Bidirectional metering and control of electric energy between the power grid and vehicle power systems
First Claim
1. A metering device, comprising:
- a first interface configured to electrically couple to an electrical power system of a vehicle;
a meter coupled to the first interface and configured to measure electrical energy transmitted to or from the vehicle electrical power system; and
a module having an associated module identification (ID) and configured to generate a signal indicative of the measured electrical energy in association with the module ID.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A metering device that allows the two-way exchange of electrical energy between the power grid and electric vehicles by giving customers the option to upload electrical energy from their vehicle'"'"'s electrical power system to the power grid or to another vehicle, or the option to download electrical energy from the power grid or another vehicle, to charge their vehicle'"'"'s electric storage system, depending on the current market price of electricity. This allows users to both buy and sell electricity as a commodity to offset their fuel costs and to generate income. The metering device and the associated server may maintain a database of the user'"'"'s preferences and identification. The metering device may allow customers to upload and sell electricity from their vehicles during peak, high cost, energy consumption periods, download and buy electricity to their vehicles during low energy, low cost, consumption periods, or algorithmically engage in bi-directional transfer depending on the user'"'"'s preferences and other variables (see [0043]) in order to maximize the customer'"'"'s monetary returns and minimize the customer'"'"'s monetary expenses.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A metering device, comprising:
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a first interface configured to electrically couple to an electrical power system of a vehicle; a meter coupled to the first interface and configured to measure electrical energy transmitted to or from the vehicle electrical power system; and a module having an associated module identification (ID) and configured to generate a signal indicative of the measured electrical energy in association with the module ID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable medium including instructions for enabling a meter device to:
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receive a user ID associated with an account; verify the user ID; receive a user-inputted option to either download or upload electrical energy to or from, respectively, a vehicle electrical power system; process the user-inputted option; establish an electrical connection between the vehicle electrical power system and a power grid; and meter the transfer of electrical energy via the device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for meter to meter a bi-directional transfer of energy between a vehicle electric power system and a power grid or another vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request of an electrical energy transfer; processing the request; transmitting electrical energy to or from the vehicle electric power system and the power grid or another vehicle; and measuring the electrical energy transferred in a predetermined unit of measurement. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification