Vehicle identification system, method and recharging station for electric vehicles

• US 20100241542A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igor Pinkusevich, Lenny M. Novikov
• Original Assignee: Igor Pinkusevich, Lenny M. Novikov
• Inventors: Pinkusevich, Igor, Novikov, Lenny M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Electric vehicle recharging system in public garages and parking facilities that utilizes a vehicle identification to prevent energy theft and to provide a reliable and safe method to resume recharging process without any manual authorization after recharging interrupt.

Claims

1. The vehicle identification system for electric vehicles comprising:

an enclosure;

a vehicle identification requesting means within said enclosure for creating a vehicle-identification request;

a remote responding means positioned outside of said enclosure for creating a vehicle identification message in response to said vehicle identification request;

a communication means for communication between said vehicle identification requesting means and said remote responding means;

a message storage means positioned within said enclosure for storage and reference of the vehicle identification message;

a comparison means within said enclosure for comparing a vehicle identification message with said vehicle identification message stored for reference and generating a pass signal when both these messages identify the same vehicle.

3. The vehicle identification system of claim 1 wherein said remote responding means further comprising of data input means for creating a vehicle identification message.

4. The vehicle identification system of claim 1 wherein said communication means further comprising at least one wire.

5. The vehicle identification system of claim 1 wherein said communication means further comprising a wireless transmitter and receiver.

6. The vehicle identification system of claim 5 wherein said wireless transmitter and receiver use electromagnetic waves for communication.

7. The vehicle identification system of claim 5 wherein said wireless transmitter and receiver use acoustic waves for communication.

8. The vehicle identification system of claim 5 wherein said wireless transmitter and receiver use visible light for communication.

17. A network for recharging electric vehicles comprising:

at least one central unit for centralized authorization of electric vehicle recharging, billing and reporting;

the central unit including at least some means necessary for vehicle identification, such as the means of claim 1 and claim 16 for vehicle identification message generation, request, communication, storage, comparison and expiration;

and

at least one vehicle recharging station for electric vehicle recharging;

the recharging station including necessary vehicle identification means not implemented in the Central Unit for technological or other reasons;

18. A network for recharging electric vehicles comprising:

at least one central unit of claim 17;

at least one vehicle recharging station of claim 17;

and

at least one payment station;

a payment station further comprising a processor, a display interconnected to the processor for giving visual information to a user, a manual input device interconnected to the processor for enabling data input by user or service personnel, a payment receptor for receiving payment for the electric power usage and other services, the payment receptor interconnected to the processor for indicating receipt of payment for recharging and other services;

2. The vehicle identification method for electric vehicles comprising of:

generating a request for vehicle identification by a vehicle identification requesting means;

communicating said request from vehicle identification requesting means to remote responding means;

creating a vehicle identification message by a remote responding means in response to said request;

communicating said vehicle identification message from remote responding means to vehicle identification requesting means;

storing a vehicle identification message in the message storage for further reference;

generating another request for vehicle identification by the vehicle identification requesting means, when vehicle identification is required;

identifying a vehicle by comparing the received vehicle identification message with one stored as reference and generating a pass signal if both these messages identify the same vehicle.

9. A recharging station for electric vehicles comprising a processor;

a display interconnected to the processor for giving visual information to a user;

a manual input device interconnected to the processor for enabling data input by user or service personnel;

a payment receptor for receiving payment for the electric energy usage and other services, the payment receptor interconnected to the processor for indicating receipt of payment for recharging and other services;

a power source;

a connector for interconnecting the power source to the electric vehicle;

a power controller interconnected between the power source and the connector and coupled to the processor, the power controller selectively providing power to the connector in response to commands from the processor, the power controller further comprising an electric power usage meter for measuring the amount of electricity flowing therethrough;

a vehicle identification requesting means for generating a vehicle identification request;

a communication means interconnected to said vehicle identification requesting means for communication between the station and a vehicle identification device;

a message storage means for storage and reference of the vehicle identification message received from the remote identification device;

a comparison means for comparing a received vehicle identification message with said vehicle identification message stored for reference and generating a pass signal when both these messages identify the same vehicle;

said recharging station allowing recharging of the electric vehicle associated with said vehicle identification device in response to said pass signal.

13. A network for recharging electric vehicles comprising:

at least one central unit for centralized authorization of electric vehicle recharging, billing and reporting;

and

at least one vehicle recharging station of claim 9.

10. A recharging station for electric vehicles comprising

a processor;

a display interconnected to the processor for giving visual information to a user;

a manual input device interconnected to the processor for enabling data input by user or service personnel;

a payment receptor for receiving payment for the electric power usage and other services, the payment receptor interconnected to the processor for indicating receipt of payment for recharging and other services;

a power source;

a connector for interconnecting the power source to the electric vehicle;

a power controller interconnected between the power source and the connector and coupled to the processor, the power controller selectively providing power to the connector in response to commands from the processor, the power controller further comprising an electric power usage meter for measuring the amount of electricity flowing therethrough;

a vehicle identification message generation means for creating a vehicle identification message;

a message storage means for storage and reference of said vehicle identification message;

a communication means interconnected to said vehicle identification requesting means for communication between said station and a vehicle identification device;

a vehicle identification requesting means for generating a vehicle identification request and receiving a vehicle identification message from a vehicle identification device;

a comparison means for comparing a received vehicle identification message with said vehicle identification message stored for reference and generating a pass signal when both these messages identify the same vehicle;

said recharging station allowing recharging of the electric vehicle associated with said vehicle identification device in response to said pass signal.

14. A network for recharging electric vehicles comprising:

at least one central unit for centralized authorization of electric vehicle recharging, billing and reporting;

and

at least one vehicle recharging station of claim 10.

11. The vehicle identification system for electric vehicles comprising:

an enclosure;

a vehicle identification requesting means within said enclosure for creating a vehicle-identification request;

a vehicle identification message generation means for creating a vehicle identification message;

a remote responding means positioned outside of said enclosure for storage of said vehicle identification message and returning it in response to said vehicle identification request;

communication means for communication between said vehicle identification requesting means and said remote responding means;

message storage means positioned within said enclosure for storage and reference of the vehicle identification message;

comparison means within said enclosure for comparing a received vehicle identification message with said vehicle identification message stored for reference and generating a pass signal when both these messages identify the same vehicle.

12. The vehicle identification method for electric vehicles comprising:

generating a unique vehicle identification message by a vehicle identification generating means;

storing a vehicle identification message in the message storage for further reference;

communicating said vehicle identification message to a remote responding means;

storing the vehicle identification message in the remote responding means;

generating a request for vehicle identification by a vehicle identification requesting means, when vehicle identification is required;

communicating said request from vehicle identification requesting means to remote responding means;

communicating said vehicle identification message from remote responding means to vehicle identification requesting means in response to said request;

identifying a vehicle by comparing the received vehicle identification message with one stored as the reference and generating a pass signal if both these messages identify the same vehicle.

15. An electric vehicle identification device comprising:

a unique message generation means for generating a vehicle identification message;

a memory means for storing of at least one said vehicle identification message;

and

a communication means for communicating said message to an electric vehicle recharging station.

16. An electric vehicle identification device comprising:

a communication means for communicating a vehicle identification message to and from an electric vehicle recharging station;

a memory means for storing of at least one said vehicle identification message;

and

an identification message expiration means for removing said identification message from the memory means after a predetermined period of time.