Vehicle electrical connector

• US 10,483,678 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Buttolo, Pietro, Salter, Stuart C., Danowski, Christopher Anthony, Dellock, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowman, Mary Ellen
• Application Number:
  US15/472,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20180287287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided herein. The electrical connector includes a base member disposed within an exterior panel on a vehicle. A port is disposed within a surface of the base member. A wireless transceiver disposed within the vehicle. A controller is configured to selectively activate the port based on a location of an electronic device in relation to the port.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

a base member disposed on an exterior portion of a vehicle;

a port disposed within a surface of the base member;

a wireless transceiver disposed within the vehicle; and

a controller configured to selectively activate the port based on an authentication of an electronic device, wherein the controller activates the port when the electronic device is authenticated within the vehicle and further wherein the controller is associated with the wireless transceiver and is configured to store information about one or more authenticated electronic devices.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover configured to removably conceal the port; and

a proximity switch configured to detect a position of the cover.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source disposed on the base member and configured to provide notification of a status of the port.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the port is a power supply connector.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the port is a universal serial bus.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a luminescent structure on said electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the base member is disposed within a trailer hitch plug.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the base member is disposed on a side portion of a vehicle tailgate, wherein the port is non-accessible when the tailgate is in a first position and is accessible when the tailgate is in a second position.

9. An external vehicle electrical connector, comprising:

a base member disposed within an exterior panel on a vehicle;

a port disposed within a surface of the base member;

a luminescent structure on said electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light;

a controller configured to selectively activate the port; and

a light source disposed on the base member and configured to provide notification of a status of the port, wherein the light source illuminates in a first color when a non-authenticated electronic device is coupled to the port and a second color when an authenticated device is coupled to the port.

10. The external vehicle electrical connector of claim 9, further comprising:

a proximity switch configured to detect a position of a cover, the cover configured to removably conceal the port.

11. An electrical connector, comprising:

a base member and a port disposed within the base, the port configured to output electrical power;

a cover configured to removably conceal the port;

a proximity switch configured to detect a position of the cover; and

a controller configured to selectively activate the port, wherein a vehicle notifies an occupant thereof when a vehicle sensor detects motion of the vehicle and an electronic device is coupled to the port.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11, further comprising:

a luminescent structure on said electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light.

13. The electrical connector of claim 11, further comprising:

a light source disposed on the base member and configured to provide notification of a status of the port.

14. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the port is configured as a plurality of ports and a light source provides a status of each individual port.