Plug-in vehicle
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a charge monitoring module configured to monitor a charge level of a battery in a vehicle;
a control module configured to store a first set of charging parameters for charging the battery, wherein the first set of charging parameters includes (i) the charge level of the battery and (ii) a first time of the day for charging the battery;
a network interface module configured totransmit the first set of charging parameters from the vehicle to a utility company, andreceive (i) a reply and (ii) a charge return request from the utility company, wherein the reply includes a second time of the day for charging the battery,wherein the control module is configured to generate a charge control signal based on (i) the reply and (ii) the first set of charging parameters;
a charging module configured to charge the battery of the vehicle based on the charge control signal; and
a charge retrieval module configured to (i) selectively retrieve a charge from the battery based on the charge return request and (ii) output power generated based on the charge to the utility company until a predetermined amount of the charge is retrieved from the battery,wherein the control module, the network interface module, the charging module, and the charge retrieval module are integrated in the vehicle.
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Abstract
A system includes a control module, a network interface module, and a charging module. The control module stores a first set of charging parameters for charging a battery in a vehicle. The network interface module transmits the first set of charging parameters to a utility company and receives a reply from the utility company. The control module generates a charge control signal based on the reply and the first set of charging parameters. The charging module charges the battery of the vehicle based on the charge control signal.
30 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a charge monitoring module configured to monitor a charge level of a battery in a vehicle; a control module configured to store a first set of charging parameters for charging the battery, wherein the first set of charging parameters includes (i) the charge level of the battery and (ii) a first time of the day for charging the battery; a network interface module configured to transmit the first set of charging parameters from the vehicle to a utility company, and receive (i) a reply and (ii) a charge return request from the utility company, wherein the reply includes a second time of the day for charging the battery, wherein the control module is configured to generate a charge control signal based on (i) the reply and (ii) the first set of charging parameters; a charging module configured to charge the battery of the vehicle based on the charge control signal; and a charge retrieval module configured to (i) selectively retrieve a charge from the battery based on the charge return request and (ii) output power generated based on the charge to the utility company until a predetermined amount of the charge is retrieved from the battery, wherein the control module, the network interface module, the charging module, and the charge retrieval module are integrated in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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monitoring a charge level of a battery in a vehicle; storing a first set of charging parameters in a control module, wherein the first set of charging parameters is for charging the battery in the vehicle, and wherein the first set of charging parameters includes (i) the charge level of the battery and (ii) a first time of the day for charging the battery; transmitting the first set of charging parameters from the vehicle to a utility company; receiving (i) a reply and (ii) a charge return request from the utility company, wherein the reply includes a second time of the day for charging the battery; generating a charge control signal based on (i) the reply and (ii) the first set of charging parameters; charging the battery of the vehicle based on the charge control signal; selectively retrieving a charge from the battery based on the charge return request; and supplying power generated based on the charge to the utility company until a predetermined amount of the charge is retrieved from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a charging module configured to selectively charge a battery of a vehicle based on a first alternating current (AC) voltage received from a utility company in response to (i) transmitting a charge level of the battery and a first time of the day for charging the battery from the vehicle to the utility company, and (ii) receiving a second time of the day for charging the battery from the utility company; and a charge retrieval module configured to selectively (i) retrieve a charge from the battery and (ii) output a second AC voltage generated based on the charge to the utility company until a predetermined amount of the charge is retrieved from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification