METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED CHARGING OF ELECTRICALLY POWERED MOVING OBJECTS

• US 20120105002A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alevo, Inc. (Alevo Group SA)
• Original Assignee: Alevo, Inc. (Alevo Group SA)
• Inventors: Eikeland, Jostein, Christiansen, Stein, Christiansen, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/283,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/39 with position-responsive activation of primary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus includes a base plate, one or more lifting mechanisms coupled to the base plate and configured to elevate the base plate, at least one connector coupled to the base plate, an insulation layer coupled to the base plate and at least one connector; one or more power inputs configured to allow electricity flow to or from the at least one connector; and a control unit coupled to the one or more power inputs and configured to control the flow of electricity.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a base plate;

one or more lifting mechanisms coupled to the base plate and configured to elevate the base plate;

at least one connector coupled to the base plate;

an insulation layer coupled to the base plate and the at least one connector;

one or more power inputs configured to allow electricity flow to or from the at least one connector; and

a control unit coupled to the one or more power inputs and configured to control the flow of electricity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulation layer is configured to conduct electricity when the base plate is elevated and the insulation layer is pressed against an object.

3. An apparatus comprising;

One or more charge rails configured to be coupled to one or more batteries and capable of conducting bi-directional energy flow between the batteries and a charger when the charger is connected to the one or more charge rails.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further configured to be coupled to an electrically powered vehicle.

5. A method comprising:

Providing guidance to an operator to park a vehicle on top of a charger;

sending a command to the charger to be lifted and connected to a designated part of the vehicle; and

initiating flow of electricity between the charger and one or more batteries coupled to the vehicle.

6. A method of claim 5, further comprising:

Directing the flow of electricity from the one or more batteries to the charger.

7. A system comprising:

A processor;

a computer readable storage medium coupled to the processor configured to store program code executable by the processor to;

provide guidance to an operator to park a vehicle on top of a charger;

send a command to the charger to be lifted and connected to a designated part of the vehicle; and

initiate flow of electricity between the charger and one or more batteries coupled to the vehicle.