CHARGING STATION AND CONNECTOR THEREFOR, AND METHOD OF CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH A CHARGING STATION

• US 20170197514A1
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rivas, Michel, Eldridge, David Austin, Seff, Paul David
• Granted Patent: US 10,647,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A connector is for a charging station. The charging station has a charging box having a signaling mechanism. The connector includes an electrical receptacle structured to be electrically connected to the signaling mechanism; a housing coupled to the electrical receptacle; an indicating assembly coupled to the housing; and an interface between the indicating assembly and the signaling mechanism in order to energize the indicating assembly and provide an indication of charging status.

Claims

1. A connector for a charging station, said charging station comprising a charging box having a signaling mechanism, said connector comprising:

an electrical receptacle structured to be electrically connected to said signaling mechanism;

a housing coupled to said electrical receptacle;

an indicating assembly coupled to said housing; and

an interface between said indicating assembly and said signaling mechanism in order to energize said indicating assembly and provide an indication of charging status.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said indicating assembly comprises a plurality of light sources each electrically connected to said interface;

and wherein each of said plurality of light sources corresponds to a different charging state.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of light sources is structured to be energized independently of the other of said plurality of light sources.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein said indicating assembly further comprises a printed circuit board mechanically coupled and electrically connected to each of said plurality of light sources.

5. The connector of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of light sources comprises a corresponding light emitting diode.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of light sources further comprises a corresponding light pipe coupled to said corresponding light emitting diode.

7. The connector of claim 2 wherein said plurality of light sources comprises a first light source and a second light source;

wherein said first light source corresponds to a charging state; and

wherein said second light source corresponds to an error state.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein said plurality of light sources further comprises a third light source corresponding to a power ready state.

9. The connector of claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a housing member having a plurality of slots each aligned with a corresponding one of said plurality of light sources.

10. The connector of claim 1 wherein said indicating assembly comprises a printed circuit board;

and wherein said interface comprises a number of electrical wires electrically connected to said printed circuit board and structured to be electrically connected to said signaling mechanism.

11. The connector of claim 1 wherein said interface is structured to wirelessly communicate a signal from said signaling mechanism to said indicating assembly.

12. The connector of claim 1 wherein said indicating assembly comprises a printed circuit board;

wherein said housing comprises a housing member having a number of internal support portions each having a groove; and

wherein said printed circuit board extends into each respective groove in order to be supported within said housing.

13. A charging station comprising:

a charging box having a signaling mechanism; and

a connector comprising;

an electrical receptacle electrically connected to said signaling mechanism,

a housing coupled to said electrical receptacle,

an indicating assembly coupled to said housing, and

an interface between said indicating assembly and said signaling mechanism in order to energize said indicating assembly and provide an indication of charging status.

14. The charging station of claim 13 wherein said indicating assembly comprises a printed circuit board;

and wherein said interface comprises a number of electrical wires electrically connected to said printed circuit board and said signaling mechanism.

15. The charging station of claim 13 wherein said interface is structured to wirelessly communicate a signal from said signaling mechanism to said indicating assembly.

16. A method of charging an electric vehicle with a charging station, said charging station comprising a charging box and a connector, said charging box having a signaling mechanism, said connector comprising an electrical receptacle electrically connected to said signaling mechanism, a housing coupled to said electrical receptacle, an indicating assembly coupled to said housing, and an interface between said indicating assembly and said signaling mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said electrical receptacle to the electric vehicle;

sending a signal from said signaling mechanism to said indicating assembly; and

energizing said indicating assembly in order to provide an indication of charging status.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said indicating assembly comprises a plurality of light sources each electrically connected to said interface and corresponding to a different charging state;

and wherein the method further comprises;

illuminating no more than one of said plurality of light sources responsive to the signal from said signaling mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of light sources comprises a first light source and a second light source;

wherein said first light source corresponds to a charging state;

wherein said second light source corresponds to an error state; and

wherein the energizing step comprises;

either illuminating said first light source when said connector is in the charging state, or illuminating said second light source when said connector is in the error state.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of light sources comprises one light source corresponding to a power ready state;

and wherein, prior to the coupling step, the method comprises the step of;

illuminating said one light source.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:

wirelessly communicating the signal from said signaling mechanism to said indicating assembly.