Plug-In Vehicle

• US 20110043355A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Brzozowski, Jenny, Gilman, Dale, Chander, Bala S., Grider, Duane M., Blakemore, Bruce Carvell
• Granted Patent: US 7,999,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/455
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/92 Driver displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery.

Claims

1. A plug-in vehicle including a propulsion unit and a vehicle body having an outer panel, the vehicle comprising:

a rechargeable battery configured to supply power to the propulsion unit;

a recharging port supported on the outer panel, the recharging port being configured to receive electrical power from an external power source and to deliver power to the battery; and

a display subassembly operatively connected to the battery and including a plurality of lights disposed in a generally circular configuration around the recharging port, the display subassembly being configured to illuminate some of the lights to form an arc of illuminated lights having an arc length corresponding to the state of charge of the battery when the recharging port is connected to the external power source.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to illuminate at least some of the lights when a charge cord is within a predetermined distance of the recharging port.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cover member supported on the vehicle body and configured to move between an open position exposing the recharging port and a closed position concealing the recharging port, the display subassembly being configured to illuminate the lights to provide illumination for the recharging port when one of the cover member is in the open position or an intent to charge is detected.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to:

illuminate the lights in a first manner different from the state of charge indication when the battery is receiving electrical power while the recharging port is connected to the external power source, and

illuminate the lights in a second manner different from the first manner and from the state of charge indication when the at least one condition includes a fault detected while the recharging port is connected to the external power source.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a communications subassembly connected to the recharging port, the communications subassembly being configured to receive wireless electronic signals and to interrupt a flow of electrical power through the recharging port in response to receiving a wireless electronic signal.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the communications subassembly is configured to receive wireless electronic signals sent by a utility company to interrupt the flow of electrical power through the recharging port.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the lights are further configured to illuminate in a manner corresponding to an interruption of the flow of electrical power through the recharging port effected by the communications subassembly.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a switch supported on the vehicle body and configured to override the interruption of the flow of electrical power through the recharging port by the communications subassembly.

9. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the communications subassembly is further configured to transmit wireless electronic signals.

10. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the communications subassembly is configured to transmit and receive wireless electronic signals to and from an electric meter.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 having a vehicle identification number (VIN), and wherein the communications subassembly is configured to transmit a wireless electronic signal to an electric meter indicative of the VIN.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a clock connected to the recharging port, the clock being configured to interrupt a flow of electrical power through the recharging port at a predetermined time.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to illuminate the lights in a manner different from the state of charge indication when the recharging port is connected to the external power source and electrical power flow to the battery is delayed until a predetermined time.

14. A plug-in vehicle including a vehicle body having an outer panel, the vehicle comprising:

a propulsion unit;

a rechargeable battery configured to supply power to the propulsion unit;

a recharging port supported on the outer panel, the recharging port being configured to receive electrical power from an external power source and to deliver power to the battery; and

a display subassembly operatively connected to the battery and including;

a plurality of lights disposed around the recharging port configured to provide illumination of the recharging port, and

a display window for displaying characters, the display subassembly being configured to receive inputs and to display information indicative of at least one condition of the battery.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs relating to at least one of a charging start time or a charging end time for charging the battery.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related to the habits of an identified driver and to provide information regarding a recommended frequency for charging the battery for the identified driver.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related a planned distance the vehicle will be driven and to display an instruction to charge or not to charge the battery based on the inputs.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the display subassembly is supported on the outer panel and is further configured to display information indicative of at least one of a status of the external power source, a charge status of the battery, a time remaining until recharging is complete, an interruption in recharging, or a failure of the battery.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to illuminate at least some of the lights when a charge cord is within a predetermined distance of the recharging port.

20. A plug-in vehicle including a vehicle body having an outer panel, the vehicle comprising:

a propulsion unit;

a rechargeable battery configured to supply power to the propulsion unit;

a recharging port supported on the outer panel, the recharging port being configured to receive electrical power from an external power source and to deliver power to the battery; and

a display subassembly operatively connected to the battery and including a plurality of lights disposed around the recharging port, the lights being configured to provide illumination of the recharging port, the display subassembly further including a display window for displaying characters, the display subassembly being configured to receive inputs and to display information indicative of a need to charge the battery.