Apparatus, method and article for authentication, security and control of power storage devices, such as batteries

• US 9,182,244 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Inventors: Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US13/559,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 : Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 : by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 : Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/645 : Type of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 : Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 : by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 : by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 : by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 : by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 : by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 : drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 : of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/46 : Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 : relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 : relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 : relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 : relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 : Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 : using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/50 : using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 : characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 : Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 : DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 : Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 : Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 : for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 : responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 : Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 : operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 : with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 : Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 : Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 : using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 : output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 : Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15048 : Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15053 : Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 : Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0638 : Organizing or formatting or addressing of data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0671 : In-line storage system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 : with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 : Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 : operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 : in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 : for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 : dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 : comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 : Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 11/00 : Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 : Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 : Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 : Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. By default, each portable electrical energy storage device is disabled from accepting a charge unless it receives authentication information from an authorized collection, charging and distribution machine, other authorized charging device, or other authorized device that transmits the authentication credentials. Also, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is disabled from releasing energy unless it receives authentication information from an external device to which it will provide power, such as a vehicle or other authorization device.

Claims

1. A portable electrical energy storage device security system for a portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

at least one controller; and

at least one communications module coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to;

receive information regarding authentication of an external charger device to which to connect the portable electrical energy storage device for charging of the portable electrical energy storage device, or of an external device to be powered for powering of the external device to be powered by the portable electrical energy storage device; and

make a determination regarding allowing the charging from the external charger device, or make a determination regarding allowing the powering of the external device to be powered, based on the information regarding authentication, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the external device to be powered is determined based on a profile of a user associated with the external device to be powered.

2. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 1, wherein the configured portable electrical energy storage device security system is integrated as part of the portable electrical energy storage device.

3. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to make the determination regarding allowing the charging from the external charger device and wherein the at least one controller is further configured to accept the portable electrical energy storage device charge from the external charger device if the external charger device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication.

4. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 3, wherein the accepting the portable electrical energy storage device charge includes sending a signal enabling the portable electrical energy storage device to be charged.

5. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 4, further comprising:

a switch coupled to at least one terminal of the portable electrical energy storage device and to a cell of the portable electrical energy storage device, the switch configured to be activated by a control signal generated by the controller of the configured portable electrical energy storage device security system, wherein the controller is configured to;

send the signal in a manner enabling the portable electrical energy storage device to be charged, such that the control signal causes the switch to close to complete a circuit such as to allow electrical current to flow from the external charger device causing the portable electrical energy storage device to charge if the external charger device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication; and

upon the portable electrical energy storage device being disconnected from the external charger device, send the signal in a manner preventing the portable electrical energy storage from accepting a charge, such that the control signal causes the switch to break the circuit and prevent electrical current to flow from the external charger device.

6. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the information regarding authentication via a wireless signal transmitted from the external charger device or from the external device to be powered, and wherein the wireless signal transmitted from the external charger device or from the external device to be powered is not detectable outside a specified maximum range from the portable electrical energy storage device security system communications module.

7. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 1, further comprising a tamper-resistant housing within which the portable electrical energy storage device security system is housed, the tamper-resistant housing configured to destroy an operational condition of the portable electrical energy storage device if the tamper-resistant housing were opened in an unauthorized manner.

8. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 7, wherein the tamper-resistant housing includes a frangible portion configured to render an open circuit to destroy the operational condition in response to tampering or attempted tampering of the tamper-resistant housing.

9. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 8, wherein the frangible portion is configured to render the open circuit by conductive paths formed in a frangible substrate of the frangible portion being configured to break in response to tampering.

10. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

request information regarding authentication of the external device to be powered for powering of the external device to be powered by the portable electrical energy storage device; and

determine how much energy to release, if any, from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the external device to be powered, based on a response received, if any, to the requesting of information regarding authentication of the external device to be powered.

11. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 10, wherein the external device to be powered is a vehicle and wherein the information regarding authentication of the external device to be powered is information regarding the vehicle or a user associated with the vehicle.

12. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 11, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the vehicle is determined based on a vehicle performance profile of the vehicle.

13. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to cause more energy to be released from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the vehicle than for other vehicles having a lower vehicle performance profile than the vehicle.

14. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 11, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the vehicle is determined based on a profile of a user associated with the vehicle.

15. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to cause more energy to be released from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the vehicle than for one or more other user profiles associated with a lower payment amount for portable electrical energy storage device usage than the user profile.

16. A method of operating a portable electrical energy storage device security system, the method comprising:

receiving, by the portable electrical energy storage device security system of a portable electrical energy storage device, information regarding authentication of an external charger device to which to connect the portable electrical energy storage device for charging of the portable electrical energy storage device or for powering of an external device to be powered by the portable electrical energy storage device; and

making a determination, by the portable electrical energy storage device security system, regarding allowing the charging from the external charger device, or making a determination, by the configured portable electrical energy storage device security system, regarding allowing the powering of the external device to be powered, based on the information regarding authentication, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the external device to be powered is determined based on a profile of a user associated with the external device to be powered.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable electrical energy storage device security system is integrated as part of the portable electrical energy storage device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising accepting the portable electrical energy storage device charge from the external charger device if the external charger device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the accepting the portable electrical energy storage device charge includes sending a signal enabling the portable electrical energy storage device to be charged.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

sending the signal in a manner enabling the portable electrical energy storage device to be charged, such that the control signal causes a switch to close to complete a circuit and allow electrical current to flow from the external charger device causing the portable electrical energy storage device to charge if the external charger device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication; and

once the portable electrical energy storage device is disconnected from the external charger device, sending the signal in a manner preventing the portable electrical energy storage from accepting a charge, such that the control signal causes the switch to break the circuit and prevent electrical current to flow from the external charger device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the information regarding authentication via a wireless signal transmitted from the external charger device or from the external device to be powered, wherein the wireless signal transmitted from the external charger device or from the external device to be powered is not detectable outside a specified maximum range from the portable electrical energy storage device.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

destroying an operational condition of the portable electrical energy storage device if a tamper-resistant housing of the portable electrical energy storage device security system is opened in an unauthorized manner.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

requesting information regarding authentication of the external device to be powered for powering of the external device by the portable electrical energy storage device; and

determining how much energy to release, if any, from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the external device to be powered, based on a response received, if any, to the requesting of information regarding authentication of the external device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the external device to be powered is a vehicle and wherein the information regarding authentication of the external device to be powered is information regarding the vehicle or a user associated with the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by the vehicle is determined based on a vehicle performance profile of the vehicle.

26. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a battery cell; and

a security system operably coupled to the battery cell, the security system configured to;

allow or prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from accepting a charge; and

allow or prevent energy from the cell to be released based on information received regarding authentication of an external device, wherein how much energy to release from the battery cell is determined based on a profile of a user associated with a vehicle to be powered by the portable electrical energy storage device.

27. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 26, wherein the security system comprises:

at least one processor;

at least one communications module coupled to the at least one processor; and

at least one processor-readable memory that stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to;

determine whether to accept, for the portable electrical energy storage device, a portable electrical energy storage device charge from a portable electrical energy storage device charging system based on information received regarding authentication of the portable electrical energy storage device charging system; and

determine how much energy to release, if any, from the portable electrical energy storage device for use by an external device, based on a response received or lack of a response received to a request from the security system for information regarding authentication of the external device, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on a profile of a user associated with the external device.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium of a portable electrical energy storage device security system having computer executable instructions thereon that, when executed cause a processor of the portable electrical energy storage device security system to:

receive information regarding authentication of an external charger device to which to connect the portable electrical energy storage device for charging of the portable electrical energy storage device or for powering of an external device to be powered by the portable electrical energy storage device; and

make a determination regarding allowing the charging from the external charger device, or make a determination regarding allowing the powering of the external device to be powered, based on the information regarding authentication, wherein how much energy to release from the portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on a profile of a user associated with the external device to be powered.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, further comprising accepting the portable electrical energy storage device charge from the external charger device if the external charger device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the accepting the portable electrical energy storage device charge includes sending a signal enabling the portable electrical energy storage device to be charged.