Granted Patent B1

US 9,664,745 · App. 13/912,923 · Granted May 30, 2017

Inventor: Kenneth E Fearn (Winston-Salem, NC)

Assignee: Material Handling Services, LLC

G01R31/3648H02J7/007

Abstract

Claims (95)

1. In a system comprising, a battery data recorder, a battery charger and processing circuitry, a computer implemented method for automatically determining a charging profile for a battery, the method comprising:

accessing, via processing circuitry, historical battery information about a battery from a battery data recorder associated with the battery;

accessing, via processing circuitry, battery charging information about the battery from a battery charger associated with the battery;

accessing, via processing circuitry, a plurality of battery charging profiles;

selecting, via processing circuitry, one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the accessed historical battery information and the battery charging information; and

outputting information indicating the selected battery charging profile for the battery.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the selected battery charging profile to the battery charger; and

charging the battery responsive to the transmitted battery charging profile.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the historical battery information is comprised of information about at least one or more of the following: electrolyte levels, voltage during battery discharging, voltage at a beginning of a charging cycle, voltage during a battery charging cycle, voltage at an end of a charging cycle, battery temperature during battery discharging, battery temperature at a beginning of a charging cycle, battery temperature during a battery charging cycle, battery temperature at an end of a charging cycle, battery discharge time, battery idle time, battery charge time, battery ampere hours consumed, battery ampere hours returned, and frequency and schedule of equalization charges.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery charging information is comprised of information about a battery charger's technical specifications, wherein the information about the battery charger's technical specifications is comprised of information about one ore more adjustable parameters for the battery charger, wherein each of the one or more adjustable parameters is one or more of the following: current, voltage and duration of one or more charging phases, and an upper limit and a lower limit of current and voltage for each charging phase.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein battery charging information is further comprised of information identifying one or more battery charging profiles that can be executed by a battery charger.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery charging information is further comprised of information about one or more of the following: a number of charging cycles performed by the battery charger, information about one or more interruption events, information about a number of complete charging cycles, information about a number of complete charging cycles, information about a temperature of a battery during a charging cycle, information about a temperature of a battery charger during a charging cycle, information about each type of battery that has been connected to and charged by the battery charger, information about length of time to charge a battery, information about a number of connections to a battery, information about an amount of time a battery charger is connected to a battery, information about an amount of kilowatt hours consumed during a battery charging event, and information about a number of ampere hours returned by a battery charger to a battery.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing, via processing circuitry, battery application information; and

selecting, via processing circuitry, one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the accessed battery application information.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the battery application information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: information about a type of electric vehicle powered by the battery, an amount of time a vehicle has been powered by the battery, fleet size information, wherein the fleet size information is information about a number of battery powered vehicles at one or more locations, fleet composition information, wherein fleet composition information is information about each type of battery powered vehicle in a fleet, vehicle use or application information, overall charging profile information, wherein overall charging profile information is information about whether a battery may be fast charged, opportunity charged or charged in a battery room, information about operating hours for a battery powered vehicle, information about ampere hour usage for a battery powered vehicle, information about a battery's state-of-charge as recorded by a battery power vehicle's battery discharge device or meter, information identifying an operator of a battery powered vehicle, information about a department of operation associated with a battery powered vehicle, information about a location of a battery powered vehicle and information about an operating schedule for a fleet of battery powered vehicles.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the battery application information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: maintenance performed on a battery, a repair to a battery, a battery condition and a battery malfunction.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the battery application information is received from one or more vehicle sensors.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing, via processing circuitry, battery environment information; and

selecting, via processing circuitry, one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the accessed battery environment information.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery environment information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: ambient temperature, ambient humidity and hydrogen emissions.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery environment information is received from one or more environmental sensors.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery charging profiles is comprised of information about at least one of the following battery charger parameters: charge time, voltage and current.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery charging profiles is comprised of information about one or more charging phases, and information about each of the one or more charging phases may include information about a phase current, a phase voltage and an amount of time a battery should be charged with the phase current and the phase voltage.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of sending the battery charging profile to the battery charger is comprised of sending the battery charging profile via an interface to the battery charger.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the interface to the battery charger is an application programming interface.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a battery charging profile for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the historical battery information and the battery charging information.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the battery application information.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the battery environment information.

21. A computer implemented system for automatically determining a charging profile for a battery, the system comprising:

a computer memory, wherein the computer memory stores historical battery information about a battery from a battery data recorder associated with the battery, battery charging information about the battery from a battery charger associated with the battery and a plurality of battery charging profiles;

a computer processor, wherein the computer processor is configured to

select one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to historical battery information and the battery charging information; and

output information indicating the selected battery charging profile for the battery.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to:

transmit the selected battery charging profile to the battery charger; and

charge the battery responsive to the transmitted battery charging profile.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the historical battery information is comprised of information about at least one or more of the following: electrolyte levels, voltage during battery discharging, voltage at a beginning of a charging cycle, voltage during a battery charging cycle, voltage at an end of a charging cycle, battery temperature during battery discharging, battery temperature at a beginning of a charging cycle, battery temperature during a battery charging cycle, battery temperature at an end of a charging cycle, battery discharge time, battery idle time, battery charge time, battery ampere hours consumed, battery ampere hours returned, and frequency and schedule of equalization charges.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the battery charging information is comprised of information about a battery charger's technical specifications, wherein the information about the battery charger's technical specifications is comprised of information about one ore more adjustable parameters for the battery charger, wherein each of the one or more adjustable parameters is one or more of the following: current, voltage and duration of one or more charging phases, and an upper limit and a lower limit of current and voltage for each charging phase.

25. The system of claim 21 , wherein battery charging information is further comprised of information identifying one or more battery charging profiles that can be executed by a battery charger.

26. The system of claim 1 , wherein the battery charging information is further comprised of information about one or more of the following: a number of charging cycles performed by the battery charger, information about one or more interruption events, information about a number of complete charging cycles, information about a number of complete charging cycles, information about a temperature of a battery during a charging cycle, information about a temperature of a battery charger during a charging cycle, information about each type of battery that has been connected to and charged by the battery charger, information about length of time to charge a battery, information about a number of connections to a battery, information about an amount of time a battery charger is connected to a battery, information about an amount of kilowatt hours consumed during a battery charging event, and information about a number of ampere hours returned by a battery charger to a battery.

27. The system of claim 21 , wherein:

the computer memory stores battery application information; and

the computer processor is further configured to select one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the battery application information.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the battery application information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: information about a type of electric vehicle powered by the battery, an amount of time a vehicle has been powered by the battery, fleet size information, wherein the fleet size information is information about a number of battery powered vehicles at one or more locations, fleet composition information, wherein fleet composition information is information about each type of battery powered vehicle in a fleet, vehicle use or application information, overall charging profile information, wherein overall charging profile information is information about whether a battery may be fast charged, opportunity charged or charged in a battery room, information about operating hours for a battery powered vehicle, information about ampere hour usage for a battery powered vehicle, information about a battery's state-of-charge as recorded by a battery power vehicle's battery discharge device or meter, information identifying an operator of a battery powered vehicle, information about a department of operation associated with a battery powered vehicle, information about a location of a battery powered vehicle and information about an operating schedule for a fleet of battery powered vehicles.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the battery application information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: maintenance performed on a battery, a repair to a battery, a battery condition and a battery malfunction.

30. The system of claim 27 , wherein the battery application information is received from one or more vehicle sensors.

31. The system of claim 21 , wherein:

the computer memory for stores battery environment information; and

the computer processor is further configured to select one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the battery environment information.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the battery environment information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: ambient temperature, ambient humidity and hydrogen emissions.

33. The system of claim 31 , wherein the battery environment information is received from one or more environmental sensors.

34. The system of claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of battery charging profiles is comprised of information about at least one of the following battery charger parameters: charge time, voltage and current.

35. The system of claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of battery charging profiles is comprised of information about one or more charging phases, and information about each of the one or more charging phases may include information about a phase current, a phase voltage and an amount of time a battery should be charged with the phase current and the phase voltage.

36. The system of claim 31 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to send the selected battery charging profile via an interface to the battery charger.

37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the interface to the battery charger is an application programming interface.

38. The system of claim 31 , wherein:

the computer processor is further configure to create a battery charging profile for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the historical battery information and the battery charging information.

39. The system of claim 38 , wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the battery application information.

40. The system of claim 38 , wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the battery environment information.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for automatically determining a charging profile for a battery, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

access historical battery information about a battery from a battery data recorder associated with the battery;

access battery charging information about the battery from a battery charger associated with the battery;

access a plurality of battery charging profiles;

select one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the accessed historical battery information and the battery charging information; and

output information indicating the selected battery charging profile for the battery.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , further comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

transmit the selected battery charging profile to the battery charger; and

charge the battery responsive to the transmitted battery charging profile.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the historical battery information is comprised of information about at least one or more of the following: electrolyte levels, voltage during battery discharging, voltage at a beginning of a charging cycle, voltage during a battery charging cycle, voltage at an end of a charging cycle, battery temperature during battery discharging, battery temperature at a beginning of a charging cycle, battery temperature during a battery charging cycle, battery temperature at an end of a charging cycle, battery discharge time, battery idle time, battery charge time, battery ampere hours consumed, battery ampere hours returned, and frequency and schedule of equalization charges.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the battery charging information is comprised of information about a battery charger's technical specifications, wherein the information about the battery charger's technical specifications is comprised of information about one ore more adjustable parameters for the battery charger, wherein each of the one or more adjustable parameters is one or more of the following: current, voltage and duration of one or more charging phases, and an upper limit and a lower limit of current and voltage for each charging phase.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein battery charging information is further comprised of information identifying one or more battery charging profiles that can be executed by a battery charger.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the battery charging information is further comprised of information about one or more of the following: a number of charging cycles performed by the battery charger, information about one or more interruption events, information about a number of complete charging cycles, information about a number of complete charging cycles, information about a temperature of a battery during a charging cycle, information about a temperature of a battery charger during a charging cycle, information about each type of battery that has been connected to and charged by the battery charger, information about length of time to charge a battery, information about a number of connections to a battery, information about an amount of time a battery charger is connected to a battery, information about an amount of kilowatt hours consumed during a battery charging event, and information about a number of ampere hours returned by a battery charger to a battery.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , further comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

access battery application information; and

select one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the accessed battery application information.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 47 , wherein the battery application information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: information about a type of electric vehicle powered by the battery, an amount of time a vehicle has been powered by the battery, fleet size information, wherein the fleet size information is information about a number of battery powered vehicles at one or more locations, fleet composition information, wherein fleet composition information is information about each type of battery powered vehicle in a fleet, vehicle use or application information, overall charging profile information, wherein overall charging profile information is information about whether a battery may be fast charged, opportunity charged or charged in a battery room, information about operating hours for a battery powered vehicle, information about ampere hour usage for a battery powered vehicle, information about a battery's state-of-charge as recorded by a battery power vehicle's battery discharge device or meter, information identifying an operator of a battery powered vehicle, information about a department of operation associated with a battery powered vehicle, information about a location of a battery powered vehicle and information about an operating schedule for a fleet of battery powered vehicles.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 47 , wherein the battery application information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: maintenance performed on a battery, a repair to a battery, a battery condition and a battery malfunction.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 47 , wherein the battery application information is received from one or more vehicle sensors.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , further comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

access battery environment information; and

select one of the plurality of battery charging profiles for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is selected in response to the accessed battery environment information.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the battery environment information is comprised of information about at least one of the following: ambient temperature, ambient humidity and hydrogen emissions.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the battery environment information is received from one or more environmental sensors.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of battery charging profiles is comprised of information about at least one of the following battery charger parameters: charge time, voltage and current.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of battery charging profiles is comprised of information about one or more charging phases, and information about each of the one or more charging phases may include information about a phase current, a phase voltage and an amount of time a battery should be charged with the phase current and the phase voltage.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the step of sending the battery charging profile to the battery charger is comprised of sending the battery charging profile via an interface to the battery charger.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 56 , wherein the interface to the battery charger is an application programming interface.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 41 , further comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

create a battery charging profile for the battery, wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the historical battery information and the battery charging information.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 58 , wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the battery application information.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 58 , wherein the battery charging profile is created responsive to the battery environment information.

Assignments (19)