VEHICLE CONTROLLERS AND METHODS FOR USE IN CHARGING AN ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLE

• US 20130041531A1
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: LaFrance, Ryan Marc
• Application Number:
  US13/205,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20130041531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/38 of data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• 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 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

Methods and vehicle controllers for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle are disclosed. One example vehicle controller includes a memory device configured to store a user-profile and a processor electrically coupled to the memory device. The processor is programmed to detect a vehicle charging station, retrieve the user profile from the memory device, and communicate the user profile to the vehicle charging station. The user profile includes billing information.

Claims

1. A vehicle controller for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle;

said vehicle controller comprising;

a memory device configured to store a user-profile;

a processor electrically coupled to said memory device, said processor programmed to;

detect a vehicle charging station;

retrieve the user profile from said memory device; and

communicate the user profile to the vehicle charging station;

wherein the user profile includes billing information.

2. The vehicle controller of claim 1, wherein said memory device is further configured to store the user profile including contact information and at least one user preference.

3. The vehicle controller of claim 1, wherein said processor is programmed to:

automatically retrieve the user profile, and

automatically communicate the user profile when the vehicle charging station is detected.

4. The vehicle controller of claim 3, wherein said processor is programmed to receive a request from the vehicle charging station for information not included in the user profile.

5. The vehicle controller of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface coupled in communication with said processor, wherein said processor is programmed to wirelessly communicate via said communication interface with the vehicle charging station.

6. The vehicle controller of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface coupled in communication with the processor, wherein said communication interface is configured to communicate with a vehicle charging station through a charging conduit.

7. The vehicle controller of claim 6, wherein the processor is programmed to detect the vehicle charging station based on a presence of the charging conduit connected to the electrically powered vehicle.

8. A method for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle;

said method comprising;

detecting a vehicle charging station;

retrieving a user profile stored in a memory device in the electrically powered vehicle; and

communicating the user profile to the vehicle charging station, wherein the user profile includes billing information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating the user profile includes wirelessly communicating the user profile to the vehicle charging station, and wherein the user profile includes at least one user preference.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein retrieving the user profile includes retrieving the user profile including at least one user preference based on location.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein retrieving the user profile includes retrieving the user profile including contact information and at least one charging time.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving at least one message from the vehicle charging station; and

displaying, at a display device, the at least one message to the user.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the user profile from a user; and

storing the user profile in the memory device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the user profile includes receiving an input at an in-vehicle user interface, wherein the input defines the user profile.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving energy transfer, based on the user profile, from the charging station to charge an energy storage device associated with the electrically powered vehicle.

16. A vehicle charging station for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle;

said device comprising;

a power source; and

a charging device coupled to said power source to control energy transfer from the power source to an electrically power vehicle, the charging device is configured to;

detect an electrically powered vehicle;

receive a user profile from the electrically powered vehicle, wherein the user profile includes at least one user preference; and

enable energy transfer from said power source to an electrically powered vehicle based on the at least one user preference.

17. The vehicle charging station of claim 16, wherein said charging device is configured to receive the at least one user preference including a charging time.

18. The vehicle charging station of claim 16, wherein said charging device is configured to request information not included in the user profile from the electrically powered vehicle.

19. The vehicle charging station of claim 16, wherein said charging device is configured to receive the user profile including billing information.

20. The vehicle charging station of claim 19, wherein said charging device is configured to verify the billing information, via a network, prior to enabling energy transfer from said power source to the electrically power vehicle.