Method for monitoring a power coupler for a plug-in electric vehicle
US8519562B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2010 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/69
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for monitoring a power coupler for a plug-in electric vehicle during a charging process, where the method may perform one of several alerts in the event that the vehicle stops receiving power. In an exemplary embodiment, the method performs a theft alert when the power coupler is physically unplugged or disconnected (this is intended to dissuade people from stealing the power coupler), and it performs a power loss alert when there is a loss of electrical power at the wall (this is intended to notify the vehicle owner when there is a power outage, a tripped circuit breaker, or any other condition that prevents the vehicle from being charged). By distinguishing between possible theft situations and simple power loss situations, the method can perform or issue an alert that is better tailored to the particular conditions that triggered it.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.