Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130027183 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COMPARTMENT - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To allow easy and convenient access to empty portable electrical energy storage device compartments within the vehicles, if the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as a key fob or other wireless device of a user, an empty portable electrical energy storage device compartment that is closed or locked, is unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically. Also, if the portable electrical energy storage device compartment is in another desired state to have the compartment unlocked, such as having a portable electrical energy storage device in the compartment that has a charge level below a particular threshold, the compartment will likewise be unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030580 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR RESERVING POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT RESERVING POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user, or displayed on a collection, charging and distribution machine. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map on a user's mobile device relative to the user's current location. The user may use their mobile device select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device. The system nay also warn the user that the user is near an edge of the pre-determined area having portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machines. Reservations may also be made automatically based on information regarding a potential route of a user. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030608 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To avoid theft and tampering of the portable electrical energy storage devices, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is locked in and operably connected to the vehicle to which it provides power unless the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as that in a service center. Once within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device a locking mechanism in the vehicle or within the portable electrical energy storage device unlocks and allows the portable electrical energy storage device to be exchanged or serviced. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030696 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a navigation system of a user's vehicle. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map relative to the user's current location. The user may select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine location. The collection, charging and distribution machine locations displayed may also be based on a physical distance or driving time from the current location of the user mobile device or vehicle. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030920 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Availability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices available at a collection, charging and distribution machine are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle. Once the mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle comes within close proximity of the collection, charging and distribution machine or within a particular area surrounding the collection, charging and distribution machine, the collection, charging and distribution machine or a collection, charging and distribution machine management system communicates an alert (e.g., over a cellular network, short range wireless signal or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network) to the mobile device or vehicle indicating how many portable electrical energy storage devices are available at the distribution machine. | 01-31-2013 |
20130031318 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Vehicle diagnostic data of a vehicle using the portable electrical energy storage device is stored on a diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device during use of a respective portable electrical energy storage device by a respective vehicle. Once the user places the portable electrical energy storage device in the collection, charging and distribution machine, or comes within wireless communications range of a collection, charging and distribution machine, a connection is established between the collection, charging and distribution machine and the portable electrical energy storage device. The collection, charging and distribution machine then reads vehicle diagnostic data stored on the diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device and provides information regarding the diagnostic data. | 01-31-2013 |
20130116892 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR SECURITY OF VEHICLES - A vehicle has a security and anti-theft system that senses movement of the vehicle in a forward or backward direction when the vehicle is in a locked state, such as by detecting wheel rotation. Upon this detection, the security system signals the motor to counteract the wheel movement by rotating one or more wheels in the opposite direction of the direction of wheel rotation detected until the wheel rotation is no longer detected. The security and anti-theft system may determine whether the vehicle is in a locked state by detecting whether a key is present and/or by one or more communications received by an external wireless device. | 05-09-2013 |
20140012462 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Vehicle diagnostic data of a vehicle using the portable electrical energy storage device is stored on a diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device during use of a respective portable electrical energy storage device by a respective vehicle. Once the user places the portable electrical energy storage device in the collection, charging and distribution machine, or comes within wireless communications range of a collection, charging and distribution machine, a connection is established between the collection, charging and distribution machine and the portable electrical energy storage device. The collection, charging and distribution machine then reads vehicle diagnostic data stored on the diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device and provides information regarding the diagnostic data. | 01-09-2014 |
20140019043 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a navigation system of a user's vehicle. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map relative to the user's current location. The user may select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine location. The collection, charging and distribution machine locations displayed may also be based on a physical distance or driving time from the current location of the user mobile device or vehicle. | 01-16-2014 |
20140019255 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Availability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices available at a collection, charging and distribution machine are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle. Once the mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle comes within close proximity of the collection, charging and distribution machine or within a particular area surrounding the collection, charging and distribution machine, the collection, charging and distribution machine or a collection, charging and distribution machine management system communicates an alert (e.g., over a cellular network, short range wireless signal or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network) to the mobile device or vehicle indicating how many portable electrical energy storage devices are available at the distribution machine. | 01-16-2014 |
20140053620 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To avoid theft and tampering of the portable electrical energy storage devices, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is locked in and operably connected to the vehicle to which it provides power unless the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as that in a service center. Once within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device a locking mechanism in the vehicle or within the portable electrical energy storage device unlocks and allows the portable electrical energy storage device to be exchanged or serviced. | 02-27-2014 |
20140111121 | BATTERY CONFIGURATION FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A power delivery system for an electric vehicle provides efficient power management for either continuous or intermittent high-performance operation, using a boost stage and an on-board charging circuit. A main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source, supplies power to the electric motor under normal load conditions. An auxiliary boost battery assists the main battery in supplying a high-level current at a higher discharge rate thereby causing the motor to operate in a high-performance drive mode. A charging circuit recharges the boost battery from the main battery during operation of the motor. The charging circuit also maintains a charge balance between the boost battery and the main battery when the two batteries have different chemistries. In one embodiment, participation of the boost battery in powering the electric motor can be controlled automatically according to sensed changes in the load. In another embodiment, power management can be based on timed intervals. | 04-24-2014 |
20140163813 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Vehicle diagnostic data of a vehicle using the portable electrical energy storage device is stored on a diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device during use of a respective portable electrical energy storage device by a respective vehicle. Once the user places the portable electrical energy storage device in the collection, charging and distribution machine, or comes within wireless communications range of a collection, charging and distribution machine, a connection is established between the collection, charging and distribution machine and the portable electrical energy storage device. The collection, charging and distribution machine then reads vehicle diagnostic data stored on the diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device and provides information regarding the diagnostic data. | 06-12-2014 |
20150025923 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING TO A USER DEVICE INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PORTABLE ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES AT A PORTABLE ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE - A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Availability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices available at a collection, charging and distribution machine are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle. Once the mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle comes within close proximity of the collection, charging and distribution machine or within a particular area surrounding the collection, charging and distribution machine, the collection, charging and distribution machine or a collection, charging and distribution machine management system communicates an alert (e.g., over a cellular network, short range wireless signal or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network) to the mobile device or vehicle indicating how many portable electrical energy storage devices are available at the distribution machine. | 01-22-2015 |
20150042157 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWERING ELECTRIC VEHICLES USING A SINGLE OR MULTIPLE POWER CELLS - Electric vehicles such as scooters can have a first operating mode in which energy is supplied by a single electrical energy storage device and a second operating mode in which energy is supplied by multiple electrical energy storage devices. A circuit element can be included in the circuit connecting the electrical energy storage devices to a prime mover such as a traction motor. The circuit element has a first, electrically conductive, state that couples only the single electrical energy storage device to a traction motor and a second, electrically non-conductive, state that couples the multiple electrical energy storage devices to the prime mover. The transition of the circuit element from the first state to the second state can occur by irreversibly fracturing the circuit element upon installation of multiple electrical energy storage devices or by a controller transitioning the circuit element from the first state to the second state. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046012 | ADJUSTING ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEMS BASED ON AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE THERMAL PROFILE - Electric vehicles such as scooters are reliant upon one or more electrical energy storage devices to not only provide motive power but also power some or all vehicular systems. An electrical energy storage device can be equipped with a number of thermal sensors that provide data indicative of overall and/or localized electrical energy storage device temperature(s) to a controller. In order to maintain the electrical energy storage device in a desired thermal operating range or profile, the controller can selectively alter or control the power distributed or allocated to one or more vehicular systems. Such alteration or control of power allocation may be performed by the controller based upon an assessed degree of vehicular system criticality. | 02-12-2015 |
20150064514 | PORTABLE ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE WITH THERMAL RUNAWAY MITIGATION - Electrical energy storage device for powering portable devices such as vehicles or consumer electronics includes barriers to minimize migration of thermal energy and propagation of combustion in the rare event that electrical energy storage cells fail, burst and ignite. A burst structure is provided to vent gas from the device in a desired direction in the event pressure within the device exceeds a maximum value. Biased vents permit gases emanating from a portable electrical energy storage cell within an electrical energy storage module to escape and isolate other electrical energy storage cells from the gases. | 03-05-2015 |