SUCH ELECTRIC BATTERIES

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a charging system for recharging batteries designed for the propulsion of vehicles, in particular pedal-assisted or electric bicycles, and to a method for recharging such electric batteries.

The invention finds particular, though not exclusive, application in the technical field of recharging stations for the supply of electric energy to batteries of pedal- assisted bicycles, the so-called e-bikes.

Examples of charging stations are described in patents CN104453297A and US2019135362A1.

Patent CN104453297A describes a charging station for bicycles provided with a cavity closable by doors. A charging element is housed in the cavity.

Patent US2019135362A1 describes a bicycle stand including a frame, a flexible cable (or chain) for attaching a bicycle to the frame, and a container lockable by a key attached to the frame. One end of the flexible cable (or chain) is attached to an inner part of the container. The container may be provided with a plurality of plugs or a charging cable having a magnetic connector whereby a charging module is able to recognize the characteristics of a battery when it is connected to the charging cable.

However, the technical solution of patent US2019135362A1 may suffer from a plurality of issues.

For example, a malfunction of the magnetic connector could cause the battery connected to it to not be recognized or to be recognized incorrectly, potentially resulting in battery damage due to inadequate battery charging.

The aim of the invention to provide a charging system for recharging electric batteries designed for the propulsion of vehicles and a method for recharging such electric batteries which is structurally and functionally designed to overcome at least one limitation of the above-mentioned prior art.

This aim is achieved by a charging system for recharging electric batteries designed for the propulsion of vehicles and a method for recharging these electric batteries, made in accordance with the respective independent claims appended to this description.

Preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The features and further advantages of the invention which will become more apparent in the description which follows of examples of preferred, non-limiting, embodiments, which are illustrated, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a recharging station of a charging system according to an embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is an exploded view of the charging station of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a charging system according to an embodiment of the invention,

- Figures 4, 5, and 6 are schematic views of a charging connector of a charging system according to an embodiment of the invention, an electric battery designed for the propulsion of vehicles, and, respectively, a vehicle.

- Figure 7 is a schematic view of a detail of a charging system according to an embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 8 is a schematic view of a detail of a charging system according to an embodiment of the invention, a portable element and a portable electronic device, and

- Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a data storage system.

With initial reference to Figure 1 , a charging system according to the invention for recharging electric batteries designed for the propulsion of vehicles, in particular pedal-assisted or electric bicycles, is denoted in its entirety with reference numeral 100.

According to the invention, the electric batteries 201 are provided with respective electrical connectors 202 and are apt to power an electric motor of the relative vehicle 200.

According to an aspect of the invention, the electrical connector 202 is a socket. In this case, the type of socket identifies the type of electrical connector 202. According to one aspect of the invention, the electrical connector 202 is a plug. In this case, the type of plug identifies the type of electrical connector 202. According to one aspect of the invention, the charging system 100 comprises a charging station 1. Preferably, the charging system 100 comprises a plurality of charging stations 1.

The charging station 1 comprises a plurality of charging points 2.

According to an aspect of the invention, each charging point 2 includes a container 3 which delimits a compartment 4 sized to accommodate an electric battery 202 of the above-mentioned electric batteries designed for the propulsion of vehicles 200. The container 3 is provided with an opening 5 for access to the compartment 4.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the container 3 may correspond to a cabinet. By way of an example, the compartment 4 may be parallelepiped in shape. According to an aspect of the invention, the charging station 1 comprises a fixed structure, such as a vertical element such as a column, comprising a plurality of compartments delimited by walls of the vertical element. Thus, the fixed structure comprises charging points and, in particular, containers 3, the compartments 4 of which correspond to respective compartments of the fixed structure.

The charging point 2 further comprises a closing element 6 apt to be moved between a first position, wherein the closing element 6 closes the opening 5 making the compartment 4 inaccessible, and a second position, wherein the closing element 6 leaves the opening 5 free.

According to an aspect of the invention, the closing element 6 is constrained to the container 3 and is preferably a door, for example of limited thickness, pivoting on hinges or sliding on guides.

The charging point 2 further comprises a plurality of charging connectors 7a, 7b,... of different types and located inside the compartment 4.

According to one aspect of the invention, the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... are plugs.

In this case, the type of plug identifies the type of charging connector.

According to one aspect of the invention, the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... are sockets.

In this case, the type of socket identifies the type of charging connector. Preferably, the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... of different types from each other of each charging point are configured to be coupled (electrical male-female coupling) to respective electrical connectors of different types of the batteries. ln particular, the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... of each charging point 2 allow an electrical coupling with the batteries of the major manufacturers of batteries for pedal-assisted and/or electric bicycles, such as, for example, BOSCH®, YAMAHA®, KTM®, GIANT®, HAWK BIKES®.

The charging connectors 7a, 7b are connected to a power supply unit 8. According to an aspect of the invention, the charging station 1 comprises the electric power supply unit 8 which is configured to generate a DC power supply signal 9 to power an electric battery 202 designed for the propulsion of vehicles 200 by means of one of the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... .

Preferably, the electrical power supply unit 8 is configured to be connected to an AC power supply and includes an AC/DC converter for transforming an AC signal received as input into the power supply signal 9.

According to an aspect of the invention, the charging station 1 comprises a data acquisition module 10 configured to acquire a first data signal 11 representing an activation of a charging point 2 by a user 300 of the charging system 100.

The user 300 of the charging system 100 is registered in a data storage system 12.

The charging system 100 may comprises the data storage system 12.

The data storage system 12 may be remote from the charging station 1.

The data storage system 12 may comprise servers connected to the data acquisition module 10 via a wireless communication, such as via an Internet network.

The expression "user registered in a data storage system" means that the data storage system comprises a database (particularly a cloud database) in which the profile of the user of the charging system is stored. The profile of a use may contain one or more of the following information: user code which uniquely identifies the user of the charging system, user biographical data, battery information which identifies a battery associated with the user, make and model of one or more of the electric batteries of the user, log of the routes with GPS tracking, credit card data.

According to an aspect of the invention, the charging station 1 comprises a control unit 13 operatively connected to the data acquisition module 10 and the electrical power supply unit 8.

The control unit 13 is configured to select a charging point 2 following acquisition of the first data signal 11.

Moreover, the control unit is configured to control the electrical power supply unit 8 such that it provides the power supply signal 9 to at least one charging connector 7a, 7b,... of the selected charging point 2 and adjusts at least one electrical quantity of the power supply signal 9 based on a battery information 14 correlated with the first acquired data signal 11.

The battery information 14 identifies an electric battery 201 associated with the user 300 and is stored in the data storage system 12.

Such features prove particularly useful for correctly energizing a battery 201.

In particular, the first data signal 11 comprises the battery information 14. Preferably, the control unit 13 is configured to select a charging point 2 from those not yet in use, that is, having the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... not subjected to the power supply signal 9.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the user 300 is allowed to select the charging point 2, so the selection of the charging point 2 by the control unit 13 is based on the selection made by the user 300. Preferably, the electrical power supply unit 8 comprises at least one DC/DC converter controlled by the control unit 13 for adjusting the at least one electrical quantity of the power supply signal 9 supplied to at least one charging connector 7a, 7b,... of the selected charging point 2.

More preferably, the electrical power supply unit 8 comprises a DC/DC converter for each charging point 2 so as to be able to supply the respective charging connectors 7a, 7b,... with a different power supply signal 9, that is, adjusted according to the battery information 14 related to the respective selected charging point 2.

Preferably, the battery information 14 is representative of power supply parameters of an electric battery 201. The power supply parameters preferably comprise the voltage and/or current of the power supply of the electric battery 201.

Preferably, the battery information 14 is representative of the type of electrical connector 202 of the electric battery 201.

According to an aspect of the invention, the control unit 13 is configured to control the electrical power supply unit 8 such that it provides the power supply signal 9 to all the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... of the selected charging point 2. Alternatively, the control unit 13 is configured to control the electrical power supply unit 8 such that it provides the power supply signal 9 only to the electrical connector of the selected charging point 2 compatible with electrical connector 202 of the electric battery 201 to be recharged, that is, identified by the battery information 14 correlated with the first acquired data signal 11. According to an aspect of the invention, each charging point 2 comprises a locking device 15 which can be moved between a first configuration, in which it locks the closing element 6 of the related charging point 2 in the first position, and a second configuration in which it allows the closing element 6 to be moved between the first and second positions.

The control unit 13 is operatively connected to the locking device 15 and is configured to command the movement of the locking device 15 of the selected charging point 2 following the acquisition of the first data signal 11 from the first configuration to the second configuration.

In this way, the closing element 6 can be moved between the first and second positions for access to the compartment 4 of the selected charging point 2 so that the electric battery 201 to be recharged can be placed therein.

Preferably, the locking device 15 of a charging point 2 is maintained in the first configuration by the control unit 13 when the power supply signal 9 is provided to at least one charging connector 7a, 7b,... of said charging point 2.

Preferably, the locking device 15 is an electric lock actuated by the control unit 13.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first data signal 11 is correlated to a user code 16 which identifies a user 300 of the charging system 100. The user code 16 is stored in the data storage system 12, the battery information 14 is associated with the user code 16.

Preferably, the first data signal 11 comprises the user code 16.

According to an aspect of the invention, the charging system 100 comprises at least one portable element 17 provided with an RFID tag 18 designed to generate the first data signal 11 when energized by an RFID reader 19. According to this embodiment of the invention, the data acquisition module 10 comprises the RFID reader 19 which is configured to energize the RFID tag 18 of the portable element 17 and to acquire the first data signal 11 generated by the RFID tag 18 as a result of such energization.

The portable element 17 may be a card. According to an aspect of the invention, the data acquisition module 10 is configured to acquire a second data signal 20 representing a request to charge a battery 201 by a user 300 of the charging system 100 and correlated to the user code 16 identifying the user 300.

Preferably, the second data signal 20 comprises the user code 16.

The charging station 1, in particular its fixed structure, comprises a monitor 21 operatively connected to the control unit 13 to display an authorization code 22, in particular the authorization code is a QR code, generated by the control unit 13 based on the second data signal 20 acquired.

The authorization code 22 is designed to be read by a portable electronic device 23 comprising a memory in which a program is installed to decode the authorization code 22 and generate the first data signal 11 based on that decoding.

Such a feature allows a user 300 of the charging system 100 to position themselves in the vicinity of the charging station 1 to read the authorization code 22 via their portable electronic device 23 and, consequently, to generate the first data signal 11 for activating a charging point 2.

The portable electronic device 23 is preferably a tablet, smartphone, or laptop.

In particular, the portable electronic device 23 is configured to generate the first data signal 11 and/or the second data signal 20 via an application installed in the portable electronic device 23 or a web application accessible/usable via a network (for example, Internet network).

According to an aspect of the invention, the data acquisition module 10 is configured to acquire a third data signal 24 representing a booking request by a user 300 of the charging system 100.

The third data signal 24 is correlated both to the user code 16, which identifies the user 300, and a time-of-use information for a charging point 2 of the charging station 1 to energize an electric battery 201 designed for the propulsion of vehicles 200.

Preferably, the third data signal 24 comprises the user code 16 and the time-of- use information of a charging point 2.

According to an aspect of the invention, the time-of-use information of a charging point 2 identifies a period equal to a half hour, or a multiple thereof, of use of the charging point 2, depending on a purchase made by the user 300, for example by means of a credit card whose data is stored in the data storage system 12.

The data acquisition module 11 is also configured to select a charging point 2 following the acquisition of the third data signal and maintain the locking device 15 of the charging point 2 selected in the first configuration for a time interval identified by the time-of-use information.

This feature is particularly useful to ensure the use of the booked charging point 2.

The control unit 13 is configured to select a charging point 2 from those not yet booked and/or not in use. According to an embodiment of the invention, the user 300 is allowed to select the charging point 2, so the selection of the charging point 2 by the control unit 13 is based on the selection made by the user 300.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the charging connectors 7a, 7b,... of a charging point 2 are not subject to the power supply signal 9 if the corresponding locking element 6 is in the second position and/or the locking device 15 is in the second configuration.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each charging point 2 may comprise a socket (for example, of the Sucko type) for AC charging of electronic devices.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the RFID reader 19 and the monitor 21 are identified by a single electronic device integrated into the charging station 1 , in particular into the fixed structure of the charging station 1. According to an embodiment of the invention, the charging station 1 comprises: a camera for recording images and/or videos aimed at verifying the ambient condition surrounding the charging station 1 , and/or a remote call button.

In particular, the portable electronic device 23 is configured to generate the third data signal 24 via the application installed in the portable electronic device 23 or the above-mentioned web application accessible/usable via the Internet. According to an aspect of the invention, the charging system 100 comprises one or more mounts 25 provided with respective attachment devices 26 for locking respective vehicles 200, said vehicles 200 being provided with an electric motor powered by an electric battery 201.

A method for recharging electric batteries 201 designed for the propulsion of vehicles 200, in particular pedal-assisted or electric bicycles is described below. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

- preparing a charging station 1 of the charging system 100 according to one or more of the characteristics described above,

- registering a user 300 of the charging system 100 in a data storage system 12,

- storing a battery information 14, which identifies a battery of the electric batteries designed for the propulsion of vehicles, in the data storage system 12 and associating that battery information 14 with the user 300,

- generating an first data signal 11 representing an activation of a charging point 2 by the user 300,

- acquiring the first data signal 11 using the data acquisition module 10 of the charging system 100,

- selecting a charging point 2 of the charging station 1 following the acquisition of the first data signal 11 ,

- controlling the power supply unit 8 of the charging system 100 such that the power supply signal 9 generated by the power supply unit 8 is supplied to at least one charging connector 7a, 7b, ... of the selected charging point 2 and adjusting at least one electrical quantity of the power supply signal 9 based on the battery information 14 correlated with the first data signal 11 acquired. According to an aspect of the invention, the method for recharging electric batteries comprises the step of commanding the movement of the locking device 15 of the selected charging point 2 following the acquisition of the first data signal 11 from the first configuration to the second configuration.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method for recharging electric batteries comprises the step of:

- generating a second data signal 20 representing a request to charge a battery 201 by a registered user 300 of the charging system 100 and correlated with a user code 16 identifying the user 300, the user code 16 being stored in the data storage system 12 and the battery information 14 being associated with the user code 16,

- acquiring the second data signal 20 using the data acquisition module 10 of the charging system 100,

- generating an authorization code 22, in particular the authorization code is a QR code, based on the second data signal 20 acquired,

- displaying the authorization code 22 on a monitor 21 of the charging station 1 ,

- reading the authorization code 22 by means of a portable electronic device 23,

- generating the first data signal 11 on the basis of a decoding of the authorization code 22 performed by the portable electronic device 23.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method for recharging electric batteries comprises the step of:

- preparing a portable element 17 provided with an RFID tag 18 designed to generate the first data signal 11 when energized by an RFID reader 19,

- preparing an RFID reader 19 in the charging station 1,

- energizing the RFID tag 18 using the RFID reader 19,

- acquiring by means of the RFID reader 19 the first data signal 11 generated by the RFID tag 18 as a result of energizing.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method for recharging electric batteries comprises the step of:

- generating a third data signal 24 representing a booking request by a registered user 300 of the charging system 100 and correlated both to a user code 16 identifying the user 300, the user code being stored in the data storage system 12, and to information about the time of use of a charging point 2 of the charging station 1 to energize an electric battery 201 ,

- acquiring the third data signal 24 using the data acquisition module 10 of the charging system 100, - selecting a charging point 2 following the acquisition of the third data signal 24,

- keeping in the first configuration the locking device 15 of the selected charging point 2 for an interval of time identified by the time-of-use information.

The invention thus solves the above-mentioned problems whilst achieving a plurality of advantages. In particular, the charging system according to the invention is found to be particularly suitable for providing a charging service for different types of electric batteries, that is, electric batteries having different types of electrical connectors.