Autonomous vehicle charging station connection

• US 10,286,793 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Paryani, Anil, Chai, Boaz Jie, Fischer, Evan Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nha T
• Application Number:
  US15/060,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• 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 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• 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

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. A charging station may include a mount, a bracket, and a charging connection.

Claims

1. A charging station for an electric vehicle comprising:

a mount configured to move in the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions with respect to the vehicle, wherein the mount includes an opening; and

a charging connector secured within the opening of the mount by a plurality of spring couplings, the couplings configured to permit the charging connector to move independently in radial directions with respect to the mount, the charging connector configured to couple with the vehicle'"'"'s charge port.

2. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the coupling is configured to permit the charging connector to move a fixed distance in the axial direction with respect to the mount.

3. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising one or more actuators coupled to the mount by one or more arms.

4. The charging station of claim 3, further comprising circuitry for controlling the one or more actuators.