# US 11,305,662 B2 · Retractable charging station > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,662 B2 - Document ID: US11305662B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/754,029 - Filed: 2018-10-15 - Published: 2020-10-15 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-13 - Assignees: Urban Electric Networks Ltd - Applicants: Urban Electric Networks Ltd - Inventors: Olivier Freeling-Wilkinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305662B2 ## CPC - B60L 53/35: Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles - B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 53/22: Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 53/30: Constructional details of charging stations - B60L 53/305: {Communication interfaces} - B60L 53/31: Charging columns specially adapted for electric 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 90/12: Electric charging stations - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - 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 - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A charging station for charging the battery of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure; a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to a vehicle; and a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism; the controller being configured to: determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased; and cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion to the retracted position if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A charging station for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure; a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to the vehicle; a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism, the controller being configured to: determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased; cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion to the retracted position if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet; and adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on the prior behaviour of at least one user. ### Claim 2 A charging station for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure; a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to the vehicle; a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position; a user interface configured to receive an input from a user; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism; the controller being configured to: determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased; cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion to the retracted position if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet; and adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on the received input. ### Claim 3 A charging station for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure; a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to the vehicle; a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position; a receiving apparatus for receiving wireless signals; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism; the controller being configured to: determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased; cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion to the retracted position if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet; and adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on the received wireless signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A charging station as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on a measure of user proximity derived from the received wireless signal. ### Claim 5 A charging station for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure; a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to the vehicle; a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism; the controller being configured to: determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased; cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion to the retracted position if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet; determine the charge of a connected vehicle; and adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on the most recent determined charge of a connected vehicle. ### Claim 6 A charging station for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure; a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to the vehicle; a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism; the controller being configured to: determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased; cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion to the retracted position if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet; and adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on signals received from nearby charging stations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the movement of the charging portion or retraction mechanism is obstructed, and to prevent movement if an obstruction is detected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1; wherein the charging portion comprises a telescopic column. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A charging station as claimed in claim 6, wherein the charging station further comprises a data input cable, and wherein the controller may extend or retract the charging portion in dependence on data received via the data input cable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism is configured to move the charging portion substantially vertically between an extended position and a retracted position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion is configured for mounting in a substructure comprising a roadway or walkway. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) A charging station as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to detect a surge in power supplied to the charging station, and wherein the controller is further configured to terminate charging upon detecting a surge in power. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) A charging station as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller determines that charging has ceased by determining that a vehicle has been electrically disconnected and/or wherein the controller determines that charging has ceased by determining that the battery of a connected vehicle is fully charged. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion further comprises an anchoring portion for securing the base portion to the substructure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distal end of the charging portion is substantially flush with at least one of: one face of the base portion when the charging portion is retracted, and a surface of the substructure when the charging portion is retracted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and charging portions form a seal for resisting entry of fluids into the base portion when the charging portion is retracted. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) A charging station as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the movement of the charging portion or retraction mechanism is obstructed, and to prevent movement if an obstruction is detected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) A charging station as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the movement of the charging portion or retraction mechanism is obstructed, and to prevent movement if an obstruction is detected. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) A charging station as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the movement of the charging portion or retraction mechanism is obstructed, and to prevent movement if an obstruction is detected. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) A charging station as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the movement of the charging portion or retraction mechanism is obstructed, and to prevent movement if an obstruction is detected.