Method and Apparatus for Parking Space based Autonomous Charging System

• US 20190315240A1
• Filed: 04/12/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elleway Wu
• Original Assignee: Elleway Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Elleway
• Application Number:
  US16/383,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20190315240A1
• 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 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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

Abstract

An autonomous electric vehicle charger is disclosed. The autonomous electric vehicle charger comprises a charging robot configured to automatically seek an electric vehicle for charging wherein the charging robot includes a plurality of motorized wheels configured to maneuver the charging robot, a plurality of sensors configured to guide the charging robot, a charging plug configured to be coupled to a receptacle for charging the electric vehicle, an elevated charging platform configured to be raised for coupling the charging plug to the receptacle for charging the electric vehicle, and a retractable power cord configured to be coupled to a power supply for supplying power to the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. An autonomous electric vehicle charger comprising:

a charging robot configurable to automatically seek an electric vehicle for charging wherein the charging robot includes;

a plurality of motorized wheels configured to maneuver the charging robot;

a plurality of sensors configured to guide the charging robot;

a charging plug configured to be coupled to a receptacle for charging the electric vehicle;

an charging platform to support the charging plug to the receptacle for charging the electric vehicle; and

a power cord configured to be coupled to a power supply for supplying power to charge the electric vehicle.

2. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 1 further comprising a base station coupled to the power cord of the charging robot configured to provide electrical power to the charging robot.

3. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 2, wherein the base station is coupled to a power source.

4. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 2, wherein the power cord is retractable.

5. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors of the charging robot includes at least one camera configured to guide the charging plug to the receptacle for establishing an electrical connection.

6. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 1, wherein the charging robot establishes an authenticated communication link with the electric vehicle.

7. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 6, wherein the authenticated communication link is established using Bluetooth.

8. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 1, wherein the charging robot follows an infrared beacon for guidance.

9. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 8, wherein the base station is configured to transmit the infrared beacon.

10. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 1, wherein the charging platform is can be raised.

11. The autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 1, wherein there is a power bus where one or more of the charging robots can be connected.

12. A method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger comprising the steps:

establishing a communication link between a charging robot and an electric vehicle;

authenticating the electric vehicle is authorized to receive a charge from the charging robot;

maneuvering the charging robot to the electric vehicle;

elevating a charging plug to establish an electrical connection to a charging receptacle on the electric vehicle;

charging the electric vehicle to a predetermined charge;

retracting the charging plug to disconnect from the charging receptacle; and

maneuvering the charging robot away from the electric vehicle.

13. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 12 further comprising a base station electrically coupled to the charging robot and the step of maneuvering the charging robot away from the electric vehicle includes the step returning the charging robot to the base station.

14. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 13, wherein the base station is coupled to a power supply and the method further comprises the step of attaching the base station to a 240v power supply.

15. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 13 further comprising the step of activating an infrared beacon from the base station to provide guidance for returning the charging robot to the base station.

16. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 12 wherein the step of maneuvering the charging robot to the electric vehicle includes the step of activating an infrared beacon from the electric vehicle to provide guidance to the charging robot.

17. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 12 wherein the step of elevating a charging plug to establish an electrical connection to a charging receptacle on the electric vehicle includes the step of activating cameras on the charging robot to align the charging plug with the charging receptacle.

18. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 12 wherein the step of elevating a charging plug to establish an electrical connection to a charging receptacle on the electric vehicle includes the step of using sensors to determine when the charging plug has made contact with the charging receptacle.

19. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 12 wherein the step of charging the electric vehicle to a predetermined charge includes the step of verifying with the charging robot to determine if there is proper payment for the predetermined charge.

20. The method of operating an autonomous electric vehicle charger of claim 12 wherein the step of detecting the electric vehicle is in proximity of the charging robot includes the step of locating the electric vehicle in a designated parking space.