PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10807486-B1
Application Number: US-202016876860-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Charging station with passive alignment mechanism

Abstract:
A charging station for an electric vehicle includes a passive alignment mechanism that includes a longitudinal translation stage that allows motion in a longitudinal direction, a charging plug connected to the passive alignment mechanism, and a releasable connector. The releasable connector resists motion of the longitudinal translation stage in a connected position when a magnitude of an external force applied in the longitudinal direction is below a threshold. The releasable connector moves from the connected position to a released position to allow motion of the longitudinal translation stage when the magnitude of the external force applied in the longitudinal direction is above the threshold.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A charging station for an electric vehicle, comprising:
 a charging plug; 
 a first rod; 
 a second rod; 
 a first upper slide that is positioned on the first rod; 
 a first lower slide that is positioned on the first rod; 
 a second upper slide that is positioned on the second rod; 
 a second lower slide that is positioned on the second rod; 
 first links that connect the first upper slide and the first lower slide to the charging plug; and 
 second links that connect the second upper slide and the second lower slide to the charging plug, 
 wherein the first upper slide, the first lower slide, the second upper slide, and the second lower slide are movable with respect to the first rod and the second rod for passive adjustment of the charging plug. 
 
     
     
       2. The charging station of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper slide and the first lower slide are independently slidable with respect to the first rod and the second upper slide and the second lower slide are independently slidable with respect to the second rod. 
     
     
       3. The charging station of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first links include a first lower link that is pivotally connected to the first lower slide and is pivotally connected to the charging plug, 
 the first links include a first upper link that is pivotally connected to the first upper slide and is pivotally connected to the first lower link, 
 the second links include a second lower link that is pivotally connected to the second lower slide and is pivotally connected to the charging plug, and 
 the second links include a second upper link that is pivotally connected to the second upper slide and is pivotally connected to the second lower link. 
 
     
     
       4. The charging station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stabilizing link that enforces leveling during translational adjustment of the charging plug. 
 
     
     
       5. The charging station of  claim 1 , wherein the charging plug is connected to the first links and to the second links by a rotationally compliant connector. 
     
     
       6. The charging station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide element that is connected to the charging plug to cause motion of the charging plug in response to an external force. 
 
     
     
       7. The charging station of  claim 6 , wherein the charging plug is wider than the guide element. 
     
     
       8. The charging station of  claim 6 , wherein the guide element is located above the charging plug. 
     
     
       9. The charging station of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the guide element extends forward relative to the charging plug. 
     
     
       10. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:
 a charging plug; 
 a first rod; 
 a second rod; 
 a first pair of slides that are each slidably connected to the first rod and are independently slidable with respect to each other; 
 a second pair of slides that are each slidably connected to the second rod and are independently slidable with respect to each other; 
 a first pair of links that connect the first pair of slides to the charging plug; and 
 a second pair of links that connect the second pair of slides to the charging plug, 
 wherein the charging plug is passively adjustable by movement of the first pair of slides and the second pair of slides in response to external forces applied to the charging plug. 
 
     
     
       11. The charging station of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a stabilizing link that enforces leveling during translational adjustment of the charging plug. 
 
     
     
       12. The charging station of  claim 10 , wherein the charging plug is connected to the first pair of links and to the second pair of links by a rotationally compliant connector. 
     
     
       13. The charging station of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a guide element that is connected to the charging plug. 
 
     
     
       14. The charging station of  claim 13 , wherein the charging plug is wider than the guide element. 
     
     
       15. The charging station of  claim 13 , wherein the guide element is located above the charging plug. 
     
     
       16. The charging station of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the guide element extends forward relative to the charging plug. 
     
     
       17. A charging assembly for an electric vehicle, comprising:
 a charging station having a charging plug and a passive alignment mechanism that allows motion of the charging plug in at least one translational degree of freedom, wherein the passive alignment mechanism includes a first pair of slides that are connected to a first rod, a second pair of slides that are connected to a second rod, and links that connect the first pair of slides and the second pair of slides to the charging plug; and 
 a receptacle assembly having a charging receptacle that is connectable to the charging plug of the charging station. 
 
     
     
       18. The charging assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first pair of slides includes a first upper slide and a first lower slide that are independently slidable with respect to each other, and 
 the second pair of slides includes a second upper slide and a second lower slide that are independently slidable with respect to each other. 
 
     
     
       19. The charging assembly of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the charging station includes a guide element that is connected to the charging plug, and 
 the receptacle assembly includes a guide surface, wherein the guide element of the charging station is engageable with the guide surface to cause movement of the passive alignment mechanism in response to movement of the electric vehicle toward the charging station. 
 
     
     
       20. The charging assembly of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the charging plug is wider than the guide element, 
 the guide element is located above the charging plug, and 
 a portion of the guide element extends forward relative to the charging plug.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/106,048, filed on Sep. 4, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/555,132, filed on Sep. 7, 2017. The contents of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The application relates generally to charging electric vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some electric vehicles include battery packs that are recharged using a charging station when the vehicle is not being driven. The charging station may receive electrical power from a power grid. One common design for connecting an electrical vehicle to a charging station utilizes a charging port of the vehicle and a charging cable of the charging station. The charging cable is manually connected to the charging port, typically by the operator of the vehicle, upon exiting the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure is a charging station for an electric vehicle. The charging station includes a passive alignment mechanism that includes a longitudinal translation stage that allows motion in a longitudinal direction, a charging plug connected to the passive alignment mechanism, and a releasable connector. The releasable connector resists motion of the longitudinal translation stage in a connected position when a magnitude of an external force applied in the longitudinal direction is below a threshold. The releasable connector moves from the connected position to a released position to allow motion of the longitudinal translation stage when the magnitude of the external force applied in the longitudinal direction is above the threshold. 
     In some implementations, the charging station includes a longitudinal biasing element that urges the releasable connector toward the connected position. 
     In some implementations, the passive alignment mechanism includes a lateral translation stage that allows motion in a lateral direction. The passive alignment mechanism may also include a lateral centering element that urges the lateral translation stage toward a centered position. 
     In some implementations, the passive alignment mechanism includes an elevational translation stage that allows motion in an elevational direction. The elevational translation stage may also include an elevational biasing element that urges the elevational translation stage in at least one of an upward direction or a downward direction. In some implementations, the charging plug is connected to the passive alignment mechanism by a rotationally compliant connector that allows motion of the charging plug in at least one degree of rotational freedom. The rotationally compliant connector may include a ball joint. 
     In some implementations, the releasable connector includes a magnet. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a charging assembly for an electric vehicle. The charging assembly includes a charging station, and a receptacle assembly. The charging station has a passive alignment mechanism that allows motion in at least one translational degree of freedom, a charging plug that is connected to the passive alignment mechanism, and a guide element that is connected to the passive alignment mechanism. The receptacle assembly includes a charging receptacle that is connectable to the charging plug of the charging station and a guide surface. The guide element of the charging station is engageable with the guide surface to cause movement of the passive alignment mechanism in response to motion of the electric vehicle toward the charging station. 
     In some implementations, the receptacle assembly includes a cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The guide surface is connected to the cover. The guide surface may be positioned on an interior surface of the cover. 
     In some implementations, the passive alignment mechanism includes a longitudinal translation stage, a lateral translation stage, and an elevational translation stage. 
     In some implementations, the charging station includes a releasable connector that restrains movement of the longitudinal translation stage during insertion of the charging plug into the charging receptacle, and allows movement of the longitudinal translation stage upon full insertion of the charging plug into the charging receptacle. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a charging station for an electric vehicle. The charging station includes a passive alignment mechanism and a charging plug. The passive alignment mechanism includes a longitudinal translation stage that allows motion in a longitudinal direction, a lateral translation stage that allows motion in a lateral direction, and an elevational translation stage that allows motion in an elevational direction. The charging plug is connected to the passive alignment mechanism by a ball joint to allow rotation of the charging plug relative to the passive alignment mechanism in a pitch direction, a roll direction, and a yaw direction. 
     In some implementations, the ball joint is connected to the longitudinal translation stage of the passive alignment mechanism. 
     In some implementations, the charging station includes a guide element that is connected to the passive alignment mechanism to cause motion of the lateral translation stage and the elevational translation stage in response to an external force. The charging plug may be wider than the guide element. The guide element may be located above the charging plug. The elevational translation stage may be biased in an upward direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an illustration showing a charging station and a vehicle in a disconnected position. 
         FIG. 1B  is an illustration showing the charging station and the vehicle in a connected position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a passive alignment mechanism and a charging plug of the charging station. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view showing the passive alignment mechanism and the charging plug of the charging station with a releasable connector in a connected position. 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view showing the passive alignment mechanism and the charging plug of the charging station with the releasable connector in a released position. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side cross-section view showing connection of the passive alignment mechanism to the charging plug by a rotationally compliant connector. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top cross-section view showing connection of the passive alignment mechanism to the charging plug by the rotationally compliant connector. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing a receptacle assembly with a cover in a closed position. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view showing a receptacle assembly with the cover in an open position. 
         FIG. 6A  is a side cross-section view showing the receptacle assembly with the cover in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6B  is a side cross-section view showing the receptacle assembly with the cover in the open position. 
         FIG. 7A  is a bottom view showing a guide surface. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side cross-section taken on line  7 B- 7 B of  FIG. 7A  showing the guide surface. 
         FIG. 8A  is a side view showing a charging assembly in a disconnected position. 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view showing the charging assembly during movement from the disconnected position to a connected position. 
         FIG. 8C  is a side view showing the charging assembly in the connected position. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a passive alignment mechanism and a charging plug according to an alternative implementation. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram that shows charging station components and vehicle charging system components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exiting a vehicle to connect the vehicle to a charging station may be inconvenient for the operator of the vehicle. In addition, charging stations that require manual connection of the vehicle to the charging station do not permit charging to be performed when no human operator is present. The systems and methods described herein allow an electric vehicle to connect to a charging station without manual connection by an operator. As an example, a charging station may include a charging plug that is mounted using one or more passive translation stages that change position upon contact with a structure that is formed on the vehicle. The vehicle-side structures, including a charging receptacle, are aligned with the charging plug by driving the vehicle, either under manual control or under autonomous control. 
       FIG. 1A  is an illustration showing a charging station  100  and a vehicle  102  in a disconnected position.  FIG. 1B  is an illustration showing the charging station  100  and the vehicle  102  in a connected position. The charging station  100  can be a permanently installed structure at a fixed location, such as a parking lot or a garage. The charging station  100  includes a charging plug  104 , a passive alignment mechanism  106 , and, optionally, an active elevation adjustment mechanism  108 . The vehicle  102  is an electric vehicle that includes a rechargeable battery pack and an electric powertrain (e.g., electric motors). The vehicle  102  includes a charging receptacle  110  and a cover  112 . 
     The charging plug  104  supplies electrical power to the vehicle  102  by electrical connection to the charging receptacle  110 . To allow transfer of electrical power, the charging plug  104  and the charging receptacle  110  include complementary sets of conductive or inductive components. The electrical power may be received by the charging station  100  from, for example, a power grid. The charging plug  104  is supported by the passive alignment mechanism  106 . The passive alignment mechanism  106  allows fine adjustment of the position of the charging plug  104  in response to application of external force to the charging plug and/or the passive alignment mechanism  106 , as will be described herein. The active elevation adjustment mechanism  108  is optional, and may be provided to allow gross adjustment of the elevation of the charging plug  104  relative to the vehicle  102  prior to passive adjustment. As an example, the active elevation adjustment mechanism  108  can include an electric motor or linear actuator, a translation stage such slides, tracks or lead screws, and sensors to control the gross elevational adjustment. The active elevation adjustment mechanism  108  may be omitted in favor of installing the charging plug  104  at an elevation that matches the elevation of the charging receptacle  110 , or in favor of using a vehicle-side system for gross elevational adjustment. For example, an active suspension system of the vehicle  102  may be used for gross elevational adjustment by raising or lowering the body of the vehicle  102  to place the charging receptacle  110  in general elevational alignment with the charging plug  104 . 
     The cover  112  of the charging receptacle  110  is moveable between a closed position and an open position relative to the charging receptacle  110  to allow connection of the charging components of the charging plug  104  to the charging components of the charging receptacle  110 . In the closed position, access to an interior of the charging receptacle  110  is blocked such that the charging plug  104  cannot be connected to the charging receptacle  110 . In the open position, access to an interior of the charging receptacle  110  is not blocked such that the charging plug  104  can be connected to the charging receptacle  110 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the passive alignment mechanism  106  and the charging plug  104  of the charging station  100 . The passive alignment mechanism  106  includes a base  214 , a lateral translation stage  216 , an elevational translation stage  218 , and a longitudinal translation stage  220 . 
     In the illustrated example, components of the passive alignment mechanism  106  are mounted to and supported by the base  214 . The base  214  may be a structural component of the charging station  100 . The components of the passive alignment mechanism  106  may be otherwise supported and mounted. 
     The lateral translation stage  216  allows fine adjustment in a lateral (i.e., side-to-side) direction in response to external forces. The lateral translation stage  216  is passive, in that it does not include motors or other controllable motion causing components. In the illustrated example, the lateral translation stage  216  includes slides  222  that are mounted on rods  224  such that the slides  222  can translate laterally along the rods  224 . The lateral translation stage  216  may also include a lateral centering element, such as centering springs  226 . The centering springs  226  urge the lateral translation stage  216  toward a centered position. For example, the centering springs  226  may be located on the rods  224  on both sides of each of the slides  222  to apply laterally opposed spring forces to the slides  222 , with a centered position being a resting position that the slides  222  return to absent application of an external force. The slides  222  support structures such as plates  228  that allow connection to the elevational translation stage  218 . 
     The elevational translation stage  218  allows fine adjustment in an elevational (i.e., upward-and-downward) direction in response to external forces. The elevational translation stage  218  is passive, in that it does not include motors or other controllable motion causing components. In the illustrated example, the elevational translation stage  218  includes slides  230  that are mounted on rods  232  such that the slides  230  can translate elevationally along the rods  232 . A plate  234  is connected to the slides  230  to allow connection to the longitudinal translation stage  220 . 
     The elevational translation stage  218  may also include an elevational biasing element that urges the elevational translation stage  218  in at least one of an upward direction or a downward direction. In the illustrated example the elevational biasing element is a constant force spring  236  that biases the elevational translation stage  218  upward by urging upward movement of the slides  230  relative to the rods  232 . Thus, the elevational translation stage  218  is able to move in the downward direction in response to application of an external force, and upward under influence of the constant force spring  236  (or other biasing element) when the external force is diminished or removed. 
     The longitudinal translation stage  220  allows fine adjustment in longitudinal (i.e., front-to-rear) direction in response to external forces. The longitudinal translation stage  220  is passive, in that it does not include motors or other controllable motion causing components. In the illustrated example, the longitudinal translation stage  220  includes a body  238  that is mounted on rods  240 . The body  238  can translate longitudinally along the rods  240  toward and away from the plate  234  of the elevational translation stage  218 . The body  238  may be biased toward a neutral position relative to the rods  240 , as will be explained further herein. 
     A guide element  242  is connected to the passive alignment mechanism  106  to cause motion of the lateral translation stage  216 , the elevational translation stage  218 , and/or the longitudinal translation stage  220  in response to application of an external force. Forces applied to the guide element  242  by contact with vehicle-side structures cause motion of the passive alignment mechanism  106  during motion of the vehicle  102  relative to the charging station  100  to align the charging plug  104  with the charging receptacle  110 . 
     The guide element  242  is a narrow, elongate structure that is made from a rigid material and is fixed to a portion of the charging plug  104 . In the illustrated example, the guide element  242  is connected to a top surface of the body  238  and extends forward from the body  238  such that a portion of the guide element  242  is located above the charging plug  104 . A portion of the guide element  242  may extend forward relative to the charging plug  104 . The charging plug  104  is wider than the guide element  242 , which reduces the required size of vehicle-side guide structures, as will be described. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view showing the passive alignment mechanism  106  and the charging plug  104  of the charging station  100  with a releasable connector  344  in a connected position.  FIG. 3B  is a side view showing the passive alignment mechanism  106  and the charging plug  104  of the charging station  100  with the releasable connector  344  in a released position. The releasable connector  344  moves between the connected position and the released position in response to external forces applied to the charging plug  104  and/or the passive alignment mechanism  106 . The releasable connector  344  functions to ensure secure connection of the charging plug  104  by restraining compliant motion while the charging plug  104  is in the process of connecting to the charging receptacle  110 , and releasing to allow compliant movement in the longitudinal direction after the charging plug  104  and the charging receptacle  110  are fully connected. 
     The releasable connector  344  includes a first connecting part  346  formed on the body  238  and a second connecting part  348 . The second connecting part  348  is located on a support  350 . The support  350  is connected to other portions of the passive alignment mechanism  106  such that it moves in correspondence with the rods  240  of the longitudinal translation stage  220  (e.g., in the lateral direction and the elevational direction). The support  350  is fixed longitudinally and does not move with the body  238 , and the first connecting part  346  is therefore moveable longitudinally relative to the second connecting part  348 . 
     The first connecting part  346  and the second connecting part  348  may incorporate any type of coupling or connecting mechanism that resists motion of the body  238  of the longitudinal translation stage  220  in the connected position when a magnitude the an external force applied in the longitudinal direction is below a threshold, and moves from the connected position to a released position to allow motion of the body  238  of the longitudinal translation stage  220  when the magnitude of the external force applied in the longitudinal direction is above the threshold. The threshold is a function of the configuration of the first connecting part  346  and the second connecting part  348 , and is configured to restrain movement of the longitudinal translation stage  220  during insertion of the charging plug  104  into the charging receptacle  110 , and allow movement of the longitudinal translation stage  220  upon full insertion of the charging plug  104  into the charging receptacle  110 . In this manner, the electrical contacts are not exposed until alignment is completed. In the illustrated example, the first connecting part  346  and the second connecting part  348  are magnetically attracted, such as by incorporation of a magnet  352  in the second connecting part  348  and incorporation of a ferromagnetic material in the first connecting part  346  and separate when the threshold is reached (i.e., when the magnetic attraction force is exceeded by the external force). Alternative implementations are possible, such as a friction-based connection between the first connecting part  346  and the second connecting part  348 . 
     A longitudinal biasing element can be included in the longitudinal translation stage  220  to urge the releasable connector  344  toward the connected position. In the illustrated example, the first connecting part  346  and the second connecting part  348  are connected by a constant rate spring  354 . Other biasing structures can be used. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side cross-section view showing connection of the passive alignment mechanism  106  to the charging plug  104  by a rotationally compliant connector  456 .  FIG. 4B  is a top cross-section view showing connection of the passive alignment mechanism  106  to the charging plug  104  by the rotationally compliant connector  456 . The rotationally compliant connector  456  allows rotational adjustment in one or more rotational degrees of freedom. In the illustrated example, the rotationally compliant connector  456  is a ball joint that is connected to the body  238  and is seated in a complementary recess in the charging plug  104 . Use of a ball joint for the rotationally compliant connector  456  can allow adjustment in up to all three rotational degrees of freedom (i.e., pitch, yaw, and roll). In the illustrated example, the rotationally compliant connector  456  is positioned near a lateral center point of the charging plug between a pair of conductive connector portions  458  of the charging plug  104 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing a receptacle assembly  560  that includes the charging receptacle  110  and the cover  112  with the cover  112  in a closed position.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view showing the receptacle assembly  560  with the cover  112  in an open position. When the cover  112  is in the closed position, it may be flush with respect to an adjacent structure, such as a surface  562 , which may be an exterior body surface of the vehicle  102 . When the cover  112  is in the open position, the charging receptacle  110  is accessible, including conductive connector portions  564  of the charging receptacle  110 . 
     The receptacle assembly  560  includes a guide surface  566 . In the illustrated example, the guide surface  566  is connected to the cover  112 , and is positioned on an interior surface of the cover  112  such that it is concealed when the cover  112  is closed and is accessible when the cover  112  is open. 
       FIG. 6A  is a side cross-section view showing the receptacle assembly  560  with the cover  112  in the closed position.  FIG. 6B  is a side cross-section view showing the receptacle assembly  560  with the cover  112  in the open position. The cover  112  is supported by a four-bar linkage including upper bars  668  and lower bars  670  that regulate motion of the cover  112  relative to the surface  562  and the charging receptacle  110 . The cover  112  is moved between the closed and open positions by a driving arm  672  and a driven arm  674  that are placed in an over-center condition in the open position to lock the cover  112  in the open position. The driving arm  672  is connected to a rotary actuator (e.g., an electric motor) at a drive joint  673  and is connected to the driven arm  674  at a connecting joint  675 . Magnetic elements can be incorporated in the driving arm  672  and/or the driven arm  674  to resist relative motion of the driving arm  672  and the driven arm  674  when the cover  112  is in the open position or the closed position, to resist inadvertent motion of the cover  112 , for example, as a result of vibrations. 
       FIG. 7A  is a bottom view showing the guide surface  566 , and  FIG. 7B  is a side cross-section taken on line  7 B- 7 B of  FIG. 7A  showing the guide surface  566 . The guide surface  566  has a central portion  776 , lateral portions  777 , a first end  778 , and a second end  779 . 
     The guide surface  566  is configured to be engaged by the guide element  242  as the vehicle  102  approaches the charging station  100  to cause motion of the passive alignment mechanism  106  to bring the charging plug  104  into alignment with the charging receptacle  110 . The central portion  776  of the guide surface  566  has a vertical profile that is configured to engage the guide element  242  for vertically aligning the charging plug  104  as the guide element  242  moves along the central portion  776  of the guide surface  566  from the first end  778  toward the second end  779 . The lateral portions  777  extend outward from the central portion  776  of the guide surface  566  and have lateral profiles that taper from the first end  778  to the second end  779  to restrict the available width for traversal by the guide element  242  and to laterally align the charging plug  104  as the guide element  242  moves along one of the lateral portions  777  of the guide surface  566  from the first end  778  toward the second end  779 . 
       FIG. 8A  is a side view showing a charging assembly that includes the charging plug  104  and the receptacle assembly  560  in a disconnected position.  FIG. 8B  is a side view showing the charging assembly during movement from the disconnected position to a connected position.  FIG. 8C  is a side view showing the charging assembly in the connected position. In  FIG. 8A , the guide element  242  comes into contact with the guide surface  566 . This engagement causes downward and lateral motion of the charging plug  104  using the passive alignment mechanism  106  as the charging plug  104  moves into contact with the charging receptacle  110  during movement to the connected position as shown in  FIG. 8B . After connection of the charging plug  104  to the charging receptacle  110 , the releasable connector  344  may move from the connected position to the released position to allow compliant longitudinal motion using the longitudinal translation stage  220  of the passive alignment mechanism  106  if the vehicle  102  continues moving toward the station  100 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a passive alignment mechanism  906  and a charging plug  904  for use as in a charging station, such as the charging station  100 , according to an alternative implementation. The passive alignment mechanism  906  has a combined translation and rotation stage that includes a first rod  980 , a first upper slide  981   a , a first lower slide  981   b , a first upper link  982   a , a first lower link  982   b , a second rod  983 , a second upper slide  984   a , a second lower slide  984   b , a second upper link  985   a , a second lower link  985   b , and a stabilizing link  986 . The passive alignment mechanism  906  moves in response to external forces, for example, using a guide element  942 , which is similar to the guide element  242 . 
     The first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b  are positioned on the first rod  980  and are independently slidable with respect to it. Biasing elements, such as springs, may be located on the first rod  980  to enforce a desired neutral position for the first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b . The first upper link  982   a  is pivotally connected to the first upper slide  981   a . The first lower link  982   b  is pivotally connected to the first lower slide  981   b  and is also pivotally connected to the first upper link  982   a  by a pivotal connection at an intermediate point along the first lower link  982   b . The first lower link  982   b  is also connected to the charging plug  904 , either directly or by an intermediate structure such as a bracket and/or a rotationally compliant joint. The first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b  may move upward and downward in unison along the first rod  980 , which causes corresponding upward and downward motion of the first upper link  982   a  and the first lower link  982   b . The first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b  may move toward each other, which causes longitudinal extension of the first upper link  982   a  and the first lower link  982   b . The first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b  may move away from each other, which causes longitudinal retraction of the first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b.    
     The second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b  are positioned on the second rod  983  and independently slidable with respect to it. Biasing elements, such as springs, may be located on the second rod  983  to enforce a desired neutral position for the second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b . The second upper link  985   a  is pivotally connected to the second upper slide  984   a . The second lower link  985   b  is pivotally connected to the second lower slide  984   b  and is also pivotally connected to the second upper link  985   a  by a pivotal connection at an intermediate point along the second lower link  985   b . The second lower link  985   b  is also connected to the charging plug  904 , either directly or by an intermediate structure such as a bracket and/or a rotationally compliant joint. The second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b  may move upward and downward in unison along the second rod  983 , which causes corresponding upward and downward motion of the second upper link  985   a  and the second lower link  985   b . The second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b  may move toward each other, which causes longitudinal extension of the second upper link  985   a  and the second lower link  985   b . The second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b  may move away from each other, which causes longitudinal retraction of the second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b.    
     Differential motion of first upper slide  981   a  and the first lower slide  981   b  relative to the second upper slide  984   a  and the second lower slide  984   b  is operable to cause lateral adjustment of the charging plug  904 . The stabilizing link  986  is interconnected with the first lower link  982   b  and the second lower link  985   b  at the charging plug  904  to enforce leveling during translational adjustment. The charging plug  904  can be connected to the first lower link  982   b  and the second lower link  985   b  in a rotationally compliant manner, for example, using a connector analogous to the rotationally compliant connector  456 . 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram that shows charging station components  1090  and vehicle charging system components  1095 . The charging station components  1090  can be incorporated in, for example, the charging station  100  to supply electrical power. The vehicle charging system components  1095  can be incorporated in, for example, the vehicle  102  to receive electrical power. The charging station components  1090  can include a power supply  1091  that is connected to a source of electrical power such as a power grid, a power regulation system  1092  that conditions the power in an appropriate manner for supply to the vehicle charging system components  1095 , a controller  1093  such as a computing device or integrated circuit that regulates operation of the power regulation system  1092  and may communicate with the vehicle charging system components  1095 , and a charging connector  1094 , which may include conductive components or inductive components for connection to the vehicle charging system components  1095 . The vehicle charging system components  1095  can be incorporated in the vehicle  102  and can include a battery pack  1096 , a power regulation system  1097  to control supply of power to the battery pack  1096  and supply of power from the battery pack  1096 , a controller  1098  such as a computing device or integrated circuit that regulates operation of the power regulation system  1097  and may communicate with the charging station components  1090 , and a charging connector  1099 , which may include conductive components or inductive components for connection to the charging station components  1090 . 
     As used in the claims, phrases in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” should be interpreted to encompass only A, or only B, or only C, or any combination of A, B and C.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20200518
Publication Date: 20201020
Grant Date: 20201020
Priority Date: 20170907
Inventors: TOROK, MATTHEW M.
COLLINS, FOSTER D.
PRICE, WILLIAM M.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "B60L53/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/36", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/14", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02T90/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02T10/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L2200/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02T10/7072", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Y2200/91", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02T90/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Y2300/91", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/31", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Y2300/91", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Y2200/91", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60L53/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 70774804