US 11,718,197 B1
Apparatus for authorizing an electric aircraft to charge at a charging structure and a method for its use
Herman Wiegman, South Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/884,397.
Int. Cl. B60L 53/65 (2019.01); B60L 53/30 (2019.01)
CPC B60L 53/65 (2019.02) [B60L 53/305 (2019.02)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for authorizing an electric aircraft to charge at a charging structure, wherein the apparatus comprises:
a housing configured to mate with an electric vehicle port of an electric vehicle;
at least a current conductor configured to conduct a current, wherein the at least a current conductor comprises:
a direct current conductor configured to conduct a direct current;
an alternating current conductor configured to conduct an alternating current;
a proximity sensor; and
a computing device, located within the housing, configured to be communicatively connected to the aircraft charging structure and the proximity sensor, wherein the computing device is configured to:
receive an aircraft credential from an aircraft controller;
generate a notification to be displayed on a user interface, wherein the notification identifies whether the electric aircraft is in an improper location for mating as a function of the proximity sensor;
authorize the charging structure to charge an energy source of the aircraft as a function of the aircraft credential and the notification; and
upload the aircraft credential to a remote data storage device.