5748 results about "Charging station" patented technology

A system includes an electric appliance, which is operated with replaceable and rechargeable batteries, a charging station and two or more battery units. The charging station has two or more receptacles for holding and charging the battery units. A first coupling is provided between a battery unit and the appliance and a second coupling is provided between a battery unit and the charging station such that a battery unit connected to the appliance can be uncoupled from the appliance by one-handed operation and can be coupled to the charging station for charging by one-handed operation. Similarly, a battery unit connected to the charging station can be coupled to the appliance and uncoupled from the charging station by one-handed operation.

An expert system manages a power grid wherein charging stations are connected to the power grid, with electric vehicles connected to the charging stations, whereby the expert system selectively backfills power from connected electric vehicles to the power grid through a grid tie inverter (if present) within the charging stations. In more traditional usage, the expert system allows for electric vehicle charging, coupled with user preferences as to charge time, charge cost, and charging station capabilities, without exceeding the power grid capacity at any point. A robust yet accurate state of charge (SOC) calculation method is also presented, whereby initially an open circuit voltage (OCV) based on sampled battery voltages and currents is calculated, and then the SOC is obtained based on a mapping between a previously measured reference OCV (ROCV) and SOC. The OCV-SOC calculation method accommodates likely any battery type with any current profile.

A method and apparatus comprising a platform, a battery system, a power generation system, a number of charging stations, and a controller. The platform is configured to house a number of unmanned aerial vehicles. The power generation system is connected to the battery system. The power generation system is configured to generate electrical energy from an environment in which the platform is located, and store the electrical energy in the battery system. The number of charging stations is connected to the battery system. The controller is connected to the battery system and is configured to receive sensor data from the number of unmanned aerial vehicles, generate information from the sensor data, and send the information to a remote location.

An expert system manages a power grid wherein charging stations are connected to the power grid, with electric vehicles connected to the charging stations, whereby the expert system selectively backfills power from connected electric vehicles to the power grid through a grid tie inverter (if present) within the charging stations. In more traditional usage, the expert system allows for electric vehicle charging, coupled with user preferences as to charge time, charge cost, and charging station capabilities, without exceeding the power grid capacity at any point. A robust yet accurate state of charge (SOC) calculation method is also presented, whereby initially an open circuit voltage (OCV) based on sampled battery voltages and currents is calculated, and then the SOC is obtained based on a mapping between a previously measured reference OCV (ROCV) and SOC. The OCV-SOC calculation method accommodates likely any battery type with any current profile.

A method for managing the charging of an electric vehicle. The method includes receiving a request for a charge transfer for an electric vehicle over a network link between an electric vehicle charging station and a cloud server. The network link has a mobile device disposed between the electrical vehicle charging station and the cloud server for facilitating communication between the charging station and the cloud server.

The present application relates to a charging station operable in a charging cycle for charging an electric vehicle. The charging station has a key-activated controller for controlling the charging cycle. The application also relates to a key for operating the charging station. Furthermore, the application relates to a charging station having an interface for connecting the charging station to a data network. The application also relates to a charging station having a socket for receiving a plug and a key-operated locking mechanism for locking a plug in said socket. A frangible panel movable between an open position and a closed position may be provided. A processor may be provided for generating data to impose a financial charge on an individual for using the charging station. The application also relates to methods of operating a charging station including the steps of obtaining user identification data; supplying electricity to a charging socket; and generating data for levying a financial charge on the user.

A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle for use in charging the vehicle is configured to communicatively couple to the electric vehicle via a network connection to a wireless network provider and electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector. Vehicle charging station is further configured to receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle via the network connection, deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector, and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle

A method of distributing charging power among a plurality of charge ports of a battery charging station is provided, where the battery charging station includes a plurality of power stages where each power stage includes an AC to DC converter and provides a portion of the charging station's maximum available charging power, the method comprising the steps of (i) monitoring battery charging station conditions and operating conditions for each charging port; (ii) determining current battery charging station conditions, including current operating conditions for each charging port; (iii) determining power distribution for the battery charging station and the charging ports in response to the current battery charging conditions and in accordance with a predefined set of power distribution rules; and (iv) coupling the power stages to the charging ports in accordance with the power distribution.

An automatic recharging docking station for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles in which standardized uniform charging stations are positioned in public parking facilities, private parking facilities, rest stops, or the like, and by means of a retractable vehicle probe, allow the owner / user of the vehicle to attach to the charging station and recharge the batteries or storage cells of the vehicle while the owner / user is at work, shopping, or otherwise not requiring the use of the vehicle. The particular vehicle and vehicle probe would have an encrypted identification means so that its identity would be recorded when it connected to a particular recharging station, regardless of which electrical jurisdiction that charging station was located, such that the respective electric utility companies or other entity would be able to identify and bill the owner / user for the quantity of electricity drawn during a specified time period.

A method for pay-per-use, self-service charging of electric storage power systems of electric automobiles, said automobiles charged via electrical connections to a provided curbside charging station, said charging station automatically modifying grid electricity to be suitable for charging an array of said automobiles, said charging station also automatically securing electricity at off-peak rates when available and storing same for subsequent use.

A vehicle charging allocation managing system containing plural charging stations each having a battery charger to charge a vehicle, a charging station managing server for managing the charging stations, and a vehicle charging allocation managing server that is connected to the charging station managing server through a communication network, and instructs vehicle allocation to allocate each of the vehicles to an appropriate one of the charging stations for charging. The vehicle charging allocation managing server has a controller for setting a vehicle charging allocation schedule for specifying a charging station and a charting time zone to charge each of the vehicles on the basis of a battery residual capacity and a battery capacity consumption plan, thereby performing vehicle allocation for charging.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for recharging a mobile robot as a power source. In one embodiment the system comprises a power transmission link having a first end positioned at a selectively located charging station and a second end connected to the battery carried by the robot, the transmission link being configured to transmit power from its first end to its second end to charge the battery. The system further comprises a first wireless power transmitter coupled to receive power from a specified power source, and a first wireless power receiver, connected to the first end of the transmission link and located at a prespecified distance from the first wireless power transmitter. The first wireless power receiver is configured to receive power transmitted across the prespecified distance from the first wireless power transmitter, and to provide power to the first end of the transmission link, for transmission to charge the battery.

The technology described herein provides wireless charging for battery-operated electronic devices (14) including both mobile and fixed battery-operated devices. A wireless charging system, based on any suitable wireless charging technology(ies), allows easy access / discovery, registration, authorization, monitoring, and / or compensation for charging services. The technology uses donor mobile radio nodes (12) that register as potential charging stations for requesting radio nodes (14). The donor and requesting nodes negotiate the charging event, and in a preferred example embodiment, payment by the requester for the charging service to donor is arranged.

This invention is a pay charging station for electric and plugin hybrid vehicles. A vehicle parks at a space with the charging station and uses a credit card, debit card, cash, smart card or network connection to a database like EZ-Pass to pay for the space and the electricity. The station automatically charges the vehicle as long as it is connected to the station. The station automatically stops charging when the vehicle is fully charged. The customer only pays for the space and the electricity consumed. If the charging circuit is broken the customer must reinsert the smart card or credit card to restart charging. Sufficient funds are removed from the payment method on initiation of charging. Any money not used for charging is returned to the funding account upon the user reinserting the smart card, credit card or debit card, or cash change is returned if cash was the method of payment.

A battery charging station is equipped with radio frequency power transmitters, induction power transmitters, and ultrasound power transmitters so as to concurrently charge electronic devices. The battery charging station is operable to network the electronic devices through wireless communication. In this regard, the battery charging station may coordinate or arrange the radio frequency power transmitters, the induction power transmitters and / or the ultrasound power transmitters so that the resulting power transmission from the battery charging station to one or more intended networked electronic devices may be maximized. The battery charging station may wirelessly communicate with the electronic devices for device networking. The networked electronic devices may be connected to a computer network for various network services such as, for example, network advertising and software downloading or uploading. Both direct and in-direct device-to-device communication may be supported among the networked electronic devices. The battery charging station maintains data communication during battery charging.

An operation managing server for charging stations each of which has a charger and accepts a charging request for charging a vehicle battery of a user through the charger at a charging station, including a charging request accepting unit that accepts a charging request from a user when the user makes the charging request, and a charging time estimating unit that estimates a charging time required to charge the vehicle battery of the user on the basis of past charger using data of the user, wherein when there is any charging request from a next user, the charging request accepting unit accepts the charging request concerned while reflecting the estimated charging time of the former user.

Work light has LEDs that require heatsink. Desired radiation pattern achieved by using optical components designed to produce beam or LEDs may have beams in different directions. Radiation pattern of LEDs may be changed by refractive-reflective optics or by convex lenses. Convex lenses may be hemispheres, other planoconvex shapes, concavo-convex shapes, or other shapes. Curved surfaces on any lenses may be spherical or aspheric. Ballast to operate the LEDs from line voltage AC or low voltage DC. Work light may contain batteries. The work light may be mounted on a stand. May have accessory mount. May have charging station. May have a paging transmitter to activate a paging receiver in work light. May have openings for heat transfer from heatsink to ambient air external to light.

To provide remote services, including dynamic, interactive assistance to electric vehicle (EV) users, a central server is arranged for electronic communications with EVs (15) and with client devices (11). The server also communicates with at least one EV charging station network, which in turn communicate with individual charging stations (30). Remote services may include trip planning, locating charging stations, checking availability and suitability of charging stations, making reservations at charging stations, and updating plans en route. The server collects data from the EV and analyzes the data to determine various statistics. The system advises a user on readiness of the EV to complete a proposed trip before recharging the EV batteries. Client devices may include smart phones, computers, or a head unit in the EV. Application software programs are executable on the client devices to provide user interfaces for accessing the remote services and for communicating with the central server.

A reduced size and complexity multi-mode electric vehicle charging station is provided which allows a user to select AC and DC powerform output and may provide those outputs to connectors for charging electric vehicles. A voltage source is provided to a DC converter that then outputs to a DC bus or electrical connection. The DC bus may be accessed by DC charging equipment or a DC-AC inverter that is connected to AC charging equipment, thereby providing DC and AC charging ability. In one aspect, the multi-mode electric vehicle charging station is used in a rescue vehicle for charging stranded EVs via multiple charging standards without requiring the rescue vehicle to carry independent charging systems for each charging standard. In another aspect, the charging station is used in a stationary charging station to reduce cost and complexity of using multiple independent charging systems.

A system for charging a multiplicity of commuter EVs without dependence on the power grid is provided, using the EV batteries themselves as distributed off grid storage for all EVs connected to the system. The EV charging system comprises low cost solar modules and an intelligent charge management system capable of a providing flexible charge rate to EVs based on user demand, that is decoupled from the grid and thus does not add to peak power demands. Only a low capacity grid connection is provided for backup, and buffer solar panels may be provided for load balancing. Excessive solar energy is fed into the grid during times of low demand at the charging stations, such as on weekends.

Disclosed are an automatic charging apparatus of an autonomous mobile robot and an automatic charging method using the same in that a moving robot can automatically detect infrared signals emitted from a charging station and can automatically induce charging station so as to automatically charge a battery of the robot, whereby improving convenience thereof. The automatic charging apparatus of the autonomous mobile robot, comprises a charging station having connecting terminals for charging the battery and an infrared signal generator for emitting infrared signals on a position information thereof; and a moving robot having an infrared receiving apparatus for receiving the infrared signals from the infrared signal generator in a cast that a remnant capacity of the battery is insufficient or a charging order is inputted, a microcomputer for controlling a traveling of the moving robot by using a detected position information of the charging station through the infrared signals received from the infrared receiving apparatus, and charging terminals for charging the battery with electricity through the contact with the connecting terminal.

A method and apparatus for hands free inductive charging of batteries for an electric vehicle is characterized by the use of a transformer having a primary coil connected with a charging station and a secondary coil connected with a vehicle. More particularly, the when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the charging station, the primary coil is displaced via a self alignment mechanism to position the primary coil adjacent to the secondary coil to maximize the inductive transfer of charging current to the secondary coil. The self alignment mechanism preferably utilizes feedback signals from the secondary coil to automatically displace the primary coil in three directions to position the primary coil for maximum efficiency of the transformer.

A system for charging batteries of electric vehicles from public fixtures such as street lights and parking meters includes modifying the fixture to convert it to a vehicle battery charging station using a power interface module having a novel keyed electrical power output receptacle connectable to power mains powering the fixture. The system includes a complementarily coded, keyed plug which must be inserted into the power output receptacle to access electrical power from the receptacle, the plug being located at the input end of vehicle charger cable terminated at output end thereof by a vehicle-mounted charge control system which will actuate a charging current contactor permitting charging current to flow from the receptacle to batteries within the vehicle only if a pre-paid charge authorization payment device, such as a magnetically or electronically encoded charge card is inserted into a charger station access enable device such as card reader mounted in the vehicle.

A system may automatically identify whether a vehicle charge station is publicly accessible. A location data input may receive location data which is indicative of the location of the vehicle charge station. A public accessibility data input may receive accessibility data which is relevant to determining whether the vehicle charge station is publicly accessible. A computer data processing system may determine whether the vehicle charge station is publicly accessible based on the accessibility data. A data output may deliver output data indicative of whether the vehicle charge station is publicly accessible based on the determination of such public accessibility by the computer data processing system.

A vehicle charging station is provided. The vehicle charging station includes a charging source providing an electrical charge, a coolant source providing coolant and a connector having both an electrical supply section delivering the electrical charge and a coolant supply section delivering the coolant. The connector is capable of connecting to a vehicle. A connector for a vehicle charging station and an electric vehicle are also provided.

A vehicle charging station is provided. The vehicle charging station includes a charging source providing an electrical charge, a coolant source providing coolant and a connector having both an electrical supply section delivering the electrical charge and a coolant supply section delivering the coolant. The connector is capable of connecting to a vehicle. A connector for a vehicle charging station and an electric vehicle are also provided.

The invention provides systems and methods for connecting an electric or hybrid electric vehicle to a charging station. Automated charging and docking processes may be provided. In some embodiments, a vehicle arrival and position may be detected. The vehicle may be charged with a charging arm and some automated vehicle positioning may occur. The vehicle may be charged and released. Fault detection may occur.

Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to an electric vehicle charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for charging an electric vehicle is provided, the system comprising: an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a robotic unit comprising an external power source, a charging plate and a robotic arm, the charging plate interconnected to the robotic arm and configured to provide a charge to the charging panel; and a vehicle controller configured to communicate with the robotic unit and position the charging plate with respect to the charging panel; wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the external power source and charges the electrical storage unit.

Work light has LEDs that may require heatsink. Desired radiation pattern achieved by using optical components designed to produce beam or LEDs may have beams in different directions. Radiation pattern of LEDs may be changed by refractive-reflective optics or by convex lenses. Convex lenses may be hemispheres, other planoconvex shapes, concavo-convex shapes, or other shapes. Curved surfaces on any lenses may be spherical or aspheric. Ballast to operate the LEDs from line voltage AC or low voltage DC. Work light may contain batteries. The work light may be mounted on a stand. May have accessory mount. May have charging station. May have a paging transmitter to activate a paging receiver in work light. May have openings for heat transfer from heatsink to ambient air external to light.