Electric contact device for electric vehicles and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10071641-B2
Application number	US-201615246867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle through a contact device, the system comprising: the contact device interconnected to the electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle and configured to receive an electrical charge from an external power source; a contact arm interconnected to the contact device, the contact arm configured to position the contact device at a first position relative to the external power source; and a contact device controller interconnected to the contact arm and configured to control the contact arm wherein the first position is maintained; wherein the contact device receives the electrical charge from the external power source; wherein the electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle is charged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle through a contact device, the system comprising:
a contact device interconnected to the electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle and configured to receive an electrical charge from an external power source;
a contact arm interconnected to the contact device, the contact arm configured to position the contact device at a first position relative to the external power source; and
a contact device controller interconnected to the contact arm and configured to control the contact arm;
wherein the first position is maintained;
wherein the contact device controller maintains the first position through a feedback control;
wherein the contact device receives the electrical charge from the external power source; and
wherein the electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle is charged.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact device engages the external power source through a physical contact.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the contact device comprises a contact wheel, a contact brush, and a pantograph.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external power source is embedded in a roadway surface.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vertical distance measurement sensor configured to output a distance measurement of a distance between contact device and the external power source.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the vertical distance measurement sensor is disposed on at least one of the contact device, an actuator and the contact arm.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the contact device controller receives the distance measurement to enable the feedback control.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator interconnected to at least one of the contact device and the contact arm.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first position of the contact device relative to the external power source is presented to a user of the electric vehicle on a graphical user interface.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the graphical user interface is disposed on a mobile device.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle is moving relative to the external power source.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first position is selected from a vehicle database comprising desired contact device separation distances with respect to external power source types.

13. A method for charging an electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle through a contact device, the method comprising:
determining that the electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle requires charging;
measuring, by a sensor, a vertical distance measurement between a contact device interconnected to the electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle and an external power source, wherein the contact device is configured to receive an electrical charge from the external power source;
receiving, by a microprocessor, the vertical distance measurement measured by the sensor;
positioning, by the microprocessor based on the vertical distance measurement received, the contact device at a first position relative to the external power source, wherein positioning the contact device at the first position relative to the external power source comprises controlling, by the microprocessor, a contact arm interconnected to the contact device, the contact arm configured to maintain the contact device at the first position relative to the external power source; and
receiving, through the contact device, the electrical charge from the external power source;
wherein the electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle is charged.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the contact device engages the external power source through a physical contact.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the contact device comprises a contact wheel, a contact brush, and a pantograph.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the external power source is embedded in a roadway surface.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first position is selected from a vehicle database comprising desired contact device separation distances with respect to external power source types.

Assignees

• Nio Usa Inc

Inventors

• Ricci Christopher P

Classifications

• B60L5/18

  using bow-type collectors in contact with trolley wire · CPC title

• H02J50/30

  using light, e.g. lasers · CPC title

• B60L3/0092

  with use of redundant elements for safety purposes · CPC title

• G07B15/02

  taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems (G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24) · CPC title

• B60L53/35

  Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles · CPC title