PLUG-IN VEHICLE

• US 20080136371A1
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Granted Patent: US 8,664,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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

A system includes a control module, a network interface module, and a charging module. The control module stores a first set of charging parameters for charging a battery in a vehicle. The network interface module transmits the first set of charging parameters to a utility company and receives a reply from the utility company. The control module generates a charge control signal based on the reply and the first set of charging parameters. The charging module charges the battery of the vehicle based on the charge control signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a control module that stores a first set of charging parameters for charging a battery in a vehicle;

a network interface module that transmits said first set of charging parameters to a utility company and that receives a reply from said utility company,

wherein said control module generates a charge control signal based on said reply and said first set of charging parameters; and

a charging module that charges said battery of said vehicle based on said charge control signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said reply includes a second set of charging parameters that is different than said first set of charging parameters.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said reply includes a second set of charging parameters that is the same as said first set of charging parameters.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first set of charging parameters includes a first time to begin charging, and wherein said reply includes a second time to begin charging that is different than said first time.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said network interface module comprises one of a wireline interface, a wireless interface, and a powerline carrier (PLC) interface.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a converter that communicates with said charging module and that converts power from alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a charge monitoring module that monitors a charge level of said battery and that outputs said charge level to said control module, wherein said first set of charging parameters includes said charge level.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface module that communicates with said control module and that allows user entry of said first set of charging parameters.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface module that communicates with said control module and that allows user entry of a default set of charging parameters, wherein said first set of charging parameters is based on said default set of charging parameters.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said network interface module receives a charge return request from said utility company, and said system further comprising a charge retrieval module that selectively returns charge from said battery to said utility company based on said charge return request.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising an inverter that inverts said charge.

12. A vehicle comprising the system of claim 1 and further comprising:

an electric motor that drives said vehicle,

wherein said battery provides power to said electric motor when said electric motor drives said vehicle.

13. A method comprising:

storing a first set of charging parameters for charging a battery in a vehicle;

transmitting said first set of charging parameters to a utility company;

receiving a reply from said utility company;

generating a charge control signal based on said reply and said first set of charging parameters; and

charging said battery of said vehicle based on said charge control signal.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said reply includes a second set of charging parameters that is different than said first set of charging parameters.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said reply includes a second set of charging parameters that is the same as said first set of charging parameters.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said first set of charging parameters includes a first time to begin charging, and wherein said reply includes a second time to begin charging that is different than said first time.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting said first set of charging parameters and receiving said reply via one of a wireline interface, a wireless interface, and a powerline carrier (PLC) interface.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising converting power from alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising monitoring a charge level of said battery and including said charge level in said first set of charging parameters.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving said first set of charging parameters from a user of said vehicle.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving a default set of charging parameters from a user of said vehicle, wherein said first set of charging parameters is based on said default set of charging parameters.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving a charge return request from said utility company and selectively returning charge from said battery to said utility company based on said charge return request.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving said charge return request via one of a wireline interface, a wireless interface, and a powerline carrier (PLC) interface.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising inverting said charge.

25. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing power from said battery to an electric motor and driving said vehicle using said electric motor.

26. A system comprising:

control means for storing a first set of charging parameters for charging a battery in a vehicle;

network interface means for transmitting said first set of charging parameters to a utility company and receiving a reply from said utility company,

wherein said control means generates a charge control signal based on said reply and said first set of charging parameters; and

charging means for charging said battery of said vehicle based on said charge control signal.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said reply includes a second set of charging parameters that is different than said first set of charging parameters.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said reply includes a second set of charging parameters that is the same as said first set of charging parameters.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein said first set of charging parameters includes a first time to begin charging, and wherein said reply includes a second time to begin charging that is different than said first time.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein said network interface means comprises one of wireline, wireless, and powerline carrier (PLC) interface means for transmitting and receiving data.

31. The system of claim 26 further comprising converter means for converting power from alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power.

32. The system of claim 26 further comprising charge monitoring means for monitoring a charge level of said battery and communicating said charge level to said control means, wherein said first set of charging parameters includes said charge level.

33. The system of claim 26 further comprising user interface means for inputting said first set of charging parameters, wherein said user interface means communicates with said control means.

34. The system of claim 26 further comprising user interface means for inputting a default set of charging parameters, wherein said first set of charging parameters is based on said default set of charging parameters, and wherein said user interface means communicates with said control means.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein said network interface means receives a charge return request from said utility company, and said system further comprising charge retrieval means for selectively returning charge from said battery to said utility company based on said charge return request.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising inverter means for inverting said charge.

37. A vehicle comprising the system of claim 26 and further comprising:

an electric motor that drives said vehicle,

wherein said battery provides power to said electric motor when said electric motor drives said vehicle.