Patent ID: 11945324
Assignee: URBAN ELECTRIC NETWORKS LTD
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  Y | IPC B  H

Claim 0:
1. A charging station for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising:
a base portion configured for mounting in a substructure;
a charging portion having a charging outlet for connection to a vehicle by a cable; and
a retraction mechanism for moving the charging portion between an extended position in which it extends out of the base portion and a retracted position in which it is retracted into the base portion; and
a controller for controlling the retraction mechanism;
the controller being configured to:
where the charging portion is in the retracted position in the base portion, determine if movement of the charging portion from the retracted position into the extended position is obstructed, and to prevent operation of the retraction mechanism if an obstruction is detected; and
where the controller determines there is no obstruction to movement of the charging portion into the extended position, cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion from the retracted position in the base portion to the extended position extending out of the base portion for charging the battery of a vehicle in response to a stimulus, the charging portion in the extended position being laterally adjacent to the vehicle;
determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the most recent charging from the charging outlet ceased;
where the charging portion is in the extended position extending out of the base portion, determine if movement of the charging portion from the extended position to the retracted position in the base portion is obstructed, and to prevent operation of the retraction mechanism if an obstruction is detected; and
where the controller determines there is no obstruction to movement of the charging portion into the retracted position in the base portion, cause the retraction mechanism to move the charging portion from the extended position extending out of the base portion to the retracted position in the base portion if the predetermined period of time is determined to have elapsed since the most recent electrical supply from the outlet.