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Hands-free conductive battery charger for an electric vehicle

  • US 10,286,799 B2
  • Filed: 08/23/2016
  • Issued: 05/14/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A conductive charging system for use with an offboard power supply and a vehicle, the vehicle having a charge coupler, an auxiliary power device, and a high-voltage direct current battery pack, the conductive charging system comprising:

  • a conductive armature having a charging end and a non-charging end, wherein the charging end is electrically connected to the offboard power supply and operable for deploying into direct electrical contact with a conductive pad located on the vehicle in response to a threshold force acting on the non-charging end;

    an electromagnetic relay having an inductive coil, which is positioned in electrical series with the auxiliary power device, and a second switch, which is positioned in electrical series with the charge coupler, an AC-DC converter, and the battery pack; and

    a first switch positioned in electrical series between the auxiliary power device and the inductive coil, wherein the first switch is operable for closing in response to the threshold force to thereby electrically connect the auxiliary power device to the inductive coil, thereby energizing the inductive coil,wherein the second switch is configured to transition between;

    a first position connecting the charge coupler to the AC-DC converter and the battery pack to thereby enable “

    plug-in”

    charging of the battery pack along a first charging path when the inductive coil is not energized, anda second position bypassing the charge coupler to thereby enable “

    hands-free”

    charging of the battery pack along a second charging path, distinct from the first charging path, when the inductive coil is energized.

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