US 12,151,574 B2
Charging station for charging electric bus and charging method using the same
Chong Chul Chun, Hwaseong-si (KR)
Assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Seoul (KR); and KIA CORPORATION, Seoul (KR)
Filed by HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Seoul (KR); and KIA CORPORATION, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/240,582.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0150792 (KR), filed on Nov. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0144116 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. B60L 53/37 (2019.01); B60L 53/50 (2019.01); G01S 19/42 (2010.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 53/37 (2019.02) [B60L 53/50 (2019.02); G01S 19/42 (2013.01); H02J 7/0013 (2013.01); H02J 7/0045 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A charging station for charging an electric bus, comprising:
a power rail extending along an axial direction above a plurality of electric buses parked in a parking space;
a pantograph disposed in a lower portion of the power rail to be movable horizontally along the axial direction and expandable in a gravitational direction from above the electric bus to electrically contact the electric bus;
a controller configured to calculate a charging sequence of the plurality of electric buses based on position information of the plurality of electric buses;
a bus infrared sensor disposed in a predetermined position of a roof of the electric bus; and
a main infrared sensor disposed in a predetermined position of the pantograph to face the bus infrared sensor;
wherein the controller is configured to control horizontal movement of the pantograph and electrical contact with the electric bus according to the charging sequence so as to supply the power applied from an external power network through the power rail to the electric bus through the pantograph,
wherein the controller is configured to calculate a shortest moving path of the pantograph based on position information of the plurality of electric buses and the position information of the pantograph, and to calculate a charging sequence of the plurality of electric buses according to the calculated shortest moving path, and
wherein the controller is configured to adjust the position of the pantograph such that infrared rays emitted from the bus infrared sensor and the main infrared sensor match each other.