Distributed charging station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11316353-B2
Application number	US-201916288798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2019
Priority date	Feb 28, 2018
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

Abstract

A device charging system application to track one or more batteries configured to supply power to at least one load device and a central charging station in communication with the battery and including a transceiver and an electronic processor configured to define a virtual boundary within an area proximate to the central charging station, determine a proximate location of the battery, determine, based the location of the battery, whether the battery is within the virtual boundary, and transmit a command to the battery causing the battery to stop supplying power to the load device when the battery is not within the virtual boundary.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device charging system comprising:
a battery including a receiver cavity, the battery configured to supply a type of power to at least one load device; and
a central charging station configured to receive the battery, the central charging station including
a locking mechanism having a locking member configured to engage with the receiver cavity to secure the battery to the central charging station;
a memory configured to store an identifier of the battery;
an output port configured to supply power to the battery; and
an electronic processor configured to:
associate the battery with the central charging station by storing the identifier of the battery,
engage the locking mechanism upon receiving the battery, and
charge the battery when the battery is received,
receive an unlock command from a remote device,
disengage the locking mechanism upon receiving the unlock command,
determine when the battery is removed from the central charging station,
define a virtual boundary with respect to the central charging station in which the battery is expected to stay in,
determine a location of the battery,
determine, based the location of the battery, whether the battery is within the virtual boundary, and
transmit a command to the battery causing the battery to stop supplying power to the load device when the battery is not within the virtual boundary.

2. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to add and remove identifiers of additional batteries to the memory of the central charging station.

3. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the central charging station further includes a secondary sensor configured to read an identification label of the battery to determine when the battery is coupled to the output port.

4. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the type of power supplied to the at least one load device is transferred wirelessly.

5. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the battery is configured to supply a second type of power to a second load device.

6. The device charging system of claim 5 , wherein the second type of power is difference from the type of power supplied to the at least one load device.

7. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to wirelessly charge the battery while the battery is within a predetermined charging range.

8. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to supply power to the battery via a proprietary charging interface.

9. The device charging system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to determine a potential malfunction in the battery by monitoring an electronic charge characteristic of the battery while the battery is being charged and, when the potential malfunction is determined to exist, generate an alert to a user of the device charging system.

10. A method of managing a battery having one or more battery cells and a receiver cavity, the method comprising:
storing, via a memory, an identifier associated with the battery;
receiving, via a central charging station, the battery;
engaging a locking mechanism having a locking member configured to engage with the receiver cavity to secure the battery to the central charging station; and
charging, via the central charging station, the battery when received;
receiving an unlock command from a remote device;
disengaging the locking mechanism upon receiving the unlock command;
determining, via an electronic processor, when the battery is removed from the central charging station;
defining a virtual boundary with respect to the central charging station in which the battery is expected to stay in;
determining a location of the battery;
determining, based on the location of the battery, whether the battery is within the virtual boundary; and
transmitting a command to the battery;
wherein the battery is configured to stop supplying power to a load device in response to receiving the command.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising storing, via the memory, a second identifier associated with a second battery.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of receiving the identifier associated with the battery includes sensing, via a sensor, an identification label of the battery when the battery is received via the central charging station.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein battery is configured to wireless supply power to the load device.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the battery is configured to supply power to a second load device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein power supplied to the second load device is supplied via a wire.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining, via the electronic process, a potential malfunction of the battery; and
generating, upon determining the potential malfunction, an alert to a user.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Bonilla Nelson
• Walker Jason
• Brower John
• Samojeden Matthew
• Abughazaleh Shadi
• Gay Nicole

Classifications

• H02J13/10

  characterised by displaying of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition [SCADA] systems · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/443

  using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors (identification by mechanical connections H02J7/751) · CPC title

• H02J7/90

  Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage · CPC title

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title