Abstract:
A charging station for an electric vehicle comprises an electric vehicle charging apparatus, a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug connects the charging apparatus with an electric vehicle, a toggle switch in the charging apparatus for activating and deactivating current from the charging apparatus to each of the plurality of plugs and a processor configured for detecting when charging is complete for a first electric vehicle connected to a first plug, deactivating current to the first plug and activating current to a second plug connected to a second electric vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to provisional patent application No. 61/695,839 filed Aug. 31, 2012 and titled “Charger for Multiple Electric Vehicles with Toggle Switch Feature.” The subject matter of provisional patent application No. 61/695,839 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of electric vehicles and, more specifically, the present invention relates to the field of charging apparatuses for electric vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Charging stations for electric vehicles typically include a cord extending from the main housing and a socket or plug at the end of the cord for connecting to a terminal on an electric vehicle. Currently, charging stations have one cord per charger that is used to recharge the battery of one electric vehicle at a time. Typically, a driver of an electric vehicle will park his vehicle adjacent to the charging station, plug his vehicle into the charging station and then return after the charging cycle, which can be up to 6 or 8 hours later. Consequently, many electric vehicle users charge their vehicles overnight or during a long stay, such as while they are at work. 
         [0005]    One of the drawbacks of the currently available car charging stations is that users will leave their electric vehicles in place, even after the vehicle has fully charged. This happens often, since charging times can be so long and it is inconvenient to move the car, especially overnight. Consequently, the plug used by the vehicle remains taken and unusable by other electric vehicles, leaving the car charging station idle, even though other users are in need of it. This limits the use of the car charging station and irritates other users of the car charging station. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for improving the problems with the prior art, and more particularly for an apparatus and system for optimizing the use of charging apparatuses for electric vehicles. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to conductive charging of electric vehicles and provide a novel and non-obvious apparatus and system for performing electric charging of electric vehicles. In an embodiment of the invention, a charging station for an electric vehicle comprises an electric vehicle charging apparatus, a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug connects the charging apparatus with an electric vehicle, a toggle switch in the charging apparatus for activating and deactivating current from the charging apparatus to each of the plurality of plugs and a processor configured for detecting when charging is complete for a first electric vehicle connected to a first plug, deactivating current to the first plug and activating current to a second plug connected to a second electric vehicle. 
         [0008]    Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a block diagram of a car charging system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a cord and plug, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an electrical relay, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a system including an example computing device  400  and other computing devices. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention improves upon the problems with the prior art by optimizing the use of electric vehicle charging apparatuses. The present invention allows more electric vehicles to plug into a car charging station than the car charging station has the ability to charge at one time. Using a toggle switch feature, the charging apparatus proceeds to sequentially charge each vehicle to a full charge, without requiring any plugs to be removed and inserted during the charging process. This ensures that the use of the charging apparatus is optimized and reduces or eliminates instances where an electric vehicle user cannot use a plug because another fully-charged vehicle is still occupying it. The present invention may also make use of off-peak grid hours to charge electric vehicles. This feature is especially useful in multifamily residential properties, where much of the charging is performed at night. Effectively, an electric vehicle user may plug in and charge his vehicle now, or plug in and elect to wait until off peak hours to charge his vehicle and save money. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a block diagram of a car charging system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows car charging station  102 , which provides charging services to electric vehicles, such as electric vehicles  120 - 126 . The car charging station  102  may be conductive and/or inductive chargers (Level I, Level II or DC Fast Charging Stations). The car charging station  102  includes processor  108  and toggle switch  106 . The processor  108  can be one or more microprocessors contained in one housing or location or in a distributed fashion. The processor  108  can be one or more computers, described in greater detail below. The toggle switch  106  can be an electrical relay that activates or deactivates current from one or more source lines (or conductive pathways) to one or more destination lines. The toggle switch  106  may be controlled by processor  108 .  FIG. 3  shows an example of an electrical relay  304 , wherein electrical current is relayed between a source line  302  and four destination lines  306 ,  308 ,  310  and  312 .  FIG. 3  shows that the electrical relay  304  is currently relaying electrical current from the source line  302  to destination line  306 . 
         [0016]    The toggle switch  106  is further connected to four plugs  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136 . Each plug comprises a cord extending from the main housing of the charging station  102  and a socket or plug at the end of the cord for connecting to a terminal on an electric vehicle.  FIG. 2  illustrates a cord  202  and a plug  204 .  FIG. 1  shows that plug  130  has been connected to electric vehicle  120 , plug  132  has been connected to electric vehicle  122 , plug  134  has been connected to electric vehicle  124 , and plug  136  has been connected to electric vehicle  126 . 
         [0017]    It is assumed that the charging station  102  only has the capacity to charge a certain number of electric vehicles at one time. By way of example only, the charging station  102  has the capacity to charge two electric vehicles at one time. Note, however, that all four electric vehicles  120 - 126  are connected to the charging station  102 . Thus, if all four vehicles  120 - 126  are plugged in at the same time, the charging station chooses two electric vehicles for charging. In the present invention, the processor  108  controls the toggle switch  106  so as to activate current from its source to plugs  130  and  132 , thereby charging vehicles  120  and  122 . 
         [0018]    When the processor  108  detects that one of the charging vehicles is fully charged, the processor  108  then deactivates the plug from the charged vehicle and activates the plug for another vehicle seeking a charge. For example, when the processor  108  detects that vehicle  120  is fully charged, the processor  108  sends a command to toggle switch  106  to deactivate the plug  130  and subsequently sends a command to toggle switch  106  to activate the plug  134  for vehicle  124 , which is seeking a charge. In this manner, as time passes, the charging station  102  continues deactivating those plugs for vehicles that are fully charged and activating those plugs for vehicles seeking charge, until all such vehicles are fully charged, without requiring any plugs to be physically removed from vehicles and plugged into others during the charging process. 
         [0019]    The station  102  also has the capability of communicating with the vehicles  120 - 126  to determine the state of charge (the current charging capacity), and how quickly a vehicle draws electricity. This will allow the station  102  to schedule the charging of multiple vehicles throughout the night so that they will be ready at the appropriate time in the morning. This will also allow the unit to move as much usage as possible to ‘off peak’ times. Also, a vehicle owner can input into the station  102  (via an interface, for example) what time the owner requires his vehicle to be fully charged in the morning, or the user can indicate that he needs the vehicle charged immediately. Based on this input, the station  102  calculates when to charge each vehicle. 
         [0020]    Note the station  102  may be located behind a wall or on a different floor with simple plugs emanating from the wall. Thus, having one charging station with multiple charging cords to service multiple vehicles is advantageous because it reduces the cost of materials necessary to construct parking spaces that are electric-vehicle-charge ready. 
         [0021]    The present invention improves over the prior art by providing a device that reduces the amount of infrastructure needed for car charging, while also reducing the burden or stress on the host electrical grid. For example, if four electric vehicles park in the parking garage of a condominium complex and each one plugs into a separate electrical charger, then all four vehicles will charge simultaneously during “on peak” hours. This produces a large burden on the electrical grid. If, however, the present invention is used, then only one charger is used, thereby reducing the infrastructure needed to service four electric vehicles. One electric charger requires only 25% of the wire, transformer, and generation capacity of four chargers. Further, the vehicles will be charged sequentially, thereby reducing the charging burden at one time. Further, the invention allows for the movement of some or all of the charging process to “off peak” hours when the electrical grid has plenty of capacity and wattage prices are lower. 
         [0022]    Note that although  FIG. 1  shows only four plugs and four electric vehicles, the present invention supports any number of plugs and electric vehicles. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments. Furthermore, it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a system including an example computing device  400  and other computing devices. Consistent with the embodiments described herein, the aforementioned actions performed by processor  108  may be implemented in a computing device, such as the computing device  400  of  FIG. 4 . Any suitable combination of hardware, software, or firmware may be used to implement the computing device  400 . The aforementioned system, device, and processors are examples and other systems, devices, and processors may comprise the aforementioned computing device. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a system consistent with an embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of computing devices, such as computing device  400 . In a basic configuration, computing device  400  may include at least one processing unit  402  and a system memory  404 . Depending on the configuration and type of computing device, system memory  404  may comprise, but is not limited to, volatile (e.g. random access memory (RAM)), non-volatile (e.g. read-only memory (ROM)), flash memory, or any combination or memory. System memory  404  may include operating system  405 , one or more programming modules  406  (such as program module  407 ). Operating system  405 , for example, may be suitable for controlling computing device  400 &#39;s operation. In one embodiment, programming modules  406  may include, for example, a program module  407 . Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in conjunction with a graphics library, other operating systems, or any other application program and is not limited to any particular application or system. This basic configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 4  by those components within a dashed line  420 . 
         [0025]    Computing device  400  may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device  400  may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 4  by a removable storage  409  and a non-removable storage  410 . Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. System memory  404 , removable storage  409 , and non-removable storage  410  are all computer storage media examples (i.e. memory storage.) Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by computing device  400 . Any such computer storage media may be part of device  400 . Computing device  400  may also have input device(s)  412  such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a sound input device, a camera, a touch input device, etc. Output device(s)  414  such as a display, speakers, a printer, etc. may also be included. The aforementioned devices are only examples, and other devices may be added or substituted. 
         [0026]    Computing device  400  may also contain a communication connection  416  that may allow device  400  to communicate with other computing devices  418 , such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet. Communication connection  416  is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both computer storage media and communication media. 
         [0027]    As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory  404 , including operating system  405 . While executing on processing unit  402 , programming modules  406  may perform processes including, for example, one or more of the methods described above with reference to processor  108 . The aforementioned processes are examples, and processing unit  402  may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc. 
         [0028]    Generally, consistent with embodiments of the invention, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip (such as a System on Chip) containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems. 
         [0030]    Embodiments of the present invention, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
         [0031]    While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods&#39; stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the invention. 
         [0032]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.