Power Pack Vending Apparatus, System and Method of Use

• US 20150249353A1
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NRG Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NRG Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Hatch, Paul, Krapfl, Clifford, Rostlund, Anders Olof, Dangora, James, Hamilton, Calhoun B. IV, Burns, Scott C., Brinkman, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 10,084,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 the arrangements being full-front touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]

Abstract

A power pack vending system comprises a plurality of kiosks including a magazine having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of rechargeable power packs. Each power pack has a unique identifier and is sized to be received within one slot. Each kiosk includes a computer for receiving and storing the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot the power pack is in, and current power pack information. The kiosk computer controls a charging unit for charging the power packs. The system includes a central management operation comprising a central computer and central database. The management operation communicates with each kiosk and the central database includes a database storing power pack information for every power pack and a database storing customer information. The central management operation receives, stores and processes information received from the kiosks and sends information to each of the kiosks.

Claims

1. A power pack vending system for providing power to a portable electronic device, the power pack vending system comprising:

at least one vending kiosk comprising;

an outer housing assembly a user interface portion;

a magazine having a plurality of slots;

a plurality of rechargeable power packs, each power pack sized to be received within one magazine slot, and each power pack having a unique identifier;

a charging unit adapted to charge the plurality of power packs received within the magazine slots; and

a kiosk computer for receiving and storing the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot each power pack is in, and current power pack information of each power pack received within the magazine, and the kiosk computer controlling the charging of the plurality of power packs by the charging unit.

2. The power pack vending system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magazine slots are the same physical slot size and each of the plurality of power packs have an outer case of the same physical case size,

wherein each of the plurality of power packs is arranged and designed to be received within all of the plurality of magazine slots.

3. The power pack vending system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vending kiosk does not physically transfer the plurality of rechargeable power packs within the at least one vending kiosk.

4. The power pack vending system of claim 1, wherein the magazine is modular and arranged and designed to be slid into and out of the outer housing assembly.

5. The power pack vending system of claim 4, wherein the outer housing assembly includes a side opening, and the magazine is slid into and out of the side opening.

6. The power pack vending system of claim 1, wherein the vending kiosk further comprises a back-up battery within the outer housing assembly, the back-up battery arranged and designed to provide the vending kiosk with power temporarily.

7. The power pack vending system of claim 1, further comprising:

a central management operation comprising a central computer and a central database, the central management operation in communication with each of the plurality of kiosks, the central database including a power pack database for storing power pack information for every power pack distributed in the power pack vending system, and a customer database for storing customer information for the power pack vending system;

wherein the central management operation receives, stores and processes information received from the plurality of kiosks, including information regarding customer transactions and the unique identifier of each of the power packs at the kiosk and the central management operation sends information to each of the kiosks.

8. The power pack vending system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of power packs comprises:

a main body comprising an outer case defining a substantially rectangular prism having upper and lower surfaces, first and second side surfaces and front and rear end surfaces, the outer case defining a case opening in the upper surface and rear end surface; and

a device connector assembly having first and second ends, the first end connected to the main body and the second end having a device connector arranged and designed to electrically connect with the portable electronic device,

wherein the device connector assembly has a first position and a second position, in the first position the device connector assembly is substantially within the casing opening such that the device connector assembly is substantially flush with the rear end surface and the device connector is not exposed and in the second position the device connector is exposed and elevated above the upper surface of the power pack main body.

9. The power pack vending system of claim 8, wherein the power pack case opening extends from a rear portion of the upper surface to a lower portion of the rear end surface.

10. The power pack vending system of claim 8, wherein the device connector assembly further comprises a flexible bent portion between the device connector and the device connector assembly first end.

11. The power pack vending system of claim 8, wherein the device connector assembly further comprises a flexible curved portion between the device connector and the device connector assembly first end,

wherein the flexible curved portion is arranged and designed to substantially maintain the device connector assembly in the first and second positions of the device connector assembly.

12. The power pack vending system of claim 8, wherein the power pack main body further comprises a plurality of contacts accessible at the rear end surface, the plurality of contacts arranged and designed to electrically charge the power pack.

13. The power pack vending system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of contacts further provides data communication between the at least one power pack and the kiosk computer.

14. The power pack vending system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the power packs comprises an outer case having a cavity and the magazine comprises a locking member having a locking tab arranged and designed to be received within the cavity when the at least one power pack is stored in one of the plurality of magazine slots.

15. The power pack vending system of claim 14, wherein when the locking tab is received within the outer case cavity, the at least one power pack is not removable from the magazine.

16. The power pack vending system of claim 15, wherein the locking member is biased to a locking position and the locking tab is arranged and designed so that as the at least one power pack is inserted fully into one of the plurality of magazine slots, the outer case contacts the locking tab and moves the biased locking member and when the at least one power pack is fully inserted the biased locking member forces the locking tab into the outer case cavity.

17. The power pack vending system of claim 16, wherein the magazine includes an actuator arranged and designed to move the biased locking member from the locking position to an unlocking position in which the locking tab is removed from the cavity.

18. The power pack vending system of claim 14, wherein the at least one power pack further comprises a plurality of contacts and each slot in the magazine includes a corresponding plurality of contact pins arranged and designed to contact the plurality of contacts of the at least one power pack upon the at least one power pack being inserted fully in one of the magazine slots.

19. The power pack vending system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of contacts and the plurality of contact pins cooperate to electrically charge the at least one power pack and provide data communication between the at least one power pack and the kiosk computer.

20. The power pack vending system of claim 17, wherein the at least one power pack is not moved axially within the slot as the biased locking member moves from the locking position to the unlocking position.

21. A rechargeable power pack for powering a portable electronic device, the power pack comprising:

a main body comprising an outer case defining a substantially rectangular prism having upper and lower surfaces, first and second side surfaces and front and rear end surfaces, the outer case defining a case opening in the upper surface and rear end surface; and

a connector assembly having first and second ends, the first end connected to the main body and the second end having a connector arranged and designed to electrically connect with the portable electronic device,

wherein the connector assembly has a first position and a second position, in the first position the connector assembly is substantially within the casing opening such that the connector assembly is substantially flush with the rear end surface and the connector is not exposed and in the second position the connector is exposed and elevated above the upper surface of the main body.

22. The rechargeable power pack of claim 21, wherein the case opening extends from a rear portion of the upper surface to a lower portion of the rear end surface.

23. The rechargeable power pack of claim 22, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a flexible bent portion between the connector and the connector assembly first end.

24. The rechargeable power pack of claim 22, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a flexible curved portion between the connector and the connector assembly first end,

wherein the flexible curved portion is arranged and designed to substantially maintain the connector assembly in the first and second positions.

25. The rechargeable power pack of claim 24, wherein the main body further comprises a plurality of contacts accessible at the rear end surface, the plurality of contacts arranged and designed to electrically charge the power pack.

26. The rechargeable power pack of claim 25, wherein the plurality of contacts further provides data communication.

27. A power pack vending system for providing power to a portable electronic device, the power pack vending system comprising:

a central management operation and at least one vending kiosk in communication with one another;

wherein the at least one vending kiosk comprises;

a user interface portion;

a magazine having a plurality of slots;

a plurality of rechargeable power packs, each power pack having a unique identifier and sized to be received within one magazine slot;

a charging unit for charging a power pack; and

a kiosk computer for receiving and storing the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot each power pack is in, and current power pack information of each power pack received within the magazine, and the kiosk computer controlling the charging of the plurality of power packs by the charging unit; and

wherein the central management operation comprises;

a central computer for receiving, storing and processing information received from the at least one vending kiosk, including information regarding customer transactions and the unique identifier of each of the power packs at the at least one vending kiosk, the central computer sending information to each of the at least one vending kiosk;

a power pack database for storing power pack information for every power pack distributed in the power pack vending system; and

a customer database for storing customer information for the power pack vending system.

28. The power pack vending system of claim 27, wherein the user interface portion comprises a visual display of pertinent information and permits users to communicate with the at least one vending kiosk.

29. The power pack vending system of claim 27, wherein the central management operation communicates with the at least one vending kiosk through a communication line.

30. The power pack vending system of claim 27, wherein the at least one vending kiosk comprises a plurality of vending kiosks, and each vending kiosk comprises a network communications module configured to receive and transmit information to the central management operation.

31. A method of operating a power pack vending system having a central management operation and a plurality of kiosks, each kiosk having a plurality of slots and a plurality of rechargeable power packs, each slot arranged and designed to receive a power pack, each power pack having a unique identifier and each slot having a slot identification number, the method comprising:

storing unique identifier and information pertaining to each power pack in a central database;

identifying the power pack received in each kiosk slot;

storing the unique identifier and information pertaining to each power pack by the kiosk slot identification number;

receiving a user request at one kiosk for a particular type of power pack;

determining whether the kiosk has the requested type of power pack in its charged condition;

selecting the power pack to vend responsive to the user request, the selected power pack located in a specific kiosk slot identification number;

signaling to unlock the selected power pack in the specific slot identification number of the kiosk; and

informing the user to take the selected power pack.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

illuminating a lamp on or adjacent to the selected power pack in the kiosk,

wherein the illuminated lamp indicates the selected power pack to be removed by the user.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

transmitting to the central management operation information regarding removal of a power pack from a kiosk; and

updating the stored information pertaining to each power pack by the kiosk slot identification number for the kiosk upon removal of a power pack from the kiosk.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of storing the unique identifier and information pertaining to each power pack by the kiosk slot identification number comprises maintaining and updating a database indicating for each kiosk slot identification number the following information:

whether a power pack is present, the power pack unique identifier, the power pack charge status, and the power pack type.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

slidably receiving a vended power pack inserted into a kiosk slot;

locking the power pack in the kiosk when fully inserted into the kiosk slot; and

determining presence of the power pack in the specific kiosk slot identification number.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of determining the presence of the power pack comprises polling all of the kiosk slots at a high frequency to detect the presence of a power pack.