The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 08, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 03, 2008
Chet Sandberg, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Alan J. Gotcher, Incline Village, NV (US);
C. Robert Pedraza, Newtown, PA (US);
Chet Sandberg, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Alan J. Gotcher, Incline Village, NV (US);
C. Robert Pedraza, Newtown, PA (US);
Altairmano, Inc., Reno, NV (US);
Abstract
The methods, system, and infrastructure described herein generally relate to methods for charging a rechargeable battery of a vehicle. The methods described provide a method of charging a rechargeable battery of a vehicle. The method includes the following steps: (a) while the vehicle is stationary, rotating a shaft of an electric traction motor of the vehicle using mechanical energy; (b) converting the rotation of the shaft into electrical energy by using the electric traction motor as an electrical generator; and (c) storing the electrical energy in the rechargeable battery of the vehicle. A system for charging a rechargeable battery of a vehicle is also described. The system includes a rechargeable battery of a vehicle, an electric traction motor of the vehicle, and an external vehicle interface configured to rotate the shaft of the electric traction motor using mechanical power while the vehicle is stationary. An infrastructure for charging a rechargeable battery of a vehicle is also described. The infrastructure includes one or more charging stations, each station including an external vehicle interface configured to rotate a shaft of an electric traction motor of the vehicle using mechanical power while the vehicle is stationary.