Automated charging

• US 9,559,545 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Yunxin, Zhao, Chunshui, Zhang, Yongguang
• Primary Examiner(s): Rossoshek, Helen
• Application Number:
  US13/960,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20150042287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/134
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• 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 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

An automated charging device detects a presence of a power-consuming device. The automated charging device may determine whether the power-consuming device is in need of recharging by determining a status of a power level of the power-consuming device. In response to determining that the power-consuming device is due for recharging, the automated charging device may direct a wireless power source to the power-consuming device without user intervention and/or instruction. The automated charging device may detect a location of the power-consuming device and use the detected location to appropriately direct the wireless power source to the power-consuming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a presence of a power-consuming device within a neighborhood of a charging device, wherein detecting the presence of the power-consuming device comprises receiving a presence signal from the power-consuming device;

determining that the power-consuming device is compatible with light beam charging by at least one of identification of an image of the power-consuming device, or identification of a predefined response sent by the power-consuming device to the charging device;

determining a power level of the power-consuming device without direct physical contact between the charging device and the power-consuming device;

determining to charge the power-consuming device based at least in part on the power-consuming device being compatible with light beam charging and the power level of the power-consuming device being less than a predetermined threshold; and

contactlessly charging the power-consuming device using a light beam.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response indicating that the power-consuming device is fully charged; and

ceasing to charge the power-consuming device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the power level of the power-consuming device comprises:

receiving a signal from the power-consuming device, the signal enabling the charging device to determine the power level of the power-consuming device.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, the signal comprising a light code made up of a light pattern emitted from one or more lights associated with a power monitoring unit.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the power-consuming device comprises a device that includes a rechargeable power unit.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining to charge the power-consuming device is further based at least in part on a signal from the power-consuming device indicating that the power-consuming device needs to be charged.

7. A method comprising:

detecting a presence of a first power-consuming device and a second power-consuming device within a neighborhood of a charging device;

determining whether the first power-consuming device and the second power-consuming device are compatible with the charging device;

determining a power level of the first power-consuming device without direct physical contact between the charging device and the first power-consuming device;

determining a power level of the second power-consuming device without direct physical contact between the charging device and the second power-consuming device;

identifying at least one of the first power-consuming device and the second power-consuming device as a candidate device for charging based at least in part on;

whether at least one of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device is compatible with the charging device; and

the power level of at least one of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device;

in the event that one of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device is identified as a candidate for charging, the charging device contactlessly charges the candidate device for charging; and

in the event that at least two candidate devices for charging are identified, the charging device charges the at least two candidate devices for charging sequentially in order of ascending power level or the charging device charges the at least two candidate devices for charging simultaneously.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the detecting the presence of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device comprises detecting movement of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device, respectively.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising, in the event that one of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device is identified as a candidate for charging:

receiving a response indicating that the first power-consuming device is fully charged; and

ceasing to charge the first power-consuming device.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein detecting the presence of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device comprises:

capturing at least one image associated with the neighborhood of the charging device using an image sensor; and

recognizing the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device from the at least one image.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising receiving information associated with the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device, wherein the detecting the presence of the first power-consuming device or the second power-consuming device is based at least in part on the information.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, the information being received from a user of the charging device or predefined during or after manufacture of the charging device.

13. A system comprising:

a sensor;

one or more processors; and

computer storage media having thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions to configure the one or more processors to;

receive from the sensor an indication of a presence of a power-consuming device within a neighborhood of a charging device;

determine that the power-consuming device is compatible with light beam charging;

receive from the sensor an indication of a power level of the power-consuming device without direct physical contact between the charging device and the power-consuming device;

determine to charge the power-consuming device based at least in part on the power-consuming device being compatible with light beam charging and the power level of the power-consuming device;

use a light beam to contactlessly charge the power-consuming device by the charging device; and

monitor a rate of power transfer between the power-consuming device and the charging device.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, the computer-executable instructions to configure the one or more processors further to:

receive a response indicating that the power-consuming device is fully charged; and

cease to charge the power-consuming device.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the indication of a presence of a power-consuming device within a neighborhood of a charging device comprises an indication of movement of the power-consuming device.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, the computer-executable instructions to configure the one or more processors further to receive information associated with the power-consuming device, wherein receiving from the sensor an indication of a presence of a power-consuming device is based at least in part on the information.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, the information being received from a user of the charging device or predefined during or after manufacture of the charging device.

18. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein receiving from the sensor an indication of a presence of a power-consuming device within a neighborhood of a charging device comprises:

capturing at least one image associated with the neighborhood of the charging device using an image sensor; and

recognizing the power-consuming device from the at least one image.

19. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the power-consuming device comprises a device that includes a rechargeable power unit.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein using the light beam to contactlessly charge the power-consuming device comprises emitting the light beam to a photovoltaic panel of the power-consuming device.