AUTOMATED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
- identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle;
retrieving from an electronically stored local database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information;
robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle;
querying the local database to determine whether a current time corresponds to an energy efficient usage time based on energy efficient usage data received from a power grid; and
initiating a charging process upon determining that the current time corresponds to the energy efficient usage time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for charging an electric vehicle includes identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle, retrieving from an electronically stored local database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information, robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle, querying the local database to determine whether a current time corresponds to an energy efficient usage time based on energy efficient usage data received from a power grid, and initiating a charging process upon determining that the current time corresponds to the energy efficient usage time.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle; retrieving from an electronically stored local database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information; robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle; querying the local database to determine whether a current time corresponds to an energy efficient usage time based on energy efficient usage data received from a power grid; and initiating a charging process upon determining that the current time corresponds to the energy efficient usage time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle; retrieving from an electronically stored database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information; and robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle to charge a battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a first camera, configured to acquire an electronic image of the electric vehicle; an electronic database; a processor, configured to identify vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on the electronic image of the electric vehicle, and retrieve from the electronic database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information; and a robotic arm, configured to move a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle to charge a battery. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification