SWAPPABLE BATTERY CAR AND BATTERY CAR STATION

20120248868

13/438217

April 03, 2012

In described embodiments, a battery car employed in conjunction with a battery car station employs a swappable battery configuration. Batteries are of differing types depending on provision of high current or high voltage, with each having a energy sensor. Access to the batteries of differing types is controlled through a switch control processor selectively coupling batteries to one or more power grids depending upon a given battery's sensed energy. Access to the batteries of differing types is based on demands of vehicle operation. Based on such configuration, a swappable battery car station in communication with the battery car might then selectively replace batteries as needed.

Mobin, Fahim Usshihab (Orefield, PA, US); Mobin, Irfan Ahmad (Orefield, PA, US); Hughes, Ian Michael (Malvern, PA, US); Mobin, Dil Afroz (Orefield, PA, US)

1. Apparatus for powering a transporter having an electric motor powering a drive-train, comprising: a battery chamber configured to retain a plurality of battery modules, the plurality of battery modules including at least two battery types and wherein each battery module comprises a power level sensor and indicator; at least one power grid, one power grid coupled to and configured to provide power to the electric motor; a switch array coupled between the motor power grid and the plurality of battery modules; and a switch control processor coupled to the switch array and to each of the plurality of battery modules, the switch control processor configured to receive i) a corresponding energy level from each battery power level sensor and indicator, ii) a battery type identity, and iii) operational mode corresponding to the transporter, wherein the switch control processor selectively enables and disables switches of the switch array so as to selectively activate one or more batteries in a unidirectional, isolated connection manner so as to power the motor via the motor power grid; and wherein the switch control processor selectively activates the one or more battery modules based on the corresponding energy level from each battery power level sensor and indicator and the battery type identity for each battery so as to concurrently provide the power for the operational mode of the transporter while reducing a number of battery modules providing the power.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: the switch control processor selectively decommissions a battery module when the battery module energy threshold falls below a first energy level; and the switch control processor selectively commissions a battery module when the battery module energy threshold is above a second energy level, wherein, when selectively activating the one or more battery modules, the switch control processor selects from one or more commissioned battery modules.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein: a set of battery modules of the plurality of battery modules in said battery chamber is selectively replaceable; and each corresponding power level sensor and indicator is configured to indicate a decommissioned battery in said battery chamber, wherein a battery service station, based on an indication of a decommissioned battery, either i) replaces the decommissioned battery with a charged battery above the second energy level or ii) charges the decommissioned battery in the battery chamber.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein, when the battery service station either i) replaces the decommissioned battery with a charged battery above the second energy level or ii) charges the decommissioned battery in the battery chamber, the switch control processor selectively commissions each decommissioned battery module when the battery module energy threshold is above the second energy level.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: when the switch control processor selectively decommissions the battery module, the switch control processor is further configured to selectively designate the battery module next in usage queue as active, and when the switch control processor selectively commissions the battery module, the switch control processor is further configured to selectively place the battery module at an end of the battery usage queue.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the switch control processor selectively enables and disables switches of the switch array so as to selectively activate one or more batteries in a unidirectional, isolated connection manner so as to power the motor via the one power grid, the switch control processor is configured to selectively add or disconnect additional battery modules in accordance with a battery usage queue a demand for the power fluctuates based on the operational mode corresponding to the transporter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switch control processor sets each active battery of the usage queue in parallel connection as current demand increases.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switch control processor sets each active battery of the usage queue in series connection as voltage demand increases.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a battery energy status is indicated in a driver console with a plurality of color of first type if said battery energy is above a first threshold, a color of last type if said battery energy is below last threshold and a plurality of other colors corresponding to a plurality of other thresholds of said battery when below their respective thresholds.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a battery module of a first type is suitable for delivering short term high current and a battery module of a second type is suitable for delivering long term steady adjustable current.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each battery module of a given type is composed of one or more micro batteries connected to each other in series or in parallel form.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch control processor indicates to an operator a current requirement for the operational mode corresponding to the transporter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronic device grid, wherein: the switch control processor selectively enables and disables switches of the switch array so as to selectively activate one or more batteries in a unidirectional, isolated connection manner so as to power one or more electronic devices via the electronic device grid; and the switch control processor selectively activates the one or more battery modules based on the corresponding energy level from each battery power level sensor and indicator and the battery type identity for each battery so as to concurrently provide the power for the one or more electronic devices via the electronic device grid while reducing a number of battery modules providing the power.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a recharging grid, wherein: the switch control processor is further configured to selectively enable and disable switches of the switch array so as to selectively couple one or more battery modules to a recharging device via the recharging grid; and the switch control processor is configured to selectively couple the one or more battery modules to the corresponding recharging device based on the corresponding energy level from each battery power level sensor and indicator and the battery type identity for each battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication module, wherein: the switch control processor is further configured to select one or more battery modules to decommission and to indicate, via the wireless communication module to a battery service station, each decommissioned battery module with the corresponding battery type for replacement or recharging of each decommissioned battery module by the battery service station.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a geographic location module, wherein: the switch control processor is further configured to select a battery service station from a plurality of battery service stations based on a geographic location of the transporter provided by the geographic location module.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a geographic location module, wherein: the switch control processor is further configured to select the battery service station from the plurality of battery service stations based on an availability of each battery module type located at each of the plurality of battery service stations.

18. A battery service station comprising: a scanning device configured to identify a set of battery modules of the plurality of battery modules and types in said battery chamber for replacement or for charging, based on each corresponding power level sensor and indicator of the plurality of battery modules indicating a decommissioned battery in said battery chamber; and a crane configured to i) unlock and remove a decommissioned battery from said battery chamber; ii) insert and lock a new battery in said battery chamber; and ii) charge a battery module in said battery chamber; wherein the scanning device identifies each given type of battery module, and the battery service station, based on an indication of a decommissioned battery, either i) replaces the decommissioned battery with a charged battery above the second energy level of the given type or ii) charges the decommissioned battery in the battery chamber.

19. The battery service station of claim 17, further comprising a conveyer system, the conveyer system configured to provide new battery modules of a given type to the crane; and the conveyer system configured to remove the decommissioned batteries from the crane and provide the decommissioned batteries to a remote charging device.

20. A method of powering a transporter having an electric motor powering a drive-train, comprising: Retaining, with a battery chamber, a plurality of battery modules, the plurality of battery modules including at least two battery types and wherein each battery module comprises a power level sensor and indicator; providing power to the electric motor through at least one power grid coupled to the electric motor; providing a switch array coupled between the motor power grid and the plurality of battery modules; and receiving, by a switch control processor, i) a corresponding energy level from each battery power level sensor and indicator, ii) a battery type identity, and iii) operational mode corresponding to the transporter, the switch control processor coupled to the switch array and to each of the plurality of battery modules, selectively enabling and disabling, by the switch control processor, switches of the switch array so as to selectively activate one or more batteries in a unidirectional, isolated connection manner so as to power the motor via the motor power grid; and selectively activating, by the switch control processor, the one or more battery modules based on the corresponding energy level from each battery power level sensor and indicator and the battery type identity for each battery so as to concurrently provide the power for the operational mode of the transporter while reducing a number of battery modules providing the power.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, comprising: selectively decommissioning, by the switch control (processor, a battery module when the battery module energy threshold falls below a first energy level; and selectively commissioning, by the switch control processor, a battery module when the battery module energy threshold is above a second energy level, wherein, when selectively activating the one or more battery modules, the switch control processor selects from one or more commissioned battery modules.

307/91

60; 66

edspap.20120248868