Vehicular battery charger, charging system, and method
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 vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle and for communication with a first controller remote from the vehicle charger and the battery, the vehicle charger comprising:
- a second controller;
- at least one of a group consisting of a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the second controller for communication with the first controller;
- and
- a display coupled to the second controller;
- wherein the second controller is adapted to receive signals indicative of a cost of power to the vehicular charger and to display the cost of power upon the display.
A method of charging a battery of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- connecting a vehicular battery charger to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power;
- supplying power to the vehicular battery charger;
- establishing communication between a first controller remote from the vehicular battery charger and a second controller of the vehicular battery charger;
- receiving by the second controller from the first controller, at least one signal indicative of a cost of power to the vehicular charger;
- displaying the cost of power upon a display of the vehicular battery charger;
- and
- supplying power to the battery of the vehicle via the vehicular battery charger.
A vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle and for communication with a first controller remote from the vehicle charger and the battery, the vehicle charger comprising:
- a second controller;
- at least one of a group consisting of a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the second controller for communication with the first controller;
- and
- a display coupled to the second controller;
- wherein the second controller is adapted to:
- receive signals from the first controller indicative of a cost of power to the vehicular charger;
- calculate a cost of power delivered to the battery based at least in part upon the cost of power to the vehicular charger;
- and
- display the cost of power delivered to the battery on the display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.