Electric contact device for electric vehicles and method of use
AssigneeNIO USA, Inc.
InventorChristopher P. Ricci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims17
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.