Alarm systems and methods for vehicle charge cords
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A charge cord theft alarm system associated with a charge cord of a plug-in vehicle, the system comprising:
- a charging port mounted on the plug-in vehicle and configured to couple the charge cord to the plug-in vehicle;
a sensor configured to evaluate a status of the charge cord, including a coupled status when the charge cord is coupled to the vehicle and a decoupled status when the charge cord is not coupled to the vehicle, the sensor being arranged proximate to the charging port; and
an alarm interface coupled to the sensor and configured to selectively operate in an armed state or a disarmed state, wherein,when the alarm interface is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the coupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate an alarm,when the alarm interface is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status, the alarm interface is configured to activate the alarm,when the alarm interface is in the disarmed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the coupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate the alarm, andwhen the alarm interface is in the disarmed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate the alarm.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An alarm system associated with a charge cord of a plug-in vehicle is provided. The system includes a sensor configured to evaluate a status of the charge cord, including a coupled status when the charge cord is coupled to the vehicle and a decoupled status when the charge cord is not coupled to the vehicle. The system further includes an alarm interface coupled to the sensor and configured to activate an alarm when the charge cord is in the decoupled status.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A charge cord theft alarm system associated with a charge cord of a plug-in vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a charging port mounted on the plug-in vehicle and configured to couple the charge cord to the plug-in vehicle; a sensor configured to evaluate a status of the charge cord, including a coupled status when the charge cord is coupled to the vehicle and a decoupled status when the charge cord is not coupled to the vehicle, the sensor being arranged proximate to the charging port; and an alarm interface coupled to the sensor and configured to selectively operate in an armed state or a disarmed state, wherein, when the alarm interface is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the coupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate an alarm, when the alarm interface is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status, the alarm interface is configured to activate the alarm, when the alarm interface is in the disarmed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the coupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate the alarm, and when the alarm interface is in the disarmed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate the alarm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
10. A method for alerting a user of a theft of a charge cord initially coupled to a charging port on a plug-in vehicle that couples the charge cord to the plug-in vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
selectively placing an alarm system on the plug-in vehicle in an armed state or a disarmed state; evaluating, in the armed state, a status of the charge cord, wherein the evaluating step includes determining, with a sensor, a status of the charge cord, including a coupled status when the charge cord is coupled to the vehicle and a decoupled status when the charge cord is not coupled to the vehicle, the sensor being arranged proximate to the charging port; and alerting the user based on the status of the charge cord by selectively activating the alarm system on the plug-in vehicle, wherein the alerting step includes only activating the alarm when an alarm interface coupled to the sensor is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
17. A plug-in vehicle, comprising:
-
a battery configured to power the plug-in vehicle; a charger coupled to the battery and configured to charge the battery; a charging port coupled to the charger, the charging port being configured to receive a charge cord; a sensor arranged proximate to the charging port and configured to evaluate a status of the charge cord relative to the charging port, including a connected status when the charge cord is connected to the charging port and a disconnected status when the charge cord is not connected to the charging port; and an alarm system coupled with an alarm interface to the sensor and configured to selectively operate in an armed state or a disarmed state, wherein when the alarm interface is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the coupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate an alarm, when the alarm interface is in the armed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status, the alarm interface is configured to activate the alarm, when the alarm interface is in the disarmed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the coupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate the alarm, and when the alarm interface is in the disarmed state and the sensor indicates that the charge cord is in the decoupled status, the alarm interface is configured to not activate the alarm. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification