Automated electric vehicle charging station
An automated electric vehicle charging station. The charging station can include a frame to which a vehicle can park in proximity to receive an electric charge. The frame is at least partially underneath the vehicle. The charging station can include an alignment indicator and a charging indicator to alert an occupant of the vehicle to a vehicle alignment status and a vehicle charging status. When the vehicle is parked in a charging position, an electronic charging unit automatically determines a receiving location on the vehicle where the vehicle can receive an electric charge. A charging plug can be stored in the frame and can be actuated out of the frame and travel in multiple directions to the receiving location. Electric charge can then be transferred from the charging plug to the vehicle. When the vehicle is finished charging, the charging plug can be actuated to return to the frame.
1. An electric vehicle charging system comprising:
a frame;
an electronic charging unit mounted relative to the frame, the electronic charging unit comprising:
a power supply;
a charging plug coupled to the power supply;
an actuator;
an alignment sensor;
a charging sensor;
a controller in electronic communication with the alignment sensor, the charging sensor, and the actuator, the controller configured to cause the actuator to move the charging plug relative to the frame and toward a vehicle parked in proximity to the frame;
an alignment indicator positioned within a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle and in electronic communication with the alignment sensor, the alignment indicator being in electronic communication with the controller and configured to indicate, to the occupant while the occupant is in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is properly aligned with the frame to receive an electric charge such that the vehicle is in a charging position; and
a charging indicator positioned within the field of view of an occupant of the vehicle and in electronic communication with the charging sensor, the charging indicator being in electronic communication with the controller and configured to indicate, to the occupant while the occupant is in the vehicle, a charging status of the vehicle;
wherein the actuator moves the charging plug to establish a connection sufficient to charge the vehicle,
wherein the vehicle receives an electric charge through the connection between the charging plug and the vehicle,
wherein the actuator moves the charging plug to retract the charging plug away from the vehicle and to return the charging plug toward the frame after the vehicle receives the electric charge.
2. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the frame is a platform upon which the vehicle can drive and park to receive the electric charge.
3. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the frame includes a U-shape structure such that the vehicle can enter the U-shape structure and park to receive the electric charge.
4. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the frame comprises a ground plane and at least one protrusion extending from the ground plane,
wherein the charging plug is removably stored in or below the ground plane.
5. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller determines a receiving location of a vehicle where the vehicle can receive an electric charge.
6. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 5 ,
wherein the charging plug is selectively moveable via an armature joined with the frame to couple to the receiving location in response to a vehicle being located in the charging position.
7. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 5 ,
wherein the charging plug is selectively moveable to couple to the receiving location after the controller determines the vehicle is in the charging location and in response to a command received from a user.
8. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the charging plug is actuated to couple with a socket associated with the vehicle to facilitate charging of the vehicle.
9. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the frame includes a platform upon which the vehicle is parked in the charging position,
wherein the charging plug is mounted to a moveable armature that advances the charging plug toward a socket of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the charging position,
wherein the alignment indicator and the charging indicator are positioned forward of a B pillar of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the charging position.
10. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the charging plug retracts from the vehicle when the vehicle is charged.
11. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 1 ,
wherein the charging plug retracts from a vehicle in response to a command received from a user.
12. An electric vehicle charging system comprising:
a frame;
an electronic charging unit disposed at least partially in the frame, the electronic charging unit comprising:
a power supply;
a charging plug coupled to the power supply;
an actuator;
a sensor;
a controller in electronic communication with the sensor and the actuator, the controller configured to cause the actuator to move the charging plug toward a vehicle; and
an alignment indicator positioned within a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle, the alignment indicator being in electronic communication with the controller and configured to indicate, to the occupant while the occupant is in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is properly aligned with the frame to receive an electric charge;
wherein the actuator moves the charging plug to establish an electrical connection with the vehicle,
wherein the vehicle receives an electric charge through the electrical connection between the charging plug and the vehicle,
wherein the actuator moves the charging plug to retract from the vehicle and to return to the frame.
13. The charging system of claim 12 ,
wherein the frame includes a protrusion and the alignment indicator is positioned on the protrusion.
14. The charging system of claim 12 comprising:
a charging indicator located in the field of view of an occupant of a vehicle, the charging indicator being in electronic communication with the controller and indicating whether a vehicle is charging.
15. The charging system of claim 14 ,
wherein the alignment indicator and the charging indicator comprise a combined indicator, and
wherein the combined indicator communicates both a vehicle alignment status and a vehicle charging status.
16. The charging system of claim 12 ,
wherein the alignment indicator indicates whether a vehicle is in the proper position to receive an electric charge through a user interface on a mobile device of the occupant.
17. The charging system of claim 12 ,
wherein the actuator retracts the charging plug from the vehicle in response to the vehicle being fully charged.
18. The charging system of claim 12 ,
wherein the actuator retracts the charging plug from the vehicle in response to a movement of the vehicle with respect to the frame.
19. The charging system of claim 12 ,
wherein the frame is a platform that a vehicle can park in proximity to receive the electric charge,
wherein the sensor includes a position sensor positioned in the platform, the position sensor being in electronic communication with the controller.
20. A method of charging an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
determining whether an electric vehicle is aligned with a frame such that the electric vehicle is in a charging location;
indicating whether the electric vehicle is in the charging location to an occupant of the vehicle, the occupant of the vehicle being located inside the vehicle;
determining a receiving location where the electric vehicle can receive an electric charge;
automatically moving a charging plug from a first location distal from the vehicle toward the vehicle to couple the charging plug with the receiving location;
transferring an electric charge through the coupling of the charging plug and the electric vehicle;
automatically disconnecting the charging plug from the receiving location; and
automatically returning the charging plug to the first location.