# US 8,539,990 B2 · Vehicle port door with wirelessly actuated unlatching assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,990 B2 - Document ID: US8539990B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/489,617 - Filed: 2012-06-06 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-28 - Assignees: Tesla Motors, Inc. - Applicants: Joshua Willard Ferguson; Daryl Zalan; Andrew Dai; Troy Adam Nergaard; Nicholas Robert Kalayjian; Scott Ira Kohn - Inventors: Joshua Willard Ferguson; Daryl Zalan; Andrew Dai; Troy Adam Nergaard; Nicholas Robert Kalayjian; Scott Ira Kohn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539990B2 ## CPC - F01M 11/0458: {Lubricant filling and draining} - B60K 15/05: Inlet covers - B67D 7/348: {by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder (B67D7/145 takes precedence)} - B60K 2015/03197: {Systems for exchanging data} - B60K 2015/03203: {during refuelling} - B60K 2015/053: {with hinged connection to the vehicle body} - B60K 2015/0561: {Locking means for the inlet cover} - Y10T 70/65: Central control - Y10T 292/1021: Motor - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A port door unlatching system is provided that may be used to open the door covering the charge port of an electric vehicle, or the door covering the fuel filler port of a conventional vehicle. The system includes a fuel delivery subsystem with a fuel coupler (e.g., a charging connector or a gas nozzle) designed to transfer fuel from the source to the vehicle via the vehicle's fuel port. The fuel coupler includes a switch that when toggled, causes a control signal to be wirelessly transmitted over a short distance. Upon receipt of the control signal by a receiver integrated into a vehicle that is in close proximity to the fuel port, an unlatching actuator within the vehicle unlatches the port door, thereby allowing it to open and provide port access. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A port door unlatching system, comprising: an on-board fueling subsystem, comprising: a vehicle fuel port integrated into a vehicle; a port door hingeably coupled to said vehicle, wherein in a closed position said port door covers said vehicle fuel port and in an open position said port door provides access to said vehicle fuel port; a port door latching assembly configured to maintain said port door in said closed position; a port door unlatching actuator coupled to said port door latching assembly, wherein activation of said port door unlatching actuator unlatches said port door latching assembly allowing said port door to move from said closed position to said open position; an on-board controller connected to said port door unlatching actuator, said on-board controller configured to activate said port door unlatching actuator upon receipt of an activation signal; and an on-board receiver connected to said on-board controller and configured to transmit said activation signal to said on-board controller upon receipt of a wirelessly transmitted control signal; and a fuel delivery subsystem, comprising: a fuel coupler connected to a fuel source, wherein said fuel coupler and said fuel source are separate and independent of said vehicle, and wherein said fuel coupler is configured to be coupled to said vehicle fuel port and to transfer fuel from said fuel source to said vehicle via said vehicle fuel port; a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit said control signal to said on-board receiver; and a transmitter switch integrated into said fuel coupler, wherein toggling said transmitter switch causes said transmitter to wirelessly transmit said control signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle fuel port is comprised of a charge port electrically connected to a vehicle battery pack, wherein said fuel source is comprised of a charging source of electrical power, and wherein said fuel coupler is a charging connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle fuel port is comprised of a filler port connected to a vehicle fuel tank, wherein said fuel source is comprised of a source of gasoline, and wherein said fuel coupler is a gasoline nozzle connected to said source of gasoline via a gasoline pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is comprised of a short range device with a data transmission range of less than 4 meters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is comprised of a short range device with an output power of less than 10 watts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is comprised of a short range device with an output power of less than 1 watt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, said fuel delivery subsystem further comprising a directional antenna integrated into said fuel coupler, wherein said directional antenna is electrically connected to said transmitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said on-board receiver is comprised of a first transceiver and said transmitter is comprised of a second transceiver, wherein said first transceiver is configured to transmit data to and receive data from said second transceiver, and wherein said data is in addition to said control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said on-board receiver requires a line-of-sight with said transmitter in order to receive said control signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, said on-board fueling subsystem further comprising a secondary port door unlatching actuator coupled to said port door latching assembly, wherein activation of said secondary port door unlatching actuator unlatches said port door latching assembly allowing said port door to move from said closed position to said open position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, said on-board fueling subsystem further comprising a switch integrated into a passenger compartment of said vehicle and connected to said on-board controller, wherein toggling said switch sends a secondary activation signal to said on-board controller, wherein said on-board controller activates said port door unlatching actuator upon receipt of said secondary activation signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein toggling said transmitter switch causes said transmitter to wirelessly transmit said control signal for a preset period of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter wirelessly transmits said control signal for as long as said transmitter switch is toggled. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The port door unlatching system of claim 1, wherein said on-board controller is configured to monitor a preset condition corresponding to said vehicle and only activate said port door unlatching actuator upon receipt of said activation signal if said preset condition is met. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The port door unlatching system of claim 14, wherein said preset condition corresponds to a drive system of said vehicle being in park. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The port door unlatching system of claim 14, wherein said preset condition corresponds to a passenger cabin of said vehicle being unlocked. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The port door unlatching system of claim 14, wherein said preset condition corresponds to a user RFID tag being within a preset distance of said vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The port door unlatching system of claim 14, wherein said on-board controller is configured to activate a user notification system upon receipt of said activation signal if said preset condition is not met. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The port door unlatching system of claim 18, wherein said user notification system corresponds to a warning indicator integrated into said vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The port door unlatching system of claim 18, wherein said user notification system corresponds to a vehicle light.