Ethernet over basic interface between electric vehicle supply equipment and electric vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12040907-B2
Application number	US-202117407196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2021
Priority date	Feb 28, 2019
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A communications interface between electric vehicle supply equipment and an electric vehicle includes: a first connection for connecting to a controller of the electric vehicle supply equipment; a second connection for connecting to a controller of the electric vehicle; and an Ethernet interface coupling the first and second connections for communication between the controller of the electric vehicle supply equipment and the controller of the electric vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communications interface between electric vehicle supply equipment and an electric vehicle, the communications interface comprising:
a first connection configured to connect to a controller of the electric vehicle supply equipment;
a second connection configured to connect to a controller of the electric vehicle; and
an Ethernet interface coupling the first and second connections for communication between the controller of the electric vehicle supply equipment and the controller of the electric vehicle,
wherein the Ethernet interface is configured to provide higher-level Ethernet signaling in combination with at least one superposed low-level signaling.

2. The communications interface of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet interface includes at least one twisted pair connected to the first and second connections, the twisted pair providing Ethernet communication and superposed basic signalling between the controllers of the electric vehicle supply equipment and the electric vehicle.

3. The communications interface of claim 2 , wherein the basic signalling comprises one or more of a control pilot and a proximity pilot.

4. The communications interface of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet interface includes a PE contact for basic signaling, the PE contact comprising one of a protective earth reference, functional earth reference, reference earth, or unearthed reference.

5. The communications interface of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second transformers at the first and second connections configured to combine basic signalling communications with Ethernet communications.

6. The communications interface of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connections each include a PHY chip.

7. The communications interface of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cord that extends between the first and second connections and is configured to provide electrical charging from the electric vehicle supply equipment to the electric vehicle along with Ethernet communications between the controllers.

8. The communications interface of claim 7 , wherein the Ethernet communications include high level communications transmitted by at least two twisted pairs and basic signalling superposed onto the twisted pairs.

9. A system, comprising:
electric vehicle supply equipment configured to provide electrical power to an electric vehicle;
a charging cord comprising an Ethernet interface and that extends between a first connection at the electric vehicle supply equipment and a second connection at a connector configured to connect to a mating inlet of the electric vehicle to transmit Ethernet communication signals between the first and second connections; and
a controller at the electric vehicle supply equipment,
wherein the Ethernet interface is configured to transmit Ethernet communication signals in combination with at least one superposed basic or low level communication signal between the controller and the electric vehicle when connected to the second connection.

10. A method for supplying electrical power to an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
plugging a connector of electric vehicle supply equipment into an inlet of the electric vehicle so as to provide a charging cord that includes an Ethernet interface between the connector to the electric vehicle supply equipment and the inlet, wherein the Ethernet interface is configured to provide higher-level Ethernet signaling in combination with at least one superposed low-level signaling;
supplying electrical power from the electric vehicle supply equipment to the electric vehicle through the connector; and
transmitting communications between a controller of the electric vehicle and a controller of the electric vehicle supply equipment via the Ethernet interface while supplying the electrical power.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein transmitting communications comprises using a first differential pair for Ethernet communication and basic or low level signalling from the electric vehicle to the electric vehicle supply equipment and using a second differential pair for Ethernet communication and basic signalling from the electric vehicle supply equipment to the electric vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first differential pair includes two contacts and is connected to a control pilot and referenced to protective earth, and the second differential pair includes two contacts and is connected to a proximity pilot and referenced to protective earth.

Assignees

• Abb E Mobility Bv

Inventors

• Raaijmakers Stefan
• Bech Lars Peter
• Rodriguez Escude Miguel

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• B60L53/18

  Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L53/66

  Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T90/16

  Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title