Apparatus and method for arbitrating optical communication between can buses

A system for arbitrating bidirectional optical communication between a mobile device and a charging station,

• the mobile device including a battery configured to provide power to an electric motor and a battery management system configured to monitor the battery, the battery management system being configured to communicate via a first controller area network bus having a first optical link end, the mobile device further including a collector, wherein the first optical link end is part of the collector, and the first optical link end includes a first transmit light emitting diode and a first receive photodiode;
• and
• the charging station configured to charge the battery, the charging station being configured to communicate via a second controller area network bus having a second optical link end, the charging station including a base configured to cooperate with the collector to charge the battery, wherein the second optical link end is part of the base, and the second optical link end includes a second transmit light emitting diode and a second receive photodiode, and the mobile device moves to the charging station such that the collector is proximate to the base and the first optical link is operationally aligned with the second optical link end,
• wherein when the mobile device is operationally aligned with the charging station for charging the battery, the first and second controller area network buses are operationally aligned and configured to allow for bidirectional optical communication across the first and second optical link ends between the battery management system and the charging station regarding charging the battery, the system comprising:
• an arbiter apparatus operationally interposed between the first and second optical link ends and configured to arbitrate the bidirectional optical communication via the first and second optical link ends by delaying a subsequent optical communication from one of the battery management system and the charging station until a prior optical communication from an other of battery management system and the charging station has concluded.

A method for arbitrating bidirectional optical communication between a mobile device and a charging station,

• the mobile device including a battery configured to provide power to an electric motor and a battery management system configured to monitor the battery, the battery management system being configured to communicate via a first controller area network bus having a first optical link end, the mobile device further including a collector, wherein the first optical link end is part of the collector, and the first optical link end includes a first transmit light emitting diode and a first receive photodiode;
• and
• the charging station configured to charge the battery, the charging station being configured to communicate via a second controller area network bus having a second optical link end, the charging station including a base configured to cooperate with the collector to charge the battery, wherein the second optical link end is part of the base, and the second optical link end includes a second transmit light emitting diode and a second receive photodiode, and the mobile device moves to the charging station such that the collector is proximate to the base and the first optical link is operationally aligned with the second optical link end,
• wherein when the mobile device is operationally aligned with the charging station for charging the battery, the first and second controller area networks buses are operationally aligned and configured to allow for bidirectional optical communication across the first and second optical link ends between the battery management system and the charging station regarding charging the battery,
• the method comprising:
• interposing an arbiter apparatus between the first and second optical link ends;
• and arbitrating with an arbiter the bidirectional optical communication via the first and second optical link ends by delaying a subsequent optical communication from one of the battery management system and the charging station until a prior optical communication from an other of battery management system and the charging station has concluded.