Feature: Displays
Displays When designing charging stations, developers should consider the device’s usability, as simple, visual interaction with the system proves valuable to users. Whilst it is possible for EV drivers to interact with their charging stations through a mixture of LED light indicators and push buttons, for the best user experience and sophisticated charging station, display monitors are a must, offering ample information about the charging process. Drivers want to know if their car has been plugged in correctly, the progress of the charge and how long it will take. A display is the most versatile I/O solution,
and a capacitive touchscreen is the easiest way for drivers to interact with charging stations. Displays open up possibilities for connectivity features like email and text alerts, with inputting contact details or signing into an account made simple with a capacitive touch display. Displays also offer a host of possibilities for user troubleshooting. If a car has been plugged in incorrectly, prompts on how to resolve issues can guide drivers connect it the right way without seeking technical support. Display Technology offers a wide range
of smart display solutions. It recommends the POS-RP-070-00-PRO CE-certified 7” monitor from Distec, which uses a RaspberryPi-based control board, to offer snappy and highly-configurable operation. For charging stations, the ten-finger PCAP touchscreen is easy to use, with the added responsiveness of capacitive touch control. Since charging stations must withstand the environmental requirements of outdoor operation, water and dust resistance are a must. Distec has designed its POS-RP to comply with the IP65 standard, whilst also building a sleek and slim housing for its displays. For ultra-premium DCFCs that rival
the Tesla superchargers, system designers can opt for a large, high-resolution display, to add that next-generation flair to each charging station. Display Technology offers a wide range of monitors (15-31.5”) within the POS-Line range, with full-HD capacitive touch display specially designed for use in public facilities. With standard display brightness between 400-700cd/m2
be increased to 2000cd/m2
, users will have
no problems interacting with the monitor in sunlight.
Embedded systems For the most efficient charge possible, communication between the charging components and an EV is extremely important, a role for the embedded system. By varying power delivery to a vehicle, charging can be optimised to manage the charging temperature, ensuring safe operation and improved charge time. DCFCs handle high charging power
differently to improve charge efficiency. Tesla superchargers offer high-power delivery between 0-20% charge capacity, whilst Audi’s chargers go for a lower, but more sustained charge level. Another important role of the embedded
system in EV charging is cell monitoring for battery safety. Embedded systems can analyse data provided by an EV to optimise the charge, and more powerful computers can use AI-enhanced modelling to better predict charge patterns. Embedded systems can be connected
to the Internet either wirelessly or via Ethernet, allowing for many online services: technicians can remotely monitor and manage each charging station, or users can be updated with progress notifications. A powerful and robust embedded
system for use in EV systems is the Axiomtek IFB125, powered by the Freescale
i.MX6UL processor that’s based on the ARM Cortex-A7 architecture. To meet the IoT needs of electric vehicles, the IFB125 supports multiple communication interfaces, including LAN, serial and USB, whilst the PCI Express Mini card slot allows an easy installation of a Wi-Fi card. Te embedded operating system Yocto is Linux-based for simpler soſtware development. Another embedded system perfectly
, which can
positioned to take advantage of AI enhancements to EV charging is the Axiomtek CAPA311 computer system, with an Intel Atom x5-E3940 at heart. With up to 8GB of memory, HDMI output and two PCI Express Mini card slots, this single-board computer is a perfect component for a high- tech DCFC. Pairing it with a high-resolution display like the Distec POS-Line is a recipe
for an excellent high-end AIoT (AI Internet of Tings) EV charger.
PowerPro for Artesyn iHP For high-end EV charging stations, system designers can benefit from digital control and device communication, to create a more efficient product and provide better usability. Te Artesyn iHP includes an optional cloud- based power management tool, the PowerPro, that comes as a power module for the iHP Series of Artesyn modular power supplies. It enables a high-level graphical user interface to control and monitor the iHP power supply, and facilitates digital control through a range of industrial protocols, including PMBus, RS- 485 and Ethernet. For DCFCs fleets, technicians can remotely
monitor the power parameters of iHP- equipped charging stations and control most or all of the readily-accessible and configurable functions of the power supply. Te GUI is held in the cloud, easily accessed by any device connected to the Internet. Tis helps charging providers to quickly respond to faults, make efficiency tweaks and gather data from the systems. Te PowerPro cloud-based power
management system also monitors charging patterns in real time. Data such as when charging stations are used the most or for how long enables providers to adjust power delivery, ultimately improving DCFCs’ profitability. Te PowerPro GUI also incorporates a
graphical script creation engine that allows users to write automatic scripts to execute their own custom process control routines. System designers can respond to usage patterns by executing custom control routines, resulting in a positive feedback loop between driver behaviour and power management tweaks by system designers. For EV chargers to truly enter the realm of
AI Internet of Tings, power management, data collection and remote control are crucial to providing truly ‘smart’ management. Next- generation cloud control of power supplies is a big step toward this future, and the Artesyn iHP series from Advanced Energy is a line of forward-compatible power supplies perfect to create a range of highly-intelligent, adaptable and scaleable EV chargers to speed up the electric vehicle revolution.
www.electronicsworld.co.uk March 2022 27
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