# US 10,483,678 B2 · Vehicle electrical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,678 B2 - Document ID: US10483678B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/472,781 - Filed: 2017-03-29 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-29 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Pietro Buttolo; Stuart C. Salter; Christopher Anthony Danowski; Paul Kenneth Dellock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483678B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - H01R 13/447: Shutter or cover plate - H01R 13/717: with built-in light source - H01R 24/64: for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An electrical connector is provided herein. The electrical connector includes a base member disposed within an exterior panel on a vehicle. A port is disposed within a surface of the base member. A wireless transceiver disposed within the vehicle. A controller is configured to selectively activate the port based on a location of an electronic device in relation to the port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector, comprising: a base member disposed on an exterior portion of a vehicle; a port disposed within a surface of the base member; a wireless transceiver disposed within the vehicle; and a controller configured to selectively activate the port based on an authentication of an electronic device, wherein the controller activates the port when the electronic device is authenticated within the vehicle and further wherein the controller is associated with the wireless transceiver and is configured to store information about one or more authenticated electronic devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising: a cover configured to removably conceal the port; and a proximity switch configured to detect a position of the cover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising: a light source disposed on the base member and configured to provide notification of a status of the port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the port is a power supply connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the port is a universal serial bus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising: a luminescent structure on said electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the base member is disposed within a trailer hitch plug. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the base member is disposed on a side portion of a vehicle tailgate, wherein the port is non-accessible when the tailgate is in a first position and is accessible when the tailgate is in a second position. ### Claim 9 An external vehicle electrical connector, comprising: a base member disposed within an exterior panel on a vehicle; a port disposed within a surface of the base member; a luminescent structure on said electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light; a controller configured to selectively activate the port; and a light source disposed on the base member and configured to provide notification of a status of the port, wherein the light source illuminates in a first color when a non-authenticated electronic device is coupled to the port and a second color when an authenticated device is coupled to the port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The external vehicle electrical connector of claim 9, further comprising: a proximity switch configured to detect a position of a cover, the cover configured to removably conceal the port. ### Claim 11 An electrical connector, comprising: a base member and a port disposed within the base, the port configured to output electrical power; a cover configured to removably conceal the port; a proximity switch configured to detect a position of the cover; and a controller configured to selectively activate the port, wherein a vehicle notifies an occupant thereof when a vehicle sensor detects motion of the vehicle and an electronic device is coupled to the port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, further comprising: a luminescent structure on said electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, further comprising: a light source disposed on the base member and configured to provide notification of a status of the port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the port is configured as a plurality of ports and a light source provides a status of each individual port.