Electric vehicle overhead charging system and method of use
First Claim
1. A system for charging a moving electric vehicle, the system comprising:
- an electrical storage unit disposed on the moving electric vehicle;
a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit;
a vehicle controller that determines if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if an overhead power source is available and able to charge the electrical storage unit, wherein the charging panel is configured to receive a charge from the overhead power source to charge the moving electric vehicle;
at least one distance sensor disposed at the charging panel and configured to measure a distance between the charging panel and the overhead power source;
a movement controller configured to adjust a position of the charging panel; and
at least one environmental sensor mounted on the moving electric vehicle,wherein the movement controller controls the charging panel to be initially positioned at a selectable desired separation distance from the overhead power source such that the charging panel does not contact the overhead power source and the measured distance between the charging panel and the overhead power source is the same as the selectable desired separation distance,wherein the selectable desired separation distance is selected from a vehicle database,wherein the vehicle database includes a minimum visibility and a maximum wind speed desired for charging with the overhead power source,wherein the environmental sensor senses environmental conditions surrounding the moving electric vehicle, the sensed environmental conditions including information regarding a possible roadway hazard or roadway event for the moving electric vehicle, a measured visibility, and a measured wind speed,wherein the vehicle controller accesses the vehicle database and determines that the overhead power source is able to charge the moving electric vehicle when the measured visibility is above the minimum visibility and when the measured wind speed is below the maximum wind speed, andwherein the movement controller adjusts the position of the charging panel while the moving electric vehicle is moving based on the information in order to maintain the selectable desired separation distance between the overhead power source and charging panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to an electric vehicle emergency charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for charging a moving electric vehicle is provided, the system comprising: an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a vehicle controller that determines if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if an overhead power source is available to charge the electrical storage unit; wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the overhead power source and charges the electrical storage unit.
177 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for charging a moving electric vehicle, the system comprising:
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an electrical storage unit disposed on the moving electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a vehicle controller that determines if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if an overhead power source is available and able to charge the electrical storage unit, wherein the charging panel is configured to receive a charge from the overhead power source to charge the moving electric vehicle; at least one distance sensor disposed at the charging panel and configured to measure a distance between the charging panel and the overhead power source; a movement controller configured to adjust a position of the charging panel; and at least one environmental sensor mounted on the moving electric vehicle, wherein the movement controller controls the charging panel to be initially positioned at a selectable desired separation distance from the overhead power source such that the charging panel does not contact the overhead power source and the measured distance between the charging panel and the overhead power source is the same as the selectable desired separation distance, wherein the selectable desired separation distance is selected from a vehicle database, wherein the vehicle database includes a minimum visibility and a maximum wind speed desired for charging with the overhead power source, wherein the environmental sensor senses environmental conditions surrounding the moving electric vehicle, the sensed environmental conditions including information regarding a possible roadway hazard or roadway event for the moving electric vehicle, a measured visibility, and a measured wind speed, wherein the vehicle controller accesses the vehicle database and determines that the overhead power source is able to charge the moving electric vehicle when the measured visibility is above the minimum visibility and when the measured wind speed is below the maximum wind speed, and wherein the movement controller adjusts the position of the charging panel while the moving electric vehicle is moving based on the information in order to maintain the selectable desired separation distance between the overhead power source and charging panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for charging a moving electric vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining, by a microprocessor, a charge value of an electrical storage unit disposed on the moving electric vehicle; determining, by the microprocessor, if the charge value is below a selectable threshold value; identifying, by the microprocessor, if an overhead power source is available for and able to charge the electrical storage unit; receiving, from at least one distance sensor disposed at a charging panel of the moving electric vehicle, a distance between the charging panel and the overhead power source; receiving, from a vehicle database, a minimum visibility desired for charging with the overhead power source, a maximum wind speed desired for charging with the overhead power source, and a selectable desired separation distance indicating a distance between the overhead power source and the charging panel of the moving electric vehicle; receiving, by the microprocessor, sensed environmental conditions from at least one environmental sensor, the sensed environmental conditions including information regarding a possible roadway hazard or roadway event for the moving electric vehicle, a measured visibility, and a measured wind speed; and positioning, under control of the microprocessor, the charging panel of the moving electric vehicle to be initially positioned at the selectable desired separation distance from the overhead power source such that the charging panel does not contact the overhead power source and the distance received from the at least one distance sensor is the same as the selectable desired separation distance, wherein the identifying includes determining that the overhead power source is able to charge the moving electric vehicle when the measured visibility is above the minimum visibility and when the measured wind speed is below the maximum wind speed, wherein the charging panel receives charge from a charging line of the overhead power source and charges the electrical storage unit while the moving electric vehicle is moving, and wherein the positioning adjusts the position of the charging panel while the moving electric vehicle is moving based on the information in order to maintain the selectable desired separation distance between the overhead power source and charging panel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification