Abstract:
A method and system is provided in which multiple Slave Charge Stations are connected to a Master Charge Station which contains the single point metering method or power utility “smart meter” required by power utilities to access the power grid. This method describes the use of a plurality of Slave Charge Stations attached to the Master Charge Station using a daisy chain or hub and spoke attachment means.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of Master slave interconnect which is used to reduce costs when facilitating multiple electric vehicle charge stations within a small locus leveraging a single entry point for utility power and multiple points for distribution used to connect to electric vehicles for the purpose of recharging batteries. More specifically the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for interconnecting multiple satellite charge stations to a single master for the purposes of distributing power and getting authentication for charging electric vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As electrical vehicles enter mass production there is a desire to conveniently extend operating range. Today, this range is extended by employment of a hybrid self-contained, gas fueled, and motor-generating set. As battery technology increases storage capacity, the need for self-contained power generation decreases. This increases the operating range of the electric only operating mode. This extended range will have the effect of changing the operating mindset to that similar to gas fueled in that the deployment of ubiquitous electrical charging stations extends the vehicle operation thus becoming un-tethered from its home base. The un-tethered concern is mitigated by lowering the cost of charge stations thus increasing market penetration and accessibility. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a Master Charge Station that is connected to the utility grid using a smart meter or similar measuring apparatus used to verify the amount of energy supplied by utility. 
         [0004]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a means of using a single master authentication means located in the Master Charge Station which is used to authenticate each electric vehicle and enable a charge event for each electric vehicle which is connected to a uniquely identified Slave Charge Station(s). 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a means of connecting a plurality of uniquely identified Slave Charge Station(s) to the Master Charge Station using a hub and spoke and/or daisy chain interconnect method. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attaching the unique identity of the Slave Charge Station that is connected to the electric vehicle to the datastream from the electric vehicle to the Master Charge Station. 
         [0007]    In accordance with additional aspect of the invention each slave charge station contains a WireLine radio which is used to communicate to the attached electric vehicle which provides a connection between electric vehicle and the Master Charge Station which contains the required authentication means to verify the ownership of the electric vehicle connected to the uniquely identified Slave Charge Station. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention there is provided a switch means within each uniquely identified Slave Charge Station that is controlled by the by the Master Charge Station allowing a power connection between the electric vehicle, Slave Charge Station, interconnect cabling, Master Charge Station, enabling current to flow from the attached utility power into the electric vehicle. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention each Slave Charge Station contains a control module which is used to communicate to the Master Charge Station module enabling the Master Charge Station to control the Slave Charge Station switch allowing current to flow into the electric vehicle for charging. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention each Slave Charge Station contains a method to monitor current into the electric vehicle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1 . Is a functional diagram illustrating a daisy chain method connecting two or more Slave Charge Stations connected to one Master Charge Station. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2 . Is a functional diagram illustrating a hub and spoke method connecting two or more Slave Charge Stations connected to one Master Charge Station. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3 . Is a functional block diagram of the Master Charge Station illustrating the placement of the smart meter, authentication module, power distribution connection to the utility and to the Slave Charge Station(s), and connection to an electric vehicle 
           [0015]      FIG. 4 . Is a functional block diagram of the Slave Charge Station illustrating the placement of the control module, switch, power feed from the Master Charge Station and connection to the electric vehicle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5 . Is a functional flowchart illustrating how the communication packet from the electric vehicle is routed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6 . Is a functional flowchart illustrating how the communication packet from the Master Charge Station is routed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7 . Is a functional flowchart illustrating how a communication packet from the Slave Charge Station is routed 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description numerous specifics are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may be used without understanding many of these specific details. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates the utility grid  1  shown connected to the Master Charge Station  4  using connection  2  which is used power to the master of charge station through smart meter  3 . When an electric vehicle is connected via  17  to the Master Charge Station  4 , Control board  5  is used to authenticate electric vehicle  14  by communicating to control board  15  by means of a WireLine radio which is in communication with the cloud using a wireless radio connected to antenna  16  that is also connected to control her board  15 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , Electric vehicle  18  when connected to Slave Charge Station  7  using connection  21 , a request for charge from Control Board  19  is routed to the Master Charge Station control board  5  by  9 ,  13 ,  6  via WireLine radio and is authenticated by control board  5 . The Master Charge Station via control board  5  enables the switch located on control board  8  allowing current to flow from the utility power through  2 ,  6 ,  13 ,  9 , and  21  which connects the electric vehicle. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , Electric vehicle  22  when connected to Slave Charge Station  10  using connection  25 , the request for charge from control board  23  is routed to the Master Charge Station control board  5  by  12 , 13 , 6  via a WireLine radio and is authenticated by control board  5 . The Master Charge Station via control board  5  enables the switch located on control Board  11  allowing current to flow from the utility power through  2 ,  6 ,  13 ,  12 , and  25  which connects the electric vehicle 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates the utility grid  26  shown connected to the Master Charge Station  29  using connection  27  which is used power to the master of charge station through smart meter  28 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , The Electric Vehicle  37  when connected to Slave Charge Station  31  using connection  40 , a request for charge from Control Board  38  is routed to the Master Charge Station control board  30  by connection  33  via WireLine radio and is authenticated by control board  30 . The Master Charge Station via control board  30  enables the switch located on control board  32  allowing current to flow from the utility power through  27 ,  33  and  40  which connects to the Electric Vehicle. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , The Electric Vehicle  41  when connected to Slave Charge Station  34  using connection  44 , the request for charge from control board  42  is routed to the Master Charge Station control board  30  by connection  36  via a WireLine radio and is authenticated by control board  30 . The Master Charge Station via control board  30  enables the switch located on control Board  35  allowing current to flow from the utility power through  27 , 36  and  44  which connects to the Electric Vehicle 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a specific embodiment of the Master Charge Station circuit board in greater detail. Utility power  48  flowing to each Charge Station is picked up by current transformer  47  which is attached to utility grade smart meter  45  via connection  46 . Connection  48  defines the input to the Power Network indicated by  60  and  61 . Master Charge Station authentication module  51  receives current flow information from current transformer  55  via connection  54 . The electric vehicle is connected via  59 . Communication packets route between the Electric Vehicle and the Master Charge Station utilizing WireLine radio  53  which uses connection  58  to connect to the Electric Vehicle. The communication packets from the electric vehicle are processed using the processor memory complex  52 . The display panel on the Master Charge Station  49  is driven by the Master Charge Station authentication control module  51  via connection  50 . Once a charge of and is authenticated the Master Charge Station authentication control module sends a command to switch  57  via connection  56  to start a charge event. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates a specific embodiment of the Slave Charge Station in greater detail. Main power supplying the Slave Charge Station from the Master Charge Station is connection  75 . The Electric vehicle is connected to the Slave Charge Station via  74 . Communication packets from the Electric vehicle is sent to WireLine radio to  67  via connection  73 . The Slave Charge Station unique ID is appended to the electric vehicle communication packet using CPU complex  66  and spent to the Master Charge Station via a WireLine radio one  65  using connection  68 . Communication packets from the Master Charge Station is received from WireLine radio one  65  via connection  68  and is processed using CPU complex  66 . If the CPU complex  66  determines the packet is for the electric vehicle the appended unique ID of the Slave Charge Station is removed and  42  WireLine radio to  67  via connection  73  to the electric vehicle. It the CPU complex  66  determines the packet is for control of the Slave Charge Station the instructions from the packet are processed locally using the same CPU complex  66 . The switch  72  is used to connect current from the Master Charge Station to the electric vehicle for a charge of that and is controlled by the computer complex  66  the connection  71 . Display panel  62  is also controlled by computer complex  66  feet connection  63 . 
         [0028]    General routing methods of the three basic communication sources are illustrated in flowcharts  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  which flow across the Power Network. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates how communication packets are received and routed when an Electric Vehicle is connected to a Slave Charge Station. The communication packet from the electric vehicles is received by WireLine Radio TWO within the Slave Charge Station,  77 . The computer complex within the Slave Charge Station appends its unique ID to the electric vehicles communication packet  78 . This communication packet is re-transmitted to the Master Charge Station using WireLine Radio ONE  79 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  illustrates how communication packets are received by the Master Charge Station from the Slave Charge Station. Communication packets generated by the Slave Charge Station for status will have its unique ID in the address field  92 . The Slave Charge Station will also append its unique ID to the communication packet  93 . The Slave Charge Station then uses a WireLine radio to transmit the communication packet to the master chart station using WireLine power network  94 . The Master Charge Station compares the address field with the appended ID to determine the source of the packet  95 . If the address equals the appended unique ID then the packet was status information from the Slave Charge Station  97 . If the address does not equal the appended unique ID than the packet received was from the electric vehicle and the Master Charge Station processes the contents accordingly  96 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates how communication packets are generated by the Master Charge Station based on the intended target being either the Slave Charge Station or the attached electric vehicle  81 . When the Master Charge Station sends commands to the Slave Charge Station, the communication packet will contain the Slave Charge Stations unique ID in the address field  84 . The Master Charge Station then appends the communication packet with the Slave Charge Stations unique ID  85 . If the Master Charge Station intended target is the electric vehicle, unique ID of the Slave Charge Station is appended to the communication packet  82 . Either packet is then transmitted using a WireLine radio on the power network and there is received by all Slave Charge Stations  83 . Each Slave Charge Station checks the appended unique ID for a match  86  to determine whether or not this packet is valid. If not valid the packet is ignored  89 . If the unique ID matches the Slave Charge Station&#39;s unique ID the packet is valid and the Slave Charge Station&#39;s computer complex determines whether it&#39;s to be processed locally by comparing the address with unique ID  87 . If the address and unique ID are equal the command is processed by the Slave Charge Station  90 . If the address and unique ID do not match the unique ID is removed from the communication packet and a communication packet is forwarded to the electric vehicle  88 .