Patent Description:
Nowadays light electrical vehicles such as electric scooters (also referred to as electric motorized scooters and e-scooters) and bikes are commonly used especially in city environments. Light electrical vehicles being fast, convenient, eco-friendly way of transport in a city and free-floating rental model, for example, a scooter-sharing system is comfortable and quick solution for scooter riders. The scooter-sharing system can be described by being a service in which electric scooters are made available to use for short-term rental. Similar services are also known for electric bikes.

There however exist several accompanying problems with scooter-sharing systems, one of them being scooter clutter on the streets in the city. As people have a freedom to leave the scooters however they like, it is common that a scooter ends up being parked so that they block the paths of pedestrians, cyclists, and other scooter users.

Furthermore, electric scooters are operated by utilizing electrical power stored into a battery thereof and batteries need to be changed or charged regularly. Battery-related operations are one of the biggest costs for scooter operators. Either scooters need to be taken to warehouses for battery charging or batteries being swapped on the street, the battery-related operations are workforce heavy. There also exist stationary charging stations provided by scooter operators into which electric scooters can be brought and connected for charging. These stations are convenient and practical way to take care of charging. In such charging stations, it is crucial that the scooter can be easily brought and connected for charging and that the charging arrangement is such that the charging is successful and safe, and that the scooter stays on place in the charging station.

<CIT> discloses a charging station and a LEV with an attachment unit on a headtube of the LEV. The attachment unit has an actuation loop in its front part for engaging the LEV to a docking station and two electrical terminal modules in front of the LEV on both sides of the loop. The attachment unit also comprises a RFID tag, which place is not specified.

<CIT> discloses a charging system including a charging adapter configured to be mounted on a light electric vehicle (LEV), a charging station, and a processor configured to control charging of the LEV. The charging adapter has electrical contacts for docking with a charging station and a charging interface for supplying power from the charging station to a battery of the LEV.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a charging station for light electric vehicles and a charging interface socket for charging stations. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a charging adapter for a light electric vehicle, a light electric vehicle comprising a charging adapter.

The objectives of the invention are reached by a charging station for an electric scooter, and an electric scooter as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a charging adapter. The charging adapter is configured to be mounted on a headtube of a light electric vehicle, the charging adapter comprises an RFID tag and two electrical contacts for receiving electric power from an electric scooter charging station. Those two electrical contacts are arranged on sides of the headtube and both sides of the RFID tag, which is configured to face the travelling direction of the light electric vehicle, when the charging adapter is mounted on the headtube.

According to an example embodiment, the RFID tag and two electrical contacts are arranged at outer surface of the charging adapter. According to an embodiment, the inner surface of the charging adapter is configured to be mounted against the headtube. According to an embodiment, the charging adapter has a shape corresponding a letter U in the horizontal plane. According to an embodiment, the RFID tag is arranged to the tip of the letter u-shaped charging adapter. According to an embodiment, the charging adapter has a shape of a cross-section of the headtube. According to a second aspect, there is provided a light electric vehicle. The light electric vehicle comprises a charging adapter according to the first aspect and any one of its example embodiment.

According to an example embodiment, the light electric vehicle is an electric scooter. According to an example embodiment, the light electric vehicle further comprise a GPS tracker chip.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a charging interface socket for a charging station. The charging interface socket comprises a notch for receiving a headtube of a light electric vehicle, and an RFID reader for an RFID tag of the light electric vehicle, a fixing mechanism for holding the light electric vehicle in place in the notch, and two electrical contacts for supplying electrical power to a battery of the light electric vehicle on the inner surface of the notch. The RFID reader is arranged at the end of notch of the socket, the fixing mechanism is arranged at or in the vicinity of the mouth of the notch, and the electric contacts are arranged between the RFID reader and the fixing mechanism.

According to an example embodiment, the fixing mechanism comprises two spring-tensioned contact rollers arranged on both sides at or in the vicinity of the mouth of the notch of the charging interface socket. According to an example embodiment, the electrical contacts are spring-loaded contacts.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a charging station for charging a light electric vehicle, wherein the charging station (<NUM>) comprises at least one charger (<NUM>) and at least one charging interface socket (<NUM>) according to the third aspect and any one of its example embodiment.

Various other advantages will become clear to a skilled person based on the following detailed description.

The expression "a plurality of" may refer to any positive integer starting from two (<NUM>), that is, being at least two.

The terms "first", "second", etc. are herein used to distinguish one element from other element, and not to specially prioritize or place them in order, if not otherwise explicitly stated.

An "electric scooter" is used herein only as an example of a light electric vehicle (LEV). Instead of electric scooters, the present invention is also suitable for electric bikes etc..

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

The idea of the present invention is to provide a safe, low-cost, user-friendly, and low-maintenance light electric vehicle (LEV) charging system requiring minimal or no input from the user so that riders find it easy to bring LEVs for charging. When LEVs end up to the charging stations it means that LEVs could be charged for the next users and less LEVs end up cluttering the streets in the city.

A rider, when finishing a LEV ride, for example an electric scooter ride and being close to a charging station can just push the LEV into the charging station, which charging interface socket is configured to receive a charging adapter mounted on a headtube of the LEV, for example, of the electric scooter. The outer surface of the charging adapter configured to face the charging interface socket comprises an RFID tag for identification of the LEV and two electrical contacts for receiving electric power for a battery of the LEV. The outer surface of the charging adapter is opposite to the inner surface of the adapter configured to be positioned against the headtube. When the charging adapter is mounted on a headtube of a LEV the RFID tag of the adapter is facing the front i.e. to the riding direction, and electrical contacts are arranged on the sides of the adapter and the headtube, one on each side. The charging adapter may, for example, have a shape substantially corresponding the letter U or horizontal cross-section of the headtube. The charging adapter has such a size and shape that it is suitable to be mounted on or around a headtube of a LEV. It is however possible that the charging adapter is an additional separate piece having, for example, a rectangular or circular shape or any other suitable shape for a charging adapter, which charging adapter is arranged to be mounted i.e. fixed to the front part of a headtube of a LEV by a fixing element. The fixing element may be, for example, a cable tie, a metal cable tie, or any other fixing means suitable for fixing a charging adapter around a headtube of a LEV. In this context, mounting of an adapter on a headtube covers situations when the adapter is arranged partially or completely around the headtube or on the headtube. It is possible, that the RFID tag is embedded inside the adapter i.e. it is not on the outer surface of the adapter, or it is on the outer surface of the adapter. The adapter may, for example, be made of plastic or other suitable material.

A charging interface socket of a charging station may comprise a notch or corresponding into which a headtube of a LEV is configured to be inserted. The form of the charging interface socket may, for example, substantially correspond the letter U in the horizontal plane. The charging interface socket comprises on its inner surface i.e. in the notch a RFID reader for reading an RFID tag of a charging adapter of a LEV and a fixing mechanism for the LEV, and two electrical contacts for supplying electrical power to a battery of the LEV. The fixing mechanism may comprise, for example, two spring-tensioned contact rollers arranged on the inner surface of ends of the U-shaped socket i.e. at or near i.e. in the vicinity the mouth of the notch. The spring-tensioned rollers are configured to physically fix the scooter pushed into the socket in place to the charging station for charging and in a case of fully charged battery for storing and supporting the LEV. The spring-tensioned rollers are configured to press both sides of the headtube of the LEV and/or both sides of the charging adapter arranged on the headtube so that the LEV, headtube and its charging adapter are fix in their place to the charging station. It is also possible that the spring-tensioned rollers are configured to press the back side of the headtube instead of the sides of the headtube and/or sides of the charging adapter. The RFID reader is arranged at the end of the notch of the socket, and it is configured to be positioned against or in the vicinity of an RFID tag of the LEV pushed into the charging interface socket of the charging station for charging. The fourth side, between the ends of the U-shaped charging interface socket, or a side opposite the end of the notch, is open because the LEV is configured to be pushed through it into the charging interface socket of the charging station. The electric contacts are arranged between the RFID reader and a spring-tensioned roller. The charging interface socket may further comprise on its inner surface a locking mechanism for locking the LEV to the charging station.

A LEV comprises a chargeable battery, a charging adapter mounted according to the present invention on a headtube of the LEV, and required electronics and circuitry needed for charging the battery. The LEV may further comprise a GPS tracker chip, which enables a real-time GPS location tracking of the LEV using any suitable existing method.

A charging station may comprise one or more chargers as a power source wherefrom the power is configured to be transmitted to a battery of a LEV. A physical electrical connection for transmitting power from the charging station and the LEV is configured to be established between electrical contacts of the socket, for example, electrical spring contacts, and the electrical contacts of the adapter of the LEV. Charging may be initiated when an RFID tag of a LEV arranged to a socket of a charging station is read and recognized by an RFID reader of the station as an RFID tag registered for the charging station i.e. determined as the registered RFID tag. The charging station may be configured to charge only those LEVs, which comprise registered RFID tags. The station may not need to determine the type of the battery of the LEV, the power type of the power source, nor control the power based on the type of the battery and the type of the power source. This is because when the LEV comprises a registered RFID tag, a battery of that LEV is such that power received from the charging station is determined to be suitable for it. In other words, the station reads and recognizes the RFID tag of the LEV by its RFID tag reader and computing unit as a registered RFID tag before it starts the charging. However, it is also possible a charging station is compatible with two or more different charging voltages and the voltage to be used for charging is decided based on the read RFID tag and information relating to it in the server.

However, the decision to initiate charging or not may further require that a GPS location of a LEV corresponds a location of a charging station in question. The decision of this correspondence may be made, for example, in an external computing device, for example, in a server or cloud, which receives the information from the charging station and GPS tracking software tracking the LEV.

There may be several reasons why to position electric connectors on the sides of a charging adapter and a charging interface socket according to examples of the present invention instead of to the front of a LEV or to the end of the notch of the socket, a few of them are the following ones. Firstly, it may be possible to get more up-down tolerance for the connections between the electrical contacts of the charging adapter and the electrical contacts of the charging interface. Secondly, contacts on different sides further increase safety compared to a situation wherein contacts are next to each other, as the distance between positive and negative contact terminals is larger and thus a risk of a short circuit is lower. Thirdly, contacts on the sides are less prone to damages. And fourthly, because contacts are arranged on the sides, it is possible to position an RFID tag in front of the adapter. If the contacts would be in the front and the RFID tag would be on the side, there may not be enough room for an RFID reader antenna on the side of a socket of a charging station due to a fixing mechanism, for example, spring-tensioned rollers.

<FIG> illustrate schematically an electric scooter <NUM> with a charging adapter <NUM> according to an example embodiment from different viewing angles. <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the electric scooter <NUM>, <FIG> illustrates the electric scooter <NUM> from a side, and <FIG> from the front.

In various example embodiments, the electric scooter <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM>, a front wheel support portion <NUM> for supporting at least one front wheel, and a rear wheel support portion <NUM> for supporting at least one rear wheel, wherein the front wheel support portion <NUM> and the rear wheel support portion <NUM> are coupled to the frame <NUM>, an electric motor (not shown in <FIG>), and a controlling unit <NUM>. The controlling unit is, preferably, configured to control the operation of the electric scooter <NUM>, especially at least of the electric motor thereof. In various embodiments, the controlling unit may comprise one or more processing units, such as processor(s), and memory, such as non-transitory or non-volatile memory storage medium, for storing instructions executable by the processing unit(s) for operating the scooter <NUM>. Furthermore, the controlling unit may comprise electrical power converter for converting and/or controlling the current being injected to the electric motor. The controlling unit <NUM> may be substantially a single unit or being distributed in more than one positions. In overall, the position of the controlling unit is not limited to any specific position, but it may reside basically anywhere in the scooter <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the electric motor(s) may be arranged for rotating at least a front wheel coupled a front wheel support portion <NUM> and/or at least a rear wheel coupled to the rear wheel support portion <NUM>. The electric motor may be a hub motor in the front and/or rear wheel.

In <FIG>, the electric scooter <NUM> comprises a chargeable battery <NUM> and a charging adapter <NUM> mounted on a headtube <NUM> of the electric scooter <NUM>. The charging adapter <NUM> comprises two electrical contacts <NUM> (only one electrical contact is shown in <FIG>) on the sides of the charging adapter <NUM> and on the sides of the headtube, and an RFID tag <NUM> in front of the charging adapter <NUM> facing the riding direction of the scooter <NUM>. The mounting height of the charging adapter <NUM> depends on the height of a charging interface socket of a charging station, wherein the scooter <NUM> is configured to be charged. The charging adapter <NUM> may be mounted on the headtube <NUM>, for example, by glue, by fixing means, for example, by screws, or by a collar or corresponding (not shown). The electric scooter <NUM> further comprises required electronics and circuitry (not shown) needed for charging the battery <NUM> through the charging adapter <NUM>.

Furthermore, as shown in <FIG>, the battery <NUM> may be coupled to the frame <NUM> and arranged in a battery case (not shown). In various embodiments, the electric scooter <NUM> may comprise a lock device (not shown) for locking the battery <NUM> inside the battery case. Still further, as shown in <FIG>, the headtube <NUM> is configured to act as a steering column comprising a handle bar <NUM>, wherein speed adjusting means <NUM> are coupled to the handle bar <NUM>, and wherein the speed adjusting means <NUM> are at least in communication connection with the controlling unit <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate schematically a charging interface socket <NUM> of a charging station <NUM> according to an example embodiment from different viewing angles. <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the charging interface socket <NUM>, <FIG> illustrates the charging interface socket <NUM> from the front i.e. a direction wherefrom a light electric vehicle, for example, a scooter is configured to be pushed to the charging station, and <FIG> from above. The charging interface socket <NUM> is arranged in connection with the charging station, for example, to a horizontal support plate of the charging station <NUM> or some other suitable part of the charging station.

In various example embodiments, the charging interface socket <NUM> comprises a notch <NUM> for receiving a headtube of a light electric vehicle and a charging adapter mounted on the headtube. It may say that the charging interface socket <NUM> could, for example, have a shape that substantially corresponds the letter U. The charging interface socket <NUM> further comprises, on the inner surface of the notch <NUM>, an RFID reader <NUM> for a RFID tag of the light electric vehicle, a fixing mechanism <NUM> for holding the light electric vehicle in place in the notch <NUM> and in the charging station <NUM>, and two electrical contacts <NUM> to be connected with electric contacts of the adapter. The fixing mechanism <NUM> comprises, in this example embodiment, two spring-tensioned contact rollers arranged at or near the mouth of the notch <NUM> of the socket <NUM>. The electrical contacts <NUM> are in this example embodiment spring contacts so that the contact with the contacts of the charging adapter is easier, more reliable, and ensures electric contact in a wide range of tolerances. The socket 200may comprise inside it a rubber cushion for making the insertion of the LEV to the socket <NUM> smoother. The charging interface socket <NUM> maybe made of plastic.

In <FIG>, is shown a charging station <NUM> for charging light electric vehicles <NUM>, for example, electric scooters <NUM> comprising a charging adapter <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The charging station <NUM> comprises two chargers <NUM> and a plurality of charging interface sockets <NUM> for receiving a light electric vehicle.

However, it is possible that there is one charger <NUM> per one interface socket <NUM>. But it is also possible to have two or more chargers <NUM> per one socket <NUM>. Having two or more chargers <NUM> may give flexibility in terms of battery voltage. The charging interface sockets <NUM> are arranged, in this example embodiment, to a support plate <NUM> of the charging station <NUM>, for example, to a horizontal support plate <NUM>. But it is also possible that they are arranged some other way in connection with the charging station <NUM> for receiving light electric vehicles. The number of charging interface sockets <NUM> of the charging station <NUM> is not limited to the shown number, but it may vary and depend for example on a need, size or charging capacity of the charging station <NUM>.

The charging station <NUM> further comprises a controlling unit <NUM>. The controlling unit is, preferably, configured to control the operation of the charging station <NUM>, especially at least charging of LEVs. In various embodiments, the controlling unit may comprise means for receiving information of read RFID tags of light electric vehicles, such as a receiver or transceiver, one or more processing units, such as processor(s), and memory, such as non-transitory or non-volatile memory storage medium, for storing registered RFID tags and instructions executable by the processing unit(s) for, for example, comparing the read RFID tags to registered RFID tags in order to determine whether to start charging or not. The controlling unit <NUM> may further comprise receiving means, such as a receiver or transceiver, for receiving information, for example, from an external unit or cloud storage, indicating whether or not a location of a LEV comprising a registered RFID correspond to the location of the charging station <NUM>. However, it is also possible that the controlling unit <NUM> of the charging station <NUM> performs this analysis by itself. This location correspondence information may further to be used for determining whether to charge a light electric vehicle or not. In other words, if locations corresponds, the charging could be started.

Furthermore, the controlling unit may comprise electrical power converter for converting and/or controlling the current being transmitted to a battery of a light electric vehicle. The controlling unit may be substantially a single unit or being distributed in more than one positions. In overall, the position of the controlling unit is not limited to any specific position, but it may reside basically anywhere in the charging station <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A charging adapter, wherein the charging adapter (<NUM>) is mountable on a headtube (<NUM>) of a light electric vehicle (<NUM>), the charging adapter (<NUM>) comprises an RFID tag (<NUM>) readable and recognizable by an RFID reader of an electric scooter charging station of the light electric vehicle (<NUM>), and two electrical contacts (<NUM>) for receiving electric power from the electric scooter charging station, characterised in that said two electrical contacts (<NUM>) are arranged on sides of the headtube (<NUM>) and the RFID tag (<NUM>), which RFID tag (<NUM>) is configured to face the travelling direction of the light electric vehicle (<NUM>), when the charging adapter (<NUM>) is mounted on the headtube (<NUM>).