# US 9,038,795 B2 · Cord storage apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,795 B2 - Document ID: US9038795B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/879,483 - Filed: 2011-01-12 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-12 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Shinji Ichikawa - Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038795B2 ## CPC - H02G 11/02: using take-up reel or drum - B60L 50/51: characterised by AC-motors - B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer - B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B65H 75/425: {attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel} - B65H 75/4484: {Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors} - B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion - B60L 50/40: using propulsion power supplied by capacitors - B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles - B60L 50/72: Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 2220/14: Synchronous machines - B60L 2240/80: Time limits - B60L 2260/44: by parameter estimation - B65H 2701/34: electric cords or electric power cables - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid 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 - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - 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 - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A cord storage apparatus includes an electric motor configured to retract a power reception cord to be connected to an external power supply and a control unit configured to determine whether or not the power reception cord is retracted away from the ground when the power reception cord is connected to the external power supply and control the electric motor to stop retracting the power reception cord when the power reception cord is retracted away from the ground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a retracting device configured to retract a cord to be connected to a power supply; a power storage device to be charged by electric power from said power supply; and a control unit configured to determine whether or not said cord is retracted away from the ground when said cord is connected to said power supply, control said retracting device to stop retracting said cord when said cord is retracted away from the ground, and start charging said power storage device after the retracting of said cord is stopped, wherein said control unit determines that said cord is retracted away from the ground when a retracting speed of said cord is lower than a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said retracting device retracts said cord at a constant force. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said retracting device retracts said cord at a constant power. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a reel configured to wind said cord, wherein said retracting device is an electric motor configured to rotate said reel. ### Claim 5 A vehicle comprising: an electric motor configured to retract a cord to be connected to a power supply; a power storage device to be charged by electric power from said power supply; and a control unit configured to determine whether or not said cord is retracted away from the ground when said cord is connected to said power supply, control said electric motor to stop retracting said cord when said cord is retracted away from the ground, and start charging said power storage device after the retracting of said cord is stopped, wherein said control unit determines that said cord is retracted away from the ground when a retracting speed of said cord is lower than a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said electric motor retracts said cord at a constant force. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said electric motor retracts said cord at a constant power. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a reel configured to wind said cord, wherein said electric motor is configured to rotate said reel.