System and method for automatic connector coupling for an electric vehicle
First Claim
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1. A connector arrangement for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a slide surface disposed on the electric vehicle, the slide surface being planar and flat;
a first connector having a first connector body, the first connector body disposed on the electric vehicle adjacent the slide surface;
a second connector having a second connector body, the second connector body being attached to and moveable by a linkage mechanism, wherein the linkage mechanism is configured to move the second connector body into sliding contact with the slide surface;
at least one sensor associated with the second connector body, the at least one sensor providing information indicative of a location of the second connector body on the slide surface to the linkage mechanism; and
a shuttle associated with the electric vehicle;
wherein the linkage guides the second connector body in one direction, and the shuttle guides the second connector body in another direction, along the slide surface, based on information from the at least one sensor, to electrically couple the first and second connector bodies.
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Abstract
A connector arrangement for charging an electric vehicle includes a first connector disposed adjacent a slide surface and having a pin extending from the first connector. A second connector has a second connector body and is moveable along the slide surface by a linkage mechanism. A socket extends through the second connector body between two opposed openings, and at least one sensor is associated with the second connector body. The at least one sensor provides information indicative of a location of the second connector body on the slide surface to the linkage mechanism.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A connector arrangement for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a slide surface disposed on the electric vehicle, the slide surface being planar and flat; a first connector having a first connector body, the first connector body disposed on the electric vehicle adjacent the slide surface; a second connector having a second connector body, the second connector body being attached to and moveable by a linkage mechanism, wherein the linkage mechanism is configured to move the second connector body into sliding contact with the slide surface; at least one sensor associated with the second connector body, the at least one sensor providing information indicative of a location of the second connector body on the slide surface to the linkage mechanism; and a shuttle associated with the electric vehicle; wherein the linkage guides the second connector body in one direction, and the shuttle guides the second connector body in another direction, along the slide surface, based on information from the at least one sensor, to electrically couple the first and second connector bodies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for automatically aligning and engaging two connectors for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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providing a slide surface on the electric vehicle, the slide surface having a planar, rectangular shape that is delimited by end walls; providing a first connector at a corner of two end walls of the slide surface; placing a second connector in sliding contact with the slide surface; sliding the second connector along the slide surface in one direction until the second connector contacts an end wall; aligning the second connector with the end wall; sliding the second connector along the slide surface in another direction along the end wall until the second connector reaches the corner; and pushing the second connector to mate with the first connector. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for automatically coupling a charging side connector with a vehicle connector, comprising:
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providing a slide surface on an underside of an electric vehicle, the slide surface being generally flat and planar along two directions and being delimited by end walls that meet at corners, wherein the vehicle side connector is disposed at one of the corners; lifting the charging side connector with a linkage mechanism to meet the slide surface, the linkage mechanism arranged to slide the charging side connector along the slide surface; sliding the charging side connector along the slide surface in one direction with the linkage until the charging side connector contacts an end wall that terminates at the one corner; aligning the charging side connector with the end wall; sliding the charging side connector in another direction along the end wall towards the one corner until the charging side connector reaches the one corner; and engaging the charging side with the vehicle side connectors. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification