# US 10,503,232 B2 · Vehicle charge resource management

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- Number: US 10,503,232 B2
- Document ID: US10503232B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/665,808
- Filed: 2017-08-01
- Published: 2019-02-07
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-01
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Charan S. Lota
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503232B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips}
- B60L 1/006: {to power outlets}
- B60L 53/64: Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
- B60L 58/13: Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
- G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C)
- G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)}
- H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially
- H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)}
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- B60L 2250/12: by confirmation, e.g. of the input
- B60L 2250/16: by display
- B60L 2260/52: drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
- H01M 10/4257: {Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries}
- H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling
- H02J 2105/44: Portable electronic devices
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A method and device for vehicle charge resource management are disclosed. The vehicle charge resource management includes polling a plurality of docking stations for docking indication data, and identifying a docked set therefrom. State-of-charge data for each respective ones of the docked set is assessed, and a recharging rate for the each respective ones of the docked set. Recharge status data may be generated based on the recharging rate to indicate a time-to-recharge for the each respective ones of the docked set. When the recharge status data compares unfavorably with the state-of-charge data for the vehicle power supply, transmitting a user input request that includes the recharge status data to prompt user input. User input data is received, and recharge command data generated therefrom. The recharge command data may be transmitted to initiate a recharge of at least one of the docked set via the vehicle power supply.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for vehicle charge resource management comprising:
polling a plurality of docking stations for docking indication data, wherein each of the plurality of docking stations are operable to receive a rechargeable battery device;
identifying a docked set as one or more of the plurality of docking stations that are coupled with a respective rechargeable battery device;
assessing state-of-charge data for a vehicle power supply;
assessing a recharging rate for the docked set;
generating recharge status data based on the recharging rate, the recharge status data indicating a time-to-recharge the docked set;
in response to determining, based on a comparison of the recharge status data with the state-of-charge data for the vehicle power supply, that a residual charge component of the vehicle power supply is insufficient to recharge the docked set:
transmitting a user input request that includes the recharge status data to prompt user input;
receiving, responsive to the user input request, user input data selecting at least one rechargeable battery device coupled to a docking station of the docked set;
and
transmitting a recharge command to initiate a recharge of the at least one rechargeable battery device via the vehicle power supply.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the recharging rate for the docked set comprises:
transmitting a state-of-charge data request to the docked set;
receiving, in response, a state-of-charge data response from the docked set; and
generating the recharging rate for the docked set based on the state-of-charge data response.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the recharging rate for the docked set comprises:
monitoring a plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters of the docked set; and
empirically determining a cell capacity and a charge of the docked set based on the plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring the plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters further comprises:
monitoring current flowing into the docked set; and
monitoring current flowing out of the docked set.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user input data further includes a recharge priority listing of the docked set.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the state-of-charge data for the vehicle power supply comprises obtaining at least one of:
Coulomb counter integrated-circuit data;
fuel gauge integrated-circuit data; and
programmable fuel gauge integrated-circuit data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of docking stations are detachably coupled with the vehicle power supply.

### Claim 8

A method for vehicle charge resource management comprising:
identifying a docked set as one or more docking stations that are coupled with a respective rechargeable battery device, wherein the docking stations are operable to receive a rechargeable battery device;
generating recharge status data based, at least in part, on a recharging rate for respective ones of the docked set, the recharge status data indicating a time-to-recharge the docked set;
in response to an electronic signal specifying a selection of at least one rechargeable battery device of the docked set, transmitting a recharge command to initiate a recharge of the at least one rechargeable battery device via a vehicle power supply,
wherein the recharging rate for the docked set is determined by:
monitoring a plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters of the docked set, including monitoring current flowing into the docked set and monitoring current flowing out of the docked set, and
empirically determining a cell capacity and a charge of the docked set based on the plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the recharging rate for the docked set is determined by:
transmitting a state-of-charge data request to the docked set;
receiving, in response, a state-of-charge data response from the docked set; and
generating the recharging rate for the docked set based on the state-of-charge data response.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic signal further specifies a recharge priority listing of the docked set.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising recharging the at least one rechargeable battery device while not recharging all of the respective rechargeable battery devices coupled in the docked set.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of docking stations are detachably coupled with the vehicle power supply.

### Claim 13

A vehicle control unit comprises:
a processor communicably coupled to the communication interface and to a plurality of docking stations; and
a memory communicably coupled to the processor and storing:
a dock assessment module including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
poll the plurality of docking stations for docking indication data, wherein each of the plurality of docking stations are operable to receive a rechargeable battery device; identify a docked set as one or more of the plurality of docking stations that have a respective rechargeable battery device coupled thereto; and
a battery-charge assessment module including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
assess state-of-charge data for a vehicle power supply;
assess a recharging rate for the docked set; and
generate recharge status data, based on the recharging rate, that operates to indicate a time-to-recharge for the docked set; and
a transmission module including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
in response to determining, based on a comparison of the recharge status data with the state-of-charge data for the vehicle power supply, that a residual charge component of the vehicle power supply is insufficient to recharge the docked set:
transmit a user input request that includes the recharge status data to prompt user input;
receive, responsive to the user input request, user input data selecting at least one rechargeable battery device coupled to a docking station of the docked set;
and
transmit a recharge command to initiate a recharge of the at least one rechargeable battery device via a residual charge component of the vehicle power supply.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle control unit of claim 13, wherein the transmission module further includes instructions for accessing the recharging rate for the docked set by:
transmitting a state-of-charge data request to the docked set;
receiving, in response, a state-of-charge data response from at least one of the docked set; and
generating the recharging rate for the docked set based on the state-of-charge data response.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The vehicle control unit of claim 13, wherein the transmission module further includes instructions for accessing the recharging rate of the docked set by:
monitoring a plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters of the docked set; and
empirically determining a battery cell capacity and a battery charge of the docked set based on the plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle control unit of claim 15, wherein monitoring the plurality of rechargeable-battery parameters comprises:
monitoring current flowing into the docked set; and
monitoring current flowing out of the docked set.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The vehicle control unit of claim 13, wherein assessing the state-of-charge data for the docked set comprises obtaining at least one of:
Coulomb counter integrated-circuit data;
fuel gauge integrated-circuit data; and
programmable fuel gauge integrated-circuit data.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The vehicle control unit of claim 13, wherein the plurality of docking stations are detachably coupled with the vehicle power supply.