System and method to assist in vehicle positioning

• US 9,776,520 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: Shah, Keyur M
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis
• Application Number:
  US14/671,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20160280085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 320109, 320108, 320137, 320104, 320162, 320107, 320103, 307104, 307 101, 307 91
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/802 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/00 Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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

Abstract

A method for aligning a vehicle at a charging station may include determining the distance between each sensor of the plurality of sensors and a target surface of the charging station. The method may further include aligning the vehicle at the charging station using the determined distance data, and charging the electric vehicle at the charging station. The method may further include using the determined distances to align the side of the vehicle substantially parallel to the target surface.

Claims

1. A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, comprising:

driving the electric vehicle towards the charging station, the electric vehicle including a roof, a floor, and multiple side surfaces connecting the roof and the floor, and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned on an external side surface of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are (a) spaced apart from each other and (b) arranged along a direction of travel of the electric vehicle;

determining a distance between each sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors and a target surface of the charging station, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are aimed towards the target surface;

aligning the electric vehicle at the charging station based on the determined distance;

moving a charge head assembly of the charging station to engage with a charging interface of the electric vehicle; and

establishing an electrical connection between the electric vehicle at the charging station.

2. The method of claim 1, further including automatically piloting the electric vehicle based on the determined data.

3. The method of claim 1, further including notifying a driver of the electric vehicle when a difference in the distance between any two sensors of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors and the target surface exceeds a predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1, further including, after the determining, suggesting a driving pattern for the driver to follow to align the electric vehicle at the charging station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors is located at a front side surface of the electric vehicle, one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located at a middle side surface of the electric vehicle, and one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located at a rear side surface of the electric vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further including displaying the determined data on a display terminal of the electric vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the charge head assembly includes lowering the charge head assembly to land on a roof of the electric vehicle, and moving the electric vehicle to electrically connect the charge head assembly with the charging interface.

8. A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, comprising:

driving the electric vehicle towards the charging station, the electric vehicle including a roof, a floor, and multiple side surfaces connecting the roof and the floor, the electric vehicle also including a charging interface on the roof and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned on an external side surface of the vehicle and spaced apart along a direction of travel of the electric vehicle, the plurality of ultrasonic sensors including at least (a) one sensor at the front of the electric vehicle, (b) one sensor at the back of the electric vehicle, and (c) one sensor in the middle of the electric vehicle;

determining distances between multiple points on a side surface of the multiple side surfaces and a target surface of the charging station using the plurality of ultrasonic sensors;

using the determined distances to align the side surface of the electric vehicle substantially parallel to the target surface;

moving a charge head assembly of the charging station to land on the roof of the electric vehicle;

after the moving, moving the electric vehicle to make electrical contact between the charge head assembly and the charging interface of the electric vehicle; and

charging the electric vehicle using the charging station.

9. The method of claim 8, further including notifying a driver of the electric vehicle when a difference in the determined distances between the multiple points and the target surface exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the target surface is a curb of the charging station.

11. The method of claim 8, further including providing navigational instructions to a driver of the vehicle based on the determined distances.

12. A method of charging an electric bus at a charging station, comprising:

driving the bus towards the charging station, the bus including (a) a roof, a floor, and first side surface connecting the roof and the floor, the first side surface including a door (b) a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned on an external side surface of the bus and spaced apart along a direction of travel of the bus, a first sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors being positioned on one side of the door and a second sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors being positioned on another side of the door, and (c) a charging interface, and the charging station including (i) a charge head assembly and (ii) a target surface;

determining a first distance and a second distance as the bus is driving towards the charge head assembly, the first distance being a distance between the first sensor and the target surface and the second distance being the distance between the second sensor and the target surface;

maneuvering the bus based on the determined first and second distances such that the first side surface of the bus is aligned with respect to the target surface in a predetermined manner;

engaging the charge head assembly with the bus;

adjusting a position of the bus after the engaging to make electrical contact between the charge head assembly and the charging interface of the bus; and

charging the bus through the charge head assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, further including displaying a graphical illustration of a relative orientation of the bus with respect to the target surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the maneuvering step includes maneuvering the bus such that the first side surface is aligned substantially parallel to the target surface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the charging interface is positioned on the roof of the bus, and the engaging step includes lowering the charging interface on the roof.