Hands Free Vehicle Charging System

• US 20160101701A1
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wu, Bo, Connolly, Brittany, Bell, Christopher W., Siciak, Raymond C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,099,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle charging system may include a drive system mounted to a chassis, a positionable electrical connector assembly, a position sensor, a proximity sensor, and a control module. The control module may be programmed to operate the drive system to place the chassis proximate a vehicle electrical connector and operate the positionable electrical connector assembly to releasably engage the vehicle electrical connector.

Claims

1. A vehicle charging system comprising:

a chassis supported by first and second tracks;

a control module operably connected to the first and second tracks and a positioning system;

a first electrical connector associated with the positioning system;

a position sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a position of a second electrical connector mounted on a vehicle; and

a power source mounted on the chassis, and associated with the first electrical connector and the control module, wherein in response to the signal, the control module operates the first and second tracks and the positioning system to position the first electrical connector relative to the second electrical connector.

2. The vehicle charging system of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of an obstruction proximate the chassis.

3. The vehicle charging system of claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery having capacity to charge a vehicle traction battery.

4. The vehicle charging system of claim 3 wherein the control module is configured to deliver power from the battery to the first electrical connector and reduced power to a drive motor associated with the first and second tracks.

5. The vehicle charging system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes a drive module in communication with a drive motor configured to drive the first and second tracks.

6. The vehicle charging system of claim 5 wherein in response to a user request, the control module is further configured to maneuver the chassis toward the second electrical connector while avoiding obstructions as detected by a proximity sensor disposed on the chassis.

7. A vehicle charging system comprising:

a drive system mounted to a chassis and configured to propel the chassis toward a vehicle;

a positionable electrical connector assembly mounted to the chassis;

position and proximity sensors; and

a control module programmed to operate the drive system to place the chassis proximate a vehicle electrical connector, and to operate the positionable electrical connector assembly to releasably engage the vehicle electrical connector.

8. The vehicle charging system of claim 7 wherein the drive system includes a flexible track disposed about a drive sprocket operatively connected to a drive motor.

9. The vehicle charging system of claim 7 wherein the drive system includes a drive wheel operatively connected to a drive motor.

10. The vehicle charging system of claim 7 further comprising a cable dispenser mounted to the chassis, wherein the cable dispenser is configured to receive an electric cable for connection between the positionable electrical connector and an external power source.

11. The vehicle charging system of claim 7 further comprising a power supply disposed on the chassis and associated with the positionable electrical connector, wherein the power supply is configured to provide at least a partial charge to a vehicle traction battery.

12. The vehicle charging system of claim 7 wherein the control module is further programmed to deliver power from a power source to the positionable electrical connector assembly and reduced power to the drive system and the sensors.

13. A vehicle charge bot comprising:

a drive system;

a charge delivery arrangement associated with a positioning system and configured to releasably engage a charge receiver mounted to a vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the drive system, the positioning system, and the charge delivery arrangement, and programmed to command the drive system to steer the charge bot toward the charge receiver and the positioning system to move the charge delivery arrangement toward the charge receiver based on position data of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle charge bot of claim 13 further comprising a cable dispenser configured to receive an electric cable for connection between the charge delivery arrangement and an external power source.

15. The vehicle charge bot of claim 13 further comprising a power supply associated with the charge delivery arrangement configured to provide at least a partial charge to a traction battery.

16. The vehicle charge bot of claim 13 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the charge delivery arrangement being proximately aligned with the charge receiver, command the positioning system to engage the charge delivery arrangement with the charge receiver.

17. The vehicle charge bot of claim 13 wherein the controller is further programmed to command the positioning system to disengage the charge delivery arrangement from the charge receiver in response to a power supply power loss.

18. The vehicle charge bot of claim 13 wherein the drive system includes a drive motor drivably connected to a track assembly.

19. The vehicle charge bot of claim 13 wherein the drive system includes a drive motor drivably connected to a wheel assembly.

20. The vehicle charge bot of claim 18 wherein the track assembly includes an electric cable housing configured to receive an electric cable for connection between the charge delivery arrangement and an external power source.