KERBSTONE MODULE, KERBSTONE MODULE GROUP, CHARGING STATION, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING APPARATUSES OF THIS KIND

Abstract

The present invention relates to a curb module 1 having a base body 10. The base body 10 has a cavity which is surrounded by walls of the base body 10. A charging device 20 is provided in the cavity, wherein the charging device 20 comprises at least one transmission unit 22. The at least one transmission unit 22 of the charging device 20 is configured such that it is capable of transmitting electrical energy to an external consumer. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a curb module assembly comprising at least two such curb modules 1 and a charging station comprising at least one such curb module 1. Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for operating such devices.

Claims

1. A curb module comprising a base body, the base body having a cavity which is surrounded by walls of the base body, wherein: a charging device is provided in the cavity, the charging device comprises at least one transmission unit, and the at least one transmission unit of the charging device is configured in such a way that energy transmission to an external consumer coupled thereto is possible via said transmission unit.

2. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is an inductive transmission unit, which is capable of generating a magnetic field for inductive energy transmission in at least one transmission area over at least a partial section of one of the provided walls of the base body.

3. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein: the charging device comprises more than one separate transmission unit, and the plurality of transmission units are provided in such a way that a corresponding energy transmission is made possible via plurality of transmission units in different transmission areas at different partial sections of the base body.

4. The curb module according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of transmission units are designed to enable identical and/or different energy transmission rates in the respective transmission areas.

5. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the curb module has at least one marker indicating the position of a corresponding transmission area.

6. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the base body completely enclose the cavity.

7. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the base body of the curb module is formed in one piece or is formed from a plurality of partial elements which are detachably connected to one another by suitable means.

8. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the curb module is in the form of a high curbstone.

9. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the base body of the curb module is formed at least partially from concrete or plastic or is formed from a natural stone.

10. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein at least one transmission unit is arranged entirely within the cavity of the base body and is designed to generate said magnetic field through the corresponding wall of the base body.

11. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein: at least one transmission unit is arranged entirely within the cavity of the base body and that wall over which the corresponding transmission area is provided has an opening at the respective partial section, and the opening is closed by a cover.

12. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein: that wall on which a corresponding transmission area for the energy transmission is formed has an opening at the respective partial section of the wall, and at least one transmission unit comprises a transmission element which is provided at least partially in said opening.

13. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the curb module has at least one positioning device, which is designed to position and hold an external recipient in a corresponding transmission area.

14. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein at least one transmission unit is designed as an inductive transmission unit and is configured such that the magnetic field generated in the respective transmission area is strong enough to enable sufficiently strong energy transmission for charging a battery of an at least partially electrically driven vehicle.

15. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein: the charging device comprises a coupling unit, and the coupling unit comprises an input connector via which the charging device can be connected to an external power supply.

16. The curb module according to claim 14, wherein: the coupling unit further comprises at least one output connector through which the charging device can be connected to external devices, and the at least one output connector is designed to be connected to the input connector of another curb module via a connection line.

17. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein: the charging device comprises a control unit, and the control unit is coupled to the other components of the charging device and is adapted to control the operation of the charging device.

18. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein: the charging device comprises a receiving and/or transmitting unit, and the receiving and/or transmitting unit is designed to receive signals from at least one external device and to transmit them to at least one of the other components of the charging device, and/or to receive signals from at least one of the other components of the charging device and to transmit them to at least one external device.

19. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the charging device comprises a buffer storage for at least temporary storage of electrical energy.

20. The curb module according to claim 1, wherein the curb module, has a status indicator for displaying a status of the charging device, which is provided in such a way that it is visible in a state of the curb module when being installed in the usual manner.

21. The curb module according to claim 20, wherein the status indicator is provided in the corresponding section of the wall below at a respective transmission area of a transmission unit or at least in the immediate vicinity thereof.

22. A curb module assembly comprising: at least two curb modules according to claim 1, and the at least two curb modules are coupled to one another via corresponding connecting lines in such a way that an exchange of energy and/or information is possible between them.

23. The curb module assembly according to claim 22, wherein: the curb module assembly comprises at least one transmission curb module, and the respective transmission curb module either has a cable passage for the passage of a corresponding connecting line, which connects the at least two curb modules to one another, or a corresponding connecting line is provided in the respective transmission curb module, and the connecting line provided has coupling elements at its two ends, via which a connection to the curb modules can be made.

24. The curb module assembly according to claim 22, wherein the control unit of at least one of the curb modules is designed to also control the components of other curb modules connected to said curb module.

25. A charging station for charging at least partially electrically driven vehicles, wherein: the charging station comprises a switch box which is connected to a power supply network, the charging station comprises at least one curb module according to claim 1, and the at least one curb module is coupled to the switch box in such a way that all of the curb modules can be supplied with electrical energy via the switch box.

26. The charging station according to claim 25, wherein the curb modules are laid in a conventional manner along a roadway and/or parking area.

27. A method for operating a curb module according to claim 1 wherein: in a first step, information on at least one device to be charged, information on a desired charging process and/or information on the curb module(s) itself and/or on a corresponding power supply is retrieved; in a second step, a suitable charging strategy for the device(s) to be charged is determined based on the retrieved information; and in a third step, a charging process is carried out for the device(s) to be charged.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first to third steps of the method are carried out again from the beginning at specific intervals and/or in response to a specific triggering event, in order to adapt the charging strategy to any changed conditions or information.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the retrieved information comprises at least information on a current state of charge of the device(s) to be charged, a prioritization of the corresponding charging processes, an intended charging duration and/or an electrical power available at the corresponding curb module.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the determination of the suitable charging strategy is carried out centrally for the entire curb module or for all curb modules provided.

Description

[0037] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to figures, wherein

[0038] FIG. 1 is a representation of an opened curb module according to the invention or of a charging station in the installed state;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a reduced representation of the components shown in FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 is an at least partial representation of a further charging station according to the present invention with a curb module assembly according to the invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an at least partially electrically powered vehicle during charging at a charging station according to the present invention; and

[0042] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the inductive recipient shown in FIG. 4 on the curb module according to the invention.

[0043] In the embodiments shown, identical and/or corresponding components are referenced with the same or at least similar reference signs for the sake of clarity. However, it should be expressly noted that the figures are merely intended to illustrate the subject matter of the present invention by means of possible embodiments. The attached figures are not to be understood as limiting the claimed subject-matter. The subject-matter is in fact defined only by the claims.

[0044] As can be seen from FIG. 1, a curb module 1 according to the invention is designed to be used instead of conventional curb modules, for example as a transition from a road surface SF to a footpath and/or bicycle path W. Here, the curb module 1 according to the invention is provided, for example, between two conventional curbs BS. Alternatively, a curb module 1 according to the invention may also serve as a boundary or transition between road surfaces, parking areas and/or their surroundings (such as, for example, a green strip or the like). For this purpose, a skilled person is familiar with a wide variety of designs for corresponding curb modules, such as high curbs, flat curbs or the like.

[0045] In the embodiment, a conventional switch box SK is provided on the side of the footpath and/or cycle path W opposite the curb module 1 according to the invention, such as can be found in many places at or in the immediate vicinity of the roadside. Such a switch box SK can also be arranged underground or integrated into a building as an alternative to the free-standing embodiment shown. In this case, it is not a component of the curb module 1 according to the invention, but together with it forms a charging station according to the invention.

[0046] As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 2, the embodiment shown here for a curb module 1 according to the invention comprises a base body 10, which in the present embodiment is formed from a base element 10a and a cover element 10b. The base element 10a and the cover element 10b can be releasably coupled to one another (in this case via a form fit) and, as partial elements of the base body 10, form its walls. In the assembled state of the partial elements 10a and 10b of the base body 10, they form a cavity in their interior which is completely surrounded by the base body 10. A corresponding charging device 20 is provided or arranged in the cavity. The outer shape of the curb module 1 shown in the embodiment corresponds to that of a high curb, even if other designs are conceivable within the scope of the invention. The material of the partial elements 10a and 10b of the base body 10 is here plastic reinforced by means of carbon fibers, but can also be concrete, such as in particular conductive concrete, or correspondingly shaped natural stone. Here, the base body 10 additionally has a support wall 10c, which strengthens the structural stability of the base body 10 and thus of the curb module 1. Other suitable support structures are also conceivable.

[0047] In the particularly preferred embodiment shown here, the charging device 20 provided comprises a transmission unit 22, a coupling unit 24, a control unit 26, a receiving and transmitting unit 28 and an electrical buffer storage 30.

[0048] Here, the transmission unit 22 is configured as an inductive transmission unit 22 and is configured such that it is able to generate a varying magnetic field by means of a corresponding transmission element (here in the upper region of the transmission unit 22) through a corresponding partial section of the respective wall (here the upper wall of the cover element 10b) in a predefined transmission area (directly above the transmission element). Thereby, at least in the predefined transmission area, the magnetic field has a strength sufficient for inductive charging of electrically driven vehicles. In the illustrated embodiment, only one inductive transmission unit 22 is provided. However, designs with several, and then in particular differently configured, transmission units 22 are also conceivable. Here, the inductive transmission unit 22 is also provided entirely within the cavity and is designed to generate said magnetic field through the corresponding wall of the base body 10. However, other embodiments are also possible, such as having an opening and a corresponding cover or transmission element within the corresponding wall.

[0049] In the present embodiment, in order to make it easier for a user to locate the predetermined transmission area, the cover element 10b has a corresponding marking 12 on its upper surface indicating the position of the transmission area. Here, the marking 12 is formed as a transparent plastic ring, under which a controllable LED illuminated ring 14 is provided. By indicating a current status of the charging device 20 via a suitable control, for example by means of different luminous colors, the LED illuminated ring 14 serves as a status indicating device 14. A corresponding status indicating device 14 can also be provided independently of a corresponding marking 12, but must of course be clearly visible from the outside when the curb module 1 is installed. In the embodiment shown, a positioning device (not explicitly shown) in the form of a controllable electromagnet or a permanent magnet is also provided in such a way that, with the aid of a constant magnetic field, it can appropriately position and hold or fix an inductive recipient IA for picking up the inductive power in the transmission area, at least during the charging phase. This helps a user to obtain the most efficient and stable charging process possible.

[0050] The provided coupling unit 24 of the charging device 20 comprises here an input connection 24a and two output connections 24b1 and 24b2, wherein input connection 24a is provided to be connected to an external power supply via one or more corresponding input line(s) EL. In the embodiment shown, the switch box SK (with the circuitry therein) serves as an intermediate element for connecting the curb module 1 according to the invention to the public power supply. Via the output connections 24b1 and 24b2 provided, the curb module 1 according to the invention in the embodiment shown can be connected to external devices such as, for example, further curb modules 1 according to the invention via corresponding output lines AL.

[0051] It should be noted that the specific designations of the corresponding connections 24a, 24b1 and 24b2 and connecting lines EL and AL chosen in the context of the description of the embodiment example were chosen merely to make them easier to distinguish. However, no restriction is to be derived from this to the effect that signals and/or energy can/can only be transmitted in a single direction via the respective connections 24a, 24b1 and 24b2 and/or connecting lines EL and AL. In the case of a further curb module according to the invention connected to the curb module 1 shown in FIG. 2, for example, the left-hand output connection can serve to connect to the right-hand output connection 24b2 of the curb module 1 shown. Both power and information can then be exchanged between the two curb modules according to the invention via a corresponding connecting line coupled thereto. Such an embodiment is shown, for example, in FIG. 3 and will be explained in more detail later. In this regard, the coupling unit of the further curb module according to the invention may either have no further connections or at least one further output connection for coupling to further external devices. Of course, corresponding connections for coupling to external devices other than curb modules according to the invention can also be provided. An example of this would be, for example, conventional plug connections for connecting and charging electrically powered devices (for example, at least partially electrically powered vehicles or other devices such as hoovers or compressors).

[0052] The control unit 26 is coupled to the other provided components of the charging device 20 and is designed to control the operation of the charging device 20, i.e. all its components, accordingly. For this purpose, the control unit 26 is equipped, for example, with a data storage, a computing unit, an inverter and/or a rectifier and/or with other suitable electrical components. If a data storage with a connected computing unit is provided, various programs for corresponding control of the components of the charging device 20 are stored thereon and can be called up by the latter. However, it would also be conceivable to design the control unit 26 as a passive or analogue control unit and not to provide an active computing unit.

[0053] Via the receiving and transmitting unit 28, the control unit 26 connected thereto can be supplied with signals, such as control signals, from an external device, such as a smartphone, or communicate with such a device. Furthermore, it is also possible to transmit a corresponding feedback to the external device via the receiving and transmitting unit 28. Such signal transmission preferably takes place via a wireless connection such as via Bluetooth or the general radio network.

[0054] The buffer storage 30 for electrical energy enables a more stable operation of the charging device 20. Furthermore, this buffer storage 30 can at the same time serve as a buffer storage for stabilizing the public power grid or the public power supply, for example in order to compensate or intercept fluctuations in the amount of electricity produced. Examples of such buffer storage 30 can be conventional accumulators or also particularly powerful capacitors. Buffer storage 30, in which the electrical energy is converted into mechanical stress or similar, would also be conceivable and usable in principle.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a further example of a charging station according to the present invention.

[0056] Here, this comprises a curb module assembly with three curb modules 1a, 1b and 1c according to the invention. Here, the middle curb module 1b is essentially identical to the curb module 1 described above.

[0057] The two outer curb modules 1a and 1c are also designed very similarly to the curb module 1 described above, but each have only one coupling unit with only one input connection provided on the side. The two output connections 24b1 and 24b2 of the middle curb module 1b are connected to one of the input connections of the other curb modules 1a and 1c respectively via corresponding connecting lines VL1 and VL2. Via these connecting lines VL1 and VL2, both an exchange of energy and an exchange of information with the further curb modules 1a and 1c can take place. In the embodiment shown, the connecting lines VL1 and VL2 are (still) exposed. However, in the installed or final state of the charging station, these run under conventional curb modules BS or run at least partially through transmission curb modules (not shown) specially provided for this purpose. Such transmission curb modules may then have, for example, a cable passage for the corresponding connecting lines VL1 and VL2, or connecting lines VL1 and VL2 permanently integrated into the transmission curb modules with corresponding connections for direct coupling to the curb modules 1a, 1b and 1c according to the invention and/or to intermediate elements provided for this purpose.

[0058] The charging station further comprises a switch box SK with a circuit (not shown) arranged therein. The switch box SK together with the circuit is provided for connecting the curb module in a suitable manner to a corresponding power supply, such as here for example the public power grid. In this respect, the middle curb module 1b, as shown in FIG. 2, is connected to the switch box SK by means of an input line EL laid under the footpath and/or cycle path W. The switch box SK is provided with a power supply. In other words, the power supply to the middle curb module 1b is provided directly via the switch box SK, while the other two curb modules 1a and 1c are connected to the switch box SK via the middle curb module 1b in order to be supplied with electrical power.

[0059] Even if the switch box is shown above ground and free-standing in the embodiment shown, it is preferable to provide it underground if possible or, for example, integrated into a house wall. It is particularly preferred if the switch box integrated into the charging station is a switch box SK already pre-installed at a corresponding location. In this case, no further switch box SK needs to be provided. The concrete external design of the switch box generally has no influence on the core of the invention and can thus be chosen more or less freely. However, it should be avoided to design the switch box in such a way that the previously described disadvantages of conventional charging stations are obtained.

[0060] It should be noted that a corresponding charging station can also comprise less than three or more than three curb modules 1, 1a, 1b and/or 1c according to the invention.

[0061] However, in order to be able to be particularly well integrated into the already existing cityscape and streetscape, the curb modules 1a, 1b and 1c provided are to be laid in usually along corresponding roadways and/or parking spaces, etc. In other words, the building block modules 1a, 1b and 1c according to the invention are intended to replace conventional curbs and to take over their functions and to extend them by the possibility of charging an at least partially electrically driven vehicle F. Any transmission curbs provided are also intended to replace conventional curbs when installed. An exemplary charging process with a curb module according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4.

[0062] An at least partially electrically driven vehicle F is parked on a parking area provided for this purpose next to the respective curb module 1. Then a tank connection TA of the vehicle F is connected to the curb module 1 according to the invention via a charging cable LK. For this purpose, the charging cable LK has a tank connector TS at a first end and an inductive recipient IA at its second end. An enlarged representation of the exemplary inductive recipient shown here is shown in FIG. 5. However, as such are known per se, its specific design will not be further discussed here. FIG. 5 also shows the LED illuminated ring with its artificial ring, which functions as a marker 12 and status indicator 14. During a charging process, the inductive recipient IA is suitably positioned and held in the intended transmission area via the above-mentioned positioning magnet.

[0063] The charging cable LK shown here also has a control and/or display panel AP, via which the charging process can be controlled, information about the charging process can be called up or payment functions can be carried out. The control and/or display panel AP provided can be an external device for wireless signal exchange with the receiver and/or transmitter unit 28 of the charging device 20. In principle, however, charging cables LK without such control and/or display panels AP can also be connected to a curb module 1 according to the invention.

[0064] As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 4, for the charging process with the curb module 1 according to the invention, the charging cable LK can be routed directly along the vehicle F and thus does not obstruct the freedom of movement around the vehicle F or that on the footpath and/or cycle path.

[0065] As an alternative to charging the vehicle F using the charging cable LK, other variants are of course also conceivable. For example, a gripper connected to the vehicle in a fixed but movable manner with a corresponding inductive recipient IA could be used for this purpose.

[0066] An exemplary method for operating the devices described here comprises the following: in a first step, information on at least one device to be charged, in particular on an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, information on a desired charging process and/or information on the curb module(s) 1, 1a, 1b and/or 1c themselves and/or on a corresponding power supply is retrieved, for example from a smartphone, one of the curb modules or from other external devices; in a second step, a suitable charging strategy for the device(s) to be charged is determined based on the retrieved information; and in a third step, a charging process for the device(s) to be charged is executed.

[0067] These steps are performed again from the beginning at specific intervals and/or in response to a specific triggering event, such as a user input. This allows the charging strategy to be adapted regularly and/or on request to any changes in conditions or information. The information retrieved can include at least information on a current state of charge of the device(s) to be charged, a prioritization of the corresponding charging processes, an intended charging duration and/or an electrical power available at the corresponding curb module. This can be used to determine a particularly suitable charging strategy.

[0068] Here, the determination of the suitable charging strategy is carried out in the control unit 26 of the curb module 1b centrally for all curb modules 1a, 1b and 1c provided.

[0069] The embodiments shown and described merely serve to illustrate the core idea of the present invention and serve as an example of a possible implementation of this core idea. However, the scope of protection is defined only by the patent claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0070] 1 Curb module [0071] 1a Left-hand curb module [0072] 1b Middle curb module [0073] 1c Right-hand curb module [0074] 10 Base body [0075] 10a Base element [0076] 10b Cover element [0077] 10c Support wall [0078] 12 Marker [0079] 14 Status indicator/LED light ring [0080] 20 Charging device [0081] 22 Transmission unit [0082] 24 Coupling unit [0083] 24a Input connector [0084] 24b1 First output connector [0085] 24b2 second output connector [0086] 26 Control unit [0087] 28 Receiving and transmitting unit [0088] 30 Buffer storage [0089] AL Output line [0090] AP Control and display panel [0091] BS Conventional curb [0092] EL Input line [0093] F Vehicle [0094] IA Recipient [0095] LK Charging cable [0096] SF Road surface [0097] SK Switch box [0098] TA Tank connection [0099] TS Tank connector [0100] VL1 first connecting line [0101] VL2 second connecting line [0102] W Foot and cycle path