Motor vehicle having a storage for electric energy

• US 9,517,699 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Elias, Bjrn, Peer, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodas, Richard Isla
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Dung V
• Application Number:
  US14/124,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20140097794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/39 with position-responsive activation of primary coils
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a storage for electrical energy, which store is coupled to a coil into which electrical energy can be induced from outside the motor vehicle during a charging process. The vehicle includes a housing in which the coil is arranged, the housing being made of plastic toward the underside of the motor vehicle, and an optical waveguide is arranged in particular between two walls of the housing. When light from a light source is coupled into the optical waveguide and a detector detects the light, damage to the housing can be detected and the induction of electrical energy into the coil at a charging station can optionally be interrupted in order to avoid hazards to persons.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a storage for electric energy;

a housing including a plastic material towards an underside of the motor vehicle;

a coil received in the housing and coupled with the storage for electric energy, said coil being constructed for introducing energy into the coil during a charging process from outside the motor vehicle;

at least one optical waveguide arranged in or on the plastic material into which light from a light source can be coupled;

a detector for receiving the light emitted by the light source; and

a control device configured to carry out the charging process and to prevent the charging process when the detector does not receive light in an expected manner.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide is arranged between two plastic walls of the housing.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide includes a glass fiber.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide forms a grid across the bottom side of the housing.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cover closing the housing towards a topside of the motor vehicle, said cover comprising at least one of metal and electronic components.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 5, wherein the electronic components are used during the charging process.

7. A system, comprising:

a housing having two walls made of plastic;

an optical waveguide arranged between the two walls; and

a coil received in the housing.