REAL-TIME SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING, LOCATING AND RECHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN TRANSIT

• US 20120005031A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nation-E AG
• Original Assignee: Nation-E AG
• Inventors: JAMMER, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/828,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• 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 53/57 Charging stations without connection to power networks
• 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: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• 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

The present invention provides computer-controlled electric battery charging systems and methods for charging a battery of a roaming electric vehicle, the system comprising an electric vehicle comprising at least one battery, a master charger vehicle comprising a master battery module and a control system in communication with the at least one electric vehicle and the master charger vehicle to enable the master charger vehicles to reach the electric vehicle, wherein the master battery module is adapted to charge the at least one battery.

Claims

1. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system for charging a battery of a roaming electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a) an electric vehicle comprising at least one battery;

b) a master charger vehicle comprising a master battery module; and

c) a control system in communication with said at least one electric vehicle and said master charger vehicle to enable said master charger vehicle to reach said electric vehicle, wherein said master battery module is adapted to charge said at least one battery.

2. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein said electric vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric land vehicle, and electric water vehicle and an airborne electric vehicle.

3. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein said electric land vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric motorbike, an electric car, an electric truck, an electric emergency vehicle and an electric army vehicle.

4. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein said electric water vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric boat, an electric yacht, an electric ship, an electric emergency water vehicle and an electric army water vehicle.

5. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein said master charger vehicle further comprises:

a. an electricity converter module adapted to convert output power from said master battery module to input power suitable for provision to said at least one battery; and

b. a connection and transfer module adapted to transfer said input power from said electricity converter module to said at least one battery.

6. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 5, wherein said master charger vehicle further comprises at least one of the following:

i. a control system for controlling the master charger vehicle;

ii. a communication display for displaying communications from at least one of said electric vehicle and said control center;

iii. a positioning system; and

iv. a mobile communication device.

7. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is constructed and configured to send instructions to said master charger vehicle to go to a position selected from the group consisting of:

a. a current position of said electric vehicle;

b. a future projected position of said electric vehicle along a predetermined route;

c. a future projected position of said electric vehicle, wherein said at least one battery is anticipated to be at least partially depleted; and

d. a future projected position of said electric vehicle, wherein said at least one battery is anticipated to be fully depleted.

8. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a payment system to enable a user of an electric vehicle to pay for charging said at least one battery.

9. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 8, wherein said payment system is further adapted to enable said user to pay for receiving of an electric vehicle to pay for charging said at least one battery.

10. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a breakdown vehicle.

11. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 10, wherein said breakdown vehicle comprises:

a. an on-board master battery module adapted to charge said at least one battery; and

b. an electric vehicle transportation module adapted to convey the electric vehicle onto said transportation module and to transport said electric vehicle to a destination.

12. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 11, wherein said breakdown vehicle further comprises:

i. an electricity converter module adapted to convert output power from said master battery module to input power suitable for provision to said at least one battery; and

ii. a connection and transfer module adapted to transfer said input power from said electricity converter module to said at least one battery.

13. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 11, wherein said breakdown vehicle further comprises at least one of the following:

i. a control system for controlling the master charger vehicle;

ii. a communication display for displaying communications from at least one of said electric vehicle and said control center;

iii. a positioning system; and

iv. a mobile communication device

14. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one stationary service station.

15. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one stationary service station is adapted to charge said at least one battery.

16. A computer-controlled electric battery charging method for charging a battery of a roaming electric vehicle, the method comprising:

a. receiving a communication from said roaming electric vehicle regarding a status of a battery of said electric vehicle;

b. sending one of a master charger vehicle and a breakdown vehicle, each comprising a master battery module to a suitable position associated with said electric vehicle; and

c. charging said battery using said master battery module.

17. A computer-controlled electric battery charging method according to claim 16, wherein said communication is selected from the group consisting of:

an on-board alarm-transmitted communication;

a control center communication;

a user-transmitted communication; and

a vehicle control system communication.

18. A computer-controlled electric battery charging method according to claim 16, the electric vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric land vehicle, and electric water vehicle and an airborne electric vehicle.

19. A computer-controlled electric battery charging method according to claim 16, wherein said charging step comprises:

a. feeding output power from said master battery module to an electricity converter module;

b. converting output power from said master battery module to input power suitable for provision to said at least one battery; and

c. transferring said input power from said electricity converter module to said at least one battery.

20. A computer-controlled electric battery charging method according to claim 19, further comprising charging a user of said electric vehicle a fee for charging of said at least one battery.

21. A computer network system for controlling an electric battery charging system for charging a battery of a roaming electric vehicle, the computer system comprising:

a. a control center comprising;

i. a computer system connected via at least one communication line via a public network to at least one of;

1. a payment center;

2. a stationary electric vehicle service station;

3. an electric vehicle breakdown vehicle;

4. a master battery vehicle;

5. an electric vehicle;

b. an electric vehicle comprising at least one of;

i. at least one display;

ii. at least one battery control system;

iii. at least one mobile location device; and

iv. at least one mobile communication device; and

c. a master charger vehicle comprising at least one of;

i. a master battery module;

ii. at least one display;

iii. at least one master battery control system;

iv. at least one mobile location device; and

v. at least one mobile communication device;

wherein said control center is adapted to communicate with said electric vehicle and said master charger vehicle to enable said master charger vehicle to reach said electric vehicle, wherein said master battery module is adapted to charge said at least one battery.

22. A computer software product for charging a battery of a roaming electric vehicle the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:

a. receive a communication from said roaming electric vehicle regarding a status of a battery of said electric vehicle;

b. send one of a master charger vehicle and a breakdown vehicle, each comprising a master battery module to a suitable position associated with said electric vehicle; and

c. charge said battery using said master battery module.