Autonomous vehicle charging station connection

• US 10,071,645 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Chai, Boaz Jie, Paryani, Anil, El Naga, Eahab Nagi, Beverley, William Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US15/017,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22, 320109, 180 6529
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A charging station can be autonomously coupled to an electric vehicle. Sensors on the vehicle determine a location of the vehicle, and the vehicle is positioned within a connection envelope. A travel path for bringing a charging connector into contact with a charging port on the vehicle can be determined, and then the travel path is autonomously carried out.

Claims

1. A method for autonomous connection of a charging station to a vehicle, the method comprising:

activating one or more locational sensors on the vehicle;

analyzing data generated by the one or more locational sensors to determine a location of the vehicle;

sending a first signal from a first sensor of the one or more locational sensors to an intelligent agent, the first signal indicating a location of the vehicle;

determining, using the intelligent agent, a first travel path of the vehicle based on the first signal;

communicating the first travel path from the intelligent agent to the vehicle;

activating one or more locational sensors on the charging station;

analyzing data generated by the one or more locational sensors on the charging station to determine a location of the charging station;

sending a second signal from a second sensor of the one or more locational sensors on the charging station to the intelligent agent, the second signal indicating a location of the charging station;

determining, using the intelligent agent, a second travel path based on the second signal; and

communicating the second travel path from the intelligent agent to the charging station;

moving the vehicle along the first travel path to position a charging port on the vehicle within a connection envelope; and

moving the charging connector along the second travel path to position a charging connector on the charging station into contact with the charging port within the connection envelope.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first signal from the first sensor on the vehicle comprises receiving the first signal from an on-board global positioning system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more locational sensors comprises at least one of ultrasonic sensors, magnetometers, and cameras.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the one or more locational sensors comprises activating at least one of ultrasonic sensors, magnetometers, and cameras.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection envelope is defined by maximum movements of the charging station along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis.