Charging paddle

• US 6,297,614 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Hyogo, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/727,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/109, 336/DIG.2, 361/212, 361/216, 361/217
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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

A paddle is connected to an electricity supplying apparatus by a cable. The paddle is inserted into a receptacle located in a vehicle for charging a battery in the vehicle. A container, which is made of conductive resin, is located in the paddle to surround lines separated from the cable. Conductive plating layers are formed on the inner surface of the container. Noise radiated from the lines is absorbed by the plating layers and converted into a noise current. The noise current is conducted to a grounding member of the electricity supplying apparatus through a shield located in the cable. The noise current is also conducted to a grounding member of the vehicle through the receptacle. The plating layers permit the noise current to smoothly flow.

Claims

1. A paddle of an inductive charger coupling, the paddle being connected to a power source through a power line, part of the power line being located in the paddle, wherein the paddle is inserted into an opening of a receptacle for supplying electricity to a receptacle, the paddle comprising:

a case;

a conductive metal member located in the case, wherein the conductive metal member absorbs noise radiated from the power line in the paddle and converts the absorbed noise into a noise current, and

a conductor for conducting the noise current to the outside of the paddle, the conductor being electrically connected to the conductive metal member in the paddle.

2. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein, when the paddle is inserted into the receptacle opening, the conductive metal member substantially blocks the opening.

3. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the conductive metal member comprises a layer of plating.

4. The paddle according to claim 1, further including a conductive nonmetal member for supporting the conductive metal member.

5. The paddle according to claim 4, wherein the conductive nonmetal member comprises a conductive resin.

6. The paddle according to claim 4, wherein the conductive nonmetal member comprises a container that substantially surrounds part of the power line, and wherein at least part of the conductive metal member is located on the inner surface of the container.

7. The paddle according to claim 6, wherein the case comprises a first case member and a second case member, the container includes a first inner cover, which is fixed to the first case member, and a second inner cover, which is fixed to the second case member, wherein the conductive metal member is a first conductive metal member, which is located in the first inner cover, and wherein the paddle further comprises a second conductive metal member, which is fixed to the second inner cover.

8. The paddle according claim 1, wherein the conductor is connected to a grounding terminal.

9. The paddle according to claim 8, wherein the paddle is connected to a cable, and wherein the power line is one of a plurality of lines located in the cable.

10. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein the conductor comprises a shield that is located in the cable, and wherein the shield surrounds the lines.

11. The paddle according to claim 10, wherein the lines are exposed from the shield and are separated at a separation location within the paddle, and wherein the conductive metal member substantially surrounds the separation location.

12. A paddle of an inductive charger coupling, the paddle being connected to a power source through a power line, part of the power line being located in the paddle, wherein the paddle is inserted into an opening of a receptacle for supplying electricity to a receptacle, the paddle comprising:

a case;

a conductive metal member located in the case, wherein the conductive metal member absorbs noise radiated from the power line in the paddle and converts the absorbed noise into a noise current;

a conductor for conducting the noise current to the outside of the paddle, the conductor being electrically connected to the conductive metal member in the paddle, and

a conductive resin member located in the paddle, wherein the conductive resin member supports the conductive metal member.

13. The paddle according to claim 12, wherein, when the paddle is inserted into the receptacle opening, the conductive metal member substantially blocks the opening.

14. The paddle according to claim 12, wherein the conductive metal member comprises a layer of plating.

15. The paddle according to claim 12, wherein the conductive resin member comprises a container that substantially surrounds part of the power line, and wherein at least part of the conductive metal member is located on the inner surface of the container.

16. The paddle according to claim 15, wherein the case comprises a first case member and a second case member, the container includes a first inner cover, which is fixed to the first case member, and a second inner cover, which is fixed to the second case member, wherein the conductive metal member is a first conductive metal member, which is located in the first inner cover, and wherein the paddle further comprises a second conductive metal member, which is fixed to the second inner cover.

17. The paddle according claim 12, wherein the conductor is connected to a grounding terminal.

18. The paddle according to claim 17, wherein the paddle is connected to a cable, and wherein the power line is one of a plurality of lines located in the cable.

19. The paddle according to claim 18, wherein the conductor comprises a shield that is located in the cable, the shield surrounding the lines, wherein the lines are exposed from the shield and are separated at a separation location within the paddle, and wherein the conductive metal member substantially surrounds the separation location.

20. A paddle of an inductive charger coupling, the paddle being connected to a power source through a power line, part of the power line being located in the paddle, wherein the paddle is inserted into an opening of a receptacle for supplying electricity to a receptacle, the paddle comprising means for preventing radiation noise from escaping from the paddle and the receptacle.