VEHICLE TO VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20170136881A1
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nio Usa Inc.
• Original Assignee: NextEV USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US15/143,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20170136881A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/18 using bow-type collectors in contact with trolley wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/24 Pantographs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/36 Single contact pieces along the line for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• 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

Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to a vehicle to vehicle charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for vehicle to vehicle charging comprises: an electrical storage unit disposed on a charging vehicle; a charging plate in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit, the charging plate configured to provide a charge to a receiving vehicle; a charging vehicle arm interconnected to the charging plate and to the charging vehicle, the charging vehicle arm extendable; a charging vehicle controller that determines if the receiving vehicle requires charging and configured to position the charging plate proximate a charging panel of the receiving vehicle; wherein the charging panel receives a charge from the charging plate and charges the receiving vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for vehicle to vehicle charging, the system comprising:

an electrical storage unit disposed on a charging vehicle;

a charging plate in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit, the charging plate configured to provide a charge to a receiving vehicle;

a charging vehicle arm interconnected to the charging plate and to the charging vehicle, the charging vehicle arm extendable;

a charging vehicle controller that determines if the receiving vehicle requires charging and configured to position the charging plate proximate a charging panel of the receiving vehicle;

wherein the charging panel receives a charge from the charging plate and charges the receiving vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging panel is configured to operate in a plurality of states comprising a retracted state and a deployed state

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an actuator interconnected to the charging panel and to the receiving vehicle, wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel to receive the charge.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one range sensor configured to measure a first measured distance between a first point on the charging panel and a second point on a charging plate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first point of the charging panel is positioned at a selectable desired separation distance from the second point on the charging plate, wherein the selectable desired separation distance is selected from a vehicle database.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the positioning of the first point of the charging panel to the selectable desired separation distance is performed automatically by actuation of an actuator interconnected to the charging panel.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the charging vehicle controller receives the first measured distance and automatically actuates the actuator to adjust the position of the charging panel to the desired separation distance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein charging is performed while both the charging vehicle and the receiving vehicle are in motion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the charging plate is interconnected to a distal portion of the charging vehicle arm and extends to a position other than below the electric vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a charging level of the charging is selectable from a vehicle database.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the charging plate is in physical contact with the charging panel.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel in both a vertical and a lateral direction.

13. A method for vehicle to vehicle charging, the method comprising:

determining, by a microprocessor, a charge value of an electrical storage unit disposed on a receiving vehicle;

determining, by the microprocessor, if the charge value is below a selectable threshold value wherein charging of an electrical storage unit of the receiving vehicle is required;

identifying, by the microprocessor, if a charging vehicle is available for charging of the electrical storage unit; and

positioning, by the microprocessor, a charging plate of the charging vehicle, the charging plate positioned to provide charging from the charging plate to a charging panel of the receiving vehicle;

wherein the charging panel receives charging from the charging plate wherein electrical storage unit of the receiving vehicle is charged.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

measuring, by a sensor, an alignment measurement between the charging panel and the charging plate;

transmitting, by the microprocessor, the alignment measurement to an alignment controller;

receiving, by the alignment controller, the alignment measurement;

determining, by the microprocessor, a required alignment adjustment; and

adjusting, by the microprocessor, the position of the charging plate by the required alignment adjustment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the charging panel is configured to operate in a plurality of states comprising a retracted state and a deployed state.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising an actuator interconnected to the charging panel and to the receiving vehicle, wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel to receive the charge.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein charging plate is interconnected to an extendable charging vehicle arm interconnected to the charging vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the charging plate is configured to extend from the charging vehicle to a position above the receiving vehicle, wherein charging is provided from the charging plate to the charging panel of the receiving vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the charging plate is in physical contact with the charging panel.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel in both a vertical and a lateral direction.