The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 2014
Filed:
May. 29, 2012
Daryl Zalan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joshua Willard Ferguson, Alameda, CA (US);
Troy Adam Nergaard, San Francisco, CA (US);
Nicholas Robert Kalayjian, San Carlos, CA (US);
Daryl Zalan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joshua Willard Ferguson, Alameda, CA (US);
Troy Adam Nergaard, San Francisco, CA (US);
Nicholas Robert Kalayjian, San Carlos, CA (US);
Tesla Motors, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A door latching system for the door covering the charge port of an electric vehicle, or for the door covering the fuel filler port of a conventional vehicle, is provided. The door latching system is comprised of a ferromagnetic member attached to an interior surface of the door, and a latching assembly integrated into the port housing, where the latching assembly includes an assembly case, an electromagnet, and a permanent magnet that maintains the door in a closed position when the electromagnet is not energized and releases the door when the electromagnet is energized. The latching assembly may include a magnetic flux sensor that monitors when the port door is open or closed. The magnetic flux sensor may be coupled to a system controller that performs a preset response when the magnetic flux sensor determines that the door is open.