Electric vehicle charging station system and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017136902-A1
Application number	US-201615048307-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	May 18, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to an electric vehicle charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for charging an electric vehicle is provided, the system comprising: an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a robotic unit comprising an external power source, a charging plate and a robotic arm, the charging plate interconnected to the robotic arm and configured to provide a charge to the charging panel; and a vehicle controller configured to communicate with the robotic unit and position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel; wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the external power source and charges the electrical storage unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for charging an electric vehicle, the system comprising:
an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a robotic unit comprising an external power source, a charging plate and a robotic arm, the charging plate interconnected to the robotic arm and configured to provide a charge to the charging panel; and a vehicle controller configured to communicate with the robotic unit and position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel; wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the external power source and charges the electrical storage unit.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the robotic arm positions the charging plate with respect to the charging panel.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle controller comprises a user interface configured to receive, from a user, positioning commands to position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface and is disposed on at least one of a vehicle instrument panel and a mobile device.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the robotic unit further comprises at least one distance sensor configured to measure a first measured distance between a first point on the charging plate and a second point on the charging panel.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the robotic unit further comprises a robotic unit controller, the robotic unit controller receiving the first measured distance and configured to maneuver the robotic arm to adjust the position of the charging panel to a desired charging separation distance.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the desired separation distance is selected from a vehicle database comprising a desired charging separation distance with respect to stored types of robotic units.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the robotic unit controller receives the first measured distance and automatically maneuvers the robotic arm to adjust the position of the charging panel to the desired charging separation distance.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first measured distance is displayed on a user interface of the vehicle controller, the user interface configured to receive, from a user, positioning commands to position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle controller queries the vehicle database to determine if the external power source is compatible with the vehicle electrical storage unit.

11 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle controller queries the vehicle database to determine if the charging plate is compatible with the charging panel.

12 . A method for charging an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
determining, by a first microprocessor, if an external power source is compatible with a vehicle electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle, wherein the external power source is electrically interconnected to a robotic unit, the robotic unit comprising a charging plate and a robotic arm, the charging plate interconnected to the robotic arm and configured to provide a charge to a charging panel of the electric vehicle; determining, by the first microprocessor, if the charging plate of the external power source is compatible with the charging panel, the charging panel in electrical communication with the vehicle electrical storage unit; and positioning, by the first microprocessor, the charging plate to a desired charging separation distance; wherein the charging panel receives charging from the charging plate, wherein the electrical storage unit is charged.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a vehicle controller configured to communicate with the robotic unit and position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
measuring, by a distance sensor, a first measured distance between a first point on the charging plate and a second point on the charging panel; transmitting, by the first microprocessor, the first measured distance to a robotic unit controller; receiving, by the robotic unit controller, the first measured distance; maneuvering the robotic arm to adjust the position of the charging panel to the desired charging separation distance.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle controller comprises a user interface configured to receive, from a user, positioning commands to position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface and is disposed on at least one of a vehicle instrument panel and a mobile device.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the desired separation distance is selected from a vehicle database comprising a desired charging separation distance with respect to stored types of robotic units.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the robotic unit controller receives the first measured distance and automatically maneuvers the robotic arm to adjust the position of the charging panel to the desired charging separation distance.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first measured distance is displayed on a user interface of the vehicle controller, the user interface configured to receive, from a user, positioning commands to position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of identifying, by the first microprocessor, if the external power source is available for charging of the electrical storage unit.

Assignees

• Nextev Usa Inc

Inventors

• Ricci Christopher P

Classifications

• H02J7/825

  Detection of fully charged condition · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• B60L2250/16

  by display · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L53/305

  Communication interfaces · CPC title