US 12,227,098 B2
Automated electric vehicle charging station
Michael F. Garofalo, Birmingham, MI (US); Richard M. Wallace, Birmingham, MI (US); and James P. DeFillipi, Leonard, MI (US)
Assigned to H.B. FULLER COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by ND Industries, Inc., Clawson, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/696,556.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/182,228, filed on Apr. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0348097 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B60L 53/35 (2019.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01); B60L 53/30 (2019.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 53/35 (2019.02) [B60L 53/16 (2019.02); B60L 53/305 (2019.02); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01); H02J 7/0047 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
12. An electric vehicle charging system comprising:
a frame;
an electronic charging unit disposed at least partially in the frame, the electronic charging unit comprising:
a power supply;
a charging plug coupled to the power supply;
an actuator;
a sensor;
a controller in electronic communication with the sensor and the actuator, the controller configured to cause the actuator to move the charging plug toward a vehicle; and
an alignment indicator positioned within a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle, the alignment indicator being in electronic communication with the controller and configured to indicate, to the occupant while the occupant is in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is properly aligned with the frame to receive an electric charge;
wherein the actuator moves the charging plug to establish an electrical connection with the vehicle,
wherein the vehicle receives an electric charge through the electrical connection between the charging plug and the vehicle,
wherein the actuator moves the charging plug to retract from the vehicle and to return to the frame.