Vehicle capable of indicating a position of an electric power-receiving unit

• US 8,508,348 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Naoto, Nakashima, Motohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/450,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/691.1, 340/691.4, 340/691.5, 340/692, 340/687, 340/686.4, 340/636.19, 362/459, 362/464
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/665 Light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A communication unit (32) periodically transmits a request signal toward a prescribed range. When a transmitter (30) exists in the range where the request signal can be received, it sends identification information in a responsive manner. A comparison ECU (48) compares the identification information provided from the communication unit (32) with a predetermined value, and if both of them match with each other, notifies a matching notification to a power source management ECU (44). On receipt of the matching notification from the comparison ECU (48), the power source management ECU (44) notifies a lighting-up request for providing an instruction for lighting-up of a light-emitting unit (202) to a body ECU (46). Upon receipt of the lighting-up request, the body ECU (46) activates a lighting-up command LON. As a result, the light-emitting unit (202) is lit up and notifies a user of the position of a charging port.

Claims

1. A vehicle capable of utilizing electric power supplied from an external power source, comprising:

an electric power-receiving unit for receiving the electric power;

a sensing unit for sensing an identification signal issued from a transmitter; and

an indication unit for indicating a position of said electric power-receiving unit, wherein

said indication unit is activated when said identification signal sensed by said sensing unit matches with a value specific to the vehicle, and is deactivated when a connector for charging the electrical power from the external power source is coupled to the electric power-receiving unit.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit for determining whether or not supply of the electric power from the external power source is required, wherein

said indication unit is activated when said determination unit determines that the supply of the electric power from the external power source is required.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said sensing unit senses a distance between said vehicle and said transmitter, and

said indication unit changes a state of activation in accordance with the distance between said vehicle and said transmitter, sensed by said sensing unit.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said indication unit includes a light-emitting unit disposed in proximity to said electric power-receiving unit, and

the activation of said indication unit includes one of lighting-up and blinking of said light-emitting unit.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a radiating surface of said light-emitting unit is formed as a part of a surface of a vehicle main body of said vehicle.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said indication unit includes a sound-generating unit disposed in proximity to said electric power-receiving unit, and

the activation of said indication unit includes generation of a sound from said sound-generating unit.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

an engine operated by combustion of fuel,

a fuel storage unit for storing said fuel, and

a fuel-receiving port for receiving said fuel, brought into communication with said fuel storage unit.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

said electric power-receiving unit is disposed on one side surface of said vehicle,

said fuel-receiving port is disposed on the other side surface of said vehicle, and

said indication unit is disposed on the same side surface as said electric power-receiving unit.