Abstract: An approach is provided for dynamically controlling power distribution amongst a plurality of charging station ports based on one or more objectives. A method includes obtaining input data, wherein the input data includes at least one of: user data associated with one or more current charging station users, or non-user data that is not associated with the current charging station users. The method includes processing the input data through one or more machine learning engines, wherein the one or more machine learning engines are trained to determine a particular power distribution, among the plurality of charging station ports, that achieves one or more objectives. The method includes configuring the plurality of charging station ports according to the particular power distribution. The particular power distribution specifies a maximum charging rate or a percentage of a power budget for each of the plurality of charging station ports.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a charging station for an electric vehicle. The charging station includes a plurality of light sources, one or more processors, and memory storing instructions for performing a set of operations. The set of operations includes determining a state of the charging station, the state indicating a status of an electric vehicle at the charging station. In accordance with a determination that the state is a first state, the charging station provides a first visual indication of the first state using a first light source of the plurality of light sources. In accordance with a determination that the state is a second state, the charging station provides a second visual indication of the second state.

Abstract: The disclosed implementations provide systems and methods for tracking a user device. The method includes receiving, from a respective application running on a first electronic device associated with a user, a request initiated by the user to affiliate with a second electronic device. In response to the request by the user to affiliate with the second electronic device, the method includes determining a wireless identifier of the first electronic device. After determining the wireless identifier of the first electronic device, the method includes receiving an indication that a second wireless access point, distinct from the first wireless access point, is in communication with the first electronic device of the user based on the second wireless access point detecting the wireless identifier of the first electronic device. The method further includes determining that the first electronic device of the user is proximal to the second wireless access point.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for retracting a charging cable at an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS). The EVCS includes a housing, a charging cable configured to provide an electric current to charge a battery of an electric vehicle, a sensor for detecting whether external objects are within a predefined region proximal to the housing, a motor configured to retract at least a portion of the charging cable, and a controller electrically coupled to both the sensor and the motor. The method includes energizing the motor, via the controller, to retract at least a portion of the charging cable when retraction criteria are met. The retraction criteria include criteria that are met when the charging cable is not coupled to a vehicle and the one or more sensors do not detect an external object in the predefined region proximal to the housing.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a method performed at a computer system that is in communication with an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS). The EVCS includes a camera for obtaining images in a region proximal to the EVCS. The method includes capturing, using the camera, a plurality of images of electric vehicles, each image in the plurality of images being an image of a respective electric vehicle. The method further includes, for each respective image of the plurality of images of electric vehicles: determining, without user intervention, a characteristic of the respective electric vehicle; and tagging, without user intervention, the respective image with the characteristic of the respective electric vehicle. The method further includes training a first machine learning algorithm to identify the characteristic of other electric vehicles using the tagged plurality of images.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for transmitting beacon signals that are associated with media content. A kiosk displays first media content on the electronic display. The kiosk transmits, at a radio frequency using a wireless transmitter of the kiosk, a first beacon signal that includes an identifier of the first media content. The kiosk replaces display of the first media content with display of second media content on the display. Upon replacing display of the first media content with the second media content, the kiosk transmits, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a second beacon signal that includes an identifier of the second media content, distinct from the identifier of the first media content.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a laptop accessory. The laptop accessory includes a housing including a rechargeable battery therein. The laptop accessory includes a coupling mechanism located on one of the surfaces of the housing. The coupling mechanism is configured to detachably secure the housing to a complementary coupling mechanism of a computing device. The laptop accessory includes a port configured to electrically connect the rechargeable battery to the computing device.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device with a display. The method includes receiving a request from a user to display information about electric vehicle charging stations near a geographic location. The method further includes, in response to the request to display information about electric vehicle charging stations near the geographic location, for a respective charging station near the geographic location: identifying a commercial enterprise co-located with the respective electric vehicle charging station, and displaying, on the display, an indication of the respective electric vehicle charging station. The indication of the respective electric vehicle charging station includes a representation of the co-located commercial enterprise.

Abstract: Energy conversion systems that may employ control grid electrodes, acceleration grid electrodes, inductive elements, multi-stage anodes, and emissive carbon coatings on the cathode and anode are described. These and other characteristics may allow for advantageous thermal energy to electrical energy conversion.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a method performed at a computer system that is in communication with an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS). The EVCS includes a camera for obtaining images in a region proximal to the EVCS. The method includes capturing, using the camera, a plurality of images of electric vehicles, each image in the plurality of images being an image of a respective electric vehicle. The method further includes, for each respective image of the plurality of images of electric vehicles: determining, without user intervention, a characteristic of the respective electric vehicle; and tagging, without user intervention, the respective image with the characteristic of the respective electric vehicle. The method further includes training a first machine learning algorithm to identify the characteristic of other electric vehicles using the tagged plurality of images.

Abstract: Integrated devices comprising integrated circuits and energy storage devices are described. Disclosed energy storage devices correspond to an all-solid-state construction, and do not include any gels, liquids, or other materials that are incompatible with microfabrication techniques. Disclosed energy storage device comprises energy storage cells with electrodes comprising metal-containing compositions, like metal oxides, metal nitrides, or metal hydrides, and a solid state electrolyte.

Abstract: Thermionic generators are described herein that include a variety of features that allow the devices to efficiently and effectively convert large amounts of thermal energy directly to electrical energy, such as in the form of currents and/or voltages. For example, the thermionic generators can be used to generate an electron beam from a thermionic emission device, and focus or shape the electron beam in such a way that allows the energy of electrons in the electron beam to be captured and converted to electrical energy.

Abstract: Described are energy storage devices employing a gas storage structure, which can accommodate or store gas evolved from the energy storage device. The energy storage device comprises an electrochemical cell with electrodes comprising metal-containing compositions, like metal oxides, metal nitrides, or metal hydrides, and a solid state electrolyte.