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displays for electric vehicle chargers AUTOMOTIVE


INDUSTRY FOCUS


When an electric vehicle charging station manufacturer needed a display that could withstand a variety of conditions while being


aesthetically pleasing, it turned to Anders. Mike Logan, senior product manager, explains


A


ccording to Deloitte, over 25.3 million pure electric vehicles will be sold by 2030 and this will place greater strain on charging


networks. Private businesses are therefore perfectly placed to capitalise on the growing demand for public EV chargers (EVC). So when a leading brand within the EVC market wanted to develop its charging system to a new generation HPC (High Power Charger), it turned to Anders. High Power Chargers (HPCs) refer to Level 3


DC fast charging at a rate of 50kW or more. Based on a variety of industry announcements, using variants of current battery chemistries and battery pack designs, the time to recharge is expected to be reduced to below approximately 15 minutes to charge to 80%. The company’s key demands included: optical


excellence; withstand conditions in an outdoor environment, including extremes in temperature, rain, dust and grit; to be robust and vandal-proof; aesthetically pleasing to meet their brand values; positive user experience; the embedded system to be able to support processing demands of fast charging and driving the User Interface GUI and any long-term updates; industrial operating temperatures and long production lifetime.


the right solution Anders works with its customers for a solution


that will reach the goal of reducing the gap between the time it takes to charge, versus fuel/refuel. Constantly reviewing its embedded systems to achieve that desired state, it was able to provide a customised motherboard based around a low-cost ARM System on Module that takes care of the high-level communications, coupled with a microcontroller which manages the charging circuitry. For the superior viewing experience required,


Anders suggested a high bright TFT display with Capacitive Touch. The main environmental concern was reliability of the touchscreen in the rain. By conducting extensive testing, the company was able to fine tune the IC firmware to ensure raindrops were seen as false touches, and human touches (with and without gloves), were correctly reported as real user inputs. The coverlens was customised and optically


bonded, a process which dramatically reduces the internal reflections produced between the coverlens, sensor and display layers by filling the air gaps in between those layers with optically clear adhesives. This not only makes a huge difference to screen readability in brightly lit and outdoor environments, but also greatly improves the mechanical strength of the display. Optical bonding offers a number of benefits, including: improved readability in sunlight; it


accelerating the drive to electrification


Producing battery modules is a complex process that involves assembling costly and potentially dangerous electrochemical elements. Their production poses new challenges to the industry, such as avoiding damaging the battery cells during handling. In order to support the automotive industry’s needs as it


moves from the internal combustion engine (ICE) towards electrification, Festo is broadening its expertise and resources and is now offering coordinated solutions for the robust, safe and precise gripping and transport of battery cells, while offering experience to help optimise machine safety and energy efficiency. Festo offers products and solutions for manufacturing machines and systems along the entire production process


chain, including copper-, zinc- and nickel-free products, and dry- and clean-room compatible products. Its energy-efficient piezo valves and servo press, for example, are already driving equipment for producing wound battery cells. Using high-quality products pays off in this application because the batteries are costly and gigafactories run at high cycle rates, so maximising uptime is paramount. Production facilities for batteries and EVs are currently being planned and built worldwide at


short notice and high speed; and the ability to train and on-board large numbers of employees very quickly is crucial. Festo Didactic offers industry-specific training concepts: from the Festo Learning Experience Platform for self-study, to hands-on training.


festo www.festo.co.uk/electrificationofpowertrain


reduces reflections; it prevents condensation build-up between layers; up to four times higher contrast ratio; improved ruggedness and durability; and lower power consumption. The display was also provided with


strengthened glass. This can be achieved using different methods to ensure it can perform perfectly within varying environments – from extreme heat to extreme cold – and to protect it from those who may try to damage it. The solution ticked the box in accordance with


performance, however, as a leading OEM, the customer needs to ensure that the product meets brand values, and Anders’ extensive coverlens portfolio delivered that with a range of options including cut outs and custom shapes; oversized glass; bevelled edges; 3D Shaped cover glass; etc.


the technical solution


• 7” WVGA TFT module with 24-bit RGB interface – 16M colours o Customised rear bezel to support specially adapted metal mounting plate


o Backlight brightness enhancement – 850nits


o Capable of industrial temperature operation.


• Customised capacitive touch panel o Single finger input and gesture support o Supports water rejection o EMC: Level 3, conducted susceptibility (10Vrms) immunity.


• Customised 4mm cover lens o Chemically strengthened glass with grinded edges


o Double Anti-Reflection coated o Anti-Smudge water repellent coated o UV resistant black ink printed frame o Pre-fitted gasket on front glass.


• Double optical bonding using optically clear adhesive o Cover Lens/OCA/Touch Sensor/OCA/TFT module


o UV resistant filter


• Embedded solution o High performance, fanless embedded system to accommodate future software upgrades and ensure ultimate UI performance


o Customer specified connectors and mechanical layout for simple final assembly


o Additional application and system required power circuitry onboard


o Industrial operating temperature and a minimum 10-year production lifetime.


anders electronics www.andersdx.com


APRIL 2022 deSign SolUtionS 47


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