WIRELESS VEHICLE ENERGY SHARING

• US 20160129793A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Cronie, Harm Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,744,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• 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 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• 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: 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

Technologies are generally described for a distributed system to provide wireless energy sharing between electrically powered vehicles. In some examples, two or more vehicles traveling on a roadway may be configured to share energy while in route to a destination. The vehicles may be equipped with wireless energy transfer units to enable the vehicles to exchange energy. At least one of the vehicles may be a mobile electric charging station configured to store a large amount of charge and to provide charge to vehicles. The electric charging station may be in communication with a controller, where the controller may be configured to identify vehicles in need of recharge and to identify at least one vehicle having sufficient charge to share. The controller may schedule a time and place for the two vehicles to meet in order to share charge. Additionally, the vehicles may be self-coordinated without a controller.

Claims

1. A distributed system to provide wireless energy sharing within a vehicle convoy, the system comprising:

a charge vehicle communicatively coupled to a plurality of vehicles in the vehicle convoy, wherein the charge vehicle is configured to provide electrical energy to at least one of the plurality of vehicles and the plurality of vehicles are configured to be powered by electrical energy and are configured to recharge wirelessly while moving; and

the at least one vehicle from the plurality of vehicles, which is configured to;

determine a situation for the at least one vehicle to receive a recharge;

determine that the charge vehicle is capable to provide the recharge;

position near the charge vehicle to wirelessly receive electrical energy for the recharge; and

recharge through wireless energy transfer from the charge vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle in the plurality of vehicles is configured to exchange a position in the vehicle convoy with another vehicle in the plurality of vehicles according to remaining charge levels of the at least one vehicle and the other vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge vehicle is further configured to instruct two or more of the plurality of vehicles to approach the charge vehicle in an order according to remaining charge levels of the two or more vehicles or a time of request to recharge received from each vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge vehicle is further configured to provide the electrical energy to two or more of the plurality of vehicles simultaneously.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge vehicle and the plurality of vehicles include one or more of:

a car, a truck, a bus, a van, a boat, a ship, or a robotic vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle is configured to position near the charge vehicle by one of automated self-navigation based on instructions received from the charge vehicle or presentation of instructions to approach the charge vehicle to a driver of the at least one vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge vehicle is further configured to:

determine a suggested path for the at least one vehicle to approach the charge vehicle based on one or more of a remaining charge level of the at least one vehicle, a present location of the at least one vehicle, a present location of the charge vehicle, a direction of the charge vehicle, a direction of the at least one vehicle, a speed of the charge vehicle, a speed of the at least one vehicle, and one or more obstacles between the charge vehicle and the at least one vehicle; and

transmit the suggested path to the at least one vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle is further configured to:

determine a suggested path for the at least one vehicle to approach the charge vehicle based on one or more of a remaining charge level of the at least one vehicle, a present location of the at least one vehicle, a present location of the charge vehicle, a direction of the charge vehicle, a direction of the at least one vehicle, a speed of the charge vehicle, a speed of the at least one vehicle, and one or more obstacles between the charge vehicle and the at least one vehicle.

9. A system to provide wireless energy sharing between vehicles in a vehicle convoy, the system comprising:

a charge vehicle configured to;

lead the vehicle convoy;

store electrical energy; and

wirelessly provide the stored electrical energy to a plurality of other vehicles in the vehicle convoy, wherein the plurality of other vehicles are configured to be powered by electrical energy and configured to recharge wirelessly while moving; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the charge vehicle and the plurality of other vehicles, the controller configured to;

determine one or more vehicles among the plurality of other vehicles to receive a recharge;

instruct the one or more vehicles to position in an order relative to the charge vehicle within the vehicle convoy to wirelessly receive electrical energy for the recharge, wherein the order is determined according to remaining charge levels of the one or more vehicles; and

instruct the charge vehicle to recharge the one or more vehicles after being positioned near the charge vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein to instruct the one or more vehicles to position in the order relative to the charge vehicle, the controller is configured to instruct the one or more vehicles to position behind the charge vehicle in an order according to a distance between the charge vehicle and the one or more vehicles, or a time of request to recharge received from each vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein to wirelessly provide the stored electrical energy, the charge vehicle is configured to provide the electrical energy to two or more vehicles simultaneously, and wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the two or more vehicles to approach the charge vehicle at a same time.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the charge vehicle and the plurality of other vehicles include one or more of:

a car, a truck, a bus, a van, a boat, a ship, or a robotic vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the charge vehicle and the plurality of other vehicles include robotic vehicles and the controller is configured to provide one of navigation or instructions for automated self-navigation.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein to instruct the one or more vehicles to position in the order relative to the charge vehicle, the controller is configured to instruct the one or more vehicles to position in an order behind the charge vehicle by one of transmission of automated self-navigation instructions or transmission of instructions to be presented to a driver of the one or more vehicles.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a suggested path for the one or more vehicles to approach the charge vehicle based on one or more of remaining charge levels of the one or more vehicles, present locations of the one or more vehicles, a present location of the charge vehicle, a direction of the charge vehicle, directions of the one or more vehicles, a speed of the charge vehicle, speeds of the one or more vehicles, and one or more obstacles between the charge vehicle and the one or more vehicles; and

transmit the suggested path to the one or more vehicles.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller includes a communication module configured to communicate with the charge vehicle and the plurality of other vehicles through one or more of cellular wireless communication, wide area network (WAN) wireless communication, or satellite communication.

17. A method to provide wireless energy sharing between vehicles in a vehicle convoy, the method comprising:

determining one or more vehicles to receive a recharge, the one or more vehicles within the vehicle convoy including a charge vehicle, the charge vehicle configured to store and provide electrical energy to the one or more vehicles;

instructing the one or more vehicles to position in an order relative to the charge vehicle to receive electrical energy wirelessly for the recharge, wherein the order is determined based on remaining charge levels of the one or more vehicles; and

instructing the charge vehicle to recharge the one or more vehicles after being positioned near the charge vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining a suggested path for the one or more vehicles to approach the charge vehicle based on one or more of remaining charge levels of the one or more vehicles, present locations of the one or more vehicles, a present location of the charge vehicle, a direction of the charge vehicle, directions of the one or more vehicles, a speed of the charge vehicle, speeds of the one or more vehicles, and one or more obstacles between the charge vehicle and the one or more vehicles.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein instructing the one or more vehicles to position in the order relative to the charge vehicle comprises:

instructing the one or more vehicles to approach the charge vehicle in an order according to remaining charge levels of the one or more vehicles, a distance between the charge vehicle and the one or more vehicles, or a time of request to recharge received from each vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein instructing the one or more vehicles to position in the order relative to the charge vehicle comprises:

instructing the one or more vehicles to approach the charge vehicle at a same time, wherein instructing the charge vehicle to recharge the one or more vehicles includes instructing the charge vehicle to provide the electrical energy to two or more vehicles simultaneously.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein instructing the one or more vehicles to position in the order relative to the charge vehicle comprises:

instructing the one or more vehicles to position near the charge vehicle by one of transmission of automated self-navigation instructions or transmission of instructions to be presented to a driver of the one or more vehicles.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying one of the vehicles in the vehicle convoy as having extra charge;

identifying another of the vehicles in the vehicle convoy as having a charge shortage;

instructing the vehicle having the charge shortage to position itself near the vehicle having the extra charge to receive electrical energy wirelessly for a recharge; and

instructing the vehicle having extra charge to provide electrical energy to the vehicle having the charge shortage.

23. A charge vehicle to provide wireless energy sharing to a plurality of vehicles within a vehicle convoy, the charge vehicle comprising;

a wireless communication module configured to communicate with the plurality of vehicles;

a power storage unit (PSU) configured to store electrical energy;

a wireless energy transfer (WET) unit coupled to the PSU and configured to wirelessly provide electrical energy to one or more of the plurality of vehicles positioned near the charge vehicle; and

a controller coupled to the wireless communication module, the PSU, and the WET unit, the controller configured to;

receive a request to recharge from the one or more of the plurality of vehicles;

instruct the one or more of the plurality of vehicles to position in an order relative to the charge vehicle to receive the electrical energy wirelessly; and

instruct the WET unit to transfer the electrical energy from the PSU to the one or more of the plurality of vehicles positioned relative to the charge vehicle.

24. The charge vehicle of claim 23, wherein to instruct the one or more of the plurality of vehicles to position in the order relative to the charge vehicle, the controller is configured to instruct the one or more of the plurality of vehicles to approach the charge vehicle in an order according to remaining charge levels of the one or more of the plurality of vehicles, a distance between the charge vehicle and the one or more of the plurality of vehicles, or a time of request to recharge received from each vehicle.

25. The charge vehicle of claim 23, wherein the charge vehicle includes a truck and the plurality of vehicles include one or more of:

a car, a truck, a bus, or a van.

26. The charge vehicle of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a suggested path for the one or more of the plurality of vehicles to approach the charge vehicle based on one or more of remaining charge levels of the one or more of the plurality of vehicles, present locations of the one or more of the plurality of vehicles, a present location of the charge vehicle, a direction of the charge vehicle, directions of the one or more of the plurality of vehicles, a speed of the charge vehicle, speeds of the one or more of the plurality of vehicles and one or more obstacles between the charge vehicle and the one or more of the plurality of vehicles; and

control the wireless communication module to transmit the suggested path to the one or more of the plurality of vehicles.