Multi-Source Vehicle Charging for Low-Battery Stranding
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Solution Overview
Problem
When vehicles are stranded due to weather or traffic for an extended period, there is no effective way to combine resources to extend power to a vehicle that has reached a low charge level, and receiving charge from a single nearby vehicle may not be sufficient or feasible, especially if that vehicle is also low on power.
Innovation Solution
A system with adapters and a host smart charge receiver that allows a vehicle to receive charge from multiple entities, including other vehicles, by establishing connections and optimizing the charging process based on charging specifications, requirements, and costs, using a smart charging system to manage and control the reception of charge from multiple sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a vehicle receives charge from a single nearby vehicle, then the charging process is simple to implement, but the charge received may not be sufficient when the nearby vehicle is also low on power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple charging sources (first entity and second entity) into a single charging system that can receive charge from both simultaneously. The host vehicle aggregates charge from multiple entities through a unified charging interface, resolving the contradiction by merging resources to achieve sufficient charge without requiring complex individual connections to each source.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is designed to universally accept charge from multiple types of entities (vehicles, charging stations, etc.) through a standardized interface. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different charging sources and combine them effectively, achieving sufficient charge receipt while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardization.
2Reliability
If a vehicle establishes connections with multiple charging entities, then sufficient charge can be received, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary charging system that manages connections between the host vehicle and multiple entities. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of establishing and coordinating multiple connections, thereby improving charging reliability through diversified sources while preventing the vehicle's own system from becoming overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system employs a nested structure where multiple charging connections are managed through hierarchical layers. The host vehicle connects to a primary charging interface that can aggregate from multiple entities, with each connection nested within the unified charging management system. This nesting approach ensures reliable multi-source charging while containing complexity within manageable hierarchical boundaries.
3Productivity
If the host vehicle analyzes and selects from multiple charging sources, then optimal charging can be achieved, but the processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system performs preliminary analysis of available charging sources before actual charging begins. By pre-evaluating charge availability, cost, and specifications from multiple entities, the system can make rapid optimization decisions during charging without time-consuming real-time analysis, thereby achieving high charging efficiency while minimizing decision-making time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor charging status, cost, and availability from multiple entities. This real-time feedback enables dynamic optimization of charging source selection, allowing the system to efficiently switch between sources based on current conditions without requiring extensive processing time for each decision.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is described. The system comprises one or more adapters (102); a first entity (104); a second entity (106); and a host smart charge receiver (108). The host smart charge receiver comprises a processor (110) storing instructions that, when executed, causes the processor to: determine presence of adapters coupled to a host vehicle (103); recognize at least one of the first entity and the second entity that are coupled to the host vehicle (105); establish a connection between the host vehicle, the first entity, and the second entity (107); analyze at least one of first charge and second charge received from the first entity and the second entity, respectively (109); select at least one of the first entity and the second entity for charging battery packs of the host vehicle based on at least one of a charging specification, a charging requirement, and a cost of charging (111); and provide an optimal charge to the battery packs (113).