Patents by Inventor Willett Kempton

Willett Kempton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9754300
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus transferring power between the grid and an electric vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus may include at least one vehicle communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle equipment (EVE) and a processor coupled to the at least one vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVE, receive EVE attributes from the EVE, and transmit electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE) attributes to the EVE. Power may be transferred between the grid and the electric vehicle by maintaining EVSE attributes, establishing communication with the EVE, and transmitting the EVSE maintained attributes to the EVE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Willett Kempton, Fouad Kiamilev, Rodney McGee, Nick Waite
  • Patent number: 9043038
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for aggregating electric power flow between an electric grid and electric vehicles are disclosed. An apparatus for aggregating power flow may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory to receive electric vehicle equipment (EVE) attributes from a plurality of EVEs, aggregate EVE attributes, predict total available capacity based on the EVE attributes, and dispatch at least a portion of the total available capacity to the grid. Power flow may be aggregated by receiving EVE operational parameters from each EVE, aggregating the received EVE operational parameters, predicting total available capacity based on the aggregated EVE operational parameters, and dispatching at least a portion of the total available capacity to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
    Inventor: Willett Kempton
  • Patent number: 8509976
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for interfacing an electric vehicle with an electric power grid are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus may include a station communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE), a vehicle communication port for interfacing with a vehicle management system (VMS), and a processor coupled to the station communication port and the vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVSE via the station communication port, receive EVSE attributes from the EVSE, and issue commands to the VMS to manage power flow between the electric vehicle and the EVSE based on the EVSE attributes. An electric vehicle may interface with the grid by establishing communication with the EVSE, receiving the EVSE attributes, and managing power flow between the EVE and the grid based on the EVSE attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventor: Willett Kempton
  • Patent number: 8116915
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing system energy flow. The apparatus includes an energy storage unit to store energy to be used by a system and a power conversion unit configured to be coupled between the energy storage unit and a utility grid. The apparatus also includes a controller to selectively control the power conversion unit to transfer energy between the utility grid and the energy storage unit based at least in part on an anticipated use of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventor: Willett Kempton
  • Publication number: 20110202418
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus transferring power between the grid and an electric vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus may include at least one vehicle communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle equipment (EVE) and a processor coupled to the at least one vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVE, receive EVE attributes from the EVE, and transmit electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE) attributes to the EVE. Power may be transferred between the grid and the electric vehicle by maintaining EVSE attributes, establishing communication with the EVE, and transmitting the EVSE maintained attributes to the EVE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Willett Kempton, Fouad Kiamilev, Rodney McGee, Nick Waite
  • Publication number: 20110202217
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for interfacing an electric vehicle with an electric power grid are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus may include a station communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE), a vehicle communication port for interfacing with a vehicle management system (VMS), and a processor coupled to the station communication port and the vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVSE via the station communication port, receive EVSE attributes from the EVSE, and issue commands to the VMS to manage power flow between the electric vehicle and the EVSE based on the EVSE attributes. An electric vehicle may interface with the grid by establishing communication with the EVSE, receiving the EVSE attributes, and managing power flow between the EVE and the grid based on the EVSE attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventor: WILLETT KEMPTON
  • Publication number: 20110202192
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for aggregating electric power flow between an electric grid and electric vehicles are disclosed. An apparatus for aggregating power flow may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory to receive electric vehicle equipment (EVE) attributes from a plurality of EVEs, aggregate EVE attributes, predict total available capacity based on the EVE attributes, and dispatch at least a portion of the total available capacity to the grid. Power flow may be aggregated by receiving EVE operational parameters from each EVE, aggregating the received EVE operational parameters, predicting total available capacity based on the aggregated EVE operational parameters, and dispatching at least a portion of the total available capacity to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventor: Willett Kempton
  • Publication number: 20090222143
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing system energy flow. The apparatus includes an energy storage unit to store energy to be used by a system and a power conversion unit configured to be coupled between the energy storage unit and a utility grid. The apparatus also includes a controller to selectively control the power conversion unit to transfer energy between the utility grid and the energy storage unit based at least in part on an anticipated use of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventor: Willett Kempton
  • Publication number: 20070282495
    Abstract: A method for calculating power available for sale from an electric vehicle to an electric power market on a grid includes determining maximum DC power available from the electric vehicle; determining an electrical conversion efficiency related to a conversion of DC power from the electric vehicle to AC power; accounting for a time period in which the DC power is available from the electric vehicle; and calculating the power available for sale from the electric vehicle. A method of assessing economic value of a vehicle to grid arrangement includes calculating a total revenue amount due to providing one or more of peak power, spinning reserves, and regulation services; calculating a cost for each of producing energy, degradation due to wear, and annualized capitalization; summing the calculated costs; and determining the economic value of the vehicle to grid arrangement by comparing the summed calculated costs to the total revenue amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
    Inventors: Willett Kempton, Jasna Tomic'