SWITCHED USB SOLAR CHARGING PORT

• US 20110089885A1
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Cramer, Dale O., Bowden, Upton Beall, Bucciarelli, Robert Bruno
• Application Number:
  US12/582,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20110089885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00

Abstract

A charging system for a vehicle includes a primary energy source, a secondary energy source, a switching circuit in electrical communication with the primary energy source and the secondary energy source, and a charging port to provide electrical communication between the switching circuit and an electrical device, wherein the switching circuit selectively controls an electrical current flowing from the primary energy source and the secondary energy to the electrical device based upon a state of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A charging system for a vehicle comprising:

a primary energy source in electrical communication with an electrical architecture of the vehicle;

a secondary energy source disposed on the vehicle;

a switching circuit in electrical communication with the primary energy source and the secondary energy source; and

a charging port to provide electrical communication between the switching circuit and an electrical device, wherein the switching circuit selectively controls an electrical current flowing from the primary energy source and the secondary energy to the electrical device based upon a state of the vehicle.

2. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the primary energy source is an onboard battery of the vehicle.

3. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the secondary energy source is a solar energy device.

4. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the charging port is a universal serial bus.

5. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a portable consumer electronic device.

6. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuit causes the primary energy source to provide electrical current to the electrical device during an “

ON”

state of the vehicle.

7. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuit causes the secondary energy source to provide electrical current to the electrical device during an “

OFF”

state of the vehicle.

8. The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing module in electrical communication with the switching circuit and a vehicle system to determine the state of the vehicle and control the switching circuit based upon the state of the vehicle.

9. A charging system for a vehicle comprising:

a battery in electrical communication with an electrical architecture of the vehicle;

a solar energy device disposed on the vehicle;

a switching circuit in electrical communication with the battery and the solar energy device; and

a charging port to provide electrical communication with the switching circuit and an electrical device, wherein the switching circuit selectively controls an electrical current flowing from the battery and the solar energy device to the electrical device based upon a state of the vehicle.

10. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the solar energy device is disposed in an interior of the vehicle.

11. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the solar energy device is integrated into a window portion of the vehicle.

12. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the charging port is a universal serial bus.

13. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the electrical device is a portable consumer electronic device.

14. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the switching circuit causes the battery to provide electrical current to the electrical device during an “

ON”

state of the vehicle.

15. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the switching circuit causes the solar energy device to provide electrical current to the electrical device during an “

OFF”

state of the vehicle.

16. The charging system according to claim 9, further comprising a sensing module in electrical communication with the switching circuit and a vehicle system to determine the state of the vehicle and control the switching circuit based upon the state of the vehicle.

17. A method for charging a portable electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a primary energy source in electrical communication with an electrical architecture of a vehicle;

providing a sensing module to determine a state of the vehicle;

providing a switching circuit in electrical communication with the primary energy source, the sensing module, and a secondary energy source; and

providing a charging port to provide electrical communication between the switching circuit and an electrical device, wherein the switching circuit selectively controls an electrical current flowing from the primary energy source and the secondary energy to the electrical device based upon the state of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the secondary energy source is a solar energy device disposed in an interior of the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the switching circuit causes the primary energy source provides electrical current to the electrical device during an “

ON”

state of the vehicle.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the switching circuit causes the secondary energy source provides electrical current to the electrical device during an “

OFF”

state of the vehicle.