Apparatus and method for recharging an energy storage device

An apparatus from which a selectable quantity of electrical power can be purchased, comprising:

• token receiving means for accepting at least one token so that a selectable quantity of power is thereby purchased;
• outlet means, including:
• interface means for electrically coupling said apparatus to a device for receiving the purchased quantity of power;
• and
• switch means for electrically connecting said interface means to a primary power source;
• current monitoring means for monitoring the current passing through said interface means;
• and
• electronic computer means, responsive to said token receiving means, for controlling said switch means so that said primary power source is electrically connected to said interface means when a selectable quantity of power is purchased, said electronic computer means including:
• calculating means, responsive to said current monitoring means, for calculating the amount of current passing through said interface means during a predetermined time period;
• and
• disconnecting means, responsive to said calculating means, for controlling said switch means to electrically disconnect said primary power source from said interface means when the amount of current passing through said interface means during the predetermined time period is not greater than a predetermined value so that no power is transferred to the device connected to said interface means without the receipt of an appropriate token by said token receiving means.

An apparatus from which a selectable quantity of electrical power can be purchased, comprising:

• token receiving means for accepting at least one token so that a selectable quantity of power is thereby purchased;
• outlet means, including:
• interface means for electrically coupling said apparatus to a device for receiving the purchased quantity of power;
• and
• switch means for electrically connecting said interface means to a primary power source;
• current monitoring means for monitoring the current passing through said interface means;
• and
• electronic computer means, responsive to said token receiving means, for controlling said switch means so that said primary power source is electrically connected to said interface means when a selectable quantity of power is purchased, said electronic computer means including:
• means for determining the difference between the quantity of power purchased and the quantity of power delivered to the device connected to said interface means;
• means for operating said switch means to electrically disconnect said primary power source from said interface means when said difference is not greater than a predetermined value;
• calculating means, responsive to said current monitoring means, for calculating the amount of current passing through said interface means during a predetermined time period;
• and
• disconnecting means, responsive to said calculating means, for controlling said switch means to electrically disconnect said primary power source from said interface means when the amount of current passing through said interface means during the predetermined time period is not greater than a predetermined value so that no power is transferred to the device connected to said interface means without the receipt of an appropriate token by said token receiving means.

An electrical power vending apparatus for dispensing prepurchased quantities of power to a device connected to said apparatus comprising:

• activation means for activating said apparatus, said activation means including money receiving means for receiving money and generating a respective electrical signal corresponding to a respective denomination of money received by said activation means;
• electrical coupling means for providing an electrical connection between said apparatus and said device;
• switch means for electrically connecting said coupling means with a primary power source;
• current monitoring means for monitoring current passing through said coupling means and for generating an electrical signal proportional thereto;
• voltage monitoring means for monitoring voltage in said coupling means and for generating an electrical signal proportional thereto;
• and
• computer means, responsive to the electrical signals generated by said activation means, said current monitoring means and said voltage monitoring means, for controlling said switch means so that said switch means electrically connects said coupling means and said primary power source to dispense power in a quantity determined by the denomination of money received by said activation means when said device is connected to said coupling means and when the monitored current passing through said coupling means is greater than a predetermined current value or the monitored voltage in said coupling means is not greater than a predetermined voltage value.

A method of dispensing electrical power from an outlet in prepurchased quantities, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a token;
• determining the quantity of power purchase by said token;
• calculating the quantity of power dispensed from said outlet;
• determining the difference between the quantity of power purchased and the quantity of power dispensed;
• electrically connecting said outlet to a primary power source when the calculated difference is greater than a predetermined value;
• disconnecting said outlet from said primary power source when the difference is less than or equal to the predetermined value;
• monitoring a voltage in said outlet;
• monitoring the current passing through said outlet during a predetermined time period;
• and
• disconnecting said outlet from said primary power source when the current passing through said outlet during the predetermined time period is not greater than a predetermined current value and the voltage in the outlet is greater than a predetermined voltage value.