Hands-free charging system with internal power source
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsLan Yu, Michael W. Degner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hands-free charging system includes an electrical power source and a ground unit electrically connected to the power source. The ground unit includes an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler having a connector and an actuator configured to move the connector into engagement with a vehicle charge port. The energy-storage device is configured to power the actuator. A switching arrangement is configured to selectively electrically connect the power source to the energy-storage device and to the connector. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to charge a vehicle, connect the connector to a charge port when the connector is electrically disconnected from the power source using an internal power source.
Claims20
A hands-free charging system comprising:
- an electrical power source;
- a ground unit electrically connected to the power source and including an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler having a connector and an actuator configured to autonomously move the connector into engagement with a vehicle charge port, wherein the energy-storage device is configured to power the actuator;
- a switching arrangement configured to selectively electrically connect the power source to the energy-storage device and to the connector;
- and
- a controller programmed to, in response to a request to charge a vehicle, (i) command the switching arrangement such that the connector is electrically disconnected from the power source, (ii) command movement of the actuator, using power from the energy-storage device, to couple the connector to the vehicle charge port while the connector is electrically disconnected from the power source, and (iii) command the switching arrangement such that the connector is electrically connected to the power source after the connector is coupled to the vehicle charge port.
A hands-free charging system comprising:
- an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) configured to electrically connect to a power source and including a switching arrangement;
- a ground unit connected to the EVSE by a cable, the ground unit including an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler having an actuator configured to move a connector into engagement with a vehicle charge port, wherein the energy-storage device is configured to power the actuator;
- and
- a controller programmed to, in response to a request to charge a vehicle, (i) command the switching arrangement such that the ground unit is electrically disconnected from the power source, (ii) command movement of the actuator, using power from the energy-storage device, to couple the connector to the vehicle charge port while the ground unit is electrically disconnected from the power source, and (iii) command the switching arrangement such that the ground unit is electrically connected to the power source once the connector is coupled to the vehicle charge port.
A method of charging a vehicle with a hands-free charging system including a connector configured to connect to a vehicle charge port, an energy-storage device, and an actuator configured to autonomously connect the connector to the vehicle, the method comprising:
- in response to a request to charge a vehicle:
- operating a switching arrangement of the hands-free charging system to electrically disconnect the actuator and the connector from a power grid;
- operating the actuator, using power from the energy-storage device, to couple the connector to the vehicle charge port while the connector and the actuator are electrically disconnected from the power grid;
- operating the switching arrangement to electrically connect the connector to the power grid;
- and
- charging the vehicle using the power grid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.