Charging system for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising:
- a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery;
means for determining the position of said charging location;
vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and
logic means for receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Automated charging systems for vehicles having rechargeable batteries are in common use today. Such systems typically have exposed contacts or the need for additional circuitry to move the contacts. The subject system includes circuitry which allows the charge receiving member to be only connected to the battery during charging. The charging system produces a charging signal in response to a low battery. A microprocessor receives the charging signal and responsively produces a "pulse" signal. A second transistor switch receives the "pulse" signal and responsively energizes a charging contactor coil. In response to the charging contactor coil being energized, contacts controllably block power from the battery to the motor and pass power from the receiving member to the battery.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising:
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a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery; means for determining the position of said charging location; vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and logic means for receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A charging system for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising:
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a charge receiving member connected to said vehicle; a battery having positive and negative terminals, said negative terminal being connected to ground; a contactor having at least first and second contacts, said first contact being normally open and being connected between said charge receiving member and said positive terminal of said battery and said second contact being normally closed and being connected between said motor and said positive battery thermal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for charging a vehicle at a charging location, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery controllably connected to a vehicle motor and a charge receiving member, comprising the steps of:
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determining the position of said charging location; positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor form said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising:
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a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery; vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; sensing means for producing a warning signal in response to detecting a voltage potential on said charge receiving member when said vehicle is not charging; and logic means for receiving said charge control signal and responsively disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery, and receiving said warning signal and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery in response to receiving said warning signal.
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18. A method for charging a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery controllably connected to a vehicle motor and a charge receiving member, comprising the steps of:
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positioning said vehicle at a charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; receiving said charge control signal and responsively disconnecting said battery from said vehicle motor and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery; sensing an abnormal ground connection during charging and responsively disconnecting said charge receiving member from said battery; and sensing a voltage potential on said charge receiving member and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery when said vehicle is not charging.
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19. A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising:
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a charge receiving ;
emmber controllably connectable to said battery;vehicle control means for producing a charge control signal in response to said vehicle being at said charging location; logic means for receiving said charge control signal and for responsively producing a pulse signal and disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery; and charging control means for receiving said pulse signal and responsively connecting said charge receiving member to battery.
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Specification