Charging device and method of delivering current to a power storage device

• US 9,701,209 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Minor, Robert John, Fontana, Edward Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun
• Application Number:
  US13/544,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20140009112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• 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
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A charging device for a power storage device includes a current control device configured to selectively enable and disable current from being delivered to the power storage device. The charging device also includes an actuator that moves at least a first portion of the charging device from a first position to a second position, and a controller coupled to the actuator and the current control device. The controller determines whether a predetermined actuation condition is met, activates the actuator to move the at least a first portion of the charging device to the second position upon the determination that the predetermined actuation condition is met, and controls the current control device to enable current to be delivered when the at least a first portion of the charging device is in the second position.

Claims

1. A charging device for use with a power storage device, said charging device comprising:

a current control device configured to selectively enable and disable current from being delivered to the power storage device;

a communication device configured to receive signals from an electric vehicle;

an actuator configured to move at least a first portion of said charging device from an inaccessible position to an accessible position, wherein the first portion is inaccessible in the inaccessible position and accessible in the accessible position;

a payment interface that is accessible to a user when said charging device is in the inaccessible position; and

a controller coupled to said actuator, to said communication device, and to said current control device, said controller configured to;

determine that the electric vehicle is transitioning between an on state and an off state based on the signals received at said communication device;

activate said actuator to move said at least a first portion of said charging device to the accessible position based upon the determination; and

control said current control device to enable current to be delivered to the power storage device when said at least a first portion of said charging device is in the accessible position.

2. A charging device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least a first portion of said charging device is below ground when in the inaccessible position.

3. A charging device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said at least a first portion of said charging device is above ground when in the accessible position.

4. A charging device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least a first portion of said charging device is positioned within an enclosure when in the inaccessible position.

5. A charging device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to control said current control device to prevent current from being delivered to the power storage device when said at least a first portion of said charging device is in the inaccessible position.

6. A charging device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a power conduit coupled to said current control device, said at least a first portion of said charging device comprises at least a portion of said power conduit.

7. A charging device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power storage device is a power storage device of the electric vehicle, and wherein said controller determines that the electric vehicle is within the predetermined distance of said charging device based on one of a wireless signal, a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal, and a near field communication signal transmitted from the electric vehicle.

8. A method of delivering current to a power storage device, said method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a signal from an electric vehicle indicating that the electric vehicle is transitioning between an on state and an off state;

determining, by the controller, whether payment has been received at a payment interface that is accessible to a user when said charging device is in an inaccessible position to initiate a charging operation of the power storage device;

activating an actuator to move at least a first portion of a charging device from the inaccessible position to an accessible position based upon the determination that payment has been received and based upon the received signal, wherein the first portion is inaccessible in the inaccessible position and accessible in the accessible position; and

controlling a current control device to enable current to be delivered to the power storage device when the at least a first portion of the charging device is in the accessible position.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising positioning the at least a first portion of the charging device below ground in the inaccessible position.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising positioning the at least a first portion of the charging device above ground in the accessible position.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising positioning the at least a first portion of the charging device within an enclosure in the inaccessible position.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising preventing current from being delivered to the power storage device when the at least a first portion of the charging device is in the inaccessible position.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein a power conduit is coupled to the charging device, said method further comprising preventing the power conduit from being extended from the charging device when the at least a first portion of the charging device is in the inaccessible position.

14. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the predetermined actuation condition is determined to be met when the controller determines that an electric vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the charging device.

15. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the predetermined actuation condition is determined to be met when the controller determines that payment has been received to initiate a charging operation of the power storage device.

16. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the predetermined actuation condition is determined to be met when the controller receives a signal from a user device controlled by the user.

17. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein determination that payment has been received is a first actuation condition, said method further comprising:

determining that a second actuation condition is met; and

activating the actuator to move the at least a first portion of the charging device from the accessible position to the inaccessible position upon the determination that the second actuation condition is met.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein a power conduit is coupled to the charging device, the second actuation condition is determined to be met when the controller determines that the power conduit is disconnected from one of the power storage device and the charging device.

19. A charging device for use with a power storage device, said charging device comprising:

a current control device configured to selectively enable and disable current from being delivered to the power storage device;

a communication device configured to receive signals from an electric vehicle, wherein the signals indicate that the electric vehicle is transitioning between an on state and an off state;

an actuator configured to move at least a first portion of said charging device from an inaccessible position to an accessible position, wherein the first portion is inaccessible in the inaccessible position and accessible in the accessible position; and

a payment interface that is accessible to a user when said charging device is in the inaccessible position;

a controller coupled to said actuator, said communication device, and to said current control device, said controller configured to;

activate said actuator to move said at least a first portion of said charging device to the accessible position based on the signals received at said communication device; and

control said current control device to enable current to be delivered to the power storage device when said at least a first portion of said charging device is in the accessible position.