Abstract: A distributed control system uses a central controller in Internet communication with a local controller to manage grid tie attachment with a battery to form an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS). The BESS is capable of charging or discharging the battery, as well as correcting grid phase with volt amp reactive (VAR) leading or lagging operation modes. Examples shown include simple BESS charging and discharging, BESS integrated with renewable energy sources (here photovoltaic), and direct current fast charge (DCFC) connections with an electric vehicle.

Abstract: A distributed control system uses a central controller in Internet communication with a local controller to manage grid tie attachment with a battery to form an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS). The BESS is capable of charging or discharging the battery, as well as correcting grid phase with volt amp reactive (VAR) leading or lagging operation modes. Examples shown include simple BESS charging and discharging, BESS integrated with renewable energy sources (here photovoltaic), and direct current fast charge (DCFC) connections with an electric vehicle.

Abstract: A system for multiplexing charging of electric vehicles, comprising a server coupled to a plurality of charging control modules over a network. Each of said charging modules being connected to a voltage source such that each charging control module is configured to regulate distribution of voltage from the voltage source to an electric vehicle coupled to the charging control module. Data collection and control software is provided on the server for identifying a plurality of electric vehicles coupled to the plurality of charging control modules and selectively distributing charging of the plurality of charging control modules to multiplex distribution of voltage to the plurality of electric vehicles.

Abstract: Electric vehicle (EV) charging apparatus and methods are described which allow the sharing of charge current between multiple vehicles connected to a single source of charging energy. In addition, this charge sharing can be performed in a grid-friendly manner by lowering current supplied to EVs when necessary in order to satisfy the needs of the grid, or building operator. The apparatus and methods can be integrated into charging stations or can be implemented with a middle-man approach in which a multiple EV charging box, which includes an EV emulator and multiple pilot signal generation circuits, is coupled to a single EV charge station.

Abstract: An expert system manages a power grid wherein charging stations are connected to the power grid, with electric vehicles connected to the charging stations, whereby the expert system selectively backfills power from connected electric vehicles to the power grid through a grid tie inverter (if present) within the charging stations. In more traditional usage, the expert system allows for electric vehicle charging, coupled with user preferences as to charge time, charge cost, and charging station capabilities, without exceeding the power grid capacity at any point. A robust yet accurate state of charge (SOC) calculation method is also presented, whereby initially an open circuit voltage (OCV) based on sampled battery voltages and currents is calculated, and then the SOC is obtained based on a mapping between a previously measured reference OCV (ROCV) and SOC. The OCV-SOC calculation method accommodates likely any battery type with any current profile.

Abstract: A battery charging system for an electric vehicle in which an addressable RFID tag, an RFID receiver, an electrical charger, and a controller operate to charge the battery of an electric vehicle according to a user profile and a charging profile in response to a signal received by the RFID reader from the RFID tag. In an interconnected system, multiple charging stations are connected to the electrical power grid and communicate with a central controller through communications links. A grid converter can be provided to allow for backfilling power from an electric vehicle to the power grid in response to a command from the central controller.

Abstract: Electric vehicle (EV) charging apparatus and methods are described which allow the sharing of charge current between multiple vehicles connected to a single source of charging energy. In addition, this charge sharing can be performed in a grid-friendly manner by lowering current supplied to EVs when necessary in order to satisfy the needs of the grid, or building operator. The apparatus and methods can be integrated into charging stations or can be implemented with a middle-man approach in which a multiple EV charging box, which includes an EV emulator and multiple pilot signal generation circuits, is coupled to a single EV charge station.

Abstract: A generic transducer interface includes a hardware connector, such as a pin connector, with connection points for electrically connecting to a transducer, a control, a non-volatile memory for storing firmware used to configure the control, and a wired/wireless communication interface. The firmware indicates pre-assigned functions of the connection points, as well as providing: (a) data processing services, which perform operations on data elements from the transducers to obtain results which are reported to an external host, (b) data reporting and reception services, which include a data reporting protocol for reporting data from the transducers to the host, and a data receiving protocol for receiving data from the host, and (c) transducer management services, which allow retrieval and reconfiguration of transducer-specific properties. Transducer-specific configuration data received from the external host configures the control with the information it needs to act as an interface for a particular transducer.

Abstract: The ability to perform Assembly/Disassembly analysis of one or more components of the geometric model (e.g., a CAD model) of a multi-component assembly is helpful for design, construction and tear-down, maintenance (in-place and replacement), and reuse/recycling of the assembly. To facilitate assembly and disassembly analysis of geometric models, methods have been developed which allow generating, editing, validating and animating/digitizing assembly/disassembly sequences and directions for 3D geometric models, e.g., CAD models. These methods allow assembly/disassembly analysis to be performed based on non-contact geometric reasoning (i.e., spatial reasoning rather than contact reasoning) to determine an optimal non-interfering sequence (a valid sequence) to disassemble/assemble the modeled components.

Abstract: Apparata and methods for rapid design of objects/shapes in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools and in Virtual Reality (VR) environments are described. The underlying geometric representation of the objects within the design tool is optimized so that design activities such as modeling, editing, rendering, etc. can be processed extremely rapidly, thereby enhancing the response time of the design tool. The representation is preferably provided in two parts, which may be referred to as a “design intent model” and a “shape model”. The design intent model is a higher-level representation wherein elements are arranged in hierarchical parent-child relationships which record the elements' assembly sequence. The shape model is a lower-level representation storing more detailed information about the elements and their relationships.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object may be imaged from several viewpoints distributed about the object, and the image obtained at each viewpoint may be stored in conjunction with the viewpoint's coordinates about the object. The object's image can then be transmitted for display over a client-server computer network, and the user may issue commands to manipulate the object, so as to very accurately simulate manipulation of the actual three-dimensional object. The client computer may display the object's image from one of the viewpoints. If the user then wishes to manipulate the object, the user will issue a command to the server to index from the coordinates of the first viewpoint to the coordinates of some adjacent viewpoint(s). The images of the adjacent viewpoints will then be displayed in a sequence corresponding to the order in which the coordinates of the viewpoints are indexed.