MODULARIZED INTERFACE AND RELATED METHOD FOR CONNECTING PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO THE ENERGY GRID

• US 20100045232A1
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric Company (Sempra Energy)
• Original Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric Company (Sempra Energy)
• Inventors: Peelle, Robert, Gavrielides, Gabriel, Martin, John C., Bhalodia, Viral, Chen, Chris W., Mohn, Terry, Yu, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• 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: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

This invention is directed to a modularized interface for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid. For use with public or semi-public outlets, the modularized interface comprises a module and a smart socket, where the module is integrated within or capable of being connected to, the vehicle'"'"'s charging interface. The module is normally disabled, but is enabled only after the end user is authenticated, the smart socket and its associated meter have been identified, and the module and the end user'"'"'s account with the local utility are validated. The module meters the energy consumption, and, when the module is disconnected from the smart socket, indicating termination of the charging session, the metered data is communicated to the utility for updating the end user'"'"'s account, and the module is disabled. The module is also capable of use with conventional outlets located, for example, in private residences.

Claims

1. A modularized interface for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid comprising:

a module integrated within or configured to be connected to a charging interface on the vehicle, and also configured to be connected to a smart socket connected to the energy grid, comprising;

a security authentication device for authenticating and authorizing an end user;

a communications interface for forming a connection to a local utility through the utility'"'"'s Home Area Network or other communication interface;

a processor for controlling operation of the module;

a switch that, when open, disables the module from delivering power to the vehicle, and, when closed, enables the module to deliver power to the vehicle;

wherein the processor controls the module so that the module is normally disabled, and is enabled only after the module is authenticated using the security authentication device, and the utility authorizes the module, an electric vehicle to receive charging and the end user'"'"'s account or other billing/credit or payment provision using the connection established via the communications interface;

the smart socket comprising;

a processor for controlling operation of the smart socket;

at least one switch that, when open, disables the smart socket from delivering power to the vehicle, and, when closed, enables the smart socket to deliver power to the vehicle through the module;

wherein the processor controls the smart socket so that the smart socket is normally disabled, and is enabled only after the module, after being connected to the smart socket, identifies the smart socket and its associated meter, and user preferences, if any, regarding energy pricing or charging scheduling, pre-programmed into the module, are satisfied;

wherein the processor within the module meters energy consumption or discharge while energy flows to or from the vehicle and the time of day or time interval that consumption or discharge occurs through the modularized interface; and

wherein, when the module is disconnected from the smart socket, the processor within the smart socket disables the smart socket, and the processor within the module, after communicating the metered data to the local utility over the connection established via the communications interface, disables the module.

2. The modularized interface of claim 1, wherein the processor receives periodic price signals from the utility over the communication interface and adjusts charging or discharging according to preferences defined by the user.

3. The modularized interface of claim 2, wherein the utility disables or enables charging or discharging by the module by sending a signal over the communication interface.

4. The modularized interface of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing unauthorized disconnection between the module and the smart socket when the smart socket and module are enabled.

5. The modularized interface of claim 4, wherein the security authentication device disengages the locking mechanism.

6. The modularized interface of claim 1, further comprising a securing bracket for preventing a vehicle plug from being disconnected from the module.

7. A modularized interface for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid comprising:

a module integrated within or configured to be connected to a charging interface on the vehicle, and also configured to be connected to a socket connected to the energy grid, comprising;

a security authentication device for authenticating and authorizing an end user;

a communications interface for forming a connection to a local utility;

a processor for controlling operation of the module;

a switch that, when open, disables the module from delivering power to the vehicle, and, when closed, enables the module to deliver power to the vehicle;

wherein the processor controls the module so that the module is normally disabled, and is enabled only after the module is connected to the socket, and the end user is authenticated and authorized using the security authentication device;

wherein the processor meters energy consumption while energy flows to the vehicle through the modularized interface; and

wherein, when the module is disconnected from the socket, the processor, after communicating the metered data to the local utility over the connection established via the communications interface, disables the module.

8. The modularized interface of claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing unauthorized disconnection between the module and the smart socket when the smart socket and module are enabled.

9. The modularized interface of claim 8, wherein the security authentication device disengages the locking mechanism.

10. The modularized interface of claim 8, further comprising a securing bracket for preventing a vehicle plug from being disconnected from the module.

11. A modularized interface for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid comprising:

a smart socket connected to the energy grid and configured to be connected to a module integrated within or configured to be connected to a charging interface on the vehicle, the smart socket comprising;

a processor for controlling operation of the smart socket;

at least one switch that, when open, disables the smart socket from delivering power to the vehicle, and, when closed, enables the smart socket to deliver power to the vehicle through the module;

wherein the processor controls the smart socket so that the smart socket is normally disabled, and is enabled only after the module, after being connected to the smart socket, identifies the smart socket and its associated meter, and user preferences, if any, regarding energy pricing or charging scheduling, pre-programmed into the module, are satisfied;

wherein, when the module is disconnected from the smart socket, the processor within the smart socket disables the smart socket.

12. A process for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid through an off-vehicle modularized interface, comprising a module and a smart socket that is connected to the energy grid, comprising the steps of:

providing a module configured to be connected to a charging interface on the vehicle and to the smart socket;

authenticating and authorizing an end user using a security authentication device within the modularized interface;

forming a connection to the local utility through the utility'"'"'s Home Area Network or other communications interface;

enabling the module only after the module is connected to the smart socket, the end user is authenticated and authorized using the security authentication device, and the validating the module and the end user'"'"'s account using the connection established via the communications interface;

enabling the smart socket, and enabling energy to flow to the vehicle, only after the module, after being connected to the smart socket, identifies the smart socket and its associated meter, and any user preferences regarding energy pricing or charging scheduling, pre-programmed into the module, are satisfied;

metering energy consumption while energy flows to the vehicle through the modularized interface;

when the module is disconnected from the smart socket, disabling the smart socket, communicating the metered data to the local utility over the connection established via the communications interface, and disabling the module.

13. The process of claim 12, further comprising locking the module to the smart socket when the smart socket and module are enabled.

14. The process of claim 13, further comprising disengaging the locking mechanism only after the end user is authenticated.

15. The process of claim 12, further comprising receiving periodic price signals from the utility over the communication interface and adjusting charging or discharging according to preferences defined by the user.

16. A process for connecting a plug-in electric vehicle to the energy grid through an off-vehicle modularized interface, comprising a module and a socket that is connected to the energy grid, comprising the following steps:

authenticating and authorizing an end user using a security authentication device within the modularized interface;

enabling the module only after the module is connected to the socket and the end user is authenticated and authorized using the security authentication device;

enabling energy to flow to the vehicle through the modularized interface only after the user is authenticated and authorized and any user preferences regarding energy pricing or charging scheduling, pre-programmed into the module, are satisfied;

metering energy consumption while energy flows to the vehicle through the modularized interface;

forming a communications interface to the local utility; and

when the module is disconnected from the socket, communicating the metered data to the local utility over the connection established via the communications interface, and disabling the module.

17. The process of claim 16, further comprising locking the module to the smart socket when the smart socket and module are enabled.

18. The process of claim 17, further comprising disengaging the locking mechanism only after the end user is authenticated.

19. The process of claim 16, further comprising receiving periodic price signals from the utility over the communication interface and adjusting charging or discharging according to preferences defined by the user.

20. The modularized interface of claim 16, further comprising disabling or enabling charging or discharging by the module by sending a signal over the communications interface.