VEHICLE CHARGING

• US 20170297442A1
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charge-Amps AB
• Original Assignee: Charge-Amps AB
• Inventors: Eisner, Charlotte, Jonsson, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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

An electric vehicle, EV, connector configured for charging an electric vehicle, EV, via a EV plug receptacle, said EV connector comprising:

• a body having
• a first plug end configured to be coupled to an EV plug receptacle on an electric vehicle for charging;
• a second power cable end configured to be coupled to a power cable, wherein the first end includes a terminal interface having one or more terminal receptacles for receiving one or more terminals positioned within the EV charging receptacle,
• and wherein the first plug end also includes a includes a transparent visual indicator part having one or more light sources.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle, EV, connector configured for charging an electric vehicle, EV, via a EV plug receptacle, said EV connector comprising:

a body having

a first plug end configured to be coupled to an EV plug receptacle on an electric vehicle for charging;

a second power cable end configured to be coupled to a power cable, wherein the first end includes a terminal interface having one or more terminal receptacles for receiving one or more terminals positioned within the EV charging receptacle,

and wherein the first plug end also includes a includes a transparent visual indicator part having one or more light sources.

2. The EV connector of claim 1, wherein the light sources of the visual indicator part are light-emitting diodes.

3. The EV connector of claim 1, wherein the light sources are typically contained under a transparent cover.

4. The EV connector of claim 3, wherein the visual indicators include an opaque, transparent or partially transparent lens or cover over all or each of the visual indicators.

5. The EV connector of claim 4, wherein the lens or cover is tinted in a desired color, such as blue.

6. The EV connector of claim 1, configured to indicate one or more of:

the status of the power source, vehicle charge state, or fault conditions.

7. The EV connector of claim 1, configured to be used as flashlight in dark environments.