 400 comprises a provision step 401 for providing a possible configuration of the presented device, a determination step 403 for determining a code number of a state of the charging interface by using an assignment table of a code number determined during a supply of the charging interface with electrical current through the sensor of the device measurement data are assigned, and an output step 405 for outputting the identification number on an output unit.

In 5 A management system 500 is shown. The management system 500 comprises a management server 501 which is in communicative connection with a number of devices 100 via a communication interface 503 .

The devices 100 are connected to the management server 501 via a communication interface 503 . The administration server receives respective key figures determined by the devices 100 via the communication interface 503 and evaluates them.

In particular, the management server 501 determines a maintenance interval for respective charging interfaces monitored by the devices 100 in that the management server 501 transmits a message for a service to a respective device 100 when a code number of the respective device exceeds or falls below a threshold value.

Reference List

100

contraption

101

charging interface

103

sensor

105

unit of account

107

interface

109

output unit

111

identification number

200

charging station

201

charging interface

300

vehicle

301

charging interface

400

proceedings

401

deployment step

403

discovery step

405

output step

500

management system

501

management server

503

communication interface

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2012/139778 A2 [0005]
• US 2009/0167537 A1 [0006]

Claims (12)

Device (100) for diagnosing a state of a charging interface (101, 201, 301) during the charging process between a charging station (200) and a vehicle (300), the device (100) comprising: - a sensor (103) connected to a charging interface (101, 201, 301) for acquiring measurement data of a temperature and/or voltage present at the charging interface (101, 201, 301), - a computing unit (105), - an interface (107) to an output unit (109), wherein the computing unit (105) is configured to assign a code number (111) to measurement data determined by the sensor (103) while the charging interface is being supplied with electrical current using an assignment table, which quantifies a state of the charging interface (101, 201, 301) and to transmit the code (111) via the interface (107) to the output unit (109). Device (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the charging interface (101, 201, 301) is a charging socket of a vehicle (300) or a charging plug of a charging station (200). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit (105) is configured to query information about the maintenance date of a counter-interface connected to the charging interface (101, 201, 301) and to compare this with a maintenance date of the charging interface ( 101, 201, 301) and wherein the computing unit (105) is configured to select the charging interface (101, 201, 301) or the counter-interface whose maintenance date is younger as a reference and deviations from the charging interface connected to the reference (101, 201, 301) or counter-interface determined measured values to measured values determined on the reference using the assignment table to assign the code number (111). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (103) is a voltage sensor, and the computing unit (105) is configured to, on the basis of measurement data determined by the sensor (103), 201, 301) applied voltage, to determine a deviation value of a deviation of the measurement data to a counter-interface connected to the charging interface (101, 201, 301) and to assign the code number (111) to the deviation value using the assignment table. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (103) is a temperature sensor, and the computing unit (105) is configured to, on the basis of measurement data provided by the sensor (103), a charging interface (101, 201, 301) present temperature, to determine a deviation value of a deviation of the measurement data to a counter-interface connected to the charging interface (101, 201, 301) and to assign the code number (111) to the deviation value using the assignment table. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (100) comprises a plurality of temperature sensors at a plurality of measurement locations of the charging interface (101, 201, 301), and the computing unit (105) is configured to detect a temperature difference between respective To determine temperature sensors determined temperature values and in the event that the temperature difference is above a predetermined threshold value, to close a faulty component at the measurement location whose temperature is highest and to issue an error message for the measurement location. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a plurality of voltage sensors at a plurality of measurement locations of the charging interface (101, 201, 301), and the computing unit (105) is configured to calculate a voltage difference between voltage values determined by respective voltage sensors to determine and, in the event that the voltage difference is above a predetermined threshold value, to conclude that there is a faulty component at the measurement location whose voltage is lowest, and to output an error message for the measurement location. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (105) is configured to adjust a maintenance interval and/or a charging time depending on the code (111), and the code (111) as a correction factor in a calculation the maintenance interval and/or the charging time. Management system (500) for managing a charging infrastructure, the management system (500) comprising: - a management server (501) and - a number of devices (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , wherein respective computing units (105) of the number of devices (100) are configured to transmit data determined by the devices (100) to the management server (501), and wherein the administration server (501) is configured to compare data received from a device (100) with an action table and to carry out actions specified by the action table, the action table comprising at least that a characteristic number of a quality of a loading interface (101 , 201, 301) is output on an output unit. Charging column (200) with a device (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th . Vehicle (300) with a device (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th . Method (400) for diagnosing a state of a charging interface (101, 201, 301) during the charging process between a charging station (200) and a vehicle (300), the method (400) comprising: - providing (401) a device (100) after one of Claims 1 until 8th - Determining (403) a code (111) of a state of the charging interface (101, 201, 301) by measuring data determined during a supply of the charging interface (101, 201, 301) with electric current through the sensor (103) of the device Using an assignment table of the code (111) are assigned, - Outputting the code (111) on an output unit (109).

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