US 12,403,790 B2
Antenna on charger infrastructure
Dieter Statezni, Cupertino, CA (US); and Sangram Patil, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,365.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/126,261, filed on Dec. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0185140 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. G01C 21/34 (2006.01); B60L 53/66 (2019.01); B60L 58/12 (2019.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); H01Q 9/04 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H04B 7/06 (2006.01); H04L 43/0876 (2022.01)
CPC B60L 53/66 (2019.02) [B60L 58/12 (2019.02); B60W 60/001 (2020.02); G01C 21/3407 (2013.01); H01Q 9/0407 (2013.01); H02J 7/00032 (2020.01); H02J 7/0045 (2013.01); H02J 7/0048 (2020.01); H04B 7/0617 (2013.01); H04L 43/0876 (2013.01); B60W 2420/403 (2013.01); B60W 2420/408 (2024.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a signal transmitter positioned either (i) on a charging port of an autonomous vehicle, or (ii) in a window of the autonomous vehicle within 3 meters of the charging port, wherein the signal transmitter is configured to transmit information to a signal receiver, wherein the signal transmitter comprises a patch antenna;
the signal receiver positioned on an electrical charging apparatus, wherein the electrical charging apparatus comprises a plug portion;
wherein the plug portion is plugged into the charging port of the autonomous vehicle when the autonomous vehicle is charging and when so charging:
the signal transmitter and the signal receiver are in point to point communication, wherein the point to point communication between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver comprises radio communication; and
the signal transmitter and the signal receiver are separated by a distance up to and including 1.5 meters; and
a plurality of beam steering antennas in communication with the signal transmitter and the signal receiver, wherein at least one of the plurality of beam steering antennas is positioned on the autonomous vehicle.