Electric vehicle charging interface

• US 10,696,174 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: McGrath, Seamus, Sarkar, Reuben, Shah, Keyur
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Paul
• Application Number:
  US15/890,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/24 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/32 Driving direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/665 Light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 : using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 : in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 : DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 : Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 : Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 : by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 : by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 : Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 : Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/54 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/55 : Capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/56 : Mechanical storage means, e.g. fly wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 : for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 : Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 : Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/36 : Single contact pieces along the line for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 : for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

Claims

1. A charging interface of an electric vehicle, comprising:

at least one charge-receiving electrode configured to engage with a charging electrode of a charging unit when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging; and

a contact surface of the at least one charge-receiving electrode including one or more structural filing features configured to rub against and remove a portion of the charging electrode, to recondition the charging electrode, when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging.

2. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more structural filing features includes a plurality of grooves.

3. The charging interface of claim 2, wherein the plurality of grooves include multiple grooves arranged parallel to each other.

4. The charging interface of claim 3, wherein the multiple groves are aligned at an angle with respect to a direction of travel of the electric vehicle.

5. The charging interface of claim 4, wherein the multiple groves are aligned at an angle between 20 and 60 degrees with respect to the direction of travel.

6. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode includes at least two charge-receiving electrodes.

7. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode is positioned on a roof of the electric vehicle.

8. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode is positioned on a side of the electric vehicle.

9. An electric vehicle, comprising:

an energy storage system;

at least one charge-receiving electrode configured to engage with a charging electrode of a charging unit when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging; and

the at least one charge-receiving electrode including a contact surface including one or more structural filing features, wherein the contact surface is configured to rub against and remove a portion of the charging electrode, to recondition the charging electrode, when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging.

10. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more structural filing features include a plurality of grooves.

11. The electric vehicle of claim 10, wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged parallel to each other.

12. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode is positioned on a side of the electric vehicle or on a roof of the electric vehicle.

13. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the electric vehicle is an all-battery electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

14. A method for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

positioning the electric vehicle proximate a charging unit for charging, wherein the electric vehicle includes at least one charge-receiving electrode and the charging unit includes at least one charging electrode;

reconditioning the at least one charging electrode by dragging the at least one charging electrode across one or more structural filing features on the at least one charge-receiving electrode to remove a portion of the at least one charging electrode;

establishing electrical contact between the at least one charging electrode and the at least one charge-receiving electrode after the reconditioning; and

charging the electric vehicle by directing electric current from the charging unit to the electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the reconditioning includes removing the portion of the at least one charging electrode by dragging the at least one charging electrode across one or more filing features on the contact surface when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more filing features are a plurality of grooves on the contact surface.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing electrical contact includes making electrical connection between the at least one charge-receiving electrode on a side of the electric vehicle and the at least one charging electrode of the charging unit.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing electrical contact includes making electrical connection between the at least one charge-receiving electrode on a roof of the electric vehicle and the at least one charging electrode of the charging unit.