ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING A CHARGING CAB WITH A MALE PLUGGAGE FOR DETECTING A CHARGING GUN

The vehicle design with a charging hatch and immobilizer system using plug connections ensures the vehicle cannot be started during charging and confirms proper storage of the cable and gun, addressing the issues of improper storage and unauthorized starting in existing systems.

FR3162686A1Active Publication Date: 2025-12-05STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2024005750
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-06-03
Publication Date
2025-12-05
Estimated Expiration
2044-06-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing electric and hybrid motor vehicles lack a reliable mechanism to prevent starting while charging and ensure proper storage of the charging cable and gun, as prior systems allow vehicles to start even with permanently attached cables and do not guarantee proper storage.

Method used

An electric or hybrid motor vehicle with a charging hatch containing a charging cable and gun, equipped with an immobilizer system that uses a male plug and female plug connection to confirm proper storage, allowing vehicle start only when the charging components are correctly housed, utilizing either wired or wireless communication networks like Wi-Fi for signal transmission.

Benefits of technology

Ensures the vehicle is not started during charging and guarantees correct storage of the charging cable and gun, enhancing safety and reliability by ensuring the charging components are securely stored before vehicle operation.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body, an electric charging cable including a charging gun (1) and a housing (2) adapted to contain said charging cable and said charging gun (1), said vehicle comprising a charging port adapted to open or close said housing (2), said vehicle comprising an immobilizer system, characterized in that said charging port comprises a flap (3) and a lining (4), said male connector (5) of the lining (4) being inserted into the female connector (6) of the charging gun (1) when said housing (2) is closed by said charging port, a signal being transmitted to the immobilizer system when said male connector (5) is inserted into said female connector (6), said immobilizer system being configured to allow the vehicle to start when the signal is emitted. Figure 2
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Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING A CHARGING CAB INCLUDING A MALE PLUG FOR DETECTING A CHARGING GUN

[0001] The invention relates to electric or hybrid motor vehicles having charging cables attached to their bodies.

[0002] Prior art patent application FR2984615 is known, describing a detection device for an electric motor vehicle comprising a first female connector that can be connected to a second male connector of a power cable. The connection provides an electric current. The detection device includes a detection circuit with switching means. The switching means can be placed in a first state in which the flow of a detection signal is prohibited when the first connector is not connected to the second connector, and in a second state in which the flow of the detection signal is permitted when the first connector is connected to the second connector. The detection device includes analysis means for delivering an alarm signal to prevent the vehicle from starting when the detection signal is circulating in said detection circuit. However, a drawback remains.When the power cable is permanently attached to the vehicle, it is always connected to the first available outlet. Therefore, the vehicle can always be started, even while charging. Furthermore, this does not guarantee that the power cable is properly stored.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to prevent the vehicle from starting when the charging cable and the charging gun are not stored.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body, an electric charging cable including a charging gun and a housing adapted to contain said charging cable and said charging gun, said charging cable being integral with said body, said vehicle comprising a charging hatch, said charging hatch being adapted to open or close said housing, said vehicle comprising an immobilizer system to authorize or prohibit the starting of said vehicle, notable in that said charging hatch comprises a flap and a lining, said lining comprising a male plug, said charging gun comprising a female plug, said male plug being inserted into the female connector when said housing is closed by said reloading hatch, a signal being transmitted to the immobilizer system to confirm the presence of the reloading gun in said housing when said male connector is inserted into said female connector, said immobilizer system being configured to allow the vehicle to start when the signal is emitted.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, it is ensured that the vehicle is not being recharged and that the charging cable and the charging gun are correctly stored in the housing before the vehicle can be started.

[0006] Advantageously, the immobilizer system is electrically connected to the male plug and / or the female plug to transmit said signal to said immobilizer system.

[0007] A wired communication network exhibits high stability and does not undergo fluctuations.

[0008] Advantageously, said vehicle includes a means of communication between the immobilizer system and the male and / or female plug, said signal being transmitted to the immobilizer system by the means of communication via a wireless communication network.

[0009] Preferably, said wireless communication network is Wi-Fi®.

[0010] Preferably, said wireless communication network is a fourth or fifth generation.

[0011] A wireless communication network is easier to set up because the installation of cables is not necessary. This also frees up space due to the absence of these cables.

[0012] Advantageously, the lining is positioned opposite the flap at a distance of less than 10 cm.

[0013] This allows for easy arrangement of the lining in a standard housing.

[0014] Preferably, the male plug is substantially perpendicular to the lining.

[0015] This facilitates the insertion of the male plug into the female plug.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for authorizing the starting of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of closing the reloading hatch, with the reloading cable and reloading gun stored in said compartment; - a step of inserting the male plug into the female plug; - a step of emitting a signal to the immobilizer system, resulting in authorization to start said vehicle.

[0017] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an empty housing of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the dwelling shown in [Fig.1] including a reloading gun.

[0018] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a housing 2 of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. The housing 2 is closed by a charging port comprising a flap 3 and a lining 4. The charging port is adapted to open or close said housing 2 to allow for the electrical charging of the vehicle. In Figure 1, the housing 2 is closed by said charging port. Furthermore, the housing 2 is empty. The lining 4 is positioned between the flap 3 and the housing 2. Preferably, the lining 4 is positioned at a distance of less than 10 cm from the flap 3. Thus, the dimensions of the housing 2 do not have to be modified compared to housings of the prior art. The lining 4 is easily arranged within said housing 2. The lining 4 has a male connector 5.

[0019] In [Fig. 2], the compartment 2 includes a charging cable (not shown) comprising a charging gun 1. The vehicle includes a body and an immobilizer system (not shown). The immobilizer system's function is to allow or prevent the vehicle from starting. The charging cable is attached to the body. The compartment 2 is designed to hold the charging cable and the charging gun 1. The charging gun 1 has a female connector 6. The female connector 6 is positioned opposite the male connector 5 when the charging hatch is closed to allow the male connector 5 to be inserted into the female connector 6. Indeed, when the charging hatch is closed and the charging gun 1 is stored in the compartment 2, the male connector 5 is inserted into the female connector 6.Preferably, the male connector 5 is substantially perpendicular to the lining 4 to facilitate its insertion into the female connector 6. A signal is transmitted to the immobilizer system when the male connector 5 is inserted into the female connector 6. The immobilizer system allows the vehicle to start when the signal is emitted. Optionally, the immobilizer system is electrically connected to the male connector 5 and / or the female connector 6 to transmit this signal. In another embodiment, the vehicle includes a means of communication between the immobilizer system and the male connector 5 and / or the female connector 6; the signal is then transmitted to the immobilizer system via a wireless communication network. For example, the wireless communication network is Wi-Fi®. It could also be a fourth- or fifth-generation network, respectively called 4G and 5G.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for authorizing the starting of the vehicle described above. During a closing step, the charging hatch is The device is closed after the charging cable and charging gun 1 have been stored in the designated compartment 2. During the insertion step, the male plug 5 is inserted into the female plug 6, which triggers the transmission of a signal to the immobilizer system. The immobilizer then authorizes the starting, and therefore the movement, of the vehicle. This process ensures that the vehicle is fully charged and that the charging cable and charging gun 1 are correctly stored in the compartment 2 before starting the vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. An electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body, an electric charging cable including a charging gun (1) and a housing (2) suitable for containing said charging cable and said charging gun (1), said charging cable being integral with said body, said vehicle comprising a charging hatch, said charging hatch being suitable for opening or closing said housing (2), said vehicle comprising an immobilizer system for authorizing or prohibiting the starting of said vehicle, characterized in that said charging hatch comprises a flap (3) and a lining (4), said lining (4) comprising a male plug (5), said charging gun (1) comprising a female plug (6), said male plug (5) being inserted into the female plug (6) when said housing (2) is closed by said charging hatch,a signal being transmitted to the immobilizer system to confirm the presence of the reloading gun (1) in said housing (2) when said male plug (5) is inserted into said female plug (6), said immobilizer system being configured to allow the vehicle to start when the signal is emitted.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the immobilizer system is electrically connected to the male plug (5) and / or the female plug (6) to transmit said signal to said immobilizer system.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said vehicle comprises a means of communication between the immobilizer system and the male plug (5) and / or the female plug (6), said signal being transmitted to the immobilizer system by the means of communication via a wireless communication network.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the lining (4) is positioned opposite the flap (3) at a distance of less than 10 cm.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the male plug (5) is substantially perpendicular to the lining (4).

6. A method for authorizing the starting of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of closing the charging hatch, the charging cable and the charging gun (1) being stored in said housing (2); - a step of inserting the male plug (5) into the female plug (6); - a step of emitting a signal to the immobilizer system generating authorization for the starting of said vehicle.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Electric connection detection device for controller of e.g. electric car, has analysis unit arranged to deliver alarm signal for disabling startup of vehicle when detection signal travels through detecting circuit

    FR2984615A1

  • Device for connecting actuated vehicle with electric current with power point on low-voltage alternating current network, has charging cable with plug connector for power point

    DE102010048386A1

  • electric car with safety switch as anti-drift protection

    DE8213269U1

  • Electric Vehicle with Charging Cable Recognition Device

    US20190248250A1