Method and system for power exchange
First Claim
1. A system for vehicle power exchange, the system comprising:
- at least one power exchange strip;
at least one charged power cell associated with the at least one power exchange strip, the at least one power exchange strip having a first station for receiving a depleted power cell from a vehicle requesting power exchange and a second station physically separated from the first station and having a charged replacement power cell for installation in the vehicle after the depleted power cell have been removed;
a communication device operatively associated with the at least one power exchange strip for communicating between the at least one power exchange strip and a vehicle requesting power exchange; and
the vehicle having auxiliary power in addition to power supplied by the depleted power cell to power the movement of the vehicle from the first station to the physically separated second station, after the depleted power cell has been completely removed from the vehicle and left at the first station, wherein the vehicle without depleted power cell moves under auxiliary power to the second station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for vehicle power exchange includes both a system for exchanging a container having a power cell associated with the vehicle and an appropriate vehicle which has been adapted for vehicle power exchange. Advantageously, the system includes at least one power exchange power strip, at least one container with charged power cell associated with the power strip and wireless communication associated with the power exchange strip for communicating with a vehicle to effect power exchange. An advantageous vehicle for power exchange has a removable container with power cell, a computer processor for controlling requisite functions of the vehicle during power exchange (i.e. container exchange) and a mechanism which allows for the depositing of a container with depleted power cell and insertion of a replacement container with charged power cell into the vehicle.
50 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for vehicle power exchange, the system comprising:
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at least one power exchange strip; at least one charged power cell associated with the at least one power exchange strip, the at least one power exchange strip having a first station for receiving a depleted power cell from a vehicle requesting power exchange and a second station physically separated from the first station and having a charged replacement power cell for installation in the vehicle after the depleted power cell have been removed; a communication device operatively associated with the at least one power exchange strip for communicating between the at least one power exchange strip and a vehicle requesting power exchange; and the vehicle having auxiliary power in addition to power supplied by the depleted power cell to power the movement of the vehicle from the first station to the physically separated second station, after the depleted power cell has been completely removed from the vehicle and left at the first station, wherein the vehicle without depleted power cell moves under auxiliary power to the second station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14)
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6. A method for vehicle power exchange, the method comprising:
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receiving a vehicle for power exchange at a first stationary position along a power exchange strip; establishing a communicating connection between the vehicle and the power exchange strip to control vehicle functions during power exchange; communicating instruction to a computer processor of the vehicle via the communication connection to release a depleted power cell from the vehicle, at the first stationary position along a power exchange strip; removing the depleted power cell completely from the vehicle and leaving the depleted power cell at the first station; moving the vehicle, after the depleted power cell has been completely removed from the vehicle, to a second position along the power exchange strip; and inserting a charged power cell, associated with the second position of the power strip, into the vehicle; wherein moving the vehicle to move to a second position along the power exchange strip comprises instructing the vehicle, via the communication connection, to move to a second position along the power exchange strip, using auxiliary power on-board the vehicle, supplemental to the removed power cell after the depleted power cell has been completely removed from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification