Charging cable with controller

• US 9,457,791 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Vitale, Robert L., Bereisa, Jonas, Beaufait, Raymond A., Kissel, Gery J., Markyvech, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/349,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,828 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/111
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A vehicle charging cable is disclosed configured to charge a vehicle battery on a vehicle from a utility power source, the cable comprising: a vehicle connector and a control module. The vehicle connector is connected to a power cable configured to supply power for charging the vehicle battery. The vehicle connector is configured to connect to a charging port on the vehicle. The control module is connected to the power cable. The control module is configured to receive utility data from the utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle, and to adjust the power supplied to the vehicle battery based on the utility data and the vehicle data.

Claims

1. A charging cable configured to electrically couple a vehicle battery to a utility power source comprising:

a vehicle connector configured to connect to a charging port on a vehicle;

a data module configured to receive utility data from the utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the data module, the control module configured to connect the utility power source to the charging port based on both the utility data and the vehicle data;

wherein;

the utility data includes utility rates including a cost of electricity based on a utility rate schedule that includes different rates based on each of the following;

a time of day, a time of year, and peak electricity demand;

the vehicle data includes a vehicle battery level; and

the control module is configured to connect the utility source to the charging port based on the vehicle battery level as well as a re-charging cost based on the utility rate schedule in combination with each of the following;

the time of day, the time of year, and the peak electricity demand.

2. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a communication module communicatively coupled to the data module, the communication module configured to send and receive the utility data and the vehicle data over a network.

3. The charging cable according to claim 1 the control module further comprising a processor that determines a charging schedule based on the utility data and the vehicle data.

4. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a user interface configured to display a charging status of the vehicle battery, and configured to accept user input.

5. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a charging status indicator configured to display a charging status.

6. The charging cable according to claim 1 further comprising a utility power status indicator configured to display a utility power status.

7. The charging cable according to claim 6 wherein the utility power status comprises power connection status and ground connection status.

18. The charging cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a measurement module communicatively coupled to the data module, the measurement module configured to measure vehicle electrical power usage data for the vehicle, wherein the vehicle electrical power usage data is retained in the data module;

wherein the control module is configured to connect the utility source to the charging port based on the vehicle battery level, the vehicle electrical power usage data for the vehicle, and the re-charging cost based on the utility rate schedule in combination the vehicle electrical power usage data in addition to each of the following;

the time of day, the time of year, and the peak electricity demand.

19. The charging cable of claim 18, wherein:

the data module is configured to receive electric grid power usage information for an electrical grid that is used to provide electrical power for the vehicle; and

the control module is configured to connect the utility source to the charging port based on the vehicle battery level, the vehicle electrical power usage data for the vehicle, the electrical grid power usage information for the electrical grid, and the re-charging cost based on the utility rate schedule in combination the vehicle electrical power usage data in addition to each of the following;

the time of day, the time of year, and the peak electricity demand.

20. The charging cable of claim 19, wherein the control module is configured to delay charging of the vehicle battery, reduce an electrical current delivered to the vehicle battery, or both, to manage a present power load and a peak power load for the electrical grid.

8. A vehicle charging cable comprising:

a data communication system configured to communicate with a home area network and configured to communicate with a vehicle;

a control system comprising;

a data module communicatively coupled to the data communication system, the data module configured to retain utility rate data, and power usage information, wherein;

the utility data includes utility rates including a cost of electricity based on a utility rate schedule that includes different rates based on each of the following;

a time of day, a time of year, and peak electricity demand; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the data module and configured to connect a utility power source and a charging port, wherein the control module calculates a charging schedule based on both the utility rate data and the power usage information, and specifically based on the power usage information and a re-charging cost based on the utility rate schedule in combination with each of the following;

the time of day, the time of year, and the peak electricity demand; and

a user interface configured to display charging status of the vehicle battery, and configured to accept user input.

9. The vehicle charging cable according to claim 8 wherein the control system further comprises a measurement module communicatively coupled to the data module, the measurement module configured to measure electrical power usage and to produce usage data, wherein the usage data is stored in the data module.

10. The vehicle charging cable according to claim 9, the measurement module comprising a current meter configured to measure electrical current passing through the vehicle charging cable.

11. A device comprising:

a vehicle connector connected to a power cable configured to supply power for charging a vehicle battery, wherein the vehicle connector is configured to connect to a vehicle with a charging port; and

a control module connected to the power cable wherein the control module is configured to receive utility data from a utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle, and to connect power supplied to the vehicle battery based on both the utility data and the vehicle data, wherein;

the utility data includes utility rates including a cost of electricity based on a utility rate schedule that includes different rates based on each of the following;

a time of day, a time of year, and peak electricity demand;

the vehicle data includes a vehicle battery level; and

the control module is configured to connect the utility source to the charging port based on the vehicle battery level and a re-charging cost based on the utility rate schedule in combination with each of the following;

the time of day, the time of year, and the peak electricity demand.

12. The device according to claim 11 further comprising a utility connector connected to the power cable, wherein the utility connector is configured to connect to a utility power socket.

13. The device according to claim 11 wherein the power cable comprises a utility end and a vehicle end, and wherein the control module comprises a first module at the utility end of the cable, and a second module at the vehicle end of the cable, the power cable further comprising a communication cable communicatively coupled to the first module and the second module.

14. The device according to claim 11 wherein the device comprises a transmitter communicatively coupled to the control module, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the vehicle data.

15. The device according to claim 11 wherein the device comprises a display communicatively coupled to the control module, wherein the display is configured to indicate a charging status of the vehicle battery.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the display comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The device according to claim 11 wherein the device comprises a user input device configured to transmit a user input signal to the control module, and wherein the control module is configured to further adjust the power supplied to the vehicle battery based on the user input signal from the user input device.