APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BASED ON USER PROFILES

• US 20130026972A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Inventors: Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 : by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 : Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/645 : Type of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 : Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 : by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 : by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 : by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 : by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 : by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 : drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 : of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/46 : Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 : relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 : relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 : relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 : relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 : using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 : characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• 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: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• 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: B60L 58/10 : for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 : responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 : Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 : Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 : using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 : output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 : Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0638 : Organizing or formatting or addressing of data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0671 : In-line storage system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 : Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• 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: G07F 15/006 : dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 : comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 : Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 : Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 : Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• 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 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 : Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The charging and distribution machines may distribute portable electrical energy storage devices of particular performance characteristics and other attributes based on customer preferences and/or customer profiles. The charging and distribution machines may provide instructions to or otherwise program portable electrical energy storage devices stored within the charging and distribution machines to perform at various levels according to user preferences and user profiles.

Claims

1. A method of operating a controller of a portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, comprising:

receiving, by the controller of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a request for a portable electrical energy storage device from a user at a portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

automatically selecting, by the controller of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a portable electrical energy storage device in the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine having particular performance characteristics, the selection based on a received user profile of the user; and

automatically releasing the selected portable electrical energy storage device for the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically selecting includes selecting a portable electrical energy storage device with higher performance characteristics than another portable electrical energy storage device in the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine that would be selected for another user associated with another user profile that indicates a lower subscription level for use of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the performance characteristics include one or more of:

an age of the portable electrical energy storage device, a capacity of the portable electrical energy storage device, a current charge level of the portable electrical energy storage device, a percentage of charge level to a charge capacity of the portable electrical energy storage device, a total cumulative number of charge cycles that the portable electrical energy storage device has experienced to date, number or frequency of deep discharges of the portable electrical energy storage device, temperature exposure of the portable electrical energy storage device, a value that represents number or frequency of charge cycles of the portable electrical energy storage device, whether the portable electrical energy storage device has been used by drivers with aggressive driving profiles.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising determining, by the configured controller of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a driving profile of a driver by receiving information regarding the driving profile based on one or more of:

accelerator readings of the driver which correlate to instances of high acceleration, and levels of current draw during a use of the driver of a portable electrical energy storage device.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a signal indicative that a used portable electrical energy storage device has been received by the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine from the user before releasing the portable electrical energy storage device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, by the controller of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, based on the received user profile, a particular level of energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the user; and

configuring, by the controller of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a security system of the portable electrical energy storage device to release energy from the portable electrical energy storage device at the determined particular level for use by the user based on the received user profile.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuring occurs before the releasing of the portable electrical energy storage device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the user profile over a wireless connection.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving the user profile includes receiving the user profile via a mobile device of the user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically selecting the portable electrical energy storage device includes selecting the portable electrical energy storage device based on past route information indicative of a number of aspects of a number of past routes taken by the user as indicated on the user profile.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically selecting the portable electrical energy storage device includes selecting the portable electrical energy storage device based on one or more vehicle specifications as indicated on the user profile.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically selecting the portable electrical energy storage device includes selecting the portable electrical energy storage device based on a prioritization system between users that is configured to compare the received user profile to other user profiles.

13. A portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine comprising:

a portable electrical energy storage device charger;

a portable electrical energy storage device releasing system;

a security system coupled to the releasing system;

a user interface; and

a controller coupled to the portable electrical energy storage device charger, the releasing system, the user interface and the security system, the controller including;

at least one processor;

at least one communications module coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

select for a user a portable electrical energy storage device having particular performance characteristics, the selection based on a received user profile of the user; and

automatically release the selected portable electrical energy storage device for use by the user.

14. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to receive a request for a portable electrical energy storage device from the user at the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

15. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 14, wherein the selection of the portable electrical energy storage device is further based on an indication in the user profile that the user prefers to be offered a choice for a higher performance portable electrical energy storage device than other available vehicle batteries for a premium price at a time of the request.

16. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor:

prompts the user with a choice for the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine to select for the user a higher performance portable electrical energy storage device than other available vehicle batteries;

receives input in response to the prompt; and

performs the portable electrical energy storage device selection according to the input.

17. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 13 wherein the selection for the user of the portable electrical energy storage device includes selection of a portable electrical energy storage device with higher performance characteristics than another portable electrical energy storage device in the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine that would be selected for another user associated with another user profile that indicates a lower subscription level for use of the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

18. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 17 wherein the performance characteristics include one or more of:

an age of the portable electrical energy storage device, a capacity of the portable electrical energy storage device, a current charge level of the portable electrical energy storage device, a percentage of charge level to a charge capacity of the portable electrical energy storage device, a total cumulative number of charge cycles that the portable electrical energy storage device has explained to date, number or frequency of deep discharges of the portable electrical energy storage device, temperature exposure of the portable electrical energy storage device, a value that represents number or frequency of charge cycles of the portable electrical energy storage device, whether the portable electrical energy storage device has been used by drivers with aggressive driving profiles.

19. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a driving profile of a driver by receiving information regarding the driving profile based on one or more of:

accelerator readings of the driver which correlate to instances of high acceleration, and levels of current draw during a use of the driver of a portable electrical energy storage device.

20. The portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a signal indicative that a used portable electrical energy storage device has been received by the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine from the user before releasing the portable electrical energy storage device.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions that when executed by at least one computer system cause the at least one computer system to perform:

receiving a request for a portable electrical energy storage device from a user at a portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

automatically selecting a portable electrical energy storage device in the portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine having particular performance characteristics; and

controlling automatic releasing of the selected portable electrical energy storage device to the user.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the instructions that when executed by at least one computer system further cause the at least one computer system to receive a user profile of the user.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the automatically selecting is based on the received user profile.