CHARGING STATION FEATURING A FIRST AND A SECOND LIGHT PROJECTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging station (2) comprising a transmitting base (3) configured to interact with a charging receiver of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1) in order to perform electric charging of said vehicle (1) when the charging receiver is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance from said transmitting base (3), characterized in that said charging station (2) comprises at least a first light projector (5) capable of projecting at least a first light marking (7) and a second light projector (6) capable of projecting at least a second light marking (8), the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8) being configured to be read by a reading device (4) of said vehicle (1) to verify that the vehicle (1) is positioned between the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: CHARGING STATION COMPRISING A FIRST LIGHT PROJECTOR AND A SECOND LIGHT PROJECTOR

[0001] The invention relates to the placement of electric or hybrid motor vehicles in charging stations to carry out their electrical recharging.

[0002] Prior art patent application DE102014220261 is known, describing a control device for positioning a vehicle in a charging station for the purpose of charging the vehicle. The vehicle has a secondary charging coil, while the charging station has a primary charging coil and a reference mark. A position detection device detects the position of the reference mark to calculate the relative position of the vehicle's secondary charging coil with respect to the charging station's primary charging coil. A vehicle control device is present to control the vehicle's movement, based on the relative position calculated by the position detection device, so as to reduce the distance between the vehicle's secondary charging coil and the charging station's primary charging coil. However, some drawbacks remain.The position of the secondary charging coil relative to the primary charging coil provides no indication of the vehicle's proper placement for charging, only the distance between the two coils. Therefore, it can be difficult for the driver to position their vehicle within the charging station.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to help the driver to correctly position his motor vehicle in a charging station.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a charging station comprising a transmitting base configured to interact with a charging receiver of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle in order to proceed with the electric charging of said vehicle when the charging receiver is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance from said transmitting base, notable in that said charging station comprises at least a first light projector capable of projecting at least a first light marking and a second light projector capable of projecting at least a second light marking, the first light marking and the second light marking being configured to be read by a reading device of said vehicle to verify that the vehicle is positioned between the first light marking and the second light marking.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the driver is able to maintain proper alignment of their vehicle between the two light markings. Thus, they only need to move their vehicle forward or backward to align the charging receiver with the emitting base.

[0006] Advantageously, the first light marking and the second light marking are continuous.

[0007] Alternatively, the first light projector and the second light projector are capable of projecting a plurality of light lines so that the first light marking and the second light marking are discontinuous.

[0008] Advantageously, the first light projector is capable of projecting a third light marking, the second light projector being capable of projecting a fourth light marking, the third light marking being projected in the opposite direction of the first light marking, the fourth light marking being projected in the opposite direction of the second light marking, the third light marking and the fourth light marking being configured to be read by said reading device in order to verify that the load receiver of said vehicle is at a distance less than or equal to the predetermined distance from said emitting base.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for recharging an electric or hybrid motor vehicle using a charging station described above, said vehicle comprising a warning system configured to inform the driver of the position of said vehicle relative to the first light marking and the second light marking, notable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of detecting the vehicle in the charging station; - a step of reading the first light marking and the second light marking by the reading device; - a warning stage for the driver by the warning system when said vehicle is positioned between the first light marking and the second light marking or when said vehicle crosses the first light marking and / or the second light marking.

[0010] Preferably, the first light projector is capable of projecting a third light marking, the second light projector being capable of projecting a fourth light marking, the third light marking being projected in the opposite direction to the first light marking, the fourth light marking being projected in the opposite direction to the second light marking, said method comprising a step of emitting a stop signal following the warning step during which the stop signal is emitted by the warning system when the The reading device detects the third light marking and the fourth light marking.

[0011] Advantageously, during said detection step, said vehicle is detected by geolocation, by triggering the charging process or by communication between the transmitting base and the charging receiver.

[0012] Advantageously, said vehicle includes a speed sensor, said speed sensor being configured to communicate with said transmitting base, during said detection step, said vehicle being detected when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold value.

[0013] Preferably, said vehicle includes a parking device to immobilize the vehicle in parking position during said detection step, said vehicle being detected during the activation of the parking device.

[0014] 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 electric or hybrid motor vehicle in a charging station according to a first embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the electric motor vehicle or hybrid in the charging station according to a second embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the electric motor vehicle or hybrid in the charging station during the charging process.

[0015] The present invention relates to a charging station 2 for charging an electric or hybrid automobile 1. The vehicle 1 comprises a front axle and a rear axle whose points of contact with the ground define a basic plane XY defined by a first longitudinal direction X corresponding to straight-line driving, a second transverse direction Y orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction X, and a third vertical direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y and oriented away from the ground. The system includes a charging receiver (not shown). The charging receiver is positioned in said vehicle 1. The system includes a transmitter base 3 positioned in the charging station 2.The transmitter base 3 and the charging receiver are configured to trigger the charging process when the charging receiver and the transmitter base 3 are within a predetermined distance of each other. The vehicle 1 has a road marking line reading device 4, also called a device. Lane-keeping assist or "LKA" (acronym meaning Lane-Keeping Assist in English).

[0016] The reading device 4 is positioned at the front of the vehicle 1 along the first direction X and verifies that the vehicle 1 is positioned between the lane markings, without encroaching upon them. The charging station 2 includes at least one first light projector 5 capable of projecting a first light marking 7. In addition, the charging station 2 includes a second light projector 6 capable of projecting a second light marking 8. Preferably, the first light projector 5 and the second light projector 6 are adjustable so as to configure the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8 respectively along the second direction Y and the third direction Z, i.e., in width and height. Optionally, the first light projector 5 and the second light projector 6 include a remote control system for configuring them.The first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8 are similar to marking lines painted on the ground by the reading device 4. Thus, the reading device 4 is able to determine whether the vehicle 1 is correctly positioned, that is, positioned between the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8. In other words, the reading device 4 is configured to determine whether said vehicle 1 is positioned between the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8. In a first embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], the first light projector 5 and the second light projector 6 are positioned on either side of the base, each positioned at an equal distance from said emitting base 3. The first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8 are continuous.In a second embodiment, illustrated in [Fig. 2], the first light projector 5 and the second light projector 6 are capable of projecting a plurality of light lines such that the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8 are discontinuous. Indeed, road marking lines can be continuous or discontinuous. The reading device 4 is capable of reading both continuous and discontinuous marking lines. The reading of the light markings by said reading device is represented by arrows in [Fig. 1], [Fig. 2], and [Fig. 3]. Similarly, the reading device 4 is then capable of reading the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8 when these are discontinuous. In [Fig. 2], the first light projector 5 and the second light projector 6 are positioned at the level of the emitting base 3; however, this example is not limiting.Preferably, the reading device 4 includes a warning system to inform the driver of said vehicle of the position of the vehicle relative to the first. Light marking 7 and the second light marking 8. This allows the driver to adjust the vehicle's position based on the information provided by the warning system. For example, the warning system is an audible signal.

[0017] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the electric or hybrid vehicle 1 in the charging station 2 during the charging process. The vehicle 1 has moved forward in the first direction X relative to the representation of said vehicle in Figure 1. Optionally, the first light projector 5 is capable of projecting a third light marking 9 and the second light projector 6 is capable of projecting a fourth light marking 10. In this case, the third light marking 9 is projected in the opposite direction to the first light marking 7 and the fourth light marking 10 is projected in the opposite direction to the second light marking 8. Optionally, the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8 each display a first color, while the third light marking 9 and the fourth light marking 10 each display a second color.The second color is different from the first color. For example, the first light marker 7 and the second light marker 8 are red, while the third light marker 9 and the fourth light marker 10 are blue. Thus, when vehicle 1 moves in the first direction X into charging station 2, the reading device 4 is able to detect the color change from reading the first light marker 7 and the second light marker 8 to reading the third light marker 9 and the fourth light marker 10. When the reading device 4 detects the third light marker 9 and the fourth light marker 10, it means that vehicle 1 is ready to be charged because the charging receiver is at a distance less than or equal to the predetermined distance from the transmitting base 3; the charging process can then be initiated.

[0018] The invention also relates to a method for recharging an electric or hybrid vehicle 1 using the charging station 2 described above. The method includes a detection step during which the vehicle 1 is detected at said charging station 2. For example, the vehicle 1 is detected by geolocation, by triggering the recharging process when the charging receiver is positioned at a distance less than or equal to the predetermined distance. The vehicle 1 can also be detected by communication between said charging receiver and the transmitting base 3. Alternatively, when the vehicle 1 has a speed sensor, said vehicle 1 is detected when its speed is below a predetermined threshold value during the detection step. Indeed, the speed sensor is configured to communicate with said transmitting base 3. Thus, when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a predetermined threshold value, the transmitting base 3 detects said vehicle. In another alternative embodiment, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a parking device to immobilize the vehicle 1 in a parked position, and during the detection stage, the vehicle 1 is detected when the parking device is activated. During a reading stage, the reading device 4 detects the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8. Based on this information, during a warning stage, the warning system informs the driver that the vehicle is correctly positioned, i.e., between the first light marking 7 and the second light marking 8, to encourage the driver to maintain this position.Alternatively, the warning system informs the driver when the vehicle is incorrectly positioned, i.e., when the vehicle crosses the first light mark 7 and / or the second light mark 8. Optionally, when the first light projector 5 projects the third light mark 9 in the opposite direction of the first light mark (7) and the second light projector 6 projects the fourth light mark 10 in the opposite direction of the second light mark (8), the method includes a step of emitting a stop signal by said warning system when the reading device detects the third light mark 9 and the fourth light mark 10 to indicate to the driver that the charging receiver is sufficiently close to the transmitting base 3 to proceed with charging the vehicle 1.

Claims

Demands

1. Charging station (2) comprising a transmitting base (3) configured to interact with a charging receiver of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1) in order to proceed with the electric charging of said vehicle (1) when the charging receiver is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance from said transmitting base (3), characterized in that said charging station (2) comprises at least a first light projector (5) capable of projecting at least a first light marking (7) and a second light projector (6) capable of projecting at least a second light marking (8), the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8) being configured to be read by a reading device (4) of said vehicle (1) to verify that the vehicle (1) is positioned between the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8).

2. Charging station (2) according to claim 1 characterized in that the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8) are continuous.

3. Charging station (2) according to claim 1 characterized in that the first light projector (5) and the second light projector (6) are capable of projecting a plurality of light lines so that the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8) are discontinuous.

4. Charging station (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first light projector (5) is capable of projecting a third light marking (9), the second light projector (6) being capable of projecting a fourth light marking (10), the third light marking (9) being projected in the opposite direction of the first light marking (7), the fourth light marking (10) being projected in the opposite direction of the second light marking (8), the third light marking (9) and the fourth light marking (10) being configured to be read by said reading device (4) in order to verify that the charging receiver of said vehicle (1) is at a distance less than or equal to the predetermined distance from said emitting base (3).

5. A method for recharging an electric or hybrid motor vehicle using a charging station according to any one of claims 1 to 4, said vehicle (1) comprising a warning system configured to inform the driver of the position of said vehicle (1) with respect to the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8), characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of detecting the vehicle (1) in the charging station (2); - a step of reading the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8) by the reading device (4); - a step of warning the driver by the warning system when said vehicle is positioned between the first light marking (7) and the second light marking (8) or when said vehicle crosses the first light marking (7) and / or the second light marking (8).

6. A method according to claim 5 characterized in that the first light projector (5) is capable of projecting a third light marking (9), the second light projector (6) being capable of projecting a fourth light marking (10), the third light marking (9) being projected in the opposite direction of the first light marking (7), the fourth light marking (10) being projected in the opposite direction of the second light marking (8), said method comprising a step of emitting a stop signal, following the warning step, during which the stop signal is emitted by the warning system when the reading device (4) detects the third light marking (9) and the fourth light marking (10).

7. Method according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that, during said detection step, said vehicle is detected by geolocation, by triggering the recharging process or by communication between the transmitting base (3) and the charging receiver.

8. Method according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said vehicle comprises a speed sensor, said speed sensor being configured to communicate with said transmitting base (3), during said detection step, said vehicle being detected when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold value.

9. Method according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said vehicle comprises a parking device to immobilize the vehicle in parking position, during said detection step, said vehicle being detected during the activation of the parking device.

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