SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

• US 20160028263A1
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
• Inventors: Yau, Chi W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,985,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

A system and method for charging a plurality of batteries is disclosed. A battery charging hub may have a plurality of charging/discharging ports capable of applying varying charging programs based on the state of a battery. A battery charging hub may include wired or wireless communication ability to allow the battery charging hub to communicate with remote units regarding the state and quality of batteries at the charging hub. A virtual disposable battery is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A charging hub comprising:

a charging unit;

a control unit;

memory comprising a plurality of charging programs;

a plurality of charging/discharging ports electrically connected to the charging unit and the control unit, wherein the charging unit is configured to select and apply a charging program to a device under charge and wherein the charging unit is in electrical communication with a control unit configured to direct operation of the hub.

2. The charging hub of claim 1, wherein the charging/discharging ports comprises a positive terminal bar comprising a positive terminal, and a negative terminal bar comprising a negative terminal.

3. The charging hub of claim 1, wherein the charging program comprises a rejuvenation program.

4. The charging hub of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises an input unit configured to receive input and transmit the received input to the control unit.

5. The charging hub of claim 4, wherein in the input comprises a charging program.

6. The charging hub of claim 1, wherein the hub is divided into charging zones which each comprise a plurality of charging/discharging ports.

7. The charging hub of claim 6, wherein the charging/discharging ports within a zone apply the same charging program.

8. The charging hub of claim 1 wherein the charging unit is configured to sense at least one characteristic of the device under charge and select the charging program for the device under charge based on the sensed characteristic.

9. The charging hub of claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with remote unit.

10. The charging hub of claim 1, wherein the charging unit is configured to apply a current pulse to the device under charge and to measure a voltage spike resulting from the application of the current pulse.

11. The charging hub of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the device under charge as rechargeable when the measured voltage spike is less than a predetermined threshold.

12. The charging hub of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the device under charge as non-rechargeable when the measured voltage spike is greater than a predetermined threshold.

13. The charging hub of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold is about 1.5 volts.

14. The charging hub of claim 12, wherein the predetermined threshold is about 2 volts.

23. A method of managing rechargeable devices comprising:

providing a charging hub of claim 1;

connecting at least one device to at least one charging/discharging port;

initiating a charging program comprising at least a first parameter and a second parameter;

charging at a first parameter for a first period of time;

charging at a second parameter for a second period of time; and

communicating to a remote unit the state of charge and quantity of batteries in the hub.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second parameters comprise a first and second voltage or a first and second current.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the hub comprises a charging unit configured to sense at least one characteristic of the rechargeable device and select the charging program for the rechargeable device based on the sensed characteristic.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising simultaneously charging at least two rechargeable devices with at least two different charging programs.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the method further comprises initiating a rejuvenation program.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the battery rejuvenation program comprises repetitively charging, discharging, and recharging the battery until the battery reaches a desired capacity or a predefined set of characteristics.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprises:

applying a current pulse to the device; and

measuring a voltage spike resulting from the application of the current pulse.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising identifying the device as rechargeable when the measured voltage spike is less than a predetermined threshold.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising identifying a battery as non-rechargeable when the measured voltage spike is greater than a predetermined threshold.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the predetermined threshold is about 1.5 volts.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the predetermined threshold is about 2 volts.

15. A battery charging system comprising:

a hub comprising a plurality of charging/discharging ports configured to apply varying charging programs to a plurality of batteries based on a characteristic of the plurality of batteries and a central server;

wherein the hub and the central server are configured to communicate with each, and wherein the communication comprises information regarding the quantity and quality of the batteries at the hub and/or the at least one remote unit.

16. The battery charging system of claim 15 further comprising at least one remote unit configured to vend and receive batteries, wherein the remote unit is configure to communicate with the hub and the central server.

17. The battery charging system of claim 15 wherein the hub comprises a charging unit and a control unit.

18. The battery charging system of claim 17, wherein the charging unit is configured to sense a characteristic of a battery and select a charging program based on the sensed characteristic.

19. The battery charging system of claim 18, wherein the hub communicates information relating to the selected charging program.

20. The battery charging system of claim 15 wherein the charging program comprises charging at a first voltage or current for a first period of time and charging at second voltage or current for a second period of time.

21. The battery charging system of claim 15 wherein the hub is located within the at least one remote unit, and the at least one remote unit comprises an electro-mechanical system for placing received batteries into one of the plurality of charging/discharging ports of the hub.

22. The battery charging system of claim 21, further comprising a pre-charging buffer and a post-charging buffer, wherein the pre-charging buffer is configured to receive and store received batteries within the at least one remote unit where the plurality of charging/discharging ports are occupied by batteries, and wherein the post-charging buffer is configured to receive and charged batteries which have been charged and removed from the charging/discharging ports of the hub.

34. A method of providing a virtual disposable battery comprising:

receiving one or more batteries having each having an initial state of charge;

measuring the voltage, impedance, and capacity of each of the one or more received batteries;

determining a charging profile for one of the one or more batteries based on the measured voltage, impedance, and capacity of the one of the one or more batteries; and

charging the one of the one or more batteries according to the charging profiles resulting in the one of the one or more batteries having a second state of charge.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more batteries are received from a battery exchange machine.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the battery exchange machine provides the one of the one or more batteries having the second state of charge.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing one or more second batteries having the second state of charge in response to receiving the one or more batteries.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the one or more charged batteries having the second state of charge are subsequently provided in response to a user providing one or more spent batteries.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising measuring current of the one or more received batteries under a loading condition, and determining a charging profile based on the measured current.