System and methods for a charging network of mobile power transmitters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420530-B2
Application number	US-201916552392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2019
Priority date	Apr 9, 2018
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A decentralized charging network of mobile power transmitters comprises a server, power receivers, and a fleet of deployable mobile power transmitters comprising a control system, a power source system having a charge measuring device for monitoring the charge transfer, a charging system configured to transfer charge from the power source system to the power receiver, and a communication system for communication between a power receiver, a server, and the control system. A charging request is received and processed by a server from a power receiver or an operator preparing to charge a power receiver. A qualified mobile power transmitter is identified and instructed to arrive at a location and to charge a power receiver according to charging instructions prepared by the server. The charging is monitored and, upon completion, the mobile power transmitter deactivates the charging session and informs the server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A charging network of mobile power transmitters, comprising:
a first power receiver of a plurality of power receivers;
a server configured to access a user dataset having identification information of the plurality of power receivers, wherein the identification information of the user dataset comprises membership information and charging characteristics of each of the plurality of power receivers; and
a mobile power transmitter configured to be moveably deployed to a location and configured to transfer charge to the first power receiver, the mobile power transmitter having:
a control system having a processing unit outputting a control signal,
a power source system having a charge measuring device configured to monitor a charge transfer,
a charging system configured to transfer the charge from the power source system to the first power receiver in response to the control signal from the control system, and
a communication system configured to enable communication between the first power receiver, the server, and the control system,

wherein the server is further configured to access a provider dataset having charging information of the mobile power transmitter, the charging information having onboard charging system information and charging schedule.

2. The charging network according to claim 1 wherein the identification information of the user dataset comprises membership information and charging characteristics of each of the plurality of power receivers, wherein the charging characteristics is selected from a list of maximum current, maximum voltage, recommended charging duration, and charging type, wherein the charging type is selected from a list of contact and non-contact charging characteristics.

3. The charging network according to claim 1 wherein the server is configured to communicate with the first power receiver and the mobile power transmitter.

4. The charging network according to claim 1 wherein the server is configured to schedule a charging session at the location to transfer the charge to the first power receiver based on the charging information of the user dataset.

5. The charging network according to claim 1 wherein the mobile power transmitter comprises a plurality of mobile power transmitters, each of the plurality of mobile power transmitters having:
an independent control system having a processing unit outputting a discrete control signal,
an independent power source system having a charge measuring device configured to monitor a charge transfer,
a charging system configured to transfer the charge from the independent power source system to one of the plurality of power receivers in response to the independent control signal from the independent control system, and
a communication system configured to enable communication between the one of the plurality of power receivers, the server, and the independent control system.

6. A method of transferring charge between a mobile power transmitter having an onboard power source system and a member power receiver, the method comprising:
maintaining by a server a user dataset having identification information of a plurality of member power receivers, wherein the identification information having membership information and charging characteristics of the plurality of member power receivers;
maintaining by the server a provider dataset having charging information of a plurality of mobile power transmitters, wherein the charging information having onboard charging system information and charging schedule;
receiving by the server a charging request from a first of the plurality of member power receivers;
identifying by the server a first of the plurality of mobile power transmitters from the provider dataset;
sending by the server to a communication system of the first mobile power transmitter a first charging instructions and awaiting a confirmation;
contacting by the server the first member power receiver with a second charging instructions after receiving the confirmation, the second charging instructions having information about the identified mobile power transmitter, a scheduled charging time and charging location;
the mobile power transmitter arriving at the scheduled charging time to the scheduled charging location based on the first charging instructions;
providing a charging system for transferring charge, wherein the charging system is supported by the onboard power source system of the mobile power transmitter, the onboard power source system being controlled by an onboard control system; and
proceeding to transfer charge to the power receiver from the power source system of the mobile power transmitter via the charging system.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identification information comprises membership information and charging characteristics of the plurality of member power receivers, wherein the charging characteristics is selected from a list of maximum current, maximum voltage, recommended charging duration, and charging type, wherein the charging type is selected from a list of contact and non-contact charging characteristics.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the charging information comprises onboard charging system information and charging schedule.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the charging request is generated by a mobile wireless communication system onboard the power consumer.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the charging request comprises at least a desired charging time interval and a desired charging location.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the identifying step is made based on the received charging request and the charging information of the mobile power transmitter.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first charging instructions comprises information about the charge requesting power receiver, a scheduled charging time, and charging location and waiting for a confirmation.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the mobile power transmitter arriving at the scheduled charging time to the scheduled charging location based on the first charging instructions comprises the mobile power transmitter arriving at the scheduled charging time to the scheduled charging location based on the first charging instructions and being verified by the server.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein upon the verification of the server, the step of providing a charging system for transferring charge is performed.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the charge transfer being communicated to the mobile wireless communication system of the power receiver by the communication system of the mobile power transmitter, the charge transfer being activated by the control system of the mobile power transmitter.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
monitoring the charge transfer by a charge measuring device of the charge source system of the mobile power transmitter, the charge measuring device is connected to the onboard control system, the onboard control system configured to monitor the output of the charge measuring device, maintain running total of charge transferred, and detect the completion of the charge transfer; and

on detecting completion, disabling charge transfer and communicating the completion of charge transfer to the server and to the mobile wireless communication system of the power consumer.

17. The charging network according to claim 1 , wherein the provider dataset comprises charging information of the mobile pow

Assignees

• Univ Michigan Regents

Inventors

• Akhavan-Tafti Mojtaba

Classifications

• H02J2105/30

  the load networks being external to vehicles, i.e. exchanging power with vehicles · CPC title

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/40

  characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data · CPC title

• H02J2105/61

  Load identification · CPC title

• B60L53/66

  Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles · CPC title