Apparatus, method and article for authentication, security and control of power storage devices, such as batteries, based on user profiles

• US 10,819,145 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2018
• Issued: 10/27/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Inventors: Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nha T
• Application Number:
  US16/105,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20190213809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• 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 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 : Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 : by satellite navigation
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 : Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 : by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 : by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 : by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 : by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 : by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 : drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 : of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/46 : Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 : relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 : relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 : relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 : relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 : Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 : using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 : characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 : using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 : Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 : DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 : Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• 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 58/10 : for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 : responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 : Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 : operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 : with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 : Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 : Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 : using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 : output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 : Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15048 : Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15053 : Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 : Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0638 : Organizing or formatting or addressing of data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0671 : In-line storage system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 : with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 : Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 : operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 : for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 : dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 : comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 : Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 11/00 : Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 : Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 : Charger exchanging data with battery
• 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: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 : Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• 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 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 : Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The charging and distribution machines may distribute portable electrical energy storage devices of particular performance characteristics and other attributes based on customer preferences and/or customer profiles. The charging and distribution machines may provide instructions to or otherwise program portable electrical energy storage devices stored within the charging and distribution machines to perform at various levels according to user preferences and user profiles.

Claims

1. A method of operating a machine, comprising:

receiving, by a controller of the machine, a request for a portable electrical energy storage device at the machine;

determining, by the controller of the machine, a user profile associated with the request;

selecting, by the controller of the machine, at least one portable electrical energy storage device having a particular performance characteristic based on the user profile;

configuring, by the controller of the machine, a security system of the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to regulate the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to release energy at a particular level; and

determining, by the controller of the machine, the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on the user profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on a user subscription plan associated with the user profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on information regarding a vehicle location associated with the user profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on information regarding a driving route associated with the user profile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the driving route includes a past route, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the controller of the machine, the particular level of energy to release at least partially based on the past route.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, by the controller of the machine, the at least one portable electrical energy storage device at least partially based on a vehicle specification associated with the user profile.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle specification is indicative of a vehicle energy requirement, and wherein the at least one portable electrical energy storage device is selected based on the vehicle energy requirement.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

instructing, by the controller of the machine, the machine to release the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the security system to send a signal to operate a switch so as to enable the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to release energy.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the security system to send a signal to operate a switch so as to enable the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to be charged.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the security system to send a signal to operate a switch in response to a result of an authentication from an external device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the external device is the machine or a vehicle.

13. A method of operating a machine, comprising:

receiving, by a controller of the machine, a request for a portable electrical energy storage device at the machine;

receiving, by the controller of the machine from a backend system, a user profile associated with the request;

selecting, by the controller of the machine, at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on the user profile;

configuring, by the controller of the machine, a security system of the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to regulate the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to release energy at a particular level; and

determining, by the controller of the machine, the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on the user profile.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on a user subscription plan associated with the user profile, information regarding a vehicle location associated with the user profile, and information regarding a driving route associated with the user profile.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the driving route includes a past route, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the controller of the machine, the particular level of energy to release at least partially based on the past route.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting, by the controller of the machine, the at least one portable electrical energy storage device at least partially based on a vehicle specification associated with the user profile.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle specification is indicative of a vehicle energy requirement, and wherein the at least one portable electrical energy storage device is selected based on the vehicle energy requirement.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

instructing the machine, by the controller of the machine, to release the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on a user subscription plan associated with the user profile.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device is determined based on information regarding a driving route associated with the user profile.

21. A machine comprising:

a plurality of receivers configured to removably receive a plurality of portable electrical energy storage devices respectively, wherein each of the portable electrical energy storage devices includes a security system configured to regulate releasing energy; and

a controller coupled to the one or more receivers and configured to receive a request for a portable electrical energy storage device at the machine;

wherein the controller is further configured to;

determine a user profile associated with the request;

select at least one portable electrical energy storage device from the plurality of portable electrical energy storage devices having a particular performance characteristic based on the user profile; and

configure the security system of the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to regulate the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device to release energy at a particular level; and

determine the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on the user profile.

22. The machine of claim 21, further comprising an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells configured to produce electrical power from solar insolation.

23. The machine of claim 21, further comprising a user interface configured to receive the request for the portable electrical energy storage device at the machine.

24. The machine of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers is configured to hold two or more portable electrical energy storage devices.

25. The machine of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on a user subscription plan associated with the user profile.

26. The machine of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on information regarding a vehicle location associated with the user profile.

27. The machine of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the particular level of energy to release from the selected at least one portable electrical energy storage device based on information regarding a driving route associated with the user profile.