EV connector having visual indicator

• US 10,112,494 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charge-Amps AB
• Original Assignee: Charge-Amps AB
• Inventors: Eisner, Charlotte, Jonsson, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US15/099,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20170297442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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 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

An electric vehicle, EV, includes a connector configured for charging an electric vehicle, EV, via a EV plug receptacle. The EV connector includes a body having a first plug end configured to be coupled to an EV plug receptacle on an electric vehicle for charging, and a second power cable end configured to be coupled to a power cable. The first end includes a terminal interface having one or more terminal receptacles for receiving one or more terminals positioned within the EV charging receptacle. The first plug end also includes a includes a transparent visual indicator part having one or more light sources.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle connector configured for charging an electric vehicle via an electric vehicle plug receptacle, said electric vehicle connector comprising:

a body having

a first plug end configured to be coupled to the electric vehicle plug receptacle on the electric vehicle for charging; and

a second power cable end configured to be coupled to a power cable,

wherein the first end includes a terminal interface having one or more terminal receptacles for receiving one or more terminals positioned within the electric vehicle charging receptacle,

wherein the first plug end also includes a transparent visual indicator part having one or more light sources, and

wherein the transparent visual indication part encircles the one or more terminal receptacles to allow for viewing of the one or more light sources regardless of position of a viewer relative to the transparent visual indicator part.

2. The electric vehicle connector of claim 1, wherein the light sources of the visual indicator part are light-emitting diodes.

3. The electric vehicle connector of claim 1, wherein the light sources are typically contained under a transparent cover.

4. The electric vehicle connector of claim 3, wherein the visual indicators include an opaque, transparent or partially transparent lens or cover over all or each of the visual indicators.

5. The electric vehicle connector of claim 4, wherein the lens or cover is tinted.

6. The electric vehicle connector of claim 1, configured to indicate one or more of:

a status of a power source coupled to the second power cable end, a vehicle charge state of the electric vehicle coupled to the first plug end, or fault conditions.

7. The electric vehicle connector of claim 1, wherein the one or more light sources are configured to provide fixed white light for use as a flashlight in dark environments.