VEHICULAR BATTERY CHARGER, CHARGING SYSTEM, AND METHOD
A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.
1 . A vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle and adapted for communication with a first controller remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, the vehicle charger comprising:
an electrical power cord releasably attachable to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power;
a second controller electrically coupled to the electrical power cord; and
at least one of a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the second controller and adapted for communication with the first controller,
the second controller responsive to at least one signal from the first controller by changing a charging state of the vehicle charger.
2 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , wherein the electrical power cord is releasably attachable to the vehicle and the source of power.
3 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , further comprising a housing in which the second controller is located, the housing coupled to and at least partially located between opposite ends of the electrical power cord.
4 . The vehicle charger of claim 3 , wherein the housing at least partially defines one of the opposite ends of the electrical power cord.
5 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , wherein the second controller is adapted for communication with the first controller over the electrical power cord.
6 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , wherein the second controller is adapted for wireless communication with the first controller via the at least one of the transmitter and receiver.
7 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , wherein the second controller is adapted for automatic establishment of communication with the first controller upon connection of the vehicle charger with at least one of the battery and the source of power.
8 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , wherein the second controller is adapted for communication with a computer receiving electric power information from the Internet.
9 . The vehicle charger of claim 8 , wherein the second controller is adapted for wireless communication with the computer via the at least one of the transmitter and receiver.
10 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle charger has a first charging state in which the vehicle charger is not charging the battery, and a second charging state in which the vehicle charger is charging the battery.
11 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the second controller, the display displaying a level of charge of the battery.
12 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the second controller, the display displaying an amount of time for the battery to be fully charged based upon information regarding the battery received by the second controller.
13 . The vehicle charger of claim 12 , wherein the amount of time is an amount of time that is estimated by the second controller or received by the second controller.
14 . The vehicle charger of claim 13 , wherein the amount of time is updated on the display by the second controller during a charge session.
15 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the second controller, the display displaying an amount of power consumed by the battery during a vehicle charging session.
16 . The vehicle charger of claim 15 , wherein the amount of power consumed by the battery is an amount of power that is estimated by the second controller or is received by the second controller.
17 . The vehicle charger of claim 16 , wherein the amount of power consumed is updated on the display by the second controller during the charging session.
18 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , further comprising a display displaying a cost of power to the battery per unit time.
19 . The vehicle charger of claim 18 , wherein the cost of power to the battery is received from the second controller by the first controller.
20 . The vehicle charger of claim 1 , further comprising a display displaying a total power cost of a charging session.