PLUG LOCK DEVICE

• US 20130222111A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: INOUE, Tomohiro, NISHIMOTO, Keigo
• Granted Patent: US 9,377,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A plug lock device includes a release switch arranged in a vehicle and a lock mechanism switched between a lock state and an unlock state. The lock mechanism restricts removal of a power plug from an inlet of the vehicle when in the lock state and permits removal of the power plug from the inlet when in the unlock state. The lock mechanism is switched from the lock state to the unlock state when the release switch is operated and wireless communication is established between the vehicle and an authentic electronic key. The lock mechanism is switched to the unlock state even though the wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key is not established when the release switch is operated as long as an ignition of the vehicle is activated and a particular switch arranged in the vehicle is operated.

Claims

1. A plug lock device comprising:

a release switch arranged in a vehicle; and

a lock mechanism switched between a lock state and an unlock state, wherein the lock mechanism restricts removal of a power plug from an inlet of the vehicle when in the lock state, the lock mechanism permits removal of the power plug from the inlet when in the unlock state, and the lock mechanism is switched from the lock state to the unlock state when the release switch is operated and wireless communication is established between the vehicle and an authentic electronic key,

wherein the lock mechanism is switched from the lock state to the unlock state even though the wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key is not established when the release switch is operated as long as an ignition of the vehicle is activated and a particular switch arranged in the vehicle is operated.

2. The plug lock device according to claim 1, wherein

the particular switch includes the release switch, and

even though the wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key is not established when a first operation is performed on the release switch, the lock mechanism is switched from the lock state to the unlock state as long as the ignition is activated and a second operation is performed on the release switch.

3. The plug lock device according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless communication is performed between the vehicle and the electronic key that is located in a vicinity of the inlet, and

the particular switch is arranged within the vehicle.

4. The plug lock device according to claim 1, wherein if the ignition is deactivated in a state in which the wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key is not established when the release switch is operated, wireless communication is performed between the vehicle and a portable device carried by a user of the electronic key, and

the lock mechanism is switched from the lock state to the unlock state when the vehicle receives a permission signal permitting unlocking of the power plug from the portable device.

5. The plug lock device according to claim 1, wherein the particular switch includes a touch switch that detects an operation performed on a display arranged in the vehicle.

6. The plug lock device according to claim 4, wherein

the wireless communication between the vehicle and the portable device is performed by using radio waves on a ultrahigh frequency band for bidirectional communication, and

the wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key is performed using radio waves on a low frequency band for communication in at least one direction.

7. The plug lock device according to claim 1, comprising an in-vehicle device that activates the ignition when the wireless communication between the vehicle and the electronic key which is located in the vehicle is established.