TWI896050B - Electric vehicle id reader and charging method - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric vehicle ID-reader includes an ID-reading circuit and a connector. The ID-reading circuit includes a controller connected to the connector through a cable. The connector is used to connect with a charging interface of an electric vehicle. Through the connector, the ID-reading circuit communicates with the electric vehicle via OCPP protocol to obtain an EVCCID of the electric vehicle. The obtained EVCCID is displayed on screen, stored in memory, and/or transmitted to database by network. A charging method employing the electric vehicle ID-reader is also disclosed.

Description

Electric vehicle identity reading device and charging method

The present invention relates to a device capable of reading the identity (ID) of an electric vehicle and its application.

The rapid rise of new energy vehicles in recent years has led to a significant increase in demand for charging stations. Charging stations feature charging poles, which are devices that provide power to plug-in electric vehicles. Current international standards include various charging specifications for both AC and DC charging.

The following describes the current charging method. First, the user downloads the application (APP) provided by the charging manufacturer on their mobile phone. If it is the first time to charge, you need to register as a member first and verify your membership by receiving an email or text message. Next, set the payment information on the application, including binding a credit card, setting up invoices, etc. Next, pair the charging gun. At this time, the application will pop up "Please enter the charging gun code", and the user uses the application to scan the QR code on the display screen of the charging station, or swipe the wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) card to pair. When the pairing is complete, the application interface will show the location of the charging station, charging parking space, rate, bound credit card, remaining points, invoice and other information. Next, the user clicks "Next" on the app's interface. The user will be prompted with "Please insert the charging gun into the charging port" and a two-minute countdown will begin. The user then presses the "release button" on the charging station to remove the charging gun, then inserts it into the charging port of the electric vehicle. The charging station's system automatically checks the electric vehicle's connection and charging status before charging begins. Charging stops when the battery reaches the preset percentage, or when the user repeatedly presses the "Stop Charging" button in the app or presses the "Stop Charging" button on the charging station. The above charging method can be viewed in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxYwHelPXqo

In addition, Republic of China Patent TW201738818 discloses a method for charging an electric vehicle. The user sends a pairing request to the charging station through an application on their mobile phone. After the pairing is successful, the charging station sends a charging authentication code to the user's mobile phone. The user sends the charging authentication code to the charging station via their mobile phone. When the charging station receives the charging authentication code and confirms that the charging connector is connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle, it begins charging the electric vehicle. To prevent others from stealing the charging during the charging process, the charging station continuously detects whether the charging connector of the charging station is disconnected from the charging port of the electric vehicle during charging. When the charging station detects that the charging connector is disconnected from the charging port of the electric vehicle, it stops charging and sends a charging confirmation request to the user's mobile phone. The charging station will continue charging the electric vehicle only when it receives the charging authentication code again.

The current charging method is not very convenient for users.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a device that can read the identity (ID) of an electric vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, an electric vehicle identity (ID) reader device includes an ID reader circuit and a connector. The ID reader circuit includes a controller that stores a program that includes functions for executing the Open Power Charging Protocol (OCPP). The ID reader circuit is connected to the connector via a cable, and the connector is used to connect to the charging port of the electric vehicle. The ID reader circuit communicates with the electric vehicle via the Open Power Charging Protocol (OCPP) through the connector to obtain the electric vehicle's identity.

In some embodiments, the identity is the electric vehicle charging controller ID (EVCCID). In some embodiments, the electric vehicle identity reading device further includes a communication module to transmit the read identity to a mobile phone or a server database.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a charging method includes: obtaining the identity of an electric vehicle using the aforementioned electric vehicle identity reader; uploading the identity to a database; and using the electric vehicle identity listed in the database as authentication basis for a charging system to respond to a charging request.

In some embodiments, the database is a charging operator database.

In some embodiments, the database is a common database of multiple charging operators.

Using the electric vehicle ID-reading device and charging method of the present invention, users can simply insert the charging gun of the charging pile into the charging port of the electric vehicle to automatically charge and perform subsequent operations.

1: Electric vehicle identification card reader

11: ID reading circuit

12: Connector

13: Screen

14: Cable

15: Communication module

Step 41:

Step 42:

Step 43:

110: Controller

Figure 1 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of an electric vehicle identification reading device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle identification reading device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle identification reading device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes various embodiments of the present invention in detail, accompanied by accompanying drawings for illustration. Beyond these detailed descriptions, the present invention may be broadly implemented in other embodiments. Any readily apparent substitutions, modifications, and equivalent variations of these embodiments are within the scope of this invention and are subject to subsequent patent claims. Numerous specific details are provided in this specification to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention; however, the present invention may still be implemented without some or all of these specific details. Furthermore, well-known procedures or components are not described in detail to avoid unnecessary limitations on the present invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of an electric vehicle ID reader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the electric vehicle ID reader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the electric vehicle ID reader 1 primarily includes an ID reader circuit 11 and a connector 12. The ID reader circuit 11 includes OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) communication protocol functionality and a controller 110. OCPP is an application-layer communication protocol between electric vehicle charging stations and a central charging station management system (CSMS). Controller 110 may have built-in memory to store programs that implement OCPP functionality.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the ID reader circuit 11 is connected to the connector 12 via a cable 14. Connector 12 is used to connect to the electric vehicle's charging port. Through the connector, the ID reader circuit 11 establishes a communication channel with the electric vehicle using the OCPP communication protocol to obtain an electric vehicle identification number, such as the EVCCID. Preferably, the OCPP version is 1.6, 2.0, or 2.0.1 or later. The EVCCID (EV Charge Controller ID) is the ID of the electric vehicle's charge controller and contains the electric vehicle's media access control (MAC) address. In other embodiments of the present invention, the EVCCID is not limited to the electric vehicle identification number.

The electric vehicle identification reading device 1 of the present invention can read the EVCCID of any electric vehicle with OCPP communication protocol function. However, electric vehicles with OCPP communication protocol function contain charging interfaces of various specifications. In some embodiments, the connector 12 is a combined charging system Combo 1 (Combined Charging System CCS1) or CCS2 connector. In one embodiment, the connector 12 is a CCS1 connector, and is connected to charging interfaces of different specifications through various adapters; for example, it is connected to the CCS2 charging interface through a CCS1 to CCS2 adapter. In another embodiment, the connector 12 is a CCS2 connector, and is connected to charging interfaces of different specifications through various adapters; for example, it is connected to the CCS1 charging interface through a CCS2 to CCS1 adapter. In another embodiment, the electric vehicle identification reader 1 has two connectors 12: one CCS1 connector and the other CCS2 connector. Users can select either connector or add an adapter to connect to charging ports of different specifications. In other embodiments, the connector 12 is a Type 1 connector compliant with the US SAE J1772 standard or a Type 2 connector compliant with the EU IEC 62196 standard. Similarly, various adapters can be used to connect to charging ports of different specifications; for example, a Type 1 to Type 2 adapter can be used to connect to a Type 2 charging port, or a Type 2 to Type 1 adapter can be used to connect to a Type 1 charging port. In another embodiment, the electric vehicle identification reader 1 has two connectors 12, one Type 1 and the other Type 2. Users can select either connector or add an adapter to connect to charging ports of different specifications. The charging ports of different specifications in the aforementioned embodiments may also include Japanese CHAdeMO, Chinese GB/T, and Tesla's proprietary Tesla TPC. In other words, these charging ports of different specifications can be connected using various adapters.

Referring to Figure 1 , the electric vehicle identification card reader 1 may have a screen 13 . The EVCCID obtained by the ID reading circuit 11 may be displayed in real time on the screen 13 . The electric vehicle identification card reader 1 may have a battery (not shown) or be connected to an external power source to provide the power required by the electric vehicle identification card reader 1 . In some embodiments, the electric vehicle identification card reader 1 has a built-in or removable memory (not shown) to store the read EVCCID.

FIG3 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle identity reader 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the electric vehicle identity reader 1 further includes a communication module 15 for transmitting the read identity to a mobile phone or a server database. Preferably, the communication module 15 can be a Bluetooth wireless module or a wireless network (Wi-Fi) module. The electric vehicle identity reader 1 can exchange data with the mobile phone via the communication module 15. In some embodiments, an application is installed on the mobile phone, and the user uses the application to obtain the identity read by the electric vehicle identity reader 1, such as the EVCCID. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the application can visually identify the vehicle's body number and/or license plate number. The application can then upload the identity read by the electric vehicle identity reading device 1, along with the identified body number and/or license plate number, to a server database in a specified format to create identification information for the individual vehicle.

Figure 4 shows a charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 4, the charging method includes: step 41, obtaining the identity of the electric vehicle using an electric vehicle identity reading device. Step 42, uploading the identity to a database. The "database" can be the database of a charging operator or a common database of multiple charging operators. Furthermore, uploading to the database can be direct or indirect. In one embodiment, the read electric vehicle ID is first uploaded to a database of the electric vehicle manufacturer or seller, and then uploaded to the charging operator's database. In one embodiment, the electric vehicle ID and the vehicle body number and/or license plate number identified by the app are uploaded to the database via a mobile phone using the method shown in Figure 3. In step 43, the electric vehicle's identity listed in the database is used as authentication basis for the charging system to respond to a charging request. In one embodiment, the electric vehicle's identity listed in the database, along with the vehicle body number and/or license plate number, is used as authentication basis for the charging system to respond to a charging request.

According to the charging method of Figure 4 , steps 41 and 42 can be performed by personnel from the electric vehicle manufacturer or distributor. In some embodiments, when a user inserts the charging gun on the charging station into the charging port of their electric vehicle, the charging station reads the electric vehicle's EVCCID through the charging gun using an interface compliant with the ISO 15118 international standard or the DIN 70121 standard. If the charging operator's database already stores the electric vehicle's EVCCID, the charging station automatically charges the electric vehicle. After charging is complete, the charging station can connect to the owner's data and deduct payment. In some embodiments, the charging mode of the charging method of Figure 4 can be AutoCharge, plug and charge, etc.

Current charging methods authenticate (bind) the user's phone or a specific device, such as an RFID card. The charging method of the present invention, however, authenticates (binds) the electric vehicle. This eliminates the need to operate a phone app or swipe an RFID card during charging. Furthermore, compared to RFID cards, which are easily copied, using the EVCCID as the authentication basis offers greater security.

The above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention are merely illustrative of the technical concepts and features of the present invention. Their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the contents of the present invention and implement them accordingly. They should not be used to limit the patent scope of the present invention. In other words, all other equivalent changes or modifications that do not deviate from the spirit disclosed by the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention and should be included in the scope of the patent application below.

1: Electric vehicle identification card reader

12: Connector

13: Screen

14: Cable

Claims (6)

A standalone electric vehicle identity (ID) reader device includes: an ID reader circuit including a controller storing a program including an Open Charge Protocol (OCPP) function; and a connector to which the ID reader circuit is connected via a cable. The connector is used to connect to a charging port of an electric vehicle, and the connector is a Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) connector or a Combined Charging System 2 (CCS2) connector. A connector; a battery to provide power to the electric vehicle ID reading device; and a communication module to transmit the read ID to a mobile phone or a database. The electric vehicle ID reading device does not require connection to a charging station. The ID reading circuit communicates with the electric vehicle via the connector using the Open Charging Protocol (OCPP) to obtain the electric vehicle's ID, which is the Electric Vehicle Charging Controller ID (EVCCID). The electric vehicle identity reader device as described in claim 1, wherein the communication module includes a Bluetooth wireless module or a wireless network (Wi-Fi) module. A charging method includes: a staff member of an electric vehicle manufacturer or seller obtains an identity of an electric vehicle using an independently operated electric vehicle identity reader device; a staff member of the electric vehicle manufacturer or seller uploads the identity to a database; and a charging system uses the identity of the electric vehicle listed in the database as an authentication basis for responding to a charging request; wherein the electric vehicle identity reader device does not need to be connected to a charging pile, and includes: an ID reading circuit including a controller storing a program including an Open Charging Protocol (OCPP) function; a connector, the ID reading circuit The circuit is connected to the connector via a cable. The connector is used to connect to a charging port of the electric vehicle, such as a Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) connector or a Combined Charging System 2 (CCS2) connector. A battery provides power to the electric vehicle ID reading device. A communication module transmits the read ID to a mobile phone or the database. The ID reading circuit communicates with the electric vehicle via the Open Charging Protocol (OCPP) through the connector to obtain the electric vehicle's ID, which is the electric vehicle charging controller ID (EVCCID). The charging method as described in claim 3, wherein the database is a database of a charging operator. The charging method as described in claim 3, wherein the database is a common database of multiple charging operators. The charging method of claim 3 further comprises: identifying a vehicle body number and/or a license plate number of the electric vehicle using an application on a mobile phone; uploading the vehicle body number and/or license plate number of the electric vehicle to the database; and using the identity of the electric vehicle and the vehicle body number and/or license plate number listed in the database as authentication basis for the charging system to respond to the charging request.