SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING BATTERIES OF VEHICLES AND RETURNING CHARGE FROM BATTERIES TO UTILITY COMPANIES

• US 20140184156A1
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Granted Patent: US 9,187,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• 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 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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

A monitoring module monitors a charge level of a battery in a vehicle. A network interface module transmits a first set of charging parameters for charging the battery to a utility company and receives a reply and a charge return request from the utility company for returning charge from the battery to the utility company. The first set of charging parameters includes the charge level of the battery and a first time of the day for charging the battery. The reply includes a second time of the day for charging the battery. A control module generates a first signal based on the reply and the first set of charging parameters, and a second signal based on the charge return request and charge return parameters. A charging module charges the battery based on the first signal. A charge retrieval module returns the charge based on the second signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a monitoring module configured to monitor a charge level of a battery in a vehicle;

a network interface module configured to

transmit a first set of charging parameters for charging the battery to a utility company, wherein the first set of charging parameters includes (i) the charge level of the battery, and (ii) a first time of the day for charging the battery; and

receive (i) a reply, and (ii) a charge return request from the utility company for returning charge from the battery to the utility company, wherein the reply includes a second time of the day for charging the battery;

a control module configured to generate (a) a first signal based on (i) the reply and (ii) the first set of charging parameters, and (b) a second signal based on (i) the charge return request and (ii) charge return parameters;

a charging module configured to charge the battery based on the first signal; and

a charge retrieval module configured to return charge from the battery to the utility company based on the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge retrieval module is configured to return the charge from the battery to the utility company until a predetermined amount of charge is retrieved from the battery.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge retrieval module is configured to return the charge to the utility company in response to the charge return request being consistent with the charge return parameters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to decline the charge return request in response to the charge return request being inconsistent with the charge return parameters.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to negotiate alternate charge return parameters in response to the charge return request being inconsistent with the charge return parameters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge return request includes a time to begin charge return.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to enter the charge return parameters.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to evaluate the charge return request based on the charge level of the battery.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge retrieval module is configured to return the charge from the battery in response to the charge level of the battery being greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum charge level.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface module includes one of a wireline interface, a wireless interface, and a powerline carrier (PLC) interface.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inverter configured to invert the charge retrieved from the battery prior to returning the charge to the utility company.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a converter configured to convert power received from the utility company from alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power.

13. A method comprising:

monitoring a charge level of a battery in a vehicle;

transmitting a first set of charging parameters for charging the battery to a utility company, wherein the first set of charging parameters includes (i) the charge level of the battery, and (ii) a first time of the day for charging the battery;

receiving (i) a reply, and (ii) a charge return request from the utility company for returning charge from the battery to the utility company, wherein the reply includes a second time of the day for charging the battery;

generating a first signal based on (i) the reply, and (ii) the first set of charging parameters;

generating a second signal based on (i) the charge return request, and (ii) charge return parameters;

charging the battery based on the first signal; and

returning charge from the battery to the utility company based on the second signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising returning the charge from the battery to the utility company until a predetermined amount of charge is retrieved from the battery.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising returning the charge to the utility company in response to the charge return request being consistent with the charge return parameters.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising declining the charge return request in response to the charge return request being inconsistent with the charge return parameters.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising negotiating alternate charge return parameters in response to the charge return request being inconsistent with the charge return parameters.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the charge return request includes a time to begin charge return.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising evaluating the charge return request based on the charge level of the battery.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising returning the charge from the battery in response to the charge level of the battery being greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum charge level.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising inverting the charge retrieved from the battery prior to returning the charge to the utility company.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising converting power received from the utility company from alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power.