Method and vehicle system for managing energy transfer of portable energy source

Abstract

Methods, vehicle systems, and vehicles are provided that enable management of communications between a vehicle and a portable energy source (PES) coupled to the vehicle. The vehicle system includes a vehicle battery configured to provide power to a propulsion system of the vehicle and a vehicle controller configured to establish bidirectional data communication between the vehicle controller and a PES controller of the PES, determine an energy transfer mode for transferring power between the vehicle battery and a PES battery of the PES, and transmit the determined energy transfer mode to the propulsion system of the vehicle. When a vehicle is propelled by a propulsion system, power transfer between a vehicle battery and a PES battery is initiated according to an energy transfer mode, a state of the PES battery is received from the PES controller, and power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery is adjusted based on the state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical field relates generally to electric vehicle charging and, more particularly, to systems and methods for managing energy transfer between a vehicle and a portable energy source. Background Art

[0002] Electric vehicle range is the maximum distance an electric vehicle can travel on a single charge, or complete battery cycle, before the battery needs to be recharged. Range can vary by vehicle model and can be affected by a variety of factors, including battery capacity, driving conditions, and weather. Electric vehicle range is an important factor in the adoption and practicality of electric transportation.

[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to provide systems and methods that can facilitate extended range of electric vehicles.Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description. Summary of the invention

[0004] A method for managing energy transfer between a vehicle and a portable energy source is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes establishing bidirectional data communication between a vehicle controller of a vehicle and a portable energy source (PES) controller coupled to the vehicle, determining an energy transfer mode for transferring power between a vehicle battery of the vehicle and a PES battery of the PES, initiating power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery according to the energy transfer mode when the vehicle is propelled by a propulsion system of the vehicle powered by the vehicle battery, receiving, with the vehicle controller, PES data from the PES controller indicating a status of the PES battery when the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system, and regulating, with the vehicle controller, power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery based on the status of the PES battery.

[0005] In various examples, the method includes performing, with the vehicle controller, a safety check to verify that the PES is configured to provide power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion and to verify that the PES is coupled to the vehicle. In some examples, the method includes receiving, with the vehicle controller, a media access control (MAC) address of the PES, and identifying, with the vehicle controller, the PES by comparing the MAC address to a database of PES MAC addresses.

[0006] In various examples, the vehicle and PES of the method are coupled with a seven-pin trailer connector and a charging connector, wherein bidirectional data communication is provided by power line communication passing through the seven-pin trailer connector and the charging connector.

[0007] In various examples, the energy transfer mode of the method is a maximum forward charge mode, wherein forward charging is performed at a maximum charge rate when the SOC (state of charge) of the PES battery is above a PES SOC threshold.

[0008] In various examples, the energy delivery mode of the method is a target mode, in which a target is set for the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery, wherein the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery is monitored, and energy delivery is adjusted relative to the target based on the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery.

[0009] In various examples, the energy delivery mode of the method is a dolly / off-grid mode, where forward charging is limited, the SOC of the vehicle battery is monitored, and energy delivery is adjusted when the SOC of the vehicle battery is below a dolly / off-grid threshold.

[0010] In various examples, the energy transfer mode of the method is a weightless trailer mode, where a forward charge is provided at a charging rate that offsets the additional charge required to transport the PES with the vehicle.

[0011] A vehicle system for communication between a vehicle and a portable energy source (PES) coupled to the vehicle is provided. In one example, the vehicle system includes a vehicle battery and a vehicle controller, the vehicle battery being configured to provide power to a propulsion system of the vehicle, the vehicle controller being in operative communication with the vehicle battery. The vehicle controller is configured to, by one or more processors: establish bidirectional data communication between the vehicle controller and a PES controller of the PES; determine an energy transfer mode for transferring power between the vehicle battery and the PES battery of the PES; when the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system, initiate power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery according to the energy transfer mode; when the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system, receive PES data indicating a state of the PES battery from the PES controller; and adjust power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery based on the state of the PES battery.

[0012] In various examples, a vehicle controller of a vehicle system is configured to perform, by one or more processors, a safety check to verify that the PES is configured to provide power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion and to verify that the PES is coupled to the vehicle. In various examples, a vehicle controller of a vehicle system is configured to: receive, by one or more processors, a media access control (MAC) address of the PES; and identify the PES by comparing the MAC address to a database of PES MAC addresses.

[0013] In various examples, the vehicle and PES are coupled with a seven-pin trailer connector and a charging connector, and a vehicle controller of the vehicle system is configured by one or more processors to provide two-way data communication via power line communication through the seven-pin trailer connector and the charging connector.

[0014] In various examples, the energy transfer mode performed by the vehicle system is a maximum forward charge mode, wherein a forward charge is performed at a maximum charge rate when the SOC of the PES battery is above a PES SOC threshold.

[0015] In various examples, the energy delivery mode performed by the vehicle system is a target mode, in which a target is set for the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery, in which the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery is monitored, and energy delivery is adjusted relative to the target based on the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery.

[0016] In various examples, the energy transfer mode performed by the vehicle system is a dolly / off-grid mode in which forward charging is limited, the SOC of the vehicle battery is monitored, and energy transfer is adjusted when the SOC of the vehicle battery is below a dolly / off-grid threshold.

[0017] In various examples, the energy transfer mode performed by the vehicle system is a weightless trailer mode in which a forward charge is provided at a charging rate that offsets the additional amount of electricity required to transport the PES with the vehicle.

[0018] In one example, a vehicle is provided, which includes a propulsion system, a vehicle battery configured to provide the propulsion system with power sufficient to operate the propulsion system, and a vehicle controller in operative communication with the propulsion system and the vehicle battery. The vehicle controller is configured to, through one or more processors: establish two-way data communication between the vehicle controller and a portable energy source (PES) controller of the PES; determine an energy transfer mode for transferring power between the vehicle battery and the PES battery of the PES; when the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system, initiate power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery according to the energy transfer mode; when the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system, receive PES data indicating a state of the PES battery from the PES controller; and adjust power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery based on the state of the PES battery.

[0019] In various examples, a vehicle controller of the vehicle is configured to perform safety checks, by one or more processors, to verify that the PES is configured to provide power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion and to verify that the PES is coupled to the vehicle.

[0020] In various examples, the vehicle and PES are coupled with a seven-pin trailer connector and a charging connector, and a vehicle controller of the vehicle is configured by one or more processors to provide two-way data communication via power line communication through the seven-pin trailer connector and the charging connector.

[0021] In various examples, a vehicle controller of a vehicle is configured to execute an energy transfer mode by one or more processors according to one of a plurality of selectable energy transfer modes, the plurality of selectable energy transfer modes including a maximum forward charge mode, a target mode, a dolly / off-grid mode, and a weightless trailer mode, wherein forward charging is performed at a maximum charging rate when the SOC of the PES battery is above a PES SOC threshold, wherein a target is set for the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery, wherein the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery is monitored, and the energy transfer is adjusted based on the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery relative to the target, in the dolly / off-grid mode, forward charging is limited, the SOC of the vehicle battery is monitored, and the energy transfer is adjusted when the SOC of the vehicle battery is below the dolly / off-grid threshold, and in the weightless trailer mode, forward charging is provided at a charging rate that compensates for the additional amount of electricity required to transport the PES with the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements, and wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle with a PES management system and an associated trailer with a PES according to an embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 According to the embodiment Figure 1 The architecture diagram of the PES management system;

[0025] Figure 3 is a diagram showing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 Data flow diagram of some elements of the PES management system;

[0026] Figure 4 According to the embodiment, Figure 1 A flow chart of a method executed by a PES management system for managing energy transfer between a PES and a vehicle; and

[0027] Figure 5 According to the embodiment, Figure 1 Flow diagram of a handshake process performed by a PES management system to determine whether to initiate and / or allow mobile charging of a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and use. In addition, there is no intention to be bound by any express or implied theory presented in the previous introduction, the invention content or the following specific embodiments. As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic and / or processor device, alone or in any combination, including but not limited to: application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electronic circuits, processors (shared, dedicated or grouped) and memories that execute one or more software or firmware programs, combinational logic circuits and / or other suitable components that provide the described functions.

[0029] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be described herein according to functions and / or logic block components and various processing steps. It should be understood that such block components may be implemented by any number of hardware, software and / or firmware components configured to perform a specified function. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may employ various integrated circuit components, such as memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, lookup tables, etc., which may perform various functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with any number of systems, and the systems described herein are merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to signal processing, data transmission, signaling, control, and other functional aspects of the system (and the various operating components of the system) may not be described in detail herein. In addition, the connecting lines shown in the various figures included herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and / or physical connections between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may exist in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 1 A vehicle 10 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment, which includes a portable energy source (PES) management system, generally shown at 100. In certain embodiments, the vehicle 10 comprises an automobile. In various embodiments, the vehicle 10 may be any of a variety of different types of automobiles, such as a sedan, a wagon, a truck, or a sport utility vehicle (SUV), and in certain embodiments may be a two-wheel drive (2WD) (i.e., rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive), a four-wheel drive (4WD), or an all-wheel drive (AWD), and / or various other types of vehicles.

[0032] In various embodiments, vehicle 10 may be associated with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) that is configured to function as a portable energy supply (PES) 58 capable of charging vehicle 10 while vehicle 10 is in motion. PES 58 is not limited to any particular configuration. In some examples, PES 58 may be configured to be stowed in a cargo area of ​​vehicle 10. Figure 1 In the example of the PES 58, the PES 58 is configured to be coupled to a trailer 13 of the vehicle 10. It will be appreciated that the trailer 13 can be any type of towable application having one or more wheels and is not limited to any one embodiment. The vehicle 10 is configured to be coupled to and connected to the trailer 13 via a connection device 11, and is configured to tow the trailer 13. In various embodiments, the connection device 11 includes a hitch device. In various other embodiments, the connection device 11 includes one or more other types of systems, such as a gooseneck for a fifth wheel trailer, etc. In various embodiments, the connection device 11 also includes a wiring harness that is configured to transmit power and / or communication signals to and from components of the trailer 13. In some examples, the wiring harness is a seven-pin trailer connector.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the exemplary vehicle 10 generally includes a chassis 12, a body 14, front wheels 16, and rear wheels 18. The body 14 is disposed on the chassis 12 and substantially surrounds the components of the vehicle 10. The body 14 and the chassis 12 may together form a frame. The wheels 16-18 are each rotatably coupled to the chassis 12 near the corresponding corners of the body 14. The exemplary trailer 13 includes a chassis 50, a body 52, and wheels 54. The body 52 is disposed on the chassis 50 and substantially surrounds the components of the trailer 13. The body 52 and the chassis 50 may together form a frame. The wheels 54 are each rotatably coupled to the chassis 50 near the corresponding sides of the body 52.

[0034] The vehicle 10 also includes a propulsion system 20, a transmission system 22, a steering system 24, a vehicle sensor system 28, at least one vehicle data storage device 32, at least one vehicle controller 34, and at least one vehicle battery 35. The propulsion system 20 includes an electric motor 21 powered by the vehicle battery 35. The propulsion system 20 can be operated by the electric motor 21 alone, or can be a hybrid system including the electric motor 21 and an engine (e.g., an internal combustion engine). The vehicle battery 35 can be any type of rechargeable battery capable of powering the propulsion system 20, such as a lithium-ion battery. The transmission system 22 is configured to transmit power from the propulsion system 20 to the wheels 16-18 according to a selectable speed ratio. According to various embodiments, the transmission system 22 may include a step-ratio automatic transmission, a continuously variable transmission, or other suitable transmission. The steering system 24 affects the position of the wheels 16-18. Although depicted as including a steering wheel 24a for illustrative purposes, in some embodiments contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure, the steering system 24 may not include a steering wheel.

[0035] The trailer 13 also includes a PES battery 60, a PES sensor system 62, at least one PES data storage device 66, and at least one PES controller 70. The PES battery 60 can be any type of rechargeable battery capable of charging the vehicle battery 35, such as a lithium-ion battery. In various embodiments, the PES 58 can include one or more systems for generating power for charging the PES battery 60 and / or the vehicle battery 35. For example, the PES 58 can include an internal combustion engine / motor (e.g., gasoline or diesel fueled), a fuel cell, or various other types of systems.

[0036] The vehicle sensor system 28 includes one or more vehicle sensing devices 40a-40n that sense the external environment, observable conditions of the internal environment, and / or the state or condition of corresponding components of the vehicle 10, and provide such conditions and / or status to other systems of the vehicle 10, such as the vehicle controller 34. It should be understood that the vehicle 10 may include any number of vehicle sensing devices 40a-40n. The vehicle sensing devices 40a-40n may include, but are not limited to, speed sensors, battery system sensors, device status and feedback sensors, etc.

[0037] The PES sensor system 62 includes one or more PES sensing devices 64a-64n that sense observable conditions of the state or condition of corresponding components of the trailer 13 and provide such conditions and / or status to other systems of the trailer 13, such as the PES controller 70. It should be understood that the trailer 13 may include any number of PES sensing devices 64a-64n. The PES sensing devices 64a-64n may include, but are not limited to, battery system sensors, collision detection sensors, equipment status and feedback sensors, etc.

[0038] The vehicle data storage device 32 and the PES data storage device 66 respectively store data used to control the vehicle 10 or trailer 13 and / or its systems and components. As can be appreciated, the vehicle data storage device 32 can be part of the vehicle controller 34, separate from the vehicle controller 34, or part of the vehicle controller 34 and part of a separate system. Similarly, the PES data storage device 66 can be part of the PES controller 70, separate from the PES controller 70, or part of the PES controller 70 and part of a separate system.

[0039] The vehicle data storage device 32 and the PES data storage device 66 can each be any suitable type of storage device, including various different types of direct access storage and / or other memory devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle data storage device 32 and / or the PES data storage device 66 include a program product from which a computer-readable memory device can receive a program to perform one or more embodiments of one or more processes of the present disclosure, such as the following in conjunction with Figure 4 The steps of the process are further discussed. In another exemplary embodiment, the program product may be directly stored in and / or otherwise accessed by the memory device and / or one or more other disks and / or other memory devices.

[0040] The vehicle controller 34 includes at least one processor 44, a communication bus 45, and a computer-readable storage device or medium 46, and the PES controller 70 includes at least one processor 72, a communication bus 74, and a computer-readable storage device or medium 76. The processors 44 and 72 each perform the calculation and control functions of the vehicle controller 34 and the PES controller 70, respectively. The processors 44 and 72 can be any customized or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an auxiliary processor in several processors associated with the vehicle controller 34, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chipset), a macroprocessor, any combination thereof, or any device generally used to execute instructions. The computer-readable storage device or medium 46 and 76 can include, for example, volatile and non-volatile storage devices in a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a keep-alive memory (KAM). KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that can be used to store various operating variables when the processor 44 and / or 72 is powered off. The computer readable storage device or medium 46 and 76 may be implemented using any of a variety of known memory devices, such as a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable PROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), a flash memory, or any other electrical, magnetic, optical, or combination memory device capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions used by the vehicle controller 34 to control the vehicle 10 or by the PES controller 70 to control the trailer 13. The buses 45 and 76 are used to transfer programs, data, status, and other information or signals between the various components of the vehicle 10 and the trailer 13, respectively. The buses 45 and 76 may be any suitable physical or logical means of connecting computer systems and components. This includes, but is not limited to, direct hardwired connections, fiber optics, infrared, and wireless bus technologies.

[0041] The instructions may include one or more separate programs, each of which includes an ordered list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. When executed by processor 44 and / or 72, the instructions receive and process signals, perform logic, calculations, methods and / or algorithms, and generate data based on the logic, calculations, methods and / or algorithms. Although Figure 1 Only one of each of the vehicle controller 34 and the PES controller 70 is shown, but embodiments of the vehicle 10 and trailer 13 may include any number of vehicle controllers 34 and PES controllers 70 that communicate via any suitable communication medium or combination of communication mediums and collaborate to process sensor signals, execute logic, calculations, methods and / or algorithms, and generate data.

[0042] As can be appreciated, the vehicle controller 34 and / or the PES controller 70 may be different in other ways. Figure 1. For example, the vehicle controller 34 and / or the PES controller 70 may be connected to or may otherwise utilize one or more remote computer systems and / or other control systems, such as as part of one or more of the above-mentioned vehicle devices and systems. It should be understood that although the exemplary embodiment is described in the context of a fully functional computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the present disclosure can be distributed as a program product having one or more types of non-transitory computer-readable signal-bearing media for storing programs and their instructions and performing their distribution, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium that carries the program and contains computer instructions stored therein, the computer instructions being used to cause a computer processor (such as processor 44 and / or 72) to perform and execute the program. Such a program product may take a variety of forms, and the present disclosure is equally applicable regardless of the specific type of computer-readable signal-bearing medium used to perform the distribution. Examples of signal-bearing media include recordable media (such as floppy disks, hard drives, memory cards, and optical disks) and transmission media (such as digital and analog communication links). It should be understood that cloud-based storage and / or other technologies may also be utilized in certain embodiments. Similarly, it should be understood that the computer systems of the vehicle controller 34 and / or the PES controller 70 may also be coupled to the vehicle controller 34 and / or the PES controller 70 in other ways. Figure 1 Unlike the embodiments depicted in , for example, the computer systems of the vehicle controller 34 and / or the PES controller 70 may be coupled to or may otherwise utilize one or more remote computer systems and / or other control systems.

[0043] refer to Figure 2 And continue to refer to Figure 1 , a partial architecture diagram showing various examples of Figure 1 Elements of the PES management system 100. In this example, the vehicle battery 35 is configured to be charged via a charging station module 124, which is coupled to the vehicle battery 35 via a charging connector 128. In this example, the charging connector 128 includes five wires, including a direct current (DC) positive wire 126a, a DC negative wire 126b, a control pilot wire 126c, a proximity wire 126d, and a ground wire 126e. The trailer module 110 may be coupled to the control pilot wire 126c via a vehicle power line communication module (PLCM) 112, and may be coupled to the trailer module 110 via a communication bus or network 114 (such as a distributed controller area network (CAN) system of the vehicle 10 or a wireless communication system (e.g., Bluetooth TM)) is connected to the vehicle battery 35. The trailer module 110 can be connected to the PES module 120 of the PES 58 via a suitable connector. In this example, the trailer module 110 is connected to the PES module 120 via a seven-pin trailer connector 116, which includes a tail light line 118a, a left turn brake light line 118b, a right turn brake light line 118c, a trailer brake line 118d, a ground line 118e and a 12 volt power line 118f. The PES PLCM 122 of the PES 58 can be connected to the 12 volt power line 118f. It should be understood that the charging connector 128 and the trailer connector 116 can have fewer or more wires. Although the examples discussed here relate to level DC charging applications, the PES 58 can provide other charging configurations. For example, the PES 58 can be configured to provide level 2AC charging instead of DC charging.

[0044] refer to Figure 3 And continue to refer to Figure 1-2 , a data flow diagram showing the Figure 1 10 and / or PES management system 100. As can be appreciated, various examples of trailer modules 110 and / or PES management systems 100 according to the present disclosure may include any number of modules embedded within the vehicle controller 34, which may be combined and / or further partitioned to similarly implement the systems and methods described herein. In addition, the inputs to the trailer module 110 and / or PES management system 100 may be received from other control modules (not shown) associated with the vehicle 10, and / or determined / modeled by other submodules (not shown) within the vehicle controller 34. In addition, the inputs may also be subjected to preprocessing, such as subsampling, noise reduction, normalization, feature extraction, missing data reduction, etc. In various examples, the trailer module 110 and / or PES management system 100 include a handshake module 310, an energy transfer management module 312, and a PES command module 314.

[0045] In various embodiments, the handshake module 310 receives as input handshake data 320 generated by the PES module 120 and / or the PES controller 70. The handshake data 320 includes various data indicating whether it is safe to initiate energy transfer between the PES 58 and the vehicle 10. For example, the handshake data 320 may indicate that the PES 58 is coupled to the vehicle 10, identification information associated with the PES 58, and / or configuration information of the PES 58.

[0046] The handshake module 310 communicates with the PES module 120 and / or the PES controller 70 via the PLC through the trailer connector 116 and / or the charging connector 128 as needed. The handshake module 310 processes the received handshake data 320 to determine whether to initiate energy transfer between the PES 58 and the vehicle 10. Upon determining that energy transfer between the PES 58 and the vehicle 10 is permitted, the handshake module 310 generates verification data 322 indicating such determination.

[0047] In various embodiments, the energy transfer management module 312 receives as input the verification data 322 generated by the handshake module 310. The energy transfer management module 312 also receives as input mode selection data 324, which includes various information indicating which of the one or more energy transfer modes is selected for the energy transfer process. In various embodiments, the mode selection data 324 can be generated by user interaction with a selection control (such as a graphical user interface).

[0048] The energy transfer management module 312 also receives as input vehicle data 326 generated by the vehicle sensor system 28, the vehicle controller 34, and / or other components of the vehicle 10. The vehicle data 326 may include various information indicating the operating state of the vehicle 10 and / or various characteristics of the vehicle battery 35. In some examples, the vehicle data 326 may indicate various characteristics of the vehicle 10, including steering wheel angle, brake pedal position, accelerator pedal position, percentage of brake pressure applied, steering angle, speed, inertial measurements, diagnostic trouble codes, hitch articulation angle, tire pressure, etc. In some examples, the vehicle data 326 may indicate various characteristics of the vehicle battery 35, including state of charge (SOC), charge rate, diagnostic trouble codes, etc.

[0049] The energy delivery management module 312 also receives as input PES data 328 generated by the PES sensor system 62, the PES controller 70, and / or the PES 58 and / or other components of the trailer 13. The PES data 328 may include various information indicating the operating state of the trailer 13, the operating state of the PES 58, and / or various characteristics of the PES battery 60. In some examples, the PES data 328 may indicate the SOC of the PES battery 60, diagnostic trouble codes, trailer collision detection, etc.

[0050] The energy transfer management module 312 performs management of the energy transfer process according to the selected energy transfer mode and may adjust the energy transfer process based on the vehicle data 326 and / or the PES data 328. The energy transfer management module 312 generates energy transfer management data 330, which may include various information indicating desired energy transfer process parameters.

[0051] In various embodiments, the PES command module 314 receives as input energy delivery management data 330 generated by the energy delivery management module 312. The PES command module 314 processes the energy delivery management data 330 and generates PES command data 332, which includes various information indicating operating parameters of the PES 58 required to achieve the desired energy delivery process parameters. The PES command module 314 may send the PES command data 332 to the PES controller 70 to adjust the energy delivery process.

[0052] Reference now Figure 4 And continue to refer to Figures 1 to 3 , the flowchart provides a method 400 for managing energy transfer between the PES 58 and the vehicle 10 performed by the PES management system 100 according to various examples. As can be understood from this disclosure, the order of operations within the method 400 is not limited to the following. Figure 4 The method 400 is not performed in the order shown, but may be performed in one or more altered orders where applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the method 400 may be scheduled to run based on one or more predetermined events, and / or may run continuously during operation of the vehicle 10.

[0053] In one example, method 400 may begin at 410. In some examples, method 400 may be performed continuously during operation of vehicle 10. In some examples, method 400 may be performed or initiated upon physically connecting PES 58 to vehicle 10. In some examples, method 400 may be performed or initiated upon instruction of a user (e.g., via a selection on a graphical user interface).

[0054] As 412, method 400 may include establishing two-way data communication between vehicle controller 34 of vehicle 10 and PES controller 70 of PES 58 coupled to vehicle 10. In some examples, the two-way communication may be performed by one or more communication connections, including but not limited to PLC via charging connector 128, PLC via trailer connector 116, and a wireless communication system (e.g., Bluetooth TM ).

[0055] As 414, method 400 may include determining an energy transfer mode for transferring power between vehicle battery 35 of vehicle 10 and PES battery 60 of PES 58. In some examples, the energy transfer mode may be determined based on a user selection of one of various energy transfer modes.

[0056] As 416, method 400 may include initiating power transfer between vehicle battery 35 and PES battery 60 according to the energy transfer mode when vehicle 10 is propelled by propulsion system 20 of vehicle 10 powered by vehicle battery 35. In some examples, the power transfer process may be initiated upon successful completion of a safety check or handshake process between vehicle 10 and PES 58.

[0057] As 418 , method 400 may include receiving, with vehicle controller 34 , PES data from PES controller 70 indicating a status of PES battery 60 while vehicle 10 is propelled by propulsion system 20 .

[0058] As 420 , method 400 may include utilizing vehicle controller 34 to adjust power transfer between vehicle battery 35 and PES battery 60 based on a state of PES battery 60 , a state of vehicle battery 35 , operating conditions of vehicle 10 , etc. Method 400 may end at 422 .

[0059] Reference now Figure 5 And continue to refer to Figures 1 to 4 , a flowchart provides an exemplary handshake process 500 performed by the PES management system 100 for determining whether to initiate and / or allow mobile charging of the vehicle 10 according to various examples. The handshake process 500 can begin at 510. In some examples, the handshake process 500 can begin when the charging connector 128 is connected to the vehicle 10.

[0060] At 512, the handshake process 500 may include performing a first check for the trailer connector 116 with the vehicle controller 34. If the trailer connector 116 is detected at 513, the handshake process 500 may include performing a second check for the trailer connector 116 with the PES controller 70 at 516. If the trailer connector 116 is detected again at 517, the handshake process 500 continues to 518. If the trailer connector 116 is not detected at 513 or 517, the handshake process 500 continues to 514, where the vehicle 10 is restricted to charging at rest. In some examples, the PES controller 70 may select a fixed MAC address and communicate the selection to the vehicle controller 34 via the PLC through the control pilot line 126c.

[0061] At 518, the handshake process 500 may include testing or initiating communication through the trailer connector 116 (e.g., on the 12 volt power line 118f) using the vehicle controller 34. If the communication fails at 519, the handshake process 500 may include performing a ground voltage potential check between the trailer connector 116 and the chassis ground connection using the PES controller 70 at 520. If the ground voltage potential is not equal to zero at 522, the handshake process 500 may continue to 514 and the vehicle 10 may be limited to charging while stationary. If the ground voltage potential is equal to zero at 522, the vehicle 10 may be connected to the power supply via a wireless connection such as a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth). TM ) establishes two-way communication between the vehicle 10 and the PES 58. If the communication is successful at 519, the handshake process 500 may include establishing communication between the vehicle 10 and the PES 58 via the trailer connector 116 at 526.

[0062] Once communication is established at 524 or 526, the handshake process 500 may include allowing the vehicle 10 to charge while on the move at 528. In some examples, the PES controller 70 may select a mobile MAC address and communicate the selection to the vehicle controller 34 via the PLC via the control pilot line 126c. In some examples, the PES 58 may verify the connection with the vehicle 10 through, for example, pressure sensor feedback from an intelligent trailer coupler system (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,589,581, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein). The handshake process 500 may end at 530. In some examples, upon successful completion of the handshake process 500, the user may select the desired energy transfer mode and charging may begin.

[0063] Various energy transfer modes may be used to transfer energy between the PES 58 and the vehicle 10. These energy transfer modes may include providing power from the PES battery 60 to the vehicle battery 35 at a set charge rate (i.e., forward charging), regulating the charge rate under various pre-programmed conditions, and providing power from the regenerative braking system of the vehicle 10 to the PES battery 60. Non-limiting examples of energy transfer modes include a maximum forward charge mode, a dolly / off-grid mode, a target mode, and a weightless trailer mode.

[0064] In the maximum forward charge mode, the system 100 can provide power from the PES battery 60 to the vehicle battery 35 at the maximum charge rate of the vehicle 10 or PES 58. During forward charging, the system 100 can monitor the SOC of both the vehicle 10 and the PES 58. If the SOC of the PES battery 60 is less than the PES SOC threshold, a notification can be generated, and potentially, forward charging can be stopped. If the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 is greater than the vehicle SOC threshold, at least some of the power generated by the regenerative braking system can be transferred to the PES 58 (e.g., 50%). If the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 is less than the vehicle SOC threshold, forward charging can continue at the maximum charge rate until the SOC of the PES battery 60 drops below the PES SOC threshold.

[0065] In the trolley / off-grid mode, the system 100 will conserve the PES battery 60. For example, the forward charge rate can be set to zero. If the user has entered a destination into the navigation system, the system 100 can evaluate the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 and notify the user whether the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 is sufficient to reach the destination. When in the trolley / off-grid mode, the system 100 can continuously or periodically monitor the SOC of the vehicle battery 35. If the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 is less than the trolley / off-grid threshold, the system 100 can change the active energy transfer mode to another mode, such as a maximum forward charge mode.

[0066] In target mode, the user and / or the system 100 can set a target for the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 or the SOC of the PES battery 60. When a target is set for the SOC of the vehicle battery 35, the system 100 continuously or periodically monitors the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 relative to the target. If the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 is greater than the target, the system 100 can save the PES battery 60. If the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 is less than the target, the system 100 can determine a charging rate and provide a forward charge at the charging rate. If the SOC of the vehicle battery 35 subsequently becomes equal to the target, the system 100 can stop the forward charge and continue to monitor the SOC of the vehicle battery 35. When a target is set for the SOC of the PES battery 60, the system 100 determines a charging rate and provides a forward charge at the charging rate. If the SOC of the PES battery 60 subsequently becomes equal to the target, the system 100 can stop the forward charge.

[0067] In the weightless trailer mode, the system 100 provides a forward charge at a charging rate that compensates or offsets the additional power required to tow the trailer 13. If the user has entered a destination into the navigation system, the system 100 can determine the discharge rate per kilometer of the vehicle 10 with and without the PES 58 to the entered destination. The system 100 can then determine the charging rate based on the difference between the discharge rates of the vehicle 10 with and without the PES 58. In some examples, the system 100 can evaluate whether the charge rate and SOC of the PES battery 60 can maintain the weightless trailer mode to the destination, and if it is determined that the weightless trailer mode is not possible, a notification is generated and / or the energy transfer mode is changed. If the user has not entered a destination into the navigation system, the system 100 can continuously or periodically track the discharge rate of the vehicle 10 using the PES 58, estimate the discharge rate of the vehicle 10 without the PES 58, and determine the charging rate based on the difference between the discharge rates of the vehicle 10 with and without the PES 58.

[0068] Once the charge rate is determined, the system 100 may provide a forward charge at the charge rate. During the forward charge, the system 100 may continuously or periodically track the discharge rate of the vehicle 10 using the PES 58, continuously or periodically estimate the discharge rate of the vehicle 10 without the PES 58, and continuously or periodically determine the charge rate based on the difference between the discharge rates of the vehicle 10 with and without the PES 58. If the difference between the set charge rate and the determined charge rate is greater than the weightless trailer threshold, the system 100 may update the set charge rate to the determined charge rate and provide a forward charge at the updated charge rate. In some examples, when in the weightless trailer mode, at least some of the power generated by the regenerative braking system may be transferred to the PES 58 (e.g., 50%).

[0069] The systems and methods disclosed herein provide various benefits over certain existing systems and methods. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein facilitate efficient energy transfer between a PES and a vehicle by establishing two-way data communication between the vehicle PES, initiating power transfer between the vehicle and the PES according to an energy transfer mode, and adjusting power transfer based on various factors such as the state of the PES battery, the state of the vehicle battery, the operating conditions of the vehicle, and the like.

[0070] Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that there are a large number of variations. It should also be understood that one or more exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. On the contrary, the foregoing detailed description will provide a convenient roadmap for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments for those skilled in the art. It should be understood that various changes may be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the attached claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A method comprising: establishing two-way data communication between a vehicle controller of a vehicle and a portable energy source (PES) controller coupled to the vehicle; determining an energy transfer mode for transferring power between a vehicle battery of the vehicle and a PES battery of the PES; initiating power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery according to the energy transfer mode when the vehicle is propelled by a propulsion system of the vehicle powered by the vehicle battery; receiving, with the vehicle controller, PES data indicative of a status of the PES battery from the PES controller while the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system; as well as With the vehicle controller, power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery is adjusted based on the state of the PES battery.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, with the vehicle controller, performing a safety check to verify that the PES is configured to provide the power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion and to verify that the PES is coupled to the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: receiving, with the vehicle controller, a media access control (MAC) address of the PES; as well as Using the vehicle controller, the PES is identified by comparing the MAC address to a database of PES MAC addresses.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle and the PES are coupled with a seven-pin trailer connector and a charging connector, wherein the two-way data communication is provided by power line communication passing through the seven-pin trailer connector and the charging connector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer mode is: a maximum forward charge mode, wherein forward charging is performed at a maximum charge rate when the state of charge (SOC) of the PES battery is above a PES SOC threshold; a target mode in which a target is set for the state of charge (SOC) of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery, wherein the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery is monitored and the energy delivery is adjusted based on the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery relative to the target; a trolley / off-grid mode in which forward charging is limited, the state of charge (SOC) of the vehicle battery is monitored, and the energy delivery is regulated when the SOC of the vehicle battery is below a trolley / off-grid threshold; or A weightless trailer mode in which a forward charge is provided at a charging rate that offsets the additional charge required to transport the PES with the vehicle.

6. A vehicle system for communication between a vehicle and a portable energy source (PES) coupled to the vehicle, comprising: a vehicle battery configured to provide power to a propulsion system of the vehicle; a vehicle controller in operable communication with the vehicle battery, the vehicle controller being configured, via one or more processors: establishing two-way data communication between the vehicle controller and a PES controller of the PES; determining an energy transfer mode for transferring power between the vehicle battery and a PES battery of the PES; initiating power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery according to the energy transfer mode when the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system; receiving PES data indicative of a status of the PES battery from the PES controller while the vehicle is propelled by the propulsion system; as well as Power transfer between the vehicle battery and the PES battery is regulated based on a state of the PES battery.

7. The vehicle system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to perform a safety check, via the one or more processors, to verify that the PES is configured to provide the power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion and to verify that the PES is coupled to the vehicle.

8. The vehicle system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle controller is configured by the one or more processors to: receiving a media access control (MAC) address of the PES; and The PES is identified by comparing the MAC address to a database of PES MAC addresses.

9. The vehicle system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle and the PES are coupled to a seven-pin trailer connector and a charging connector, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to provide the two-way data communication by the one or more processors via power line communication through the seven-pin trailer connector and the charging connector.

10. The vehicle system of claim 9, wherein the energy transfer mode is: a maximum forward charge mode, wherein forward charging is performed at a maximum charge rate when the state of charge (SOC) of the PES battery is above a PES SOC threshold; a target mode in which a target is set for the state of charge (SOC) of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery, wherein the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery is monitored and the energy delivery is adjusted based on the SOC of the vehicle battery or the SOC of the PES battery relative to the target; a trolley / off-grid mode in which forward charging is limited, the state of charge (SOC) of the vehicle battery is monitored, and the energy delivery is regulated when the SOC of the vehicle battery is below a trolley / off-grid threshold; or A weightless trailer mode in which a forward charge is provided at a charging rate that offsets the additional charge required to transport the PES with the vehicle.

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