Display device for displaying information of rechargeable battery of electric vehicle and charging module having the display device

• US 8,928,273 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go-Tech Energy Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Go-Tech Energy Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Soong, Tzu-Wen, Lin, Hung-Lan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US13/082,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/105, 320/109, 320/132, 320/134, 324/426, 324/427
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A display device for displaying information of a rechargeable battery of an electric vehicle and a charging module using the display device are disclosed in the present invention. The display device includes a battery capacity unit, a lifetime unit, an information collecting unit and a display unit. It can display the charging state, lifetime, cycle count and health state of the rechargeable battery. The charging module includes a power unit for providing power. It can display battery information when charging the rechargeable battery. The invention provides a convenient way to let customers know the status of the batteries of their electric vehicles and decide if the batteries need to be charged or replaced.

Claims

1. A display device for displaying information of a rechargeable battery of an electric vehicle on an external charging device, comprising:

a battery capacity unit, for detecting charging state of the rechargeable battery;

a lifetime unit, for detecting lifetime of the rechargeable battery;

an information collecting unit, for determining cycle count and health state of the rechargeable battery;

a processor for confirming identification of the rechargeable battery to determine ownership of the rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable battery is charged only when confirmation is positive; and

a display unit, connected to the battery capacity unit, lifetime unit and information collecting unit, for displaying the charging state, lifetime, cycle count and health state of the rechargeable battery on the external charging device outside of the rechargeable battery such that information of the rechargeable battery is shown on the external charging device while electrically connected to the rechargeable battery.

2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a converter for converting the charging state, lifetime, cycle count and health state of the rechargeable battery into user-friendly data before displayed by the display unit.

3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the charging state, lifetime, cycle count and health state of the rechargeable battery to a remote computer via local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless LAN or wireless WAN.

4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a power unit for providing power.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is powered by the external charging device.

6. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory unit for recording the charging state, lifetime, cycle count and health state of the rechargeable battery each time when the rechargeable battery is connected to the display device.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED) indicators.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the information collecting unit calculates remaining capacity to full charge and health state of the rechargeable battery.

9. A charging module for charging a rechargeable battery of an electric vehicle, comprising:

a charging unit, for providing electric power to the rechargeable battery; and

a display device according to claim 1.