Apparatus, method and article for physical security of power storage devices in vehicles

Abstract

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To avoid theft and tampering of the portable electrical energy storage devices, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is locked in and operably connected to the vehicle to which it provides power unless the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as that in a service center. Once within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device a locking mechanism in the vehicle or within the portable electrical energy storage device unlocks and allows the portable electrical energy storage device to be exchanged or serviced.

We claim: 
     
       1. A portable electrical energy storage device security system comprising:
 at least one controller; and 
 at least one communications module coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
 receive information regarding authentication of an external device via the communications module; and 
 make a determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism based on the received information regarding authentication, the at least one controller being configured to make the determination at least by being configured to:
 generate a challenge key to send to the external device; 
 send the challenge key to the external device; 
 receive a response from the external device to the sending of the challenge key, the response including a response code as part of the information regarding authentication; 
 generate an output from a secret algorithm using a secret key and the response code as input, the secret algorithm and the secret key configured to be known only to the portable electrical energy storage device security system and one or more authorized external devices; and 
 compare the output from the secret algorithm to the response code, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to make the determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism based at least on the comparison; and 
 in response to receiving the information regarding authentication and, based on the determination, unlock a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of  claim 1  wherein the configured portable electrical energy storage device security system is coupled to the vehicle or is integrated as part of the portable electrical energy storage device. 
     
     
       3. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of  claim 1  wherein the external device is a device located at a vehicle service center. 
     
     
       4. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of claim, wherein the at least one communications module is configured to receive the information regarding authentication of the external device via a wireless signal and communicate the information to the at least one controller to unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. A portable electrical energy storage device security system comprising:
 at least one controller; 
 at least one communications module coupled to the at least one controller; 
 a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism coupled to the at least one controller; and 
 a switch coupled to the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism and the at least one controller, the switch configured to be activated by a control signal generated by the at least one controller of the configured portable electrical energy storage device security system, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive information regarding authentication of an external device via the communications module; 
 in response to receiving the information regarding authentication, unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle by at least being configured to send the control signal in a manner to unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if the external device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication; and 
 send the control signal in a manner to lock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if, after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via the communications module. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the information regarding authentication via a wireless signal transmitted from the external device, and wherein the wireless signal transmitted from the external device is not detectable outside a specified maximum range from the portable electrical energy storage device security system communications module. 
     
     
       7. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of  claim 6  wherein the wireless signal includes a rolling code for the authentication of the external device by the at least one controller. 
     
     
       8. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a power interface coupled to the at least one controller and configured to be coupled to the portable electrical energy storage device and the electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to provide power to the electrical energy storage device locking mechanism. 
 
     
     
       9. The portable electrical energy storage device security system of  claim 8  wherein the power interface is configured to be coupled to an auxiliary power source other than the portable electrical energy storage device to provide power to the electrical energy storage device locking mechanism should the portable electrical energy storage device be not able to provide enough power to operate the electrical energy storage device locking mechanism. 
     
     
       10. A method of operating a portable electric energy storage device security system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the portable electrical storage device security system, information regarding authentication of an external device; 
 making a determination, by the portable electrical energy storage device security system, regarding unlocking a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow a portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle, based on the information regarding authentication; 
 sending a signal from a controller of the portable electrical energy storage device security system in a manner to unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if the external device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication; and 
 sending a signal from the controller of the portable electrical energy storage device security system in a manner to lock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if, after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via a communications module of the portable electrical energy storage device. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the portable electrical energy storage device security system is integrated as part of the portable electrical energy storage device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the portable electrical energy storage device security system is coupled to the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. A method of operating a portable electrical energy storage device security system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the portable electrical energy storage device security system. information regarding authentication of an external device; 
 making a determination, by the portable electrical energy storage device security system, regarding unlocking a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow a portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle, based on the information regarding authentication, wherein the making the determination includes comparing a code from the received information regarding authentication to one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energy storage device security system; 
 unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle if the code from the received information regarding authentication matches one of the one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energy storage device; and 
 locking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via a communications module of the portable electrical energy storage device or if, after a defined period of time, a code from the received information can no longer be matched to at least one or one of one or more codes currently associated with the portable electrical energy storage device security system. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the making the determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism includes:
 generating a challenge key to send to the external device; 
 sending the challenge key to the external device; 
 receiving a response from the external device to the sending of the challenge key, the response including a response code as part of the information regarding authentication; 
 generating an output from a secret algorithm using a secret key and the response code as input, the secret algorithm and the secret key configured to be known only to the portable electrical energy storage device security system and one or more authorized external devices; and 
 comparing the output from the secret algorithm to the response code, and wherein making the determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism is based at least on the comparison. 
 
     
     
       15. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:
 a battery cell; and 
 a security system operably coupled to the cell, the security system including:
 at least one controller; at least one communications module coupled to the at least one controller; 
 a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism coupled to the at least one controller; and 
 a switch coupled to the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism and the at least one controller, the switch configured to be activated by a control signal generated by the at least one controller of the configured portable electrical energy storage device security system, wherein the controller is configured to: 
 receive information regarding authentication of an external device via the communications module; 
 in response to receiving the information regarding authentication, unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle by at least being configured to send the control signal in a manner to unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if the external device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication; and 
 send the control signal in a manner to lock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if, after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via the communications module. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The portable electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein at least one communications module coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
 make a determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, based on the information regarding authentication. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a power interface that is configured to be coupled to the at least one controller and to an auxiliary power source other than the portable electrical energy storage device to provide power to the electrical energy storage device locking mechanism should the portable electrical energy storage device be not able to provide enough power to operate the electrical energy storage device locking mechanism. 
 
     
     
       18. The portable electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein a security system operably coupled to the cell, the security system is configured to:
 receive the information regarding authentication of an external device via a wireless signal transmitted from a portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, and wherein the wireless signal received from the collection, charging and distribution machine is not detectable outside a specified maximum range from a communications module of the portable electrical energy storage device security system; and 
 allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, based on the information received wirelessly regarding authentication of the external device. 
 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor to:
 cause a portable electrical energy storage device security system to receive information regarding authentication of an external device via a communications module; 
 make a determination, by the portable electrical energy storage device security system, regarding unlocking a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow a portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle, based on the information regarding authentication; 
 send a signal from a controller of the portable electrical energy storage device security system in a manner to unlock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if the external device is authenticated based on the information regarding authentication; and 
 send a signal from the controller of the portable electrical energy storage device security system in a manner to lock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if, after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via a communications module of the portable electrical energy storage device. 
 
     
     
       20. A portable electrical energy storage device security system comprising:
 at least one controller; and 
 at least one communications module coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
 receive, via the communications module, information regarding authentication of an external device; 
 make a determination regarding unlocking a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow a portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle, based on the information regarding authentication, wherein the making the determination includes comparing a code from the received information regarding authentication to one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energy storage device security system; 
 send a signal to unlock a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle if the code from the received information regarding authentication matches one of the one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energy storage device; and send a signal to lock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if, after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via the communications module of the portable electrical energy storage device security system or if, after a defined period of time, a code from the received information can no longer be matched to at least one or one of one or more codes currently associated with the portable electrical energy storage device security system. 
 
 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor to:
 receive information regarding authentication of an external device via a communications module; and 
 make a determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism based on the received information regarding authentication, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one computer processor to make the determination at least by causing the at least one computer processor to:
 generate a challenge key to send to the external device; 
 send the challenge key to the external device; 
 receive a response from the external device to the sending of the challenge key, the response including a response code as part of the information regarding authentication; 
 generate an output from a secret algorithm using a secret key and the response code as input, the secret algorithm and the secret key configured to be known only to the portable electrical energy storage device security system and one or more authorized external devices; 
 compare the output from the secret algorithm to the response code, and wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one computer processor to make the determination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism based at least on the comparison; and 
 
 in response to receiving the information regarding authentication and, based on the determination, cause a controller to unlock a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle. 
 
     
     
       22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor to:
 receive, via a communication module, information regarding authentication of an external device; 
 make a determination regarding unlocking a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow a portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to a vehicle, based on the information regarding authentication, wherein the making the determination includes comparing a code from the received information regarding authentication to one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energy storage device security system; 
 send a signal to unlock a portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism to allow the portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from being operably connected to the vehicle if the code from the received information regarding authentication matches one of the one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energy storage device; and 
 send a signal to lock the portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism in order to prevent the portable electrical energy storage device from being removed from being operably connected to the vehicle, if, after a defined period of time, the information regarding authentication of the external device has not been received via the communications module of the portable electrical energy storage device or if, after a defined period of time, a code from the received information can no longer be matched to at least one or one of one or more codes currently associated with the portable electrical energy storage device security system.