Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090307436 | Hypervisor Page Fault Processing in a Shared Memory Partition Data Processing System - Hypervisor page fault processing logic is provided for a shared memory partition data processing system. The logic, responsive to an executing virtual processor of the shared memory partition data processing system encountering a hypervisor page fault, allocates an input/output (I/O) paging request to the virtual processor from an I/O paging request pool and increments an outstanding I/O paging request count for the virtual processor. A determination is then made whether the outstanding I/O paging request count for the virtual processor is at a predefined threshold, and if not, the logic places the virtual processor in a wait state with interrupt wake-up reasons enabled based on the virtual processor's state, otherwise, it places the virtual processor in a wait state with interrupt wake-up reasons disabled. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307439 | Dynamic Control of Partition Memory Affinity in a Shared Memory Partition Data Processing System - Dynamic control of memory affinity is provided for a shared memory logical partition within a shared memory partition data processing system having a plurality of nodes. The memory affinity control approach includes: determining one or more home node assignments for the shared memory logical partition, with each assigned home node being one node of the plurality of nodes of the system; determining a desired physical page level per node for the shared memory logical partition; and allowing the shared memory partition to run and using the home node assignment(s) and its desired physical page level(s) in the dispatching of tasks to physical processors in the nodes and in hypervisor page memory management to dynamically control memory affinity of the shared memory logical partition in the data processing system. | 12-10-2009 |
20100268907 | Selecting A Target Number of Pages for Allocation to a Partition - In an embodiment, a target number of discretionary pages for a first partition is calculated as a function of a number of physical page table faults, a number of sampled page faults, a number of shared physical page pool faults, a number of re-page-ins, and a ratio of pages. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is less than a number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a result page is found that is allocated to the first partition and the result page is deallocated from the first partition. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is greater than the number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a free page is allocated to the first partition. | 10-21-2010 |
20110173370 | Relocating Page Tables And Data Amongst Memory Modules In A Virtualized Environment - Relocating data in a virtualized environment maintained by a hypervisor administering access to memory with a Cache Page Table (‘CPT’) and a Physical Page Table (‘PPT’), the CPT and PPT including virtual to physical mappings. Relocating data includes converting the virtual to physical mappings of the CPT to virtual to logical mappings; establishing a Logical Memory Block (‘LMB’) relocation tracker that includes logical addresses of an LMB, source physical addresses of the LMB, target physical addresses of the LMB, a translation block indicator for each relocation granule, and a pin count associated with each relocation granule; establishing a PPT entry tracker including PPT entries corresponding to the LMB to be relocated; relocating the LMB in a number of relocation granules including blocking translations to the relocation granules during relocation; and removing the logical addresses from the LMB relocation tracker. | 07-14-2011 |
20120079230 | Selecting a Target Number of Pages for Allocation to a Partition - In an embodiment, a target number of discretionary pages is calculated for a first partition. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is less than a number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a result page is found that is allocated to the first partition and the result page is deallocated from the first partition. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is greater than the number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a free page is allocated to the first partition. | 03-29-2012 |
20120131260 | HYPERVISOR PAGE FAULT PROCESSING IN A SHARED MEMORY PARTITION DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - Hypervisor page fault processing logic is provided for a shared memory partition data processing system. The logic, responsive to an executing virtual processor of the shared memory partition data processing system encountering a hypervisor page fault, allocates an input/output (I/O) paging request to the virtual processor from an I/O paging request pool and increments an outstanding I/O paging request count for the virtual processor. A determination is then made whether the outstanding I/O paging request count for the virtual processor is at a predefined threshold, and if not, the logic places the virtual processor in a wait state with interrupt wake-up reasons enabled based on the virtual processor's state, otherwise, it places the virtual processor in a wait state with interrupt wake-up reasons disabled. | 05-24-2012 |
20120311274 | DYNAMIC CONTROL OF PARTITION MEMORY AFFINITY IN A SHARED MEMORY PARTITION DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - Dynamic control of memory affinity is provided for a shared memory logical partition within a shared memory partition data processing system having a plurality of nodes. The memory affinity control approach includes: determining one or more home node assignments for the shared memory logical partition, with each assigned home node being one node of the plurality of nodes of the system; determining a desired physical page level per node for the shared memory logical partition; and allowing the shared memory partition to run and using the home node assignment(s) and its desired physical page level(s) in the dispatching of tasks to physical processors in the nodes and in hypervisor page memory management to dynamically control memory affinity of the shared memory logical partition in the data processing system. | 12-06-2012 |
20120324144 | Relocating Page Tables And Data Amongst Memory Modules In A Virtualized Environment - Relocating data in a virtualized environment maintained by a hypervisor administering access to memory with a Cache Page Table (‘CPT’) and a Physical Page Table (‘PPT’), the CPT and PPT including virtual to physical mappings. Relocating data includes converting the virtual to physical mappings of the CPT to virtual to logical mappings; establishing a Logical Memory Block (‘LMB’) relocation tracker that includes logical addresses of an LMB, source physical addresses of the LMB, target physical addresses of the LMB, a translation block indicator for each relocation granule, and a pin count associated with each relocation granule; establishing a PPT entry tracker including PPT entries corresponding to the LMB to be relocated; relocating the LMB in a number of relocation granules including blocking translations to the relocation granules during relocation; and removing the logical addresses from the LMB relocation tracker. | 12-20-2012 |
20140136800 | DYNAMICALLY IMPROVING MEMORY AFFINITY OF LOGICAL PARTITIONS - In a computer system that includes multiple nodes and multiple logical partitions, a dynamic partition manager computes current memory affinity and potential memory affinity to help determine whether a reallocation of resources between nodes may improve memory affinity for a logical partition or for the computer system. If so, the reallocation of resources is performed so memory affinity for the logical partition or computer system is improved. Memory affinity is computed relative to the physical layout of the resources according to a hardware domain hierarchy that includes a plurality of primary domains and a plurality of secondary domains. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136801 | DYNAMICALLY IMPROVING MEMORY AFFINITY OF LOGICAL PARTITIONS - In a computer system that includes multiple nodes and multiple logical partitions, a dynamic partition manager computes current memory affinity and potential memory affinity to help determine whether a reallocation of resources between nodes may improve memory affinity for a logical partition or for the computer system. If so, the reallocation of resources is performed so memory affinity for the logical partition or computer system is improved. Memory affinity is computed relative to the physical layout of the resources according to a hardware domain hierarchy that includes a plurality of primary domains and a plurality of secondary domains. | 05-15-2014 |
20150058519 | DETECTION OF HOT PAGES FOR PARTITION HIBERNATION - Embodiments described herein identify hot pages associated with a virtual machine that is selected for hibernation or for migration from one computing system to another. For example, before hibernating a virtual machine, a hypervisor monitors the entries in a page table (i.e., a virtual translation table) to see what data pages have corresponding entries in the page table. If a data page has a corresponding entry in the page table, the hypervisor may designate that page as hot. In one embodiment, the hypervisor may update a page map that lists the data pages associated with the virtual machine and whether those data pages are designated as hot. The page map may then be stored during the hibernation process. Before the hibernated virtual machine is resumed, the hypervisor may use the page map to load the hot pages into memory and begin executing the virtual machine. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058520 | DETECTION OF HOT PAGES FOR PARTITION MIGRATION - Embodiments described herein identify hot pages associated with a virtual machine that is selected for hibernation or for migration from one computing system to another. For example, before migrating a virtual machine, a hypervisor monitors the entries in a page table (e.g., a virtual translation table) to see what data pages have corresponding entries in the page table. If a data page has a corresponding entry in the page table, the hypervisor may designate that page as hot. A source computing system may transmit the hot data pages to a target computing system which loads the pages into memory. After loading the hot pages into memory, the source computing system may cease executing the virtual machine while the target computing system begins to execute the virtual machine. The rest of the data pages associated with the virtual machine may be transmitted to the target computing system subsequently. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058521 | DETECTION OF HOT PAGES FOR PARTITION HIBERNATION - Embodiments described herein identify hot pages associated with a virtual machine that is selected for hibernation or for migration from one computing system to another. For example, before hibernating a virtual machine, a hypervisor monitors the entries in a page table (i.e., a virtual translation table) to see what data pages have corresponding entries in the page table. If a data page has a corresponding entry in the page table, the hypervisor may designate that page as hot. In one embodiment, the hypervisor may update a page map that lists the data pages associated with the virtual machine and whether those data pages are designated as hot. The page map may then be stored during the hibernation process. Before the hibernated virtual machine is resumed, the hypervisor may use the page map to load the hot pages into memory and begin executing the virtual machine. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058522 | DETECTION OF HOT PAGES FOR PARTITION MIGRATION - Embodiments described herein identify hot pages associated with a virtual machine that is selected for hibernation or for migration from one computing system to another. For example, before migrating a virtual machine, a hypervisor monitors the entries in a page table (e.g., a virtual translation table) to see what data pages have corresponding entries in the page table. If a data page has a corresponding entry in the page table, the hypervisor may designate that page as hot. A source computing system may transmit the hot data pages to a target computing system which loads the pages into memory. After loading the hot pages into memory, the source computing system may cease executing the virtual machine while the target computing system begins to execute the virtual machine. The rest of the data pages associated with the virtual machine may be transmitted to the target computing system subsequently. | 02-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080223077 | Air separation method - An air separation method in which a liquid air stream, produced by vaporizing a pumped liquid oxygen stream, is introduced into a lower pressure column and optionally, a higher pressure column of an air separation unit. The liquid air stream is subcooled by extracting a main air feed to the higher pressure column from a main heat exchanger at a temperature warmer than the liquid air stream to increase argon recovery in an argon column connected to the lower pressure column. This temperature is selected such that the liquid air stream approaches an average temperature of the return streams being fed into the main heat exchanger from the higher and lower pressure columns at a range between about 0.2K and about 3K. | 09-18-2008 |
20080307828 | Air separation method and apparatus - A compressed air stream is cooled to a temperature suitable for its rectification within a lower pressure heat exchanger and a boosted pressure air stream is liquefied or converted to a dense phase fluid within a higher pressure heat exchanger in order to vaporize pumped liquid products. Thermal balancing within the plant is effectuated with the use of waste nitrogen streams that are introduced into the higher and lower pressure heat exchangers. The heat exchangers are configured such that the flow area for the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream within the higher pressure heat exchanger is less than that would otherwise be required so that the subsidiary waste nitrogen streams were subjected to equal pressure drops in the higher and lower pressure heat exchangers. This allows the higher pressure heat exchanger be fabricated with a reduced height and therefore a decrease in fabrication costs. | 12-18-2008 |
20090071191 | CRYOGENIC AIR SEPARATION PROCESS WITH EXCESS TURBINE REFRIGERATION - A process for carrying out cryogenic air separation wherein liquid oxygen is pressurized and vaporized against condensing feed air to produce oxygen gas product wherein excess plant refrigeration is generated such that the aggregate warm end temperature difference of the process exceeds the minimum internal temperature difference of the primary heat exchanger by at least 2 K. | 03-19-2009 |
20100037656 | KRYPTON AND XENON RECOVERY METHOD - A method of separating air in which a superheated air stream is introduced into a mass transfer contacting zone associated with a higher pressure column of an air separation unit. Krypton and xenon is washed from a superheated air stream introduced into the mass transfer contacting zone, thereby to form a krypton and xenon-rich liquid. The krypton and xenon-rich liquid is stripped within a stripping column to produce a krypton-xenon-rich bottoms liquid. A krypton-xenon-rich stream composed of the krypton-xenon-rich bottoms liquid from the stripping column is produced for purposes of further refinement. | 02-18-2010 |
20100242538 | CRYOGENIC RECTIFICATION METHOD - The present invention provides a method of rectifying an oxygen, nitrogen and argon containing feed stream that employs high and low pressure columns and an argon column. Refrigeration is imparted through turboexpansion of a nitrogen-rich vapor stream withdrawn from the high pressure column. The nitrogen-rich vapor stream has a sufficiently high flow rate that the flow of both vapor and liquid within the low pressure column is decreased to such an extent that the diameter of the low pressure column can be made substantially equal to or less than that of the high pressure column. The use of the argon column allows recovery of the oxygen to be increased over that which would otherwise be obtained given the draw of the nitrogen-rich vapor. The argon column can be an argon rejection column in which the separated argon is discarded as waste. | 09-30-2010 |
20110126585 | KRYPTON XENON RECOVERY FROM PIPELINE OXYGEN - A method and apparatus for producing a krypton-xenon-rich stream in which a pipeline oxygen stream is removed from an oxygen pipeline at ambient temperature and then distilled in a cryogenic rectification plant to produce the krypton-xenon-rich stream from a column bottoms of a distillation column. The plant can generate its own refrigeration by way of a heat pump loop incorporating an expander or, alternatively, refrigeration can be added by means of a liquid oxygen reflux stream introduced into the top of such distillation column. | 06-02-2011 |
20120036891 | AIR SEPARATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - An air separation method and apparatus in which a supercritical oxygen product is produced by heating a pumped liquid oxygen stream having a supercritical pressure, through indirect heat exchange with a boosted pressure air stream. The indirect heat exchange is conducted within a heat exchanger and a liquid nitrogen stream is vaporized in the heat exchanger to depress the pressure that would otherwise be required of the boosted pressure air stream to heat the pumped liquid oxygen stream. The pumped liquid oxygen stream constitutes 90 percent of the oxygen-rich liquid removed from an air separation unit in which the air is rectified, the liquid nitrogen constitutes at least 90 percent of the liquid nitrogen that is not used as reflux and a flow-rate ratio between the liquid nitrogen stream and the oxygen-rich liquid is between about 0.3 and 0.90. | 02-16-2012 |
20120036892 | AIR SEPARATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - An air separation method and apparatus in which a supercritical oxygen product is produced by heating a pumped liquid oxygen stream having a supercritical pressure, through indirect heat exchange with a boosted pressure air stream. The indirect heat exchange is conducted within a heat exchanger and a liquid nitrogen stream is vaporized in the heat exchanger to depress the pressure that would otherwise be required of the boosted pressure air stream to heat the pumped liquid oxygen stream. The pumped liquid oxygen stream constitutes 90 percent of the oxygen-rich liquid removed from an air separation unit in which the air is rectified, the liquid nitrogen constitutes at least 90 percent of the liquid nitrogen that is not used as reflux and a flow-rate ratio between the liquid nitrogen stream and the oxygen-rich liquid is between about 0.3 and 0.90. | 02-16-2012 |
20120125044 | FEED COMPRESSION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION PROCESS - A method and apparatus for separating air to produce a gaseous oxygen product in which the air is separated in an air separation plant to conduct a cryogenic rectification process that utilizes higher and lower pressure compressed air streams. The higher and lower pressure compressed air streams are generated in two multistage compressors linked together so that the lower pressure compressed air stream is produced from intermediate stages and the higher pressure compressed air stream is produced from higher pressure compression stages. During turn-down operational conditions, one of the two multistage compressors can be shut down to decrease the flow of air and therefore, the production of the oxygen product. | 05-24-2012 |
20130239609 | KRYPTON XENON RECOVERY FROM PIPELINE OXYGEN - A method and apparatus for producing a krypton-xenon-rich stream in which a pipeline oxygen stream is removed from an oxygen pipeline at ambient temperature and then distilled in a cryogenic rectification plant to produce the krypton-xenon-rich stream from a column bottoms of a distillation column. The plant can generate its own refrigeration by way of a heat pump loop incorporating an expander or, alternatively, refrigeration can be added by means of a liquid oxygen reflux stream introduced into the top of such distillation column. | 09-19-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120013298 | Single electric vehicle charger for electrically connecting to multiple electric vehicles simultaneously while automatically charging the multiple electric vehicles sequentially - A single electric vehicle charger for electrically connecting to multiple electric vehicles simultaneously while automatically charging the multiple electric vehicles sequentially. The charger includes an AC to DC rectifier, at least one ground fault circuit interrupter, and at least two physical electrical disconnects. The AC to DC rectifier electrically connects to an AC power source and allows DC batteries of the multiple electric vehicles to be charged from the AC power source. The at least one ground fault circuit interrupter is in electrical communication with the AC to DC rectifier and disconnects whenever current becomes unbalanced between an energized conductor and a return neutral conductor. The at least two physical electrical disconnects are in electrical communication with the at least one ground fault circuit interrupter and isolate the multiple electric vehicles that are electrically connected but are not being charged, with only one physical electrical disconnect being closed at any given instant. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013299 | Controller for a modular system for charging electrical vehicles - A controller for utilizing real-time surplus electrical energy available from a facility in which a modular system for charging electrical vehicles operates to allow more chargers to be installed and operational at the facility while avoiding costly and time-consuming infrastructure upgrades. The controller includes an EV charger interface, a facility energy management interface, and a distribution grid interface. The EV charger interface bidirectionally interfaces with EV chargers. The facility energy management interface bidirectionally interfaces with a facility electrical monitoring system, and receives real-time current usage readings from the facility electrical monitoring system, and in response thereto, either cycles the EV chargers—via the EV charger interface—on or off to modulate power used at any point in time to stay within overall limits of the facility or reduces EV charging rate in order to make use of any unused electricity on a real-time basis so as to allow more chargers to be installed and operational at the facility while avoiding the costly and time-consuming infrastructure upgrades. The distribution grid interface bidirectionally interfaces with an electrical distribution grid electrically feeding the facility. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013300 | Overhead mobile charger system for reaching and charging electric vehicles parked in a pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces - An overhead mobile charger system for reaching and charging electric vehicles parked in a pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The system includes a rail, a pair of trolleys, a single EV battery charger, and apparatus for electrically connecting the EV battery charger to a power source without impinging upon movement of the pair of trolleys along the rail. The rail mounts overhead of, and traverses, the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The pair of trolleys are movably mounted along the rail and reach the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The single EV battery charger is mounted to, and moves with, the pair of trolleys to charge the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. | 01-19-2012 |
20120032635 | Overhead mobile charger system for reaching and charging electric vehicles parked in a pair of adjacent and spaced-part rows of side-by-side parking spaces - An overhead mobile charger system for mounting between a pair of adjacent and spaced-apart rows of side-by-side parking spaces and exhibiting full circle traversing so as to reach and charge electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent and spaced-apart rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The system includes a single EV battery charger, a boom, and apparatus for rotatably mounting the boom over, and between, the pair of adjacent and spaced-apart rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The single EV battery charger has a power cable terminating in an EV connector. The power cable of the single EV battery charger runs along, and depends from, the boom, and together with the boom being rotatably mounted via the apparatus so as to allow the boom to exhibit full circle traversing, the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent and spaced-apart rows of side-by-side parking spaces are reached and charged by the EV connector of the single EV battery charger. | 02-09-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120116575 | COMBINATION ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER AND POINT OF SALE DEVICE - An electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) that includes an electric vehicle charger adapted to provide electrical power to a vehicle; a network device adapted to communicate with a wireless network; and a point of sale device coupled to the electric vehicle charger and the network device. The point of sale device is adapted to facilitate consumer purchases of the electrical power and items other than the electrical power. The point of sale device includes: a user interface including a touch screen display, a credit card reader, a bar code reader, and a magnetic card reader, and a printer; a processor; and an application for execution on the processor to implement a method. The method includes: receiving a request from a consumer via the user interface; processing the request; and outputting a status of the request via the user interface. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116955 | CHARGING PURCHASES TO UTILITY ACCOUNTS - Charging purchases to utility accounts including a computer program product that stores instructions for implementing a method. The method includes receiving a request from a consumer at an electric vehicle charging station to charge at least one of a purchase of electrical power for electric vehicle (EV) charging and an item other than electrical power to an electrical power utility account. The method also determines if the consumer is authorized to charge the purchase to the electrical power utility account. A transaction denied message is transmitted to the consumer in response to determining that the consumer is not authorized to charge the purchase to the electrical power utility account. The method further includes, in response to determining that the consumer is authorized to charge the purchase to the electrical power utility account: charging the purchase to the electrical power utility account; and transmitting a transaction completed message to the consumer. | 05-10-2012 |
20120245744 | Networked Power Management and Demand Response - Systems of networking power management systems are disclosed, wherein the systems receive control parameters from a control terminal and bring about demand response, curtailment, and other load management actions. One control terminal may be used to control many zones in different ways, and the load management actions may be automated to improve efficiency and predictability of the results of demand response actions. Some of the systems may be mobile and connectable to different sites in the network to respond to changing needs in the utility distribution grid. Large demand response requirements may be distributed among multiple sites or systems in order to encourage and enable participation in demand response programs by customers that would not traditionally be able to do so because of not being able to produce sufficient demand response results individually. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245751 | Modular Implementation of Correlative Electricity Consumption Management Systems - Modular consumption management systems provide benefits of adaptability, customization, and progressive investment to electrical utility customers, particularly those with loads and electrical systems capable of curtailment and mitigation. Providing modules based on measurements made and consumption patterns detected in load profiles of individual loads and the site as a whole is described. Control and mitigation capabilities and methods are described in conjunction with identifying correlative modules that will best serve the needs of the site being monitored by a measurement module. Combined measurement and control modules or control and mitigation modules are also described, as well as interchangeable modules that can be put in place when excess consumption patterns at the site change over time. | 09-27-2012 |
20120280653 | Electric Vehicle Fleet Management Charging Station Systems and Methods - Charging stations, systems for charging and identifying electric vehicles, and methods for detecting and providing charging information of a vehicle are provided. The charging stations include vehicle detectors, charging connectors, and system controllers to estimate the state of charge of a vehicle based on current measurements from the charging connectors and then to output charge status signals if the state of charge is at or above a predetermined energy level and the vehicle is detected as being properly positioned by the vehicle detectors. These results may be output to indicators, computers, and network connections. Also disclosed are systems where the vehicle has a vehicle information device readable by the vehicle detector to obtain vehicle data that is transmitted to the system controller and other components of the system. Methods of monitoring current, estimating state of charge, and providing a charge status signal if certain conditions are also present. | 11-08-2012 |
20120299531 | Charging Service Vehicles and Methods Using Modular Batteries - Charging service vehicles and methods using modular batteries are disclosed. The service vehicles are vehicles having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, and removably mounted battery modules or battery module connection points. The battery modules are connected to the EV charging equipment as a source of electrical energy. Some embodiments disclose integrating the EV charging equipment with the vehicle, recharging modules through a distribution grid connection, the manner of discharging the batteries, modes of connecting and disconnecting the modules, the size and weight of the modules, quick-disconnectability of modules, control and monitoring of the modules and charging equipment, and/or ways of connecting modules to the vehicle. These features are beneficial to efficiently keep service vehicles available for EV charging through exchanging battery modules or providing additional battery modules when necessary, and may keep operators safe through de-energization of connectors and other precautions inherent in these designs. | 11-29-2012 |
20120299544 | Charging Service Vehicles With Battery and Generator Sources - Charging service vehicles with battery and generator sources are disclosed. The service vehicle is a vehicle having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, removably mounted battery module(s) or a battery module connection point, and an alternator or generator transported by the vehicle. The alternator or generator is configured to provide power to the battery module or to the charging equipment. Battery modules used may be quick-disconnecting or have their discharge monitored and controlled by an onboard controller device, and in some cases are automotive SLI batteries. Some embodiments have connection points that can be configured as charging points to recharge battery modules on the vehicle or as discharging points to provide power to the EV charging equipment. These features are beneficial to extend the utility of batteries in a service vehicle, provide additional power for EV charging, and to efficiently utilize vehicle electronics and generation capability. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303213 | Charging Service Vehicles and Methods with Output Points and Cables - Charging service vehicles and methods with output points and cables are disclosed. The service vehicles are vehicles having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and output points affixed. The output points are configured as power outputs of the charging equipment to which connectors may be attached. Output points are located on multiple sides of the vehicle and can receive charging cables to connect the charging equipment to an EV. The charging cables, and potentially extension cables, may be limited in size and weight to allow a user to reach the charging port of an EV without mechanical assistance. In some cases the vehicle may be connected to multiple EVs at once to provide charging services from multiple output points. These embodiments permit a service vehicle operator to quickly and safely reach EVs in remote roadside environments that would otherwise be inaccessible to vehicles with limited ports and fixed charging connection devices. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303259 | Providing Roadside Charging Services - Methods for providing electrical charging services are disclosed, including receiving dispatch information for a service vehicle, receiving charging instructions including an amount of charge to provide to a stranded or depleted EV, providing the amount of charge, and providing a charging station location to the EV or an EV passenger or occupant. Additional methods describe how to determine a charging station location for the EV, reserving an EV charger for the EV, and making roadside payment transactions. Other methods disclosed include receiving information about an EV in need of charging services, selecting and assigning a service vehicle to assist the EV, and distributing relevant information to the EV such as an amount of energy to provide to the EV that would allow the EV to reach a charging station for a more complete charge. Resupply of the service vehicle and providing guidance to reach the EV may also be provided. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303397 | Charging Service Vehicle Network - Charging service vehicle networks are among the embodiments disclosed herein, including battery module-powered EV charging roadside service vehicles. Battery modules are removably mounted to the service vehicles and manually exchanged within a system of battery module storage locations. Some embodiments provide resupply vehicles for delivering battery modules between storage locations and/or service vehicles, and may be used to exchange battery modules. Controllers are used to reserve battery modules at the storage locations to ensure availability for high priority activities. Some storage locations have charging apparatus to recharge battery modules stored there, and some storage locations are repositionable mobile units. Multiple tiers or levels of system controllers used by service vehicles to control centers are implemented to manage operations and optimize usage of battery modules and charging services across wide areas, including providing additional service vehicles to supply temporary needs for charging services. | 11-29-2012 |
20130020993 | Multi-Mode Electric Vehicle Charging Station - A reduced size and complexity multi-mode electric vehicle charging station is provided which allows a user to select AC and DC powerform output and may provide those outputs to connectors for charging electric vehicles. A voltage source is provided to a DC converter that then outputs to a DC bus or electrical connection. The DC bus may be accessed by DC charging equipment or a DC-AC inverter that is connected to AC charging equipment, thereby providing DC and AC charging ability. In one aspect, the multi-mode electric vehicle charging station is used in a rescue vehicle for charging stranded EVs via multiple charging standards without requiring the rescue vehicle to carry independent charging systems for each charging standard. In another aspect, the charging station is used in a stationary charging station to reduce cost and complexity of using multiple independent charging systems. | 01-24-2013 |
20130030590 | Peak Mitigation Extension Using Energy Storage and Load Shedding - An apparatus and method for managing consumption of electricity of loads at a site which includes energy storage, a system controller, and load shedding ability. The system controller monitors energy consumption of the site and discharges energy into the site when consumption exceeds a maximum consumption threshold. If energy storage is depleted while consumption remains in excess of the threshold the controller may engage load shedding to prevent consumption from exceeding the maximum threshold. Additionally, the energy storage device may recharge during a peak consumption period due to load shedding reducing consumption below the maximum threshold, and the energy storage device may use this recovered energy to further mitigate the peak; in some embodiments, repetitively. Supplemental and additional load mitigation techniques may also be implemented to increase effectiveness and efficiency of the systems and methods. | 01-31-2013 |
20130062944 | UTILITY DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM - A utility distribution control system and method for performing distribution control of energy within a utility service network including an energy distribution network in communication with a plurality of energy resources. The energy distribution network includes a plurality of energy storage and generation devices which receive energy from at least one of the energy resources of the plurality of resources and distribute energy, and a controller which controls the plurality of energy storage and generation devices, to distribute energy. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063278 | UTILITY NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented method and system of providing utility service network information for a utility service network. The method includes obtaining utility service network information from a plurality of external sources, integrally combining the utility service network information obtained from each of the plurality of external sources into and displaying the utility service network information in real-time in a global positioning map to a user via a graphical user interface, selecting, via the user, specific utility service network information of the utility service network information, to be displayed, and automatically reconfiguring the system or manually reconfiguring the utility service network via the user, as needed based on the specific utility service network information selected. | 03-14-2013 |
20130193928 | CHARGE MANAGEMENT FOR ENERGY STORAGE TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Charging and discharging an energy storage device (ESD) generates heat and may prevent its temperature from dropping to unsafe levels. By monitoring and managing the charge and discharge of an ESD with respect to the periods of time in which demand charges are determined, the heating will have minimal adverse effect on demand charges. ESDs may also exchange energy in a controlled manner for heating purposes and reduce reliance on utility grid-based energy sources. ESD heating may also be made more efficient by offsetting the heating with load shedding during charging periods. Precharging the ESD while heating or preheating the ESD by charging and discharging can prevent new maximum demand levels from appearing and thereby limit increases in demand charges. | 08-01-2013 |
20130221929 | DELAYED REACTIVE ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION MITIGATION - The electrical consumption mitigation provided by energy storage systems can be unreliable when a consumption peak lasts long enough to deplete the energy stored and the remainder of the peak is unmitigated. By implementing a waiting period between detecting the peak and discharging the energy storage in which characteristics of the peak are observed, a peak mitigation system can lengthen the effective discharge duration of the energy storage system and prevent unmitigated plateaus from appearing. For example, when a consumption plateau is detected, the system may discharge at a slower rate than when a spike is detected in order to prolong mitigation activities before the conclusion of the plateau. Thus otherwise-incurred demand-related utility charges can be reduced without having to increase the capacity of the mitigation system. In some cases, these processes are performed with respect to the bounds of demand-averaged time periods used to calculate demand charges. | 08-29-2013 |
20150295449 | DELAYED REACTIVE ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION MITIGATION - The electrical consumption mitigation provided by energy storage systems can be unreliable when a consumption peak lasts long enough to deplete the energy stored and the remainder of the peak is unmitigated. By implementing a waiting period between detecting the peak and discharging the energy storage in which characteristics of the peak are observed, a peak mitigation system can lengthen the effective discharge duration of the energy storage system and prevent unmitigated plateaus from appearing. For example, when a consumption plateau is detected, the system may discharge at a slower rate than when a spike is detected in order to prolong mitigation activities before the conclusion of the plateau. Thus otherwise-incurred demand-related utility charges can be reduced without having to increase the capacity of the mitigation system. In some cases, these processes are performed with respect to the bounds of demand-averaged time periods used to calculate demand charges. | 10-15-2015 |