Sequential charging of multiple electric vehicles
First Claim
1. An apparatus for charging a plurality of electric vehicles, comprising:
- a socket connector configured to couple with an electrical socket;
a first power conduit having a first end connected to the socket connector and a plurality of distal ends, the first power conduit configured to convey an AC voltage from the electrical socket to the plurality of electric vehicles;
a first relay placed inline with the first power conduit and configured to control the AC voltage along the first power conduit;
a control circuit connected to the first power conduit and configured to generate signals corresponding to the AC voltage along the first power conduit;
a plurality of vehicle connectors each connected to a respective one of the plurality of distal ends of the first power conduit and configured to connect to a respective one of the plurality of electric vehicles to provide the AC voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles;
a second relay placed inline with the first power conduit and configured to control the AC voltage to the plurality of vehicle connectors to charge the plurality of electric vehicles;
a processor connected to the control circuit and configured to receive signals from and send signals to the control circuit and to control whether to continue charging, discontinue charging, begin charging a different vehicle, or simultaneously charge the vehicles;
a voltage monitor connected to the processor;
a pulse width modulator connected to the processor;
a display connected to the processor; and
a switch connected to the first power conduit and the first relay, wherein the processor is configured to control the switch in order to provide a level I or level II voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for sequentially charging multiple electric vehicles. The apparatus including an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having an electrical plug connected to a power cord. The power cord is connected to a housing containing a number of electrical components configured to control the power flow to an electric vehicles to recharge the vehicles'"'"' batteries. The power cord is divided into multiple power cords that extend from the housing and connect to standard electric vehicle connectors compatible with battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The EVSE determines, based on a number of possible criteria, which of the multiple electric vehicles to charge at a given time.
54 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging a plurality of electric vehicles, comprising:
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a socket connector configured to couple with an electrical socket; a first power conduit having a first end connected to the socket connector and a plurality of distal ends, the first power conduit configured to convey an AC voltage from the electrical socket to the plurality of electric vehicles; a first relay placed inline with the first power conduit and configured to control the AC voltage along the first power conduit; a control circuit connected to the first power conduit and configured to generate signals corresponding to the AC voltage along the first power conduit; a plurality of vehicle connectors each connected to a respective one of the plurality of distal ends of the first power conduit and configured to connect to a respective one of the plurality of electric vehicles to provide the AC voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles; a second relay placed inline with the first power conduit and configured to control the AC voltage to the plurality of vehicle connectors to charge the plurality of electric vehicles; a processor connected to the control circuit and configured to receive signals from and send signals to the control circuit and to control whether to continue charging, discontinue charging, begin charging a different vehicle, or simultaneously charge the vehicles; a voltage monitor connected to the processor; a pulse width modulator connected to the processor; a display connected to the processor; and a switch connected to the first power conduit and the first relay, wherein the processor is configured to control the switch in order to provide a level I or level II voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for charging multiple electric vehicles, comprising:
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detecting if multiple electric vehicles are connected to an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE); determining a priority for providing charging power to a battery of a first or a second electric vehicle of the multiple electric vehicles via a processor based on information received from the first and second electric vehicles or from a user input via an input device; providing charging power to the battery of the first or second electric vehicle via a respective vehicle connector based on the priority determination by the processor that is connected to a pulse width modulator; monitoring a charge level of the battery of the first or second electric vehicle via the processor, wherein a voltage monitor and a display are connected to the processor; determining, via the processor, whether to continue charging the battery of the first electric vehicle being charged, discontinue charging the battery of the first electric vehicle being charged, or simultaneously charge the first electric vehicle and the second electric vehicle; controlling, by the processor, a switch connected to a first power conduit and a first relay in order to provide a level I or level II voltage to the multiple electric vehicles; and determining, via the processor, whether to provide charging power to the battery of the second electric vehicle, discontinue charging the battery of the second electric vehicle being charged, or simultaneously charge the first electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for charging a plurality of electric vehicles, comprising:
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means for connecting configured to couple with an electrical socket; means for conducting power having a first end connected to the means for connecting and a plurality of distal ends, and the means for connecting configured to convey an AC voltage from the electrical socket to the plurality of electric vehicles; a first means for relaying placed inline with the means for conducting power and configured to control voltage along the means for conducting power; means for controlling connected to the means for conducting power and configured to generate signals corresponding to the AC voltage along the means for conducting power; a plurality of means for vehicle connecting each connected to a respective one of the plurality of distal ends of the means for conducting power and configured to connect to a respective one of the plurality of electric vehicles to provide the AC voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles; a second means for relaying placed inline with the means for conducting power and configured to control AC voltage to the plurality of means for vehicle connecting to charge the plurality of electric vehicles; means for processing connected to the means for controlling and configured to receive signals from and send signals to the means for controlling to control whether to continue charging, discontinue charging, begin charging a different vehicle, or simultaneously charge the plurality of electric vehicles; a voltage monitor connected to the means for processing; a pulse width modulator connected to the means for processing; a display connected to the means for processing; and a switch connected to the means for conducting power and the first means for relaying, wherein the means for processing is configured to control the switch in order to provide a level I or level II voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles.
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Specification