# US 12,179,624 B2 · Systems and methods for guiding vehicles to charging points

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- Number: US 12,179,624 B2
- Document ID: US12179624B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/336,473
- Filed: 2021-06-02
- Published: 2022-09-29
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-23
- Assignees: Honeywell International Inc.
- Applicants: Honeywell International Inc.
- Inventors: Prem Kumar T; Kalaiarasu Velappan; Janakiram Thiyagarajan; Gireesh Kumar R N
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179624B2

## CPC

- B60L 53/65: involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
- B60L 53/36: by positioning the vehicle
- B60L 53/63: in response to network capacity
- B60L 53/66: Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
- B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC]
- B60L 58/13: Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
- G08G 5/22: located on the ground
- G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations
- G08G 5/55: for a single aircraft
- G08G 5/56: for two or more aircraft
- G08G 5/727: {from a ground station}
- G08G 5/76: for monitoring atmospheric conditions
- B60L 2200/10: Air crafts
- B60L 2240/60: Navigation input
- B60L 2240/62: Vehicle position
- B60L 2240/622: by satellite navigation
- B60L 2250/16: by display
- G08G 5/57: for unmanned aircraft
- G08G 5/59: in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
- 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
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})

## Abstract

Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for determining guidance information for a vehicle. For instance, the method may include: determining whether the vehicle requires a charging event at least based on a state of charge of a battery system of the vehicle; determining a charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations; determining a current location of the vehicle; determining information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align a charging interface of the vehicle to a charging interface of the charging location; and causing display of the determined information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of determining guidance information for a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, whether the vehicle requires a charging event at least based on a state of charge of a battery system of the vehicle;
as a result of determining that the vehicle requires the charging event, determining, by the one or more processors, a charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations;
determining, by the one or more processors, a current location of the vehicle;
determining, by the one or more processors, a location of a vehicle charging interface on the vehicle;
receiving from a database, by the one or more processors, a location of a charging interface on a charging location;
determining, by the one or more processors, information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align and connect the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle to the charging interface of the charging location to allow conductive transfer of electric current from the charging interface of the charging location to the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle, wherein the information to align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle to the charging interface of the charging location is determined based at least in part on:
(i.) a comparison of at least a portion of the data associated with the vehicle to at least a portion of the data associated with the determined charging station of the plurality of charging station,
(ii.) the location of the vehicle charging interface on the vehicle, and
(iii.) the location of the charging interface on the charging location;
generating, via the one or more processors, one or more vehicle guidance instructions based at least in part on the information determined by the one or more processors based on the comparison of the at least a portion of the data associated with the vehicle to the at least a portion of the data associated with the determined charging station; and
causing, by the one or more processors, display of the determined information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining the state of charge of the battery system of the vehicle based on information from a battery management system of the vehicle and/or a number of passengers on the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
receiving information regarding a next destination for the vehicle;
determining a distance to be traveled by the vehicle to the next destination; and
determining whether the vehicle requires the charging event based on the determined state of charge of the battery system and the determined distance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations comprises:
determining information regarding the plurality of charging stations, wherein each charging station includes one or more charging locations;
determining one or more charging locations for the charging event based on charging compatibility with the vehicle and/or distance to the vehicle; and
causing display of the determined one or more charging locations for the charging event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations by receiving a selection of one of the displayed one or more charging locations for the charging event.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations by determining, after a predetermined period of time, one of the displayed one or more charging locations for the charging event that is closest in distance to the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle with the charging interface of the charging location comprises:
determining a location of the vehicle charging interface on the vehicle; and
determining a distance of movement, a change in direction, and/or a degree of rotation by the vehicle to align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle with the charging interface of the charging location.

### Claim 8

A system for determining guidance information for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a memory storing instructions; and
one or more processors executing the instructions to perform a process including:
determining whether the vehicle requires a charging event at least based on a state of charge of a battery system of the vehicle;
as a result of determining that the vehicle requires the charging event, determining a charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations;
determining a current location of the vehicle;
receiving from a database a location of a vehicle charging interface on the vehicle;
receiving from a database a location of a charging interface on a charging location:
determining information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align and connect the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle to the charging interface of the charging location to allow conductive transfer of electric current from the charging interface of the charging location to the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle, wherein the information to align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle to the charging interface of the charging location is determined based at least in part on:
(i.) a comparison of at least a portion of the data associated with the vehicle to at least a portion of the data associated with the determined charging station of the plurality of charging station,
(ii.) the location of the vehicle charging interface on the vehicle, and
(iii.) the location of the charging interface on the charging location;
generating, via the one or more processors, one or more vehicle guidance instructions based at least in part on the information determined by the one or more processors based on the comparison of the at least a portion of the data associated with the vehicle to the at least a portion of the data associated with the determined charging station; and
causing display of the determined information.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the process further includes:
determining the state of charge of the battery system of the vehicle based on information from a battery management system of the vehicle and/or a number of passengers on the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the process further includes:
receiving information regarding a next destination for the vehicle;
determining a distance to be traveled by the vehicle to the next destination; and
determining whether the vehicle requires the charging event based on the determined state of charge of the battery system and the determined distance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations comprises:
determining information regarding the plurality of charging stations, wherein each charging station includes one or more charging locations;
determining one or more charging locations for the charging event based on charging compatibility with the vehicle and/or distance to the vehicle; and
causing display of the determined one or more charging locations for the charging event.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the process further includes:
determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations by receiving a selection of one of the displayed one or more charging locations for the charging event.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the process further includes:
determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations by determining, after a predetermined period of time, one of the displayed one or more charging locations for the charging event that is closest in distance to the vehicle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein determining information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle with the charging interface of the charging location comprises:
determining a location of the vehicle charging interface on the vehicle; and
determining a distance of movement, a change in direction, and/or a degree of rotation by the vehicle to align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle with the charging interface of the charging location.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for determining guidance information for a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining whether the vehicle requires a charging event at least based on a state of charge of a battery system of the vehicle;
as a result of determining that the vehicle requires the charging event, determining a charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations;
determining a current location of the vehicle;
receiving from a database a location of a vehicle charging interface on the vehicle;
receiving from a database a location of a charging interface on a charging location;
determining information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align and connect the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle to the charging interface of the charging location to allow conductive transfer of electric current from the charging interface of the charging location to the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle, wherein the information to align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle to the charging interface of the charging location is determined based at least in part on:
(i.) a comparison of at least a portion of the data associated with the vehicle to at least a portion of the data associated with the determined charging station of the plurality of charging station,
(ii.) the location of the vehicle charging interface on the vehicle, and
(iii.) the location of the charging interface on the charging location;
generating, via the one or more processors, one or more vehicle guidance instructions based at least in part on the information determined by the one or more processors based on the comparison of the at least a portion of the data associated with the vehicle to the at least a portion of the data associated with the determined charging station; and
causing display of the determined information.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:
determining the state of charge of the battery system of the vehicle based on information from a battery management system of the vehicle and/or a number of passengers on the vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving information regarding a next destination for the vehicle;
determining a distance to be traveled by the vehicle to the next destination; and
determining whether the vehicle requires the charging event based on the determined state of charge of the battery system and the determined distance.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations comprises:
determining information regarding the plurality of charging stations, wherein each charging station includes one or more charging locations;
determining one or more charging locations for the charging event based on charging compatibility with the vehicle and/or distance to the vehicle; and
causing display of the determined one or more charging locations for the charging event.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:
determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations by receiving a selection of one of the displayed one or more charging locations for the charging event; or
determining the charging location of a charging station from a plurality of charging stations based on data associated with the vehicle and/or data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations by determining, after a predetermined period of time, one of the displayed one or more charging locations for the charging event that is closest in distance to the vehicle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining information to guide the vehicle from the current location to the determined charging location and align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle with the charging interface of the charging location comprises:
determining a location of the vehicle charging interface on the vehicle; and
determining a distance of movement, a change in direction, and/or a degree of rotation by the vehicle to align the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle with the charging interface of the charging location.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and wherein the method further comprises:
generating updated route data associated with an updated route defined between the current location of the vehicle and the charging location of the charging station; and
transmitting the updated route data to an external computing entity associated with an aircraft traffic monitoring system.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving, via the one or more processors, the data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations, wherein the data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations being defined at least in part by data identifying a respective charging interface configuration for each of the plurality of charging stations; and
identifying the charging station from the plurality of charging stations based at least in part on a determination that the respective charging interface configuration defined by the charging interface of the charging station is functionally compatible with a vehicle charging interface configuration defined by the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle.

### Claim 23 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and wherein the process further comprises:
generating updated route data associated with an updated route defined between the current location of the vehicle and the charging location of the charging station; and
transmitting the updated route data to an external computing entity associated with an aircraft traffic monitoring system.

### Claim 24 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the process further comprises:
retrieving, via the one or more processors, the data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations, wherein the data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations being defined at least in part by data identifying a respective charging interface configuration for each of the plurality of charging stations; and
identifying the charging station from the plurality of charging stations based at least in part on a determination that the respective charging interface configuration defined by the charging interface of the charging station is functionally compatible with a vehicle charging interface configuration defined by the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle.

### Claim 25 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and wherein the method further comprises:
generating updated route data associated with an updated route defined between the current location of the vehicle and the charging location of the charging station; and
transmitting the updated route data to an external computing entity associated with an aircraft traffic monitoring system.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:
retrieving, via the one or more processors, the data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations, wherein the data associated with each of the plurality of charging stations being defined at least in part by data identifying a respective charging interface configuration for each of the plurality of charging stations; and
identifying the charging station from the plurality of charging stations based at least in part on a determination that the respective charging interface configuration defined by the charging interface of the charging station is functionally compatible with a vehicle charging interface configuration defined by the vehicle charging interface of the vehicle.