Automated Electric Vehicle Charging Station
First Claim
1. A method for charging batteries within a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- discovering that a cooperatively-chargeable vehicle is within range of a charging station;
exchanging vehicle information between said vehicle and said charging station;
locating the position of an interlock element at a distal end of a robotic arm extenable from said charging station;
locating the position of a receiver at said vehicle; and
positioning said interlock element into said receiver by repeating said locating steps as said charging station moves said robotic arm to insert said interlock element into said receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Automated Electric Vehicle Charging Station is disclosed. The Charging Station should can automatically connect to an electrically-powered vehicle and commence the recharging process. The charging process involves the charging station discovering and locating the vehicle'"'"'s charging port. Once discovered and located, the charging station can reach out and make the electrical interconnection with the vehicle while the vehicle is located at an adjacent parking space. The charging station is retrofittable into an existing parking lot, in addition to its being a part of the original lot construction. A companion software application on a computing device such as a mobile phone may be used to activate and monitor the charging process, amd locating charging stations and providing customer billing status. Docking between the charging station robotic arm and the vehicle can be facilitated by a variety of locating/handshaking methods, including wireless signalling, video camera and infrared triangulation, for example.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for charging batteries within a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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discovering that a cooperatively-chargeable vehicle is within range of a charging station; exchanging vehicle information between said vehicle and said charging station; locating the position of an interlock element at a distal end of a robotic arm extenable from said charging station; locating the position of a receiver at said vehicle; and positioning said interlock element into said receiver by repeating said locating steps as said charging station moves said robotic arm to insert said interlock element into said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A charging station for charging batteries within a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a generally upright post; an articulating arm extendable from said post, said arm terminating in an interlock element; positioning means for causing said arm to extend, translate and rotate in order to insert said interlock element into a receiver located at the vehicle; and locating means associated with said charging station for locating the positions of said receiver and said interlock elemente as said positioning means positions said interlock element in said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for charging batteries within a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a charging station having a robotic arm terminating in an interlock element, said charging station having an internal positioning system for moving said arm; a vehicle having a receiver defined by a receptacle for said interlock element, said receiver disposed on the outer surface of said vehicle; locating means for determining the locations of said interlock element and said receptacle; and communication means between said charging station and said vehicle for exchanging vehicle and charging information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification