Telematic method and apparatus with integrated power source

• US 9,221,356 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis Fernandez
• Original Assignee: Dennis Fernandez
• Inventors: Fernandez, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, KYUNG J
• Application Number:
  US12/540,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,329 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22
• 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 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/30 by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

Telematic method and apparatus adaptively uses fuel cell power source in vehicle with integrated power system, electrical system, telematic system, and body/powertrain system. Telematic communications systems including internet, digital video broadcast entertainment, digital audio broadcast, digital multimedia broadcast, global positioning system navigation, safety services, intelligent transportation systems, and/or universal mobile telecommunications system. Network-accessible software enables integrated modular function for automated control and provision of fuel cell resources for telematic appliance and/or other vehicle electro-mechanical devices.

Claims

1. Electric vehicle power system comprising:

one or more lithium-ion battery; and

a traction motor;

wherein a controller causes electricity from the one or more lithium-ion battery to be provided adaptively to the traction motor according to a predicted vehicle function proactively extrapolated according to a sensor signal provided by a telematic system, such sensor signal representing a fault or error condition, a media format or load, or location or jurisdiction of the telematic system, whereby a web-based telematic service transmits and receives a structured or unstructured tagged or untagged data or control document, instructions or signals with the telematic system as coordinated programmably by the controller in a user personalized process, such that the telematic system loading or usage is correspondingly monitored, sensed, controlled or serviced adaptively;

wherein the controller comprising a central controller that integrates telematic and power systems electrical load configuration is coupled to a gateway comprising a programmable signal interconnect that routes electrical power load-ratio communication according to local interconnect network protocol to enable power distribution adaptively between the one or more lithium-ion battery and the telematic system and the traction motor, such that the central controller is configured to run power control software that manages local distribution and re-distribution of vehicle electrical load from the one or more lithium-ion battery to the telematic system and the traction motor proactively using electrical load ratios programmable according to the sensed vehicle condition, a measured electrical power signal, and the sensor signal provided by the telematic system;

wherein the power distribution via the gateway is adaptively controlled, such that the controller adjusts the power distribution proactively extrapolated ahead of time according to prior data signal to self-learn, diagnose, and modify the power distribution, whereby the controller runs software adapted to self-learn dynamically a load configuration of the telematic and power systems by diagnosing automatically ahead of time a need for distribution of electric power proportionally for such integrated telematic and power systems, and the controller thereby adjusting the power distribution proactively according to the diagnosed need by modifying the power distribution proportionally according to the load configuration of the telematic and power systems.

2. System of claim 1 wherein the controller causes the lithium-ion battery to be recharged programmably in an emergency vehicle having an on-board traffic-light controller that enables efficient travel during sensed emergency condition.

3. System of claim 1 further comprising a fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell comprising one or more phosphoric acid, proton exchange membrane, solid oxide, alkaline electrolyte or molten carbonate fuel cell, wherein the controller causes electricity from the fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell to be provided to the traction motor adaptively according to another predicted vehicle function proactively in response to another sensed vehicle condition.

4. System of claim 3 wherein controller software causes electricity from the lithium-ion battery to be provided to warm-up the fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell automatically in response to a thermometer that senses temperature condition of such fuel cell.

5. System of claim 3 wherein controller software monitors fuel flow and stops such flow automatically in response to an optical or magnetic sensor that senses fuel leak condition in or from the fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell.

6. System of claim 1 wherein controller software monitors vehicle driver or user automatically in response to a micro-electromechanical biosensor chip that senses biometric verification or authorization condition of such driver or user to enable operation of the traction motor or lithium-ion battery.

7. System of claim 1 wherein controller software enables vehicle situational awareness automatically in response to a radar sensor or camera that senses acceleration or deceleration of other nearby vehicle condition to enable active cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, pre-crash sensing, or parking slot measurement or reversing aid.

8. System of claim 1 wherein the controller programmably couples electricity from the lithium-ion battery via an inverter or DC-DC converter to one or more mobile or wireless appliances to enable GPS, router telecommunication, or telematic multimedia service.

9. In an electric vehicle power system having one or more lithium-ion battery and a traction motor, an automated power management method comprising step:

providing by a controller electricity from the one or more lithium-ion battery adaptively to the traction motor according to a predicted vehicle function proactively extrapolated according to a measured electrical power signal, and further proactively extrapolated and reactively in response to a sensor signal provided by a telematic system, such sensor signal representing a fault or error condition, a media format or load, or location or jurisdiction of the telematic system, whereby a web-based telematic service transmits and receives a structured or unstructured tagged or untagged data or control document, instructions or signals with the telematic system as coordinated programmably by the controller in a user personalized process, such that the telematic system loading or usage is correspondingly monitored, sensed, controlled or serviced adaptively;

wherein the controller comprising a central controller that integrates telematic and power systems electrical load configuration is coupled to a gateway comprising a programmable signal interconnect that routes electrical power load-ratio communication according to local interconnect network protocol to enable power distribution adaptively between the one or more lithium-ion battery and the telematic system and the traction motor, such that the central controller is configured to run power control software that manages local distribution and re-distribution of vehicle electrical load from the one or more lithium-ion battery to the telematic system and the traction motor proactively using electrical load ratios programmable according to the sensed vehicle condition, a measured electrical power signal, and the sensor signal provided by the telematic system;

wherein the power distribution via the gateway is adaptively controlled, such that the controller adjusts the power distribution proactively extrapolated ahead of time according to prior data signal to self-learn, diagnose, and modify the power distribution, whereby the controller runs software adapted to self-learn dynamically a load configuration of the telematic and power systems by diagnosing automatically ahead of time a need for distribution of electric power proportionally for such integrated telematic and power systems, and the controller thereby adjusting the power distribution proactively according to the diagnosed need by modifying the power distribution proportionally according to the load configuration of the telematic and power systems.

10. Method of claim 9 wherein the controller causes the lithium-ion battery to be recharged programmably in an emergency vehicle having an on-board traffic-light controller that enables efficient travel during sensed emergency condition.

11. Method of claim 9 wherein the controller causes electricity from a fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell, comprising one or more phosphoric acid, proton exchange membrane, solid oxide, alkaline electrolyte or molten carbonate fuel cell, to be provided to the traction motor adaptively according to another predicted vehicle function proactively in response to another sensed vehicle condition.

12. Method of claim 11 wherein controller software causes electricity from the lithium-ion battery to be provided to warm-up the fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell automatically in response to a thermometer that senses temperature condition of such fuel cell.

13. Method of claim 11 wherein controller software monitors fuel flow and stops such flow automatically in response to an optical or magnetic sensor that senses fuel leak condition in or from the fuel cell stack or portable modular fuel cell.

14. Method of claim 9 wherein controller software monitors vehicle driver or user automatically in response to a micro-electromechanical bio sensor chip that senses biometric verification or authorization condition of such driver or user to enable operation of the traction motor or lithium-ion battery.

15. Method of claim 9 wherein controller software enables vehicle situational awareness automatically in response to a radar sensor or camera that senses acceleration or deceleration of nearby vehicle condition to enable active cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, pre-crash sensing, or parking slot measurement or reversing aid.

16. Method of claim 9 wherein the controller programmably couples electricity from the lithium-ion battery via an inverter or DC-DC converter to one or more mobile or wireless appliances to enable GPS, router telecommunication, or telematic multimedia service.

17. In an electric vehicle having a traction motor and a battery, a power system controller comprising:

a controller causing electricity from a battery to be provided adaptively to a traction motor according to a predicted vehicle function proactively extrapolated according to a sensor signal provided by a telematic system, such sensor signal representing a fault or error condition, a media format or load, or location or jurisdiction of the telematic system, whereby a web-based telematic service transmits and receives a structured or unstructured tagged or untagged data or control document, instructions or signals with one or more telematic system as coordinated programmably by the controller in a user personalized process, such that the telematic system loading or usage is correspondingly monitored, sensed, controlled or serviced adaptively;

wherein the controller comprising a central controller that integrates telematic and power systems electrical load configuration is coupled to a gateway comprising a programmable signal interconnect that routes electrical power load-ratio communication according to local interconnect network protocol to enable power distribution adaptively between the one or more lithium-ion battery and the telematic system and the traction motor, such that the central controller is configured to run power control software that manages local distribution and re-distribution of vehicle electrical load from the one or more lithium-ion battery to the telematic system and the traction motor proactively using electrical load ratios programmable according to the sensed vehicle condition, a measured electrical power signal, and the sensor signal provided by the telematic system;

wherein the power distribution via the gateway is adaptively controlled, such that the controller adjusts the power distribution proactively extrapolated ahead of time according to prior data signal to self-learn, diagnose, and modify the power distribution, whereby the controller runs software adapted to self-learn dynamically a load configuration of the telematic and power systems by diagnosing automatically ahead of time a need for distribution of electric power proportionally for such integrated telematic and power systems, and the controller thereby adjusting the power distribution proactively according to the diagnosed need by modifying the power distribution proportionally according to the load configuration of the telematic and power systems.