Integrated side view mirror assembly and electrical port for an automotive vehicle

• US 8,125,180 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Grider, Duane M., Chander, Bala, Gilman, Dale, Schultz, David W., Martin, Michael Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US12/119,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20090278491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/109, 320/107, 180/65.1, 903/907
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

An electrical port is integrated within a side view mirror assembly of an automotive vehicle. The electrical port is electrically connected with a charging system of the vehicle. The electrical port may be coupled with a power source remote from the vehicle to power the charging system. The electrical port may be concealed or exposed depending on a position of the side view mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A charging system for an energy storage unit of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a side view mirror assembly including a base attached with the vehicle and a mirror housing extending from the base and moveable between first and second positions; and

an electrical port integrated with the assembly, electrically connected with the energy storage unit, and configured to receive power from an electrical source remote from the vehicle, the electrical port being concealed if the housing is in the first position and exposed if the housing is in the second position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the side view mirror assembly includes an indicator feature to provide information about at least one of the vehicle and the power.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the indicator feature comprises a visual indicator feature.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the visual indicator feature is visible from at least one of an interior of the vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the charging system further includes a controller being configured to at least one of detect a state of the vehicle and a condition of the received power and to provide a control signal based on the at least one detected state and condition to the indicator feature.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the mirror housing is rotatable relative to the base between the first and second positions.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the mirror housing is slidable relative to the base between the first and second positions.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection between the electrical port and the energy storage unit includes electromagnetic shielding.

9. A side view mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle including an energy storage unit, the assembly comprising:

a base attached with the vehicle;

a mirror housing extending from the base and moveable between first and second positions; and

an electrical port configured to receive power from an electrical source remote from the vehicle and electrically connected with the energy storage unit, the electrical port being concealed if the housing is in the first position and being exposed if the housing is in the second position.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the mirror housing is rotatable relative to the base between the first and second positions.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the mirror housing is slidable relative to the base between the first and second positions.

12. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising an indicator feature to provide information about at least one of the vehicle and the power.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a battery;

a side view mirror assembly including a base and a mirror housing extending from the base and moveable between first and second positions; and

an electrical port electrically connected with the battery and configured to receive power from an electrical source remote from the vehicle, the electrical port being concealed if the housing is in the first position and being exposed if the housing is in the second position.