A method and a corresponding device are provided for positioning a vehicle above a primary coil for inductive charging of a rechargeable battery in the vehicle. A control device for a vehicle is described. The vehicle has a secondary coil for receiving electrical energy from a primary coil outside the vehicle. The vehicle further has at least one camera, which is designed to detect an environment of the vehicle. The control unit is designed to receive image data from the at least one camera of the vehicle and to access reference data. The reference data includes information on at least one predefined reference object in the detected environment of the vehicle and on a position of the at least one predefined reference object relative to the primary coil. The control unit detects the at least one predefined reference object in the received image data on the basis of the reference data. In addition, the control unit determines a position of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil on the basis of the detected at least one reference object.

A method for assisting the positioning of an electric vehicle, provided with energy storage structure, with respect to a recharging station the electric vehicle and the recharging station being arranged in order to form between them a temporary electromechanical coupling allowing a transfer of electrical energy from the recharging station to the storage structure. This method includes, at the level of the recharging station, a phase of detecting a positioning of the electric vehicle that is suitable for a temporary coupling, and at the level of the vehicle, a phase of transmitting a charging command to the station, processing the charging command by the station being conditional on the detection of the positioning and controlling the forming of a temporary coupling, then a transfer of energy.

A charging system for a vehicle includes a connector suspended on a flexible cable and an adapter having a plug at a first end and an adapter port at a second end opposite the first end. The plug is removably disposed in a charging port of the vehicle and the adapter port extends outward from the vehicle. The connector is movable along a plurality of axes perpendicular to one another into a mated position with the adapter port.

A charging system for a vehicle includes a connector suspended on a flexible cable and an adapter having a plug at a first end and an adapter port at a second end opposite the first end. The plug is removably disposed in a charging port of the vehicle and the adapter port extends outward from the vehicle. The connector is movable along a plurality of axes perpendicular to one another into a mated position with the adapter port.

A charging system for a vehicle includes a connector suspended on a flexible cable and movable along at least one of a plurality of axes perpendicular to one another and a charging port fixed to the vehicle. The connector is movable into a mated position with the charging port.

A guidance system for a motor vehicle comprising: a controller, the controller being operable to determine whether a first length of cable is sufficiently long to allow a charging connection to be established between a motor vehicle and a charging station in dependence on data corresponding to a relative position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to the charging station; and output means for providing an output to a user indicating whether the cable is sufficiently long.

A cone shaped docking and releasing mechanism provides rigid connection between a parent UAV and a sub UAV to form a spliced double unmanned aerial vehicle system with improved cruising duration ability by providing sub UAV battery with charging function. It comprises a parent UAV, a sub UAV and a docking mechanism with charging ports. The parent UAV and the sub UAV are connected with each other through the docking mechanism to form a double UAV system, the docking mechanism is a cone structure and comprises a charging output component connected with the parent UAV internal control system, a charging circuit connected with a sub UAV control system and a charging input component connected with the charging circuit.

Automatic, dual power, inductive and electrical, vehicle charge station. This invention is a convenient, automatic, electric vehicle charge station, where the driver does nothing except driving in. It can have two charge methods:

A. Electrical conductive power with magnetic attractive closure in the charge station, for efficient dual contact transfer of either AC or DC to a vehicle.

B. Inductive power transfer with mating primary and secondary inductors that inductively transfers power to a vehicle by a transportable charge station.

For safety, the charge station has unique E-type laminations located front-to front, unique self releasing electrical contacts, and unique, self closing, safety sleeves in case of angry driver drive-off. No damage to vehicle or station.

Many different systems are described for guidance of the vehicle into the charge station.

An apparatus and method for identifying foreign objects in an inductive charging system having a charging unit and a vehicle for inductive charging, in which the charging unit includes a primary coil and the vehicle has a secondary coil in order to transmit electrical power from the primary coil to the secondary coil during a charging operation. The vehicle includes a camera system, and a camera control unit. The camera system captures at least one image of the charging unit when the vehicle approaches the charging unit, at the beginning of a charging operation and/or during a charging operation. The camera control unit digitally processes the at least one captured image in order to detect a foreign body located on the charging unit.

An inductive charger alignment system for a vehicle that includes: a plurality of on-board inductive receiving coils adapted to charge an on-board power source; an alignment controller coupled to the coils; an on-board signal element, e.g., a pair of headlamps, coupled to the controller; and an off-board inductive transmitter coil. Further, the controller is configured to direct the element to communicate an alignment between the receiving coils and the transmitter coil to an on-board driver. The alignment may include vehicle forward and side-to-side alignment between the receiving coils and the off-board transmitter coil.