Hands free conductive charging system for electric vehicles

Abstract

The general field of this invention is electrical connectors and their actuating mechanism. More specifically, this invention teaches a novel connector and its actuating mechanism for establishing an electrical connection between two arbitrarily oriented objects such as an arbitrarily parked EV and infrastructure. In most of the prior art, a conductive connection requires precise and guided alignment of mating conductors. The prior art achieves this either by a sensor guided search or mechanical guides to being the two objects into desired alignment. In order to tolerate a wider misalignment between the two objects, the guides have to have a large footprint. In contrast, this invention breaks down the process of aligning the two halves of connector into a series of simple motions—when carried out in a particular order, would deliver the necessary alignment of the two sides of a connector. The series of motions also ensure sliding of conductive elements against each other under force to mimic a pin and socket contact, thus establishing a high quality conductive connection between the two misaligned objects.