VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEM WITH INTERFACE

• US 20120091959A1
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas Raymond, Miller, Kenneth James, Treharne, William David
• Granted Patent: US 8,816,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle guidance system is provided with a controller configured to receive input signals indicative of an instantaneous charging port position relative to an external charging pad and a charging status. The controller is further configured to transmit a vehicle status signal in response to the input signals. An interface communicates with the controller, and is configured to display a vehicle position indicator and a charging status message in response to the vehicle status signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle guidance system comprising:

a controller configured to receive input signals indicative of an instantaneous charging port position relative to an external charging pad, and transmit a vehicle status signal in response to the input signals; and

an interface communicating with the controller and configured to display a vehicle position indicator with a target element indicative of a target charging port position in response to the vehicle status signal.

2. A vehicle guidance system comprising:

a controller configured to receive input signals indicative of an instantaneous vehicle position relative to an external charging pad and a charging status, and transmit a vehicle status signal in response to the input signals; and

an interface communicating with the controller and configured to display a vehicle position indicator and a charging status message in response to the vehicle status signal.

3. The vehicle guidance system of claim 2 wherein the vehicle position indicator comprises:

a vehicle diagram with a charging port element indicative of the instantaneous charging port position; and

a target element indicative of a target charging port position, wherein vehicle charging is available when the charging port element is aligned with the target element.

4. The vehicle guidance system of claim 3 wherein the target element is indicative of a charging pad position.

5. The vehicle guidance system of claim 3 wherein the vehicle position indicator further comprises at least one wheel element indicative of an instantaneous wheel position.

6. The vehicle guidance system of claim 5 wherein the interface is further configured to display a steering instruction that is conveyed to a user in response to the vehicle status signal.

7. The vehicle guidance system of claim 6 wherein the steering instruction comprises an arrow extending from the wheel element toward a target wheel position.

8. The vehicle guidance system of claim 6 wherein the steering instruction comprises a target wheel element disposed over the wheel element and rotated toward a target wheel position.

9. The vehicle guidance system of claim 2 wherein the interface is further configured to display at least one of a steering instruction and a propulsion instruction that is conveyed to a user in response to the vehicle status signal.

10. The vehicle guidance system of claim 9 wherein the steering instruction and the propulsion instruction are each conveyed visually to the user by illuminating a text box within the interface.

11. The vehicle guidance system of claim 9 wherein the steering instruction and the propulsion instruction are each conveyed audibly to the user through a speaker.

12. The vehicle guidance system of claim 2 wherein the interface comprises an indicia adapted to be illuminated in response to the vehicle status signal.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a charging port;

a controller configured to receive input signals indicative of an instantaneous charging port position relative to an external charging pad and a charging status, and transmit a vehicle status signal in response to the input signals; and

an interface communicating with the controller and configured to display a vehicle position indicator and a charging status message in response to the vehicle status signal.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a charging sensor communicating with the controller for monitoring electrical energy received by the charging port and providing a charging signal indicative of the charging status.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the charging port is spaced apart from a vehicle wheel at a predetermined distance corresponding to a distance between the charging pad and a wheel fixture, and wherein the charging port aligns with the charging pad by aligning the vehicle wheel with the wheel fixture.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a wheel sensor in communication with the controller for providing a wheel signal indicative of a vehicle wheel position relative to the wheel fixture.

17. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a dash, wherein the interface is disposed at a central portion of the dash.

18. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the charging port comprises a secondary coil for receiving electrical energy from a primary coil of the charging pad during charging.

19. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a power steering system in communication with the controller, the power steering system being coupled to at least two vehicle wheels for adjusting a steering angle of the vehicle wheels in response to the vehicle status signal.

20. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising:

an electric motor; and

a control module in communication with the electric motor and the controller, the control module being configured to adjust an output torque of the electric motor in response to the vehicle status signal.