DE102011006476B4 - Charging station with lighting system for electric vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Charging device for an electric vehicle (1), with
• an interior space (7) in which electrical contacts of the charging device are arranged and which can be closed with a cover or flap (3),
• a first lighting means (5), wherein
• the lid or flap (3) is at least partially transparent in such a way that the light from the lighting means (5) is visible from the outside through the lid or flap (3);
• the interior has a first side wall (10) and an opposite second side wall (10);
• the first lighting means (5) is arranged in or on or adjacent to the first side wall (10); characterized in that
• the charging device has a second lighting element (5),
• the second lighting device (5) is arranged in or on or adjacent to the second side wall (10).

Description

The invention relates to a charging device with at least one lighting means for an electric vehicle with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

An electric vehicle is a motor vehicle powered by an electric motor. An electric vehicle has a charging device, such as a charging socket, which is electrically connected to the vehicle's battery. To charge the battery, the electric vehicle's charging device is mechanically and electrically connected to the charging device of a charging station, such as a charging plug. More precisely, at least the electrical contacts of the electric vehicle's charging device are mechanically and electrically connected to the charging device of the charging station. Following this connection, the electric vehicle's battery can be charged.

The charging unit of the electric vehicle can be located in a recess integrated into the outer skin of the electric vehicle. This recess provides an interior space. The interior space can be closed with a lid or flap when not charging. (See the unpublished international patent application.) EP 2 552 724 A1 Such a charging device is described.

The article " “Rolls-Royce 102EX Electric Phantom Teased” was posted on the internet on February 21, 2011 at https://bharathautos.com/rolls-royce-102ex-electric-phantom-teased.html The publication describes a charging device according to the preamble of claim 1. This charging device comprises an interior space in which electrical contacts of the charging device are arranged and which can be closed with a partially transparent flap, as well as a first lighting element. The interior space has a first side wall at the top and a second side wall opposite it at the bottom. The first lighting element comprises LEDs and is arranged in the first side wall.

The internet publication “ BMW Concept Active E” from December 17, 2009, published at “http://www.7-forum.com/news/BMW-Concept-ActiveE-3128.html “This describes a concept car from BMW with a fully electric drive based on the BMW 1 Series Coupé. Highlights include the integration of a 125 kW electric synchronous motor, an intelligent battery management system, and an innovative recuperation system that recovers energy during deceleration and increases the range by up to 20%. The charging unit is integrated into the vehicle and illuminated through a translucent flap. The liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries enable a range of up to 160 km in everyday driving. The vehicle offers four full-size seats and a trunk capacity of approximately 200 liters.”

The US patent application US 2011 / 0 043 355 A1 This publication reveals an electric vehicle charging system with a particular focus on communication between the vehicle and the charging station. It describes a system in which the vehicle interacts with the charging system via a user interface to monitor and control charging parameters such as current, charging time, and state of charge. The publication emphasizes the importance of a user-friendly interface and the possibility of remote monitoring and control of the charging process via mobile devices.

The printed matter US 2009 / 0 021 364 A1 This describes an electric vehicle with an integrated charging system designed for both conductive and inductive charging. A system is presented in which the vehicle automatically detects whether a charging connection exists and initiates the charging process accordingly. Key features include the integration of safety mechanisms to prevent malfunctions and the ability to monitor and process the state of charge and other vehicle data via a central control unit.

The US publication US 2010 / 0 102 628 A1 This document describes a charging device for electric vehicles, where particular emphasis is placed on the visual indication of the charging status. It details a charging socket with integrated lighting that uses different colors or flashing patterns to signal the current charging status. This is intended to provide the user with simple and intuitive feedback on the charging progress. The device is designed to be clearly visible even in the dark and to blend harmoniously into the vehicle's design.

The object of the present invention is to provide a charging device for an electric vehicle that is easy to handle.

The object of the invention is achieved by a charging device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

• • einem Innenraum, in dem elektrische Kontakte der Ladeeinrichtung angeordnet sind und der mit einem Deckel oder einer Klappe verschlossen werden kann,
• • einem ersten Beleuchtungsmittel,

wobei

• • der Deckel oder die Klappe zumindest teilweise derart transparent ist, dass das Licht der Beleuchtungsmittel von außen durch den Deckel oder die Klappe hindurch sichtbar ist;
• • der Innenraum eine erste Seitenwand und eine gegenüberliegende zweite Seitenwand aufweist;
• • das erste Beleuchtungsmittel in oder an oder angrenzend an der ersten Seitenwand angeordnet ist;
• • die Ladeeinrichtung ein zweites Beleuchtungsmittel aufweist,
• • das zweite Beleuchtungsmittel in oder an oder angrenzend an der zweiten Seitenwand angeordnet ist.

The invention proposes a charging device for an electric vehicle, with

• • an interior space in which electrical contacts of the charging device are arranged and the can be closed with a lid or flap,
• • a first lighting device,

where

• • the lid or flap is at least partially transparent enough that the light from the lighting means is visible from the outside through the lid or flap;
• • the interior has a first side wall and an opposite second side wall;
• • the first lighting device is located in, on, or adjacent to the first side wall;
• • the charging device has a second lighting element,
• • the second lighting device is located in, on, or adjacent to the second side wall.

Since, according to the invention, two lighting means are arranged on opposite sides, particularly suitable illumination of the interior is ensured. More than two lighting means can also be provided, distributed over the side or edge area of the interior, in order to achieve uniform illumination of both the electrical contacts and the cover or flap.

A cover can be removed from the vehicle body, i.e., detached, or mechanically connected to it. A flap is permanently hinged to the electric vehicle. Inside, there are the electrical contacts for the charging system and the lighting elements for illuminating the interior. The cover or flap is at least partially transparent, allowing the light from the lighting elements to be seen from the outside. Alternatively or additionally, one or more lighting elements, such as LEDs (light-emitting diodes), can be arranged laterally adjacent to or around the cover or flap. Light emitted by the lighting element(s) can then enter the cover, particularly laterally, which is then designed to be transparent on the sides. Through reflection, preferably total internal reflection, light within the flap or cover can then reach a transparent area of the cover or flap, from which it can then exit to the outside.

To connect an electric vehicle's charging device to a charging station's charging device, the electrical contacts of both devices must be correctly aligned. Therefore, the charging device of a charging station must be aligned relatively precisely before connection to the electric vehicle's charging device. Due to these relatively high alignment requirements, it is advantageous to be able to illuminate the interior of an electric vehicle's charging device, or at least its perimeter, to facilitate alignment even in poor visibility conditions. The interior or perimeter lighting also improves the visibility of the cover or flap, making it easy and quick to locate even in low light. The lighting function provided by the illumination system thus serves a dual purpose: firstly, to illuminate the interior or perimeter of the charging device, and secondly, to make the cover or flap visible from the outside.

To make the lid or flap at least partially transparent, in one embodiment of the invention the lid or flap is partially provided with, or formed by, a pane of organic or inorganic glass or a transparent plastic film. The transparent area can, for example, consist of a sheet of Plexiglas. The transparent area can be inserted into a recess provided for this purpose in the lid or flap. Alternatively, the lid or flap can also be formed by a partially covered transparent plate, so that a section allows light from the interior of the charging device and/or from lateral illumination to pass through.

Preferably, only a portion of the cover or flap is made transparent, not only to illuminate the cover or flap but also to provide it with a pattern or marking that indicates, for example, that it is a flap or cover of a charging device. The pattern could be, for example, a letter, in particular a lowercase "e" or an uppercase "E", indicating the electrical connection option. Alternatively or additionally, a self-explanatory symbol, such as a charging plug, especially with an electrical cable, could be used to indicate that it is the flap or cover of a charging device. This concerns the electric vehicle. For this purpose, the area representing the letter or symbol can be transparent and the adjacent areas opaque, or vice versa.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is an electronic control system for the lighting that prevents the charging device's lights from being switched on when the vehicle's lights are switched on, specifically those used to make the vehicle visible to other road users, such as dipped beam, main beam, taillights, and/or parking lights. This avoids unnecessary power consumption by the charging device's lights. The charging device's lights then only illuminate when needed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flap or lid is partially transparent, specifically at least the edge or side area of the flap or lid. This makes the outline of the flap or lid visible. This further facilitates the opening of the flap or lid, even in poor visibility conditions.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the lighting elements is designed to emit light in different colors. These different light colors can be used to signal operating states. In one embodiment of the invention, the charging device therefore includes electronics that are capable of controlling the color of at least one of the lighting elements, particularly depending on the operating states of the charging device and/or the battery of the electric vehicle.

In one embodiment of the invention, the two lighting elements emit light at least in the direction of the lid or flap. The first and/or the second side wall borders, preferably perpendicularly, the area of the interior that comprises the electrical contacts. This ensures good illumination of the lid from the inside. Furthermore, this arrangement of the lighting elements does not obstruct access to the electrical contacts of the charging device or take up any space in the area of the electrical contacts of the charging device. Thus, excessive enlargement of the charging device by including the lighting elements is avoided.

In one embodiment of the invention, the light cone of at least one of the lighting means is aligned such that it is able to shine towards the electrical contacts and/or towards the lid. For this reason, in one embodiment, a corresponding light cone extends at least approximately perpendicular to a side wall of the interior of the charging device or parallel to the lid or flap. In this way, it is generally achieved that both the electrical contacts and the lid or flap are directly illuminated and not indirectly via light reflections, since a light cone always spreads out.

In one embodiment of the invention, the charging device is integrated into a bumper, specifically the rear bumper of an electric vehicle, since sufficient installation space is generally available that would otherwise typically remain unused. In this area, the charging device is discreetly arranged and therefore barely visible. Adjacent to this area, there is also usually sufficient space to accommodate the battery of an electric vehicle. Consequently, this area is relatively difficult to locate. Therefore, it makes sense, particularly in this case, to be able to illuminate the cover or flap according to the invention, thus making it easier to find.

In one embodiment of the invention, the transparent area of the lid or flap has the same color as the opaque area of the lid or flap. When unlit, the transparent area is then not visible or barely visible. This results, among other things, in a visually harmonious appearance.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting comprises LEDs to minimize the power consumption for the lighting.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lid or flap is partially reflective, particularly the non-transparent area. Reflective means that there is an area that reflects more strongly than the rest of the lid or flap. This makes it easier to see a symbol or letter, thus facilitating the location of the lid or flap.

In one embodiment, the illumination consists of a light-emitting surface, for example based on OLED technology, which is preferably part of the flap or lid. The light-emitting surface is then located, in particular, on the inside of the flap or lid. Light from the light-emitting surface, shining in the direction of the transparent area of the lid or flap, can then pass outwards. When the lid or flap is opened and If the luminous surface also shines to the other side, i.e., away from the transparent area of the lid or flap, then light is also available to illuminate the interior area.

Various embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

• 1 eine teilweise transparente, beleuchtete Klappe im Stoßfänger eines Elektrofahrzeugs;
• 2 einen Schnitt durch einen Innenraum einer Ladeeinrichtung eines Elektrofahrzeugs;
• 3 einen Schnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Innenraums einer Ladeeinrichtung;
• 4 eine Klappe mit transparentem Randbereich einer Ladeeinrichtung.

They show

• 1 a partially transparent, illuminated flap in the bumper of an electric vehicle;
• 2 a cross-section through the interior of an electric vehicle charging station;
• 3 a section through another embodiment of an interior of a charging device;
• 4 A flap with a transparent edge area of a loading device.

In the 1 The figure shows a section of an electric vehicle 1 with a bumper 2. A flap 3 of the charging unit of the electric vehicle 1 is integrated into the bumper 2 to close off an interior area of the charging unit. The flap 3 is partially transparent in the shape of an "e" 4. Behind the flap 3, within the bumper 2, a light source 5 is arranged, which includes an LED 6. The light cone of the LED 6, i.e., a light-emitting diode, is directed towards the transparent area 4 of the flap 3 and illuminates the "e". The illumination makes the letter "e" clearly visible from the outside, especially in poor lighting conditions.

In the 2 A cross-section through the interior 7 of another embodiment of the charging device is shown. Within the interior 7, two lighting elements 5 are arranged opposite each other such that the light cones of the LEDs 6 extend parallel to the flap 3. Since the two light cones 8 widen, both the area 9, which includes the electrical contacts of the charging device, and the flap 3 can be sufficiently illuminated. The two lighting elements 5 are arranged adjacent to opposing side walls 10 of the interior 7.

In the 3 A further embodiment of the invention is shown, in which a plurality of lighting elements 5 are arranged in pairs opposite each other on side walls 10. The light cones 8 of the lighting elements 5 directly illuminate the flap 3 and are thus directed accordingly towards the flap 3.

In the 4 An embodiment of the invention is shown in which an edge region 11 of the flap 3 is designed to be transparent. When the at least one illumination means emits light, not only is the area 4 with the letter "e" made visible, but also the edge region 11. Instead of an "e", a symbol such as a charging plug can also be displayed. The at least one illumination means can be in the form of LEDs 6 arranged adjacent to the edge region 11. If the edge region 11 is designed to be transparent, light from the LEDs enters the flap 3. Via reflections within the flap 3, the light can then reach a transparent area of the flap, through which light can then exit to the outside, for example to illuminate the letter or the symbol. The LEDs 6 can be arranged on one or more sides of the flap 3. The LEDs 6 can therefore also be arranged evenly distributed around the edge region 11 of the flap 3.

LEDs 6 can be arranged around a flap 3 or a cover, or adjacent to one or more sides of the cover or flap 3, in such a way that they are directly visible from the outside. If the LEDs 6 are directly visible from the outside, this further improves the visibility of the area of the flap 3 or cover, particularly if a plurality of LEDs are arranged around the edge of the flap 3 or cover, for example, evenly distributed around the cover or flap 3. If the LEDs 6 are visible from the outside, they can nevertheless simultaneously shine laterally into the cover or flap 3, so that light within the flap 3 or cover is directed by reflection, in particular by total internal reflection, to an area of the cover or flap through which the light can then exit the cover or flap 3 to the outside.

The LEDs 6 can also be arranged around a flap 3 or a cover in such a way that they are not immediately visible from the outside.

List of reference symbols

1

electric vehicle

2

bumper

3

flap

4

transparent area

5

Lighting equipment

6

LED

7

Interior

8

Light cone

9

Area with electrical contacts of the charging device

10

side wall

11

transparent edge of the flap

Claims (14)

Charging device for an electric vehicle (1), comprising: • an interior (7) in which electrical contacts of the charging device are arranged and which can be closed with a cover or flap (3); • a first lighting means (5), wherein: • the cover or flap (3) is at least partially transparent such that the light from the lighting means (5) is visible from the outside through the cover or flap (3); • the interior has a first side wall (10) and an opposing second side wall (10); • the first lighting means (5) is arranged in, on, or adjacent to the first side wall (10); characterized in that: • the charging device has a second lighting means (5); • the second lighting means (5) is arranged in, on, or adjacent to the second side wall (10). Charging device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lid or flap (3) is partially transparent and a non-transparent part or a transparent part (4) corresponds to a letter, in particular a letter “e”, or to a symbol, in particular a charging plug. Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the charging device comprises an electronic control which prevents the lighting means (5) from illuminating when lighting means of the motor vehicle are switched on which serve to make the motor vehicle visible from the outside, in particular dipped beam, main beam and rear beam. Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge area (11) of the lid or flap (3) is designed to be transparent. Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the lighting means (5) comprises one or more LEDs (6). Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the lighting means (5) can light up in different colors. Charging device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that electronics are provided which are able to control the light color of at least one of the lighting means (5), in particular depending on the operating state of the charging device and/or depending on the operating state of a battery of the electric vehicle (1). Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or the second side wall (10) adjoins the area (9) of the charging device which comprises the electrical contacts. Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that • a light cone (8) of at least one of the lighting means (5) is aligned in such a way that it is able to shine directly onto the lid or flap (3) and/or the electrical contacts, and/or • the light cone (8) extends at least substantially parallel to the lid or flap (3). Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the charging device is installed in a bumper, in particular in the rear bumper (2), for an electric vehicle (1). Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent area (4) of the lid or flap (3) has the same color as the non-transparent area of the lid or flap (3). Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent area (4) is designed such that a letter, namely an “e”, and/or a symbol, namely a charging plug, becomes visible through the illumination. Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid or flap (3) is partially reflective. Charging device according to the preceding claim, wherein the lid or flap (3) is partially transparent and a non-transparent The parent area of the lid or flap (3) is designed to be reflective.