# US 2019/0168623 A1 · Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168623 A1 - Document ID: US20190168623A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/266,175 - Filed: 2019-02-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-23 - Assignees: Proterra Inc. - Applicants: Proterra Inc. - Inventors: Donald MORRIS; Dale HILL; John HORTH; Reuben SARKAR; Teresa J. ABBOTT; William Joseph Lord REEVES; Ryan Thomas WIENS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168623A1 ## CPC - B60L 53/11: {DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4} - B60L 5/42: for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 53/30: Constructional details of charging stations - B60L 53/32: {by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops} - B60L 2200/18: Buses - B60L 2200/26: Rail 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 The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a scoop on a top surface of the vehicle, wherein the width of the scoop toward a front portion of the vehicle is greater than the width of the scoop toward a back portion of the vehicle; a battery; and at least two terminals having a surface area for electrical contact and positioned within the width of the scoop, wherein the at least two terminals are electrically connected to the battery, and wherein at least one terminal is a positive electrode and at least one terminal is a negative electrode for electrically connecting to a power source to charge the battery. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least two terminals are positioned relatively parallel to the direction of movement for the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least two terminals are electrically isolated from one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least two terminals are positioned within a narrow portion of the width of the scoop. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least two terminals are supported by a blade support that is mounted on one or more buss bars that are electrically isolated from one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a blade comprising the at least two terminals and a ground connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the blade comprising further comprises a blade support guide. ### Claim 8 A charging station comprising: a connector arm with rigid structural components with flexible connections that is mounted to a charging mount and extending downward and away from the charging mount, wherein the connector arm is mounted to the charging mount with a pivoting connection, wherein the connector arm is connected to a connector head assembly; and a vertical support structure mechanically connected to the charging mount and supporting the charging mount and charging overhang. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The charging station of claim 8 wherein the connector arm is connected to a connector head assembly with a pivoting connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The charging station of claim 9 wherein the connector arm pivots about a vertical axis with respect to the charging mount, and wherein the connector head assembly pivots about a vertical axis with respect to the connector arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The charging station of claim 8 wherein the connector head assembly includes a plurality of collector brushes and a collector brush actuation assembly that provides force to the plurality of collector brushes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The charging station of claim 11 wherein the collector brush actuation assembly provides a force on at least one collector brush toward at least one other collector brush. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The charging station of claim 11 wherein the connector head assembly further comprises a connector head guide feature that has a greater width away from the collector brushes and a smaller width toward the collector brushes. ### Claim 14 A method for charging a vehicle comprising: moving the vehicle to a position below a charging mount, wherein the vehicle comprises a scoop on a surface of the vehicle, wherein the width of the scoop toward a front portion of the vehicle is greater than the width of the scoop toward a back portion of the vehicle, and at least two terminals having a surface area for electrical contact and positioned within the width of the scoop, and wherein the charging mount is connected a connector head assembly via a connector arm with at least two pivoting connections; and establishing an electrical connection between the at least two terminals and the connector head assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the connector head assembly further comprises a plurality of collector brushes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein establishing the electrical connection comprises contacting an electrically conductive surface area of the collector brushes to an electrically conductive surface of the at least two terminals mounted on the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least two terminals are squeezed between the plurality of collector brushes, such that the electrically conductive surface area of a first collector brush contacts a first terminal of the at least two terminals, and the electrically conductive surface area of a second collector brush contacts a second terminal of the at least two terminals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising monitoring a charge status of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating the charge status of the vehicle to a central station, a charging station, or another vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the connector head assembly is caught by the scoop and guided so that the collector brushes come into contact with the at least two terminals.