Charging receptacle

• US 6,351,098 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kaneko, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/672,320
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• 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 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 electromagnetic induction type connection terminal for connecting a power supply station with a battery for charging the battery has a charging paddle and a charging receptacle. The charging paddle has a primary coil that is supplied with a current from the power supply station. The charging receptacle has a secondary coil connected to the battery. When the primary coil is supplied with a current from the power supply station with the charging paddle plugged into the charging receptacle, an electromotive force is induced into the secondary coil. The charging receptacle has an enclosure for accommodating the secondary coil. The enclosure forms a shield against electromagnetic waves. The charging receptacle has a communication unit for communicating information with the charging paddle to control the charging. The communication unit is located within the enclosure.

Claims

1. A charging receptacle for an electromagnetic induction type connection terminal for connecting a power supply station with a battery for charging the battery, the connection terminal having a charging paddle that plugs into the charging receptacle, the charging paddle having a primary coil supplied with a current from the power supply station, the charging receptacle comprising:

a secondary coil connected to the battery, the secondary coil producing an inductive electromotive force when the primary coil is supplied with current from the power supply station and when the charging paddle is plugged into the charging receptacle;

an enclosure for accomodating the secondary coil, the enclosure forming a shield against electromagnetic waves;

a communication unit, located within the enclosure, for communicating information via infrared rays with the charging paddle to control the charging, wherein information is communicated when the charging paddle is plugged into the charging receptacle to enable power to be supplied; and

a communication case located within the enclosure, the communication case being formed of an electrically insulative synthetic resin, wherein the case surrounds the communication unit.

2. The charging receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a port for accepting the charging paddle and ventilation holes formed around the port, wherein a fan is provided on the opposite side of the enclosure with respect to the port, and the communication unit is positioned near the port.

3. The charging receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the communication case is formed of an electrically insulative synthetic resin.

4. The charging receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the communication case includes a guiding member for guiding the charging paddle into the enclosure.

5. The charging receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the communication case includes a guiding member for guiding the charging paddle into the enclosure.

6. The charging receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is made of a metal having an electromagnetically shielding property.

7. A charging receptacle for an electromagnetic induction type connection terminal for connecting a power supply station with a battery for charging the battery, the connection terminal having a charging paddle that plugs into the charging receptacle, the charging paddle having a primary coil supplied with a current from the power supply station, the charging receptacle comprising:

a secondary coil connected to the battery, the secondary coil producing an inductive electromotive force when the primary coil is supplied with current from the power supply station and when the charging paddle is plugged into the charging receptacle;

an enclosure for accomodating the secondary coil, the enclosure forming a shield against electromagnetic waves, the enclosure including a main case having an opening and a lid covering the opening;

a communication unit, located within the enclosure, for communicating information via infrared rays with the charging paddle to control the charging wherein information is communicated when the charging paddle is plugged into the charging receptacle to enable power to be supplied; and

a communication case located within the enclosure, the communication case being formed of an electrically insulative synthetic resin, wherein the case surrounds the communication unit.

8. The charging receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the enclosure includes a port for accepting the charging paddle and ventilation holes formed around the port, wherein a fan is provided on the opposite side of the enclosure with respect to the port, and the communication unit is positioned near the port.

9. The charging receptacle according to claim 8, further comprising a communication case located within the enclosure, the communication case being formed of a electrically insulative synthetic resin, wherein the case surrounds the communication unit.

10. The charging receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the communication case is attached to the lid.

11. The charging receptacle according to claim 9, wherein the communication case is attached to the lid.

12. The charging receptacle according to claim 9, wherein the communication case includes a guiding member for guiding the charging paddle into the enclosure.

13. The charging receptacle according to claim 9, wherein the communication case includes a guiding member for guiding the charging paddle into the enclosure.

14. The charging receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the main case and the lid are made of metal having electromagnetically shielding properties.

15. The charging receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the main case is formed with material that differs from, but maintains the same shielding properties with that of the lid.