Dynamic allocation of power modules for charging electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A dispenser to charge electric vehicles, comprising:
- a processor;
a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the following;
request power from a power cabinet that includes a plurality of power modules for charging an electric vehicle, wherein the dispenser is one of a plurality of dispensers that are supplied power by the power cabinet, wherein each power module can be allocated to a single one of the dispensers at a time and supply an amount of power to that single one of the dispensers at that time, and wherein the plurality of power modules together cannot handle a maximum rating of the plurality of dispensers,prior to charging service being provided to the electric vehicle through the dispenser, receive a message that indicates an allocation of a plurality of the power modules regardless of whether an amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power exceeds an amount of power determined for charging the electric vehicle,determine an amount of power for charging the electric vehicle,in response to a determination that the amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power exceeds the determined amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, send a message to the power cabinet to release one or more of the allocated power modules such that a total amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power does not exceed the determined amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, and wherein the one or more of the allocated power modules are available to be allocated to another one of the plurality of dispensers after being released, andin response to a determination to dynamically allocate the plurality of power modules between the plurality of dispensers, participate in a dynamic allocation of the plurality of power modules to the plurality of dispensers wherein at least one of the plurality of power modules that is presently allocated to the dispenser is deallocated and reallocated to another one of the plurality of dispensers, wherein the dynamic allocation of the plurality of power modules is based on a set of one or more factors including a maximum rate of power that can be dispensed by each of the plurality of dispensers.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamic allocation of power modules for charging electric vehicles is described herein. A power cabinet includes multiple power modules that each are capable of supplying an amount of power to a dispenser. Multiple dispensers are coupled with the same power cabinet. A first power bus couples a first dispenser and switchably connects the power modules to the first dispenser; and a second power bus couples a second dispenser and switchably connects the power modules to the second dispenser. The power cabinet includes a control unit that is configured to cause the power modules to switchably connect and disconnect from the first power bus and the second power bus to dynamically allocate the power modules between the first dispenser and the second dispenser.
87 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A dispenser to charge electric vehicles, comprising:
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a processor; a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the following; request power from a power cabinet that includes a plurality of power modules for charging an electric vehicle, wherein the dispenser is one of a plurality of dispensers that are supplied power by the power cabinet, wherein each power module can be allocated to a single one of the dispensers at a time and supply an amount of power to that single one of the dispensers at that time, and wherein the plurality of power modules together cannot handle a maximum rating of the plurality of dispensers, prior to charging service being provided to the electric vehicle through the dispenser, receive a message that indicates an allocation of a plurality of the power modules regardless of whether an amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power exceeds an amount of power determined for charging the electric vehicle, determine an amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, in response to a determination that the amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power exceeds the determined amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, send a message to the power cabinet to release one or more of the allocated power modules such that a total amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power does not exceed the determined amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, and wherein the one or more of the allocated power modules are available to be allocated to another one of the plurality of dispensers after being released, and in response to a determination to dynamically allocate the plurality of power modules between the plurality of dispensers, participate in a dynamic allocation of the plurality of power modules to the plurality of dispensers wherein at least one of the plurality of power modules that is presently allocated to the dispenser is deallocated and reallocated to another one of the plurality of dispensers, wherein the dynamic allocation of the plurality of power modules is based on a set of one or more factors including a maximum rate of power that can be dispensed by each of the plurality of dispensers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method, comprising:
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requesting power from a power cabinet that includes a plurality of power modules for charging an electric vehicle, wherein the dispenser is one of a plurality of dispensers that are supplied power by the power cabinet, wherein each power module can be allocated to a single one of the dispensers at a time and supply an amount of power to that single one of the dispensers at that time, and wherein the plurality of power modules together cannot handle a maximum rating of the plurality of dispensers; prior to charging service being provided to the electric vehicle through the dispenser, receiving a message that indicates an allocation of a plurality of the power modules regardless of whether an amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power exceeds an amount of power determined for charging the electric vehicle; determining an amount of power for charging the electric vehicle; responsive to determining that the amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power exceeds the determined amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, sending a message to the power cabinet to release one or more of the allocated power modules such that a total amount of allocated power modules and corresponding amount of power does not exceed the determined amount of power for charging the electric vehicle, and wherein the one or more of the allocated power modules are available to be allocated to another one of the plurality of dispensers after being released; and responsive to determining to dynamically allocate the plurality of power modules between the plurality of dispensers, participating in a dynamic allocation of the plurality of power modules to the plurality of dispensers wherein at least one of the plurality of power modules that is presently allocated to the dispenser is deallocated and reallocated to another one of the plurality of dispensers, wherein the dynamic allocation of the plurality of power modules is based on a set of one or more factors including a maximum rate of power that can be dispensed by each of the plurality of dispensers. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification