US 8,872,379 B2 · Efficient usage, storage, and sharing of energy in buildings, vehicles, and equipment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to energy demand and supply for buildings, vehicles, and equipment. In exemplary embodiments, energy may be stored in one or more battery packs (e.g., stationary batteries or vehicle batteries) for use in buildings, appliances, and equipment typically relying on energy from a power grid. The exemplary embodiments may store the energy during periods of low demand and/or low cost of energy. Thus, the exemplary embodiments may reduce costs associated with energy usage. The exemplary embodiments may use the stored energy to reduce demand on the power utility during periods of high demand and/or provide energy back to the power utility to meet demands.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) component;
and
a backup energy source coupled to the HVAC component, wherein the backup energy source comprises:
a battery directly attached to the HVAC component,
a modular battery system,
a housing of the modular battery system,
a plurality of battery receptacles in the housing,
a plurality of battery modules removably disposed in the plurality of battery receptacles, and
a charger/inverter including a control panel, wherein the charger/inverter is configured to monitor and control aspects of charging and discharging the plurality of battery modules based on input from a buildings electrical system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/122,726Filed 6 Oct 2009 · continuation in part

Priority

30 Nov 2007

Published

US 2011/0204720 A125 Aug 2011

Granted

28 Oct 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification56 codes

B60L 1/003
Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles: to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
B60L 53/11
Characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle: dC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
B60L 53/14
Characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle: conductive energy transfer
B60L 53/305
Constructional details of charging stations: communication interfaces

Family

Application60/991,583Us provisional application · filed 30 Nov 2007

Application61/103,557Us provisional application · filed 7 Oct 2008

Application61/103,561Us provisional application · filed 7 Oct 2008

Application61/103,563Us provisional application · filed 7 Oct 2008

Application12/324,687Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Nov 2008

US 2011/0204720 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Aug 2011

US 2010/0017045 A1Published application

US 8,872,379 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Efficient usage, storage, and sharing of energy in buildings, vehicles, and equipment

Life of this patent

Efficient usage, storage, and sharing of energy in buildings, vehicles, and equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18