How Electric Cars Safely Pause Charging When You Want to Unplug
A system for electric vehicles that safely pauses power flow when a driver signals they want to disconnect the charging cable, preventing electrical arcing or damage.
Original patent title: “Charging control apparatus and charging control method”
A system for electric vehicles that safely pauses power flow when a driver signals they want to disconnect the charging cable, preventing electrical arcing or damage. Granted to Nissan Motor Co Ltd in 2016 with 9 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2031.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a safety mechanism for electric vehicles that manages the transition between charging and unplugging. When a user presses a button on the charging cable to initiate disconnection, the system pauses the flow of electricity while keeping the internal safety relays closed for a short, predetermined time. If the user changes their mind and cancels the disconnection request within that window, the car instantly resumes charging without needing a full system restart. If the time expires or the cable is physically removed, the relays open to safely cut power.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the physical design of the charging plug or the locking mechanism itself.
- Does not cover wireless or inductive charging systems that lack a physical cable connection.
- Does not cover charging systems that immediately cut power without a pause-and-resume grace period.
- Does not cover software-based battery management systems that monitor cell temperature or voltage.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The invention keeps the relay switches closed during the pause, treating the user's 'disconnection command' as a temporary state rather than an immediate power-off event, allowing for a seamless resume if the user accidentally hits the button or changes their mind.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Nissan LEAF charging systems
Standardized J1772 charging station protocols
Electric vehicle onboard charging controllers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Managing high-voltage power in electric vehicles is dangerous because pulling a plug while current is flowing can cause electrical arcing, which damages the charging port and the cable. This patent provides a standardized, safe 'handshake' between the user's intent to unplug and the vehicle's electrical system, ensuring the hardware is protected during the transition.
Filed
June 9, 2011
Granted
June 28, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Nissan Motor Co. continues to integrate these safety protocols into their electric vehicle lineup. Other major automotive manufacturers like Tesla, Ford, and Hyundai utilize similar logic in their proprietary battery management and charging control units to ensure safe high-voltage handling.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize safety procedures for electric vehicle charging, reducing the risk of hardware damage at charging stations. It contributed to the broader industry shift toward robust, user-friendly charging interfaces that protect both the vehicle's electronics and the consumer from high-voltage hazards.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a safety mechanism for electric vehicles that manages the transition between charging and unplugging. When a user presses a button on the charging cable to initiate disconnection, the system pauses the flow of electricity while keeping the internal safety relays closed for a short, predetermined time. If the user changes their mind and cancels the disconnection request within that window, the car instantly resumes charging without needing a full system restart. If the time expires or the cable is physically removed, the relays open to safely cut power.
The clever bit
The invention keeps the relay switches closed during the pause, treating the user's 'disconnection command' as a temporary state rather than an immediate power-off event, allowing for a seamless resume if the user accidentally hits the button or changes their mind.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the physical design of the charging plug or the locking mechanism itself.
- Does not cover wireless or inductive charging systems that lack a physical cable connection.
- Does not cover charging systems that immediately cut power without a pause-and-resume grace period.
- Does not cover software-based battery management systems that monitor cell temperature or voltage.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
6/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$34K – $108K
Midpoint $67K · 4.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
9 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kamishima, U. (2016). How Electric Cars Safely Pause Charging When You Want to Unplug (U.S. Patent No. 9,379,564). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9379564/charging-control-apparatus-and-charging-control-method
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Electric Cars Safely Pause Charging When You Want to Unplug cover?
A system for electric vehicles that safely pauses power flow when a driver signals they want to disconnect the charging cable, preventing electrical arcing or damage.
Who owns patent US 9379564?
Nissan Motor Co Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 9, 2031, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9379564 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Managing high-voltage power in electric vehicles is dangerous because pulling a plug while current is flowing can cause electrical arcing, which damages the charging port and the cable. This patent provides a standardized, safe 'handshake' between the user's intent to unplug and the vehicle's electrical system, ensuring the hardware is protected during the transition.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the physical design of the charging plug or the locking mechanism itself.
Patent monitoring