Energy transfer with vehicles

• US 10,124,691 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryan Marc Failing
• Original Assignee: Bryan Marc Failing
• Inventors: Failing, Bryan Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sibin
• Application Number:
  US14/494,586
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• 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 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 : Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 : involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• 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: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Disclosures herein are related to improving energy transfer with vehicles.

Claims

1. A method of managing at least one transfer of energy, said method comprising:

accessing data associated with a vehicle;

determining, based on said data, an interface of a plurality of interfaces, wherein each interface of said plurality of interfaces is configured to transfer energy between said vehicle and at least one component of an energy transfer system, wherein said interface is coupled with an energy transfer component, and wherein said vehicle is separate from said energy transfer system; and

performing an energy transfer, via said interface, with said vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data includes at least one attribute associated with said vehicle, and wherein each attribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of an energy transfer type, an interface type, a power, a current, a voltage, an energy transfer profile, a duration, a waveform, and a temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining at least one attribute associated with said vehicle and said energy transfer system, and

wherein said performing further includes performing said energy transfer in accordance with said at least one attribute, and

wherein each attribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of an energy transfer type, an interface type, a power, a current, a voltage, an energy transfer profile, a duration, a waveform, and a temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one attribute is further associated with at least one state of said energy transfer system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one attribute is further associated with at least one user preference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of interfaces includes at least two wired interfaces.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said energy transfer further includes performing said energy transfer using at least one electrical contact of said energy transfer system, wherein said at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to said interface, and wherein said at least one electrical contact is at least partially disposed in a plug of said energy transfer system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each interface of said plurality of interfaces is selected from a group consisting of a wired interface, an inductive interface, and a wireless interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said energy transfer includes transferring energy with an energy storage medium of said vehicle, and wherein said energy storage medium is configured to power a motor of said vehicle to move said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said energy transfer further includes performing said energy transfer using energy sourced from a power grid.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting information via a user interface of said energy transfer system, wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of;

a current capacity level of an energy storage medium of said vehicle;

a voltage associated with said energy transfer;

a current associated with said energy transfer;

a power associated with said energy transfer;

a duration associated with said energy transfer;

a waveform associated with said energy transfer; and

a status of said energy transfer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said energy transfer further includes performing said energy transfer responsive to a user interaction with an element of a user interface, wherein said element corresponds to an initiation of said energy transfer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said user interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a user interface of said energy transfer system;

a user interface of said vehicle; and

a user interface of a computer system separate from said energy transfer system and said vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing second data corresponding to a user selection of information, and wherein said performing said energy transfer further includes performing said energy transfer based on said second data, and

wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of;

an energy transfer rate; and

a cost corresponding to said energy transfer rate.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

communicating said data with said vehicle via a component, wherein said component is selected from a group consisting of;

said interface; and

a signal interface separate from said interface.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a user interaction with a user interface of said energy transfer system, performing an authentication associated with a user of said vehicle, wherein said performing said authentication further includes performing said authentication based on second data supplied by said user, and

wherein said performing said energy transfer further includes performing said energy transfer if said authentication is successful, and

wherein said second data is selected from a group consisting of;

information about said user;

information about said vehicle;

credentials corresponding to said user; and

a code corresponding to said user.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

responsive to a conclusion of said energy transfer, executing a payment transaction based on third data supplied by said user, wherein said third data includes information about at least one payment system associated with said user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said energy transfer includes transferring energy via said interface using a signal selected from a group consisting of:

an alternating current (AC) signal;

a direct current (DC) signal; and

a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said energy transfer further includes simultaneously transferring energy over said interface and at least one other interface of said plurality of interfaces.

20. A system comprising:

a first component configured to access data associated with a vehicle, wherein said first component is further configured to determine, based on said data, an interface of a plurality of interfaces, wherein said interface is coupled with an energy transfer component, and wherein said vehicle is separate from said system; and

a second component coupled to said first component, wherein said second component is configured to allow performance of an energy transfer with said vehicle via said interface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said data includes at least one attribute associated with said vehicle, and wherein each attribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of an energy transfer type, an interface type, a power, a current, a voltage, an energy transfer profile, a duration, a waveform, and a temperature.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said first component is further configured to determine at least one attribute associated with said vehicle and said system,

wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer in accordance with said at least one attribute, and

wherein each attribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of an energy transfer type, an interface type, a power, a current, a voltage, an energy transfer profile, a duration, a waveform, and a temperature.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one attribute is further associated with at least one state of said system.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one attribute is further associated with at least one user preference.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said plurality of interfaces includes at least two wired interfaces.

26. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

said interface, wherein said interface is a wired interface; and

a plug including at least one electrical contact, wherein said at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to said interface, and

wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer via said interface using said at least one electrical contact.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein each interface of said plurality of interfaces is selected from a group consisting of a wired interface, an inductive interface, and a wireless interface.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer with an energy storage medium of said vehicle, and wherein said energy storage medium is configured to power a motor of said vehicle to move said vehicle.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer using energy sourced from a power grid.

30. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a user interface configured to present information, wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of;

a current capacity level of an energy storage medium of said vehicle;

a voltage associated with said energy transfer;

a current associated with said energy transfer;

a power associated with said energy transfer;

a duration associated with said energy transfer;

a waveform associated with said energy transfer; and

a status of said energy transfer.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer responsive to a user interaction with an element of a user interface, wherein said element corresponds to an initiation of said energy transfer.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said user interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a user interface of said system;

a user interface of said vehicle; and

a user interface of a computer system separate from said system and said vehicle.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein said first component is further configured to access second data corresponding to a user selection of information,

wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer based on said second data, and

wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of:

an energy transfer rate; and

a cost corresponding to said energy transfer rate.

34. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a third component configured to communicate said data with said vehicle via a component, wherein said component is selected from a group consisting of;

said interface; and

a signal interface separate from said interface.

35. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a user interface; and

a third component configured to perform, responsive to a user interaction with said user interface, an authentication associated with a user of said vehicle, wherein said third component is further configured to perform said authentication based on second data supplied by said user, and

wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer if said authentication is successful, and

wherein said second data is selected from a group consisting of;

information about said user;

information about said vehicle;

credentials corresponding to said user;

and a code corresponding to said user.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising:

a third component configured to execute, responsive to a conclusion of said energy transfer, a payment transaction based on third data supplied by said user, wherein said third data includes information about at least one payment system associated with said user.

37. The system of claim 20, wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer via said interface using a signal selected from a group consisting of:

an alternating current (AC) signal;

a direct current (DC) signal; and

a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal.

38. The system of claim 20, wherein said second component is further configured to allow performance of said energy transfer by allowing a simultaneous transfer of energy over said interface and at least one other interface of said plurality of interfaces.

39. A system comprising:

means for accessing data associated with a vehicle;

means for determining, based on said data, an interface of a plurality of interfaces, wherein each interface of said plurality of interfaces is configured to transfer energy with said vehicle, wherein said interface is coupled with an energy transfer component, and wherein said vehicle is separate from said system; and

means for performing an energy transfer, via said interface, with said vehicle.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said data includes at least one attribute associated with said vehicle, and wherein each attribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of an energy transfer type, an interface type, a power, a current, a voltage, an energy transfer profile, a duration, a waveform, and a temperature.

41. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for determining at least one attribute associated with said vehicle and said system, and

wherein said means for performing further includes means for performing said energy transfer in accordance with said at least one attribute, and

wherein each attribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of an energy transfer type, an interface type, a power, a current, a voltage, an energy transfer profile, a duration, a waveform, and a temperature.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said at least one attribute is further associated with at least one state of said system.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein said at least one attribute is further associated with at least one user preference.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein said plurality of interfaces includes at least two wired interfaces.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for performing said energy transfer further includes means for performing said energy transfer using at least one electrical contact of said system, wherein said at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to said interface, and wherein said at least one electrical contact is at least partially disposed in a plug of said system.

46. The system of claim 39, wherein each interface of said plurality of interfaces is selected from a group consisting of a wired interface, an inductive interface, and a wireless interface.

47. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for performing said energy transfer includes means for transferring energy with an energy storage medium of said vehicle, and wherein said energy storage medium is configured to power a motor of said vehicle to move said vehicle.

48. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for performing said energy transfer further includes means for performing said energy transfer using energy sourced from a power grid.

49. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for presenting information via a user interface of said system, wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of;

a current capacity level of an energy storage medium of said vehicle;

a voltage associated with said energy transfer;

a current associated with said energy transfer;

a power associated with said energy transfer;

a duration associated with said energy transfer;

a waveform associated with said energy transfer; and

a status of said energy transfer.

50. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for performing said energy transfer further includes means for performing said energy transfer responsive to a user interaction with an element of a user interface, wherein said element corresponds to an initiation of said energy transfer.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said user interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a user interface of said system;

a user interface of said vehicle; and

a user interface of a computer system separate from said system and said vehicle.

52. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for accessing second data corresponding to a user selection of information, and

wherein said means for performing said energy transfer further includes means for performing said energy transfer based on said second data, and

wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of;

an energy transfer rate; and

a cost corresponding to said energy transfer rate.

53. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for communicating said data with said vehicle via a component, wherein said component is selected from a group consisting of;

said interface; and

a signal interface separate from said interface.

54. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for performing, responsive to a user interaction with a user interface of said system, an authentication associated with a user of said vehicle, wherein said means for performing said authentication further includes means for performing said authentication based on second data supplied by said user, and

wherein said means for performing said energy transfer further includes means for performing said energy transfer if said authentication is successful, and

wherein said second data is selected from a group consisting of;

information about said user;

information about said vehicle;

credentials corresponding to said user; and

a code corresponding to said user.

55. The system of claim 54 further comprising:

means for executing, responsive to a conclusion of said energy transfer, a payment transaction based on third data supplied by said user, wherein said third data includes information about at least one payment system associated with said user.

56. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for performing said energy transfer includes means for transferring energy via said interface using a signal selected from a group consisting of:

an alternating current (AC) signal;

a direct current (DC) signal; and

a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal.

57. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for performing said energy transfer further includes means for simultaneously transferring energy over said interface and at least one other interface of said plurality of interfaces.