Automatic power connector for recharging electric vehicles

For a battery-powered vehicle including a rechargeable battery, a charging system for supplying electricity to the vehicle battery comprising:

• a) an arm mechanism attached to the vehicle and moveable in a multi-dimensional zone of motion relative to the vehicle, the arm mechanism having a distal end with an electrical plug at the distal end, the plug being electrically coupled to the battery;
• b) a docking station located remote from the vehicle within the multi-dimensional zone of motion, the docking station containing an electrical outlet electrically coupled to an electrical power supply and an outlet homing beacon which generates signals indicating the location of the outlet;
• c) a docker attached to the vehicle and in electrical communication with the arm mechanism for automatically coupling the plug to the outlet in response to the signals;
• and
• d) a power controller in electrical communication with the docking station for the outlet and the power supply.

For a battery-powered vehicle including a recharger for recharging a rechargeable battery, a charging system for supplying electricity to the recharger comprising:

• a) an arm mechanism attached to the vehicle and having a distal end, the arm mechanism being movable relative to the vehicle, the arm mechanism containing an electrical plug electrically coupled to the recharger and encased within a retractable protective sheath at the distal end, and the arm mechanism being retractable to a secure position when not active;
• b) a docking station located remote from the vehicle, the docking station containing an electrical outlet electrically coupled to an electrical power supply and wherein the outlet is located at the focus of a substantially conical passageway leading from a face surface of the docking station, the docking station emitting light with a frequency response that is distinguishable from background light for guiding the plug to the outlet;
• c) a docker attached to the vehicle and in electrical communication with the arm mechanism, containing at least one optical sensor tuned to the emitted light from the docking station, a first processor, a first memory, and first software instructions residing in the first memory and executed by the first processor, the first software instructions moving the arm mechanism to seek the emitted light, calculating the approximate position of the outlet, translating the arm mechanism to connect the plug to the outlet, and establishing a communication link with the docking station;
• and
• d) a power controller remote from the vehicle and in electrical communication with the docking station containing a second processor, a second memory, and second software instructions residing in the second memory and executed by the second processor, an authorizer for establishing a communication link with the docker and determining whether the vehicle is approved for recharging, an activator controlling the power supplied to the outlet, and a meter and accounter for measuring the energy used by the vehicle for billing purposes.

A method of providing electricity to an electrical component in a vehicle by automatically coupling a moveable first power coupler attached to the vehicle by an arm mechanism having a multi-dimensional zone of motion relative to the vehicle to a second power coupler located remote from the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• a) in a docking station where the second coupler is located, generating an indicator signal;
• b) positioning the vehicle such that the second coupler is located within the multi-dimensional zone of motion of the arm mechanism;
• and
• c) in the vehicle,
• i) sensing the indicator signal generated by the docking station;
• ii) locating the approximate position of the second coupler by analyzing the indicator signal;
• and
• iii) translating the arm mechanism within the multi-dimensional zone of motion relative to the vehicle and urging the first coupler to couple with the second coupler.

For a battery-powered vehicle including a rechargeable battery, a charging system for supplying electricity to the vehicle battery comprising:

• a) an arm mechanism attached to the vehicle and moveable relative to the vehicle, the arm mechanism having a distal end with an electrical plug at the distal end, the plug being electrically coupled to the battery and wherein the arm mechanism is retracted to a secure protected position when not activated;
• b) a docking station located remote from the vehicle, the docking station containing an electrical outlet electrically coupled to an electrical power supply and an outlet homing beacon which generates signals indicating the location of the outlet;
• c) a docker attached to the vehicle and in electrical communication with the arm mechanism for activating the arm mechanism and automatically coupling the plug to the outlet in response to the signals;
• and
• d) a power controller in electrical communication with the docking station for electrically connecting the outlet and the power supply.

For a battery-powered vehicle including a rechargeable battery, a charging system for supplying electricity to the vehicle battery comprising:

• a) an arm mechanism attached to the vehicle and moveable relative to the vehicle, the arm mechanism having a distal end with an electrical plug at the distal end, the plug being electrically coupled to the battery;
• b) a docking station located remote from the vehicle, the docking station containing an electrical outlet electrically coupled to an electrical power supply and an outlet homing beacon which generates signals indicating the location of the outlet;
• c) a docker attached to the vehicle and in electrical communication with the arm mechanism for automatically coupling the plug to the outlet in response to the signals, the docker including at least one sensor, a processor, a memory, and software instructions residing in the memory and executed by the processor;
• and
• d) a power controller in electrical communication with the docking station for electrically connecting the outlet and the power supply.

For a battery-powered vehicle including a rechargeable battery, a charging system for supplying electricity to the vehicle battery comprising:

• a) an arm mechanism attached to the vehicle and moveable relative to the vehicle, the arm mechanism having a distal end with an electrical plug at the distal end, the plug being electrically coupled to the battery;
• b) a docking station located remote from the vehicle, the docking station containing an electrical outlet electrically coupled to an electrical power supply and an outlet homing beacon which generates signals indicating the location of the outlet;
• c) a docker attached to the vehicle and in electrical communication with the arm mechanism for automatically coupling the plug to the outlet in response to the signals;
• and
• d) a power controller in electrical communication with the docking station for electrically connecting the outlet and the power supply, the power controller comprising a processor, a memory, and software instructions residing in the memory and executed by the processor.

A method of recharging a battery-powered vehicle equipped with a rechargeable battery comprising the steps of:

• a) automatically seating an in-vehicle electrical plug attached to a moveable arm mechanism to an electrical outlet attached to a remote docking station in response to signals generated by the docking station;
• b) detecting the seating between the plug and the outlet;
• c) establishing a communication link between the vehicle and the docking station;
• and
• d) electrically connecting the outlet to a power source.