US20170072808A1 - Method and apparatus for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is related to and claims the benefit of the earliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listed application(s) (the “Related applications”) (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications or claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent applications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Application(s)).
RELATED APPLICATIONS
• For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of United States patent application entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING AUXILIARY ELECTRICAL POWER TO AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE, naming Casey T. Tegreene, Lowell L Wood, Jr., Muriel Ishikawa, Victoria Wood, Tom Weaver, Chuck Whitmer, David Tuckerman, Ken Caldeira, Stephen Salter, John Latham, Jordin T. Kare, Rod A. Hyde, Alistair Chan, Tom Nugent, Dan Cook, and William Duncan as inventors, filed Mar. 30, 2012, application Ser. No. 13/436,290, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.
• The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicants reference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003, available at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm. The present Applicant Entity (hereinafter “Applicant”) has provided above a specific reference to the application(s) from which priority is being claimed as recited by statute. Applicant understands that the statute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does not require either a serial number or any characterization, such as “continuation” or “continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S. patent applications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant understands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, and hence Applicant is designating the present application as a continuation-in-part of its parent applications as set forth above, but expressly points out that such designations are not to be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or not the present application contains any new matter in addition to the matter of its parent application(s).
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present disclosure generally relates to supplying auxiliary or supplemental electrical energy to a storage battery of a drivetrain of an electric or hybrid vehicle.
SUMMARY
• In one aspect, a method includes, but is not limited to, providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer; mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries; establishing a bidirectional electrical pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle; and controlling a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries along the bidirectional pathway.
• In another aspect, a method includes, but is not limited to, providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, the at least one wheel being configured to translate the towable trailer utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle; mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries; establishing an electrical pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle; and controlling a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries along the pathway.
• In another aspect, a method includes, but is not limited to, providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer; mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion; establishing a first pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries, a second pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer, and a third pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more storage batteries; and controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
• In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.
• In one aspect, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit; at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer; one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries, the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway; and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.
• In another aspect, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit; at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to translate the towable trailer utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle; one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries, the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle via a pathway; and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle along the pathway.
• In another aspect, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit; at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer; one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion, the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries via a first pathway, the energy conversion portion being electrically couplable with the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer via a second pathway, the energy conversion portion being electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries via a third pathway; and a control system configured to control at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
• In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system and/or program product aspects are set forth and described in the teachings such as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawings of the present disclosure.
• The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/or other subject matter described herein will become apparent in the teachings set forth herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
• FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 1D is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 1E is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a control system of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a control system, a user interface device, and a display device of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating the types of coupling circuitry suitable for implementation in a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 2D is a block diagram illustrating a battery monitoring system of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 2E is a block diagram illustrating a towable trailer of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle equipped with an auxiliary output;
• FIG. 2F is a block diagram illustrating a towable trailer of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle equipped with a generator;
• FIG. 2G is a block diagram illustrating a towable trailer of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle equipped with a generator;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIG. 5 is a high-level flowchart of a method for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIGS. 6 through 24 are high-level flowcharts depicting alternate implementations ofFIG. 5.
• FIG. 25 is a high-level flowchart of a method for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIGS. 26 through 44 are high-level flowcharts depicting alternate implementations ofFIG. 25.
• FIG. 45 is a high-level flowchart of a method for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• FIGS. 46 through 66 are high-level flowcharts depicting alternate implementations ofFIG. 45.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
• Referring generally toFIGS. 1A through 4, an auxiliary power system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle is described in accordance with the present disclosure.
• FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate schematic views of anauxiliary power system100 in accordance with the present disclosure. In one aspect, theauxiliary power system100 for supplying auxiliary electrical power to avehicle104 may include atowable trailer102 suitable for transporting one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In a further aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 are disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. In another aspect, thetowable trailer102 is mechanically couplable to the vehicle104 (e.g., electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle) via a coupling unit109 (e.g., mechanical coupling unit or an electromagnetic coupling unit). In this regard, thetowable trailer102 may be reversibly coupled, or attached, to a portion of the vehicle104 (e.g., rear portion of the vehicle104). Further, thetowable trailer102 includes one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to a portion of a chassis (not shown) of thetowable trailer102.
• In an additional aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries104 are electrically couplable to one ormore storage batteries110 of adrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 via a bidirectional electrical pathway114 (e.g., pluggable electrical cable). In this regard, the bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 may be utilized to reversibly establish an electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. It is noted herein that the electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 may be established indirectly using intermingling circuitry components coupled between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110. For example, along thepathway114 there may reside power conversion circuitry (not shown) suitable for converting the voltage and/or current such that the electrical energy from theauxiliary batteries106 may be efficiently transferred to the one ormore storage batteries110. Various types of power conversion circuitry elements are described in more detail further herein.
• In a further aspect, the bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 is configured to selectively transfer electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one or more storage batteries of thevehicle110. In this regard, the bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 may transfer electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110 or conversely from the one ormore storage batteries110 to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In another aspect, theauxiliary power system100 may include acontrol system116 configured to control the transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 along the bidirectionalelectrical pathway114.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, the bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 of thesystem100 may include, but is not limited to, a pluggable electrical cable configured for physically connecting, or “plugging,” into an electrical port of thevehicle104. In this manner, at least one portion of the pluggable electrical cable may include an adaptor suitable for interfacing with the electrical port, or “socket,” of thevehicle104. In a further embodiment, the electric cable utilized to establish theelectrical pathway114 between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be configured for plugging into a portion of the charging/dischargingcircuitry128 of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104. Even further, the electric cable may be configured for plugging into a chargingsocket130 of the charging/dischargingcircuitry128 of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage battery110 of thevehicle104 may include one or more rechargeable electric batteries. In a general sense, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110 of the present invention may include any suitable rechargeable electric battery know in the art. For example, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 or the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may include one or more lithium ion batteries. Further, batteries suitable for implementation in the present invention may include, but are not limited to, lithium-ion polymer batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, lead-acid batteries, and the like. It is noted herein that the enumerated battery types provided above should not be interpreted as a limitation, but merely as an illustration as it is anticipated that a variety of other rechargeable battery types may be suitable for implementation in the present invention. It is further noted herein that the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 need not be the same type of rechargeable battery.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thetowable trailer102 of thesystem100 may include a plurality ofauxiliary batteries106. In one aspect, some of theauxiliary batteries106 of the plurality of auxiliary batteries may be coupled in a parallel configuration. In another aspect, some of theauxiliary batteries106 of the plurality of auxiliary batteries may be coupled in a series configuration. In a further aspect, some of theauxiliary batteries106 of the plurality of auxiliary batteries may be coupled in a series/parallel configuration. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various combinations of parallel and/or series configurations may be utilized in order to build up the voltage and current output of the plurality of auxiliary batteries.
• In a general sense, thevehicle104 may include any electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle known in the art. In this regard, thevehicle104 may be propelled utilizing one or more of electricity or a combustible fuel. A combustible fuel may include any fuel capable of producing heat upon reacting with an oxidizing element. In one embodiment, a combustible fuel may include an organic-based fuel. For example, an organic-based fuel may include, but is not limited to, an alcohol (i.e., compound having a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group), such as ethyl alcohol (i.e., ethanol), methyl alcohol (i.e., methanol), and isopropyl alcohol, and the like. In another example, an organic-based fuel may include, but is not limited to, a ketone (i.e., compound having a carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms), such as acetone, acetophenone, and methyl ethyl ketone, and the like. In an additional example, an organic-based fuel may include, but is not limited to, a hydrocarbon-based fuel. Hydrocarbon-based fuels may include, but are not limited to, gasoline, diesel, natural gas or liquid petroleum gas, mixtures of gaseous hydrocarbons associated with petroleum deposits, kerosene, naphtha, and various oils and bio-fuels. It is further contemplated herein that the hydrocarbon-based fuels may include fuel additives, such as hybrid compound blends (e.g., polymerization agents for increases fuel ignition surface area, stabilizers, catalysts, or detergents), alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol), ethers, antioxidants, antiknock agents, lead scavengers, or fuel dyes and the like. In a general sense, the combustible fuel may include any additional fuel capable of chemical combustion. For example, the combustible fuel may include hydrogen.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1B, thevehicle104 may include an electric vehicle propelled viadrivetrain112. Theelectric drivetrain112 of theelectric vehicle104 may include, but is not limited to, atransmission113, one ormore storage batteries110, and an energy conversion portion122 (e.g.,power conversion circuitry126 or electric motor/generator124) configured to convert the electrical energy stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 to mechanical energy for utilization by thetransmission113 to propel thevehicle104. For instance, the one ormore storage batteries110 may be electrically coupled viaelectrical pathway111 to an electric machine, such as an electric motor/generator124, and configured to provide electrical energy to the electric motor/generator124. Further, thetransmission113 may be mechanically coupled with the electric motor/generator124 such that the mechanical energy produced by theelectric motor124 may be transferred to thetransmission113 in order to rotate, or drive, one or more wheels of thevehicle104, thereby propelling thevehicle104.
• As described in more detail further herein, the electric machine may operate in two modes, as a generator and as a motor. In a first configuration, the electric machine may operate as anelectric motor124 suitable for converting electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 to mechanical energy used to propel thevehicle104. In another configuration, the electric machine may operate as anelectric generator124 suitable for converting rotational energy associated with the rotation of one or more wheels of thevehicle104 to electrical energy, which may be stored in either the one ormore storage batteries110 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. For the purposes of the present disclosure the electric machine is referred to a electric motor/generator124.
• In a further embodiment, thedrivetrain112 may includepower conversion circuitry126 coupled between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the electric motor/generator124. In this manner, the electric motor/generator124, along withpower conversion circuitry126, may form theenergy conversion portion122 of theelectric drive train112 configured to convert electric energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 to mechanical energy supplied to thetransmission113. For instance, thepower conversion circuitry126, such as voltage conversion circuitry (e.g., DC-DC) or voltage inversion circuitry (DC-AC), of theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 may receive electricity from the one ormore storage batteries110 and convert the received electricity to a state suitable for use by the electric motor/generator124. Following power conversion, the electricity may act to power theelectric motor124, thereby providing mechanical energy to thetransmission113.
• It is further contemplated herein that the electric vehicle or the hybrid electric vehicle of the present invention may further include a regenerative braking system configured to perform a regenerative braking process. In this manner, the electric motor/generator124 may act as a generator, converting a portion of the rotational mechanical energy of the one or more wheels of the vehicle104 (via the transmission113) to electrical energy. This electrical energy may then be stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thesystem100. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any regenerative breaking means known in the art may be implemented in the present invention. In a further embodiment, thepower conversion circuitry126 of thedrivetrain112 may further be configured to receive electricity from thegenerator124 and convert the received electricity to a state suitable for use by the one ormore storage batteries110 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Following power conversion, the generated electricity may act to charge at least one of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• As illustrated inFIG. 1C, thevehicle104 may include a hybrid vehicle propelled via a hybrid drivetrain. Thehybrid drivetrain112 may include, but is not limited to, atransmission113, one ormore storage batteries110, an energy conversion portion (electric motor/generator124 and power conversion circuitry126) configured to convert the electrical energy stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 to mechanical energy for utilization by the transmission to propel thevehicle104. Thehybrid drivetrain112 may further include a fuel reservoir134 (e.g., gasoline tank) and aninternal combustion engine132 configured to provide propulsive energy to thetransmission113 utilizing the fuel stored in thefuel reservoir134. It should be recognized that thehybrid vehicle104 ofFIG. 1C is configured as a “parallel” hybrid vehicle as the combustion portion and the electric portion of thedrivetrain112 are arranged in parallel with one another and both are configured to provide propulsive energy to thetransmission113 of thevehicle100.
• As illustrated inFIG. 1D, thevehicle104 may include a series hybrid vehicle propelled via a series hybrid drivetrain. Thehybrid drivetrain112 may include, but is not limited to, atransmission113, one ormore storage batteries110, an energy conversion portion (electric motor/generator124 and power conversion circuitry126) configured to convert the electrical energy stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 to mechanical energy for utilization by the transmission to propel thevehicle104. Thehybrid drivetrain112 may further include a fuel reservoir134 (e.g., gasoline tank), aninternal combustion engine132, and agenerator136 configured to provide electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112. In this regard, theengine132 may produce mechanical energy utilizing the fuel of thefuel reservoir134. Theengine132 may be further configured to provide the mechanical energy to thegenerator136. In turn, thegenerator136 may convert the mechanical energy from theengine132 to electrical energy, which may then be stored in the one ormore storage batteries110. It should be recognized that thehybrid vehicle104 ofFIG. 1D is configured as a “series” hybrid vehicle as the combustion portion of thedrivetrain112 is connected in series with the electric portion of thedrivetrain112.
• As illustrated inFIG. 1E, thevehicle104 may include a series-parallel hybrid vehicle propelled via a series-parallel hybrid drivetrain. The series-parallel hybrid drivetrain112 may include, but is not limited to, atransmission113, one ormore storage batteries110, an energy conversion portion (electric motor/generator124 and power conversion circuitry126) configured to convert the electrical energy stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 to mechanical energy for utilization by the transmission to propel thevehicle104. Thehybrid drivetrain112 may further include a fuel reservoir134 (e.g., gasoline tank), and aninternal combustion engine132 configured to provide mechanical energy to thetransmission113 or the electric motor/generator124. In this regard, theengine132 may produce mechanical energy utilizing the fuel of thefuel reservoir134. Theengine132 may be further configured to provide the mechanical energy to either thetransmission113 for propelling thevehicle104 or the electric motor/generator for producing electricity (utilizing the generator mode of the electric motor/generator124). In turn, thegenerator124 may convert the mechanical energy from theengine132 to electrical energy, which may then be stored in the one ormore storage batteries110. It should be recognized that thehybrid vehicle104 ofFIG. 1E is configured as a “series-parallel” hybrid vehicle as the configuration of the combustion portion of thedrivetrain112 and the electric portion of the drivetrain possesses both parallel and series characteristics. It is noted herein that thevehicle104 configurations described above are not limiting and should be merely interpreted as illustrative. It is recognized that there exist a large number of electric and/or hybrid vehicle configurations suitable for implementation in the present invention.
• Throughout the present disclosure, reference will be made to the electric vehicle embodiment (FIG. 1A andFIG. 1B) described above in order to describe the various aspects of the present invention. It should be recognized, however, by those skilled the art that the foregoing illustrations and embodiments may be extended to various electric vehicle and electric/hybrid vehicle configurations, such as those described above.
• Referring again toFIGS. 1A and 1B, thecontrol system116 ofsystem100 may control the transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 by selectively electrically coupling the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. In one embodiment, thecontrol system116 may act to control thecoupling circuitry118 in order to selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to control the transfer of electrical charge between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110. In a further embodiment, thecoupling control circuitry118 may be positioned along thebidirectional pathway114 and between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. In this regard, thecontrol circuitry118 may be communicatively coupled to thecontrol system116 via a communication link in order to control the coupling state (e.g., open circuit or closed circuit) of thecoupling circuitry118. For example, thecoupling circuitry118 may be configured to close thebidirectional pathway114, thereby allowing charge to flow along thepathway114, in response to a signal indicative of a transmission command from thecontrol system116. By way of another example, thecoupling circuitry118 may be configured to open, or “break,” thebidirectional pathway114, thereby stopping charge flow along thebidirectional pathway114, in response to a signal indicative of a non-transmission command from thecontrol system116.
• It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the communicative coupling between thecontrol system116 and thecontrol circuitry118 may be achieved in various manners. In some embodiments, the components may be communicatively coupled via a digital or analog signal transmitted along a transmission line (e.g., copper wire, coaxial cable, or fiber optic cable) or via a digital or analog wireless signal (e.g., radio frequency signal). It should also be appreciated that the communicative coupling may be achieved via a network connection, wherein thecontrol system116, thecoupling circuitry118, and the various subsystem control modules of thesystem100 are connected to a common digital network.
• For example, thecontrol system106 may be configured to transmit and/or receive digital or analog signals to/from thecontrol circuitry118. In response to thecontrol signal115 transmitted by thecontrol system116, thecontrol circuitry118 may couple or decouple the electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, thereby controlling the charge transfer or charge transfer rate between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• It is further recognized that thecontrol system116 may execute a computer programmed algorithm in order to determine a coupling configuration (e.g., open switch or closed switch) of thecoupling circuitry118. As will be described in greater detail further herein, the selection of a given coupling configuration (e.g., open circuit or closed circuit) may depend on a variety of parameters and factors (e.g., charge level, charge capacity, battery lifetime, and the like) related to at least the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 or the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. For example, the processor of thecontrol system116 may determine the electrical energy/charge transfer requirements needed to achieve a selected charge distribution in the one or more auxiliary batteries of thetrailer102 and the one or more storage batteries of thevehicle104.
• In a further embodiment, illustrated inFIG. 2A, thecontrol system116 may include areceiving module202, adetermination module204, and atransfer control module206.
• In one aspect of thecontrol system116, the receivingmodule202 of thecontrol system116 may be configured to receive a signal transmitted from one or more data sources, as discussed further herein. In one embodiment, the receivingmodule202 may include one or more receiving antennas configured to receive one or more wireless signals transmitted by one or more data sources. For example, the one or more receiving antennas (i.e., receivers) of the receivingmodule202 may be configured to receive a wireless transmission from an off-site entity. For instance, the receivingmodule202 may be configured to receive one or more data transmissions (e.g., radio frequency, microwave frequency data transmissions, and the like) from an information service provider, such as, but not limited to, a weather service provider, a road condition information service provider, a wireless internet provider, and the like. By way of another example, the receivingmodule202 may include a GPS receiver configured for receiving GPS data. In a general sense, the receivingmodule202 may be configured to receive data encoded wireless signals from any suitable information source known in the art.
• In another embodiment, the receivingmodule202 of thecontrol system116 may be configured to receive a wireless or wireline transmission from an additional sub-system of thesystem100. For example, the receivingmodule202 may include areceiver208 configured to receive a wireless transmission (e.g., RF signal) from a sub-system (e.g., battery monitoring system236) of thesystem100. By way of another example, the receivingmodule202 may include a physical connector212 (e.g., data port) configured for establishing a wireline connection between thecontrol system116 and a sub-system (e.g., battery monitoring system236) of thesystem100.
• In another embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the receivingmodule202 may be configured to receive a signal (e.g., wireless or wireline) transmitted by auser interface device214. For example, the receivingmodule202 may be configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted from a portableuser interface device220 communicatively coupled with the receivingmodule202 of thecontrol system116. For instance, the receivingmodule202 may be communicatively coupled with a portable, or “remote,” user interface device220 (i.e., remote control device) via a RF signal, IR signal, and the like. By way of another example, the receivingmodule202 may be configured to directly receive data input (e.g., instruction commands) from a hardwired user interface device (e.g., touchscreen, mouse, trackball, keyboard, bezel mounted entry device and the like). For example, theuser interface device214 may include a user interface device disposed within or on the towable trailer216 (e.g., touchscreen, keyboard, or display device bezel input system mounted on trailer104), or a user interface device disposed within the vehicle218 (e.g., touchscreen, keyboard, or display device bezel input system mounted within vehicle104).
• In another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2B, thecontrol system116 may be communicatively coupled to adisplay device220. In a general sense, thedisplay device220 may include any display device known in the art. In one embodiment, thedisplay device220 may include an audio display device (e.g., speaker). In this regard, information related to one or more characteristics of at least the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110 may be relayed to a user via an audible signal, such as, but not limited to, an audible announcement, a tone, a simulated voice, or a series of tones. In another embodiment, thedisplay device220 may include a visual display. For example, the visual display may include, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), one or more organic LEDs (OLEDs), or a cathode rate tube (CRT). In another embodiment, thedisplay device220 may be configured to utilize text-based messages, symbols, indicia, or other identifiable visual characters, or symbols. In a further embodiment, thedisplay device220 may include a display device positioned within or on thetowable trailer102, a display device positioned within thevehicle104, or on a portable communications device (e.g., tablet, PDA, smartphone, and the like).
• In an additional embodiment, theuser interface device214 and thedisplay device220 may be integrated such that adisplay device220 may display information to the user, allowing the user to utilize auser interface device214 to input information into thecontrol system116 in response to the displayed information. For example, theuser interface214/display device220 sub-system may comprise an integrated touchscreen device configured to display information to a user and further configured to receive input information from the user via tactile feedback from the user.
• In another aspect of thecontrol system116, thedetermination module204 of thecontrol system116 may include one or more processing units configured to receive a signal from the receivingmodule202 and further configured to execute a preprogrammed algorithm stored as a set of instructions in an associated carrier medium (not shown). Upon receiving a signal from the receivingmodule202, the one or more processing units of thedetermination module204 may execute the selected preprogrammed algorithm in order to determine the coupling configuration of the communicatively coupledcoupling circuitry118. As will be discussed in greater detail further herein, the results generated by thedetermination module204 may depend upon a variety of parameters and factors associated with at least the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110.
• It is further recognized that thecontrol system116 of thesystem100 may be equipped with memory (not shown) for storing data associated with at least data received by the receivingmodule202 as well as results generated by the processor of thedetermination module204. For example, the memory of thecontrol system116 may store data regarding road condition information received by the receivingmodule202. By way of another example, the memory of thecontrol system116 may store data regarding user preference information received from a user input device by the receivingmodule202. Even further, the memory of thecontrol system116 may store output data generated via the execution of preprogrammed instructions by the processor of thedetermination module204. In a general sense, the memory of thecontrol system116 may store data related to any function of the system100 (and likesystems300 and400) as described in any portion of the present disclosure.
• In another aspect of thecontrol system116, thetransfer control module206 of thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling control circuitry118 in response to a result generated by thedetermination module204. For example, upon receiving a signal indicative of a generated coupling configuration result from thedetermination module204, thetransfer control module206 may in turn transmit acontrol signal115 to thecoupling control circuitry118. In response to thecontrol signal115 transmitted by thetransfer control module206 of thecontrol system116, thecontrol circuitry118 may couple or decouple the electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 in accordance with thecontrol signal115. In a further embodiment, thetransfer control module206 of thecontrol system116 may include any suitable signal transmission means known in the art. For example, thetransfer control module206 may include a transmitter configured to transmit a signal (e.g., wireless signal) to thecoupling circuitry118. By way of another example, thetransfer control module206 may include a physical connector configured to communicatively couple thedetermination module204 and thecoupling circuitry118. Further, thetransfer control module206 may include any suitable signal switching devices known in the art.
• Referring now toFIG. 2C, thecoupling circuitry118 may include switchingcircuitry222. In one embodiment, thecontrol system116 may be configured to control the switching state of switchingcircuitry222 positioned along thebidirectional pathway114 in order to control the transfer of charge between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and thestorage battery110. In a further embodiment, the switchingcircuitry222 may include, but is not limited to, one or more transistors224 (e.g., NPN transistor or PNP transistor) or one ormore relay systems226. For example, therelay system226 may include, but is not limited to, an electromagnetic relay system228 (e.g., a solenoid based relay system), a solidstate relay system230, or a transistor switchedelectromagnetic relay system232.
• While the above description has focused on the direct control of the coupling circuitry118 (e.g., switching circuitry222) utilizing thecontrol system116, it is further contemplated that thecoupling circuitry118 may be equipped with an independent computer data processing system having signal receiving and processing hardware and software configured to receive and process a control signal transmitted by thecontrol system116. For example, thecoupling circuitry118 may include a microprocessor controlledrelay system234 configured such that a signal transmitted by thecontrol system116 may be received by a receiver (not shown) of thecoupling circuitry118 and analyzed utilizing a processor (not shown) of thecoupling circuitry118. Upon analysis of the signal received from thecontrol system116, the processor of thecoupling circuitry118 may act to control the switching state (e.g., open switch or closed switch) of the associatedrelay system234 positioned along thebidirectional pathway114.
• By way of an additional example, the microprocessor controlled relay system, may include, but is not limited to a microprocessor controlled relay system programmed to respond to one or more conditions (e.g., a signal transmitted fromcontrol system116 or a signal transmitted directly from an additional sub-system (e.g., battery monitoring system)).
• Applicant notes that the preceding description related to the components of thecontrol system116 is not limiting, but should merely be interpreted as illustrative as those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous similar or analogous control system (or “controller”) architectures may be implemented within the context of the present invention
• It is recognized herein that the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 may be coupled with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in a variety of configurations. In one embodiment,coupling circuitry118 may be configured to electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of the trailer in a parallel configuration with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. In another embodiment,coupling circuitry118 may be configured to electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of the trailer in a series configuration with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. Even further, thecoupling circuitry118 may be configured to electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of the trailer in a series/parallel configuration with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• Referring now toFIG. 2D, thesystem100 may further include one or morebattery monitoring systems236 configured to monitor one or more characteristics of at least one of the one or more storage batteries of thevehicle104 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. In one embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may measure one or more characteristics of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. Then, thebattery monitoring system236 may transmit one or more signals238 (e.g., wireless signal or wireline signal) indicative of the monitored characteristics of the one ormore storage batteries110 to thecontrol system116. In another embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may measure one or more characteristics of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. Then, thebattery monitoring system236 may transmit one or more signals238 (e.g., wireless signal or wireline signal) indicative of the monitored characteristics of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to thecontrol system116. In a further embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may be configured to measure one or more characteristics of the one ormore storage batteries110 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 at a preselected time interval (e.g., selected by user or determined by control system116).
• In a general sense, thebattery monitoring system236 may include any known system or device suitable for monitoring or measuring one or more characteristics of a battery. In one embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include a system configured for measuring the state of charge (SOC) of one or more batteries. In a further embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include, but is not limited to, a current-based SOC measurement device configured to measure the amount of charge discharged from the one or more batteries (e.g.,auxiliary batteries106 and/or storage batteries110). Then, utilizing the measured discharge thebattery monitor system236 or thecontrol system116 may calculate the level of charge remaining in the battery by comparing the discharged charge to the expected charge level of the battery when in the freshly charged state. In another embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include, but is not limited to, a voltage-based SOC measurement device configured to determine the amount of remaining charge in the one or more batteries by measuring the open circuit voltage of the battery. In an additional embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include, but is not limited to, an impedance-based SOC measurement device configured to determine the amount of charge/discharge of a battery by monitoring the internal impedance of the battery.
• In another embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include a time elapsed-based SOC system. Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least some battery systems (e.g., Lithium cells) suitable for implementation in the present invention possess a linear discharge characteristic over time. As such, the SOC of the one or more batteries of the batteries may be estimated utilizing the elapsed time of travel since the last charging cycle of the one or more batteries. In a further embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include a distance traveled-based SOC system configured to determine the SOC of the one or more batteries utilizing the total distance traveled since the last charging cycle of the one or more batteries.
• In another embodiment, the batteringmonitoring system236 may include a digital specific gravity (SG) based measurement device. For example a SG-based battery monitoring system may be configured to determine the charge state of a battery by measuring the changes in the weight of the active chemicals of the battery. For instance, the batteries (e.g.,auxiliary batteries106 or storage batteries110) of thesystem100 may be equipped with a digital sensor configured to measure and monitor the SG of the electrolyte of the given battery.
• In another embodiment, thebattery monitoring system236 may include a temperature monitoring system, such as a thermocouple device or a RTD element. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various charge measurement devices, such as those described above, may depend on the temperature of the measurement process. As such, it is contemplated herein that the addition of temperature information may aid in more precisely determining the amount of charge remaining in a given battery. For example, those skilled in the art should recognize that a voltage-based SOC measure process is highly temperature dependent. Therefore, by inputting known temperatures, both at the time of measurement and during the discharge cycle of the battery, the estimated remaining charge level of the one or more batteries may be improved.
• It is further recognized herein that a variety of charge estimation algorithms may be utilized by the present invention in order to determine or estimate the amount of charge remaining in either the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110 of thesystem100. An implemented charge estimation algorithm may base the charge estimation on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, number or accumulated charge cycles, level of discharging in previous discharge cycles, level of charging in previous charging cycles, temperature, time since last charge cycle, distance traveled since last charge cycle, and the like.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 above a preselected charge level. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 such that the electric charge of the one ormore storage batteries110 is maintained above a preselected charge level. For example, upon receiving asignal238 from abattery monitoring system236 indicative of the charge level of the one ormore storage batteries110 is at, below, or approaching the preselected charge level, thecontrol system116 may transmit a signal to thecoupling circuitry118 directing thecoupling circuitry118 to close the switch between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, thereby allowing charge stored in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to flow into the one ormore storage batteries110. In another example, the charge transfer may be initiated by thecontrol system116 upon a metric-based (e.g., time-based or distance-based) determination by thecontrol system116 indicative of a depletion of the charge stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 below a preselected level. For instance, thecontrol system116 may monitor the time or distance driven by thevehicle104 since the last charging cycle of the one ormore storage batteries110. Then, utilizing stored historical data, thecontrol system116 may estimate the amount of discharge experienced by the one or more thestorage batteries110. Upon determining a critical time or distance (i.e., the time or distance corresponding to the preselected charge level), thecontrol system116 may transmit a signal to thecoupling circuitry118 directing thecoupling circuitry118 to close the switch between theauxiliary batteries106 and thestorage batteries110.
• In a further embodiment, thecontrol system116 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 above a damage-causing level of the one ormore storage batteries110. In this sense, the preselected charge level may consist of the charge level of the one ormore storage batteries110 required to avoid damaging the operational capability of the one ormore storage batteries110. For example, the damage-causing charge level may be entered into a memory of thecontrol system116 via user input. By way of another example, the damage-causing charge level may be determined by thecontrol system116 utilizing a database configured to associate storage battery types and the damage-causing charge level of the storage batteries types. For instance, the database may be preloaded into the memory of acontrol system116. In another instance, the database stored in thecontrol system116 memory may be continually updated utilizing an off-site database server placed in communication with the control system116 (e.g., control system is communicatively coupled with the database server via a wireless internet connection).
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. For example, the preselected charge level may include a charge level required to allow thevehicle104 to travel a selected distance upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system116 may be configured to receive an input from a user (e.g., input received from user interface device214) indicative of the desired driving distance upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Then, thecontrol system116 may determine a minimum charge level needed to achieve the selected driving distance requirements. For instance, the minimum charge level may be determined utilizing historical data (e.g., historical data received from off-site data base or historical data generated by the control system116) configured to correlate charge level of thestorage batteries110 with driving distance. Based on the charge level determination, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 in order to achieve the required charge level in the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 above a preselected charge level. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 such that the electric charge of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 is maintained above a preselected charge level. For example, upon receiving asignal238 from abattery monitoring system236 indicative of the charge level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 being at, below, or approaching the preselected charge level, thecontrol system116 may transmit a signal to thecoupling circuitry118 suitable for directing thecoupling circuitry118 to close the switch between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, thereby allowing charge stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 to flow into the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In another example, the charge transfer may be initiated by thecontrol system116 in response to a metric-based (e.g., time-based or distance-based) determination by thecontrol system116 indicative of a depletion of the charge stored in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 below a preselected level. For instance, thecontrol system116 may monitor the time or distance driven by thevehicle104 since the last charging cycle of the one ormore storage batteries110. Then, utilizing stored historical data, thecontrol system116 may estimate the amount of discharge experienced by the one or more theauxiliary batteries106. Upon determining a critical time or distance (i.e., the time or distance corresponding to the preselected charge level), thecontrol system116 may transmit a signal to thecoupling circuitry118 directing thecoupling circuitry118 to close the switch between theauxiliary batteries106 and thestorage batteries110.
• In a further embodiment, thecontrol system116 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 above a damage-causing level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this sense, the preselected charge level may consist of the charge level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 required to avoid damaging the operational capability of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. It is further noted that the damage-causing charge level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be determined in a manner similar to that of the one ormore storage batteries110, as described previously herein.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from the one ormore storage batteries110. For example, the preselected charge level may include a charge level required to return the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to an initial charge state. It is contemplated herein that there may exist scenarios wherein a user may desire the ability to establish a charge in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 above a predetermined charge level. For instance, a user may rent the one or more auxiliary batteries106 (along with the trailer102) from a rental company. In addition, the rental company may charge a fee to the user upon returning the rentedauxiliary batteries106 to the rental facility with a charge level below a preselected level (e.g., below initial charge level). As such, it may be economically efficient for the user, prior to returning theauxiliary batteries106 to the rental facility, to distribute charge stored on the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 to the one ormore auxiliary106 of thetowable trailer102. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system116 may be configured to receive an input from a user (e.g., input received from user interface device214) indicative of the desired charge level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from the one ormore storage batteries110. Based on the selected charge level, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 in order to achieve the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 based on one or more parameters. In a further embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on one or more external parameters. For example, the one or more external parameters may include, but are not limited to, a received set of driving conditions. For instance, the one or more external parameters may include, but are not limited to, current driving conditions, future driving conditions (i.e., anticipated driving conditions), or past driving conditions. Further, the driving conditions may include, but are not limited to, road conditions, weather conditions, location information, and the like. For example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on road condition parameters (e.g., road surface conditions, road construction status, terrain (e.g., road grade) and the like) received from a road condition information service and spatial position data received from a received GPS signal. It is further recognized that any combination of known external parameters (e.g., road conditions, weather conditions, vehicle location (via GPS), and the like) may be used to determine the charging state for the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Based on the determined charge levels for the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 in order to establish the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and/or the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In another embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on one or more internal parameters. In a further embodiment, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, one or more parameters associated with the operational status of at least one of the one ormore storage batteries110 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. For example, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, the ability of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to retain charge. In another example, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, the inter-battery transfer rate between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. For example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on the inter-battery transfer rate between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. It is recognized herein that determining the charging level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and/or the one ormore storage batteries110 based on one or more internal parameters may aid in assuring that sufficient charge is stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 to overcome future more rigorous driving conditions (e.g., increased road grade, decreased road surface quality, and the like), which may require an increased discharge rate to meet the increased performance requirements on theelectric motor124 of thevehicle104. It is further recognized that determining the charging level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and/or the one ormore storage batteries110 based on one or more internal parameters may aid in assuring that the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 have sufficient charge storage ability to recapture electrical charge generated during a regenerative breaking process of thevehicle104.
• In another embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a comparison between a first parameter and a second parameter. In a further embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter. For example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. By way of another example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a difference between an expected lifetime of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and an expected lifetime of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. In another example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a charging efficiency associated with the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. In another example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. It is noted herein that the list of parameter differences described above should not be interpreted as limiting, but is merely provided for illustrative purposes. It is anticipated thatcontrol system116 may render a charge state determination for theauxiliary batteries106 and thestorage batteries110 based on a number of parameters and parameter differences. For example, it is further contemplated that the charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and/or the charge state of thestorage batteries110 may be determined based on at least one of a difference between the age of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, a difference between the number of accumulated charging cycles of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, a difference between the available charging capacity of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, a difference between the measured discharge of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110, and the like.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 based on user input. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system116 may transmit a signal indicative of user selected charge level query to thedisplay device220. In response to the displayed query, a user may select the preferred charge level of at least one of the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 viauser interface device214. Based on the user selected charge levels for the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 in order to establish the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system116 may be configured to control a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system116 may be configured to limit a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 below a preselected or predetermined level. It is anticipated herein that it may be desirable to control the rate of transfer of charge between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 in order to avoid damage (e.g., heating damage) to either the one ormore storage batteries110 or theauxiliary batteries106.
• Referring again toFIGS. 1A and 1B, in some embodiments of the present invention, thecoupling unit109 of thesystem100 may include a mechanical-based coupling unit configured to reversibly attach thetowable trailer102 to the rear portion of thevehicle104. For example, the mechanical coupling unit may include, but is not limited to, a hitch (e.g., ball hitch), one or more latches, one or more clamps, one or more suction disks, and the like. In another embodiment, thecoupling unit109 an electromagnetic-based coupling unit configured to reversibly attach thetowable trailer102 to the rear portion of thevehicle104. For example, one or more magnetic (e.g., permanent magnets or electromagnets) may be utilized in a magnetic coupling device to mechanically secure thetowable trailer102 to the rear portion of thevehicle104. For instance, an electromagnet positioned in or on thetowable trailer102 may be energized by either electrical energy form theauxiliary batteries106, thestorage batteries110, or another portion of thevehicle drivetrain112 and then magnetically coupled with a magnetizable portion of the rear portion of thevehicle104. It is further recognized herein that a portion of thevehicle104 may be equipped with a magnetized portion to enhance coupling between the electromagnet of thetowable trailer102 and thevehicle104.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, the one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to the chassis of thetowable trailer102 may include, but are not limited to, one ormore wheels120 configured to passively translate thetowable trailer102 utilizing a pulling force provided by thevehicle104. In alternative embodiments, the one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to the chassis of thetowable trailer102 may include, but is not limited to, one ormore wheels120 operatively connected to a drivetrain (not shown) of thetowable trailer102. Further, the drivetrain of thetowable trailer102 is configured to supply mechanical energy to thewheel120 in such a manner to rotate the one ormore wheels120, thereby translating thetowable trailer102. For instance, the drivetrain of thetowable trailer102 may include an electric motor configured to receive electrical energy from an energy source (e.g., batteries, output of a generator, and the like) and further configured to convert the received electrical energy into rotational mechanical energy usable by the rotatably attachedwheel120. In this regard, the drivetrain of thetowable trailer102 is configured to provide propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102. In a further embodiment, the drivetrain of thetrailer102 is configured to receive electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle and further configured to supply propulsive energy to thetrailer102 by converting the received electrically energy to mechanical energy. In an additional embodiment, the drivetrain of thetrailer102 is configured to receive electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and further configured to supply propulsive energy to thetrailer102 by converting the received electrically energy to mechanical energy.
• While the present disclosure has focused on the implementation of the present invention in the context of a wheeled vehicle, it is contemplated herein that thevehicle104 of the present invention may include any vehicle known in the art. For example, thevehicle104 may include, but is not limited to, a railed vehicle (e.g., trolley, train, and the like), a tracked vehicle (e.g., bulldozer, tank, tracked tractor type vehicle, snow mobile, and the like), or a skied vehicle (e.g., snow mobile).
• Referring now toFIG. 2E, thetowable trailer102 of thesystem100 may further include one or more auxiliaryelectrical outputs242 operatively coupled to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. In this regard, the auxiliaryelectrical output242 may be configured to supply electrical energy to anadditional device240. Further, theadditional device240 may be coupled to theauxiliary output242 via anauxiliary pathway244. For example, theauxiliary pathway244 may consist of a reversibly pluggable cable configured to allow theadditional device240 to be “plugged into” theauxiliary output242 of thetowable trailer102. In this manner it is contemplated herein that theauxiliary output242 may include an output port, a “socket,” configured to receive an electrical male prong suitable for use in a variety of electrical devices. It should be noted herein that this electrical coupling configuration is not limiting as is provided merely for illustrative purposes. It is anticipated that any electrical coupling configuration known in the art is suitable for implementation in the present invention.
• Referring now toFIGS. 2F and 2G, thetowable trailer102 of thesystem100 may further include one ormore generators246. The one ormore generators246 may be disposed within the interior of thetowable trailer102 and configured for supplying supplemental or auxiliary electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2F, the one ormore generators246 may be arranged in parallel with the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this manner, the one ormore generators246 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may individually or simultaneously provide electrically energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 via thepathway114. Those skilled in the art should recognize that this may be particularly useful in settings where it may be advantageous to supplement the charge storage of the one ormore storage batteries110. In an additional embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2G, the one ormore generators246 may be arranged in series with the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this manner, the one ormore generators246 may be utilized to supply supplemental electrical energy to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102. Those skilled in the art should recognize that this may be particularly useful in settings where it may be advantageous to supplement the charge storage of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. It is further contemplated herein that the one ormore generators246 may be arranged in a series/parallel configuration (not shown) with the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• In a further embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 2F and 2G, the one or more generators may be controlled viacontrol system116. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may transmit agenerator control signal247 to thegenerator246. For example, thecontrol system116 may control the ON/OFF state of thegenerator247. By way of another example, thecontrol system116 may control the output level of thegenerator247 by controlling the generator capacity (e.g., controlling the throttle of an internal combustion based generator) of thegenerator246. In a general sense, it is contemplated herein that thegenerator246 may include any suitable generator known in the art. For example, thegenerator246 may include an internal combustion based generator (e.g., gasoline generator or diesel generator). By way of another example, thegenerator246 may include a fuel cell generator, such as, but not limited to, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generator configured to utilize hydrogen fuel.
• Referring generally toFIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of anauxiliary power system300 for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle is described in accordance with the present disclosure. Similar tosystem100, theauxiliary power system300 for supplying auxiliary electrical power to avehicle104 may include atowable trailer102 suitable for transporting one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In another aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 are disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. In another aspect, thetowable trailer102 is mechanically couplable to the vehicle104 (e.g., electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle) via acoupling unit109. In this regard, thetowable trailer102 may be reversibly coupled to a portion of thevehicle104. Further, thetowable trailer102 includes one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to a portion of a chassis (not shown) of thetowable trailer102 and configured to passively translate thetowable trailer102 utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle.
• In an additional aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries104 are electrically couplable to one ormore storage batteries110 of adrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 via an electrical pathway302 (e.g., pluggable electrical cable). In this regard, theelectrical pathway302 may be utilized to reversibly establish an electrical connection (e.g., unidirectional connection or a bidirectional connection) between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and thestorage battery110 of thevehicle104. Further, theelectrical pathway302 is configured to selectively transfer electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one or more storage batteries of thevehicle110. In one embodiment, theelectrical pathway302 may transfer electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110. In another embodiment, theelectrical pathway302 may transfer electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In another aspect, theauxiliary power system100 may include acontrol system116 configured to control the transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 along theelectrical pathway302.
• In one embodiment, theelectrical pathway302 of thesystem300 may include, but is not limited to, a bidirectional pathway. For example, the one or moreauxiliary batteries104 are electrically couplable to one ormore storage batteries110 of adrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 via a bidirectional electrical pathway. In this regard, the bidirectional electrical pathway may be utilized to reversibly establish an electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and thestorage battery110 of thevehicle104. Further, the bidirectional electrical pathway may be configured to selectively transfer electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. In this sense, the bidirectional electrical pathway may transfer electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110 or conversely from the one ormore storage batteries110 to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Various aspects of a bidirectional electrical pathway have been described previously herein and should be interpreted to apply to the bidirectional pathway ofsystem300.
• In another embodiment, theelectrical pathway302 of thesystem300 may include, but is not limited to, a unidirectional pathway. For example, the one or moreauxiliary batteries104 are electrically couplable to one ormore storage batteries110 of adrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 via a unidirectional electrical pathway. In this regard, the unidirectional electrical pathway may be utilized to reversibly establish an electrical connection from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 to thestorage battery110 of thevehicle104. Further, the unidirectional electrical pathway may be configured to selectively transfer electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• It is noted herein that preceding description related to system100 (seeFIGS. 1A through 2G) of the present invention should be interpreted to extend tosystem300 ofFIG. 3. In this sense, the various embodiments and components ofsystem100 as described above throughout the preceding portions of the present disclosure should be interpreted to apply tosystem300 unless otherwise noted.
• Referring generally toFIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of anauxiliary power system400 for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle is described in accordance with the present disclosure. It is noted herein that the preceding disclosure related tosystem100 and system300 (FIGS. 1A through 3) should be interpreted to apply tosystem400 unless otherwise noted. In this sense, the embodiments, implementations, various components, and configurations described previously herein should be interpreted to extend tosystem400 for the purposes of the present disclosure. Similar tosystem100 and300, theauxiliary power system400 for supplying auxiliary electrical power to avehicle104 may include atowable trailer102 suitable for transporting one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In another aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 are disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. In another aspect, thetowable trailer102 is mechanically couplable to the vehicle104 (e.g., electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle) via acoupling unit109. In this regard, thetowable trailer102 may be reversibly coupled to a portion of thevehicle104. Further, thetowable trailer102 includes one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to a portion of a chassis (not shown) of thetowable trailer102.
• In an additional aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries104 are electrically couplable to one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 via a first electrical pathway410 (e.g., a first pluggable electrical cable). In this regard, the a firstelectrical pathway410 may be utilized to reversibly establish an electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. Further, the electrical pathway410 (e.g., unidirectional pathway or bidirectional pathway) is configured to selectively transfer electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one or more storage batteries of thevehicle110. In one embodiment, theelectrical pathway410 may transfer electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110. In another embodiment, theelectrical pathway410 may transfer electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. It is noted herein that the firstelectrical pathway410 may be configured in a manner similar to theelectrical pathway114 ofsystem100 orpathway302 ofsystem300 described previously herein.
• In another aspect, the one or moreauxiliary batteries104 are electrically couplable to an energy conversion portion122 (e.g., electric motor/generator124 or power conversion circuitry126) of thedrivetrain112 via a second electrical pathway414 (e.g., a second pluggable electrical cable). In this regard, the a secondelectrical pathway414 may be utilized to reversibly establish an electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and anenergy conversion portion122, such as theelectric motor124 or thepower conversion circuitry126, of thevehicle104. Further, the second electrical pathway414 (e.g., unidirectional pathway or bidirectional pathway) is configured to selectively transfer electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. In one embodiment, theelectrical pathway414 may transfer electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. For instance, theelectrical pathway414 may transfer electrical energy directly from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to theelectric motor124 or the converter126 (i.e., power conversion circuitry) of thedrivetrain112. In another embodiment, theelectrical pathway414 may transfer electrical energy from theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102. For instance, theelectrical pathway414 may transfer electrical energy directly from theelectric motor124 or the converter126 (i.e., power conversion circuitry) of thedrivetrain112 to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• In another aspect, the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 are electrically couplable to an energy conversion portion122 (e.g., electric motor/generator124 or power conversion circuitry126) of thedrivetrain112 via a third electrical pathway412 (e.g., charge transfer circuitry preexisting invehicle104 upon manufacture of the vehicle104). In this regard, the thirdelectrical pathway412 may establish an electrical connection between the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and anenergy conversion portion122, such as theelectric motor124 or thepower conversion circuitry126, of thevehicle104. Further, the third electrical pathway414 (e.g., unidirectional pathway or bidirectional pathway) is configured to selectively transfer electrical energy between the one ormore storage batteries110 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. In one embodiment, theelectrical pathway412 may transfer electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 to theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. For instance, theelectrical pathway412 may transfer electrical energy directly from the one ormore storage batteries110 to theelectric motor124 or the converter126 (i.e., power conversion circuitry) of thedrivetrain112. In another embodiment, theelectrical pathway412 may transfer electrical energy from theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. For instance, during a regenerative braking process, theelectrical pathway412 may transfer electrical energy from the electrical output of electric motor/generator124 or the converter126 (i.e., power conversion circuitry) of thedrivetrain112 to the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In another aspect, theauxiliary power system100 may include acontrol system402 configured to control at least one of (i) a transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 via thefirst pathway410, (ii) a transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 via thesecond pathway414, or (iii) a transfer of electrical energy between the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain122 via thethird pathway412.
• In a further embodiment, thecontrol system402 ofsystem400 may be configured to at least one of (i) selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112, (ii) selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112, or (iii) selectively electrically couple the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112.
• In one embodiment, thecontrol system402 may act to control thecoupling circuitry404 so as to selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to control the transfer of electrical charge between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110. In a further embodiment, thecoupling control circuitry404 may be positioned along thepathway410 and between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104. In this regard, thecontrol circuitry404 may be communicatively coupled to thecontrol system402 via a communication link in order to control the coupling state (e.g., open circuit or closed circuit) of thecoupling circuitry404. For example, thecoupling circuitry404 may be configured to closepathway410, thereby allowing charge to flow along thepathway410, in response to asignal403 indicative of a transmission command from thecontrol system402. By way of another example, thecoupling circuitry404 may be configured to open, or “break,” thepathway410, thereby stopping charge flow along thepathway410, in response to asignal403 indicative of a non-transmission command from thecontrol system402.
• In another embodiment, thecontrol system402 may act to control thecoupling circuitry406 so as to selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 with the energy conversion portion122 (e.g.,electric motor124 or converter126) of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 in order to control the transfer of electrical charge between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. In a further embodiment, thecoupling control circuitry406 may be positioned along thepathway414 and between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104. In this regard, thecontrol circuitry406 may be communicatively coupled to thecontrol system402 via a communication link in order to control the coupling state of thecoupling circuitry406. For example, thecoupling circuitry406 may be configured to close thepathway414, thereby allowing charge to flow along thepathway414, in response to asignal405 indicative of a transmission command from thecontrol system402. By way of another example, thecoupling circuitry406 may be configured to open, or “break,” thepathway414, thereby stopping charge flow along thepathway414, in response to asignal405 indicative of a non-transmission command from thecontrol system402.
• In another embodiment, thecontrol system402 may act to control thecoupling circuitry408 so as to selectively electrically couple the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 with theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 in order to control the transfer of electrical charge between the one ormore storage batteries110 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. In a further embodiment, thecoupling control circuitry408 may be positioned along thepathway412 and between the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104. In this regard, thecontrol circuitry408 may be communicatively coupled to thecontrol system402 via a communication link in order to control the coupling state of thecoupling circuitry408. For example, thecoupling circuitry408 may be configured to close thepathway412, thereby allowing charge to flow along thepathway412, in response to asignal407 indicative of a transmission command from thecontrol system402. By way of another example, thecoupling circuitry408 may be configured to open, or “break,” thepathway412, thereby stopping charge flow along thepathway412, in response to asignal407 indicative of a non-transmission command from thecontrol system402. It is recognized herein that thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 and the communication means utilized to establish communication between thecontrol system402 and thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 may be configured in a manner similar to thecoupling circuitry118 andcontrol system116 described in the context ofsystem100 andsystem300 disclosed previously herein. As such, the embodiments and described implementations of thecontrol system116 andcoupling circuitry118 should be interpreted to extend to thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 ofsystem400 of the present invention unless otherwise noted.
• In another aspect of thecontrol system402, a determination module (not shown) of thecontrol system402 may include one or more processing units configured to receive a signal from the receiving module (not shown) of thecontrol system402 and further configured to execute a preprogrammed algorithm stored as a set of instructions in an associated carrier medium (not shown). Upon receiving a signal from the receiving module, the one or more processing units of the determination module may execute the selected preprogrammed algorithm in order to determine the electrical coupling configuration of the communicatively coupledcoupling circuitries404,406, and408. As discussed in greater detail further herein, the results generated by the determination module of thecontrol system402 may depend upon a variety of parameters and factors associated with at least the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, the one ormore storage batteries110, and/or theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. For example, the determination module may be configured to determine the electrical coupling configuration based on one or more intrinsic parameters (e.g., characteristic associated with theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112, characteristic associated with one or moreauxiliary batteries106, or characteristic associated with one or more storage batteries110). By way of another example, the determination module may be configured to determine the electrical coupling configuration based on one or more extrinsic parameters (e.g., fuel price information, cost of recharging one or more batteries ofsystem400, road condition information, weather information, and the like).
• In another aspect of thecontrol system402, a transfer control module (not shown) of thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling control circuitries404,406, and408 in response to a result generated by the determination module of thecontrol system402. For example, upon receiving a signal indicative of a generated coupling configuration result from the determination module, the transfer control module of thecontrol system402 may in turn transmit one or more of the control signals403,405, and407 to thecoupling control circuitries404,406, and408 respectively. In one embodiment, in response to thecontrol signal403 transmitted by the transfer control module of thecontrol system402, thecontrol circuitry404 may couple or decouple the electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110 in accordance with thecontrol signal403. In another embodiment, in response to thecontrol signal405 transmitted by the transfer control module of thecontrol system402, thecontrol circuitry406 may couple or decouple the electrical connection between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 in accordance with thecontrol signal405. In an additional embodiment, in response to thecontrol signal407 transmitted by the transfer control module of thecontrol system402, thecontrol circuitry408 may couple or decouple the electrical connection between the one ormore storage batteries110 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 in accordance with thecontrol signal407. In a further embodiment, the transfer control module of thecontrol system402 may include any suitable signal transmission means known in the art. For example, the transfer control module may include a transmitter configured to transmit signals (e.g., wireless signals) to thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408. By way of another example, the transfer control module may include multiple physical connectors configured to communicatively couple the determination module and thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408. Further, the transfer control module may include any suitable signal switching devices known in the art.
• While the above description has focused on the direct control of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 utilizing thecontrol system402, it is further contemplated that thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 may each be equipped with an independent computer data processing system having signal receiving and processing hardware and software configured to receive and process a control signal transmitted by thecontrol system402. For example, each of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 may include a microprocessor controlled relay system configured such that a signal transmitted by thecontrol system402 may be received by a receiver (not shown) of at least one of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 and analyzed utilizing a processor (not shown) of each of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408. Upon analysis of the signal received from thecontrol system402, the processor of a given coupling circuitry may act to control the switching state (e.g., open switch or closed switch) of the associated relay system positioned along the associated pathway (e.g.,410,412, or414).
• Applicant notes that the preceding description related to the components of thecontrol system402 is not limiting, but should merely be interpreted as illustrative as those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous similar or analogous control system (or “controller”) architectures may be implemented within the context of the present invention.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 above a preselected charge level. In this regard, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 such that the electric charge of the one ormore storage batteries110 is maintained above a preselected charge level. For example, upon receiving asignal238 from abattery monitoring system236 indicative of the charge level of the one ormore storage batteries110 is at, below, or approaching the preselected charge level, thecontrol system402 may transmit a signal to at least one of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to allow charge to flow into the one ormore storage batteries110. In another example, the charge transfer may be initiated by thecontrol system402 upon a metric-based (e.g., time-based or distance-based) determination by thecontrol system402 indicative of a depletion of the charge stored in the one ormore storage batteries110 below a preselected level. For instance, thecontrol system402 may monitor the time or distance driven by thevehicle104 since the last charging cycle of the one ormore storage batteries110. Then, utilizing stored historical data, thecontrol system402 may estimate the amount of discharge experienced by the one or more thestorage batteries110. Upon determining a critical time or distance (i.e., the time or distance corresponding to the preselected charge level), thecontrol system402 may transmit a signal to thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 directing at least one of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to allow charge to flow into the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In a further embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 above a damage-causing level of the one ormore storage batteries110. In this sense, the preselected charge level may consist of the charge level of the one ormore storage batteries110 required to avoid damaging the operational capability of the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from a portion (e.g.,energy conversion portion122 or the one or more storage batteries110) of thedrivetrain112 of the vehicle. For example, the preselected charge level may include a charge level required to allow thevehicle104 to travel a selected distance upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from a portion (e.g.,energy conversion portion122 or the one or more storage batteries110) of thedrivetrain112 of the vehicle. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to receive an input from a user (e.g., input received from user interface device214) indicative of the desired driving distance upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from a portion of thedrivetrain112. Then, thecontrol system402 may determine a minimum charge level needed to achieve the selected driving distance requirements. For instance, the minimum charge level may be determined utilizing historical data (e.g., historical data received from off-site data base or historical data generated by the control system402) configured to correlate charge level of thestorage batteries110 with driving distance. Based on the charge level determination, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to achieve the required charge level in the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 above a preselected charge level. In this regard, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 such that the electric charge of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 is maintained above a preselected charge level. For example, upon receiving asignal238 from abattery monitoring system236 indicative of the charge level of the one ormore storage batteries110 is at, below, or approaching the preselected charge level, thecontrol system402 may transmit a signal to at least one of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to allow charge to flow into the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In another example, the charge transfer may be initiated by thecontrol system402 upon a metric-based (e.g., time-based or distance-based) determination by thecontrol system402 indicative of a depletion of the charge stored in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 below a preselected level. For instance, thecontrol system402 may monitor the time or distance driven by thevehicle104 since the last charging cycle of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Then, utilizing stored historical data, thecontrol system402 may estimate the amount of discharge experienced by the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Upon determining a critical time or distance, thecontrol system402 may transmit a signal to thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 directing at least one of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 to allow charge flow into the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• In a further embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to maintain a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of thetrailer102 above a damage-causing level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this sense, the preselected charge level may consist of the charge level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 required to avoid damaging the operational capability of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from a portion (e.g.,energy conversion portion122 or the one or more storage batteries110) of thedrivetrain112 of the vehicle. For example, the preselected charge level may include a charge level required to return the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to an initial charge state. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to receive an input from a user (e.g., input received from user interface device214) indicative of the desired charge level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 upon disconnection of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 from the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. Based on the selected charge level, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to achieve the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 based on one or more parameters. In a further embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on one or more external parameters. For example, the one or more external parameters may include, but are not limited to, a received set of driving conditions. For instance, the one or more external parameters may include, but are not limited to, current driving conditions, future driving conditions (i.e., anticipated driving conditions), or past driving conditions. Further, the driving conditions may include, but are not limited to, road conditions, weather conditions, location information, and the like. For example, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on road condition parameters received from a road condition information service and spatial position data received from a received GPS signal. It is further recognized that any combination of known external parameters (e.g., road conditions, weather conditions, vehicle location (via GPS), and the like) may be used to determine the charging state for the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. Based on the determined charge levels for the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In another embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on one or more internal parameters. In a further embodiment, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, one or more parameters associated with the operational status of at least one of the one ormore storage batteries110, the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, or theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. For example, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, the ability of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to retain charge. By way of another example, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, the status of a regenerative breaking system of thesystem400. In another example, the one or more internal parameters may include, but are not limited to, the inter-battery transfer rate between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. It is further recognized that determining the charging level of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and/or the one ormore storage batteries110 based on one or more internal parameters may aid in assuring that the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 have sufficient charge storage ability to recapture electrical charge generated during a regenerative breaking process of thevehicle104. Based on the determined charge levels, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In another embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a comparison between a first parameter and a second parameter. In a further embodiment, the charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 and a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be established based on a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter. It is anticipated thatcontrol system402 may render a charge state determination for theauxiliary batteries106 and thestorage batteries110 based on a number of parameters and parameter differences. Based on the determined charge levels, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to establish a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and/or a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 based on user input. Based on the user selected charge levels for the one ormore storage batteries110 and/or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish the selected charge level in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• In some embodiments of the present invention, thecontrol system402 may be configured to control a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106, the one ormore storage batteries110, and/or theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112. In a further embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to limit a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 below a preselected or predetermined level. In another embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to limit a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 below a preselected or predetermined level. In another embodiment, thecontrol system402 may be configured to limit a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one ormore storage batteries110 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 below a preselected or predetermined level.
• Following are a series of flowcharts depicting implementations. For ease of understanding, the flowcharts are organized such that the initial flowcharts present implementations via an example implementation and thereafter the following flowcharts present alternate implementations and/or expansions of the initial flowchart(s) as either sub-component operations or additional component operations building on one or more earlier-presented flowcharts. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that the style of presentation utilized herein (e.g., beginning with a presentation of a flowchart(s) presenting an example implementation and thereafter providing additions to and/or further details in subsequent flowcharts) generally allows for a rapid and easy understanding of the various process implementations. In addition, those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the style of presentation used herein also lends itself well to modular and/or object-oriented program design paradigms.
• FIG. 5 illustrates anoperational flow500 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle. InFIG. 5 and in following figures that include various examples of operational flows, discussion and explanation may be provided with respect to the above-described examples ofFIGS. 1A through 4, and/or with respect to other examples and contexts. However, it should be understood that the operational flows may be executed in a number of other environments and contexts, and/or in modified versions ofFIGS. 1A through4. Also, although the various operational flows are presented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently.
• After a start operation, theoperational flow500 moves to a providingoperation510. The providingoperation510 depicts providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, one or more auxiliary batteries106 (e.g., lithium based batteries) may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 including at least one wheel120 (e.g., one wheel, two wheels, or three wheels) being rotatably connected to thetowable trailer120.
• Then,mechanical coupling operation520 depicts mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled avehicle104 including one or more storage batteries110 (e.g., lithium based batteries).
• Then, bidirectionalpathway establishing operation530 depicts establishing a bidirectional electrical pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing an electrical connection (e.g., electrically conducting wire or cable) configured to couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with an electrical port of thevehicle104.
• Then, controllingoperation540 depicts controlling a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries along the bidirectional pathway. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, acontrol system116 may be configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 along thebidirectional pathway114.
• FIG. 6 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 6 illustrates example embodiments where the providingoperation510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation602.
• Theoperation602 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to translate the towable trailer utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 including at least one wheel120 (e.g., one wheel, two wheels, three wheels, or four wheels) being rotatably connected to thetowable trailer120, wherein the at least onewheel120 is configured to passively translate thetowable trailer102 utilizing a pulling force from thevehicle102.
• FIG. 7 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 7 illustrates example embodiments where the providingoperation510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation702, an operation704, and/or an operation706.
• The operation702 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102 and mechanically connected to a trailer drivetrain (e.g., connected to a transmission of the trailer drivetrain) such that the drivetrain of thetrailer102 may supply propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102.
• Further, the operation704 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer utilizing electrical energy received from the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102. Thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102 and mechanically connected to a trailer drivetrain (e.g., connected to a transmission of the trailer drivetrain) such that an electric motor of thetrailer102 powered by electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may supply propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102.
• Further, the operation706 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer utilizing electrical energy received from the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102. Thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102 and mechanically connected to a trailer drivetrain (e.g., connected to a transmission of the trailer drivertrain) such that an electric motor of thetrailer102 powered by electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of the trailer may supply propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 8 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 8 illustrates example embodiments where the providingoperation510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation802.
• Theoperation802 illustrates providing a plurality of auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, a plurality ofauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102. For instance, two or more series coupled batteries (e.g., lithium based batteries) auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. In another instance, two or more parallel coupled auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. Further, two or more series/parallel coupled auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 9 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 9 illustrates example embodiments where themechanical coupling operation520 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation902 and/oroperation904.
• Theoperation902 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle utilizing one or more mechanical coupling devices. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled, or attached, to vehicle utilizing one or more mechanical coupling devices. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically attached to a rear portion (e.g., bumper) of thevehicle104 utilizing at least one of a hitch, a latch, or a suction device.
• Theoperation904 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle utilizing one or more electromagnetic coupling devices. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled, or attached, to vehicle utilizing one or more electromagnetic coupling devices. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically attached to a rear portion (e.g., bumper) of thevehicle104 utilizing at least one of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet disposed within a front portion of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 10 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 10 illustrates example embodiments where themechanical coupling operation520 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1002 and/or operation1004.
• Theoperation1002 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to at least one of an electrical vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to a hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle (e.g., parallel configured hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle or series configured hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle). By way of another example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to an electric vehicle, such as a purely electric vehicle or an electric vehicle including additional energy capture technology, such as a regenerative braking.
• The operation1004 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to at least one of a wheeled vehicle, a railed vehicle, a tracked vehicle, or a skied vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to a wheeled vehicle, a railed vehicle, a tracked vehicle, or a skied vehicle. For instance, a wheeled vehicle may include an 2-wheeled or 4 wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle or car. In another instance, a railed vehicle may include a trolley, a train, or the like. In another instance, a tracked vehicle may include any vehicle equipped with tracking as a means of locomotion, such as a snow plow, a bulldozer, or the like. In another instance, a skied vehicle may include any vehicle equipped with skies, such as, but not limited to, a snow mobile.
• FIG. 11 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 11 illustrates example embodiments where the bidirectional establishingoperation530 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation1102 and/oroperation1104.
• The operation1102 illustrates establishing a bidirectional pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle utilizing charge/discharge circuitry of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, a bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing an electrical connection configured to couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with a portion of the charge/discharge circuitry128 of thevehicle104.
• Further, theoperation1104 illustrates establishing a bidirectional pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle utilizing a charging socket of the charge/discharge circuitry of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, a bidirectionalelectrical pathway114 between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing a reversibly connectable cable to to reversibly couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with a portion of the charge/discharge circuitry128 of thevehicle104 via a chargingsocket130 of the charge/discharge circuitry128. In this regard, the chargingsocket130 of thevehicle104 may be configured to receive a connector portion of the pluggable electrical cable, allowing for the reversible electrical coupling of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• FIG. 12 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 12 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1202, andoperation1204 and/oroperation1206.
• Theoperation1202 illustrates selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• Further, theoperation1204 illustrates selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle utilizing coupling circuitry, the coupling circuitry configured to electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries with the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may transmit acontrol signal115 to controlcircuitry118, wherein thecontrol circuitry118 is configured for selectively electrically coupling the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in response to the receivedcontrol signal115.
• Further, theoperation1206 illustrates determining an electrical energy transfer configuration for the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries; and controlling the coupling circuitry in response to the electrical energy transfer determination. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, a determination module204 (e.g., one or more processors configured to execute a preprogrammed algorithm) may determine an energy transfer configuration (i.e., a coupling circuitry configuration) utilizing one or more received signals from the receivingmodule202. In response to the energy transfer configuration, thetransfer control module206 of thecontrol system116 may transmit acontrol signal115 to controlcircuitry118 in order to control the coupling state (e.g., OPEN circuit or CLOSED circuit) of thecoupling circuitry118.
• FIG. 13 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 13 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1302 and/oroperation1304.
• Theoperation1302 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 above a selected charge level.
• Further, theoperation1304 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 above a damage-causing charge level.
• FIG. 14 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 14 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1402.
• Theoperation1402 illustrates establishing a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or more storage batteries from the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may be utilized in order to achieve a minimum charge state in the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle required for driving thevehicle104 for a selected distance (e.g., selectable via a user input device224) upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIG. 15 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 15 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1502 and/or operation1504.
• Theoperation1502 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 above a preselected charge level.
• Further, the operation1504 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries110 above a damage-causing charge level.
• FIG. 16 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 16 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1602.
• Theoperation1602 illustrates establishing a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or more storage batteries from the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may be utilized in order to achieve a minimum charge state in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thevehicle104 upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIG. 17 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 17 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1702, an operation1704, and/or anoperation1706.
• Theoperation1702 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using one or more parameters (e.g., internal parameters or external parameters).
• Further, the operation1704 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more external parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using one or more external parameters.
• Further, theoperation1706 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a received set of driving conditions. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a received set of driving conditions (e.g., road conditions received from a road condition service or weather information received from a weather service via a wireless internet signal).
• FIG. 18 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 18 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1802, and/or anoperation1804.
• Further, theoperation1802 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more internal parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using one or more internal parameters.
• Further, theoperation1804 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by an inter-battery transfer rate between the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a known or measured inter-battery transfer rate between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIGS. 19A-19D illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIGS. 19A-19D illustrate example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation1902,1904,1906,1908, and/or anoperation1910.
• Theoperation1902 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter.
• Further, theoperation1904 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• Further, the operation1906 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between an expected lifetime of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and an expected lifetime of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between an expected lifetime of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and an expected lifetime of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• Further, the operation1908 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.
• Further, theoperation1910 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeableauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 20 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 20 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation2002.
• Theoperation2002 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are selectable via user input. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 selected by a user via user interface device (e.g., mouse, touchscreen, keyboard, and the like).
• FIG. 21 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5.FIG. 21 illustrates example embodiments where thecontrolling operation540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation2102.
• Theoperation2102 illustrates controlling a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the rate of transfer (e.g., rate of transfer required to avoid overheating) of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• FIG. 22 illustrates anoperational flow2200 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 22 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a userinterface providing operation2202.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation510, a mechanically couplingoperation520, a bidirectionalpathway establishing operation530, and acontrolling operation540, theoperation flow2200 moves to userinterface providing operation2202.
• Theoperation2202 illustrates providing a user interface device. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, auser interface214 may be obtained. For instance, theuser interface214 may be disposed on thetowable trailer102. In another instance, theuser interface214 may be disposed within thevehicle104. In another instance, theuser interface214 may be integrated into a remote communications device (e.g., smartphone or tablet).
• FIG. 23A illustrates anoperational flow2300 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 23A illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a battery monitoring operation2302.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation510, a mechanically couplingoperation520, a bidirectionalpathway establishing operation530, and acontrolling operation540, theoperation flow2300 moves to battery monitoring operation2302.
• The operation2302 illustrates monitoring one or more characteristics of at least one of the one or more auxiliary batteries or the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a battery monitoring system236 (e.g., state of charge monitoring system) may be utilized to monitor one or more characteristics of at least one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110.
• FIG. 23B illustrates anoperational flow2301 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 23B illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a supplying operation2302.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation510, a mechanically couplingoperation520, a bidirectionalpathway establishing operation530, and acontrolling operation540, theoperation flow2301 moves to supplying operation2304.
• The operation2304 illustrates supplying electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries to an additional device via an auxiliary output of the towable trailer, the additional device being selectively electrically couplable to the auxiliary output. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, electrical energy stored within the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be transferred to anadditional device240 via anauxiliary port242. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be equipped with anauxiliary port242 configured for receiving a connector (e.g., male end of an electric cable) from theadditional device240.
• FIG. 24 illustrates anoperational flow2400 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 24 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow500 ofFIG. 5 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a generator providing operation2402,operation2404, and/oroperation2406.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation510, a mechanically couplingoperation520, a bidirectionalpathway establishing operation530, and acontrolling operation540, theoperation flow2400 moves to generator providing operation2402.
• The operation2402 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 may be disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116. For instance, thegenerator246 may be coupled in a parallel configuration with theauxiliary batteries106 as shown inFIG. 2F. In another instance, thegenerator246 may be coupled in a series configuration with theauxiliary batteries106 as shown inFIG. 2G.
• Further, theoperation2404 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer, wherein the generator is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may be configured to directly or indirectly supply auxiliary electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle. For instance, thegenerator246 may directly supply electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 viaelectrical connection114. In another instance, the generator24 may indirectly supply electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 by supplying electrical energy to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102, which in turn may supply auxiliary electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• Further, theoperation2406 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer, wherein the generator comprises at least one of an internal combustion generator or a fuel cell generator. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may include a gasoline or diesel generator. By way of another example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may include a PEM fuel cell configured to utilized hydrogen as a fuel source.
• FIG. 25 illustrates anoperational flow2500 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle. InFIG. 25 and in following figures that include various examples of operational flows, discussion and explanation may be provided with respect to the above-described examples ofFIGS. 1A through 4, and/or with respect to other examples and contexts.
• After a start operation, theoperational flow2500 moves to a providingoperation2510. The providingoperation2510 depicts providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, the at least one wheel being configured to translate the towable trailer utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, one or more auxiliary batteries106 (e.g., lithium based batteries) may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 including at least one wheel120 (e.g., one wheel, two wheels, or three wheels) being rotatably connected to thetowable trailer120 and configured to translate thetrailer102 utilizing the pull force generated by the movement of thevehicle104.
• Then,mechanical coupling operation2520 depicts mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled avehicle104 including one or more storage batteries110 (e.g., lithium based batteries).
• Then,pathway establishing operation530 depicts establishing an electrical pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through4, aelectrical pathway302 between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing an electrical connection (e.g., electrically conducting wire or cable) configured to couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with an electrical port of thevehicle104.
• Then, controllingoperation540 depicts controlling a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries along the pathway. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, acontrol system116 may be configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 along thepathway302.
• FIG. 26 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 26 illustrates example embodiments where the providingoperation2510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation2602.
• The operation2602 illustrates providing a plurality of auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a plurality ofauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102. For instance, two or more series coupled auxiliary batteries (e.g., lithium based batteries) may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. In another instance, two or more parallel coupled auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. Further, two or more series/parallel coupled auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 27 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 27 illustrates example embodiments where themechanical coupling operation2520 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation2702 and/or operation2704.
• Theoperation2702 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle utilizing one or more mechanical coupling devices. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled, or attached, to vehicle utilizing one or more mechanical coupling devices. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically attached to a rear portion (e.g., bumper) of thevehicle104 utilizing at least one of a hitch, a latch, or a suction device.
• The operation2704 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle utilizing one or more electromagnetic coupling devices. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled, or attached, to vehicle utilizing one or more electromagnetic coupling devices. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically attached to a rear portion (e.g., bumper) of thevehicle104 utilizing at least one of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet disposed within a front portion of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 28 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 28 illustrates example embodiments where themechanical coupling operation2520 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation2802 and/oroperation2804.
• Theoperation2802 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to at least one of an electrical vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to a hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle (e.g., parallel configured hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle or series configured hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle). By way of another example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to an electric vehicle, such as a purely electric vehicle or an electric vehicle including additional energy capture technology, such as a regenerative braking.
• Theoperation2804 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to at least one of a wheeled vehicle, a railed vehicle, a tracked vehicle, or a skied vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to a wheeled vehicle, a railed vehicle, a tracked vehicle, or a skied vehicle. For instance, a wheeled vehicle may include 2-wheeled or 4 wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle or car. In another instance, a railed vehicle may include a trolley, a train, or the like. In another instance, a tracked vehicle may include any vehicle equipped with tracking as a means of locomotion, such as a snow plow, a bulldozer, or the like. In another instance, a skied vehicle may include any vehicle equipped with skies, such as, but not limited to, a snow mobile.
• FIG. 29 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 29 illustrates example embodiments where thepathway establishing operation2530 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation2902 and/oroperation2904.
• Theoperation2902 illustrates establishing a unidirectional pathway configured to transfer electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer to the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a unidirectional electrical pathway between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing an electrical connection (e.g., electrically conducting wire or cable) configured to couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with an electrical port of thevehicle104. In this regard, theelectrical pathway302 may be configured to allow charge flow along only one direction. For instance, theelectrical pathway302 may be configured to only allow charge flow from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that a unidirectional pathway may be established utilizing a variety of current limiting devices. For instance, one or more diodes may be utilized in order to inhibit current flow along one direction, thereby establishing a unidirectional current flow along the other direction. In another aspect, theunidirectional pathway302 may be enforced via voltage regulation. For example, theunidirectional pathway302 may be established by regulating the voltage difference between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110. In this regard, unidirectional charge flow from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one or more storage batteries may be established by establishing a voltage of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 higher than the voltage level of the one ormore storage batteries110. In a further aspect, theunidirectional pathway302 may be established via passive voltage regulation (e.g., fixed voltage difference between theauxiliary battery106 and the storage battery110). In another aspect, theunidirectional pathway302 may be established via active voltage regulation (e.g., adjustable voltage difference between theauxiliary battery106 and thestorage battery110 via voltage boosting). For instance, thesystem100 may include a voltage booster configured to at least one of i) boost the voltage of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or ii) reduce the voltage of the one ormore storage batteries110. It is further contemplated that the current limiting devices and/or this voltage booster may be responsive to a control signal from acontrol system116.
• Theoperation2904 illustrates establishing a bidirectional pathway configured to at least one of transfer electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer to the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or transfer electrical energy from the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle to the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a bidirectional electrical pathway between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing an electrical connection (e.g., electrically conducting wire or cable) configured to couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with an electrical port of thevehicle104. In this regard, theelectrical pathway302 may be configured to allow charge flow along both directions of the pathway. This charge flow may be allowed to flow in either direction at any time, or may be controlled to flow in only one direction at a time, and then in the opposite direction at a different time. For instance, theelectrical pathway302 may be configured to control charge flow from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 to the one ormore storage batteries110, or, alternatively, from the one or more storage batteries to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that a controllable charge flow may be established utilizing a variety of current limiting devices. For instance, during one time interval, one or more diodes may be utilized in order to controllably inhibit current flow along a first direction, thereby establishing a current flow along the opposite direction; at a different time interval, one or more diodes may be utilized to inhibit current flow along the opposite direction, thereby establishing current flow in the first direction. In a further aspect, thebidirectional pathway302 may include voltage regulation circuitry for regulating charge flow between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. For example, the voltage regulation circuitry may be configured for passive voltage regulation (e.g., fixed voltage difference between theauxiliary battery106 and the storage battery110) or active voltage regulation (e.g., adjustable voltage difference between theauxiliary battery106 and thestorage battery110 via voltage boosting). For instance, thesystem100 may include a voltage booster configured to boost the voltage of either the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110 in order to allow charge flow in a selected direction. Alternatively, the booster may be configured to reduce the voltage of either the one ormore storage batteries110 or the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 in order to allow charge flow in a selected direction. It is further contemplated that the current limiting devices and/or this voltage booster may be responsive to a control signal from acontrol system116.
• FIG. 30 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 30 illustrates example embodiments where the establishingoperation2530 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation3002 and/oroperation3004.
• The operation3002 illustrates establishing a pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle utilizing charge/discharge circuitry of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, aelectrical pathway114 between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing an electrical connection configured to couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with a portion of the charge/discharge circuitry128 of thevehicle104.
• Further, theoperation3004 illustrates establishing a pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle utilizing a charging socket of the charge/discharge circuitry of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, aelectrical pathway114 between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established utilizing a reversibly connectable cable to reversibly couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 with a portion of the charge/discharge circuitry128 of thevehicle104 via a chargingsocket130 of the charge/discharge circuitry128. In this regard, the chargingsocket130 of thevehicle104 may be configured to receive a connector portion of the pluggable electrical cable, allowing for the reversible electrical coupling of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and the one ormore storage batteries110.
• FIG. 31 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 31 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation3102, andoperation3104 and/oroperation3106.
• The operation3102 illustrates selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• Further, theoperation3104 illustrates selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle utilizing coupling circuitry, the coupling circuitry configured to electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries with the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may transmit acontrol signal115 to controlcircuitry118, wherein thecontrol circuitry118 is configured for selectively electrically coupling the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in response to the receivedcontrol signal115.
• Further, theoperation3106 illustrates determining an electrical energy transfer configuration for the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries; and controlling the coupling circuitry in response to the electrical energy transfer determination. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, a determination module204 (e.g., one or more processors configured to execute a preprogrammed algorithm) may determine an energy transfer configuration (i.e., a coupling circuitry configuration) utilizing one or more received signals from the receivingmodule202. In response to the energy transfer configuration, thetransfer control module206 of thecontrol system116 may transmit acontrol signal115 to controlcircuitry118 in order to control the coupling state (e.g., OPEN circuit or CLOSED circuit) of thecoupling circuitry118.
• FIG. 32 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 32 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3202 and/oroperation3204.
• Theoperation3202 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 above a selected charge level.
• Further, theoperation3204 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 above a damage-causing charge level.
• FIG. 33 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 33 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3302.
• Theoperation3302 illustrates establishing a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or more storage batteries from the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may be utilized in order to achieve a minimum charge state in the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle required for driving thevehicle104 for a selected distance (e.g., selectable via a user input device224) upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIG. 34 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 34 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3402 and/oroperation3404.
• Theoperation3402 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 above a preselected charge level.
• Further, theoperation3404 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 2G, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to maintain a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries110 above a damage-causing charge level.
• FIG. 35 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 35 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3502.
• Theoperation3502 illustrates establishing a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or more storage batteries from the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this regard, thecontrol system116 may be utilized in order to achieve a minimum charge state in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thevehicle104 upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIG. 36 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 36 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3602, anoperation3604, and/or anoperation3606.
• Theoperation3602 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using one or more parameters (e.g., internal parameters or external parameters).
• Further, theoperation3604 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more external parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using one or more external parameters.
• Further, theoperation3606 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a received set of driving conditions. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a received set of driving conditions (e.g., road conditions received from a road condition service or weather information received from a weather service via a wireless internet signal).
• FIG. 37 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 37 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3702, and/or anoperation3704.
• Further, theoperation3702 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more internal parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using one or more internal parameters.
• Further, theoperation3704 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by an inter-battery transfer rate between the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a known or measured inter-battery transfer rate between the one ormore storage batteries110 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIGS. 38A-38D illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIGS. 38A-38D illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation3802,3804,3806,3808, and/or an operation3810.
• Theoperation3802 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter.
• Further, theoperation3804 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• Further, theoperation3806 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between an expected lifetime of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and an expected lifetime of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between an expected lifetime of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and an expected lifetime of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• Further, theoperation3808 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.
• Further, the operation3810 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system116 using a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeableauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 39 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 39 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation3902.
• The operation3902 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are selectable via user input. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the charge flow between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 selected by a user via user interface device (e.g., mouse, touchscreen, keyboard, and the like).
• FIG. 40 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25.FIG. 40 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation2540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation4002.
• The operation4002 illustrates controlling a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system116 may control thecoupling circuitry118 so as to control the rate of transfer (e.g., rate of transfer required to avoid overheating) of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• FIG. 41 illustrates anoperational flow4100 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 41 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a userinterface providing operation4102.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation2510, a mechanically couplingoperation2520, apathway establishing operation2530, and acontrolling operation2540, theoperation flow4100 moves to userinterface providing operation4102.
• Theoperation4102 illustrates providing a user interface device. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, auser interface214 may be obtained. For instance, theuser interface214 may be disposed on thetowable trailer102. In another instance, theuser interface214 may be disposed within thevehicle104. In another instance, theuser interface214 may be integrated into a remote communications device (e.g., smartphone or tablet).
• FIG. 42 illustrates anoperational flow4200 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 42 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include abattery monitoring operation4202.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation2510, a mechanically couplingoperation2520, apathway establishing operation2530, and acontrolling operation2540, theoperation flow4200 moves tobattery monitoring operation4202.
• Theoperation4202 illustrates monitoring one or more characteristics of at least one of the one or more auxiliary batteries or the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a battery monitoring system236 (e.g., state of charge monitoring system) may be utilized to monitor one or more characteristics of at least one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110.
• FIG. 43 illustrates anoperational flow4300 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 43 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a supplyingoperation4302.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation2510, a mechanically couplingoperation2520, apathway establishing operation2530, and acontrolling operation2540, theoperation flow4300 moves to supplyingoperation4302.
• Theoperation4302 illustrates supplying electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries to an additional device via an auxiliary output of the towable trailer, the additional device being selectively electrically couplable to the auxiliary output. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, electrical energy stored within the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be transferred to anadditional device240 via anauxiliary port242. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be equipped with anauxiliary port242 configured for receiving a connector (e.g., male end of an electric cable) from theadditional device240.
• FIG. 44 illustrates anoperational flow4400 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 44 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow2500 ofFIG. 25 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a generator providing operation4402, operation4404, and/oroperation4406.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation2510, a mechanically couplingoperation2520, apathway establishing operation2530, and acontrolling operation2540, theoperation flow4400 moves to generator providing operation4402.
• The operation4402 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 may be disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116. For instance, thegenerator246 may be coupled in a parallel configuration with theauxiliary batteries106 as shown inFIG. 2F. In another instance, thegenerator246 may be coupled in a series configuration with theauxiliary batteries106 as shown inFIG. 2G.
• Further, the operation4404 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer, wherein the generator is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may be configured to directly or indirectly supply auxiliary electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle. For instance, thegenerator246 may directly supply electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 viaelectrical connection114. In another instance, the generator24 may indirectly supply electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 by supplying electrical energy to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102, which in turn may supply auxiliary electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• Further, theoperation4406 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer, wherein the generator comprises at least one of an internal combustion generator or a fuel cell generator. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may include a gasoline or diesel generator. By way of another example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may include a PEM fuel cell configured to utilized hydrogen as a fuel source.
• FIG. 45 illustrates anoperational flow4500 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle. InFIG. 45 and in following figures that include various examples of operational flows, discussion and explanation may be provided with respect to the above-described examples ofFIGS. 1A through 4, and/or with respect to other examples and contexts.
• After a start operation, theoperational flow4500 moves to a providingoperation4510. The providingoperation4510 depicts providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, one or more auxiliary batteries106 (e.g., lithium based batteries) may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 including at least one wheel120 (e.g., one wheel, two wheels, or three wheels) being rotatably connected to thetowable trailer120.
• Then,mechanical coupling operation4520 depicts mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled avehicle104 including adrivetrain112, thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104 including one or more storage batteries110 (e.g., lithium based batteries) and an energy conversion portion122 (e.g.,electric motor124,power converter126, and the like).
• Then,pathway establishing operation4530 depicts establishing a first pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries, a second pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer, and a third pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, afirst pathway410 between the one or more auxiliary batteries of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 may be established, asecond pathway414 between the energy conversion portion122 (e.g.,electric motor124 or converter126) and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 may be established, or athird pathway412 between theenergy conversion portion122 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may be established.
• Then, controllingoperation4540 depicts controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, acontrol system402 may be configured to control one or more of the following: (i) a transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 via thefirst pathway410, (ii) a transfer of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 via thesecond pathway414, or (iii) a transfer of electrical energy between the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 and the energy conversion portion122 (e.g., power conversion circuitry or electric motor/generator) of thedrivetrain112 via thethird pathway412.
• FIG. 46 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 46 illustrates example embodiments where the providingoperation4510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation4602.
• The operation4602 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to translate the towable trailer utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 including at least one wheel120 (e.g., one wheel, two wheels, three wheels, or four wheels) being rotatably connected to thetowable trailer120, wherein the at least onewheel120 is configured to passively translate thetowable trailer102 utilizing a pulling force from thevehicle102.
• FIGS. 47A and 47B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 47A and 47B illustrate example embodiments where the providingoperation4510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation4702, an operation4704, and/or an operation4706.
• The operation4702 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102 and mechanically connected to a trailer drivetrain (e.g., connected to a transmission of the trailer drivetrain) such that the drivetrain of thetrailer102 may supply propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102.
• Further, the operation4704 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer utilizing electrical energy received from the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102. Thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102 and mechanically connected to a trailer drivetrain (e.g., connected to a transmission of the trailer drivetrain) such that an electric motor of thetrailer102 powered by electrical energy from the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 may supply propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102.
• Further, the operation4706 illustrates providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer utilizing electrical energy received from the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102. Thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102 and mechanically connected to a trailer drivetrain (e.g., connected to a transmission of the trailer drivetrain) such that an electric motor of thetrailer102 powered by electrical energy from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of the trailer may supply propulsive energy to thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 48 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 48 illustrates example embodiments where the providingoperation4510 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation4802.
• The operation4802 illustrates providing a plurality of auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a plurality ofauxiliary batteries106 may be provided and disposed within an auxiliarybattery housing unit108 of atowable trailer102, thetowable trailer102 may include one ormore wheels120 rotatably connected to thetowable trailer102. For instance, two or more series coupled batteries (e.g., lithium based batteries) auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. In another instance, two or more parallel coupled auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102. Further, two or more series/parallel coupled auxiliary batteries may be provided and disposed with thebattery housing unit108 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 49 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 49 illustrates example embodiments where themechanical coupling operation4520 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation4902 and/oroperation4904.
• Theoperation4902 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle utilizing one or more mechanical coupling devices. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled, or attached, to vehicle utilizing one or more mechanical coupling devices. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically attached to a rear portion (e.g., bumper) of thevehicle104 utilizing at least one of a hitch, a latch, or a suction device.
• Theoperation4904 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle utilizing one or more electromagnetic coupling devices. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled, or attached, to vehicle utilizing one or more electromagnetic coupling devices. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically attached to a rear portion (e.g., bumper) of thevehicle104 utilizing at least one of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet disposed within a front portion of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 50 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 50 illustrates example embodiments where themechanical coupling operation4520 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5002 and/oroperation5004.
• Theoperation5002 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to at least one of an electrical vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to a hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle (e.g., parallel configured hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle or series configured hybrid electric-gasoline vehicle). By way of another example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to an electric vehicle, such as a purely electric vehicle or an electric vehicle including additional energy capture technology, such as a regenerative braking.
• Theoperation5004 illustrates mechanically coupling the towable trailer to at least one of a wheeled vehicle, a railed vehicle, a tracked vehicle, or a skied vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thetowable trailer102 may be mechanically coupled to a wheeled vehicle, a railed vehicle, a tracked vehicle, or a skied vehicle. For instance, a wheeled vehicle may include a 2-wheeled or 4 wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle or car. In another instance, a railed vehicle may include a trolley, a train, or the like. In another instance, a tracked vehicle may include any vehicle equipped with tracking as a means of locomotion, such as a snow plow, a bulldozer, or the like. In another instance, a skied vehicle may include any vehicle equipped with skies, such as, but not limited to, a snow mobile.
• FIGS. 51A and 51B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 51A and 51B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5102, anoperation5104 and/or operation5106.
• Theoperation5102 illustrates selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain, or selectively electrically coupling the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 ofsystem400 may be configured to at least one of (i) selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112, (ii) selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112, or (iii) selectively electrically couple the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112.
• Further, theoperation5104 illustrates selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain utilizing a first coupling circuitry, selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a second coupling circuitry, or selectively electrically coupling the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a third coupling circuitry. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 ofsystem400 may be configured to at least one of (i) selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 usingfirst coupling circuitry404, (ii) selectively electrically couple the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 usingsecond coupling circuitry406, or (iii) selectively electrically couple the one ormore storage batteries110 of thedrivetrain112 and theenergy conversion portion122 of thedrivetrain112 usingthird coupling circuitry408. Further, it is recognized that thefirst coupling circuitry404, thesecond coupling circuitry406, of thethird coupling circuitry408 may comprise any switching circuitry know in the art (see switching circuitry described inFIG. 2C of the present disclosure). It is further contemplated that thecontrol system402 may be configured to operate thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408 described above independently or conjunctively. In this regard,control system116 may be used to control the flow of charge along thepathways404,406, and408 using thecoupling circuitries410,414, and412 respectively. For instance, thecontrol system116 may control a single pathway (e.g.,404) using a single coupling circuitry (e.g.,404). Alternatively, thecontrol system116 may simultaneously control two or more pathways (e.g., two or more of404,406, and408) using two or more coupling circuitries (e.g., two or more of410,414, and412).
• Further, the operation5106 illustrates determining an electrical energy transfer configuration for the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain; and controlling at least one of the first coupling circuitry, the second coupling circuitry, or the third coupling circuitry in response to the electrical energy transfer determination. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a determination module of thecontrol system402 may determine an energy transfer configuration (i.e., a coupling circuitry configuration) utilizing one or more received signals from the receiving module of thecontrol system402. Upon receiving a signal indicative of a generated coupling circuitry configuration result from the determination module, the transfer control module of thecontrol system402 may in turn transmit one or more of the control signals403,405, and407 to thecoupling control circuitries404,406, and408 respectively in order to control the coupling states (e.g., OPEN circuit or CLOSED circuit) of each of thecoupling circuitries404,406, and408.
• FIG. 52 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 52 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5202 and/or operation5204.
• Theoperation5202 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 such that the electric charge of the one ormore storage batteries110 is maintained above a preselected charge level.
• Further, the operation5204 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 such that the electric charge of the one ormore storage batteries110 is maintained above a damage-causing charge level.
• FIG. 53 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 53 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5302.
• Theoperation5302 illustrates establishing a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or more storage batteries from the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this regard, thecontrol system402 may be utilized in order to achieve a minimum charge state in the one ormore storage batteries110 of the vehicle required for driving thevehicle104 for a selected distance (e.g., selectable via a user input device224) upon disconnection of the one ormore storage batteries110 from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106.
• FIG. 54 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 54 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5402 and/or operation5404.
• The operation5204 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 such that the electric charge of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 is maintained above a preselected charge level.
• Further, the operation5204 illustrates maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 such that the electric charge of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 is maintained above a damage-causing charge level.
• FIG. 55 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 55 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5502.
• Theoperation5502 illustrates establishing a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle from the one or more auxiliary batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of a portion (e.g., the one ormore storage batteries110, thepower conversion circuitry126, or the electric motor/generator124) of thedrivetrain122 of the vehicle from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. In this regard, thecontrol system402 may be utilized in order to achieve a minimum charge state in the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 upon disconnection of a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle from the one or moreauxiliary batteries106. For instance, a user may desire to return a rentedtrailer102 to a vendor such that the charge state of theauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102 is at or above a selected charge state (e.g., selectable via a user input device224).
• FIGS. 56A and 56B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 56A and 56B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5602, anoperation5604, and/or anoperation5606.
• Theoperation5602 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system402 utilizing one or more parameters (e.g., internal parameters or external parameters).
• Further, theoperation5604 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more external parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system402 utilizing one or more external parameters.
• Further, theoperation5606 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a received set of driving conditions. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system402 utilizing a received set of driving conditions (e.g., road conditions received from a road condition service or weather information received from a weather service via a wireless internet signal).
• FIGS. 57A and 57B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 57A and 57B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5702, and/or anoperation5704.
• Theoperation5702 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more internal parameters. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system402 utilizing one or more internal parameters.
• Further, theoperation5704 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by an inter-battery transfer rate between the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by thecontrol system402 utilizing an inter-battery transfer rate (measured by the battery monitoring system236) between the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIGS. 58A and 58B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 58A and 58B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation5802, and/or anoperation5804.
• Theoperation5802 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter.
• Further, theoperation5804 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIGS. 59A and 59B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 59A and 59B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation5902.
• Further, the operation5902 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between an expected lifetime of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and an expected lifetime of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by a difference between an expected lifetime of the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and an expected lifetime of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102.
• FIGS. 60A and 60B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 60A and 60B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include anoperation6002.
• Further, theoperation6002 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more auxiliary batteries of thetowable trailer102.
• FIGS. 61A and 61B illustrate alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIGS. 61A and 61B illustrate example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation6102.
• Further, the operation6102 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 determined by a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104 and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more auxiliary batteries of thetowable trailer102.
• FIG. 62 illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45.FIG. 45 illustrates example embodiments where the controllingoperation4540 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include an operation6202, and/or an operation6204.
• The operation6202 illustrates establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are selectable via user input. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to establish a charge state of the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 and a charge state of the one ormore storage batteries110 selected by a user via user interface device (e.g., mouse, touchscreen, keyboard, and the like).
• Further, the operation6204 illustrates controlling a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, thecontrol system402 may control thecoupling circuitries404,406, and/or408 in order to control the rate of transfer (e.g., rate of transfer required to avoid overheating) of electrical energy between the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetowable trailer102 and the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• FIG. 63 illustrates anoperational flow6300 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 63 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a user interface providing operation6302.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation4510, a mechanically couplingoperation4520, apathway establishing operation4530, and acontrolling operation4540, theoperation flow6300 moves to user interface providing operation6302.
• The operation6302 illustrates providing a user interface device. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, auser interface214 may be obtained. For instance, theuser interface214 may be disposed on or within thetowable trailer102. In another instance, theuser interface214 may be disposed within thevehicle104. In another instance, theuser interface214 may be integrated into a remote communications device (e.g., smartphone or tablet).
• FIG. 64 illustrates anoperational flow6400 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 64 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include abattery monitoring operation6402.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation4510, a mechanically couplingoperation4520, apathway establishing operation4530, and acontrolling operation4540, theoperation flow6400 moves tobattery monitoring operation6402.
• Theoperation6402 illustrates monitoring one or more characteristics of at least one of the one or more auxiliary batteries or the one or more storage batteries. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, a battery monitoring system236 (e.g., state of charge monitoring system) may be utilized to monitor one or more characteristics of at least one or moreauxiliary batteries106 or the one ormore storage batteries110.
• FIG. 65 illustrates anoperational flow6500 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 65 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a supplying operation6502.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation4510, a mechanically couplingoperation4520, apathway establishing operation4530, and acontrolling operation4540, theoperation flow6500 moves to supplying operation6502.
• The operation6502 illustrates supplying electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries to an additional device via an auxiliary output of the towable trailer, the additional device being selectively electrically couplable to the auxiliary output. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, electrical energy stored within the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 may be transferred to anadditional device240 via anauxiliary port242. For instance, thetowable trailer102 may be equipped with anauxiliary port242 configured for receiving a connector (e.g., male end of an electric cable) from theadditional device240.
• FIG. 66 illustrates anoperational flow6600 representing example operations related to supplying auxiliary electrical energy to an electric or hybrid vehicle.FIG. 66 illustrates an example embodiment where the exampleoperational flow4500 ofFIG. 45 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operations may include a generator providing operation6602, operation6604, and/or operation6606.
• After a start operation, a providingoperation4510, a mechanically couplingoperation4520, apathway establishing operation4530, and acontrolling operation4540, theoperation flow6600 moves to generator providing operation6602.
• The operation6602 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 may be disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116. For instance, thegenerator246 may be coupled in a parallel configuration with theauxiliary batteries106 as shown inFIG. 2F. In another instance, thegenerator246 may be coupled in a series configuration with theauxiliary batteries106 as shown inFIG. 2G.
• Further, the operation6604 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer, wherein the generator is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one of a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle or the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may be configured to directly or indirectly supply auxiliary electrical energy to a portion (e.g., one or more storage batteries110) of thedrivetrain112 of thevehicle104. For instance, thegenerator246 may directly supply electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 viaelectrical connection114. In another instance, thegenerator246 may indirectly supply electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 by supplying electrical energy to the one or moreauxiliary batteries106 of thetrailer102, which in turn may supply auxiliary electrical energy to the one ormore storage batteries110 of thevehicle104.
• Further, the operation6606 illustrates providing a generator disposed within the towable trailer, wherein the generator comprises at least one of an internal combustion generator or a fuel cell generator. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may include a gasoline or diesel generator. By way of another example, as shown inFIGS. 1A through 4, agenerator246 disposed within thetowable trailer102 and operatively connected to the one or moreauxiliary batteries102 and thecontrol system116 may include a PEM fuel cell configured to utilized hydrogen as a fuel source.
• Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left between hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations will typically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.
• In some implementations described herein, logic and similar implementations may include software or other control structures. Electronic circuitry, for example, may have one or more paths of electrical current constructed and arranged to implement various functions as described herein. In some implementations, one or more media may be configured to bear a device-detectable implementation when such media hold or transmit device-detectable instructions operable to perform as described herein. In some variants, for example, implementations may include an update or modification of existing software or firmware, or of gate arrays or programmable hardware, such as by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in relation to one or more operations described herein. Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an implementation may include special-purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/or general-purpose components executing or otherwise invoking special-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations may be transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission media as described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by passing through distributed media at various times.
• Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing a special-purpose instruction sequence or invoking circuitry for enabling, triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or more occurrences of virtually any functional operations described herein. In some variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may be expressed as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as an executable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example, implementations may be provided, in whole or in part, by source code, such as C++, or other code sequences. In other implementations, source or other code implementation, using commercially available and/or techniques in the art, may be compiled/implemented/translated/converted into a high-level descriptor language (e.g., initially implementing described technologies in C or C++ programming language and thereafter converting the programming language implementation into a logic-synthesizable language implementation, a hardware description language implementation, a hardware design simulation implementation, and/or other such similar mode(s) of expression). For example, some or all of a logical expression (e.g., computer programming language implementation) may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description (e.g., via Hardware Description Language (HDL) and/or Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Descriptor Language (VHDL)) or other circuitry model which may then be used to create a physical implementation having hardware (e.g., an Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Those skilled in the art will recognize how to obtain, configure, and optimize suitable transmission or computational elements, material supplies, actuators, or other structures in light of these teachings.
• The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter, receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).
• In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments described herein can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systems having a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software, firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range of components that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigid bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magnetically actuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof. Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analog thereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include but are not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medical devices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems, factory automation systems, security systems, and/or communication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognize that electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to a system that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except as context may dictate otherwise.
• In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination thereof.
• Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a data processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/or control systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing system may be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems.
• One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken limiting.
• Although a user is shown/described herein as a single illustrated figure, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the user may be representative of a human user, a robotic user (e.g., computational entity), and/or substantially any combination thereof (e.g., a user may be assisted by one or more robotic agents) unless context dictates otherwise. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in general, the same may be said of “sender” and/or other entity-oriented terms as such terms are used herein unless context dictates otherwise.
• With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
• The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelessly interacting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logically interactable components.
• In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g., “configured to”) can generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.
• While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.
• With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise.

Claims (22)

1. An auxiliary power system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising: a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including:

one or more auxiliary batteries;

a coupling unit configured to mechanically couple the towable trailer to a coupling unit of an at least partially electrically driven vehicle;

at least a portion of a bi-directional electrical pathway configured to operably couple the one or more auxiliary batteries to one or more storage batteries of a drivetrain of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle; and

a control system configured to control transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle along the bidirectional electrical pathway.

2.-79. (canceled)

80. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more auxiliary batteries are of a different type of battery than the one or more storage batteries of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle.

81. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, further comprising power conversion circuitry between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries, the power conversion circuitry configured to convert the auxiliary power from the one or more auxiliary batteries to a form suitable for efficient transfer to the one or more storage batteries of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle.

82. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more auxiliary batteries are operably coupled in a parallel configuration.

83. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more auxiliary batteries are operably coupled in a series configuration.

84. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more batteries are operably coupled in a series/parallel configuration.

85. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, wherein the control system includes a battery monitoring system configured to measure a characteristic of the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle, or a combination thereof.

86. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 85, wherein the characteristic includes a state of charge (SOC).

87. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 86, wherein the control system is configured to maintain a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries, or a combination thereof above a preselected charge level.

88. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 86, wherein the control system is configured to maintain a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries, or a combination thereof above a damage-causing charge level.

89. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 1, further comprising a power generator operably coupled to the bidirectional electrical pathway in parallel with the one or more auxiliary batteries.

90. The auxiliary power system ofclaim 89, wherein the power generator is configured to provide generator power to the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries, the drivetrain of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle, or a combination thereof through the bidirectional electrical pathway.

91. A method of providing auxiliary power to an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, the method comprising:

disposing one or more auxiliary batteries in a towable trailer;

mechanically coupling the towable trailer to the at least partially electrically driven vehicle;

electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries to a bi-directional electrical pathway configured to operably coupled the one or more auxiliary batteries to one or more storage batteries of a drivetrain of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle; and

controlling transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle along the bidirectional electrical pathway.

92. The method ofclaim 91, wherein controlling transfer of electrical energy comprises converting the electrical energy transferred between the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries to a form suitable for a receiving one of the one or more auxiliary batteries and the one or more storage batteries.

93. The method ofclaim 91, further comprising monitoring a state of charge (SOC) of the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries, or a combination thereof, wherein controlling transfer of electrical energy comprises controlling the transfer of the electrical energy based, at least in part, on the SOC.

94. The method ofclaim 93, wherein controlling the transfer of the electrical energy based, at least in part, on the SOC comprises maintaining the SOC above a preselected charge level.

95. The method ofclaim 93, wherein controlling the transfer of the electrical energy based, at least in part, on the SOC comprises maintaining the SOC above a damage-causing charge level.

96. A towable trailer for providing auxiliary electrical power to an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, the towable trailer comprising:

an auxiliary battery disposed within the towable trailer;

a mechanical coupler configured to mechanically couple the towable trailer to a mating mechanical coupler of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle;

at least a portion of a bi-directional electrical pathway configured to operably couple the auxiliary battery to a storage battery of a drivetrain of the at least partially electrically driven vehicle; and

a control system configured to control a flow of electrical power between the auxiliary battery and the storage battery along the bi-directional electrical pathway.

97. The towable trailer ofclaim 96, further comprising coupling circuitry along the bi-directional electrical pathway, the coupling circuitry configured to selectively operably couple the auxiliary battery to the storage battery to allow the flow of electrical power between the auxiliary battery and the storage battery, wherein the control system is configured to control operation of coupling circuitry.

98. The towable trailer ofclaim 97, wherein the coupling circuitry includes switching circuitry.

99. The towable trailer ofclaim 97, wherein the coupling circuitry includes a microprocessor controlled relay system.

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