Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
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 |
20130090936 | Configurable Visibility of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - In one embodiment, an electric vehicle charging network server provides an interface for electric vehicle charging station owners to selectively configure whether their electric vehicle charging station(s) are displayable on a charging station locator application to a specific set of one or more electric vehicle operators. For example, the interface may allow an electric vehicle charging station owner to specify that one or more of its charging stations are capable of being displayed on a charging station locator application to only a group of one or more electric vehicle operators (those charging station(s) will not be displayed on a charging station locator application used by other electric vehicle operators). | 04-11-2013 |
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 |
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 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100013433 | VEHICLE CHARGING STATION HAVING A DUAL POSITION LOCKING DOOR - A vehicle charging station including a compartment having a door, a receptacle disposed within the interior of the compartment for receiving a charging cord from a vehicle, and a door mechanism. The door mechanism includes a first latch for locking and unlocking the door from a closed position. The first latch locks the door in the closed position without drawing power and keeps the door locked in the closed position if power is lost to the vehicle charging station. The door mechanism also includes a second latch for locking and unlocking the door in a second position such that the door is ajar allowing the cord to pass from the vehicle to the interior of the compartment. The second latch allows the door to open beyond its ajar position to allow the cord to be removed if power is lost to the vehicle charging station while the door is locked in the second position. | 01-21-2010 |
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 |
20100320966 | Vehicle Charging Station Having a Dual Position Locking Door - A vehicle charging station that includes a power receptacle compartment that includes a power receptacle to receive an electrical plug. The vehicle charging station also includes a door that is hingedly coupled with the power receptacle compartment to cover the power receptacle when the door is closed. The vehicle charging station includes a first locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a closed position without consuming power to control access to the power receptacle compartment such that the door remains locked in the closed position if the vehicle charging station loses power. The vehicle charging station also includes a second locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a charging position to control access to the electrical plug. The second locking means allows the door to be unlocked from the charging position if the vehicle charging station loses power. | 12-23-2010 |
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 |
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 |
20110316479 | Vehicle Charging Station Having a Dual Position Locking Door - A vehicle charging station that includes a power receptacle compartment that includes a power receptacle to receive an electrical plug. The vehicle charging station also includes a door that is hingedly coupled with the power receptacle compartment to cover the power receptacle when the door is closed. The vehicle charging station includes a first locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a closed position without consuming power to control access to the power receptacle compartment such that the door remains locked in the closed position if the vehicle charging station loses power. The vehicle charging station also includes a second locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a charging position to control access to the electrical plug. The second locking means allows the door to be unlocked from the charging position if the vehicle charging station loses power. | 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 |
20120135626 | SELF POWERED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING CONNECTOR LOCKING SYSTEM - A self powered electric vehicle charging connector locking system for locking and unlocking a charging connector of an electric vehicle charging cord includes an electric vehicle charging station and an electric vehicle charging connector locking holster. The charging station includes an electricity control device to energize and de-energize the charging cord to control a supply of electricity available to flow through the charging cord. Current does not flow through the charging cord when it is de-energized and some amount of current is capable of flowing through the charging cord when it is energized. The locking holster includes a charging connector locking holster inlet to receive the charging connector of the charging cord and a locking unit to lock the charging connector in the locking holster when it is inserted into the locking holster inlet and unlock the charging connector from the locking holster responsive to the charging cord becoming energized. | 05-31-2012 |
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 |
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 |
20130311658 | FLEXIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE MODEL IN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SERVICE NETWORK - A method and apparatus for creating one or more groups of electric vehicle charging objects includes receiving input from an organization to group a selected set of electric vehicle charging objects, creating the group in response to the received input, where the created group includes as its members the selected set of electric vehicle charging objects, and performing a set of acts for the members of the group as a whole. | 11-21-2013 |
20140103866 | Electric Vehicle Charging Station Dynamically Responding to Power Limit Messages Based on a Recent History of Power Provided - An electric vehicle charging station charging electric vehicles dynamically responds to power limit messages. The charging station includes a charging port that is configured to electrically connect to an electric vehicle to provide power to charge that electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a power control unit coupled with the charging port, the power control unit configured to control an amount of power provided through the charging port. The charging station also includes a set of one or more charging station control modules that are configured to, in response to receipt of a message that indicates a request to limit an amount of power to an identified percentage and based on a history of power provided through the charging port over a period of time, cause the power control unit to limit the power provided through the charging port to the identified percentage. | 04-17-2014 |
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 |