SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RENTING, CHARGING, AND DISCHARGING BATTERY PACKS
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of battery packs;
a plurality of battery pack trays, each tray including a battery charging circuit and one or more receptacles for receiving one or more of the battery packs; and
a kiosk comprising a storage unit configured to receive and store the plurality of battery pack trays, a power module configured to deliver power to the battery pack trays, and a controller that is configured to control dispensing of the trays and the battery packs from the kiosk,wherein each tray is configured to be alternatively powered by the power module in the kiosk or by an external power source apart from the kiosk to enable the charging circuit in the tray to charge the battery pack that is received in each receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a plurality of battery packs, a plurality of battery pack trays, and a kiosk. Each tray includes a battery charging circuit and one or more receptacles for receiving one or more of the battery packs. The kiosk includes a storage unit configured to receive and store the plurality of battery pack trays, a power module configured to deliver power to the battery pack trays, and a controller that is configured to control dispensing of the trays and the battery packs from the kiosk. Each tray is configured to be alternatively powered by the power module in the kiosk or by an external power source apart from the kiosk to enable the charging circuit in the tray to charge the battery pack that is received in each receptacle.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of battery packs; a plurality of battery pack trays, each tray including a battery charging circuit and one or more receptacles for receiving one or more of the battery packs; and a kiosk comprising a storage unit configured to receive and store the plurality of battery pack trays, a power module configured to deliver power to the battery pack trays, and a controller that is configured to control dispensing of the trays and the battery packs from the kiosk, wherein each tray is configured to be alternatively powered by the power module in the kiosk or by an external power source apart from the kiosk to enable the charging circuit in the tray to charge the battery pack that is received in each receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a plurality of battery packs; and a kiosk having; a storage unit configured to receive and store the plurality of battery packs; a battery charging unit configured to charge one or more of the plurality of battery packs; a power module configured to deliver power to the battery pack charger unit; a controller in the kiosk configured to control vending of the battery packs from the storage unit; and a charging management unit configured to prioritize charging of the battery packs in the battery pack storage unit based upon at least one parameter of the kiosk and the battery packs received in the storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a plurality of battery packs; and a kiosk comprising a storage unit configured to receive and store the plurality of battery packs, a power module configured to deliver power to the battery pack trays, a controller that is configured to control dispensing of trays and battery packs from the kiosk, and a monitoring module configured to monitor a parameter of the battery packs in the storage unit; and a user interface configured to allow a user to select a battery pack for rental from among the plurality of battery packs in the storage unit, wherein rental prices for the battery packs are set based upon the monitored battery pack parameter of each of the battery packs. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 23, 24)
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Specification