Toshiba International Corporation

Richard Robert Gerhold

Mark Douglas Rayner

Yu Liu

Da Jiao

Present embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a zero-footprint charging station for use with vehicles having quick-charge batteries. The disclosed embodiments enable the 'quick-charge' power conversion equipment to disappear entirely into a passenger station structure. The passenger station structure may include a structural component of a bus stop (or other vehicle station) that is designed to accommodate passengers waiting to board the bus (or other transportation vehicle). By housing the power conversion electronics within a larger structure that serves a purpose at the vehicle station, the system may enable larger amounts of power electronics to be incorporated into a relatively strong and stable structure conforming to a desired size for the area (e.g., bus stop).

Compact passenger station structure containing vehicle charging components

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a multi-mode energy router (MMER) is provided. The MMER includes a functional block of power electronics under processor control. In addition, the MMER includes a plurality of switches that can be controlled to route power from specific sources or loads to the input or output of the functional block. The MMER enables a single functional block of power electronics to selectively provide bi-directional power conversion between AC and DC components and between DC and DC components.

Growing community of inventors

Cypress, TX, United States of America

Richard Robert Gerhold