Patent · US Active

Electric vehicle control device

US7950943B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 29, 2009
Grant dateMay 31, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY04S30/14
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

To secure safety in an electric vehicle during charging, the electric vehicle is provided with a high voltage battery and a charging port portion for charging the high voltage battery. A power reception connector and a connector locking mechanism are provided in the charging port portion, and a fitting hole is formed in a power supply connector disposed on an external power supply side. The connector locking mechanism is switched between a restrained condition, in which a locking pin is inserted into the fitting hole, and a released condition, in which the locking pin is retracted from the fitting hole. A vehicle control unit for controlling the connector locking mechanism switches the connector locking mechanism to the restrained condition when a door is locked, and switches the connector locking mechanism to the released condition when the door is unlocked. Thus, the connection condition between the power reception connector and the power supply connector can be maintained even when a passenger locks the door and moves away from the electric vehicle, and as a result, safety can be secured during charging.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.