CHARGING CABLE WITH CONTROLLER

• US 20100174667A1
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: BEAUFAIT, RAYMOND A., VITALE, ROBERT L., BEREISA, JONAS, KISSEL, GERY J., MARKYVECH, CRAIG R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• 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 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• 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 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 vehicle charging cable is disclosed configured to charge a vehicle battery on a vehicle from a utility power source, the cable comprising: a vehicle connector and a control module. The vehicle connector is connected to a power cable configured to supply power for charging the vehicle battery. The vehicle connector is configured to connect to a charging port on the vehicle. The control module is connected to the power cable. The control module is configured to receive utility data from the utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle, and to adjust the power supplied to the vehicle battery based on the utility data and the vehicle data.

Claims

1. A charging cable configured to electrically couple a vehicle battery to a utility power source comprising:

a vehicle connector configured to connect to a charging port on a vehicle;

a data module configured to receive utility data from the utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle;

a control module communicatively coupled to the data module, the control module configured to control an electrical coupling between the utility power source and the charging port based on the utility data and the vehicle data.

2. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a communication module communicatively coupled to the data module, the communication module configured to send and receive the utility data and the vehicle data over a network.

3. The charging cable according to claim 1 the control module further comprising a processor that determines a charging schedule based on the utility data and the vehicle data.

4. The charging cable according to claim 3 wherein the charging schedule is determined using a current time of day, a voltage level of the utility power source, the utility data including utility rate schedules, and the vehicle data including a charge level of the vehicle battery.

5. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a user interface configured to display a charging status of the vehicle battery, and configured to accept user input.

6. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a measurement module communicatively coupled to the data module, the measurement module configured to measure electrical power usage and to produce usage data, wherein the usage data is retained in the data module.

7. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a charging status indicator configured to display a charging status.

8. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a utility power status indicator configured to display a utility power status.

9. The charging cable according to claim 8 wherein the utility power status comprises power connection status and ground connection status.

10. A vehicle charging cable comprising:

a data communication system configured to communicate with a home area network and configured to communicate with a vehicle;

a control system comprising;

a data module communicatively coupled to the data communication system, the data module configured to retain utility rates, and power usage information; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the data module and configured to control an electric coupling between a utility power source and a vehicle battery, wherein the control module calculates a charging schedule based on the utility rates and the power usage information; and

a user interface configured to display charging status of the vehicle battery, and configured to accept user input.

11. The vehicle charging cable according to claim 10 wherein the control system further comprises a measurement module communicatively coupled to the data module, the measurement module configured to measure electrical power usage and to produce usage data, wherein the usage data is stored in the data module.

12. The vehicle charging cable according to claim 11, wherein the control module calculates a usage cost based on the utility rates and the usage data.

13. The vehicle charging cable according to claim 11, the measurement module comprising a current meter configured to measure electrical current passing through the vehicle charging cable.

14. A device comprising:

a vehicle connector connected to a power cable configured to supply power for charging a vehicle battery, wherein the vehicle connector is configured to connect to a vehicle with a charging port; and

a control module connected to the power cable wherein the control module is configured to receive utility data from a utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle, and to adjust the power supplied to the vehicle battery based on the utility data and the vehicle data.

15. The device according to claim 14 further comprising a utility connector connected to the power cable, wherein the utility connector is configured to connect to a utility power socket.

16. The device according to claim 14 wherein the power cable comprises a utility end and a vehicle end, and wherein the control module comprises a first module at the utility end of the cable, and a second module at the vehicle end of the cable, the power cable further comprising a communication cable communicatively coupled to the first module and the second module.

17. The device according to claim 14 wherein the device comprises a transmitter communicatively coupled to the control module, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the vehicle data.

18. The device according to claim 14 wherein the device comprises a display communicatively coupled to the control module, wherein the display is configured to indicate a charging status of the vehicle battery.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein the display comprises a light emitting diode.

20. The device according to claim 14 wherein the device comprises a user input device configured to transmit a user input signal to the control module, and wherein the control module is configured to further adjust the power supplied to the vehicle battery based on the user input signal from the user input device.