Abstract: An apparatus in an electric vehicle for controlling an electric vehicle pilot signal level includes proximity detection circuitry for detecting when a proximity switch in an electric vehicle connector is actuated, and pilot level-control circuitry for signaling an electric vehicle supply equipment coupled with the electric vehicle to remove charging voltage from the electric vehicle connector responsive to the proximity detection circuitry detecting that the proximity switch in the electric vehicle connector is actuated.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2012
Date of Patent:
August 8, 2017
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
Charles R. Geber, Richard Lowenthal, David Baxter
Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station charging electric vehicles dynamically responds to power limit messages. The charging station includes a charging port that is configured to electrically connect to an electric vehicle to provide power to charge that electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a power control unit coupled with the charging port, the power control unit configured to control an amount of power provided through the charging port. The charging station also includes a set of one or more charging station control modules that are configured to, in response to receipt of a message that indicates a request to limit an amount of power to an identified percentage and based on a history of power provided through the charging port over a period of time, cause the power control unit to limit the power provided through the charging port to the identified percentage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2013
Date of Patent:
May 23, 2017
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
Shantanu R. Kothavale, Milton T. Tormey, James Solomon, Danny Y. Lee
Abstract: An electrical vehicle charging station establishes a charging session with an electric vehicle which includes energizing a power receptacle in the charging station and receiving a charging cord at the power receptacle. While the charging session is established and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, the power receptacle is de-energized to prevent electricity from flowing through the charging cord.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 25, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 4, 2017
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, Milton Tormey, David Baxter, James Solomon
Abstract: A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 4, 2017
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, Dave Baxter, Harjinder Bhade, Praveen Mandal
Abstract: A server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles receives a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer device, determines whether to enable charge transfer, and responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmits a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 28, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 21, 2017
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, Dave Baxter, Harjinder Bhade, Praveen Mandal
Abstract: A first and second charging equipment for charging electric vehicles is wired on a single electrical circuit. Electric current is dynamically allocated to the first and second charging equipment such that the maximum amount of electric current supported by the single electrical circuit is prevented from being exceeded. Dynamically allocating electric current to the first and second charging equipment includes communicating a first and second current limit to a first and second electric vehicle respectively connected to the first and second charging equipment to cause the first and second electric vehicle to limit their current draw to not exceed the first and second current limit respectively. The sum of current being drawn at the first and second current limit does not exceed the maximum amount of electric current supported by the single electrical circuit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 1, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 18, 2016
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
David Baxter, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., Milton T. Tormey, Richard Lowenthal
Abstract: A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle is mounted to a street light. The charge transfer device includes the following: an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle; an electric power line that couples the power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box; a control device to switch the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and a controller to operate the control device and to monitor output from the current measuring device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 21, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
CHARGEPOINT, INC.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, David Baxter, Harjinder Bhade, Praveen Mandal, Milton T. Tormey
Abstract: A total amount of current drawn through a first charging equipment and a second charging equipment that wired on a same electrical circuit is limited to not exceed a maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit to prevent the electrical circuit from being overloaded, where limiting includes communicating a first current limit to a first electric vehicle connected to the first charging equipment to cause the first electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the first current limit, and communicating a second current limit to a second electric vehicle connected to the second charging equipment to cause the second electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the second current limit, where a sum of current being drawn at the first current limit and the second current limit does not exceed the maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 2014
Date of Patent:
December 1, 2015
Assignee:
ChargePoint, Inc.
Inventors:
David Baxter, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., Milton T. Tormey, Richard Lowenthal
Abstract: A message is received that indicates a request for an allocation of electric current at a first electric vehicle charging station that is connected to a same main electrical circuit breaker as a second electric vehicle charging station that is presently allocated electric current. Responsive to determining that granting the request would exceed a maximum amount of electric current supported by the main electrical circuit breaker, the electric current allocation of at least the second electric vehicle charging station is adjusted such that the request for allocation can be granted and the request is granted and electric current is allocated to the first electric vehicle charging station.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 23, 2013
Date of Patent:
December 1, 2015
Assignee:
ChargePoint, Inc.
Inventors:
David Baxter, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., Milton T Tormey, Richard Lowenthal
Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station that supports delayed charging overrides. In one embodiment, to support delayed charging override in an electric vehicle charging station that requires authorization, after authentication is successful (e.g., the electric vehicle operator is authorized) and the electric vehicle is detected (e.g., the charging cord has been plugged into the charging port of the electric vehicle), the charging station begins a plug out timer for the electric vehicle operator to unplug the charging cord from the charging port of the electric vehicle and then begins a plug-in timer for the electric vehicle operator to plug the charging cord back into the charging port of the electric vehicle. If the electric vehicle operator does so within the periods of the timers, the charging session will not end and the delayed charging will be overridden.
Abstract: A ground continuity circuit is described. In one embodiment, a first voltage of a signal associated with an electrical line input to a circuit is measured with respect to a first resistance value of the circuit. A ground continuity test signal is asserted into the circuit that causes the resistance value of the circuit to change to a second resistance value. A second voltage of the signal is measured with respect to the second resistance value. A ground impedance value of the circuit is determined as a function of the first and second measured voltages and the first and second resistance values.
Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality of electric vehicles with a fleet management portal is described herein. In one embodiment, a machine implemented method for managing one or more fleets of electric vehicles includes monitoring one or more fleets of electric vehicles using a fleet management portal associated with a server. Next, the method includes monitoring a plurality of charge transfer devices using the fleet management portal. Next, the method includes receiving charging information from the charge transfer devices. Next, the method includes determining a charging status for each electric vehicle based on the charging information. Next, the method includes generating one or more reports having the charging status for each electric vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 17, 2009
Date of Patent:
January 13, 2015
Assignee:
Chargepoint, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, Milton Tormey, James Solomon
Abstract: A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle is mounted to a street light. The charge transfer device includes the following: an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle; an electric power line that couples the power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box; a control device to switch the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and a controller to operate the control device and to monitor output from the current measuring device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 2011
Date of Patent:
October 21, 2014
Assignee:
Chargepoint, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, David Baxter, Harjinder Bhade, Praveen Mandal, Milton T. Tormey
Abstract: An electrical vehicle charging station establishes a charging session with an electric vehicle which includes energizing a power receptacle in the charging station and receiving a charging cord at the power receptacle. While the charging session is established and responsive to detecting that a charging connection between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station has been unexpectedly disconnected, the power receptacle is de-energized to prevent electricity from flowing through the charging cord.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 17, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 25, 2014
Assignee:
Chargepoint, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard Lowenthal, Milton Tormey, David Baxter, James Solomon