WO2014162034A1

WO2014162034A1 - Portable, interactive power-storage and -recharging device for hybrid or electric personal transport vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2014162034A1
Application number: PCT/ES2014/070255
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Huguet Ballester
Original assignee: David Huguet Ballester
Priority date: 2013-04-02
Filing date: 2014-04-02
Publication date: 2014-10-09
Also published as: ES1079032U; ES1079032Y

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable, interactive power-storage and -recharging device for hybrid or electric personal transport vehicles, formed by a primary portable active module (A) and a secondary passive traction module (B). The primary portable active module (A) comprises a power battery pack (1), a circuit (2) for the balancing and sensing of power modules or cells, a wireless communication unit (3), a DC-DC converter (4), a transmitting authentication unit (5), a connection cable (6) and a connector (7) for charging the power storage batteries. The secondary passive traction module (B) comprises a receiving authentication module (9) and a female connector (10), said secondary passive traction module (B) being linked to a controller (8) of the electric motor (11) of the vehicle. The communication unit (3) can be used for the remote management of the state of the battery using mobile electronic devices, while the authentication units (5 and 9) check the compatability between the power battery pack (1) and the device to be recharged.

Description

INTERACTIVE AND PORTABLE ENERGY STORAGE AND RECHARGE DEVICE FOR HYBRID OR ELECTRIC VEHICLES OF PERSONAL DISPLACEMENT DESCRIPTION

Object of the invention

The invention presented refers to an interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, designed to act as an electric battery or similar applicable to any device or terminal that works with electricity and is specially intended for the recharging or feeding of hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement such as electric bicycles, electric scooters and the like, which makes it a unique item in the market, significantly improving the state of the art.

This innovation is conceived as an interactive system for storing and charging energy in a compact, portable and autonomous electric or similar battery, equipped with a wireless communications system that allows the management of its status (capacity, charge level, time of remaining autonomy, etc.) by connecting with mobile electronic devices such as SmartPhones, Tablets or PC ^' its other similar devices, with low level voltage output for charging or feeding of said electronic devices and authentication module for verification of the suitability of the voltage / current level between the battery and the motor controller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND STATE OF THE ART In recent years, a series of events that rewrite many of the uses and social customs that were considered constant and unalterable are coming together. Concern for climate change and interest in the environment translate into the implementation of policies considered "green" and social practices that prioritize the care of the urban and rural environment and the consolidation of activities considered healthy. Class A appliances that save energy, digital devices that facilitate interactive communication with less noise pollution, hybrid / electric vehicles, etc. proliferate. The transport or mobility of people sector is precisely one in which a more significant change has been perceived, especially in the urban environment, with the introduction of public bicycle rental services in response to an increasing use of this type of vehicle at private level and replacing highly polluting motor vehicles. At present there are many cities that have a public rental service for conventional bicycles but, in view of the incipient electrification of transport systems, especially with the introduction of electric cars and motorcycles, hybrid and electric buses, They are considering incorporating hybrid or electric bicycles for their mobility systems.

If the transformation or integration of a public hybrid or electric bicycle system is structured from the "classic" point of view, it requires the installation of charging points on urban roads and the transformation of conventional bicycles into hybrid or electric bicycles with the incorporation of an electric motor, a motor controller and a battery.

However, this transformation / integration suffers from negative aspects that question its technical and economic viability. First, it involves the installation of an expensive recharging infrastructure, with a recharging point linked to each bicycle anchor and its corresponding electrical safety system, with the implicit consideration that said anchor points are located on urban roads, exposed to inclement weather, wear damage and vandalism. Secondly, an effective control system must be implemented to ensure that the bicycle is properly charged with electrical energy, that is, when a user wants to use it, they have enough energy for their journey, that the battery is operational, etc. And thirdly, just as the entire outdoor system is located, without any protection from the logical changes in temperature (winter / summer, day / night), the battery life is drastically and inevitably diminished. that would entail new economic charges by substitution. Based on the above, the most obvious solution to solve these problems is to physically disconnect the battery from the bicycle, that is, by having an external portable module or device of electric power capable of connecting to hybrid or electric bicycles.

Parallel to the above, there is no doubt that digital technology has implemented a new way of communicating and acting. Actions that until recently had to be done in person are carried out through the intervention of smartphones and similar devices, all of them electronic, and therefore subject to recharges of their corresponding batteries, which in turn has launched the installation of terminal charging points in areas of high concentration of people, such as train stations or airports. However, and since the competition between different brands of manufacturers has led to each device having a particular type of connector and battery, these public power dispensers are forced to have a multitude of connectors that are also admissible for PDAs, tablets, cameras, etc.

It would therefore be convenient if the electric power charging module for recharging hybrid bicycles was, in addition, capable of feeding the electronic devices (mobile phones, tablets, etc.) that are part of the work and private life of people.

Regarding industrial property, there are some patents that develop different types of portable systems for recharging electrical devices and devices, such as the patents CN20121016991, CN20122024804 and CN20122176728, which coincide in presenting a portable battery system with various connectors external to connect the electrical or electronic terminals to recharge.

However, these patents suffer from some inconveniences in their practical application since they do not contemplate the possibility of verifying the compatibility between the portable battery and the hybrid or electric personal displacement system or the equipment to be recharged or provide any means for the user to control fundamental aspects for the correct use and operation of the devices and devices in which the invention is used, such as checking the remaining battery charge verified in real time (minutes, hours), an important factor, for example if the battery to a means of locomotion such as an electric bicycle. Therefore, the applicant understands that there should be an electric energy storage and charging device capable of feeding electric vehicles or personal displacement hybrids, such as bicycles, equipped with means to verify the compatibility of the power supply between battery and electric motor and control its level of charge and state wirelessly, as well as powering electrical and electronic devices and devices with different voltage levels, understanding that all this implies a substantial improvement over what already exists in the state of the art.

Description of the invention

The object of the invention is an interactive and portable device for storing and recharging energy for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, intended primarily for feeding hybrid bicycles and similar personal mobility devices (scooters, etc.), equipped with a wireless communications system for managing battery status with mobile electronic devices such as SmartPhones, Tablets, PC ^'s other similar devices, equipped with double voltage output, that is, conventional voltage output for traction of hybrid mobility vehicles or personal electrical and low-level voltage output for charging or feeding electronic devices, and incorporating an authentication unit that verifies compatibility between the battery and the device to be recharged or powered in question.

The invention is structured based on two modules. An active and portable primary module where the thickness of the device resides and a fixed secondary module where the passive of the authentication system is located together with the traction module.

The active, portable primary module consists of the following elements: energy accumulator pack, balancing and sensing circuit of the cells or energy modules that make up the pack, wireless communications unit, DC / DC converter, authentication / verification unit with ON / OFF and step contact and battery charging connector or energy modules per external element.

The secondary module is composed of the following elements: authentication unit and female connector, adding an external electric motor controller that, if applicable, can also be integrated into said module.

The union of both modules is done by means of a connection cable. The system user himself carries with him the primary and portable module of the interactive device while the passive and traction secondary module is permanently located in the hybrid or electric displacement vehicle, linked to its corresponding tractor module that includes a conventional electric motor .

Thus, the referenced portable active module comprises a plurality of individual battery cells or energy modules that make up a dimensionally reduced energy accumulator pack, with high energy density technology and with sufficient energy capacity for the realization of an urban path by the use of a personal hybrid or electric vehicle such as a bicycle, optimally configured according to the traction performance required in the aforementioned vehicle and incorporating as a differential element a circuit for balancing and sensing the different energy cells or modules which will communicate with the communications unit.

Said pack of energy accumulators is integrated, together with the other elements that form the portable primary module and which are described below, in an encapsulation from which a cable is detached for connection with the secondary traction module, having a connector element female for charging from an external charger and an output for the DC / DC converter in USB or similar format.

The encapsulation of the portable active module responds to a carcass of regular or irregular geometric conformation and of rigid or soft structure and incorporates external LEDs indicating status and load level. In an alternative conformation, said encapsulation is distributed in more than one interrelated housing or container.

As indicated, the energy accumulator pack incorporates an electronic circuit that performs the functions of balancing its load and unloading in order to increase its useful life and that reports the state of the energy accumulator pack continuously and in real time to the communications unit for later management.

For its part, the communications unit allows, wirelessly and with the relevant communication technology, to establish a connection between portable module of the energy storage device with a Smartphone, Tablet, PC or other terminal, in order to determine the exact level of energy remaining in the device, in use, static or in charge, using the status data of the energy accumulator pack provided by the balancing and sensing circuit. The active and portable module of the device claimed also includes a DC / DC converter that adapts and transforms the voltage level of the energy accumulator pack provided primarily to power the traction of a hybrid vehicle at a voltage level that allows it to be connected for charge or power any electronic device or similar. The connector or output terminal is a USB port or similar.

Said active and portable module also comprises a female connector for charging the energy accumulators for connection to the conventional power grid by means of a transformer, said connector being logically accessible, located in the encapsulation or housing containing the module in question and said connection being regulated. external by the balancing circuit and sensed in order to verify the suitability of the incoming energy.

As indicated above, the interactive and portable energy storage device for hybrid or electric vehicles of personal displacement that is claimed comprises a second module, passive and fixedly installed in the vehicle in question. This passive module is also the vehicle's traction module, so it mainly comprises a female connector for connection to the portable active module and an authentication or verification unit for encryption and communication received from the active module in order to ensure a secure electrical connection and restricted, all related to a conventional electric motor controller in charge of controlling the electric motor's traction based on the information received by the pedelec or the associated acceleration system. The connection between the portable active primary module and the fixed passive and traction secondary module is made by means of a connection cable with a specific connector (3 pins or similar) that allows the power connection for traction and signal sending from the authentication module. This cable is located and fixed in the notebook module and is long enough to establish a separation distance between said module and the motor controller in which the female terminal of said connector will be located. As advanced in a previous paragraph, one of the differential characteristics of the device that is claimed is the incorporation of an authentication and communication unit between the pack of energy accumulators and the control of the electric motor in order to ensure a safe and secure electrical connection. restricted

Said element is formed by two parts, the transmitter that is in the active and portable primary module and the receiver that is located in the secondary passive and traction module. The elements of the authentication unit that incorporates the portable module are an ON / OFF terminal, an encryption and validation unit and a communications system. The traction module incorporates a validation module and a communications system.

The sending authentication unit is responsible, from the moment it receives the ON from the ignition device and detects that it is connected, to establish a validation communication between the storage device and the receiving authentication unit linked to the electric motor control in order to establish a valid and secure electrical connection. This validation communication is carried out in an encrypted manner, so that the portable energy storage device and the motor controller execute the same routine and generate values that undergo a comparative analysis that, if positive, give way to Establishment of the electrical connection between both devices by actuating a passage contact.

If the validity of the communication is not ensured and the selector is kept in ON mode, the connection to power the electric motor and the subsequent traction of the vehicle is not possible, thus blocking the unauthorized use of energy accumulators not approved by the manufacturer and that could damage the controller and the drive system motor. As for the functionalities of the energy storage device that is presented, and in particular in reference to complementary security measures that protect its inviolability in case of subtraction or loss, the device comprises means that allow its permanent blocking state, so that It cannot be used in circumstances beyond the control of the user, for example the cases of accidental loss or theft. These means are specified in an encryption system based on a password of at least four digits associated with the mobile device linked to the device of the invention, so that Only the corresponding unlocking will occur with the introduction of the correct password on the referenced mobile device. In this way, the energy storage device is always in a locked state, which guarantees an additional level of protection since it is only unlocked by entering the correct password on the mobile device to which it is associated, not being operational said password from a mobile device outside the system.

Description of the drawings For a better understanding of what is described herein, a drawing is attached, which should be analyzed and considered only by way of example and without any limiting or restrictive character.

Figure 1.- Scheme of the basic conformation of the interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in Figure 1, the interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for personal displacement vehicles is comprised of two complementary modules, one primary, active and portable (A), encapsulated in a housing (13) of geometric and volumetric conformation not defined, rigid or soft, and a secondary one of passive and traction character (B) physically attached to the hybrid vehicle.

The portable active primary module (A) comprises as a main element a pack of energy accumulators (1) formed by a plurality of battery cells or individual energy modules that add their respective energy to achieve the required autonomy. Said pack of energy accumulators (1) is linked to a balancing and sensing circuit (2) that manages the behavior of said energy cells or modules and organizes, in fact, the complete operation of the device since this circuit is related, one way or another, with almost all the components of the system claimed.

It is precisely this balancing and sensing circuit (2) that derives the information from the energy accumulator pack (1) to the communications unit (3) to which It is also linked and that, wirelessly, links and communicates with external digital devices the system information. In this way, the wireless communications unit (3) is linked to the balancing and sensing circuit (2) and the energy accumulator pack (1) through internal data transmission connections.

The same portable active primary module also comprises a DC / DC converter (4) whose purpose is to change the voltage of the electric flow to adopt it to other devices and which is associated with an external connector or terminal (41) in USB or similar format.

The pack of energy accumulators (1), the balancing and sensing circuit (2) of energy cells or modules, the DC / DC converter (4) and an issuing authentication unit (5) are linked by electrical connection.

In the same figure 1 the passive and tensile secondary module (B) of the claimed device is shown, showing its relationship with the portable active primary module (A) already described. Both modules (A) and (B) coincide in comprising a sender (5) and receiver (9) authentication unit, respectively, which is responsible for verifying the suitability of the voltage and current level between the energy accumulator pack

(I), located in the active primary module (A), and the controller (8) of the electric motor

(I I) of the vehicle in question, linked to the secondary passive and traction module (B) and, where appropriate, to allow the flow of energy that will enable traction and movement of said vehicle.

The authentication unit of the portable active primary module (A) comprises an external ON / OFF switch / device (51) that is activated by the user himself, an encryption and validation unit (52) that establishes the communication of data between the pack of energy accumulators (1) and the controller (8) of the electric motor (11) and subsequently the electrically safe connection, all associated with a passage contact (53) or switch of the electric flow. For its part, the receiving authentication unit (9) of the passive and traction secondary module (B) comprises a receiver decryption and validation unit (91), which is responsible for responding to the encryption and validation unit of the active module (52), all related to the controller (8) of the electric motor of the vehicle.

Figure 1 shows the controller (8) of the electric motor (1 1) physically integrated in the secondary passive and traction module (B) but it is equally viable and functional that said controller (8) be an external element to said module .

The active primary (A) and passive secondary and traction (B) modules are physically connected by a connection cable (6) that directly links the issuing authentication unit (5) of the active primary module with the controller (8) of the electric motor by means of a specific 3-pin male connector or terminal or similar that is inserted into the female connector (10) of the secondary and traction module (B).

All the elements that are part of the active and portable primary module (A) are included in the housing (13) that incorporates external LEDs (12) indicating the state and level of charge of the energy accumulator pack (1) and the corresponding power connector. load (7) thereof.

The operation of the interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for personal displacement vehicles is simple and routine.

To use the vehicle in question in electric or hybrid mode, the user must physically link the portable active primary module (A) that it carries with it and the secondary passive and traction module (B) linked to the traction module installed in the vehicle by means of the connection of the connection cable (6) through the relevant female connector (10) located in said secondary passive and tensile module (B). Then and after pressing the ON switch (51) located in the housing (13) of the portable active module (A), a two-way communication is established between the sending authentication unit (5) and the receiving decryption and validation unit (91). This communication is carried out in an encrypted form and aims to establish the suitability, at the electrical level, of the energy accumulators that are to be connected, whether this pack is made up of battery cells or other energy modules. If the authentication response is positive, the encryption and validation unit (52) of the sending unit (5) proceeds to unlock the pass-through contact (53) or switch located in the sending authentication unit (5) and the transfer begins of energy between the pack of energy accumulators (1) and the electric motor (1 1) through the connecting cable (6) and governed by the controller (8) of the electric motor.

From this moment the user can use the vehicle in electric mode.

The user can connect at any time, through the communications unit (3) connected wirelessly with the energy accumulator pack (1) through the balancing and sensing circuit (2) of the energy cells or modules that up with its mobile electronic device of smartphones, tablets, PC ^'type so similar in this way and the relevant application to remotely monitor the status of said energy accumulator pack (1) among other possible functions. This allows you, for example, to know not only your load level or the remaining time but also the distance you can travel, so that you can plan the route to be taken.

Thanks to the DC / DC converter (4), the device claimed is suitable for charging or powering an external electronic device, for example a tablet or a mobile, regardless of whether the vehicle is activated while driving or at rest. The charging of the energy accumulator pack (1) is carried out either by connecting to the mains with a charger, using the charging connector (7) of the energy accumulators provided in the casing (13) of the device, or by means of the regenerative system provided and managed by the controller (8) of the electric motor and the balancing and sensing circuit (2) of the energy cells or modules that make up said pack (1). In any case, the device has charge warning LEDs (12) of the energy accumulator pack located in the housing (13) of the device.

In view of what has been described and described in previous pages, the advantages of the interactive and portable energy storage device for electric or hybrid vehicles with personal displacement are obvious.

It represents a new concept of exploitation of electric or hybrid vehicles for personal use in public rental systems, such as bicycles, provides a reduction in the costs of implementation and maintenance of battery recharge systems or similar because, being portable character and be in the hands of user and not on public roads, better care and maintenance of them is understood.

It includes the necessary means to verify the suitability between battery and vehicle, avoiding with them defective charges or that could damage the electric motor of the vehicle.

The same verification system together with the relevant software provides reliable and up-to-date information on the level of charge of the energy accumulators before, during and after use, adding no less important data such as the remaining real time of autonomy and the viable distance that is it can travel with said remaining load, which facilitates the choice of the route to be made.

The DC / DC converter mechanism allows additional charging on electronic devices such as mobile tablets or others, whether the vehicle is running or at rest.

And finally, indicate the comfort of the user, who is the carrier and responsible for their own active energy module, whose recharge can be performed alternatively at their own home or workplace connected to the standardized electricity grid, and the peace of mind of the administration public or private management of the electric bicycle rental service, which reduces its economic investment only to the adaptation of the vehicles avoiding the installation and management of the anchoring and dispensing points of the same. It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands the scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom. The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the different parts will be susceptible of variation as long as this does not imply an alteration in the essentiality of the invention. The terms in which this report has been written must always be taken in a broad and non-limiting sense.

Claims

1 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, essentially characterized by being made up of a portable active primary module (A) and a passive and traction secondary module (B), comprising the primary module portable asset (A) a pack of energy accumulators (1), a balanced and sensing circuit (2) of energy cells or modules, a wireless communications unit (3), a DC / DC converter (4), a power unit emitting authentication (5), a connection cable (6) and a charging connector (7) of the energy accumulators, and the passive and traction secondary module (B) comprising a receiving authentication unit (9) and a female connector (10), said secondary passive and traction module (B) being linked to a controller (8) of the electric motor (11) of the vehicle. 2 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the dimensionally reduced energy accumulator pack (1) is formed by a plurality of battery cells or individual energy modules of sufficient autonomy and is linked to the balancing and sensing circuit (2).

3 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the wireless communications unit (3) is linked to the balanced and sensed circuit (2) and the pack of energy accumulators (1) through internal data transmission connections.

4 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 3, essentially characterized in that the wireless communications unit (3) that monitors the state of the energy accumulator pack (1) of remotely linked to a mobile electronic device SmartPhone, Tablets, PC ^'type so similar. 5 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharging device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, characterized essentially in that the energy accumulator pack (1), the balancing and sensing circuit (2) of energy cells or modules, the DC / DC converter (4) and the issuing authentication unit (5) are linked by electrical connection. 6 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the DC / DC converter (4) is associated with an external connector or terminal (41) in format USB or similar. 7 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the issuing authentication unit (5) comprises an ON / OFF on / off device (51) and an encryption and validation unit (52), all associated with a passage contact (53) or switch of the electrical flow that links it with the secondary passive and traction module (B).

8 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the receiving authentication unit (9) of the passive and traction secondary module (B) comprises a unit decryption and receiver validation (91).

9 interactive device and portable storage and energy recharge for hybrid or electric vehicles personal displacement, according to 7 and 8 ^to claims, essentially characterized in that the sending unit authentication (5) and the decryption unit and receiving validation (91 ) establish a two-way communication that allows the encryption and validation unit (52) of the sending unit (5) to send or receive the authentication confirmation and activate the step contact (53) or switch.

10 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, characterized essentially in that the connection between the portable active primary module (A) and the secondary passive and traction module (B ) is performed using a specific 3-pin connector or terminal or similar associated with a connection cable (6) which is inserted into the female connector (10) located in said secondary passive and tensile module (B).

1 1 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the secondary passive and traction module (B) is physically linked to the vehicle.

12 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the controller (8) of the electric motor (11) is physically integrated in the passive secondary module and traction (B).

13 ^a Interactive and portable energy storage and recharge device for hybrid or electric vehicles with personal displacement, according ^to claim 1, essentially characterized in that the portable active primary module (A) is encapsulated in one or more interconnected housings (13), of geometric and volumetric conformation not defined, of rigid or soft structure and incorporating external LEDs (12) indicative of state and level of charge and a charging connector (7) of the energy accumulators.