IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,722,507
Granted Patent B2
US 12,722,507 · App. 17/754,707 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Charge port device for vehicle

Inventors: Akiyoshi Shibata (Kanagawa, JP); Daisuke Ichiwara (Kanagawa, JP); Atsushi Takaki (Kanagawa, JP); Toshihiro Inoue (Kanagawa, JP); Ryohei Miyoshi (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
B60L53/16H01R13/6683H01R13/7172B60K15/05B60K2015/053B60K2015/0561H01R13/7175H01R2201/26Y02T90/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,722,507
App. No.
17/754,707
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A charge port device includes a charge port provided in a port accommodation recess and a lid for concealing the port accommodation recess. A latch is provided in the port accommodation recess on an opposite side to a lid hinge with respect to the charge port. A slit is formed between a surface of a vehicle body and an outer circumferential edge of the lid while the lid is closed. A lamp is provided at a position in the port accommodation recess between the latch and the slit on an opposite side to the lid hinge with respect to the charge port and the position is not visible from outside while the lid is closed. Formed is a light-guiding reflection path that guides a light emitted from the lamp toward the above-mentioned slit as an indirect light by reflecting the light while the lid is closed.

Claims (31)

1 . A charge port device for a vehicle, the device comprising:

a port accommodation recess formed on a surface of a vehicle body of the vehicle;

a charge port provided in the port accommodation recess;

a lid attached to the vehicle body for concealing the port accommodation recess;

a lid hinge attached to the vehicle body for supporting the lid to be openable and closable;

a latch provided in the port accommodation recess on an opposite side to the lid hinge with respect to the charge port for keeping a closed state of the lid;

a slit formed between the surface of the vehicle body and an outer circumferential edge of the lid while the lid is closed;

a charge port illuminating lamp comprising a light guide tube and a cover, the charge port illuminating lamp being provided at a position in the port accommodation recess between the latch and the slit on an opposite side to the lid hinge to illuminate the charge port, the position being not visible from an outside of the vehicle while the lid is closed; and

a light-guiding reflection path that guides a light emitted from the light guide tube and the cover of the charge port illuminating lamp toward the slit as an indirect light by reflecting the light while the lid is closed,

wherein a back face of the lid is included in the light-guiding reflection path;

wherein the cover is configured to diffuse the light, and

wherein the charge port illuminating lamp is configured to illuminate the charge port with a direct light when the lid is opened.

2 . The charge port device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cap for covering the charge port and a cap hinge for supporting the cap to be openable and closable in the port accommodation recess,

wherein the cap hinge is disposed on the same side as the lid hinge with respect to the charge port.

3 . The charge port device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a controller for controlling the charge port illuminating lamp,

wherein the controller turns on the charge port illuminating lamp when receiving a predetermined signal from a smart key of the vehicle.

4 . The charge port device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a controller for controlling the charge port illuminating lamp; and

a sensor for detecting an open/closed state of the lid,

wherein the charge port device comprises a first charge port device and a second charge port device,

wherein the controller is configured to turn on both of the charge port illuminating lamps of the first charge port device and the second charge port device when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and then, when the sensor of one of the first charge port device and the second charge port device detects opening of the lid of the one of the first charge port device and the second charge port device, turn off the charge port illuminating lamp of the other of the first charge port device and the second charge port device.

5 . The charge port device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a controller for controlling the charge port illuminating lamp,

wherein the charge port device comprises a first charge port device and a second charge port device that have different charging standards,

wherein the controller is configured to get charging standard information from a charging station near the vehicle, and then turn on only the charge port illuminating lamp of one of the first charge port device and a second charge port device, which matches the charging standard information that is received.

6 . The charge port device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the controller is configured to get the charging standard information contactlessly from the charging station.

7 . The charge port device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the controller is configured to get the charging standard information from a navigation system installed on the vehicle based on a current position of the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2022
From: SHIBATA, AKIYOSHI; ICHIWARA, DAISUKE; TAKAKI, ATSUSHI; INOUE, TOSHIHIRO; MIYOSHI, RYOHEI
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060607/0947 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240075824A1 · Mar 7, 2024
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