Vehicular battery charger, charging system, and method providing cost information on a display
OwnerChristopher B. Austininventor
Life of this patent
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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 system for charging a battery mounted in a vehicle via a vehicle charger and for communication with a first controller remote from the vehicle charger and the battery, the system comprising:
- a second controller;
- a display mounted within the vehicle within view of a user seated within the vehicle;
- at least one of a group consisting of a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the second controller for communication with the first controller;
- wherein the second controller is configured to:
- receive data from the first controller indicative of a cost of power to the vehicular charger,
- receive data indicative of an amount of power supplied to the battery via the vehicle charger;
- transmit a total cost of power supplied to the battery based at least in part upon the cost of the power and the amount of power supplied to the battery;
- wherein the display mounted within the vehicle is configured to display the total cost of power supplied to the battery mounted in the vehicle, the total cost of power supplied to the battery calculated based on the amount of power supplied to the battery mounted in the vehicle.
A method of charging a battery mounted in a vehicle via a vehicular battery charger, the method comprising:
- supplying power to the vehicular battery charger;
- establishing communication between a first controller and a second controller, the first controller remote from the vehicular battery charger;
- receiving, by the second controller from the first controller, data indicative of a cost of power to the vehicular charger;
- receiving, by the second controller, data indicative of an amount of power supplied to the battery via the vehicle charger;
- transmitting, by the second controller, a total cost of power supplied to the battery, the total cost based at least in part upon the cost of power and the amount of power supplied to the battery;
- and
- displaying the total cost of power supplied to the battery mounted in the vehicle on a display mounted within the vehicle within view of a user seated within the vehicle, the total cost of power supplied to the battery calculated based on the amount of power supplied to the battery mounted in the vehicle.
A system for charging a battery mounted in a vehicle via a vehicle charger and for communication with a first controller remote from the vehicle charger and the battery, the system comprising:
- a second controller;
- a display mounted within the vehicle within view of a user seated within the vehicle;
- at least one of a group consisting of a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the second controller for communication with the first controller;
- wherein the second controller is configured to:
- receive data from the first controller indicative of a cost of power to the vehicular charger,
- receive an amount of power supplied to the battery via the vehicle charger, and
- transmit a total cost of power supplied to the battery, the total cost of power based at least in part upon the cost of power and the amount of power supplied to the battery;
- wherein the display is configured to display the total cost of power supplied to the battery mounted in the vehicle, and
- wherein the second controller is configured to repeat the receiving steps and the transmitting step a plurality of times on a continuous or periodic basis during a charging session.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.