Network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles

Abstract

A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server.

1 . A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle comprising:
 an electrical receptacle configured to receive an electrical connector for connection to said electric vehicle;   an electric power line connecting said local power grid to said receptacle;   a control device on said electric power line, for switching said receptacle on and off;   a current measuring device on said electric power line, for measuring current flowing through said receptacle;   a controller configured to operate said control device and to monitor the output from said current measuring device;   a transceiver connected to said controller, said transceiver being configured to connect said controller to a local area network for access to a remote server via a wide area network; and   a communication device connected to said controller, said communication device being configured to connect said controller to a mobile wireless communication device, for communication between the operator of said vehicle and said controller;   wherein said controller is configured to manage charge transfer based on power grid load data, said power grid load data being available from said remote server, and wherein charge transfer may be in either direction between said local power grid and said electric vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said wide area network is the Internet. 
     
     
         3 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is a wireless local area network transceiver and said local area network is a wireless local area network. 
     
     
         4 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is an alternating current line transceiver and said local area network is a power line communication network. 
     
     
         5 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a wireless personal area network transceiver. 
     
     
         6 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a radio frequency identification transceiver and said mobile wireless communication device is a radio frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
         7 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a radio frequency identification receiver and said mobile wireless communication device is a mobile radio frequency identification transmitter. 
     
     
         8 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising an alternating current line transceiver connected to said controller, said alternating current line transceiver being configured to connect said controller to a power line communication network for access to a remote payment station. 
     
     
         9 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising indicator lights attached to said electrical outlet, said lights being connected to said controller, said controller being configured to operate said indicator lights in correspondence with an operational state of said charge transfer device. 
     
     
         10 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit attached to said electrical receptacle, for displaying information relating to charge transfer. 
     
     
         11 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle detector connected to said controller, said vehicle detector being configured to detect a vehicle in a parking space corresponding to said charge transfer device. 
     
     
         12 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein said vehicle detector is a sonar sensor array attached to said receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein said vehicle detector is a camera attached to said receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein said vehicle detector is an induction coil in said parking space. 
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein said controller is configured to communicate parking space availability to said remote server based on input from said vehicle detector. 
     
     
         16 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured to manage charge transfer based on a consumer profile, said consumer profile being stored on said remote server. 
     
     
         17 . A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle comprising:
 an electrical receptacle configured to receive an electrical connector for connection to said electric vehicle;   an electrical power line connecting said local power grid to said receptacle;   a control device on said electric power line, for switching said receptacle on and off;   a current measuring device on said electric power line, for measuring current flowing through said receptacle;   a controller configured to operate said control device and to monitor the output from said current measuring device;   an alternating current line transceiver connected to said controller, said alternating current line transceiver being configured to connect said controller to a power line communication network for access to a remote payment station; and   a communication device connected to said controller, said communication device being configured to connect said controller to a mobile wireless communication device, for communication between the operator of said electric vehicle and said controller;   wherein said remote payment station comprises a data control unit configured to connect said payment station to a wide area network for access to a remote server, wherein said controller is configured to manage charge transfer based on power grid load data, said power grid load data being available from said remote server, and wherein charge transfer may be in either direction between said local power grid and said electric vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . A device as in  claim 17 , wherein said wide area network is the Internet. 
     
     
         19 . A device as in  claim 17 , wherein said communication device is a wireless personal area network transceiver. 
     
     
         20 . A device as in  claim 17 , wherein said communication device is a radio frequency identification transceiver and said mobile wireless communication device is a radio frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
         21 - 87 . (canceled)