Charge transfer devices for plug-in electric vehicles
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorKenneth P. Laberteaux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charge transfer device for a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) includes a charging cable system that supplies electric power to the PEV. The charging cable system having a first end connected to a first electrical connector that connects to the PEV for a charging operation and a second, opposite end connected to a second electrical connector for connecting to a power outlet. A meter unit is located between the first and second ends of the charging cable system. The meter unit determines electrical power information for use during the charging operation. A communications unit is located between the first and second ends of the charging cable system. The communications unit communicates the electrical power information to a remote server.
Claims19
A charge transfer device for a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV), the charge transfer device comprising:
- a charging cable system that supplies electric power to the PEV, the charging cable system having a first end connected to a first electrical connector that connects to the PEV for a charging operation and a second, opposite end connected to a second electrical connector for connecting to a supply outlet;
- a meter unit located between and in-line with the first and second ends of the charging cable system, the meter unit determines electrical power information for use during the charging operation;
- and
- a communications unit located in-line with the meter unit and between and in-line with the first and second ends of the charging cable system, the communications unit communicates the electrical power information to a remote server, wherein the charging cable system, the meter unit, and the communications unit are portable and sized to travel with the PEV.
A system for charging a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV), comprising:
- a server;
- a charge transfer device comprising:
- a charging cable system that supplies electric power to the PEV, the charging cable system having a first end connected to a first electrical connector that connects to the PEV for a charging operation and a second, opposite end connected to a second electrical connector for connecting to a supply outlet;
- a meter unit located between and in-line with the first and second ends of the charging cable system, the meter unit determines electrical power information for use during the charging operation;
- and
- a communications unit located in-line with the meter unit and between and in-line with the first and second ends of the charging cable system, the communications unit communicates the electrical power information to the server;
- and
- a mobile communications device that accesses a web-based charge payment application for authorizing a payment based on the electrical power information.
A method of charging a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV), comprising:
- providing at least one of billing information, personal information and vehicle information to a charge transfer device comprising a charging cable system that supplies electric power to the PEV;
- connecting a first end of the charging cable system to the PEV using a first electrical connector;
- connecting a second, opposite end of the charging cable system to a supply outlet;
- generating electrical power information using an amount of power flow transferred to the PEV using a meter unit located between and in-line with the first and second ends of the charging cable system;
- and
- communicating the electrical power information to a remote server using a communications unit located in-line with the meter unit and between and in-line with the first and second ends of the charging cable system, wherein the electrical power information is used for a billing operation using the electrical power information and the at least one of the billing information, personal information and vehicle information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.