IP Library Granted Patent US 11,890,952
Granted Patent B2
US 11,890,952 · App. 16/821,951 · Granted Feb 6, 2024

Mobile transport for extracting and depositing energy

Inventor: Norman Lu (Fairview, TX)
Assignee: TOYOT MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
B60L53/12B60L53/65B60L53/305B60L58/12B60L2240/622B60L2240/72B60L2240/80B60L2250/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,890,952
App. No.
16/821,951
Granted
Feb 6, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example operation includes one or more of maneuvering, by a Mobile Energy Storage Unit (MESU), to a transport that is stationary for an amount of time, that is not currently being charged, that is at a distance between the transport and the MESU and that is within a timeframe for the MESU to reach the transport, and retrieving, by MESU, a minimum amount of energy from the transport.

Claims (43)

1. A method, comprising: maneuvering, by a Mobile Energy Storage Unit (MESU), to a transport that is: identified as available to transfer energy to the MESU based on the transport being stationary for a threshold amount of time, not currently being charged, at a distance between the transport and the MESU, and within a timeframe for the MESU to reach the transport; and retrieving, by the mobile energy storage unit, a minimum amount of energy from the transport.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

maneuvering, by the MESU, to another transport that previously did not have the minimum amount of energy but currently has the minimum amount of energy.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining, by the MESU, one or more of a current motion of the transport and an amount of time since the transport has been in motion.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining, by the MESU, the transport is not currently being charged when the transport is located in an area not proximate to a charging station.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum amount of energy is based on a decreasing usage related to an amount of time remaining in a period of time, and

wherein the period of time is related to a time of limited probable usage of the transport and an expiration of time remaining in the period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

stopping, by the MESU, the retrieving when one or more the following events occur on the transport:

an opening of a door of the transport;

a utilization of a seat belt of the transport; and

an interaction with an ignition of the transport.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

stopping, by the MESU, the retrieving when one or more of audio and gesture from an authorized user of the transport indicates that the retrieving should stop.

8. A Mobile Energy Storage Unit (MESU), comprising: a processor configured to: maneuver the MESU to a transport that is: identified as available to transfer energy to the MESU based on the transport being stationary for a threshold amount of time, not currently in a state of charge, at a distance between the transport and the MESU, and within a timeframe for the MESU to reach the transport; and retrieve a minimum amount of energy from the transport.

9. The MESU of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

maneuver to another transport that previously did not have the minimum amount of energy but currently has the minimum amount of energy.

10. The MESU of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine one or more of a current motion of the transport and an amount of time since the transport has been in motion.

11. The MESU of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine that the transport is not currently in a state of charge when the transport is located in an area not proximate to a charging station.

12. The MESU of claim 8 , wherein the minimum amount of energy is based on a decrease of usage related to an amount of time that remains in a period of time, and

wherein the period of time is related to a time of limited probable usage of the transport and an expiration of time that remains in the period of time.

13. The MESU of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

stop the retrieve when one or more the events occur on the transport:

an initiation of an open door of the transport;

a utilization of a seat belt of the transport; and

an interaction with an ignition of the transport.

14. The MESU of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

stop the retrieve when one or more of audio and gesture from an authorized user of the transport indicates that the retrieve should stop.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed by a processor of a Mobile Energy Storage Unit (MESU) cause the MESU to perform: maneuvering, by a Mobile Energy Storage Unit (MESU), to a transport that is: identified as available to transfer energy to the MESU based on the transport being stationary for a threshold amount of time, not currently being charged, that is at a distance between the transport and the MESU, and that is within a timeframe for the MESU to reach the transport; and retrieving, by the mobile energy storage unit, a minimum amount of energy from the transport.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the MESU to perform:

maneuvering to another transport that previously did not have the minimum amount of energy but currently has the minimum amount of energy.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the MESU to perform: determining one or more of a current motion of the transport and an amount of time since the transport has been in motion.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the MESU to perform: determining the transport is not currently being charged when the transport is located in an area not proximate to a charging station.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the minimum amount of energy is based on a decreasing usage related to an amount of time remaining in a period of time, and

wherein the period of time is related to a time of limited probable usage of the transport and an expiration of time remaining in the period of time.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the MESU to perform: stopping the retrieving when one or more the following event occurs on the transport:

an opening of a door of the transport;

a utilization of a seat belt of the transport; and

an interaction with an ignition of the transport.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: LU, NORMAN
To: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 052143/0595 →
Continuity (1)
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