Power supply device, power receiving device and billing method

• US 10,546,281 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sako, Yoichiro, Tadano, Taro, Washiro, Takanori, Takemura, Kazuyoshi, Hayashi, Kuniya, Soma, Isao, Tanaka, Kayoko, Higano, Satoshi, Serita, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel, Vanel
• Application Number:
  US14/376,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20150006343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,553 Days
• Field of Search: 705 34, 705412, 705 39, 705 40, 705 44, 320132, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 : for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 1/00 : Amplitude modulation H03C5/00, H03C7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0115 : comprising only inductors and capacitors H03H7/075, H03H7/09, H03H7/12, H03H7/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Devices, methods, and programs for billing for electric power. A billing method may include generating billing information for an amount related to electric power transmitted by a power supply device, performing a billing process based on the billing information, and selectively transmitting electric power based on the result of the billing process. A power supply device may include a billing information generating unit, a billing processing unit, and a power control unit. Another billing method may include determining whether billing information has been received, performing a billing process after it is determined that the billing information has been received, transmitting a response signal to a power supply device, and providing notice regarding information related to the billing process. A power receiving device may include a billing processing unit, a power control unit, and a notice control unit.

Claims

1. A first device, comprising:

a billing information generating unit configured to generate billing information for an amount related to electric power transmitted by the first device, wherein the first device is a power supply device;

a power line communication unit configured to communicate with a second device via a power line;

a billing processing unit configured to;

communicate with the second device to execute a billing process based on the communication via the power line and the billing information;

receive a response signal indicating a result of the billing process from the second device based on the communication, wherein

the response signal is transmitted by the second device by load modulation performed based on a first signal received from the first device; and

determine the result of the billing process based on the response signal; and

a power control unit configured to selectively transmit electric power to the second device based on the determined result.

2. The first device of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter configured to block a second signal of a frequency, wherein

the second device is a power receiving device,

the power supply device and the power receiving device are connected through the power line,

the frequency is associated with the power receiving device, and

the filter is connected between the power line communication unit and the power line; and

an authenticating unit configured to authenticate the power receiving device based on the communication with the power receiving device.

3. The first device of claim 1, wherein

the billing processing unit is further configured to:

transmit a billing process command to the second device; and

receive the response signal from the second device based on the billing process command, and

the second device is a power receiving device.

4. The first device of claim 1, wherein

the billing processing unit is further configured to:

transmit a billing process command to the second device; and

receive the response signal from the second device based on the billing process command, and

the second device is a billing processing device.

5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the billing processing unit is further configured to transmit the electric power to the second device via a power line.

6. The first device of claim 1, wherein the billing information generating unit is further configured to generate the billing information based on the amount that satisfies a set condition.

7. The first device of claim 6,

wherein the amount comprises a duration of power supply time that elapses after the power control unit begins the selective transmission of the electric power, and

wherein the set condition comprises a determined time.

8. The first device of claim 6,

wherein the amount comprises a total amount of the electric power that the power control unit supplies after the power control unit begins the selective transmission of the electric power, and

wherein the set condition comprises a determined amount of the electric power.

9. The first device of claim 6,

wherein the amount comprises a cost of an amount of the electric power that the power control unit supplies after the power control unit begins the selective transmission of the electric power, and

wherein the set condition comprises a determined price.

10. The first device of claim 1,

wherein the billing information corresponds to a power supply mode of the power supply device, and

wherein the power supply mode corresponds to a supply speed of the electric power.

11. The first device of claim 1, wherein

the billing information corresponds to a first unit price of the electric power based on a determination that a total amount of the electric power supplied is less than a determined value, and

the billing information corresponds to a second unit price of the electric power based on a determination that the total amount of the electric power supplied is greater than the determined value.

12. The first device of claim 1, wherein the power control unit is further configured to transmit the electric power based on a completion of the billing process.

13. The first device of claim 12, wherein the billing processing unit is further configured to determine an unpaid shortage based on incompletion of the billing process.

14. The first device of claim 1,

wherein the billing information generating unit is further configured to acquire price information, and

wherein the billing information corresponds to a price of the electric power indicated by the price information.

15. The first device of claim 1, wherein the billing information generating unit is further configured to:

change a cost of the electric power based on a power supply speed of the first device; and

generate the billing information that indicates the changed cost of the electric power.

16. The first device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power consumption measuring unit configured to measure power consumption corresponding to the electric power transmitted to the second device, wherein the second device is a power receiving device.

17. A power receiving device, comprising:

a power line communication unit configured to communicate with a power supply device via a power line;

a billing processing unit configured to;

determine that billing information is received, wherein the billing information is for an amount related to electric power received from the power supply device;

execute a billing process based on the communication via the power line and the billing information;

a power control unit configured to;

transmit a response signal to the power supply device based on the billing process, wherein

the response signal is transmitted by load modulation, and

the load modulation is based on a signal received from the power supply device, and

the response signal indicates a result of the billing process;

control reception of the electric power from the power supply device based on the result of the billing process; and

a notice control unit configured to generate notice information related to the billing process.

18. The power receiving device of claim 17, wherein

the power supply device and the power receiving device are connected through a power line, and

the power line communication unit is connected to the power line by a filter.

19. The power receiving device of claim 17, wherein the billing information comprises information associated with a configurable power supply mode.

20. The power receiving device of claim 17, wherein the billing processing unit is further configured to:

generate a billing process command based on the billing information; and

process an electronic value based on the generated billing process command.