REPLACEABLE BATTERY VALUATION SYSTEM

• US 20130332370A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Weaver, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US13/490,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332370A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/306
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• 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

Abstract

A replaceable battery valuation system may include, but is not limited to: at least one replaceable battery module; at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module; and a controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module and provide a notification regarding the monetary value.

Claims

1. A replaceable battery valuation system, comprising:

at least one replaceable battery module;

at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module; and

a controller configured to;

determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module; and

provide a notification regarding the monetary value.

2. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a replaceable battery module housing configured to receive the at least one replaceable battery module.

3. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module further comprises:

at least one sensor configured to measure an energy storage level of the at least one replaceable battery module.

4. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module further comprising:

at least one memory element configured to store a number of previously occurred charge cycles of the at least one replaceable battery module detected by the sensor.

5. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module further comprises:

at least one sensor configured to measure a recharge capacity of at least one replaceable battery module.

6. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

a controller configured to determine a rate of change of monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module.

7. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured for storage of data associated with a valuation of the at least one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station.

8. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 7, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

a controller configured to determine a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module and the current valuation of the at least one battery module replacement station.

9. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface device communicatively coupled to the controller.

10. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 9, wherein the network interface device communicatively coupled to the controller is configured to connect to a communications network.

11. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 10, wherein the communications network provides access to the Internet.

12. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 9, wherein the network interface device is configured to access remotely stored information regarding a valuation for at least one battery module replacement station.

13. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a location awareness device communicatively coupled to the controller.

14. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 13, wherein the location awareness device further comprises:

a global positioning system receiver.

15. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 13, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

a controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon the data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module and a valuation of the one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station in a region in proximity to a current location.

16. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 13, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module further comprises:

a controller configured to determine a location history associated with the replaceable battery module.

17. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 16, wherein the location history associated with the replaceable battery module comprises:

a driving history associated with a vehicle powered by the replaceable battery module.

18. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 17, wherein the controller configured to determine a driving history further comprises:

a controller configured to determine an optimized opportunity for battery module replacement based upon the driving history and the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module.

19. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 7, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

a controller configured to determine a first monetary value based upon a first valuation from a first battery module replacement station and a second monetary value based upon a second valuation from a second battery module replacement station.

20. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 7, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based upon sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

transmit at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module to at least the first battery replacement station and the second battery replacement station; and

receive a valuation of the replaceable battery module associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module from the first battery replacement station and the second battery replacement station.

21. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, further comprising a display.

22. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 21, wherein the display is configured for presentation of a map image including a first battery module replacement station and a second battery module replacement station.

23. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 21, wherein the display is configured to present the notification regarding the monetary value.

24. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 23, wherein the display is configured to present the notification regarding the rate of change of the monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module.

25. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, wherein the controller configured to determine a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the data regarding the at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module further comprises:

a controller configured to receive at least one user-defined parameter related to battery module replacement.

26. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 25, wherein the controller configured to receive at least one user-defined parameter related to battery module replacement further comprises:

a controller configured to determine an optimized opportunity for battery replacement based upon the user-defined parameter, a current location and a current valuation of the at least one battery module for the at least one battery module replacement station.

27. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a means for reading out a computer-readable identifier associated with the replaceable battery module.

28. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 27, wherein the computer-readable identifier associated with the replaceable battery module comprises:

a globally unique computer-readable identifier associated with the replaceable battery module.

29. The replaceable battery valuation system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for digital communications with a battery controller associated with the replaceable battery module.

30. A method for replaceable battery valuation of claim, comprising:

receiving at least one replaceable battery module in a battery pack housing;

detecting at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module;

determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module; and

providing a notification regarding the monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module.

31. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, wherein the detecting at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

detecting an energy storage level of the at least one replaceable battery module.

32. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, wherein the detecting at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

detecting at least one charging cycle of the at least one replaceable battery module; and

storing data associated with a detected charging cycle of the at least one replaceable battery module.

33. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 32, wherein the determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module comprises:

determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon a number of detected charging cycles for the at least one replacement battery module.

34. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, wherein the detecting at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

detecting a recharge capacity of the at least one replaceable battery module.

35. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, wherein the determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module comprises:

determining a rate of change of the monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module.

36. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, wherein the providing a notification regarding the monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

providing a notification regarding the rate of change of the monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module.

37. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, further comprising:

storing data associated with a valuation of the at least one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station.

38. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 37, wherein the determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module further comprises:

determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the data associated with a valuation of the at least one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station.

39. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 37, further comprising:

obtaining the data associated with a valuation of the at least one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station over a communications network.

40. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 39, wherein the obtaining the data associated with a valuation of the at least one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station over a communications network further comprises:

transmitting at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module to at least the first battery replacement station and the second battery replacement station; and

receiving a valuation of the replaceable battery module associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one replaceable battery module from the first battery replacement station and the second battery replacement station.

41. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, further comprising:

determining a location of the at least one replaceable battery module.

42. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 41, wherein the determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module further comprises:

determining a monetary value of at least one replaceable battery module based on a valuation of the at least one replaceable battery module for at least one battery module replacement station in a region in proximity to the location of the at least one replaceable battery module.

43. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 41, wherein the determining a location of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

determining a location history associated with the at least one replaceable battery module.

44. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 43, wherein the determining a location history associated with the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

determining a driving history associated with a vehicle powered by the at least one replaceable battery module.

45. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 44, wherein the determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module comprises:

determining an optimized opportunity for battery module replacement based upon the driving history.

46. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, wherein the providing a notification regarding the monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module comprises:

displaying the monetary value.

47. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving an input associated with at least one user-defined parameter related to battery module replacement.

48. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 47, wherein the determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one characteristic of the at least one replacement battery module comprises:

determining a monetary value of the at least one replaceable battery module based upon the at least one user-defined parameter related to battery module replacement.

49. The method for replaceable battery valuation of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving a computer-readable identifier associated with the replaceable battery module.