VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ALIGNING INDUCTIVE CHARGING CONNECTION
First Claim
1. A vehicle control system configured to position a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a mobile inductive charging point, wherein the vehicle control system comprises:
- one or more parking sensors configured to determine the position of the vehicle relative to a surface upon which the vehicle is positioned, wherein the one or more parking sensors are further configured to locate a visual indicator indicating the position of a fixed inductive charging point relative to the vehicle; and
a parking assistance controller configured to automatically park the vehicle in a parking space on the surface based on data from the one or more parking sensors,wherein the parking assistance controller is further configured to use data from the one or more parking sensors to position the vehicle in an aligned position in which the fixed inductive charging point and the mobile inductive charging point are substantially aligned.
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Abstract
A vehicle control system, a surface marking for a surface upon which a vehicle can be positioned and a method of positioning a vehicle is provided. The vehicle control system is configured to position a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a mobile inductive charging point. The vehicle control system comprises one or more parking sensors configured to determine the position of the vehicle relative to a surface upon which the vehicle is positioned and/or obstacles around the vehicle. The one or more parking sensors are further configured to locate a visual indicator indicating the position of a fixed inductive charging point relative to the vehicle, and a parking assistance controller configured to automatically park the vehicle in a parking space on the surface based on data from the one or more parking sensors.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system configured to position a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a mobile inductive charging point, wherein the vehicle control system comprises:
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one or more parking sensors configured to determine the position of the vehicle relative to a surface upon which the vehicle is positioned, wherein the one or more parking sensors are further configured to locate a visual indicator indicating the position of a fixed inductive charging point relative to the vehicle; and a parking assistance controller configured to automatically park the vehicle in a parking space on the surface based on data from the one or more parking sensors, wherein the parking assistance controller is further configured to use data from the one or more parking sensors to position the vehicle in an aligned position in which the fixed inductive charging point and the mobile inductive charging point are substantially aligned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle comprising:
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an inductive charger; a sensor; and a controller configured to position the vehicle to align the inductive charger with a fixed charger associated with a parking surface based on data indicating relative position between the inductive and fixed chargers that is derived after the sensor has passed over an indicator substantially flush with the surface indicating a position of the fixed charger and after the indicator is beyond view of the sensor.
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- 12. A surface marking for a surface upon which a vehicle can be positioned, the marking comprising a visual indicator on a surface indicating a position of a fixed inductive charging point, the visual indicator being arranged so as to be visible to a parking sensor of a vehicle comprising a mobile inductive charging point, the visual indicator being further arranged so as to aid a parking assistance controller using data from the one or more parking sensors to position the vehicle in an aligned position in which the fixed inductive charging point and the mobile inductive charging point are substantially aligned.
Specification