Virtual charge for electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting a lower charge level threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a vehicle low on battery charge to continue to be operated at charge levels below a level at which the vehicle would have become inoperable absent the adjustment, the method comprising:
- determining, by a processor, that the vehicle is likely to become inoperable as a result of a battery charge level fulfilling a condition selected from the group consisting of;
the battery charge level coming within a predetermined range of a preconfigured lower charge level threshold, the battery charge level meeting a preconfigured lower charge level threshold, and the battery charge level falling below a preconfigured lower charge level threshold; and
lowering, by a processor, the lower charge level threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery from the preconfigured lower charge level threshold to a second lower charge level threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The described method and system provides for dynamic adjustment of the lower charge threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a vehicle low on battery charge to continue to be operated. The vehicle'"'"'s telematics unit monitors the charge level via the vehicle bus or other vehicle resources to determine if the vehicle is running low on electric charge. If the telematics unit determines that the charge level is approaching, meets or falls below the lower threshold, the telematics unit communicates the vehicle position to a call center along with vehicle identification data. The call center determines the amount of charge required to reach one or more local charging stations or other points of interests and proposes destination recommendations to the driver. The driver may then select one of the recommendations, and the call center transmits a new lower charge threshold to the vehicle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting a lower charge level threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a vehicle low on battery charge to continue to be operated at charge levels below a level at which the vehicle would have become inoperable absent the adjustment, the method comprising:
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determining, by a processor, that the vehicle is likely to become inoperable as a result of a battery charge level fulfilling a condition selected from the group consisting of;
the battery charge level coming within a predetermined range of a preconfigured lower charge level threshold, the battery charge level meeting a preconfigured lower charge level threshold, and the battery charge level falling below a preconfigured lower charge level threshold; andlowering, by a processor, the lower charge level threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery from the preconfigured lower charge level threshold to a second lower charge level threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for dynamically adjusting a lower charge level threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a vehicle low on battery charge to continue to be operated at charge levels below a level at which the vehicle would have become inoperable absent the adjustment, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call center, status information regarding the vehicle when the vehicle'"'"'s battery charge level satisfies a condition selected from the group consisting of;
the battery charge level coming within a predetermined range of a preconfigured lower charge level threshold, the battery charge level meeting a preconfigured lower charge level threshold, and the battery charge level falling below a preconfigured lower charge level threshold; andtransmitting, by the call center to the vehicle, instructions for the vehicle to adjust the lower charge level threshold from the preconfigured lower charge level threshold to the second lower charge level threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for dynamically adjusting a lower charge level threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a vehicle low on battery charge to continue to be operated at charge levels below a level at which the vehicle would have become inoperable absent the adjustment, the system comprising:
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the electrically-powered vehicle; a telematics unit connected to the vehicle, adapted to monitor the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge level, to send and receive communications and data to and from a call center, and to raise and lower the lower charge level threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery; and the call center, adapted to send communications and data to the vehicle, to receive communications and data from the vehicle, to determine the distance from the vehicle'"'"'s position to at least one destination, to determine the amount of charge required for the vehicle to travel from the vehicle'"'"'s position to the at least one destination, to determine a new lower charge level threshold for the vehicle battery, and to communicated the new lower charge level threshold to the vehicle; wherein the at least one destination is selected from the group consisting of;
a fueling station, a recharging station, and a subscriber'"'"'s home address.
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Specification