Hydrogen station loading control unit, vehicle onboard terminal unit, hydrogen station, method for controlling hydrogen station loading

• US 6,901,302 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kami, Yozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US10/214,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 700/90, 700/95, 701/1, 701/2, 701/29
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/005 for hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/028 having the volume as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 for refueling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A hydrogen station loading control unit, which is capable of loading hydrogen vehicles with hydrogen, thereby promoting the wide use of hydrogen vehicles which are advantageous for the earth environment. The hydrogen station loading control unit communicates through a communication network with a plurality of hydrogen vehicles that drive with hydrogen in vehicle onboard hydrogen containers loaded at a plurality of hydrogen stations equipped with hydrogen loading units. The hydrogen station loading control unit includes a communication unit for receiving information relating to residual volume in each of the vehicle onboard hydrogen containers as transmitted by each of the hydrogen vehicles through the communication network, a data receiving function, a hydrogen vehicle DB which stores a regular hydrogen station for each of the hydrogen vehicles, a loading plan generating function for generating a loading plan for each of the hydrogen stations based on the residual volume information and a loading time setting & notifying function for transmitting the loading plan for each of the hydrogen stations through the communication network.

Claims

1. A hydrogen station loading control unit which is capable of communicating through a communication network with a plurality of hydrogen vehicles that drive with hydrogen in vehicle onboard hydrogen containers loaded at a hydrogen station, comprising:

a receiver which receives a signal relating to hydrogen volume remaining in each of said hydrogen containers from each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network; and

a plan generator which generates a hydrogen loading plan for each of said hydrogen vehicles for said hydrogen station based upon said hydrogen volume remaining,

wherein said hydrogen station loading control unit receives a signal indicative of stock volume of hydrogen from a hydrogen loading unit of said hydrogen station.

2. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting means for setting one of a hydrogen loading time and a hydrogen loading volume for each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon said hydrogen loading plan; and

transmission means for transmitting said one of hydrogen loading time and hydrogen loading volume to a predetermined address for each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network.

3. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 2, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

4. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 3, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

5. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

6. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 1, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

7. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 6, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

8. A hydrogen station loading control unit which is capable of communicating through a communication network with both a plurality of hydrogen vehicles that drive with hydrogen in vehicle onboard hydrogen containers loaded at a plurality of hydrogen stations and said plurality of hydrogen stations equipped with hydrogen loading units, comprising:

a receiver which receives a signal relating to hydrogen volume remaining in each of said hydrogen containers from each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network;

a plan generator which generates a hydrogen loading plan for each of said hydrogen vehicles for each of said hydrogen stations based upon said hydrogen volume remaining; and

a transmitter for transmitting said hydrogen loading plan to each of said hydrogen stations,

wherein said hydrogen station loading control unit receives a signal indicative of stock volume of hydrogen from a hydrogen loading unit of each of said hydrogen stations.

9. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 8, further comprising:

setting means for setting one of a hydrogen loading time and a hydrogen loading volume for each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon said hydrogen loading plan; and

transmission means for transmitting said one of hydrogen loading time and hydrogen loading volume to a predetermined address for each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network.

10. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 9, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

11. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 10, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

12. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 9, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

13. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 8, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

14. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 13, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

15. A hydrogen station loading control unit according to claim 8, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

16. A hydrogen station having hydrogen for loading a vehicle onboard hydrogen container on each of a plurality of hydrogen vehicles, said hydrogen station communicating through a communication network with said each of said plurality of hydrogen vehicles, said hydrogen station comprising a hydrogen station loading control unit including:

a receiver which receives a signal relating to hydrogen volume remaining in each of said hydrogen containers from each of said hydrogen vehicles though said communication network; and

a plan generator which generates a hydrogen loading plan for each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon said hydrogen volume remaining,

wherein said hydrogen station loading control unit receives a signal indicative of stock volume of hydrogen from a hydrogen loading unit of said hydrogen station.

17. A hydrogen station according to claim 16 further comprising:

setting means for setting one of a hydrogen loading time and a hydrogen loading volume for each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon said hydrogen loading plan; and

transmission means for transmitting said one of hydrogen loading time and hydrogen loading volume to a predetermined address for each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network.

18. A hydrogen station according to claim 16, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

a production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

19. A hydrogen station according to claim 18 further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

20. A hydrogen station according to claim 17, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

21. A hydrogen station according to claim 20 further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

22. Hydrogen station according to claim 17 further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

23. Hydrogen stations having hydrogen for loading a vehicle onboard hydrogen container on each of a plurality of hydrogen vehicles, said hydrogen stations communicating through a communication network with each other and with said each of said plurality of hydrogen vehicles, each of said hydrogen stations comprising a hydrogen station loading control unit including:

a receiver which receives a signal relating to hydrogen volume remaining in each of said hydrogen containers from each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network;

a plan generator which generates hydrogen loading plan for each of said hydrogen vehicles for each of said hydrogen stations based upon said hydrogen volume remaining; and

a transmitter for transmitting said hydrogen loading plan to each of said hydrogen stations;

wherein said hydrogen station loading control unit receives a signal indicative of stock volume of hydrogen from a hydrogen loading unit of each of said hydrogen stations.

24. Hydrogen stations according to claim 23 further comprising:

setting means for setting one of a hydrogen loading time and a hydrogen loading volume for each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon said hydrogen loading plan; and

transmission means for transmitting said one of hydrogen loading time and hydrogen loading volume to a predetermined address for each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network.

25. Hydrogen stations according to claim 24, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning moans for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

26. Hydrogen stations according to claim 25, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

27. Hydrogen stations according to claim 24, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

28. Hydrogen stations according to claim 23, further comprising when said hydrogen station is equipped with a hydrogen generating unit for generating hydrogen:

production planning means for preparing a production plan for said hydrogen generating unit based upon said hydrogen loading plan.

29. Hydrogen stations according to claim 28, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

30. Hydrogen stations according to claim 23, further comprising:

list generating means for generating a list of said hydrogen stations having locations convenient to each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon positioning data transmitted by each of said hydrogen vehicles; and

sending back means for sending back said list of said hydrogen stations to one of a sender of said positioning data and a second address set for said sender.

31. A method for controlling hydrogen station loading with a hydrogen station loading control unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a plurality of hydrogen vehicles, which drive with hydrogen in vehicle onboard hydrogen containers loaded at a plurality of hydrogen stations, a signal relating to hydrogen volume remaining in each of said hydrogen containers through a communication network;

generating a hydrogen loading plan for each of said hydrogen stations based upon said signal relating to hydrogen volume remaining;

determining one of a hydrogen loading time and hydrogen loading volume for each of said hydrogen vehicles based upon said hydrogen loading plan; and

transmitting said one of said hydrogen loading time and hydrogen loading volume for each of said hydrogen vehicles through said communication network,

wherein when said hydrogen loading plan is generated, said hydrogen station loading control unit receives a signal indicative of stock volume of hydrogen from a hydrogen loading control unit of each of said hydrogen stations.

32. A propagated signal on a carrier detectable by a main control unit of a hydrogen station with a hydrogen station loading control unit and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for generating a hydrogen loading plan for hydrogen vehicles, said hydrogen vehicles driving with hydrogen in vehicle onboard hydrogen containers loaded at hydrogen stations, said computer process comprising:

receiving through a communication network information relating to hydrogen volume remaining in each of said hydrogen containers from said hydrogen vehicles; and

generating a hydrogen loading plan for each of said hydrogen vehicles,

wherein when said hydrogen loading plan is generated, said hydrogen station loading control unit receives a signal indicative of stock volume of hydrogen from a hydrogen loading unit of said hydrogen station.