Patent ID: 12221006

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. It should be understood that the embodiments may be realized in software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.

FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a management system for energy and charging requests of an electric vehicle charging field100can be used in a charging filed110with a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations. It is noted that, the charging filed110has a power limitation. As shown inFIG.1, the management system for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field100comprises a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (112-114), and a server130respectively connected with the respective electric vehicle charging stations via a network120. The respective charging stations can provide electric vehicles (EV1, EV2) for charging operations. In some embodiments, the network120may be a wired network, a telecommunication network, and a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network. The server130can receive various data from the respective electric vehicle charging stations via the network120, and transmit related signals to the respective electric vehicle charging stations. The respective electric vehicle charging stations can perform related operations according to the signals received from the server130. For example, when the electric vehicle EV1is coupled to the electric vehicle charging station112through a charging gun of the electric vehicle charging station112for a charging operation, the electric vehicle charging station112can continuously transmit charging information corresponding the charging operation of the electric vehicle EV1via the network120, and the server130can receive the charging information of the corresponding charging operation from the electric vehicle charging station112via the network120. In some embodiments, the charging information may include at least a charging start time, a charging period, an output power, and/or related information indicating whether a load balancing operation is being performed. The server130can know the usage status of the corresponding electric vehicle charging station according to the charging information. Similarly, when the electric vehicle EV2is coupled to the electric vehicle charging station114through a charging gun of the electric vehicle charging station114to perform a charging operation, the electric vehicle charging station114can continuously transmit the charging information corresponding the charging operation of the electric vehicle EV2via the network120, and the server130can receive the charging information of the corresponding charging operation from the electric vehicle charging station114via the network120.

It is noted that the user can connect the electric vehicle EV1and the electric vehicle charging station112to each other, such as inserting a charging gun into the charging port of the electric vehicle to send a charging request corresponding to the electric vehicle charging station112to use the electric vehicle charging station112. The electric vehicle charging station112performs a charging operation for the electric vehicle EV1. Similarly, the user can connect the electric vehicle EV2and the electric vehicle charging station114to each other, such as inserting a charging gun into the charging port of the electric vehicle to send a charging request corresponding to the electric vehicle charging station114to use the electric vehicle charging station114. It is understood that, in some embodiments, the server130may directly or indirectly receive a charging request from a mobile device (not shown inFIG.1) of the owner of the electric vehicle EV1, and generate a charging authorization command based on the charging request and transmit it to the electric vehicle charging station112via the network120, so that the electric vehicle charging station112outputs power to the electric vehicle EV1, such as an electric scooter or an electric car, which is electrically connected to it, or prohibits the electric vehicle charging station112from outputting power to the electric vehicle EV1. It is reminded that, in some embodiments, the charging request may be accompanied by an identity authentication and/or a payment mechanism, and the charging authorization command will only be generated after the identity authentication and/or payment mechanism is completed. In some embodiments, the user of the electric vehicle EV1can use his/her mobile device to download and install an application to generate a charging request through the user interface of the application. In some embodiments, the user can scan a Quick Response Code (QR code) on the electric vehicle charging station112through the scanning function of the application to generate the above-mentioned charging request, thereby starting a charging operation. In some embodiments, the user can select a specific charging station through the application and execute an activation function to generate the above-mentioned charging request, thereby starting a charging operation. It is understood that, in some embodiments, the owner of the electric vehicle EV1can use an RFID card to approach an induction area (not shown inFIG.1) on the electric vehicle charging station112to generate a corresponding charging request, and sent it to the server130via the network120. It is reminded that, in some embodiments, each user can have an RFID card.

It is noted that, the device corresponding to the owner of the electric vehicle can be any electronic device capable of Internet access, such as mobile devices, such as mobile phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants, global positioning systems, and notebook computers. In some embodiments, the mobile device can receive status information and notifications of the corresponding charging operation from the cloud management server130via the network120. In some embodiments, the status information and notification may include notifying that the electric vehicle has stopped charging, notifying that the vehicle needed to be moved, and/or notifying that the charging gun of the electric vehicle charging device has been disconnected from the electric vehicle, and so on.

As mentioned above, the charging field110has a power limit. The server130can perform a load balancing operation for the electric vehicle charging stations in the charging field110according to at least one energy management scheme. Specifically, the server130can generate an instruction and send the instruction to the charging station (112,114) via the network120to control the charging station to output power for charging with a specified power parameter, such as a specified amperage, during a specific period of time to the electric vehicle connected to the station, or to prohibit the charging station from outputting power to the electric vehicle.

FIG.2is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging station of the invention. The electric vehicle charging station200shown inFIG.2can be applied to the electric vehicle charging stations (112,114) inFIG.1, which has processing and computing capabilities to perform charging management operations for the electric vehicle charging station200. The electric vehicle charging station200has a network connection capability to receive, download or update various parameters and information required for charging management calculations.

The electric vehicle charging station200at least comprises a storage unit212, a network connection unit214, a charging gun216, and a processing unit218. The storage unit212may be a memory or a database for storing and recording related data. The data may be related information such as charging station ID of the electric vehicle charging station and charging requests. It should be noted that the aforementioned information is only example, and the invention is not limited thereto. The network connection unit214can use a network, such as a wired network, a telecommunications network, and a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network, to receive, download, or update various parameters and information required for charging management operations. The charging gun216may include one or more charging connectors that meet the same charging interface specification or meet different charging interface specifications, and are electrically connected to the corresponding electric vehicle. The processing unit218can control the operations of related software and hardware in the electric vehicle charging station200, and cooperate with the server130to execute the management methods for energy and charging requests of an electric vehicle charging field of the invention. Related details will be described later. It is noted that, in some embodiments, the processing unit218may be a general-purpose controller, a Micro-Control Unit, MCU, or a Digital Signal Processor, DSP, etc., to provide functions of data analysis, processing and calculation, but the present invention is not limited to this. In one embodiment, the processing unit218may use the network connection unit214to transmit the power state of the corresponding electric vehicle through a network for a cloud management server, such as the cloud server130, for subsequent charging management. In another embodiment, the processing unit218can obtain the power parameter of a charging operation from the server130, determine the output power according to the power parameter received from the server130, and output the power to at least one electric vehicle through the charging gun216to perform the charging operation. It is noted that, in some embodiments, the electric vehicle charging station200may comprise an RFID reading unit for sensing information of an RFID card, such as a user ID code of an electric vehicle owner.

It is understood that, the electric vehicle charging station200has an upper power limit value and a lower power limit value. Specifically, the electric vehicle charging station200can use the upper power limit value as the power parameter at the highest to output power to the electric vehicle during a charging operation. On the other hand, the electric vehicle charging station200needs to use the lower power limit value as the power parameter at least to output power to the electric vehicle during a charging operation. It must be noted that, charging stations of different brands and models may have different upper power limit values for output power and lower power limit values for output power. The present invention is not limited to any value, and the value may be different for different charging stations.

FIG.3is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a server of the invention. As shown inFIG.3, the server130of the invention can be any processor-based electronic device, which comprises at least a storage unit132, a network connection unit134, and a processor136. It is noted that, the server130can receive various data corresponding to a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations in a charging field. The server130can directly or indirectly receive a charging request from a mobile device, and after completing actions such as identity confirmation in response to the charging request, generate a charging authorization command and transmit it to the corresponding electric vehicle charging station via the network. In response to the charging authorization command, the electric vehicle charging station is allowed to output power to an electric vehicle (for example, an electric motorcycle or an electric vehicle, etc.) that is electrically connected to it, or prohibit the electric vehicle charging station from outputting power to the electric vehicle.

The storage unit132may be a memory, which can store and record related data, such as various data of the electric vehicle charging stations. It is noted that, the storage unit132may comprise charging data CD, a prediction model PM, and energy prediction data EPD. The charging data CD is received from the respective electric vehicle charging stations in the charging field via the network. As mentioned above, the charging data CD may comprise a charging start time, a charging period, and an output power corresponding to a charging operation, and/or related information indicating whether a load balancing operation is being performed. The predictive model PM can be trained and generated using the charging data CD. In some embodiments, the server130may train the prediction model PM according to a machine learning technique, wherein the prediction model PM can be a linear regression model. The energy prediction data EPD of the charging field can be obtained based on the charging data CD and the prediction model PM. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the energy prediction data EPD may include an energy consumption estimation of the charging field at a specific time point. In some embodiments, the energy prediction data EPD of the charging field may further record whether the electric vehicle charging station performs a load adjustment operation at a specific time point, and the output power of each electric vehicle charging station during the load adjustment operation. In addition, in some embodiments, the storage unit132may record at least one energy management scheme (not shown inFIG.3), which records the power distribution logic when a load balancing operation is performed in the charging field, and is used to control the charging operations corresponding to the respective electric vehicle charging stations. It is noted that, the power distribution logic is configured to determine the execution sequence of the respective charging requests corresponding to the respective charging stations under the power limitation of the charging field, and the target power parameter value for the corresponding charging request when it is executed. Through the network connection unit134, the server130can be coupled to and communicates with the electric vehicle charging stations (112,114) via the network120, such as a wired network, a telecommunications network, and a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network, and transmits related data/signals/commands to different electric vehicle charging stations via the network120to control whether the electric vehicle charging stations output power, and specify power parameters for outputting power to electric vehicles. The processor136can control the operations of related software and hardware in the server130, and execute the management methods for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field of the invention. The relevant details will be described later. It is reminded that, when there are multiple energy management schemes in the server, the processor136can select one of the energy management schemes, and perform a load balancing operation for the charging field according to the selected energy management scheme. It is understood that, in some embodiments, the processor136may be a general-purpose controller, a Micro-Control Unit, MCU, or a Digital Signal Processor, DSP, etc., to provide data analysis, processing, and calculation functions, and the invention is not limited thereto.

FIG.4is a flowchart of an embodiment of a management method for energy and charging requests of an electric vehicle charging field of the invention. The management method for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field of the invention is applicable to a charging field with a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations, and the charging field has a power limit. The respective electric vehicle charging station in the charging field can be electrically coupled with a remote server via a network.

First, in step S410, the server receives first charging data corresponding to at least one first charging operation from each of the electric vehicle charging stations in the charging field through the network during a first predetermined period. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the first charging data may include at least a charging start time, a charging period, an output power, and/or related information indicating whether a load adjustment operation is being performed. Next, in step S420, the server generates energy prediction data of the charging field in a second predetermined period according to the first charging data corresponding to the at least one first charging operation received from each electric vehicle charging station during the first predetermined period. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the energy prediction data may at least include an energy consumption estimation of the charging field at a specific time point. In some embodiments, the energy prediction data may further record whether the electric vehicle charging station performs a load adjustment operation at a specific time point, and the output power of each electric vehicle charging station during the load adjustment operation.

FIG.5is a flowchart of another embodiment of a management method for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field of the invention. The management method for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field of the invention is applicable to a charging field with a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations, and the charging field has a power limit. The respective electric vehicle charging station in the charging field can be electrically coupled with a remote server via a network.

First, in step S510, the server receives first charging data corresponding to at least one first charging operation from each of the electric vehicle charging stations in the charging field through the network during a first predetermined period. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the first charging data may include at least a charging start time, a charging period, an output power, and/or related information indicating whether a load adjustment operation is being performed. Next, in step S520, the server trains a prediction model according to the first charging data corresponding to the at least one first charging operation received from each electric vehicle charging station during the first predetermined period, and in step S530, generates the energy prediction data of the charging field in a second predetermined period according to the prediction model. It is noted that, in some embodiments, the prediction model may be trained using the first charging data according to a machine learning technique. The prediction model can be a linear regression model. According to the first charging data and the prediction model, the energy prediction data of the charging field can be obtained. Similarly, in some embodiments, the energy prediction data may at least include an energy consumption estimation of the charging field at a specific time point. In some embodiments, the energy prediction data may further record whether the electric vehicle charging station performs a load adjustment operation at the specific time point, and the output power of each electric vehicle charging station during the load adjustment operation. Then, in step S540, the server continuously receives second charging data corresponding to at least one second charging operation from each of the electric vehicle charging stations via the network during the second predetermined period. Similarly, in some embodiments, the second charging data may include at least a charging start time, a charging period, an output power, and/or related information indicating whether a load adjustment operation is being performed. Next, in step S550, the server inputs the second charging data corresponding to the at least one second charging operation into the prediction model to train the prediction model. It should be noted that, the accuracy of the prediction model can be optimized by continuously training the prediction model.

FIG.6is a flowchart of an embodiment of an application method of the energy prediction data of the invention. In this embodiment, the energy prediction data can be used to provide feedback to the charging query of the corresponding electric vehicle user.

First, in step S610, the server receives a charging query from a mobile device via a network. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the charging query may include at least an energy request, which may be, for example, a battery power, such as 15 Kw, or a charging efficiency, such as 7 Kw/h. It is noted that, in some embodiments, the charging query may further include a specific time point. Next, in step S620, the server determines whether to provide charging station information corresponding to the charging field to the mobile device according to the energy prediction data of the charging field and the energy request received from the mobile device. For example, when the estimated power consumption of the charging field at a specific time point obtained based on the energy prediction data is lower than a power limit of the charging field and the difference is sufficient to meet the energy request, the server can provide the charging station information corresponding to the charging field to the mobile device. In other words, the user of the mobile device can drive the electric vehicle to the charging field for charging at a specific time point. On the other hand, when the estimated power consumption of the charging field at the specific time point based on the energy prediction data is close to or higher than the power limit of the charging field and cannot meet the energy request, the server will not provide the charging station information corresponding to the charging field to the mobile device.

FIG.7is a flowchart of another embodiment of an application method of the energy prediction data of the invention. In this embodiment, the energy prediction data can be used to provide feedback to the charging query of the corresponding electric vehicle user.

First, in step S710, the server connects to each of the electric vehicle charging stations in the charging field via the network to determine the usage status of each electric vehicle charging station. In step S720, the server receives a charging query from a mobile device via the network. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the charging query may include at least an energy request, which may be, for example, a battery power, such as 15 Kw, or a charging efficiency, such as 7 Kw/h. Next, in step S730, the server determines whether to provide charging station information corresponding to the charging field to the mobile device according to the usage status of each of the electric vehicle charging stations, the energy prediction data of the charging field, and the energy request received from the mobile device. It is reminded that, in this embodiment, whether to provide the charging station information corresponding to the charging field to the mobile device can be determined according to the current usage situation of the electric vehicle charging stations and the estimated power consumption.

FIG.8is a flowchart of another embodiment of an application method of the energy prediction data of the invention. In this embodiment, when the electric vehicle charging station performs the load adjustment operation, the energy prediction data can be used to calculate an estimated charging time to provide feedback to the charging query of the electric vehicle user.

First, in step S810, it is known from the energy prediction data of the charging field that whether the electric vehicle charging station performs a load adjustment operation at a specific time point, and the output power of each electric vehicle charging station during the load adjustment operation. In step S820, the server receives a charging query from a mobile device via the network. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the charging query may include at least one energy request, which may be, for example, a battery power, such as 15 Kw, or a charging efficiency, such as 7 Kw/h. It is noted that, in some embodiments, the charging query may further include the specific time point. Next, in step S830, the server calculates an estimated charging time according to the energy prediction data of the charging field and the energy request received from the mobile device, and transmits the estimated charging time to the mobile device via the network.

As mentioned above, the power plant may contract with the operator of the electric vehicle charging station to perform a demand response procedure during power consumption peak hours, so as to reduce the output power of the electric vehicle charging station. Through the demand response procedure, the power plant can avoid the crisis of power shortages during the power consumption peak hours.

FIG.9is a flowchart of another embodiment of an application method of the energy prediction data of the invention. In this embodiment, the energy prediction data can be used to evaluate whether the charging field should participate in the demand response procedure. First, in step S910, the server receives a demand request corresponding to a power plant from a power plant terminal via the network. Next, in step S920, in response to the demand request, the server determines whether to execute a demand response procedure in the charging field according to the energy prediction data of the charging field. For example, when the energy consumption of the charging field on a specific date and/or at a specific time point specified by the demand request is estimated to be lower than a specific value, the charging field can execute the demand response procedure, and receive a feedback reward for participating in the demand response.

FIG.10is a flowchart of another embodiment of an application method of the energy prediction data of the invention. In this embodiment, the energy prediction data can be used to dynamically determine the charging rate of the charging field. First, in step S1010, the server obtains energy prediction data corresponding to a charging field. Next, in step S1020, the server dynamically determines a charging rate corresponding to a specific time point according to the energy prediction data of the charging field. It is reminded that, in some embodiments, when the energy consumption estimation of the charging field at the specific time point is lower than a predetermined value, the charging rate corresponding to the specific time point can be set to be lower than a predetermined rate of the charging field.

Therefore, the management methods and systems for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field of the present invention can predict the future energy prediction data by using the historical charging data of the charging field, and perform the charging request management based on the energy prediction data. In addition, the energy consumption and charging request of the electric vehicle charging field can be properly planned, thereby increasing the use of electric vehicle charging stations and reducing the impact of electric vehicle development on the environment.

Management methods for energy and charging requests of the electric vehicle charging field, may take the form of a program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for executing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of a program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for executing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalent.