US 12,296,721 B2
Method and systems to trickle charge electric vehicle's supercapacitors using solar energy
John Cronin, Wilmington, DE (US)
Assigned to SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/079,841.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/288,327, filed on Dec. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182580 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B60L 8/00 (2006.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H02J 7/34 (2006.01); H02J 7/35 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 8/003 (2013.01) [B60L 53/00 (2019.02); H02J 7/0063 (2013.01); H02J 7/00712 (2020.01); H02J 7/345 (2013.01); H02J 7/35 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for energy management, the system comprising:
a solar cell that generates energy in response to the solar cell receiving light;
an energy controller that that includes a processor with access to a memory, wherein the energy controller predicts an optimal time period for charging an energy storage unit based on discharge information tracking discharging of the energy storage unit over time and based on planned route of a vehicle, wherein the energy controller avoids a discharge time period to predict the optimal time period for charging the energy storage unit, wherein the discharge time period is associated with an anticipated discharge rate of the energy storage unit exceeding an average discharge rate associated with the vehicle;
trickle charging circuitry that provides the energy to the energy storage unit during the optimal time period and avoids providing energy to the energy storage unit during the discharge time period; and
the energy storage unit, wherein the energy storage unit stores the energy, wherein the energy storage unit discharges the energy to power at least one component, wherein the at least one component includes a propulsion mechanism of the vehicle.