Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
1
ELECTRIC VEHICLE, BATTERY CHARGING STATION, BATTERY
EXCHANGING RESERVATION SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME AND
METHOD THEREOF
Technical Field
The present invention relates to reservation of
exchange of batteries of electric vehicles, and more
particularly, to technology for reserving exchange of
batteries of electric vehicles so that the batteries can
be exchanged easily, conveniently, and quickly.
Background Art
Vehicles are indispensable to everyday living or
social activities, and use fossil fuels (e.g. petroleum)
as their energy source. However, fossil fuels have
limited deposits, which are being depleted as time
passes by, and the prices are on the rise.
Particularly, fossil fuels discharge, when used,
not only exhaust gases, which contaminate atmosphere
environments, but also a large amount of carbon oxide,
which is a major cause of global warming. Therefore,
there have been global research and development
activities to reduce carbon emission throughout the
entire industries, and electric vehicles have been
developed, which use electricity as their energy source,
as a result of such efforts.
Electric vehicles include battery-powered electric
vehicles, which are solely powered by electricity,
hybrid electric vehicles, which use both motors and
engines, and fuel cell electric vehicles. In addition,
widespread use of electric vehicles requires
construction of a charging infrastructure, which enables
easy charging at any time and location, and relevant
research is in progress.
However, unlike conventional vehicles using
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
2
petroleum (gasoline, light oil, etc.) or natural gas,
electric vehicles charge their batteries in a plug-in
type, meaning that consumers need to wait for a long
time, which inconveniences the consumers and degrades
economic merits of charging facility operators.
In an attempt to solve the above-mentioned
problem, it has recently been proposed that, instead of
charging the battery of an electric vehicle, a battery
be charged in advance, and the fully-charged battery
replace a depleted one (hereinafter, referred to as a
battery exchange type).
Such a battery exchange type is advantageous in
that, when a consumer visits a charging station to
charge the battery, he/she can exchange the depleted
battery with a fully-charged one and mount it. This
requires no charging time and thus conveniences the
consumer.
However, batteries are expensive, and efficient
resource utilization requires management of batteries
exchanged in charging stations. For example, when
vehicles concentrate on a specific charging station,
there may not be sufficient batteries, making some
consumers visit in vain. In the opposite case, batteries
may be left unused for a long period of time.
Furthermore, when battery exchange-type electric
vehicles are used as electric buses traveling along a
predetermined line, they need charging stations capable
of convenient and rapid battery exchange.
Disclosure
Technical Problem
Therefore, the present invention has been made in
view of the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of
the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle,
a battery charging station, and a system and a method
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
3
for reserving battery exchange in such a manner that,
based on the battery power level of the electric
vehicle, a battery charging station existing along the
route of travel is requested to provide battery
information, which is used to reserve battery exchange,
thereby guaranteeing more efficient and convenient
battery exchange.
Technical solution
In accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an electric vehicle
including a power level detection unit adapted to detect
a power level of a battery mounted on the electric
vehicle; a communication unit adapted to communicate
with a battery charging station; and a control unit
adapted to determine a battery charging station, in
which the battery of the electric vehicle is to be
exchanged, based on the power level of the battery and a
route of travel of the electric vehicle and transmit a
battery exchange reservation command to the determined
battery charging station.
The control unit may be adapted to monitor a
traveling distance of the electric vehicle based on the
battery power level, communicate with a battery charging
station corresponding to the route of travel of the
electric vehicle to acquire information regarding
whether the battery of the electric vehicle can be
exchanged or not, and determine the battery charging
station in which the battery of the electric vehicle is
to be exchanged.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an electric vehicle
including a power level detection unit adapted to detect
a power level of a battery mounted on the electric
vehicle; a user input unit adapted to enable user input;
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
4
a communication unit adapted to communicate with a
battery charging station; and a control unit adapted to
recommend a battery charging station, in which the
battery of the electric vehicle can be exchanged, to the
user based on the power level of the battery and a route
of travel of the electric vehicle and transmit a battery
exchange reservation command to the battery charging
station selected by the user.
The control unit may be adapted to monitor a
traveling distance of the electric vehicle based on the
battery power level, communicate with a battery charging
station corresponding to the route of travel of the
electric vehicle to acquire information regarding
whether the battery of the electric vehicle can be
exchanged or not, and recommend a battery charging
station, in which the battery of the electric vehicle
can be exchanged, to the user.
The control unit may be adapted to provide the
user with a charging request message when the power
level of the battery is below a threshold.
The communication unit may be adapted to
communicate with an external source and acquire
information regarding traffic conditions along the route
of travel, and the control unit may be adapted to
calculate the traveling distance based on the traffic
conditions and the battery power level.
The control unit may be adapted to transmit
information regarding the battery mounted on the
electric vehicle to the battery charging station and
request the battery charging station to confirm whether
there exists a battery that can be mounted on the
electric vehicle or not.
The electric vehicle includes an electric bus
traveling along a line, the battery charging station is
installed at a bus stop, and the control unit is adapted
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
to select the battery charging station, which
corresponds to the traveling line of the electric bus,
as a reservation target.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
5 invention, there is provided an electric vehicle battery
charging station including a battery storage unit
adapted to contain a chargeable battery mounted on a
battery mounting module of an electric vehicle; a
database unit adapted to store information regarding the
type, amount, and charging state of the battery
contained in the battery storage unit and reservation
particulars; a communication unit adapted to communicate
with the electric vehicle; and a reservation management
unit adapted to extract information regarding a
reservable battery from the database, provide the
electric vehicle with the extracted information, receive
a reservation command from the electric vehicle, and
update reservation information in the database unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an electric vehicle battery
exchange reservation system including an electric
vehicle including a power level detection unit adapted
to detect a power level of a battery mounted on the
electric vehicle, a communication unit adapted to
communicate with a battery charging station, and a
control unit adapted to determine a battery charging
station, in which the battery of the electric vehicle is
to be exchanged, based on the power level of the battery
and a route of travel of the electric vehicle and
transmit a battery exchange reservation command to the
determined battery charging station; and a battery
charging station including a battery storage unit
adapted to contain a chargeable battery mounted on the
electric vehicle, a database unit adapted to store
information regarding the type, amount, and charging
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
6
state of the battery contained in the battery storage
unit and reservation particulars, a communication unit
adapted to communicate with the electric vehicle, and a
reservation management unit adapted to extract
information regarding a reservable battery corresponding
to the battery already mounted on the electric vehicle
from the database unit, provide the electric vehicle
with the extracted information, receive a reservation
command from the electric vehicle, and update
reservation information in the database unit.
The electric vehicle includes an electric bus
traveling along a line, the battery charging station is
installed at a bus stop, and the control unit is adapted
to select the battery charging station, which
corresponds to the traveling line of the electric bus,
as a reservation target.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of reserving
exchange of a battery of an electric vehicle, including
the steps of detecting a power level of a battery
mounted on an electric vehicle; asking, by the electric
vehicle, a battery charging station, which exists along
a route of travel, whether exchange reservation is
possible or not; confirming, by the battery charging
station, whether reservation of a battery mountable on
the electric vehicle is possible or not and transmitting
a reply to the electric vehicle; requesting, by the
electric vehicle, the battery charging station to
reserve battery exchange, when the battery charging
station has replied that reservation is possible, and
providing the user with reservation information; and
updating, by the battery charging station, battery
exchange reservation information.
The method of reserving exchange of a battery of
an electric vehicle may further include the steps of
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
7
confirming, by the battery charging station, whether the
electric vehicle, when entering into the battery
charging station, has made reservation or not based on
identification information regarding the electric
vehicle; transmitting an entry grant signal to the
electric vehicle when reservation information regarding
the electric vehicle exists; confirming an entry
position, when the electric vehicle enters into the
battery charging station, and transmitting a
confirmation signal to the electric vehicle; opening a
door of a battery mounting module installed on top of
the electric vehicle; sealing the battery mounting
module by lowering a protection guide installed in the
battery charging station; and exchanging the battery.
The method of reserving exchange of a battery of
an electric vehicle may further include the steps of
confirming, by the battery charging station, whether the
electric vehicle, when entering into the battery
charging station, has made reservation or not based on
identification information regarding the electric
vehicle; transmitting an entry grant signal to the
electric vehicle when reservation information regarding
the electric vehicle exists; confirming an entry
position, when the electric vehicle enters into the
battery charging station, and transmitting a
confirmation signal to the electric vehicle; sealing the
battery mounting module by lowering a protection guide
installed in the battery charging station; opening a
door of a battery mounting module installed on top of
the electric vehicle; and exchanging the battery.
Advantageous Effects
The electric vehicle, the battery charging
station, and the system and method for reserving battery
exchange according to the present invention are
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
8
advantageous in that, based on the battery power level
of the electric vehicle, a battery charging station
existing along the route of travel is requested to
provide battery information, which is used to reserve
battery exchange, so that batteries can be exchanged
more efficiently and conveniently.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for
reserving exchange of batteries of electric vehicles
according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic control block diagram of the
system for reserving exchange of batteries of electric
vehicles shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle and a battery
charging station according to the first embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle and a battery
charging station according to a second embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle and a battery
charging station according to a third embodiment of the
present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle and a battery
charging station according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a battery exchange
reservation system according to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention;
FIGs. 8 and 9 illustrate a schematic construction
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
9
of a battery exchange reservation system for an electric
vehicle; and
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
by a battery exchange reservation system according to a
fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for
reserving exchange of batteries of electric vehicles
according to a first embodiment of the present
invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic control block
diagram of the system for reserving exchange of
batteries of electric vehicles shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, a system for reserving
exchange of a battery of an electric vehicle 100
according to a first embodiment of the present invention
includes an electric vehicle 100 and a battery charging
station 200.
The electric vehicle 100 according to the present
embodiment includes a power level detection unit 110, a
communication unit 120, and a control unit 130.
The power level detection unit 110 is adapted to
detect the power level of the battery mounted on the
electric vehicle 100, and can be implemented by a
battery voltage/current measurement sensor and a power
level calculation algorithm. For example, the battery
power level is calculated by measuring the voltage of
the battery and applying a prediction model in
connection with pre-stored correlation between the
voltage and power level.
The communication unit 120 is adapted to enable
communication between the electric vehicle 100 and an
external device, and can be implemented by a wireless
communication module. Various wireless communication
schemes, including CDMA, can be employed for wireless
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
communication by the communication unit 120. .
The control unit 130 is adapted to interwork with
the power level detection unit 110 and the communication
unit 120 so that, based on the battery power level, it
5 communicates with a battery charging station 200
existing along the route of travel and reserve battery
exchange, and can be implemented by a processor, a
controller, and a control command.
The operation process of the control unit 130 can
10 be variously programmed depending on the user (driver)
convenience and application environment, as will be
described later in detail.
Referring to FIG. 2 again, the battery charging
station 200 according to the present embodiment includes
a battery storage unit 210, a communication unit 220, a
database unit 230, and a reservation management unit
240.
The battery storage unit 210 is installed in the
battery charging station 200 to store fully-charged and
depleted batteries used during battery exchange
operations, and can be configured variously, e.g. in a
stacking type, in a parallel type, in a combined type of
both, etc. The battery storage unit 210 may include a
charging module so that batteries can be charged at the
location of storage.
The communication unit 220 is adapted to
communication with an external device, and can be
implemented by a wireless communication module. Various
wireless communication schemes, including CDMA, can be
employed for wireless communication by the communication
unit 220.
The database unit 230 is adapted to store
information regarding the type of batteries stored in
the battery storage unit 210, their amount, charging
state, and reservation particulars, and can be
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
11
implemented by various storage media.
The reservation management unit 240 is adapted to
interwork with the communication unit 220 and the
database unit 230 so as to extract information regarding
reservable batteries from the database, provide the
electric vehicle 100 with the extracted information,
receive a reservation command from the electric vehicle
100, process the reservation, and update information in
the database unit 230, and can be implemented by a
processor, a controller, and a control command.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle 100 and a battery
charging station 200 according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, the electric vehicle 100
monitors the power level of the mounted battery (S10).
The electric vehicle 100 may show the battery power
level on the display so that the driver is informed of
it. The electric vehicle 100 may also calculate the
estimated traveling distance based on the battery power
level and inform the user of it. Besides the battery
power level, the current traffic condition may also be
considered to calculate the estimated traveling
distance.
The battery charging station 200 monitors the type
of batteries stored in the battery storage unit 210,
their amount, charging state, etc. and update relevant
information in the database (S20). The battery status
information in the database unit 230 can be updated
automatically based on interworking with the battery
storage unit 210 or a separate battery charging
management module (not shown) or, if necessary, updated
by the administrator.
The electric vehicle 100 requests a battery
charging station 200, which exists along the route of
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
12
travel, to provide battery information, based on the
battery power level (S12).
For example, the electric vehicle 100 can be
programmed so that, when the battery power level drops
below a threshold (S11), it automatically requests a
battery charging station 200, which exists along the
route of travel of the electric vehicle 100, to provide
information regarding whether the battery can be
exchanged or not, etc. For example, the electric vehicle
100 can be programmed to automatically reserve battery
exchange when the battery power level is below 15% or
10%.
The electric vehicle 100 can be set up to request
only one charging station, which is closest along the
route of travel, to provide information or request a
number of charging stations existing along the route of
travel to provide the same information. The electric
vehicle 100 transmits information regarding its
identification, information regarding the type of the
mounted battery, etc. to the battery charging station
200.
The battery charging station 200, in response to
the information request of the electric vehicle 100,
extracts battery status information stored in the
database unit 230 and transmits the information to the
electric vehicle 100 (S13). For example, the battery
charging station 200 transmits information regarding
whether battery exchange reservation is possible or not,
which is inquired by the electric vehicle 100, as well
as information regarding the number of additional
batteries available, to the electric vehicle 100.
The electric vehicle 100 receives information
regarding whether reservation is possible or not from
the battery charging station 200, determines a charging
station, in which the battery is to be exchanged, from
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
13
reservable charging stations, and transmits a
reservation command to the corresponding battery
charging station 200 (S14).
The battery charging station 200, upon receiving
the reservation command, sets up a reservation to
exchange the battery of the corresponding electric
vehicle 100 and transmits a confirmation signal to the
electric vehicle 100 (S15). The electric vehicle 100
provides the user (driver) with the reservation
information (e.g. name and location of the battery
charging station 200) to guide the battery exchange. The
electric vehicle 100 can also guide the travel to the
reserved battery charging station 200.
The battery charging station 200 stores the
reservation information in the database unit 230 to
update information regarding the battery status and
reservation particulars (S20).
As such, a charging station existing along the
route of travel is asked about whether the battery,
which is mounted on the electric vehicle 100, can be
exchanged now or not, based on the battery type, and an
exchange reservation can be made based on the reply.
This improves user convenience and guarantees efficient
battery management/use.
An example of application of the above-mentioned
process of FIG. 3 to an electric bus traveling along a
predetermined line will now be described with reference
to FIG. 3. The battery charging station 200 is installed
at a bus stop so that the battery can be exchanged while
passengers are getting on or off the bus.
When the battery power level is below a threshold
(S11), the electric bus asks a battery charging station
200, which is at the next but stop along the line,
whether the battery can be exchanged or not (S12). The
electric bus can either ask the closest battery charging
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
14
station 200 or ask a number of battery charging stations
200, which come after the current location along the
line, the same inquiry.
When the electric bus receives a reply regarding
whether reservation is possible or not from the battery
charging station 200 (S13), it transmits a reservation
command to one of the reservable battery charging
stations 200 (S14).
The electric bus can determine a battery charging
station 200 in various manners: it can select a battery
charging station 200 located at the closest next bus
stop along the line, or let the user determine it, for
example.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle 100 and a battery
charging station 200 according to a second embodiment of
the present invention. The construction of the present
embodiment is similar to that described with reference
to FIGs. 1 and 2, and repeated description of the
previous embodiment will be omitted herein.
Referring to FIG. 2, the electric vehicle 100
according to the present embodiment further includes a
user input unit 140. The user input unit 140 is adapted
to receive the user's input, and can be implemented by
various user interface means, such as buttons, touch
screens, joysticks, user menu programs, etc.
Referring to FIG. 4, the electric vehicle 100
detects the battery power level and displays it to the
user (S40). The battery charging station 200 monitors
the type of batteries stored in the battery storage unit
210, their amount, charging state, etc. and updates
relevant information in the database (S20).
The user can make a battery exchange request
through the user input unit 140 of the electric vehicle
100, based on consideration of the battery power level,
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
etc. (S41).
The electric vehicle 100, in response to the
user's input, requests a battery charging station 200,
which exists along the route of travel, to provide
5 information regarding whether reservation is possible or
not (S42). When the user makes no exchange request, the
electric vehicle 100 can automatically proceed to step
S42, when the power level is below a threshold, as in
the case of the first embodiment.
10 The battery
charging station 200, in response to
the information request of the electric vehicle 100,
extracts battery status information stored in the
database unit 230 and transmits information regarding
whether reservation is possible or not for the
15 corresponding battery type to the electric vehicle 100
(S43).
The electric vehicle 100, after receiving the
information regarding whether reservation is possible or
not from the battery charging station 200, recommends a
reservable charging station to the user (S44).
For example, when the electric vehicle 100 has
asked a battery charging station 200, which comes next
along the route of travel, about whether reservation is
possible or not and then received a reply that there is
an available battery and thus reservation is possible,
the electric vehicle 100 recommends the corresponding
battery changing station 200 to the user and asks
whether he/she wants to reserve it or not.
For another example, when the electric vehicle 100
has asked three charging stations, which are close along
the route of travel, whether reservation is possible or
not and then received replies from two of them that
there is an available battery and thus reservation is
possible, the electric vehicle 100 recommends the
corresponding battery charging stations 200 to the user.
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
16
It is also possible to inform the user of the battery
charging station 200, which has replied that there is no
fully-charged battery available, by displaying the fact.
For example, when the battery charging station 200 has
replied that there is no battery available because no
battery has been fully charged, the electric vehicle
informs the user of how long it will take to fully
charge the battery, etc.
It is possible to display the recommended charging
stations on the map so that the user can easily locate
them. Furthermore, besides the location, it is also
possible to display the ongoing battery exchange in the
corresponding charging station, reservation particulars,
etc. so that the user can select the least crowded
charging station.
When the user selects the recommended battery
charging station 200 or chooses one from them (545), the
electric vehicle 100 transmits a reservation command to
the corresponding battery charging station 200 (546).
The user may select a battery charging station 200
having no fully-charged battery. For example, when the
user is informed that the battery charging station 200
currently has no fully-charged battery but is also
informed of how long it will take to fully charge a
battery, the user may want to wait and exchange the
battery at the corresponding battery charging station
200. In such a case, the user can select the
corresponding battery charging station 200 and make
reservation.
The battery charging station 200, upon receiving
the reservation command, sets up a reservation to
exchange the battery of the corresponding electric
vehicle 100 and transmits a confirmation signal to the
electric vehicle 100 (S47). The electric vehicle 100
informs the user of the name, location, etc. of the
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
17
reserved battery charging station 200 (S48) to guide the
battery exchange.
The battery charging station 200 stores the
reservation information in the database unit 230 to
update information regarding the battery status and
reservation particulars (S20).
The present embodiment enables the user to reserve
exchange and select a battery charging station 200 as
desired, thereby improving user convenience.
An example of application of the above-mentioned
process of FIG. 4 to an electric bus traveling along a
predetermined line will now be described with reference
to FIG. 4 again. The battery charging station 200 is
installed at a bus stop so that batteries can be
exchanged while passengers are getting on or off the
bus.
The electric bus monitors the battery power level
and displays it to the driver (S40). The driver checks
the battery power level and presses a menu button of the
user input unit 140 to request battery exchange (S41).
The control unit 130 then asks a battery charging
station 200, which is located at the next bus stop along
the line, whether battery exchange is possible or not
(S42). The control unit 130 may either ask the closest
battery charging station 200 or ask a number of battery
charging stations 200, which come next the current
location along the line, the same inquiry.
The electric bus, upon receiving a reply regarding
whether reservation is possible or not from the battery
charging station 200 (S43), informs the user of
reservable battery charging stations 200 by displaying
them (S44).
When the user selects a desired battery charging
station from recommended battery charging stations 200
(S45), a reservation request is transmitted to the
CA 02781348 2014-03-20
18
corresponding battery charging station 200 (S46).
It is possible that the user does not determine a
battery charging station 200, but the control unit 130
of the electric vehicle determines a suitable battery
charging station 200 and informs the user of it, as in
the case of FIG. 3. The electric bus can determine a
battery charging station 200 in various manners: it can
determine a battery charging station 200 located at the
closest next bus stop along the line or let the user
determine it, etc.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle 100 and a battery
charging station 200 according to a third embodiment of
the present invention. The construction of the present
embodiment is similar to that shown in FIGs. 1 and 2,
and repeated description of the previous embodiment will
be omitted herein.
Referring to FIG. 5, the electric vehicle 100
detects the battery power level and displays it to the
user (S50). The battery charging station 200 monitors
the type of batteries stored in the battery storage unit
210, their amount, charging state, etc. and updates
relevant information in the database (S20).
The electric vehicle 100, when the battery power
level is below a threshold (S51), requests a battery
charging station 200, which exists along the route of
travel, to provide information regarding whether
reservation is possible or not (552).
The battery charging station 200, in response to
the information request of the electric vehicle 100,
extracts battery status information stored in the
database unit 230 and transmits information regarding
whether the corresponding battery type can be reserved
or not to the electric vehicle 100 (S53)-
The electric vehicle 100 receives information
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
19
regarding whether reservation is possible or not from
the battery charging station 200 and recommends a
reservable battery charging station 200 to the user
(S54).
When the user selects the recommended battery
charging station 200 or selects one from them (555), the
electric vehicle 100 transmits a reservation command to
the corresponding battery charging station 200 (556).
The battery charging station 200, upon receiving
the reservation command, sets up a reservation to
exchange the battery of the corresponding electric
vehicle 100 and transmits a confirmation signal to the
electric vehicle 100 (S57). The electric vehicle 100
informs the user of the name, location, etc. of the
reserved battery charging station 200 (S58) to guide the
battery exchange.
The battery charging station 200 stores the
reservation information in the database unit 230 to
update information regarding the battery status and
reservation particulars (S20).
According to the present embodiment, when the
power level is below a threshold, the user is
automatically provided with a recommendation of
reservable battery charging stations 200 existing along
the route of travel so that the user can select a
desired battery charging station 200 conveniently.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a battery exchange method
in connection with an electric vehicle 100 and a battery
charging station 200 according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention. The construction of the present
embodiment is similar to that shown in FIGs. 1 and 2,
and repeated description of the previous embodiment will
be omitted herein.
Referring to FIG. 6, the electric vehicle 100
detects the battery power level and displays it to the
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
user (S60). The battery charging station 200 monitors
the type of batteries stored in the battery storage unit
210, their amount, charging state, etc. and updates
relevant information in the database (520).
5 The electric vehicle 100, when the battery power
level drops below a threshold (S61), provides the user
with a message requesting that the battery be charged
through a display or a sound to guide exchange
reservation (562).
10 When the user checks the message and requests
battery exchange (S63), the electric vehicle 100
requests a battery charging station 200, which exists
along the route of travel, to provide information
regarding whether reservation is possible or not (S64).
15 The battery charging station 200, in response to
the information request of the electric vehicle 100,
extracts battery status information stored in the
database unit 230 and transmits information regarding
whether the corresponding battery type can be reserved
20 or not to the electric vehicle 100 (S65).
The electric vehicle 100 receives the information
regarding whether reservation is possible or not from
the battery charging station 200 and recommends a
reservable battery charging station 200 to the user
(S66).
When the user selects the recommended battery
charging station 200 or selects one from them (S67), the
electric vehicle 100 transmits a reservation command to
the corresponding battery charging station 200 (568).
The battery charging station 200, upon receiving
the reservation command, sets up a reservation to
exchange the battery of the corresponding electric
vehicle 100 and transmits a confirmation signal to the
electric vehicle 100 (S69). The electric vehicle 100
informs the user of the name, location, etc. of the
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
21
reserved battery charging station 200 (S70) to guide the
battery exchange.
The battery charging station 200 stores the
reservation information in the database unit 230 to
update information regarding the battery status and
reservation particulars (S20).
According to the present embodiment, when the
power level is below a threshold, the user is guided to
charge the battery and provided with a recommendation of
reservable battery charging stations 200 existing along
the route of travel so that the user can select a
desired battery charging station 200 conveniently.
The above-described embodiments can be combined
with each other as long as they do not conflict with
each other.
A process of entering a battery charging station
200 and exchanging the battery, by an electric vehicle
100, after reserving exchange, will now be described
with reference to FIGs. 7-10. The fifth embodiment,
which will now be described, can be combined with the
above-described first to fourth embodiments, and
repeated description of the same construction will be
omitted herein.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a battery exchange
reservation system according to the fifth embodiment of
the present invention, and FIGs. 8 and 9 illustrate a
schematic construction of a battery exchange reservation
system for an electric vehicle 100.
The battery exchange reservation system according
to the present embodiment includes an electric vehicle
100 and a battery charging station 200.
The electric vehicle 100 includes a battery
mounting module 150 on which a battery 10 is mounted.
The battery mounting module 150 includes a door 151
installed on top of the electric vehicle 100 and adapted
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
22
to be opened/closed.
The control unit 130 is adapted to open the door
151, when entering the battery charging station 200, and
enable battery exchange.
The battery charging station 200 includes a
battery storage unit 210, a communication unit 220, a
database unit 230, a reservation management unit 240, a
battery exchange robot 250, a protection guide 260, and
a charging station control unit 270.
The battery storage unit 210, the battery exchange
robot 250, and the protection guide 260 are provided on
the main unit 201 of the battery charging station 200,
and, as shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the battery 10 of the
electric vehicle 100 is also mounted on the top, so that
the charging station main unit 201 is adapted to
exchange the battery 10 on the top.
The battery charging station 200 has a protection
guide 260 to seal the battery mounting module 150, which
contains a battery, when the electric vehicle 100 enters
so that no external environmental change can influence
the battery exchange process. The protection guide 260
can be formed in any structure as long as it can
effectively seal and protect the battery mounting module
150, which contains the battery 10, in the battery
exchange process. In the present embodiment, the
protection guide 260 is a corrugated tube which is
contained inside the charging station main unit 201,
which is unfolded and discharged towards the battery
mounding module 150 during battery exchange, and which
returns to the original position after the battery
exchange process is completed.
The battery exchange robot 250 is installed in the
charging station main unit 201 and adapted to exchange
batteries, and any type of transfer robot available in
industrial fields can be employed, as long as it can
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
23
effectively exchange batteries.
For example, considering that the charging station
main unit 201 according to the present embodiment has an
approximately L-shaped configuration, the battery
exchange robot 250 includes a battery transfer and
mounting robot and a battery withdrawal and containing
robot in conformity with the charging station main unit
201.
The charging station control unit 270 is adapted
to control the battery exchange robot 250 and the
protection guide 260 so as to exchange batteries, and
can be implemented by a processor, a controller, and a
control code.
A specific battery exchange method by the battery
exchange reservation system for the electric vehicle 100
shown in FIGs. 7-9 will now be described with reference
to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a battery exchange
method by a battery exchange reservation system
according to the fifth embodiment of the present
invention.
The electric vehicle 100, when entering the
battery charging station 200, transmits identification
information to the battery charging station 200 (S100).
The electric vehicle 100 can transmit reservation
information together with the identification
information. Transmission of the identification
information and reservation information from the
electric vehicle 100 to the battery charging station 200
can be performed at the request of the battery charging
station 200 when the electric vehicle 100 enters it or,
if necessary, by a transmission command from the user of
the electric vehicle 100.
The charging station control unit 270 checks the
identification information or the reservation
information from the electric vehicle 100 to confirm
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
24
whether the vehicle has made a reservation or not
(S101). The confirmation can be done solely based on the
transmitted information or by comparison with
information stored in the database unit 230.
When it is confirmed that the vehicle has made a
reservation, an entry grant signal is transmitted to the
electric vehicle 100 (S102), so that the electric
vehicle 100 enters into the exchange position (S103).
When no reservation information is checked, the exchange
process is performed according to whether exchange is to
be performed on the spot without reservation (S200).
When the battery charging station 200 confirms
that the electric vehicle 100 is in the right entry
position, it transmits a conformation signal to the
electric vehicle 100 (S104). The control unit 130 of the
electric vehicle 100 commands the battery mounting
module 150, on which a battery is mounted, to open the
door 151 and sends a resulting confirmation signal to
the battery charging station 200 (5105).
The charging station control unit 270 receives the
confirmation signal and lowers the protection guide 260
(S106) so that the battery exchange process can be
conducted stably without being exposed to the outside.
The charging station control unit 270 controls the
battery exchange robot 250 to remove a battery from the
electric vehicle 100 and mount a fully-charged battery
onto the battery mounting module 150, completes the
battery exchange process, and transmits a completion
signal to the electric vehicle 100 (S107).
The control unit 130 of the electric vehicle 100
closes the door 151 and transmits a confirmation signal
to the battery charging station 200 (S108).
The charging station control unit 270 raises the
protection guide 260 and sends a confirmation signal to
the electric vehicle 100 (S109). The charging station
CA 02781348 2012-06-22
control unit 270 then transmits a departure grant signal
to the electric vehicle 100 (S110).
The electric vehicle 100 records battery exchange
information in its internal memory and leaves the
5 battery charging station (S112). The battery charging
station also records battery exchange information
(S113), and battery information and reservation
information stored in the database unit 230 are updated.
According to an alternative embodiment of the
10 present invention, the step (S105) of opening the door
151 of the electric vehicle 100 and the step (S106) of
lowering the protection guide 260 of FIG. 10 can be
reversed. Specifically, when the battery charging
station confirms that the electric vehicle 100 is in the
15 right entry position, it transmits a relevant
confirmation signal to the electric vehicle 100 (S104),
and lowers the protection guide 260 to seal the battery
mounting module 150 (S106). The electric vehicle 100
then opens the door 151 of the battery mounting module
20 150 (S105), so that batteries are exchanged.
Those skilled in the art can understand that,
although exemplary embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated and described, the embodiments can
be modified without departing from the principle or idea
25 of the present invention, which is defined by the
accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.
