Activation of vehicle charging devices from vehicle integrated controller
Inventors
Likic, Sinisa • Schubert, Christian • Weibler, Klaus
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12068770-B2
Publication Date
2024-08-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A trainable transceiver comprises a transceiver circuit, a user interface, and a control circuit in selective communication with the transceiver circuit. The control circuit is further in communication with and configured to process inputs received at the user interface. The transceiver circuit is configured to, in response to a particular input received at the user interface, transmit an activation signal to a vehicle charging station.
Core Innovation
A trainable transceiver includes a transceiver circuit, a user interface including at least one user input element configured to determine a location of a vehicle via a global positioning system, and a control circuit that is in selective communication with the transceiver circuit and processes inputs received at the user interface. In response to the vehicle reaching a predetermined location, the control circuit determines a first appropriate input received at the user interface, and the transceiver circuit transmits an activation signal to a vehicle charging station. The transceiver also transmits a first indication to a user that the activation signal has been transmitted to the vehicle charging station.
The disclosed control circuit processes received inputs and can compare input-associated data to stored data in order to determine whether the received data is associated with an appropriate input. A vehicle is required to remain in the predetermined location for a predetermined period of time prior to the control circuit determining that the received data associated with the appropriate input has been received. The transmission of the activation signal is therefore conditioned on both the location-based condition and the determination of an appropriate input.
The disclosed activation architecture supports user interface input mechanisms associated with authorizing or determining an appropriate input, including identification-related input such as an RFID tag with an authorized user, and biometric input such as fingerprint sensor input, as well as other input modalities described in the disclosure such as gesture, face/iris imager, voice command, buttons/soft keys, and remote electronic device input. Charging begins only after the charging station receives the activation signal, and status/indications to the user and routing to different charging stations based on different inputs are described.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims (a trainable transceiver system claim and a method claim). Across these claims, the inventive features focus on location-based determination using GPS at a predetermined location, processing and comparing user interface inputs with stored data to determine an appropriate input, transmitting activation signals to a charging station and causing charging to occur only after receipt, and requiring a vehicle dwell period at the predetermined location before determining the appropriate input.
Location-based activation with GPS user interface
A trainable transceiver includes a user interface including at least one user input element that includes a global positioning system configured to determine the location of a vehicle; in response to the vehicle reaching a predetermined location, the transceiver system determines a first appropriate input received at the user interface and transmits an activation signal to a vehicle charging station.
Control-circuit input processing and activation signaling with user indication
A control circuit in selective communication with the transceiver circuit processes inputs received at the user interface, and the transceiver circuit transmits an activation signal to a vehicle charging station and transmits a first indication to a user that the activation signal has been transmitted to the vehicle charging station.
Dwell-time condition at a predetermined location
A vehicle is required to remain in the predetermined location for a predetermined period of time prior to the control circuit determining that the received data associated with the appropriate input has been received.
Appropriate input determination by comparing received data with stored data
A method of activating a charging station receives an input at a user interface of a trainable transceiver, receives data associated with the received input by a control circuit, compares the received data with stored data by the control circuit, and determines whether the received data is associated with an appropriate input.
Activation signal transmission triggers charging only after receipt
The method transmits, by a transceiver circuit, an activation signal to the charging station, and charges an associated vehicle with the charging station only after the activation signal has been received by the charging station.
Overall, the claims cover a trainable transceiver and a corresponding activation method where GPS-based location reaching a predetermined location and a dwell-time requirement are used alongside processing, including comparing received data with stored data, to determine an appropriate input, after which an activation signal is transmitted to a charging station and charging is conditioned on receipt of the activation signal.
Stated Advantages
Provides a user indication that an activation signal has been transmitted to the vehicle charging station.
Conditioning charging so that charging of an associated vehicle occurs only after the activation signal has been received by the charging station.
Uses a predetermined location and a predetermined period of time so that an appropriate input determination occurs only after the vehicle remains at the predetermined location.
Documented Applications
Activating a vehicle charging station based on a trainable transceiver that uses user interface inputs and GPS-based predetermined location detection.
Charging an associated vehicle with the charging station only after receiving an activation signal from the trainable transceiver.
Routing to first/second charging stations based on different inputs.
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