Auto-Seek Electrical Connection for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A guidance system for a vehicle having a rechargeable battery, a power grid receptacle, a traction motor and a power steering system;
- anda controller communicating with the power steering system and the motor, the controller being configured to maneuver the vehicle toward a power grid outlet for charging the battery in response to position signals exchanged by the grid outlet and the vehicle whereby the receptacle engages the grid outlet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An auto-seek operating mode for a vehicle adjusts the vehicle in a direction transverse to a vehicle central axis using a vehicle power steering system and using a motor and a battery to advance the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid for charging the battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments are made using a controllable vehicle suspension system.
38 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A guidance system for a vehicle having a rechargeable battery, a power grid receptacle, a traction motor and a power steering system;
- and
a controller communicating with the power steering system and the motor, the controller being configured to maneuver the vehicle toward a power grid outlet for charging the battery in response to position signals exchanged by the grid outlet and the vehicle whereby the receptacle engages the grid outlet.
- and
-
2. A vehicle guidance system for connecting a vehicle to a power grid having a power grid outlet;
- the vehicle having a rechargeable battery, an electric traction motor and a power steering system;
the guidance system comprising;an electrical connector on the vehicle connected electrically to the rechargeable battery and adapted to exchange position signals with the grid outlet; a controller communicating with the traction motor and the power steering system, the controller being configured to determine vehicle position in response to the position signals; the battery being electrically coupled to the traction motor and the power steering system whereby the traction motor advances the vehicle toward the grid outlet and the power steering system makes lateral adjustments in a path of movement of the vehicle as the vehicle is maneuvered under motor power toward the grid outlet until the connector on the vehicle registers with the grid outlet.
- the vehicle having a rechargeable battery, an electric traction motor and a power steering system;
-
3. A vehicle guidance system for connecting a vehicle to a power grid outlet, the vehicle having a rechargeable battery, an electric traction motor, a vehicle suspension system and a power steering system;
- the guidance system comprising;
an electrical connector on the vehicle connected electrically to the rechargeable battery and adapted to exchange position signals with the grid outlet; a controller communicating with the motor and the power steering system, the controller being configured to determine vehicle position in response to the position signals; the battery being electrically coupled to the traction motor, the vehicle suspension system and the power steering system whereby the traction motor advances the vehicle toward the grid outlet, the power steering system makes lateral adjustments in a path of movement of the vehicle and the vehicle suspension system makes vertical adjustments of the vehicle as the vehicle is maneuvered under motor power toward the grid outlet until the connector on the vehicle registers with the grid outlet.
- the guidance system comprising;
-
4. A control system for a battery-powered vehicle having a power steering system and a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels, the control system comprising:
-
an electrical connector comprising first and second electrical connector elements, one element being mounted on a stationary structure and connected electrically to a power grid, the second element being mounted on the vehicle; the position of the one connector element being identified by coordinate x and y-axes; the electrical connector elements being adapted to exchange vehicle position signals identified by x-axis and y-axis data; a vehicle system controller for receiving the vehicle position signals; the controller being configured to respond to the position signals to compute a distance in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction between the first and second electrical connector elements, the x and y-axes defining the vehicle position in reference coordinates; the motor being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual x-axis vehicle position and a target x-axis position; and the power steering system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual y-axis vehicle position and a target y-axis position; the vehicle thereby being maneuvered along a path of motion with a heading that will effect a mechanical coupling of the connector elements and completion of a battery charging circuit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having steerable wheels and a power steering system, a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels and a controllable vehicle suspension system for vertically adjusting the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining vehicle position relative to a stationary element of an electrical connector for a utility power grid; determining a position of a second element of the electrical connector supported on the vehicle; using the motor to incrementally advance the position of the vehicle on a heading toward the stationary connector element; using the power steering system to guide the vehicle toward the stationary connector element as vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made to align the connector elements; using the vehicle controllable suspension system to adjust the vehicle incrementally in a z-axis direction as vehicle position adjustments are made to align the connector elements; and determining relative positions of the stationary element and the second connector element using x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinates; the vehicle thereby being maneuvered with a heading in an auto-seek mode to mechanically connect the connector elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 19)
-
-
13. A control system for a battery-powered vehicle having steerable wheels and a power steering system, a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels and an adjustable vehicle suspension system, the control system comprising:
-
an electrical connector comprising first and second electrical connector parts, one part being mounted on a stationary structure and connected electrically to a power grid, the second part being mounted on the vehicle; the position of the one connector part relative to the other being identified by target x, y and z axes; a first vehicle position signal and a second vehicle position signal being exchanged by the connector parts; and a vehicle system controller for receiving the vehicle position signals; the controller being configured to respond to the position signals to compute a distance in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction and a z-axis direction between the first and second electrical connector parts, the x, y and z axes defining the vehicle position in a coordinate reference frame; the motor being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual x-axis vehicle position and a target x-axis position; the power steering system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual y-axis vehicle position and a target y-axis position; the vehicle suspension system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual z-axis vehicle position and a target z-axis vehicle position; the vehicle thereby being maneuvered along a line of travel with a heading that will effect a mechanical coupling of the connector parts and completion of a battery charging circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
-
-
18. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having a power steering system and a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining vehicle position relative to a stationary part of an electrical connection for a utility power grid; determining a position of a second element of the electrical connection supported on the vehicle; using the motor to incrementally advance the position of the vehicle on a heading toward the stationary connector element; using the power steering system to guide the vehicle toward the stationary connection element as vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made to align the connection elements; determining relative positions of the stationary element and the second connection element using at least two x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinates; the vehicle thereby being maneuvered with a heading in an auto-seek mode to mechanically connect the connection elements.
-
Specification