US 12,476,486 B2
Wireless charging of an electric aircraft
John Charles Palombini, South Burlington, VT (US); Richard Donnelly, South Burlington, VT (US); Jake Pill, South Burlington, VT (US); and Edward Hall, South Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA Air LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA Air, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/442,284.
Application 18/442,284 is a continuation of application No. 17/751,008, filed on May 23, 2022, granted, now 11,936,214.
Prior Publication US 2024/0258843 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. H02J 50/90 (2016.01); B60L 53/35 (2019.01); G06F 21/31 (2013.01); H02J 50/00 (2016.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.01); H02J 50/80 (2016.01); B64D 27/34 (2024.01)
CPC H02J 50/005 (2020.01) [G06F 21/31 (2013.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.02); H02J 50/80 (2016.02); H02J 50/90 (2016.02); B64D 27/34 (2024.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric vehicle charger, comprising:
a transmitter coil electrically connected to an energy source and configured to inductively couple to a receiver coil on the electric vehicle;
a proximity sensor configured to generate alignment data regarding the receiver coil on the electric vehicle and the transmitter coil; and
a computing device that is communicatively connected to the proximity sensor, wherein the computing device is configured to:
identify the electric vehicle using an authenticated identification datum from the electric vehicle;
determine an alignment element as a function of the alignment data, the alignment element including a first threshold distance within which charging can be performed and a second threshold distance within which automatic maneuvering of the electric vehicle can be implemented;
align the transmitter coil with the receiver coil as a function of the alignment element, including using automatic maneuvering of the electric vehicle if the alignment element includes an indication that a distance between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil is less than or equal to the second threshold distance; and
initiate charging of the electric vehicle as a function of the authenticated identification datum.