SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• US 20130024306A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shah, Kunal Pankaj, Ramasastry, Jay
• Application Number:
  US13/639,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024306A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• 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 53/665 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: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• 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

Systems and methods for controlling for distributing power to electric vehicles. The system includes a vehicle charging key (“VCK”) that is operable to communicate with both a vehicle and a utility communications network. The VCK includes a processor, a memory, and one or more radios for communicating with the vehicle and the utility communications network. The VCK receives information from the vehicle, such as location information and vehicle battery state-of-charge (“SOC”) information, and transmits the information to a back office system (“BOS”), such as a utility provider or a credit card company. The BOS generates utility pricing or charging information based on, for example, time of day, and transmits the utility pricing information back to the VCK. A transaction module of the VCK receives payment information from a user that includes a payment selection. The payment selection includes a payment type (e.g., credit card, prepaid account, utility account, etc.). The VCK transmits the payment information to the BOS, and the BOS responds with a charge authorization signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle charging device configured to communicatively connect to a vehicle, the vehicle including a rechargeable battery, the vehicle charging device comprising:

a transaction module configured to

receive a charging preference, and

generate payment information including a payment selection, the payment selection including a payment type that is at least one of a credit card, a prepaid debit card, a web-based pay service, and a utility account; and

a self-configuring network interface module configured to

transmit a network registration signal to a communications network to register the vehicle charging device as a node within the communications network,

receive state-of-charge information from the vehicle related to the rechargeable battery,

receive charging information from a back office system related to a cost of charging the rechargeable battery,

transmit the payment information to a back office system, and

receive a charging authorization signal based on the payment information.

2. The vehicle charging device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging device is configured to prevent the rechargeable battery from being charged based on the charging authorization signal.

3. The vehicle charging device of claim 1, wherein the network interface module is further configured to provide the state-of-charge information to the back office system.

4. The vehicle charging device of claim 1, wherein the network interface module is further configured to provide a charging enable signal to the vehicle based on the charging preference.

5. The vehicle charging device of claim 4, wherein the network interface module is further configured to provide a charging disable signal to the vehicle based on the charging preference.

6. The vehicle charging device of claim 5, wherein the charging preference is associated with a cost to charge the rechargeable battery.

7. The vehicle charging device of claim 1, wherein the network interface module is further configured to communicatively connect to a battery charging station.

8. A vehicle charging device configured to communicate with a vehicle, the vehicle including a rechargeable battery, the vehicle charging device comprising:

a transaction module configured to

receive a charging preference, and

generate payment information including a payment selection; and

a self-configuring network interface module configured to

transmit a network registration signal to a communications network to register the vehicle charging device as a node within the communications network,

transmit the payment information to a back office system, and

receive a charging authorization signal based on the payment information.

9. The vehicle charging device of claim 8, wherein the payment selection includes a payment type that is at least one of a credit card, a prepaid debit card, a web-based pay service, and a utility account.

10. The vehicle charging device of claim 8, wherein the network interface module is further configured to receive state-of-charge information related to the rechargeable battery.

11. The vehicle charging device of claim 8, wherein the charging authorization signal includes a payment acknowledgment.

12. The vehicle charging device of claim 8, wherein the charging authorization signal includes a vehicle charging acknowledgement.

13. The vehicle charging device of claim 8, wherein the charging authorization signal prevents the rechargeable battery from being charged.

14. The vehicle charging device of claim 8, wherein the network interface module is further configured to communicatively connect to the vehicle.

15. The vehicle charging device of claim 14, wherein the network interface module is further configured to receive state-of-charge information from the vehicle related to the rechargeable battery.

16. A vehicle charging device configured to communicate with a vehicle, the vehicle including a rechargeable battery, the vehicle charging device comprising:

a transaction module configured to moderate a vehicle battery charging payment transaction;

a network interface controller configured to communicate with a back office system and receive a charge authorization signal based on the vehicle battery charging payment transaction; and

a charging unit interface configured to generate a charge enable signal based on the charge authorization signal.

17. The vehicle charging device of claim 16, wherein the vehicle battery charging payment transaction includes a payment selection and a payment type, the payment type being at least one of a credit card, a prepaid debit card, a web-based pay service, and a utility account.

18. The vehicle charging device of claim 16, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to receive state-of-charge information related to the rechargeable battery.

19. The vehicle charging device of claim 16, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to transmit a network registration signal to a communications network to register the vehicle charging device as a node within the communications network.

20. The vehicle charging device of claim 19, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to transmit a set of payment information through the communications network to the back office system, the set of payment information including a payment selection and a payment type, the payment type being at least one of a credit card, a prepaid debit card, a web-based pay service, and a utility account.