Optical system for electric vehicle docking
First Claim
1. An optical docking system for providing accurate positioning of an electric powered vehicle in relation to an electric recharging unit, said optical docking system comprising:
- first visual indicator means for generating a first visible beam, said first visual indicator means positioned on a front of the electric powered vehicle;
second visual indicator means for generating a second visible beam, said second visual indicator means also positioned on the front of the electric powered vehicle, wherein the first visible beam and the second visible beam intersect at an intersection point remote from the electric powered vehicle; and
target means for receiving the first visible beam and the second visible beam, said target means positioned on the electric recharging unit, wherein the target means provides a visual target for aligning the intersection point of the first visible beam and the second visible beam to position the electric powered vehicle at a predetermined distance and a predetermined position relative to the electric recharging unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for positioning an electric powered vehicle (34) relative to an electric recharging unit (36) utilizing an optical docking system (10). A first laser emitting diode (12) generates a first visible beam (18) and a second laser emitting diode (14) generates a second visible beam (20). The first visible beam (18) and the second visible beam (20) intersect at an intersection point (22) remote from the electric powered vehicle (34). This intersection point (22) is aligned with the electric recharging unit (36) thereby positioning the electric powered vehicle (34) at a predetermined distance and a predetermined position relative to the electric recharging unit (36).
32 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An optical docking system for providing accurate positioning of an electric powered vehicle in relation to an electric recharging unit, said optical docking system comprising:
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first visual indicator means for generating a first visible beam, said first visual indicator means positioned on a front of the electric powered vehicle; second visual indicator means for generating a second visible beam, said second visual indicator means also positioned on the front of the electric powered vehicle, wherein the first visible beam and the second visible beam intersect at an intersection point remote from the electric powered vehicle; and target means for receiving the first visible beam and the second visible beam, said target means positioned on the electric recharging unit, wherein the target means provides a visual target for aligning the intersection point of the first visible beam and the second visible beam to position the electric powered vehicle at a predetermined distance and a predetermined position relative to the electric recharging unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An optical docking system for providing accurate positioning of an electric powered vehicle in relation to an electric recharging unit, said optical docking system comprising:
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a first laser emitting diode operable to generate a first visible beam, said first laser emitting diode positioned on a front of the electric powered vehicle; a second laser emitting diode operable to generate a second visible beam, said second laser emitting diode also positioned on the front of the electric powered vehicle, wherein the first visible beam and the second visible beam intersect at an intersection point remote from the electric powered vehicle; and target means for receiving the first visible beam and the second visible beam, said target means positioned on the electric recharging unit, wherein the target means includes an alignment marker for aligning the intersection point of the first visible beam and the second visible beam to position the electric powered vehicle at a predetermined distance and a predetermined position relative to the electric recharging unit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of positioning an electric powered vehicle relative to an electric recharging unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first visual indicator means for generating a first visible beam, said first visual indicator means positioned on the electric powered vehicle; providing a second visual indicator means for generating a second visible beam, said second visual indicator means also positioned on the electric powered vehicle; causing the first visible beam and the second visible beam to intersect at an intersection point remote from the electric powered vehicle; providing a target means for receiving the first visible beam and the second visible beam, said target means positioned on the electric recharging unit; and aligning the intersection point of the first visible beam and the second visible beam with the target means to position the electric powered vehicle at a predetermined distance and a predetermined position relative to the electric recharging unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification