AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CHARGING STATION CONNECTION

• US 20170225578A1
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Evan Roger, Chai, Boaz Jie, Paryani, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 10,286,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• 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: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and 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 charging station can be autonomously coupled to an electric vehicle. Sensors on the vehicle determine a location of the vehicle, and the vehicle is positioned within a connection envelope. A travel path for bringing a charging connector into contact with a charging port on the vehicle can be determined, and then the travel path is autonomously carried out. A charging station may include a mount, a bracket, and a charging connection.

Claims

1. A charging station for an electric vehicle comprising:

the charging station comprising a mount, a bracket, and mechanisms to move the mount and the bracket to a desired position;

the mount configured to move in the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions; and

the bracket coupled to the mount, the bracket configured move independently with respect to the mount and to secure a charging connector in a fixed a position with respect to the bracket.

2. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to move with respect to the movable mount in the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions.

3. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to move a fixed distance with respect to the movable mount in the longitudinal direction.

4. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to rotate with respect to the movable mount about the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse axes.

5. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the mount includes at least one opening extending therethrough and the bracket is at least partially disposed within the opening.

6. The charging station of claim 5, wherein mount includes one or more abutments extending into the opening to inhibit movement of the bracket in at least the axial direction.

7. The charging station of claim 6, wherein the bracket is coupled to the mount by a plurality of spring couplings.

8. The charging station of claim 7, further comprising a charging connector secured at least partially within the bracket.

9. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator coupled to the mount by at least one a movable arm.

10. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising a frame coupled to the mount.

11. The charging station of claim 10, further comprising at least one actuator coupled to the frame by at least one a movable arm.

12. A charging station for an electric vehicle comprising:

a mount configured to move in the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions; and

a charging connector secured to the mount with a coupling, the charging connector configured to couple with the vehicle'"'"'s charge port and the coupling configured to permit the charging connector to move independently with respect to the mount.

13. The charging station of claim 12, wherein the mount includes an opening, the charging connector secured within the opening by a plurality of spring couplings.

14. The charging station of claim 12, wherein the coupling is configured to permit the charging connector to move a fixed distance in the longitudinal direction with respect to the mount.

15. A charging station for an electric vehicle comprising:

a mount configured to move in the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions;

a bracket coupled to the mount, the bracket configured move independently with respect to the mount; and

a charging connector secured by the bracket in a fixed position with respect to the bracket and movable with respect to the mount.

16. The charging station of claim 15, further comprising one or more actuators coupled to the mount by one or more arms.

17. The charging station of claim 16, further comprising circuitry for controlling the one or more actuators.

18. The charging station of claim 15, wherein the mount includes an opening and the bracket and charging connection are disposed within the opening.

19. The charging station of claim 15, wherein a plurality of spring couplings include a first end secured to the mount and a second end secured to the bracket.

20. The charging station of claim 15, wherein the bracket is configured to move a fixed distance in the longitudinal direction with respect to the mount.