Plug-in vehicle with recharging port having display and lights

• US 8,179,245 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chander, Bala S., Blakemore, Bruce Carvell, Brzozowski, Jenny, Gilman, Dale, Grider, Duane M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/178,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20110264319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 340/455, 340/636.1, 340/540, 362/487, 362/495, 362/496, 320/137, 320/155
• US Class Current: 340/455
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/92 Driver displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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

Abstract

A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery.

Claims

1. A plug-in vehicle including a vehicle body having an outer panel, the vehicle comprising:

a propulsion unit;

a rechargeable battery configured to supply power to the propulsion unit;

a recharging port supported on the outer panel, the recharging port being configured to receive electrical power from an external power source and to deliver power to the battery; and

a display subassembly operatively connected to the battery and including;

a plurality of lights disposed around the recharging port configured to provide illumination of the recharging port, and

a display window for displaying characters, the display subassembly being configured to receive inputs and to display information indicative of at least one condition of the battery, including at least one of an interruption in recharging or a failure of the battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs relating to at least one of a charging start time or a charging end time for charging the battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related to the habits of an identified driver and to provide information regarding a recommended frequency for charging the battery for the identified driver.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related to a planned distance the vehicle will be driven and to display an instruction to charge or not to charge the battery based on the inputs.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related to the source of energy used to charge the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is supported on the outer panel and is further configured to display information indicative of a status of the external power source.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to illuminate at least some of the lights when a charge cord is within a predetermined distance of the recharging port.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lights disposed around the recharging port are disposed in a generally circular configuration.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a communications subassembly connected to the recharging port and configured transmit and receive wireless electronic signals.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition includes a fault being detected while the recharging port is connected to the external power source.

11. A plug-in vehicle including a vehicle body having an outer panel, the vehicle comprising:

a propulsion unit;

a rechargeable battery configured to supply power to the propulsion unit;

a recharging port supported on the outer panel, the recharging port being configured to receive electrical power from an external power source and to deliver power to the battery; and

a display subassembly operatively connected to the battery and including a plurality of lights disposed around the recharging port, the lights being configured to provide illumination of the recharging port, the display subassembly further including a display window for displaying characters, the display subassembly being configured to receive inputs and to display information, including information indicative of a status of the external power source.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs relating to at least one of a charging start time or a charging end time for charging the battery.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related to a planned distance the vehicle will be driven and to display an instruction to charge or not to charge the battery based on the inputs.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display subassembly is configured to receive inputs related to the source of energy used to charge the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to illuminate at least some of the lights when a charge cord is within a predetermined distance of the recharging port.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the lights disposed around the recharging port are disposed in a generally circular configuration.

17. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display subassembly is further configured to:

illuminate the lights in a first manner when the battery is receiving electrical power while the recharging port is connected to the external power source, and

illuminate the lights in a second manner different from the first manner when a fault is detected while the recharging port is connected to the external power source.

18. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a communications subassembly connected to the recharging port and configured transmit and receive wireless electronic signals to and from an electric meter.