Vehicular battery charger, charging system, and method using wireless communication with a portable controller
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 system for charging a battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a battery charger having an electrical power cord releasably attachable to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power;
a controller electrically coupled to the electrical power cord and configured to receive at least one signal indicative of a level of charge of the battery;
a transmitter and a receiver electrically coupled to the controller; and
a display configured to display a level of charge of the battery,
wherein the controller is further configured to receive, via the receiver electrically coupled to the controller,
a first wireless signal from a portable controller remote from the vehicle and the battery charger and including a signal to start programmed charging of the battery via the battery charger based on first user input received at the portable controller, and
a second wireless signal from the portable controller remote from the vehicle and the battery charger and including a signal to start manual charging of the battery via the battery charger based on second user input received at the portable controller, and start charging of the battery via the battery charger in response to receiving the signal to start manual charging of the battery, and
wherein the controller of the battery charger is configured to repeatedly send signals to update the level of charge of the battery on the display during a charging session, and
wherein the controller of the battery charger is configured to wirelessly send, with the transmitter, the level of charge of the battery to the portable controller.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the display is electrically coupled to the controller of the battery charger.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller of the battery charger is located in a housing of the battery charger located along the electrical power cord.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless signal is based at least in part upon a command entered by a user via the portable controller relating to a time of day.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a selector selectable by a user to enable and disable wireless communication with the portable controller.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the selector is provided via the display.
7 . A method of charging a battery of a vehicle with a battery charger, the method comprising:
receiving, with a controller coupled to the battery charger via a receiver electrically coupled to the controller, a first wireless signal from a portable controller remote from the vehicle and the battery charger and including a first signal to start a first charging session of the battery via the battery charger based on first user input received at the portable controller;
during the first charging session, receiving, with the controller, a second wireless signal based on second user input received at the portable controller and including a second signal to start a second charging session of the battery via the battery charger;
in response to receiving the second signal to start the second charging session of the battery, starting charging of the battery via the battery charger;
repeatedly, with the controller, sending signals to update a level of charge of the battery displayed on a display during a current charging session; and
wirelessly sending, with the controller, the level of charge of the battery to the portable controller.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the display is electrically coupled to the controller.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the controller of the battery charger is located in a housing of the battery charger located along an electrical power cord of the battery charger, the electrical power cord releasably attachable to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising disabling wireless communication with the portable controller based at least in part upon input received from a selector selectable by a user.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selector is provided via the display.
12 . A system for charging a battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a battery charger having an electrical power cord releasably attachable to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power;
a controller electrically coupled to the electrical power cord and configured to receive at least one signal indicative of a level of charge of the battery; and
a transmitter and a receiver electrically coupled to the controller; and
a display external to the vehicle and configured to display a level of charge of the battery,
wherein the controller of the battery charger is configured to repeatedly send signals to update the level of charge of the battery on the display during a programmed charging session,
wherein the controller of the battery charger is configured to wirelessly send, via the transmitter, the level of charge of the battery to a portable controller remote from the vehicle and the battery charger, and
wherein the controller is further configured to receive, via the receiver electrically coupled to the controller during the programmed charging session, a wireless signal from the portable controller, the wireless signal based on user input received at the portable controller including a signal to start charging of the battery, and start manual charging of the battery via the battery charger in response to receiving the signal to start charging of the battery.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller of the battery charger is located in a housing of the battery charger located along the electrical power cord.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the wireless signal is based at least in part upon a command entered by a user via the portable controller relating to a time of day.
15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a selector selectable by a user to enable and disable wireless communication with the portable controller.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the selector is provided via the display.