Method and apparatus for charging one or more electric vehicles
First Claim
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1. A vehicle battery charger for charging a vehicle through a charge port, the vehicle battery charger comprising:
- a power coupler connectable to the charge port to transfer power;
a first power converter operably connected to the power coupler and connectable to a source of electric power to receive electric power, the first power source converter capable of converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to the power coupler;
a second power converter operably connectable to the power coupler and connectable to the source of electric power to receive electric power, the second power converter capable of converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to the power coupler; and
a switch selectively connecting the second power converter to the power coupler and the first power converter to transfer electric power when the first power converter is also transferring electric power.
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus for charging one or more electric vehicles includes a first power converter and a second power converter connectable to a source of electric power to receive electric power therefrom. A switch selectively connects the power converters together to provide combined power to a first power coupler in order to charge one electric vehicle, or connects the power converters to separate power couplers in order to charge a plurality of vehicles.
171 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A vehicle battery charger for charging a vehicle through a charge port, the vehicle battery charger comprising:
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a power coupler connectable to the charge port to transfer power; a first power converter operably connected to the power coupler and connectable to a source of electric power to receive electric power, the first power source converter capable of converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to the power coupler; a second power converter operably connectable to the power coupler and connectable to the source of electric power to receive electric power, the second power converter capable of converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to the power coupler; and a switch selectively connecting the second power converter to the power coupler and the first power converter to transfer electric power when the first power converter is also transferring electric power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle battery charger for charging vehicles through associated charge ports, the vehicle battery charger comprising:
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a first power coupler connectable to a first charge port to transfer power; a second power coupler connectable to a second charge port to transfer power; a first power converter connectable to a source of electric power for converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to one of the power couplers; a second power converter connectable to the source of electric power for converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to one of the power couplers; and a switch assembly selectively connecting the first power converter and the second power converter to the first power coupler in order to charge a battery of a single vehicle or the first power converter to the first power coupler and the second power converter to the second power coupler in order to charge batteries of two separate vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for charging a vehicle through a charge port, the method comprising:
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providing a power coupler connectable to the charge port to transfer power;
a first power converter for converting electric power from a source of electric power and transferring the electric power to the power coupler, the first power converter having a power transfer rating; and
a second power converter for converting electric power from the source of electric power and transferring the electric power to the power coupler; andconnecting the first power converter to the power coupler to transfer power to the power coupler for power levels less than or equal to the power transfer rating, and connecting the first power converter and the second power converter to the power coupler to transfer power to the power coupler for power levels exceeding the power transfer rating.
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Specification