# US 12,179,620 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 12,179,620 B2 - Document ID: US12179620B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/591,642 - Filed: 2024-02-29 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - 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/US12179620B2 ## 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 includes: 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 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 in which it is retracted into the base portion; and a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism; the controller being configured to: where the charging portion is in the retracted position in the base portion, determine if movement of the charging portion from the retracted position into the extended position is obstructed, and to prevent operation of the retraction mechanism to prevent movement of the charging portion out of the retracted position if an obstruction is detected; and where the controller determines there is no obstruction to movement of the charging portion from the retracted position into the extended position, cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion from the retracted position in the base portion to the extended position extending out of the base portion for charging the battery of a vehicle; 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 from the extended position extending out of the base portion to the retracted position in the base portion if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the charging outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the base portion and a distal end of the charging portion comprises a load sensor to detect a load, and the controller is configured to prevent the retraction mechanism from extending the charging portion from the retracted position in the base portion if the load sensor detects a load that exceeds a predetermined threshold for preventing damage from attempting to extend the charging portion from the retracted position when a person or vehicle is blocking the charging portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging outlet includes one or more electrical sockets or plugs, and the charging portion in the extended position is laterally adjacent to the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A charging station as claimed in claim 3, wherein the charging outlet includes more than one electrical socket or plug. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging portion comprises a telescopic column of telescopic segments, wherein the telescopic column is disposed within the base portion when the charging portion is in the retracted position, and wherein each telescopic segment extends out of the base portion when the charging portion is in the extended position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A charging station as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are two to six telescopic segments in the telescopic column. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A charging station as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are exactly two or exactly three telescopic segments in the telescopic column. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging outlet includes one or more wireless charging systems. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on one or both of the time of day and the weather. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein more than one retraction mechanism is provided for moving the charging portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein an RFID tag is provided, the charging station further comprises a receiving apparatus for receiving wireless signals, and the controller is configured to extend the charging portion from the retracted position to the extended position when the RFID tag is detected. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein an RFID tag is provided inside the charging station, and an external device in the user's possession, such as one of a smart phone, a smart watch and a car computer system, is used to detect the presence of the RFID tag and send one or more signals which cause the charging portion to be extended from the retracted position to the extended position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging station further comprises a data input cable, and wherein the controller is configured to extend or retract the charging portion in dependence on data received via the data input cable. ### Claim 14 (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 the extended position to provide the charging portion raised above a surface of the substructure and the retracted position below the surface of the substructure, when the charging station is mounted in the substructure. ### Claim 15 (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, wherein the anchoring portion includes any one or more of concrete foundations, steel rods, bolts, welding, riveting, cementing, gluing, clipping. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the retraction mechanism to drive the charging portion between the extended position and the retracted position in response to at least one of: actuation by a user of a physical user input device associated with the charging station, such as a push button or touch screen; and receipt of a signal from a mobile phone application or an in-car system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the retraction mechanism to drive the charging portion between the extended position and the retracted position in response to detection of a vehicle near, or no longer near, the charging station that can be charged by the charging station. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A charging station as claimed in claim 17, wherein the vehicle is an electrical vehicle which automatically communicates with the charging station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging station further comprises a user interface configured to receive an input from a user and the controller is further configured to adjust the predetermined period of time in dependence on the received input, wherein a 1D, 2D or 3D barcode is situated on the charging station, and in use using a device to scan or read said barcode generates a signal which interfaces with the user interface to provide a user with information regarding vehicle status such as any one or more of: charge level, remaining charge time, time since connection, cost of charging, and status of the charging system such as whether the system is operating optimally or is damaged in any way, or whether it is due for maintenance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A charging station as claimed in claim 1, wherein a 1D, 2D or 3D barcode is situated on the charging station, and in use using a device to scan or read said barcode generates a signal which causes the charging portion to be extended.