Vehicular battery charger, charging system, and method using an estimated latest time to begin charging
OwnerChristopher B. Austininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.
Claims20
A vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle, the vehicle charger comprising:
- a controller configured to:
- estimate a latest time of day at which charging can begin for the battery based at least in part upon a desired time of day at which a charging session for the battery will end;
- and
- automatically control charging of the battery during the charging session based on at least the estimated latest time of day, wherein the controller is configured to automatically control charging of the battery during the charging session by:
- using data indicative of a cost of power to determine whether a threshold cost of power has been reached during the charging session, and
- in response to the threshold cost of power not being reached during the charging session, automatically starting charging of the battery at a time based at least in part upon the estimated latest time of day.
A method of charging a battery of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a user interface, data indicative of a desired time of day at which a charging session for the battery will end;
- estimating a latest time of day at which charging can begin for the battery based at least in part upon the desired time of day at which the charging session for the battery will end;
- and
- starting supply of power to the battery via a vehicular battery charger based at least in part upon the estimated latest time of day, wherein starting supply of power to the battery based at least in part upon the estimated latest time of day includes:
- using data indicative of a cost of power to determine whether a threshold cost of power has been reached during the charging session, and
- in response to the threshold cost of power not being reached during the charging session, automatically starting charging of the battery at a time based at least in part upon the estimated latest time of day.
A vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle, the vehicle charger comprising:
- a controller;
- and
- a receiver for communication with another controller remote from the controller,
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- estimate a latest time of day at which charging can begin for the battery based at least in part upon a desired time of day at which a charging session for the battery will end,
- automatically control charging of the battery during the charging session based on at least the estimated latest time of day by:
- using data indicative of a cost of power to determine whether a threshold cost of power has been reached during the charging session, and
- in response to the threshold cost of power not being reached during the charging session, automatically starting charging of the battery at a time based at least in part upon the estimated latest time of day, and
- in response to receiving, via the receiver, one or more signals from the other controller, change a charging state of the vehicle charger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.