Abb Schweiz Ag

Goodrich Corporation

Rosemount Aerospace Limited

Martin Krucinski

Gregory A Cole

William John Eakins

Thomas A Fuhlbrigge

Sangeun Choi

Harshang Shah

Richard A Poisson

Todd Anthony Ell

Stefan Rakuff

Sree Shankar Satheesh Babu

Joseph V Mantese

William A Veronesi

David Ginsberg

Michael Abbott

Sang Joon Choi

Stefan Raaijmakers

Haftay Hailu

Alex Riley

Thordur Runolfsson

Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

Systems and methods for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle charging

A protective arrangement for an electric vehicle charging system includes a floor unit forming a recess and a linkage disposed in the recess. The linkage is extendable from the recess from a stowed position to an extended position. A cleaning device is disposed to discourage accumulation of debris into the recess and on the linkage when the linkage is in the stowed position.

System and method for electrical vehicle charging system

A charging connection is provided for charging electric vehicles. The first connector is coupled to an electric charging station with an electric cable. The second connector is coupled to the electric vehicle. The first connector has at least two openings slide onto at least two posts of the second connector. When the first and second connectors are coupled together, an electric potential supplies power from the first connector to the second connector.

Electric charging connection for heavy vehicles

A system for charging commercial electric vehicles, including buses and trucks. The system can include a charging station that outputs a supply of relatively high voltage electrical power, and a cable suspension post having a support post and a suspension arm. The suspension arm can be suspended away from the support post at a vertical height that is higher than the height of typical commercial vehicles. At least a portion of a charging cable is electrically coupled to the charging station and suspended from the suspension arm. A charging connector can be free-hanging from the suspended portion of the charging cable, and therefore be swingingly displaceable into electrical engagement with a mating connector of the vehicle. The suspension arm can be rotatably displaced relative to the support post and/or another portion of the suspension arm such that a vertical height and/or other position of the suspended arm can be adjusted.

Suspended charging cable system for electric vehicles

Systems, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes capturing an image of at least a portion of a pattern positioned in a fixed location in a landing zone of an EV-side electrical connector in a fixed position on or in an underside of the EV. The method includes determining, based on the image, a displacement of a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position to a final position, the final position corresponding to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector. The method includes actuating the charger-side electrical connector from the initial position to the final position according to the displacement.

A charge head is connected to a charge inlet of an electric vehicle to supply an electric charge to recharge the battery of the vehicle. The charge head is attached to a connecting device that moves the charge head to the charge inlet. A sensor is provided to sense the locations of the tires of the vehicle. The system then uses the relative location of the charge inlet to the tires to determine the location of the charge inlet in order to move the charge head.

Electric vehicle charging using tire positions

A method and apparatus for automatic charging of electric vehicles in which a plug head of a charging unit is automatically received in a receiving compartment of a vehicle charger actuation device. A push wall of the vehicle charger actuation device is displaced into contact the plug head in a manner that facilitates rotation of the plug head into angular alignment with the plug head receptacle. The charging unit can align a position of the plug head with the plug head receptacle such that continued displacement of the push wall displaces the plug head to a position at which the plug head is electrically coupled to the plug head receptacle. After a charging event, the push wall moves away from the plug head receptacle and engages a pull rod that is coupled to a pin skirt such that the pin skirt is displaced in a direction that ejects the plug head from the plug head receptacle.

Method and apparatus for automatic charging of electric vehicles

An automatic charging device and method is described that is positionable to access an underside of an electrical vehicle that facilitates hands-free connection of a vehicle-side electrical connector with a floor unit electrical connector. The automatic charging device includes a floor unit, a first slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a second slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a pivotal link coupled to the floor unit electrical connector, and a lift mechanism connected to the second slidable carriage and the pivotal link. The floor unit electrical connector is arranged to rise away from the floor unit in a direction of the vehicle-side electrical connector to facilitate a mating of the vehicle-side electrical connector and the floor unit electrical connector. The first and the second slidable carriages are configured to move in a linear xy-direction, respectively, and the lift mechanism is configured to move in a linear z-direction.

Linear positioning system for automatic charging device

A connector arrangement for charging an electric vehicle includes a first connector disposed adjacent a slide surface and having a pin extending from the first connector. A second connector has a second connector body and is moveable along the slide surface by a linkage mechanism. A socket extends through the second connector body between two opposed openings, and at least one sensor is associated with the second connector body. The at least one sensor provides information indicative of a location of the second connector body on the slide surface to the linkage mechanism.

System and method for automatic connector coupling for an electric vehicle

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for controlling aircraft brakes. A brake control system may comprise a controller, and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller. The tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising: determining a braking power discrepancy of a wheel (e), comparing the braking power discrepancy of the wheel (e) to a threshold discrepancy value, and modulating a braking pressure applied to the wheel based on the comparison of the braking power discrepancy of the wheel (e) to the threshold discrepancy value.

Energy-based antiskid brake control system

Apparatus and associated methods relate to coordinating guided-missile targeting among multiple guided missiles using inter-missile optical communications. An inter-missile communications channel is optically established with a first guided missile illuminating a first target within a scene aligned along a first missile axis, and a second guided missile receiving the illumination reflected by the first target. By illuminating the first target within the scene, the first guided missile designates the first target. The second guided missile can be configured to navigate to the designated first target or to select a second target not designated by the first guided missile. In some embodiments, the second guided missile can be configured to illuminate its selected second target so as to designate the selected second target and to communicate the designation to other guided missiles. By facilitating communications among a plurality of guided missiles, missile targeting can be coordinated during a flight portion of a guided-missile operation.

Coordinating multiple missile targeting via optical inter-missile communications

A conductor arrangement includes a first connector having a first connector body made from an electrically insulated material and including a first electrical conductor. A pin extends from the first connector body and includes a core made from an electrically conductive material. The core is electrically connected with the first electrical conductor. A second connector has a second connector body made from an electrically insulated material and includes a second electrical conductor. A socket extends through the second connector body between two opposed openings. A sleeve made from an electrically conductive material is disposed along the socket and is electrically connected with the second electrical conductor. An electrical connection between the first and second electrical conductors is established when the pin is fully disposed within the socket such that the core is electrically connected with the sleeve.

Self-cleaning electrical connector having pins with insulated ends

Apparatus and associated methods relate to coordinating targeting among multiple guided ordnances using inter-ordnance optical communications. An inter-ordnance communications channel is optically established between leading and trailing guided ordnances travelling in substantially the same direction. The leading guided ordnance emits an optical beacon in a direction aft of the direction of ordnance travel, and a trailing guided ordnance captures images that contain the optical beacon emitted by the leading guided ordnance. The trailing guided ordnance is configured to chart a trajectory of the leading guided ordnance. The trailing guided ordnance is configured to predict which, among multiple targets identified in the captured images, is a first target consistent with the charted trajectory of and therefore selected by the leading ordnance. The trailing guided ordnance is further configured to select, based on the captured images, a second target that is within a navigable range of the trailing guided ordnance.

Coordinating multiple ordnance targeting via optical inter-ordnance communications

Controller is provided for electromechanical actuator such as an electric brake actuator having a motor driven in response to motor drive signal generated by controller. Controller includes first current limiter and second current limiter. First current limiter limits current command to maximum current limit in response to detecting that current command at least one of exceeds maximum current limit setpoint or is less than minimum current limit setpoint. Second current limiter further limits current and to limited current command in response to detecting that current command exceeds topper current detection limit for specified time duration. Controller may further include intermediate current limiter between first and second current limiters for further limiting current command from first current limiter in response to detecting current command from first current limiter at least one of exceeds maximum power limit setpoint or is less than minimum power limit setpoint.

Growing community of inventors

Glastonbury, CT, United States of America

Martin Krucinski