US 12,441,206 B2
System and method for aligning and pairing a charging station to an electric vehicle
Daniel Cong, Santa Rosa, CA (US)
Assigned to Clearpoint Ventures LLC, Santa Rosa, CA (US)
Filed by Clearpoint Ventures LLC, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/453,273.
Application 18/453,273 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/505,281, filed on Oct. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,731,525.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391215 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B60L 53/35 (2019.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 13/08 (2006.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 53/35 (2019.02) [B25J 9/1687 (2013.01); B25J 13/089 (2013.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.02); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for providing electric charge to an electric vehicle, comprising:
using a sensor to capture positioning of the electric vehicle near a power source for providing electric charge;
aligning the power source with a connector and providing the electric charge when the connector couples to the electric vehicle;
automating action by a robot coupled to a robotic interface to couple the connector of the power source to the electric vehicle, wherein the robotic interface defines a range of movement within which the robot is operable to take an action;
controlling the robot and the power source, by a processor and a memory with executable code configured to drive the processor to take control actions, comprising:
receiving a signal from the sensor that the electric vehicle is within a defined area relative to the power source within which the robot is operable to take action to couple the connector;
signaling an instruction to the robotic interface to automate the robot to move within the defined area and couple the connector of the power source to the electric vehicle, wherein the processor calculates a positional offset of the electric vehicle to an active-alignment configuration;
issuing a confirmation command to the robot, responsive to which the robot moves within the defined area and couples the connector to the electric vehicle;
initiating, by a charging interface coupled to the processor, responsive to the confirmation command, pairing of the electric vehicle to the power source to begin charging, wherein the robot aligns the connector to a receptacle of the electric vehicle; and
providing dynamic vehicle alignment visualization via an application programming interface, wherein a visual image is provided on a mobile device coupled to the processor, showing mapping of the power source serving as a charging station including the range of motion within which the robot is operable.