IP Library Granted Patent US 9,293,932
Granted Patent B2
US 9,293,932 · App. 14/103,067 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Vehicle including a charging port and a light emitter

Inventor: Yosuke Ohtomo (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H02J7/0047B60L3/0069B60L11/1809B60L11/1818B60L11/1846B60L2230/16B60L2240/12B60L2240/28B60L2240/80B60L2270/32B60L2270/34Y02T10/7005Y02T90/121
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,293,932
App. No.
14/103,067
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a vehicle, a lamp for illuminating a charging connector is provided in a charging port, and lighting and extinction of the lamp are controlled by a light emission controller. The light emission controller causes the lamp to emit light when an outer door is opened. Further, the lamp is extinguished after detecting that the outer door has been closed, the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined speed, an ignition switch has been switched ON, a door locking operation has been performed, or charging has begun.

Claims (54)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a charging port having a charging connector to which a power supply connector for supplying external power can be attached;

a door member to open and close the charging port;

a light emitter to emit light in order to illuminate the charging connector when a predetermined condition is established;

an extinguisher to halt light emission by the light emitter when supply of the external power is started, and to halt light emission by the light emitter when any one of the followings is established:

a door of the vehicle is locked;

the door member is closed;

the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined speed; and

an operation for making the vehicle capable of travel is performed; and

a door lock detector to output a locking operation detection signal when an operation is performed to lock the door of the vehicle,

wherein the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter when the locking operation detection signal is output, and

wherein the door lock detector does not output the locking operation detection signal when the door is already locked, and outputs the locking operation detection signal when an operation to lock the door is performed.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter following the elapse of a predetermined time after any one of the conditions for halting light emission by the light emitter is established.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter following the elapse of a predetermined time after any one of the conditions for halting light emission by the light emitter is established.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter following the elapse of a predetermined time after any one of the conditions for halting light emission by the light emitter is established.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter when at least one of the following conditions are established:

supply of the external power is started;

the door of the vehicle is locked;

the door member is closed;

the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined speed; and

the operation for making the vehicle capable of travel is performed.

6. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter when at least one of the following conditions are established:

supply of the external power is started;

the door of the vehicle is locked;

the door member is closed;

the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined speed; and

the operation for making the vehicle capable of travel is performed.

7. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter when at least one of the following conditions are established:

supply of the external power is started;

the door of the vehicle is locked;

the door member is closed;

the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined speed; and

the operation for making the vehicle capable of travel is performed.

8. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter when at least one of the following conditions are established:

supply of the external power is started;

the door of the vehicle is locked;

the door member is closed;

the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined speed; and

the operation for making the vehicle capable of travel is performed.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the extinguisher halts light emission by the light emitter when all of the following conditions are established:

supply of the external power is started;

the door of the vehicle is locked;

the door member is closed;

the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined speed; and

the operation for making the vehicle capable of travel is performed.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the charging port includes a cavity having the charging connector to which the power supply connector for supplying external power can be attached;

wherein the light emitter is disposed inside the cavity of the charging port, and

wherein the light emitter emits light based on a proximity of an object to the charging port.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein an edge of an outer panel of the vehicle protrudes over the cavity such that the light emitter is disposed below the edge of the outer panel.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein an edge of an outer panel of the vehicle protrudes over the cavity.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the light emitter is disposed on a bottom surface of the edge of the outer panel such that the light emitter is facing the charging connector.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the light emitter is disposed at an angle on a bottom surface of the edge of the outer panel.

15. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the light emitter is disposed on a bottom surface of the cavity of the charging port.

16. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the light emitter is disposed on a side surface of the cavity of the charging port.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 12, 2017
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042624/0886 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Oct 31, 2014
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 034114/0841 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2013
From: OHTOMO, YOSUKE
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 032063/0595 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-280644 · Dec 25, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140176069A1 · Jun 26, 2014