Patent Publication Number: US-2021170889-A1

Title: Motor vehicle charging

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/945,976 filed on Dec. 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electric battery charging system in a motor vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Current limitations in battery technology, vehicle battery capacity, and the power grid combine to limit the range of electric vehicles (EVs) and the rate at which they can be charged. Thus, most charging has to be performed overnight and at home, although some stations are available for “quick stop” charging. 
     Tesla had an idea for battery swapping using a special station that would remove the depleted battery robotically from underneath the vehicle and replace it with a charged battery. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention may enable mobile autonomous electric vehicle (EV) charging. This wireless system enables charging from vehicle-to-vehicle while the vehicles are either in motion or stationary. 
     The invention may enable charging while the vehicle is on the move, enabling the range of the vehicle to be increased without any time being wasted. Charging when the inventive vehicle is parked is also possible. However, the inventive feature of charging while the vehicle is moving enables the vehicle to waste less time charging because the vehicle can be moving to its destination while charging, and the vehicle does not have to go out of its way to get to a traditional stationary charging station. Rather, the inventive vehicle can receive a charge from another vehicle without even having to slow down or pull off the road. 
     The invention may enable the vehicle driver to spend less time and money by using more local resources. With the proliferation of autonomous EVs, the inventive system could be especially useful in remote areas where stationary charging stations and people driving other EVs who could provide a charge are scarce. 
     In a first embodiment, the invention may enable mobile air charging between two vehicles. Each vehicle may be equipped with an inductive wireless charging receiver and an inductive wireless charging transmitter connected to a battery management system (BMS) which directs the power to/from the vehicle&#39;s battery. The driver of Vehicle A may use the vehicle infotainment system to create a request for charging. That request may be sent through cellular, satellite, vehicle to vehicle (V2V), or other communication methods to an app or to Vehicle B&#39;s in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system. Users of the app or of Vehicle B may receive notifications through their mobile device or IVI system that a charge request was issued by a nearby Vehicle A. Once a manager of Vehicle B has accepted the charge request, the location of Vehicle A may be set as the destination of Vehicle B. Vehicle B may then travel to Vehicle A&#39;s location and trigger the charging system when the two vehicles are in close proximity. The two vehicles may then configure themselves for charging/discharging. When the two vehicles are within an acceptable distance of each other and have an acceptable orientation, the vehicle charging systems may start. The electric charge may be transmitted wirelessly through induction from Vehicle B to Vehicle A. Vehicle B&#39;s battery may discharge to charge Vehicle A&#39;s battery. 
     In a second embodiment, the invention may enable mobile docked charging between two vehicles. Each of the two vehicles may be equipped with physical mating connectors having an auto-locking mechanism or magnetic coupling connected to the battery management system (BMS) which directs the power to/from the vehicle&#39;s battery. The driver of Vehicle A may use the vehicle infotainment system to create a request for charging. That request may be sent through cellular, satellite, vehicle to vehicle (V2V), or other communication methods to an app or to Vehicle B&#39;s in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system. Users of the app or of Vehicle B may receive notifications through their mobile device or IVI system that a charge request was issued by a nearby Vehicle A. Once a manager of Vehicle B has accepted the charge request, the location of Vehicle A may be set as the destination of Vehicle B. Vehicle B may then travel to Vehicle A&#39;s location and trigger the charging system when the two vehicles are in close proximity. The two vehicles may then physically configure themselves for charging/discharging. When the two vehicles are within an acceptable distance of each other and have an acceptable orientation, the vehicle charging systems may start. The electric charge may be transmitted through a wired system and the coupled connectors from Vehicle B to Vehicle A. Vehicle B&#39;s battery may discharge to charge Vehicle A&#39;s battery. 
     The connectors may include an electrically actuated cam-lock with quick disconnect capability or a magnetic coupling to reduce the number of moving parts and enable a faster disconnect. A fast disconnect may be needed in case of an emergency such as an accident, sudden acceleration, braking, swerving, etc. 
     In a first business case scenario, both Vehicle A and Vehicle B are privately owned vehicles. Each vehicle owner or vehicle account user may have their financial banking information stored in the app or IVI. Upon completion of the charge event, the monetary funds may be transferred from the Vehicle A owner to the Vehicle B owner. 
     In a second business case scenario, Vehicle A is privately owned and Vehicle B is a large commercial vehicle whose sole purpose is to charge autonomous EVs. The Vehicle A owner may would have their financial banking information stored in the app or IVI. Upon completion of the charge event, the monetary funds may be transferred from the Vehicle A owner to the Vehicle B company. Vehicle B in this case may be of a passenger vehicle size up to a semi-truck size. 
     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an arrangement for charging a battery in a first motor vehicle. The arrangement includes a wireless charger receiver electrically coupled to the battery. The wireless charger receiver wirelessly receives electrical energy from a second motor vehicle and stores the received electrical energy in the battery. A battery management system is electrically connected to the wireless charger receiver and to the battery. The battery management system controls transfer of the electrical energy from the wireless charger receiver to the battery. 
     The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a method for charging a battery in a first motor vehicle, including electrically coupling a wireless charger receiver to the battery. Electrical energy is wirelessly received at the wireless charger receiver from a second motor vehicle. The wirelessly received electrical energy is stored in the battery. 
     The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a method for charging a battery in a first motor vehicle, including electrically coupling a wireless charger receiver to the battery. A request to receive a charge from a second motor vehicle is wirelessly transmitted from the first motor vehicle. Electrical energy is wirelessly received at the wireless charger receiver from the second motor vehicle while both the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle are drivingly rotating their tires to travel along a road. The wirelessly received electrical energy is stored in the battery. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a vehicle charging arrangement of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of Vehicle B of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of Vehicle A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a vehicle charging arrangement of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the vehicle charging arrangement of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of the present invention for charging a battery in a first motor vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a vehicle charging arrangement  10  of the present invention including Vehicle A and Vehicle B for mobile air charging. Vehicle A includes a battery management system (BMS)  12 , an infotainment system  13 , a high voltage battery pack  16 , and a wireless charger receiver  18 . Vehicle B includes a BMS  14 , an infotainment system  15 , a wireless charger transmitter  20 , and a high voltage battery pack  22 . 
     During use, BMS  12  may direct the electrical power to battery pack  16 , and BMS  14  may direct the electrical power from battery pack  22 . The driver of Vehicle A may use vehicle infotainment system  13  to create a request for charging. That request may be sent through cellular, satellite, vehicle to vehicle (V2V), or other communication methods to an app or to Vehicle B&#39;s in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system  15 . Users of the app or of Vehicle B may receive notifications through their mobile device or IVI system  15  that a charge request was issued by a nearby Vehicle A. Once a manager of Vehicle B has accepted the charge request, the location of Vehicle A may be set as the destination of Vehicle B in the navigation system of Vehicle B. Vehicle B may then travel to Vehicle A&#39;s location and trigger BMS  12  and/or BMS  14  when the two vehicles A, B are in close proximity such that the inductive transfer of electrical energy may be of at least a threshold efficiency. The two vehicles A, B may then configure themselves for charging/discharging. When the two vehicles are within an acceptable distance of each other and have an acceptable orientation, the vehicle charging systems may start. The electric charge may be transmitted wirelessly through induction from Vehicle B to Vehicle A, as indicated at  24 . For example, wireless charger transmitter  20  may create an electric field through which electrical current may be transferred from Vehicle B&#39;s battery pack  22  to charge Vehicle A&#39;s battery pack  16 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates Vehicle B of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. BMS  14  includes an auxiliary power supply  26 , a transient and overload protection block  28 , a system controller  30 , gate drivers  32 , an impedance matching network  34 , and a full bridge series resonant block  36 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates Vehicle A of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. BMS  12  includes an auxiliary power supply  38 , an impedance matching network  40 , charging and control systems  42 , and a system controller  44 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a vehicle charging arrangement  410  of the present invention including Vehicle A and Vehicle B for mobile docked charging. Vehicle A includes a battery management system (BMS)  412 , an infotainment system  413 , a high voltage battery pack  416 , a charger receiver  418 , and a high current connector plug  446 . Vehicle B includes a BMS  414 , an infotainment system  415 , a charger transmitter  420 , a high voltage battery pack  422 , and a high current connector plug  448 . High current connector plugs  446 ,  448  may be physical mating connectors having an auto-locking mechanism or magnetic coupling connected to the respective battery management system (BMS)  412 ,  414 . 
     During use, BMS  412  may direct the electrical power to battery pack  416 , and BMS  414  may direct the electrical power from battery pack  422 . The driver of Vehicle A may use vehicle infotainment system  413  to create a request for charging. That request may be sent through cellular, satellite, vehicle to vehicle (V2V), or other communication methods to an app or to Vehicle B&#39;s in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system  415 . Users of the app or of Vehicle B may receive notifications through their mobile device or IVI system  415  that a charge request was issued by a nearby Vehicle A. Once a manager of Vehicle B has accepted the charge request, the location of Vehicle A may be set as the destination of Vehicle B in the navigation system of Vehicle B. Vehicle B may then travel to Vehicle A&#39;s location and trigger BMS  412  and/or BMS  414  when the two vehicles A, B are in close proximity and high current connector plugs  446 ,  448  have been coupled together. The two vehicles A, B may then configure themselves for charging/discharging. When the two vehicles are within an acceptable distance of each other and have an acceptable orientation, high current connector plugs  446 ,  448  may be coupled together and the vehicle charging systems may start. The electric charge may be transmitted through the electrical conductors of connector plugs  446 ,  448  from Vehicle B to Vehicle A to charge Vehicle A&#39;s battery pack  416 . 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the vehicle charging arrangement  410  of  FIG. 4 . BMS  412  includes an auxiliary power supply  426 , a system controller  430 , and charging and control systems  450 . BMS  414  includes an auxiliary power supply  427 , a system controller  431 , and charging and control systems  451 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of a method  600  of the present invention for charging a battery in a first motor vehicle. In a first step  602 , a wireless charger receiver is electrically coupled to the battery. For example, wireless charger receiver  18  may be electrically coupled to battery pack  16 . 
     Next, in step  604 , a request to receive a charge from a second motor vehicle is wirelessly transmitted from the first motor vehicle. For example, the driver of Vehicle A may use vehicle infotainment system  13  to create a request for charging. That request may be sent through cellular, satellite, vehicle to vehicle (V2V), or other communication methods to an app or to Vehicle B&#39;s in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system  15 . 
     In a next step  606 , electrical energy is wirelessly received at the wireless charger receiver from the second motor vehicle while both the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle are drivingly rotating their tires to travel along a road. For example, the electric charge may be transmitted wirelessly through induction from Vehicle B to Vehicle A, as indicated at  24 . Wireless charger transmitter  20  may create an electric field through which electrical current may be transferred to wireless charger receiver  18 . The charging may occur while both Vehicle A and Vehicle B are traveling along a road, perhaps side-by-side or one vehicle behind the other. 
     In a final step  608 , the wirelessly received electrical energy is stored in the battery. For example, the electrical current received by wireless charger receiver  18  may be used to charge Vehicle A&#39;s battery pack  16  and thereby store the electrical energy in battery pack  16 . 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.