SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

• US 20100301810A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: BIONDO, WILLIAM A., PROEFKE, DAVID T., MCCALL, CLARK E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,384,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/155
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source. The system includes a sensor configured to detect an electrical current received from the external power source and a processor configured to determine a charging schedule related to charging the vehicle battery. The processor is also configured to determine a variation from the charging schedule based on the electrical current and to direct transmissions of messages based on the electrical current detected by the sensor. The system includes a remote electronic device configured to receive the messages and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the messages.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of charging a battery in an electric vehicle associated with a driver comprising:

identifying, by a computer, an expectation of a vehicle charge;

detecting an ability to meet the expectation based on a sensed electrical characteristic; and

if the ability to meet the expectation is not detected, transmitting a message from the computer to the driver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the expectation is identified by determining a schedule for charging the battery with a charging start time.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the schedule for charging the battery includes a scheduled charging end time, wherein the ability to meet the expectation is detected by determining a projected charging end time based on the sensed electrical characteristic, and comparing the scheduled charging end time to the projected charging end time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the ability to meet the expectation is detected by determining whether a utility voltage is connected to the electric vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric vehicle receives electrical current from an external power source, wherein the expectation is identified by receiving a data signal from the external power source that identifies electrical current delivered from the external power source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the electric vehicle includes a vehicle current sensor configured to measure the electrical current received from the external power source, wherein the ability to meet the expectation is detected by comparing the data signal from the external power source to the sensed electrical characteristic of the electrical current received at the electric vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric vehicle receives electrical current from an external power source, wherein the ability to meet the expectation is detected by measuring a decrease in the electrical current from the external power source.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting of the message includes transmitting using a cellular telephone network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises terminating the charging of the electric vehicle based on the ability to meet the expectation.

10. The method of claim 9 the method further comprising determining a state of charge value related to a state of charge of the battery, and wherein the terminating charging is related to the state of charge value.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a state of charge value related to a state of charge of the battery, wherein the message is transmitted to the driver if the state of charge value is below a predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle with a fuel storage device and a fuel level value related to a level of fuel in the fuel storage device, the method further comprising, receiving the fuel level value, wherein the message is transmitted if the fuel level value is below a predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a response signal related to the charging of the electric vehicle, in response to the transmitting the message to the driver; and

adjusting the expectation based on the response.

14. A method of charging a battery in an electric vehicle associated with a driver comprising:

determining a charging schedule related to charging the battery;

detecting a variation from the charging schedule; and

transmitting a message to a remote device configured to alert the driver based on the variation from the charging schedule.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the detecting the variation from the charging schedule includes detecting whether voltage from a power source is connected to the electric vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the detecting the variation from the charging schedule includes detecting current from a power source.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a signal from the remote device in response to the message; and

adjusting the charging schedule based on the signal.

18. A charging system for use in a plug-in vehicle and configured to charge a vehicle battery from an external power source comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an electrical current received from the external power source; and

a processor configured to determine a charging expectation related to charging the vehicle battery, the processor configured to determine a variation from the charging expectation based on the electrical current, and configured to direct transmissions of messages based on the electrical current detected by the sensor; and

a remote electronic device configured to receive the messages and to alert a driver of the plug-in vehicle based on the messages.

19. The charging system of claim 18 wherein the remote electronic device is an electronic key fob configured to communicate with the charging system.

20. The charging system of claim 18 comprising a communication system that communicates through a cellular telephone network, the communication system configured to transmit the messages based on the electrical current detected by the sensor.