Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090174365 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A system for network-controlled charging of electric vehicles comprises charge transfer devices networked as follows: charge transfer devices and electric vehicle operators communicate via wireless communication links; charge transfer devices are connected by a local area network to a data control unit, which is connected to a server via a wide area network. The server stores consumer profiles and utility company power grid load data. A charge transfer devices comprises: an electrical receptacle for receiving an electrical connector for recharging an electric vehicle; an electric power line connecting the receptacle to a local power grid; a control device on the electric power line, for switching the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device on the electric power line, for measuring current flowing through the receptacle; a controller for operating the control device and monitoring the output from the current measuring device; a local area network transceiver connected to the controller, for connecting the controller to the data control unit; and a communication device connected to the controller, for wireless communication between the operator of the electric vehicle and the controller. | 07-09-2009 |
20100013436 | Street Light Mounted Network-Controlled Charge Transfer Device for Electric Vehicles - A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle is mounted to a street light. The charge transfer device includes the following: an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle; an electric power line that couples the power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box; a control device to switch the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and a controller to operate the control device and to monitor output from the current measuring device. | 01-21-2010 |
20100134067 | ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SHARING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS - Electric vehicle charging stations are coupled with a circuit sharing controller. Multiple electric vehicle charging stations are wired on the same electrical circuit. The circuit sharing controller implements a circuit sharing process that dynamically allocates electric current to charging stations on the same electrical circuit such that the capacity of the electrical circuit is not exceeded while permitting each of those charging stations to draw electric current through that electrical circuit for at least some amount of time. | 06-03-2010 |
20100207588 | Detecting and Responding to Unexpected Electric Vehicle Charging Disconnections - An electrical vehicle charging station establishes a charging session with an electric vehicle which includes energizing a power receptacle in the charging station and receiving a charging cord at the power receptacle. While the charging session is established and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, the power receptacle is de-energized to prevent electricity from flowing through the charging cord. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211340 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A system and method for managing a plurality of electric vehicles with a fleet management portal is described herein. In one embodiment, a machine implemented method for managing one or more fleets of electric vehicles includes monitoring one or more fleets of electric vehicles using a fleet management portal associated with a server. Next, the method includes monitoring a plurality of charge transfer devices using the fleet management portal. Next, the method includes receiving charging information from the charge transfer devices. Next, the method includes determining a charging status for each electric vehicle based on the charging information. Next, the method includes generating one or more reports having the charging status for each electric vehicle. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211643 | Transmitting Notification Messages for an Electric Vehicle Charging Network - An electric vehicle charging station network server which manages a plurality of charging stations receives subscriber notification message preferences for a subscriber (e.g., electric vehicle operator) which indicate one or more events of interest that the subscriber wishes to receive notification messages for. A set of one or more contact points associated with the subscriber is also received. The server authorizes the subscriber to use one of the plurality of charging stations. The server receives data associated with the subscriber from that one of the charging stations which indicates that a charging session has been established for an electric vehicle associated with the subscriber. The server detects an event of interest for the subscriber and transmits a notification message for that event to at least one of the set of contact points associated with the subscriber. | 08-19-2010 |
20100301809 | OVERCURRENT AND GROUND FAULT PROTECTION IN A NETWORKED CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A networked charging station for electric vehicles protects against overcurrent and ground fault conditions. Upon detecting an overcurrent condition or a ground fault condition, the networked charging station for electric vehicles de-energizes a charging point connection to prevent electric current from flowing between an electric vehicle and the networked charging station and suspends the charging session. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition upon receipt of an authorized request which is transmitted remotely. The authorized request can be received from the vehicle operator that is associated with the charging session or from an administrator of the charging station through a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) tag enabled device or through a text message or an email message. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a circuit breaker or a GFCI device respectively. | 12-02-2010 |
20100315197 | AUTHORIZATION IN A NETWORKED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM - Networked electric vehicle charging stations for charging electric vehicles are coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server that performs authorization for charging session requests while the communication connection between the charging stations and the server are operating correctly. When the communication connection is not operating correctly, the networked electric vehicle charging stations enter into a local authorization mode to perform a local authorization process for incoming charging session requests. | 12-16-2010 |
20110095723 | OVERCURRENT AND GROUND FAULT PROTECTION IN A NETWORKED CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A networked charging station for electric vehicles protects against overcurrent and ground fault conditions. Upon detecting an overcurrent condition or a ground fault condition, the networked charging station for electric vehicles de-energizes a charging point connection to prevent electric current from flowing between an electric vehicle and the networked charging station and suspends the charging session. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition upon receipt of an authorized request which is transmitted remotely. The authorized request can be received from the vehicle operator that is associated with the charging session or from an administrator of the charging station through a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) tag enabled device or through a text message or an email message. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a circuit breaker or a GFCI device respectively. | 04-28-2011 |
20110133693 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION LOAD MANAGEMENT IN A RESIDENCE - An electric vehicle charging station that is installed in a residence is coupled with a main circuit breaker in an electrical service panel. The charging station includes a charging point connection that couples an electric vehicle to a set of service drop power lines that provide electricity from a power grid to the residence; a current control device coupled to control the amount of electric current that can be drawn from the set of service drop power lines by an the electric vehicle through the charging point connection; a receiver to receive energy readings from one or more current monitors that indicate an amount of current is being drawn from the set of service drop power lines; and a set of control modules to cause the current control device to control the amount of current that can be drawn by the electric vehicle through the charging point connection based on the received energy readings to avoid tripping the main circuit breaker. | 06-09-2011 |
20110148356 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153474 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND ACCOUNTING - Electric vehicle charging stations include a time of use meter that can be programmed with different time periods so that different tariffs can be applied to energy readings of those different time periods. The time periods may be specific to electric vehicle operators. The tariffs may also be specific to electric vehicle operators and apply to charging stations that are supplied with electricity from different electric utilities. | 06-23-2011 |
20110191265 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION HOST DEFINABLE PRICING - An electric vehicle charging station network includes multiple electric vehicle charging stations belonging to multiple charging station hosts. Each host controls one or more charging stations. A charging station network server provides an interface that allows each of the hosts to define one or more pricing specifications for charging electric vehicles on one or more of their electric vehicle charging stations belonging to that host. The pricing specifications are applied to the charging stations such that a cost of charging electric vehicles using those charging stations is calculated according to the pricing specifications. | 08-04-2011 |
20110316478 | Street Light Mounted Network-Controlled Charge Transfer Device for Electric Vehicles - A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle is mounted to a street light. The charge transfer device includes the following: an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle; an electric power line that couples the power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box; a control device to switch the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and a controller to operate the control device and to monitor output from the current measuring device. | 12-29-2011 |
20110316482 | ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SHARING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS - Electric vehicle charging stations are coupled with a circuit sharing controller. Multiple electric vehicle charging stations are wired on the same electrical circuit. The circuit sharing controller implements a circuit sharing process that dynamically allocates electric current to charging stations on the same electrical circuit such that the capacity of the electrical circuit is not exceeded while permitting each of those charging stations to draw electric current through that electrical circuit for at least some amount of time. | 12-29-2011 |
20120169283 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server. | 07-05-2012 |
20120173292 | RESERVABLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING GROUPS - An electric vehicle charging network server establishes electric vehicle charging reservation groups. The electric vehicle charging network server is coupled with multiple electric vehicle charging stations that each include one or more charging ports and are owned by a charging station host. The server receives input from the charging station host to configure an electric vehicle charging reservation group. The server configures the electric vehicle charging reservation group according to the received input. The configured electric vehicle charging reservation group includes multiple charging ports and allows a limited number of electric vehicle charging group reservations that are each applicable to all of the charging ports that are part of the configured electric vehicle charging reservation group. | 07-05-2012 |
20120181985 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server. | 07-19-2012 |
20120181986 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles receives a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer device, determines whether to enable charge transfer, and responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmits a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer. | 07-19-2012 |
20130046660 | Taxable Fringe Benefit Accounting for Electric Vehicle Charging Service - A charging station network server receives a message that indicates a set of parameters of an electric vehicle charging session. The set of parameters provides an indication of an electric vehicle operator associated with the charging session. The server determines that at least a portion of a cost of the electric vehicle charging session is to be paid by an employer of the electric vehicle operator. The server determines a fair market value of the electric vehicle charging session reduced by any amount that is not paid by the employer. The server stores, in association with a profile of the electric vehicle operator, the determined fair market value of the electric vehicle charging session reduced by any amount that is not paid by the employer. | 02-21-2013 |
20130141044 | AUTHORIZATION IN A NETWORKED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM - Networked electric vehicle charging stations for charging electric vehicles are coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server that performs authorization for charging session requests while the communication connection between the charging stations and the server are operating correctly. When the communication connection is not operating correctly, the networked electric vehicle charging stations enter into a local authorization mode to perform a local authorization process for incoming charging session requests. | 06-06-2013 |
20130310999 | ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SHARING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS - Electric vehicle charging stations are coupled with a circuit sharing controller. Multiple electric vehicle charging stations are wired on the same electrical circuit. The circuit sharing controller implements a circuit sharing process that dynamically allocates electric current to charging stations on the same electrical circuit such that the capacity of the electrical circuit is not exceeded while permitting each of those charging stations to draw electric current through that electrical circuit for at least some amount of time. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311249 | CONNECTING ELECTRIC VEHICLE OPERATORS AND ORGANIZATIONS - An organization extends an affiliation offer to electric vehicle operators. The affiliation offer communicates a set of benefits for the electric vehicle operators provided by the organization, and also communicates a set of conditions for acceptance of the affiliation offer. An acceptance of the affiliation offer is received from an electric vehicle operator, where the acceptance includes an identifier associated with that electric vehicle operator. Responsive to verifying that the electric vehicle operator is allowed to be affiliated with the organization, the electric vehicle operator is associated with the organization to provide the set of benefits. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311264 | CONNECTING ELECTRIC VEHICLE OPERATORS AND ORGANIZATIONS - An electric vehicle operator inputs a secret affiliation code. In response to determining that the secret affiliation code is valid and corresponds with an affiliation offer, an affiliation offer is extended to that electric vehicle operator. The affiliation offer communicates a set of benefits for the electric vehicle operator provided by an organization, and also communicates a set of conditions for acceptance of the affiliation offer. An acceptance of the affiliation offer is received from an electric vehicle operator, where the acceptance includes an identifier associated with that electric vehicle operator. Responsive to verifying that the electric vehicle operator is allowed to be affiliated with the organization, the electric vehicle operator is associated with the organization to provide the set of benefits. | 11-21-2013 |
20140002020 | CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE PILOT SIGNAL LEVEL FOR CONNECTOR DISCONNECT | 01-02-2014 |
20140152256 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152268 | NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles receives a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer device, determines whether to enable charge transfer, and responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmits a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer. | 06-05-2014 |
20140210412 | Detecting and Responding to Unexpected Electric Vehicle Charging Disconnections - An electrical vehicle charging station establishes a charging session with an electric vehicle which includes energizing a power receptacle in the charging station and receiving a charging cord at the power receptacle. While the charging session is established and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, the power receptacle is de-energized to prevent electricity from flowing through the charging cord. | 07-31-2014 |
20140266046 | Managing Electric Current Allocation Between Charging Equipment for Charging Electric Vehicles - A total amount of current drawn through a first charging equipment and a second charging equipment that wired on a same electrical circuit is limited to not exceed a maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit to prevent the electrical circuit from being overloaded, where limiting includes communicating a first current limit to a first electric vehicle connected to the first charging equipment to cause the first electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the first current limit, and communicating a second current limit to a second electric vehicle connected to the second charging equipment to cause the second electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the second current limit, where a sum of current being drawn at the first current limit and the second current limit does not exceed the maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit. | 09-18-2014 |