APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING ELECTRCIAL POWER TO OR FROM AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Apparatus for transferring electrical power to or from an electric vehicle is disclosed, comprising a housing configured to be installed at or above ground level in a space in which an electric vehicle may be parked, such that when parked the electric vehicle is positioned on or over the housing, a first connector engageable with a second connector on the electric vehicle, a power circuit, one or more sensors configured to detect a current position of the second connector relative to the first connector, an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the first connector, a controller configured to determine an adjustment required to align the first connector with the second connector in dependence on information received from the one or more sensors, control the adjustment mechanism to align the first and second connectors, and engage the first connector with the second connector once aligned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to apparatus for transferring electrical power to or from an electric vehicle, and to a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Electric vehicles can provide a more environmentally-friendly alternative to vehicles that rely on other forms of propulsion, such as petrol and diesel engines. The popularity of electric vehicles has increased significantly in recent years. However, some consumers may be deterred from adopting electric vehicles due to concerns over availability of charging points at which a battery of the electric vehicle can be recharged.

One drawback of existing charging points is the cabinet that houses the associated hardware, which is typically similar in size to a conventional petrol or diesel pump. In an urban environment it may not be possible to install charging points in areas with limited kerbside space, for example narrow residential streets. This drawback can deter homeowners and local authorities from installing new charging points, which in turn may delay the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

The invention is made in this context.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for transferring electrical power to or from an electric vehicle, comprising: a housing configured to be installed at or above ground level in a space in which an electric vehicle may be parked, such that when parked the electric vehicle is positioned on or over the housing; a first connector engageable with a second connector on the electric vehicle, the first connector being disposed in the housing; one or more sensors configured to detect a current position of the second connector relative to the first connector; an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the first connector; a controller configured to receive information from the one or more sensors indicative of the current position of the first connector relative to the second connector, determine an adjustment required to align the first connector with the second connector in dependence on the information received from the one or more sensors, control the adjustment mechanism in accordance with the determined adjustment to align the first and second connectors, and engage the first connector with the second connector once aligned to thereby make an electrical connection for transferring electrical power to or from the electric vehicle; and a power circuit configured to transfer electrical power to or from the electric vehicle via said electrical connection.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, one or more of the controller, power circuit, adjustment mechanism and one or more sensors are disposed in the housing.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the controller, power circuit, adjustment mechanism and one or more sensors are disposed in the housing, such that the apparatus can be installed in and/or removed from said space as a single unit.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the apparatus comprises at least one ramp on one or more sides of the housing so as to allow the electric vehicle to be driven up the at least one ramp and over the housing when parking in the space.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the apparatus comprises one or more power storage units for storing electrical power, wherein the power circuit is configured to transfer electrical power between the one or more power storage units and the electric vehicle via said electrical connection.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more power storage units are arranged so as to be charged using electrical power received from a power supply and to subsequently provide said electrical power to the electric vehicle, and the one or more power storage units are configured to supply the electrical power to the electric vehicle at a higher current than a maximum current provided by the power supply, such that a time required to charge the electric vehicle from the one or more power storage units is less than a corresponding time that would be required to charge the electric vehicle by the same amount from the power supply.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more power storage units are disposed in the housing.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more sensors are disposed so as to capture an image of the underside of the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle is situated in the space above the first connector.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the controller is configured to use a machine learning algorithm to assign the captured image to one of a plurality of image classes each corresponding to a different position of the second connector in the captured image, and is configured to determine the required adjustment by retrieving a stored predetermined adjustment associated with the assigned image class.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the apparatus is configured to transmit the captured image to the electric vehicle in which the electric vehicle is being parked in the space above the first connector, to assist a user of the electric vehicle in approximately aligning the second connector with the first connector.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the captured image comprises an image captured at visible wavelengths, or an infrared image, or an ultrasound image.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the apparatus is configured to transmit information indicative of a range of the adjustment mechanism to the electric vehicle.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the information indicative of a range of the adjustment mechanism comprises a bounding box overlaid on the captured image to indicate an area within which the first connector is capable of being positioned by the adjustment mechanism.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the controller is configured to determine whether the electric vehicle is positioned such that the second connector is beyond a range of the adjustment mechanism, and is configured to transmit a misalignment notification message to the electric vehicle in dependence on a determination that the second connector is beyond a range of the adjustment mechanism.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the apparatus comprises means for detecting and/or removing an obstruction from a path between the first and second connectors.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the first connector is configured to be extendable in a first direction towards the second connector to engage the first connector with the second connector, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the first connector in a plane inclined with respect to the first direction to adjust the position of the first connector.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the electric vehicle is an automobile.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the controller is configured to determine whether a vehicle parked in the space above the first connector is compatible with the first connector, and to automatically take an action in response to a determination that the vehicle is incompatible with the first connector.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the controller is configured to analyse an image captured by the one or more sensors to determine whether the vehicle is an internal combustion engine vehicle, and is configured to determine that the vehicle is incompatible with the first connector in dependence on a determination that the vehicle is an internal combustion engine vehicle.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the controller is configured to apply an image recognition algorithm to the image captured by the one or more sensors to detect one or more features indicative of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more sensors include an air sensor for detecting a characteristic of air, and the controller is configured to determine that the vehicle is incompatible with the first connector in dependence on the air sensor detecting a characteristic indicative of an exhaust emission of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the action comprises one or more of: activating an alarm; automatically issuing a parking violation notice; and alerting an authority to the presence of an incompatible vehicle in the space.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for transferring electrical power to or from an electric vehicle, comprising: memory arranged to store computer program instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory, wherein when executed by the one or more processors, the computer program instructions are adapted to cause the apparatus to: receive information from one or more sensors indicative of the current position of a first connector relative to a second connector disposed on an electric vehicle, the first connector being engageable with the second connector; determine an adjustment required to align the first connector with the second connector in dependence on the information received from the one or more sensors; control an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the first connector, in accordance with the determined adjustment to align the first and second connectors; engage the first connector with the second connector once aligned to thereby make an electrical connection for transferring electrical power to or from the electric vehicle; and transfer electrical power to or from the electric vehicle via said electrical connection, using the power circuit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of an electric vehicle charging apparatus comprising a housing configured to be installed at or above ground level in a space in which an electric vehicle may be parked, such that when parked the electric vehicle is positioned on or over the housing, a first connector engageable with a second connector on the electric vehicle, the first connector being disposed in the housing, one or more sensors configured to detect a current position of the second connector relative to the first connector, an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the first connector, and a power circuit configured to transfer electrical power to or from the electric vehicle, the method comprising: receiving information from the one or more sensors indicative of the current position of the first connector relative to the second connector; determining an adjustment required to align the first connector with the second connector in dependence on the information received from the one or more sensors; controlling the adjustment mechanism in accordance with the determined adjustment to align the first and second connectors; engaging the first connector with the second connector once aligned to thereby make an electrical connection for transferring electrical power to or from the electric vehicle; and transferring electrical power to or from the electric vehicle via said electrical connection, using the power circuit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of a method according to the second aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program according to the fourth aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realise, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

Referring now toFIG.1, an apparatus for transferring electric power to or from an electric vehicle is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus may also be referred to as an “electric vehicle charging apparatus”, or more simply “charging apparatus”. The apparatus100comprises a first connector101configured to be engageable with a second connector111on an electric vehicle110. In the present embodiment the electric vehicle110is an automobile, for example an electric car, but in other embodiments the apparatus may be configured for use with other types of vehicle, such as aircraft or sea vessels. The apparatus100further comprises one or more sensors102for detecting a position of the second connector111, an adjustment mechanism103, a housing104, a housing cover105, a controller106, and a power circuit107.

The housing104is configured to be installed at or above ground level120in a space in which the electric vehicle110may be parked, such that when parked the electric vehicle110is positioned on or over the housing104. In the present embodiment the housing104is narrower than a distance between the wheels of the electric vehicle110and has a height that is less than a ground clearance of the electric vehicle110, such that the electric vehicle110may drive over the housing104without coming into contact with the housing104. This may provide a more comfortable experience for occupants of the vehicle110by avoiding any bumping or jolting of the vehicle110during parking. In some embodiments the shape and size of the housing104may be such that the highest part of the housing104is no more than 150 millimetres (mm) above ground level, for example not more than 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 or 150 mm above ground level, although in other embodiments a different maximum height of the housing may be used.

In other embodiments the housing104may be configured so as to allow the vehicle110to drive up and onto the housing104when parking. For example, the housing104may be wider than the distance between wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle110, a distance which may be referred to as the “track” of the vehicle110. This arrangement may provide an advantage by allowing the height of the housing104to be greater than the ground clearance of the electric vehicle110, since the vehicle110can be raised above ground level120when parking on the housing104, and consequently can provide more space within the housing104for accommodating internal components of the apparatus100.

As shown inFIG.1, the first connector101is disposed in the housing104. In the present embodiment the controller106, power circuit107, adjustment mechanism103and one or more sensors102are also disposed in the housing104, such that the apparatus can be installed in and/or removed from said space as a single unit. For example, the housing104may be secured to the ground120by any suitable form of removable fixings, such as bolts. Alternatively, the housing104may not be secured to the ground120but may simply rest in place.

In some embodiments the space may be delimited by suitable markings on the grounds, for example when the apparatus100is installed in a marked parking bay in a car park or alongside a road. The housing104and the first connector101may be disposed within the space delimited by the markings, such that the markings act as a guide to assist a driver in parking the vehicle110above the first connector101. In other embodiments the space may be unmarked, for example when the apparatus100is installed on a private driveway at a user's home, or in a private garage.

The one or more sensors102are configured to detect a current position of the second connector111relative to the first connector101, and to transmit information indicative of the current position of the first connector101relative to the second connector111. The one or more sensors102may be configured to detect when the vehicle110is being or has been parked in the space above the first connector101, and to automatically transmit the information to the controller106when the presence of the vehicle110is detected. Any suitable type of sensor102that is capable of detecting a position of the second connector111may be used, depending on the embodiment. For example, the one or more sensors102may comprise a camera configured to capture an image of the second connector111at visible wavelengths, and/or may comprise an infrared sensor or an ultrasound sensor. In the present embodiment, the one or more sensors102are disposed so as to capture an image of the underside of the electric vehicle110when the electric vehicle110is situated in the space above the first connector101.

In some embodiments the second connector11, and/or an enclosure in which the second connector111is housed on the vehicle110, is configured so as to provide a high contrast with a part of the vehicle adjacent to the second connector111and/or the enclosure of the second connector111, so that the controller106can more easily locate the second connector111in an image captured by the one or more sensors102. For example, when the one or more sensors102are configured to capture an image at visible wavelengths, the second connector111and/or the enclosure may have a colour that provides a high contrast with the colour of an adjacent part of the vehicle. As another example, instead of using a different colour, another property of the second connector111and/or its enclosure, such as the shape and/or surface reflectance, may be configured to produce a high contrast in the image captured by the one or more sensors102.

The controller106is configured to receive the information indicative of the current position of the first connector101relative to the second connector111from the one or more sensors102, and to determine an adjustment required to align the first connector101with the second connector111in dependence on the information received from the one or more sensors102. The controller106can use the adjustment mechanism103to adjust a position of the first connector101in accordance with the determined adjustment, so as to align the first connector101with the second connector111and allow the first connector101to be engaged with the second connector111. In some embodiments the adjustment mechanism103may be configured to move the first connector101linearly along one or more axes, and/or may be configured to rotate the first connector101about one or more axes. For example, in one embodiment the adjustment mechanism103comprises a moveable platform on which the first connector101is mounted, and comprises actuating means for moving the platform along one or more axes. Examples of suitable actuating means include, but are not limited to, an electric motor connected to a rack and pinion mechanism, or a hydraulic ram. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may be configured to raise or lower, and/or rotate, the housing104containing the first connector101. For example, the adjustment mechanism may raise or lower the housing104in a similar manner to a rising bollard. The engagement mechanism may then comprise an arm that extends out from the housing104once the housing104is in a raised position.

By providing an adjustment mechanism103in the charging point apparatus100, the cost and complexity of the corresponding connector111on the vehicle110can be reduced, since any necessary adjustment can be performed by the charging point100. Furthermore, by allowing the position of the first connector101to be adjusted to match the position of the second connector111on the vehicle110, the apparatus100can compensate for a certain degree of misalignment of the first and second connectors101,111, making the parking operation easier for the driver since it may not be necessary to accurately align the second connector111with the first connector101when parking the vehicle110.

Once engaged, the first and second connectors101,111make an electrical connection via which the power circuit107can transfer electrical power to or from the vehicle110. For example, one of the first and second connectors101,111may comprise a plug and the other one of the first and second connectors101,111may comprise a socket having a complimentary shape to the plug, such that the plug can be retained in the socket using friction or mechanical means to provide a secure connection. The first connector101may be referred to as a ‘charging point connector’, and the second connector111may be referred to as a ‘vehicle connector’. The controller106may control the power circuit to control the speed, time and duration of the transfer of power to or from the electric vehicle110. In some embodiments the controller106may control the power circuit107to only supply electrical power to the vehicle110at certain times of day, for example when demand on the grid is low and/or when the cost of electricity is lower. Conversely, at times when the cost of electricity is higher, in some embodiments the power circuit107may be controlled to transfer power from the vehicle110to the grid.

The first connector101is mounted on an engagement mechanism108that is configured to move the first connector101in a direction towards the second connector111, so as to engage the first and second connectors101,111. Examples of suitable mechanisms for engaging the first connector101include, but are not limited to, a telescoping column, linear actuator, or a robotic arm capable of making independent adjustments on x, y and z Cartesian axes. In some embodiments, adjustment mechanism103is configured to move the first connector101within a plane, and the engagement mechanism108is configured to move the first connector101in a direction that is inclined with respect to the plane of the adjustment mechanism103. In this way, by combining movements of the adjustment mechanism103and the engagement mechanism108, the first connector101can be accurately positioned with at least three degrees of freedom in space.

After adjusting the position of the first connector101using the adjustment mechanism108, the controller106may receive new information from the one or more sensors102and confirm that the first and second connectors101,111are correctly aligned. Then, in dependence on a determination that the first and second connectors101,111are aligned, the controller106may control the engagement mechanism108to automatically engage the first connector101with the second connector111.

The controller106may be configured to control the engagement mechanism108to automatically disengage the first connector101from the second connector111once charging has been completed. For example, the electric vehicle110may monitor the state of charge of its internal battery, and transmit a signal to the controller106which indicates that the battery is fully charged. In some embodiments, the electric vehicle110may transmit the signal to the controller106when the battery charge reaches a certain threshold level below 100% charge. For example, if the user has selected a fast charging mode, the electric vehicle110may transmit the signal to the controller106to terminate the charging operation once the battery reaches a certain level of charge, for example 80% or 90% of the total battery capacity. The controller106may be configured to disengage the first connector101from the second connector111in response to a user command, to allow a driver to interrupt the charging process and continue their journey at a time of their choosing.

In some embodiments the charging operation may be terminated once the level of battery charge reaches a threshold defined by a user, which may be referred to as a user-defined threshold. For example, a user may set the user-defined threshold at a level that they consider to represent an adequate amount of charge for the remaining part of their current journey. In some embodiments, the charging operation may be terminated once the level of battery charge reaches a threshold that is determined by an algorithm configured to predict an amount of battery charge required to complete a remaining part of the current journey. The algorithm may be configured to take into account information such as the user's expected driving pattern and/or their most likely destination when making the prediction. For example, the algorithm may be provided with information indicative of previous journeys carried out by the user, and/or information indicative about the user's driving style (e.g. rates of acceleration and/or braking, cornering speeds, preference for certain gears at certain speeds, etc.).

In the present embodiment the second connector111, which may also be referred to as a vehicle connector, is disposed on an underside of the electric vehicle111. However, in other embodiments the second connector111may be disposed on another part of the vehicle111, for example on the side, front, rear, or top of the vehicle111. In embodiments in which the second connector111is disposed on part of the vehicle other than the underside of the vehicle, the adjustment mechanism103and/or the engagement mechanism108may be adapted accordingly. For example, in an embodiment in which the second connector111is disposed on the side of the vehicle110, the adjustment mechanism103may comprise a robotic arm configured to move the first connector101horizontally out from underneath the vehicle110, and raise the first connector101vertically alongside the vehicle110until it is at the same height as the second connector111. The arm may then be controlled to move the first connector101horizontally towards the second connector111to engage the first and second connectors101,111. In this embodiment, the robotic arm performs the functions of both the adjustment mechanism103and the engagement mechanism108, and a separate engagement mechanism108may not be required.

As shown inFIG.1, in the present embodiment the controller106, power circuit107, adjustment mechanism103and one or more sensors102are disposed in a low-profile housing104at ground level120within the parking space. In this way, a compact and unobtrusive charging point apparatus100can be provided that does not pose any obstruction to pedestrians or road users. This may be particularly advantageous for pedestrians with reduced or impaired mobility, such as the visually challenged, elderly, differently abled pedestrians, or other users of sidewalks suffering from injury or in a medical emergency, all of whom may find it difficult to navigate around obstructions posed by conventional above-ground electric vehicle charging points which are typically disposed adjacent to a parking space.

In some embodiments the vehicle110may comprise one or more vehicle sensors112configured to detect a position of part of the apparatus100, such as the first connector101, and/or the housing104, and/or the housing cover105, relative to the second connector111. Information from the one or more vehicle sensors112may be used to assist in aligning the first and second connectors101,111. For example, in some embodiments the vehicle110may transmit information obtained from the one or more vehicle sensors112to the charging point controller106. In some embodiments, a controller on the vehicle110may make use of the information obtained from the one or more vehicle sensors112to assist in automatically aligning the first and second connectors101,111, for example during an autonomous parking operation, and/or may display information obtained from the one or more vehicle sensors112to assist a user in aligning the first and second connectors101,111during a manual parking operation.

In embodiments in which one or more vehicle sensors112are provided, the part of the apparatus100that is detected by the one or more vehicle sensors112may be configured so as to provide a high contrast with an adjacent part of the apparatus100, and/or to provide a high contrast with an adjacent part of the road surface120. That is, the part of the apparatus100that is detected by the one or more vehicle sensors112may be configured so as to provide a high contrast in an image captured by the one or more vehicle sensors112, so that the part of the apparatus100can be more easily located in the captured image. For example, when the one or more vehicle sensors112are configured to capture an image at visible wavelengths, the part of the apparatus100may have a colour that provides a high contrast with the colour of an adjacent part of the apparatus100and/or an adjacent part of the road surface120. As another example, instead of using a different colour, another property of the part of the apparatus100, such as the shape and/or surface reflectance, may be configured to produce a high contrast in the image captured by the one or more vehicle sensors112.

The apparatus100of the present embodiment comprises a housing cover105in the form of one or more parts that can pivot about suitable hinges. When in a closed position, the one or more parts of the housing cover105can act as a seal to prevent dirt, liquid or other foreign matter from entering the housing104. Additionally, when lifted into an open position as shown by the dashed lines inFIG.1, any dirt, debris or other material that might otherwise obstruct the first connector101can be tipped off of the housing cover105, clearing a path for the first connector101to be engaged with the second connector111. In this way, the hinged one or more parts of the housing cover105can act as means for removing an obstruction from the path between the first and second connectors101,111.

Although in the present embodiment the housing cover105takes the form of a hinged lid over the housing104, in other embodiments a different form of cover105may be provided. For example, in some embodiments a rigid housing cover105may open and close using a sliding or rotating mechanism, or a flexible or segmented housing cover in the form of a shutter may be opened by rolling the housing cover about a drum or spindle on one side of the housing104.

In some embodiments a different means for removing the obstruction may be provided, instead of or in addition to a hinged housing cover105. The means for removing an obstruction may also be referred to as a path clearing mechanism. For example, in some embodiments the apparatus may comprise a path clearing mechanism in the form of a nozzle configured to direct a jet of gas or liquid across the surface of the housing104so as to clear material away from the surface of the housing104and clear a path for the first connector101.

Referring now toFIG.2, a flowchart is illustrated showing a control method of the charging apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A method such as the one shown inFIG.2may be performed by apparatus similar to the one shown inFIG.1.

First, in step S201the controller106receives information from the one or more sensors102indicative of the current position of the first connector101relative to the second connector111, for example in the form of an image of the underside of the vehicle110showing a position of the second connector111. Then, in step S202the controller106determines the adjustment that is required to align the first connector101with the second connector111in dependence on the information received from the one or more sensors102, for example by applying a shape recognition algorithm to identify the second connector111within the image and then determining an offset between the current position of the second connector111and a known reference point.

Once the necessary adjustment has been determined, in step S203the controller106controls the adjustment mechanism103in accordance with the determined adjustment to align the first and second connectors101,111. Then, in step S204the controller106controls the engagement mechanism108to engage the first connector101with the second connector111once the connectors101,111have been aligned, so as to make the electrical connection for transferring electrical power to or from the electric vehicle110. Then, in step S205the power circuit107begins transferring electrical power to or from the electric vehicle110via the electrical connection between the first and second connectors101,111.

As explained above, by adjusting the position of the first connector101relative to the second connector111at the apparatus100, it may not be necessary for the vehicle110to be parked with a high degree of accuracy with respect to the first connector101. Furthermore, since the necessary adjustment can be carried out at the apparatus100rather than on the vehicle110, a simple fixed connector111on the vehicle110may be provided, reducing the overall cost and complexity of the vehicle110.

Nevertheless, in some embodiments the vehicle110may also comprise its own mechanism for adjusting the position of the second connector111. When both the apparatus100and the vehicle110each comprise mechanisms for adjusting the positions of the first and second connectors101,111, respectively, a greater range of adjustment may be possible and accordingly the system may be able to tolerate a greater degree of misalignment between the apparatus100and the vehicle110.

Referring now toFIG.3a flowchart is illustrated showing a method of aligning and engaging the first and second connectors of the apparatus shown inFIG.1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As will become apparent from the following description, certain steps illustrated inFIG.3are performed at the apparatus100and other steps are performed at the vehicle110.

The flowchart inFIG.3starts with the vehicle110in a driving state in step S301. At some point the vehicle110detects a parking manoeuvre in step S302, for example when the user selects reverse gear, or chooses to activate the vehicle's parking sensors and/or engages an autonomous parking function. A controller onboard the vehicle110responds in step S303by wirelessly searching for and attempting to connect to a ground-based charging apparatus, such as the one shown inFIG.1, in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle110. For the sake of clarity, a controller onboard the vehicle110will hereinafter be referred to as the ‘vehicle controller’, and the controller106of the charging point apparatus100will hereinafter be referred to as the charging point controller106. Depending on the embodiment, the vehicle controller may comprise an electronic control unit (ECU) installed in the vehicle, or may comprise a physically separate device, for example a portable user device such as a tablet computer or smartphone. The vehicle controller may attempt to establish a wireless connection to the apparatus100using any suitable technology, for example WiFi, Long Range (LoRa) or Bluetooth.

Once a connection is established, the vehicle controller receives an image from the one or more sensors102of the ground-based charging point apparatus100in step S304, for example an image captured at visible wavelengths, or an infrared image, or an ultrasound image. In step S305, the vehicle controller obtains information indicative of a range of the adjustment mechanism103from the charging point controller106. For example, the information transmitted by the charging point controller106to the vehicle controller in step S305may define the maximum range of adjustment that is possible along one or more predefined axes with respect to the first connector101.

Next, in step S306the vehicle controller displays a whole or part of the image received in step S304on a display visible to the driver, for example a dash-mounted display screen, or a display screen of a mobile user device such as a tablet computer or smartphone handset. In the present embodiment, the displayed image includes a bounding box overlaid on the image captured by the one or more sensors102to indicate an area within which the first connector101is capable of being positioned by the adjustment mechanism103. Depending on the embodiment, the bounding box may be added to the captured image by the charging point controller106and then transmitted to the vehicle controller, or may be added by the vehicle controller after receiving the captured image in step S304, before displaying the image including the bounding box on the display visible to the driver.

In step S307the vehicle controller checks whether the second connector111is within reach of the first connector101. That is, the vehicle controller may check whether the second connector111is within the range of possible adjustments that can be provided by the adjustment mechanism103. If the vehicle controller determines that the second connector111is out of range of the adjustment mechanism103and the first connector101, then a misalignment notification message may be displayed to prompt the driver to manoeuvre the vehicle110into a different position. When doing so, the driver may use the displayed image and the bounding box to assist them in approximately aligning the second connector111with the first connector101. In some embodiments, in step S307the vehicle controller may automatically reposition the vehicle without driver involvement, using an autonomous parking mode.

Once it is determined that the second connector111is within reach of the first connector101, in step S308the vehicle controller signals to the charging point controller106that the vehicle110is correctly parked. Then, in step S309the charging point controller106captures an image of the current location of the second connector111using the one or more sensors102. Next, in the present embodiment the charging point controller106analyses the captured image using a machine learning algorithm in step S310. Here, the term “machine learning algorithm” should be understood as referring to an algorithm that has been trained using machine learning. In some embodiments the algorithm may be trained using machine learning during a development phase, and then the resulting trained algorithm can be installed on the charging point controller106. In some embodiments the algorithm may remain static once installed on the charging point controller106, in other words, the algorithm may not be further trained once installed on the charging point controller106. However, in other embodiments the algorithm may be continually trained using machine learning during use of the apparatus100, so as to improve an accuracy of the algorithm.

The machine learning algorithm is configured to assign the captured image to one of a plurality of image classes, each class corresponding to a different position of the second connector111in the captured image. If the machine learning algorithm succeeds in assigning the image to one of the classes, then the charging point controller106proceeds to determine the required adjustment in step S311by retrieving a stored predetermined adjustment associated with the assigned image class. By pre-calculating the necessary adjustments for different scenarios and storing the pre-calculated adjustments in memory, the charging point controller106can quickly and efficiently determine the necessary adjustment in step S311. Also, by retrieving a stored predetermined adjustment appropriate to the current scenario in terms of a relative positioning of the first and second connectors101,111, the controller106can control the adjustment mechanism103without having to rely on information from the one or more sensors102to guide the adjustment in real-time.

Next, in step S312the charging point controller106checks whether any obstructions are present in the path between the first and second connectors101,111, for example based on information received from the one or more sensors. If an obstruction is detected in step S312, or if the machine learning is unable to classify the image in step S311, then the charging point controller106signals to the vehicle controller to switch to a manual mode in which a human operator, for example the driver or a passenger, provides user input to manually control the adjustment mechanism103and/or engagement mechanism108in step S315. For example, a user interface for controlling the adjustment mechanism103and/or engagement mechanism108may be displayed on a touchscreen display in the vehicle, and the vehicle controller may transmit user commands received through the user interface to the charging point controller106, which in turn can control the adjustment mechanism103and/or engagement mechanism108according to the user commands.

Once the charging point controller106has successfully assigned the image to one of the classes using the machine learning algorithm in step S311, and determined that the path between the connectors101,111is free from obstructions in step S312, then in step S313the charging point controller106signals to the vehicle controller that a viable connection is possible. For example, the vehicle controller may respond by displaying a message or other form of notification to signal to the driver that the vehicle is correctly positioned.

Then, in step S316the charging point controller106transmits instructions to the adjustment mechanism103, which performs the requested adjustment in step S317. Once the adjustment has been completed, in step S318the charging point controller106controls the engagement mechanism108to engage the first connector101with the second connector111. The charging point controller106may carry out checks to confirm that a suitable connection has been established, for example by testing the resistance of the connection between the first and second connectors101,111using the power circuit107. Once the charging point controller106confirms that a connection has successfully been established, in step S319the charging point controller106signals to the vehicle controller that connection has been successful. The power circuit107then begins the transfer of electrical power to or from the vehicle according to whether charging or discharging is required. For example, in some embodiments the power circuit may transfer power from the vehicle110to the grid at times of high demand on the grid, and may transfer power to the vehicle110at times of low demand. Once the desired transfer has been completed, the vehicle controller may notify the driver that the vehicle110is ready to be disengaged and driven in step S320.

Referring now toFIG.4, a system enabling wireless communication between the electric vehicle and the apparatus ofFIG.1is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus100and the vehicle110each comprises a respective wireless interface401,411to enable the apparatus100and vehicle110to communicate wirelessly with one another. Any suitable wireless communication technology may be used, as described above with reference toFIG.3. The vehicle110also comprises a display412, for example in the form of an integrated dash-mounted display screen or in the form of a portable device such as a tablet or smartphone. The display412may be used to display information to the driver as described above with reference toFIG.3.

The apparatus100comprises the sensors102and charging point controller106. The apparatus may also comprise other elements such as those shown inFIG.1, which for the sake of clarity are not shown inFIG.4. In the present embodiment the apparatus100further comprises computer-readable memory106awhich is arranged to store a plurality of predetermined adjustments each associated with one of the plurality of image classes, as described above. In some embodiments, instead of storing the predetermined adjustments in local memory106a, the controller106may be configured to access remote storage, for example cloud-based storage, to retrieve the stored predetermined adjustments. Furthermore, in some embodiments some or all of the operations described as being carried out by a local controller106in the charging point apparatus100, could instead be carried out at a controller remote from the charging point apparatus100, for example at a cloud computing server. As such, references to a ‘controller’ herein should be construed accordingly, without implying that the corresponding processing steps must be carried out locally at the charging point apparatus100.

The controller106may comprise one or more processors, and the memory106amay store a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed the one or more processors, cause the controller106to perform any of the above-described methods. For example, the computer program instructions may cause the charging point controller106to classify an image captured by the one or more sensors102using a machine learning algorithm, retrieve the associated predetermined adjustment from the memory106a, apply the necessary adjustment using the adjustment mechanism103, and control the engagement mechanism108to engage the first connector101with the second connector111.

Referring now toFIG.5, a flowchart showing a method of automatically taking action when a vehicle is improperly parked over the first connector is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method may be performed by apparatus such as those illustrated inFIGS.1and4. First, in step S501the controller106receives information from one or more of the sensors102. Then, in step S502the controller106determines whether a vehicle110is parked in the space over the first connector101, based on the information received in step S501. For example, if the one or more sensors102includes a light sensor, the controller106may determine that a vehicle is parked in the space over the first connector101when the light level detected by the light sensor falls below a certain threshold, indicative of an object casting a shadow over the light sensor. If no vehicle is detected, the controller106waits and repeatedly checks the sensor information to determine whether a vehicle has been parked over the first connector101.

Once a vehicle has been detected in step S502, the controller106proceeds to step S503and checks whether the vehicle110is one that is compatible with the charging apparatus100. For example, in step S502the controller106may apply an image recognition algorithm to an image captured by the one or more sensors102, to attempt to detect the second connector111on the vehicle110. In some embodiments, the controller106may be capable of recognising different types of vehicle based on information from the one or more sensors102.

For example, the controller106may be configured to analyse information from the one or more sensors102to distinguish between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles. In some embodiments, the one or more sensors102include an air sensor for detecting a characteristic of air, and the controller106is configured to determine that the vehicle110is incompatible with the first connector101in dependence on the air sensor102detecting a characteristic indicative of an exhaust emission of an internal combustion engine vehicle. In some embodiments, the controller106may apply image recognition to an image of the underside of the vehicle to detect features which are indicative of an internal combustion engine vehicle, such as a fuel pump, exhaust pipe, catalytic converters, and so on. In response to one or more such features being detected, the controller106may determine in step S503that the vehicle110is an internal combustion engine vehicle and is therefore incompatible with the charging apparatus100.

In some embodiments, in step S503the controller106may make the determination based on information received from the one or more sensors102after the vehicle110was detected in step S502. In other words, the controller106may receive new sensor information between steps S502and S503for determining whether a second connector111is present at the expected location. In other embodiments, the controller may use the same sensor information in both steps S502and S503, in which case it may not be necessary to receive new sensor information between steps S502and S503.

In step S503, if the controller106determines that the second connector111is present, the controller106may then proceed to step S504and automatically align and connect the first and second connectors101,111using the adjustment mechanism, as described above. If on the other hand the second connector111is not detected in step S503while a vehicle is parked in the space above the first connector101, the controller106proceeds to step S505and automatically takes action in response to a vehicle having been improperly parked in the electric vehicle charging space. The action in step S505may take different forms, depending on the embodiment. For example, in one embodiment the controller106may automatically issue an enforcement notice, such as a parking violation, or may alert a suitable authority to the presence of an improperly parked vehicle. In another embodiment, the controller106may activate an audio or visual alarm in or near to the parking space above the first connector101. For example, in a situation in which a driver of an incompatible vehicle110is unaware that the space in which they are parked is an electric vehicle charging space, activating an alarm to alert a driver of the vehicle110to the presence of the electric vehicle charging space may prompt them to move the vehicle110out of the parking space, freeing up the space for users of compatible electric vehicles.

In some embodiments the action that is taken in step S505may be predetermined. In other embodiments the action may be context-dependent, for example by choosing one of a plurality of predetermined actions according to information received from the one or more sensors and/or other factors. In one such embodiment the controller106may take different predetermined actions at different times of day, for example by activating an alarm as described above during daylight hours, whilst taking less obtrusive action at night to avoid disturbing nearby residents, such as silently alerting an enforcement authority or issuing a parking violation notice.

Referring now toFIG.6, an apparatus600comprising a ramp at either end of the housing is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the housing604comprises a first ramp604aat one end of the housing604and a second ramp604bat the other end of the housing604. The first and second ramps604a,604benable the electric vehicle110to be driven up either ramp604a,604band onto the housing604when parking in the space where the apparatus is installed. In the present embodiment, each of the first and second ramps604a,604bmay have a width w1equal to or greater than the track of the electric vehicle110, such that both front wheels (in the case of forward parking) or both rear wheels (in the case of reverse parking) can be manoeuvred onto and up the ramp604a,604bduring parking. The housing cover605may be disposed between the ramps604a,604bon an upper surface604cof the housing604, such that the vehicle110may drive up either ramp604a,604bonto the upper surface604cof the housing so as to park over the housing cover605.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown inFIG.7, instead of a single ramp the apparatus700may comprise a pair of ramps704a,704bat one or more ends of the housing704. In such embodiments, the pair of ramps704a,704bmay be separated by a distance w2that is less than or equal to the spacing between wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle110.

Referring now toFIG.8, an electric vehicle charging apparatus800comprising a power storage unit for fast charging is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus800may comprise one or more power storage units809for storing electrical power. Each power storage unit809may use any suitable form of energy storage technology, for example battery cells, supercapacitors, flywheel energy storage, and so on. The power circuit807is configured to transfer electrical power between the one or more power storage units809and the electric vehicle110via the electrical connection formed between the first connector801and the second connector111. Power may be transferred in either direction, as required. For example, in a situation in which mains power is not available, excess energy may be transferred from the electric vehicle110to the one or more power storage units809to be used at a later time to recharge the same vehicle or another vehicle.

In the present embodiment, the one or more power storage units809are arranged so as to be charged using electrical power received from a mains power supply830and to subsequently provide said electrical power to the electric vehicle110. The one or more power storage units809are configured to supply the electrical power to the electric vehicle110at a higher current than a maximum current that can be provided by the mains power supply830, such that a time required to charge the electric vehicle110from the one or more power storage units809is less than a corresponding time that would be required to charge the electric vehicle by the same amount from the mains power supply. In this way, the one or more power storage units809can be used to provide a ‘fast charging’ function, allowing the electric vehicle110to be charged more rapidly than would be possible when drawing power directly from the mains power supply830. Once charging is complete, the one or more power storage units809may be recharged at a slower rate from the mains power supply830. In some embodiments, the one or more storage units809may be recharged from another power supply other than mains power, for example, a local source of renewable power such as a solar panel or wind turbine.

The one or more power storage units809may be disposed in the housing104,604,704so as to provide a compact, self-contained apparatus that can be easily installed or removed as a single unit. Alternatively, some or all of the one or more power storage units809or may be disposed elsewhere, for example underground or alongside the parking space in which the housing104,604,704is located. This approach may allow more power storage units809to be provided than would be possible within the limited confines of the housing104,604,704.

Whilst certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein with reference to the drawings, it will be understood that many variations and modifications will be possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.