VEHICULAR BATTERY CHARGER, CHARGING SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING BATTERY CHARGE THRESHOLD INFORMATION
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 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A system for charging a battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a controller configured to:
wirelessly receive, during charging of the battery with the battery charger, a level of charge of the battery, and
responsive to the level of charge of the battery reaching a predetermined threshold level of charge and before the charging of the battery is complete, generating a notification to a user indicating the predetermined threshold level of charge of the battery.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the controller is a portable controller remote from the vehicle and the battery charger.
23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the signal indicative of the level of charge of the battery is received from a transmitter of the battery charger.
24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the notification is an indicator on a display viewable by the user.
25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the display is electrically coupled to the controller.
26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the notification is at least one selected from a group consisting of a text and an e-mail.
27 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a signal to stop charging of the battery.
28 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured to receive, via a user-manipulatable control, data indicative of the predetermined threshold level of charge.
29 . A method of charging a battery of a vehicle, the method comprising:
wirelessly receiving, during charging of the battery, a level of charge of the battery;
comparing, during the charging of the battery, a level of charge of the battery to a predetermined threshold level of charge; and
generating and providing, during the charging of the battery and before charging of the battery is complete, a notification indicating that the level of charge of the battery has reached the predetermined threshold level of charge.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the notification includes data indicative of the level of charge of the battery.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein wirelessly receiving the level of charge of the battery includes wirelessly receiving the level of charge from a transmitter of a vehicular battery charger charging the battery at a portable controller, the portable controller remote from the vehicle and the vehicular battery charger.
32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the notification includes at least one selected from a group consisting of an e-mail and a text.
33 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising receiving, via a user-manipulatable control, data indicative of the predetermined threshold level of charge.
34 . A system for charging a battery of a vehicle and for wireless communication with a phone, the system comprising:
a phone wirelessly communicating with battery charger, the phone including a controller configured to:
wireless receiving, during the charging session, a level of charge of the battery from the battery charger,
compare, during the charging session, the level of charge of the battery to a predetermined threshold level of charge, and
responsive to detection of the level of charge of the battery reaching the predetermined threshold level of charge during the charging session and before charging of the battery is complete, generating a notification indicative of the level of charge being reached.
35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the notification indicative of the level of charge being reached is at least one selected from of a group consisting of a text and an e-mail.
36 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the phone is further configured to transmit a first signal to the battery charger to stop charging of the battery during the charging session.
37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the phone is further configured to transmit a second signal to the battery charger after transmitting the first signal to resume charging of the battery during the charging session.
38 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the battery charger is releasably attachable to the vehicle and the source of power and is portable as a single unit.
39 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the phone is further configured to receive a second signal indicative of an interruption of power to the battery charger during the charging session.
40 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the phone is configured to receive, via a user-manipulatable control, data indicative of the predetermined threshold level of charge.