FR2970125A1 - Recharging device for use in electricity meter to recharge electric power of moving object e.g. electric car, has transmitting unit transmitting identification information and amount of electrical energy consumed by remote database - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (130) has a vehicle identification unit (140) automatically identifying a moving object i.e. vehicle (105), or a user. A verification unit verifies a human object or the user for distribution of electrical energy. An electricity distribution unit (135) distributes the electric power to the object when the object or the user is entitled to distribution. A measuring unit is used for measuring quantity of electrical energy consumed by the mobile object. A transmitting unit transmits identification information and amount of electrical energy consumed by a remote database (175). An independent claim is also included for a method for charging energy of a moving object.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a charging device and a vehicle for carrying them out. It applies, in particular, to the recharging of mobile objects batteries such as computers and telephones and batteries of hybrid vehicles and purely electric vehicles.

Electricity for residential, industrial, commercial or institutional consumers is delivered by a supplier through a distribution network. In order to consume this electrical energy, the consumer must subscribe to a supply contract with the company that operates the distribution network. This service is thus limited to a particular geographical location.

However, consumers also need electricity when they are traveling. When electricity is needed at a location away from the supply contract, the consumer must pay for the electricity at use, unless the consumption is negligible and offered, for example in a hotel. For example, campgrounds charge a fixed fee to provide access to electricity.

Battery charging devices are known consisting of terminals arranged on the public road and having means for collecting money, for example in the form of a bank card reader. However, these devices are the target of acts of vandalism due to the presence of means of collection. In addition, they require maintenance that is generally complex and expensive.

In addition, in the case of company vehicles, the means of collection based on a user identification, as a person, impose on the employees without payment cards of the company a personal fee and their reimbursement by rating costs, with possible tax consequences and especially the cost price of billing and collection is generally disproportionate compared to the cost of energy subject to billing. Vehicle battery exchange stations are also known which make it possible to replace a battery discharged by a recharged battery. However, these stations combine a great complexity with the vulnerability to vandalism and the personal expense problems described above. These systems have a high capital outlay cost, and an unpredictable battery usage cost.

Another disadvantage of these different systems is that they are only adapted to the public domain and do not allow recharging in an individual. In the development of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles that accept charging of their battery, there is a need for a large number of public charging stations. These stations will be connected to the locally available distribution network. However, these stations will impose, at the level of the consumers, new subscriptions to services or a payment with each recharge. They will also impose on the electrical network unprecedented constraints of management of the delivered power and load balancing. The present invention aims to remedy these disadvantages. For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a device for recharging energy of a mobile object having a rechargeable energy reserve, which comprises: a means of automatically identifying the mobile object or its user, - means for verifying the rights of the object or its user to an electrical power distribution, - a distribution means adapted to distribute said electrical energy to the moving object - if the object or the user has a right to distribution, - means of measuring a quantity of electrical energy consumed by the mobile object and - means of transmission to a remote database, identification and quantity of electrical energy consumed. Thanks to these provisions, it is the identification of the mobile object that is used as the basis for the direct invoicing of its owner, especially when it is a company or a public body. In addition, the lack of a means of payment reader avoids much of the vandalism. Finally, as the billing is linked to the identification of the mobile object, it allows charging to an individual without it being billed charging, only the owner of the mobile object undergoing this billing, which can be integrated into the billing of another service such as the energy supply of his home or the company on which he depends.

According to particular features, the identification means comprises a mobile electricity subscriber module provided with a unique identification and comprising a modem for communicating with an electric meter module, said subscriber module being adapted to identify a subscriber.

According to particular features, the mobile object identification means implements a carrier current communication. Thanks to these arrangements, the identification can be made remotely, without contact. According to particular features, the mobile object identification means implements a signal receiver carried by a power line. Thanks to these provisions, the identification can be made without adding contact to a power outlet. According to particular features, the means for identifying the mobile object implements a protocol for reading an identifier in a memory integral with said mobile object. Thanks to these provisions, the secure protocols can be implemented, including the protocols used by microcircuit cards and bank cards. According to particular features, the power distribution means is adapted to distribute electricity.

According to particular features, the rechargeable energy reserve is an accumulator battery and the power distribution means is adapted to recharge said battery. According to particular features, the energy distribution means operates by induction. Thanks to these arrangements, the recharging of the battery can be carried out without contact. According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a rechargeable energy reserve and: a means for receiving said energy, a memory retaining an identification of the vehicle and a means for transmitting said identification.

According to particular features, in the electric meter object of the present invention, the so-called "internal" communication means adapted to communicate with a nomadic electrical apparatus is adapted to communicate in a carrier current with said nomadic electrical apparatus.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method of recharging energy of a mobile object comprising a rechargeable energy reserve, which comprises: a step of identification of the mobile object, a step of verification of rights from the object or its user to an electrical power distribution, - if the object or the user has a right to distribution, a step of distributing said energy and - a step of storing the identification of the mobile object and information representative of the energy recharge of said mobile object.

The advantages, aims and particular characteristics of this vehicle and this method being similar to those of the device object of the present invention, they are not recalled here. Other advantages, aims and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given for the purpose of explanation and in no way limiting with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment; 2 is a schematic representation of a second particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention; FIG. 3 represents, in the form of a logic diagram, the steps implemented in FIG. a particular embodiment of the method that is the subject of the present invention; and FIG. 4 schematically represents a third particular embodiment of the device that is the subject of the present invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown, as a moving object, an electric or hybrid vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this type of mobile object but extends, on the contrary, to other mobile objects provided with a reserve of energy, for example agricultural machinery or gardening tools, games, toys, laptops, PDAs or mobile phones.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 105 having a rechargeable energy reserve 110, here taking the form of a storage battery and a power supply connection 115, here taking the form of a charging socket of the battery 110. The charging plug 115 comprises an electronic chip 120 provided with a non-volatile memory 125. A recharging device 130 comprises an electricity distribution means 135, a vehicle identification means 140, a means for storage device 145 and a control means 150. The vehicle 105 is an electric or hybrid vehicle of the automotive type. The electronic chip 120 is preferentially inseparable from the charging socket 115. For example, the electronic chip 120 is molded into the plastic material forming the socket 115. The electronic chip 120 is associated with a power supply circuit 155 which supplies a current of low voltage by taking electrical energy supplied by the charging device. The electronic chip 120 is also associated with a modem 170 which transmits and receives signals carried by the current carried by the socket 115, according to a so-called "powerline" technology. The non-volatile memory 125 retains a unique identifier, that is to say that it is assigned only to the vehicle 105. The skilled person may refer, for the constitution of the electronic chip 120, to the chips smart cards. The control means 150 comprises, for example, a microprocessor 160 provided with a non-volatile memory 165 retaining the instructions of a computer program implementing part of the steps of the method that is the subject of the present invention (see FIG. 3). The electricity distribution means 135 is an outlet connected to the sector provided with a switch 180 controlled by the control means 150. The vehicle identification means 140 comprises a modem adapted to communicate via the modem 170. , with the electronic chip 120, in particular to read the unique identifier kept by the memory 125, and a means of communication with a remote database 175. The communication with the remote database can be carried out on a communication network wired or wireless, according to techniques presented below. The storage means 145 is adapted to transmit to the database 175 information representative of the unique identifier of the vehicle 105 associated with information representative of the recharging of the battery 110. This information may take the form of a duration of recharging the vehicle 105 or a quantity of energy delivered to the vehicle 105. When connecting the socket 115 to the power distribution means 135, the control means 150 has read and verify, in the database, the unique identifier of the vehicle 105. If this unique identifier is valid, the control means 150 closes the switch 180 and thus enables the battery 110 to be recharged. Once the plug 115 is disconnected, the control means 150 causes the transmission to be transmitted. unique identification of the vehicle and information representative of the refill to the database 175. A server 185 reads the database 175 to proceed with the billing of the recharge, for example ple at predetermined time intervals, and to proceed to the transmission of the invoice to the user or the owner of the vehicle 105, according to known techniques. These technical means allow new services such as "roaming" energy: the fact to find where the user is subscribed and have it billed by managing the revenue sharing between the energy provider and the one who provides the billing. FIG. 2 shows a vehicle 205 comprising a rechargeable energy reserve 110, here taking the form of a storage battery and a power supply means 215, here taking the form of an induction supply . The vehicle 205 comprises an electronic chip 220 provided with a non-volatile memory 225. A recharging device 230 comprises an electricity distribution means 235, a vehicle identification means 240, a storage means 145 and a means of identification. order 150.

The vehicle 205 is an electric vehicle or hybrid automobile type. The electronic chip 220 is preferably positioned at a location of the vehicle facing the vehicle identification means, for example near the feed means 215. For example, the electronic chip 220 is adapted to communicate in a power line ( "CPL") or wireless, for example being of the RFID chip type (acronym for Radio Frequency Identification, for radio frequency identification). In the second case, the electronic chip 220 is associated with a power supply circuit 255 consisting of an alternating magnetic field receiving antenna, which supplies a low voltage current. The electronic chip 220 is adapted to emit a signal representative of a unique identifier stored by the non-volatile memory 225 via the antenna of the power supply circuit 255.

The control means 150 comprises, for example, a microprocessor 160 provided with a non-volatile memory 165 retaining the instructions of a computer program implementing part of the steps of the method that is the subject of the present invention (see FIG. 3). The electricity distribution means 235 provides an induction power supply. The dispensing means 235 is provided with a switch 180 controlled by the control means 150. The identification means 240 of the vehicle 205 comprises an antenna for transmitting and receiving a magnetic field that supplies the power supply circuit. 255 and demodulates the signals transmitted by the antenna of the supply circuit 255.

The identification means 240 of the vehicle 205 also comprises a means of communication with the remote database 175. The communication with the remote database can be carried out on a wired or wireless communication network, according to known techniques. When the vehicle 205 arrives opposite the recharging device 230, the control means 150 makes the single identifier of the vehicle 205 read and checked in the database. If this unique identifier is valid, the means of command 150 closes the switch 180 and thus allows the battery 110 to be recharged. Once the vehicle 205 has left again, the control means 150 sends the unique identification of the vehicle and the information representative of the refill to the database. 175. The server 185 reads the database 175 to bill the recharge, for example monthly, and to transmit the invoice to the user or the owner of the vehicle 105, according to known techniques. In other embodiments, the recharging device implements the two types of identification shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and / or the two types of energy supply exposed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Embodiments, the identification of the vehicle is based on the reading of a bar code. FIG. 3 illustrates the steps implemented for recharging the energy of a vehicle using the method that is the subject of the present invention.

During a step 305, an authorized mobile object database is initialized for recharging their energy reserve. This database includes, for each mobile object, a unique identifier and the coordinates of the person, physical or moral, to charge for refills made. During a step 310, the recharging device determines whether a moving object is present. For example, the recharging device determines whether it receives a signal that can be transmitted by a moving object. With regard to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, this signal can be sought by the charging device either as a carrier current or in the modulated magnetic field. If the result of the test 310 is negative, the test 310 is repeated.

If the result of the test 310 is positive, during a step 315, the recharging device interrogates the identifier memory of the mobile object to receive the unique identifier stored in this memory. During a step 320, the mobile object returns to the charging device its unique identifier.

During a step 325, the recharging device transmits this unique identifier to the database. During a step 330, the database returns to the recharging device information allowing the recharge, if the unique identifier is valid, or refusing recharge, if the unique identifier is invalid.

During a step 335, if the unique identifier is invalid, the charging device transmits a signal, sound and / or visual, indicating the rejection of the recharge. Then, the recharging device returns to step 310. In a step 340, if the unique identifier is valid, the recharging device allows charging and closes the power switch. During a step 345, the recharging device measures the duration and / or the quantity of energy delivered to the mobile object in charge. During a step 350, the recharging device determines whether the moving object is still being recharged. For example, the recharging device determines whether energy is consumed or re-verifies the unique identifier of the moving object. If the result of the test 350 is positive, the recharging device returns to step 350. If the result of the test 350 is negative, during a step 355, the recharging device transmits the identifier to the database. unique and measurement information representative of the recharge, for example the amount of energy delivered and / or the duration of the recharge. During a step 360, the recharging device and the database store, in memory, the identifier and the information representative of the refill. During a step 365, for example carried out at regular intervals of time, a billing server reads the contents of the database and proceeds to the billing of the recharge and the transmission of the bill to the user or to the user. owner of the mobile object. It is understood from the foregoing description that the present invention allows the consumer, or his mobile object to recharge, to be identified by a unique and global identifier valid for all electricity distribution networks. Each consumer can thus consume electricity in any place and be billed for this consumption by his own supplier. In its third embodiment, the main components of the device of the present invention comprise a mobile electricity subscriber module 405 ("Mobile Electricity Subscriber Module"). This module 405 is responsible for uniquely identifying the subscriber, or consumer, and recording the data relating to its electricity consumption. Optionally, a portable triggering device 410 ("Mobile Electricity Subscriber Module Enabler") is provided to control the module 405. The module 405 includes a PLC 415 modem (acronym for "Power Line Communication" or bidirectional powerline communication). The module 405 can be placed at any point in the network between the device 420 which consumes electricity and a module 425 of smart electric meter ("Smart Meter Module"). The possible portable triggering means 410 is paired with a single subscriber module 405, for example by short-range wireless communication ("short range wireless communication") and even more particularly by radio-frequency, RFID ("radio range"). Frequency Identification "), Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Infrared Data Beam Communication (" IrDA "). In variants, this communication is done by wired communication, for example on a serial line or by a USB port (acronym for "Universal Serial Bus" for universal serial bus).

Subscriber module 405 has a unique identification number, i.e., it can not be assigned to two subscriber modules 405, such as a MAC address, an Ethernet network adapter (registered trademark) or a microcircuit card, for example similar to the SIM card ("Subscriber Identification Module") used in mobile telephony.

The smart meter module 425 is preferably positioned at the boundary between the consumer-side mains network 430 and the utility's electricity grid 435. This meter module 425 can count both the electricity purchased from the supplier and the electricity sold to the supplier, for example in the case where the consumer has a solar panel installation or a wind turbine. This counter module 425 records, for each transaction, the parameters of the transaction, for example the voltage, the current or the duration. The counter module 425 includes a modem 440 for bearer communication, for example similar to that of the subscriber module 405, for two-way communication on the provider's network 435 to the nearest hub 445.

The data concentrator 445 is controlled by a master concentrator 450 positioned near the transformer 455 of the electricity distribution network 435. Each data concentrator 445 is provided with a modem 460 similar to the modem of the smart meter module 425. Each party can take the initiative of a communication. The master concentrator 450 also has bidirectional communication means with the electricity supplier's 465 server, for example on a wireless network, on a mobile telephone network or on an optical fiber network. A central database 470, called Home Location Register (HLR), contains the details of each subscriber to the service permitted by the practice of the present invention. Each subscriber module 405, and possibly each associated trigger means 410, corresponds to only one central database 470, even though several central databases 470 are provided.

Each central database 470 provides subscriber data to a visited location database 475 (or "VLR" for "Visited Location Register") and instructs the previous visited VLR 475 to erase the user's data when the subscriber is connected to a new VLR 475. A VLR 475 thus retains temporary data concerning subscribers who temporarily consume electricity from an electricity supplier who is not their domestic supplier. Each charging station 480, in premises of other subscribers in the service or accessible in the public space, is connected to a single VLR 475. The data stored by the VLR 475 include: - a subscriber module identification number - optionally, a trip device identification number, - authentication data, - the electricity distribution services to which the subscriber is entitled to connect and - the address of the central HLR database 470 of the subscriber. The first functions of the VLR 475 are: - to inform the central database HLR 470 that an underwriter has arrived in the particular area covered by this VLR 475, - to allow or refuse the distribution of electricity to the subscriber, - d erase the subscriber record that this subscriber explicitly moves into the area of another VLR 475 upon receipt of an erase instruction from the central HLR database 470. An authentication center 485 (or AUC, for "Authentication Center") is responsible for the authentication of each subscriber who tries to connect to a distribution network embodying the present invention. Typically, this authentication is performed when the subscriber attempts to connect to a smart meter module 425. If the authentication result is positive, the HLR 470 central database and the VLR 475 are allowed to manage the counter module. intelligent 425 concerned. An encryption key is also generated for later use to encrypt all communications between a subscriber module 405 and a distribution network 435 embodying the present invention. If the result of the authentication is negative, no distribution service is possible for the combination of subscriber module 405 and smart meter 425. A billing center 495 (or BC for "Billing Center") is responsible for processing payment vouchers generated by the VLR 475 and central HLR 470 databases, to carry out the billing of the subscriber.

As mentioned above, the subscriber module 405 is positioned at any point between the mobile device 420 to be recharged and the smart meter module 425. It is noted that the services associated with the present invention which implement the carrier current communication are available anywhere from a 435 power distribution system having the above-mentioned components. Outside of these 435 networks, these services will be provided by other means. However, the measurement of the voltage of the battery of each mobile device 420 is possible anywhere since this measurement does not necessarily implement a power line communication. Optional accessories are described hereinafter. A nomadic intelligent connection adapter 500 makes it possible to make it compatible with the implementation of nomadic electricity distribution services, in particular for mobile devices 422 that are not associated with a subscriber module 405. Thus, to make it compatible with the service enabled by the implementation of the present invention, a mobile device 422 which would not be, there is provided a portable adapter 500. This adapter 500 includes a mobile subscriber module 405 as described above and is positioned between the taken from the mobile device 422 and the power supply module of the charging station 480. The first embodiment of the adapter comprises a single housing which includes three main parts: - an adapter socket, a end, - the internal components and - an adapter plug, at the other end. Antitheft means is provided. Indeed, in the case where an adapter is used in a public place two risks arise: the theft of the adapter or the connection of a third electrical appliance in place of that of the user. To prevent the first risk, it equips the adapter of a locking notch ("locking notch") which allows the connection with the charging station until its opening controlled by the user with its triggering means. The second risk is avoided by stopping the power supply in the event of an unforeseen interruption. For example, by measuring the current consumed, it detects the disconnection of the device during charging. A new authentication with the triggering means is necessary to resume power distribution. Sensors of a protective case can also detect a physical aggression. In case of aggression, the distribution module sends a message to the distribution network to be put out of operation.

In the case of compatible mobile devices 420, integrating a mobile subscriber module 405, a connection cable of the device can be directly connected to the output of the charging station 480. In the case of electric vehicles, the triggering means the mobile subscriber module can also be integrated into the vehicle, for example at the dashboard, to allow remote control.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for recharging the electrical energy of a mobile object comprising a rechargeable battery, characterized in that it comprises: a means for automatically identifying the mobile object or its user, a means for verifying the rights of the mobile object or its user to a distribution of electrical energy, - a distribution means adapted to distribute said electrical energy to the moving object - if the object or the user has a right to distribution, - a measuring means of a quantity of electrical energy consumed by the mobile object and 10 - a means of transmission to a remote database, the identification and the amount of electrical energy consumed. The device of claim 1, wherein the identification means comprises a mobile power subscriber module (405) having a unique identification and having a modem (415) for communicating with an electrical meter module ( 425), said subscriber module being adapted to identify an underwriter. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the identification means implements a powerline communication. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the identification means implements a signal receiver carried by an electrical line. 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the identification means implements a protocol for reading an identifier in a memory integral with said moving object. The device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the energy delivery means operates by induction. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the identifying means comprises a portable trigger means (410) only associated with said subscriber module (405), the subscriber module being unable to operate without triggering by said portable trigger means. 8. Electric meter (425), characterized in that it comprises a recharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, said communication means "internal" adapted to communicate with a nomadic electrical device connected to the home network whose said counter counts the power consumption, to receive the identification of the identification means, and a so-called "external" communication means for communicating to a remote server: said identification and receiving, in return, a rights verification information; the object or its user to a distribution of electrical energy and - information representative of a consumption of said apparatus on said home network. 9. The electric meter according to claim 8, wherein the so-called "internal" communication means adapted to communicate with a nomadic electrical apparatus is adapted to communicate in a carrier current with said nomadic electrical apparatus. 10. A method of recharging energy of a mobile object having a rechargeable energy reserve, which comprises: a step of identification of the mobile object or of its user, a step of verification of rights of the object. or of its user to a distribution of electrical energy, - if the object or the user has a right to distribution, a step of distributing said electrical energy to the moving object, - a measuring step of a amount of electrical energy consumed by the moving object and - a step of transmitting to a remote database, the identification and the amount of electrical energy consumed