Status indicating electric vehicle charging station, lightguide assembly and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a periphery and a body; and
a light guide assembly mounted to the body and adapted to display a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus, the light guide assembly further comprising;
a light guide including a light receiving region located adjacent to one or more light sources,a light guiding region, anda light exit region at the periphery, wherein the light exit region includes a side facing surface including an angle of tilt relative to light emitted from the light guiding region, the side facing surface configured to provide a halo effect about one or more segments of the periphery,wherein the angle of tilt of the side facing surface is between about 30 and 50 degrees and is selected such that a light beam is spread across substantially all of the side facing surface for providing the halo effect as a maximum halo effect in that the light exit region displays a halo of different colors each color indicating a specific status of a particular electric vehicle charging state.
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Abstract
An electric vehicle charging apparatus is disclosed. The electric vehicle charging apparatus has a housing having a body, and a light guide assembly adapted to display a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus as a halo. The light guide assembly generates and displays one or more colors, flashing lights, or combinations thereof on a light exit region having a tilted side facing surface. In another aspect, a hinged lid configuration of the electric vehicle charging apparatus is provided having a mechanical control panel including lighted status indicators on the lid. Methods of operating the electric vehicle charging apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
33 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:
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a housing having a periphery and a body; and a light guide assembly mounted to the body and adapted to display a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus, the light guide assembly further comprising; a light guide including a light receiving region located adjacent to one or more light sources, a light guiding region, and a light exit region at the periphery, wherein the light exit region includes a side facing surface including an angle of tilt relative to light emitted from the light guiding region, the side facing surface configured to provide a halo effect about one or more segments of the periphery, wherein the angle of tilt of the side facing surface is between about 30 and 50 degrees and is selected such that a light beam is spread across substantially all of the side facing surface for providing the halo effect as a maximum halo effect in that the light exit region displays a halo of different colors each color indicating a specific status of a particular electric vehicle charging state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:
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a housing having a body and a lid including visual indicators, wherein the lid is hinged to the body; a light guide assembly mounted to the body, the light guide assembly further comprising; a light guide including; a light receiving region located adjacent to one or more light sources, a light guiding region, and a light exit region at the periphery, wherein the light exit region includes a side facing surface including an angle of tilt relative to light emitted from the light guiding region, the side facing surface configured to provide a halo effect about one or more segments of the periphery, wherein the angle of tilt of the side facing surface is between about 30 and 50 degrees and selected such that a light beam is spread across substantially all of the side facing surface for providing the halo effect as a maximum halo effect in that the light exit region displays a halo of different colors each color indicating a specific status of a particular electric vehicle charging state; a barrier shield mounted under the lid including a plurality of channeling elements; a printed circuit board under the barrier shield including one or more switches, and one or more light sources mounted adjacent to the plurality of channeling elements; and one or more buttons on the lid coupled to one or more posts, which when depressed make physical contact to toggle the one or more switches and display status information on the visual indicators through the plurality of channeling elements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An electric vehicle charging apparatus, comprising:
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a housing having a periphery, a body, and a lid, wherein the lid is hinged to the body and includes visual indicators; a light guide assembly mounted to the body and adapted to display a status of the electric vehicle charging apparatus, the light guide assembly further comprising; a barrier shield mounted under the lid and including a plurality of channeling elements, a printed circuit board under the barrier shield and including one or more light sources and one or more switches, a light guide including; a light receiving region located adjacent to the one or more light sources, a light guiding region, and a light exit region at the periphery, wherein the light exit region includes a side facing surface including an angle of tilt relative to light emitted from the light guiding region, the side facing surface configured to provide a halo effect about one or more segments of the periphery, wherein the angle of tilt of the side facing surface is between about 30 and 50 degrees and is selected such that a light beam is spread across substantially all of the side facing surface for providing the halo effect as a maximum halo effect in that the light exit region displays a halo of different colors each color indicating a specific status of a particular electric vehicle charging state; and one or more buttons on the lid coupled to one or more posts, which when depressed make physical contact to toggle the one or more switches and display status information on the visual indicators through the plurality of channeling elements.
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Specification