AUTO-SEEK ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20120029750A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ortmann, Walter Joseph, Masterson, Brandon R., Kraska, Marvin Paul, Colvin, Daniel Scott, Reeves, Steve IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/00 Input parameters relating to data
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle in a direction transverse to a vehicle central axis using a vehicle power steering system and using a motor and a battery to advance the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid for charging the battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments are made using a controllable vehicle suspension system.

Claims

1. A hybrid electric vehicle having a rechargeable battery coupled to a charging connector, a traction motor, and a power steering system, comprising:

a controller configured to provide signals to the power steering system and motor to automatically maneuver the vehicle to align a stationary battery charging outlet with the charging connector in response to distance between the charging connector and charging outlet.

2. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stationary battery charging outlet and the vehicle exchange position information and the controller is configured to compute the distance in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, and a z-axis direction between the stationary battery charging outlet and the charging connector.

3. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a controllable suspension system and wherein the controller is configured to automatically maneuver the vehicle to align the stationary battery charging outlet with the charging connector by raising or lowering the vehicle using the controllable suspension system.

4. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller maneuvers the vehicle to mechanically couple the charging connector of the vehicle to the stationary battery charging outlet.

5. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a three-axis sensor in communication with the controller that provides at least one signal indicative of vehicle pitch, roll, and yaw, wherein the controller maneuvers the vehicle in response to the signal indicative of vehicle pitch, roll, and yaw.

6. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stationary battery charging outlet communicates short-range radio frequency position signals to the controller.

7. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a wheel sensor associated with each steerable wheel that provides a corresponding wheel sensor signal in response to wheel rotation and wherein the controller determines an incremental adjustment of the vehicle position in a y-axis direction in response to the wheel sensor signals.

8. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power steering system comprises an electrical power assist steering system.

9. A guidance system for a hybrid electric vehicle having a rechargeable battery coupled to an electric motor and power steering system, comprising:

a stationary battery charging device that couples a vehicle charging connector of the hybrid electric vehicle to a power grid for recharging, the device transmitting position signals for the hybrid electric vehicle to automatically maneuver the vehicle charging connector into alignment with the battery charging device using the motor and power steering system.

10. The guidance system of claim 9 wherein the stationary battery charging device transmits short-range radio frequency position signals to the hybrid electric vehicle.

11. The guidance system of claim 9 wherein the stationary battery charging device transmits optical position signals to the hybrid electric vehicle.

12. The guidance system of claim 9 wherein the stationary battery charging device transmits x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis position signals.

13. The guidance system of claim 9 further comprising a controller in communication with the vehicle charging connector that generates signals to control the electric motor and power steering system to maneuver the vehicle in response to position of the vehicle charging connector relative to position of the stationary battery charging device.

14. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having an electric traction motor, power steering, adjustable suspension, and a charging connector, comprising:

controlling the electric traction motor to incrementally advance position of the vehicle toward a stationary battery charging element;

controlling the power steering to guide the vehicle toward the stationary battery charging element; and

controlling the suspension to align the charging connector to the stationary battery charging element.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

controlling the electric traction motor, power steering, and suspension in response to x, y, and z distances between the stationary battery charging element and the charging connector of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

transmitting position information from the stationary battery charging element to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the position information is transmitted using short-range radio frequency signals.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the position information is transmitted using optical signals.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicle includes a wheel sensor associated with each steerable wheel and wherein at least one of the electric traction motor, the power steering, and the suspension is controlled in response to a difference in rotation between the steerable wheels as indicated by the wheel sensors.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising controlling at least one of the electric traction motor, the power steering, and the suspension to mechanically couple the charging connector of the vehicle and the stationary battery charging element.