Systems and methods for electric vehicle charging and for providing notification of variations from charging expectations

• US 8,384,358 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Biondo, William A., McCall, Clark E., Proefke, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VINH P
• Application Number:
  US12/473,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 320/155
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source. The system includes a sensor configured to detect an electrical current received from the external power source and a processor configured to determine a charging schedule related to charging the vehicle battery. The processor is also configured to determine a variation from the charging schedule based on the electrical current and to direct transmissions of messages based on the electrical current detected by the sensor. The system includes a remote electronic device configured to receive the messages and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the messages.

Claims

1. A charging system for use in a plug-in vehicle and configured to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source that is not onboard the vehicle, the charging system comprising:

a first sensor disposed onboard the plug-in vehicle and configured to detect a first measure of an electrical current received from the external power source, the first measure detected by the first sensor onboard the vehicle;

a second sensor disposed at the external power source and configured to detect a second measure of the electrical current at the external power source, the second measure detected by the second sensor at the external power source;

a processor configured to;

compare the first measure with the second measure, generating a comparison;

determine a charging expectation related to charging the vehicle battery;

determine a variation from the charging expectation based on the comparison; and

direct transmission of a message based on the variation from the charging expectation; and

a remote electronic device configured to receive the message and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the message.

2. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the remote electronic device is an electronic key fob configured to communicate with the charging system.

3. The charging system of claim 1 comprising a communication system that communicates through a cellular telephone network, the communication system configured to transmit the message via the cellular telephone network to the remote electronic device based on the electrical current.

4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine the charging expectation based on the electrical current and an onboard parameter; and

direct transmission of the message based on the electrical current detected by the sensor and the variation from the charging expectation.

5. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the expectation using a schedule for charging the battery.

6. The charging system of claim 5, wherein:

the schedule includes a scheduled charging end time; and

the processor is further configured to;

determine a projected charging end time using the electrical current;

compare the scheduled charging end time with the projected charging end time; and

direct transmission of the message based on a difference between the scheduled charging end time and the projected charging end time.

7. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect an ability to meet the expectation based on the electrical current and the onboard parameter; and

direct transmission of the message if the ability to meet the expectation is not detected.

8. The charging system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the ability to meet the expectation by measuring a decrease in the electrical current from the external power source.

9. The charging system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to direct termination of the charging of the electric vehicle based on the ability to meet the expectation.

10. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a state of charge of the battery; and

direct transmission of the message if the state of charge is less than a predetermined threshold.

11. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an inquiry to a user of the plug-in vehicle as to whether to continue charging the battery.

12. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a response from a user of the plug-in vehicle; and

adjust the charging expectation based on the response.

13. A charging system for use in a plug-in vehicle and configured to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an electrical current received from the external power source;

a processor configured to;

identify a charging expectation related to charging the vehicle battery using a schedule for charging the battery;

the schedule including a scheduled charging end time;

determine a projected charging end time using the electrical current;

compare the scheduled charging end time with the projected charging end time; and

direct transmission of a message based on a difference between the scheduled charging end time and the projected charging end time; and

a remote electronic device configured to receive the message and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the message.

14. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the remote electronic device is an electronic key fob configured to communicate with the charging system.

15. A charging system for use in a plug-in vehicle and configured to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source that is not onboard the vehicle, the charging system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an electrical current received from the external power source;

a processor configured to;

determine an electrical current charging expectation related to charging the vehicle battery based on the electrical current;

determine a variation from the charging expectation based on the electrical current, and

direct transmission of a message based on the electrical current detected by the sensor and the variation from the charging expectation; and

a remote electronic device configured to receive the message and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the message.

16. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the remote electronic device is an electronic key fob configured to communicate with the charging system.

17. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the expectation using a schedule for charging the battery.

18. The charging system of claim 17, wherein:

the schedule includes a scheduled charging end time; and

the processor is further configured to;

determine a projected charging end time using the electrical current;

compare the scheduled charging end time with the projected charging end time; and

direct transmission of the message based on a difference between the scheduled charging end time and the projected charging end time.

19. The charging system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the ability to meet the expectation by measuring a decrease in the electrical current from the external power source.

20. The charging system of claim 17, wherein:

the sensor is disposed onboard the plug-in vehicle, and is configured to detect a first measure of the electrical current onboard the vehicle;

the charging system further includes a second sensor disposed at the external power source and configured to detect a second measure of the electrical current at the external power source; and

the processor is further configured to;

compare the first measure with the second measure; and

direct transmission of the message based on a difference between the first and second measures.