HANDS-FREE CONDUCTIVE BATTERY CHARGER FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A conductive charging system for use with an offboard power supply and a vehicle having a charge coupler, an auxiliary power device, and a high-voltage direct current battery pack, the conductive charging system comprising:
- a conductive armature having a charging end and a non-charging end, wherein the charging end is electrically connected to the offboard power supply and operable for deploying into direct electrical contact with a conductive pad located on the vehicle in response to a threshold force acting on the non-charging end;
an electromagnetic relay having an inductive coil; and
a first switch positioned between the auxiliary power device and the inductive coil, wherein the switch is operable for closing in response to the threshold force to thereby electrically connect the auxiliary power device to the inductive coil, thereby energizing the inductive coil;
wherein the electromagnetic relay has a second switch that is configured to connect the charge coupler to an AC-DC converter of the battery pack and thereby enable “
plug-in”
charging of the battery pack when the inductive coil is not energized, and to bypass the charge coupler and thereby enable “
hands-free”
charging of the battery pack when the inductive coil is energized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conductive charging system for use with an offboard AC or DC power supply and a plug-in vehicle includes a conductive armature, an electromagnetic relay, and a switch. The armature is connected directly to the power supply and deploys into electrical contact with the vehicle in response to the vehicle weight. The switch closes in response to the vehicle weight to connect an auxiliary power device to an inductive coil. The relay moves to a first position connecting the charge coupler to an AC-DC converter or the battery pack when the switch is open, and to a second position bypassing the charge coupler when the switch is closed. A vehicle includes the system, charge coupler, HV battery pack, auxiliary power device, and armature.
110 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conductive charging system for use with an offboard power supply and a vehicle having a charge coupler, an auxiliary power device, and a high-voltage direct current battery pack, the conductive charging system comprising:
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a conductive armature having a charging end and a non-charging end, wherein the charging end is electrically connected to the offboard power supply and operable for deploying into direct electrical contact with a conductive pad located on the vehicle in response to a threshold force acting on the non-charging end; an electromagnetic relay having an inductive coil; and a first switch positioned between the auxiliary power device and the inductive coil, wherein the switch is operable for closing in response to the threshold force to thereby electrically connect the auxiliary power device to the inductive coil, thereby energizing the inductive coil; wherein the electromagnetic relay has a second switch that is configured to connect the charge coupler to an AC-DC converter of the battery pack and thereby enable “
plug-in”
charging of the battery pack when the inductive coil is not energized, and to bypass the charge coupler and thereby enable “
hands-free”
charging of the battery pack when the inductive coil is energized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle for use with an offboard power supply, the vehicle comprising:
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a charge coupler configured to receive power from the offboard power supply; an auxiliary power device; a high-voltage direct current battery pack; and a conductive charging system having; a conductive armature that includes a charging end and a non-charging end, wherein the charging end is electrically connected to the offboard power supply and is operable deploying into direct electrical contact with a conductive pad located on the vehicle in response to a threshold force acting on the non-charging end, and wherein the threshold force is provided by a weight of the vehicle; a first switch positioned in electrical series with the battery pack and an inductive coil, wherein the first switch is operable for closing in response to the threshold force to thereby electrically connect the auxiliary power device to the inductive coil; and an electromagnetic relay having the inductive coil, wherein the electromagnetic relay further includes a second switch configured to move to a first position connecting the charge coupler to an AC-DC converter or the battery pack to thereby enable “
plug-in”
charging of the battery pack when the inductive coil is not energized, and to a second position bypassing the charge coupler to enable “
hands-free”
charging of the battery pack when the inductive coil is energized, and wherein the second switch is moved from the first position to the second position by a threshold inductance generated across the inductive coil when the first switch is closed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification