METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING STATION WITH SMS USER INTERFACE
First Claim
16. A plug-in vehicle charging station system, the system comprising:
- one or more charging stations;
a power source connected to one or more of the power stations;
a communication network connected to at least one of the charging stations;
at least one communication terminal in communication with at least one of the charging stations to control the charging station;
at least one control server connected to at least one of the charging stations and to a communication terminal to facilitate control of the of the charging station with the terminal; and
a charging station availability prediction system in communication with at least one of the terminals and the control server in communication with the terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charging station, together with methods and systems, for charging the batteries of plug-in vehicles may be controlled with a mobile communications terminal via SMS text messages and provides an availability prediction system. One more charging stations with charging modules or ports are connected to a power source and to a control server. The control server communicates to a prospective user by text message an estimate of how long a given available charging port will remain available. A charging station with charging ports in use communicates to a prospective user that the port will be available at a particular time. Advantageous features provide hybrid switches to reduce the risk of arcing when a charging cord is unplugged for a port, demand response to modulate current draw from the power source based on usage conditions, power cord protection, illuminated user interface with ambient light sensitive illumination level, and charging ports for level one and level two charging.
293 Citations
27 Claims
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16. A plug-in vehicle charging station system, the system comprising:
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one or more charging stations; a power source connected to one or more of the power stations; a communication network connected to at least one of the charging stations; at least one communication terminal in communication with at least one of the charging stations to control the charging station; at least one control server connected to at least one of the charging stations and to a communication terminal to facilitate control of the of the charging station with the terminal; and a charging station availability prediction system in communication with at least one of the terminals and the control server in communication with the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method to predict the availability of a plug-in vehicle charging station charging module, the method comprising the following steps:
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a. communicating with the charging station via a communications device; b. obtaining from the charging station the status of each charging module; c. for those modules that are in use, obtaining from the station a information of when each module in use will be available; and d. for each notification of when each module will be available, obtaining from the charging station a prediction of the duration of time the module is likely to remain available. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A charging station for charging plug-in vehicles, the station comprising:
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a. one or more charging ports connected to a power source; b. load shedding means to automatically adjust demand on the power source depending on power source conditions; and c. hybrid switching to attenuate arcing and extend switch life.
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24. A hybrid switch for a plug-in vehicle charging port, the switch comprising a solid state switch in parallel with a relay to attenuate electrical arcing and heat dissipation.
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25. A method for load curtailment by a charging port in an electrical grid, the method comprising:
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setting the range of load amperage limits of the charging port; determining the load being drawn and expected to be drawn by a vehicle drawing amperage from the port; determining the whether curtailment activity for the port is available; and executing the curtailment activity. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 26, 27)
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26-1. The method of claim 25, wherein the curtailment activity is executed automatically when it is determined to be available.
Specification