Storage medium with data memory and charging station

[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371, this application is the United States National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2009/009057, filed on Dec. 17, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein, which claims priority to German (DE) Patent Application No. 10 2008 063 438.7, filed Dec. 31, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

[0002] Numerous sources of energy are known for supplying power to vehicles.

[0003] An automatic storage-monitoring and battery-exchange system for electrically powered transport vehicles is known from European patent application EP 0 476 405 A1.

[0004] The loading station disclosed there comprises a battery-exchange station with loading devices for multiples batteries. Here, each of the batteries has an identification code that identifies it. Moreover, a reading device for identifying the batteries is located on the transport vehicle as well as in the exchange station.

[0005] The subject innovation relates to a storage medium as well as to a method for its operation.

[0006] The storage medium according to the subject innovation makes it possible to supply a plurality of vehicles as flexibly and reliably as possible with storage media that have a desired charge level for desired operating states of vehicles.

[0007] In particular, according to the subject innovation, it is desirable to quickly and reliably provide vehicles with storage media that are as fully charged as possible.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 of a storage medium 102 according to the subject innovation. The diagram 100 comprises a storage medium 102. The storage medium 102 includes a data memory 104. The storage medium 102 also includes a SIM card 106.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 of a loading station 202 according to the subject innovation. The loading station 202 includes a controller 204 that controls a loading and/or unloading process. The loading station 202 also includes an identifying device 206 that identifies a storage medium.

[0013] As explained herein, the subject innovation relates to a storage medium, especially for use as a source of energy for vehicles, said storage medium comprising a data memory that stores information about the charge status of the storage medium.

[0014] In one example embodiment, the storage medium is characterized in that the data memory can store information about at least one location.

[0015] An embodiment of the storage medium provides that it is connected to a means for wireless data transmission.

[0016] A refinement of the storage medium is characterized in that the means for wireless data transmission is a transponder.

[0017] An embodiment of the storage medium provides that it contains an authorization device, said authorization device being configured in such a way that only an authorized data transmission device can transmit information to the data memory.

[0018] Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides that the storage medium contains a SIM card.

[0019] An exemplary embodiment of the subject innovation comprises a loading station with means for controlling loading and/or unloading processes as well as for controlling the exchange of at least a first storage medium for a second storage medium. According to an exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the loading station has a means for associating the first storage medium with a vehicle and/or with the owner of the vehicle.

[0020] A refinement of the subject innovation is characterized in that the means for associating the first storage medium has a means for identifying the vehicle and/or the owner of the vehicle.

[0021] A refinement of the subject innovation provides that the means for identifying the vehicle and/or the owner of the vehicle has a unit for detecting a license plate of the vehicle.

[0022] Another embodiment of the loading station according to the subject innovation is characterized in that it has a card reader, especially for a chip card.

[0023] A refinement of the loading station according to the subject innovation provides that it has a device for detecting a transponder.

[0024] Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides that it has a means for removing the first storage medium from the vehicle.

[0025] A refinement of the subject innovation provides that the loading station has a means for loading the vehicle with the additional storage means.

[0026] Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides that the loading station has a means for checking the charge status of the first storage medium.

[0027] A refinement of the subject innovation provides that the loading station has a data memory for storing information about the charge status of storage media.

[0028] The subject innovation also proposes a method for operating a vehicle with several storage media.

[0029] This method is characterized in that loading and/or unloading at least one of the storage media is carried out in such a way that the charge status of this storage medium is below a predefinable lower target value.

[0030] The term “storage medium” is to be understood in the broad sense of the word. In particular, it encompasses a source of electrical energy, for example, a battery. However, it is also possible that these can be other sources of energy such as, for example, fuel for vehicles.

[0031] The term “unloading” is also to be understood in a broad sense. It encompasses the unloading of a battery that serves as a storage medium as well as the removal of a source of energy from a reservoir, for example, from a tank.

[0032] One embodiment of the subject innovation is characterized in that the lower target value is selected in such a way that the storage medium is charged in a charging device situated outside of the vehicle.

[0033] Another embodiment of the subject innovation is characterized in that loading and/or unloading at least one additional storage medium is carried out in such a way that the additional storage medium has the highest possible charge status.

[0034] Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides for carrying out the method in such a way that it comprises the following steps:

• • [0035] entering delivery addresses of loaded goods;
  • [0036] calculating the travel route;
  • [0037] acquiring additional information pertaining to the specifics of the calculated travel route;
  • [0038] calculating power requirements of the hybrid drive;
  • [0039] determining a utilization plan for the hybrid drive along the calculated travel route in order to reduce the energy consumption and/or the emissions of the logistics vehicle.

[0040] In one embodiment of the method according to the subject innovation, the delivery addresses are read in automatically. In a refinement of the subject innovation, this can be done contact-free. In this manner, the delivery is handled especially efficiently.

[0041] Advantageously, the circumstances of the travel route are taken into account for the determination of the utilization plan of the hybrid drive. This includes, for example, making a distinction as to whether the vehicle is traveling in a residential area or on a country road. Experience has shown that a great deal of electric energy is used within a residential area.

[0042] Preferably, the charge status of the battery is controlled as a function of the anticipated stops of the logistics vehicle.

[0043] In an advantageous embodiment of the subject innovation, the travel route is recalculated after each stop of the logistics vehicle. This is dynamic route planning, which constantly incorporates the current circumstances into the new calculation. In this manner, it is ensured that information about the traffic situation that arrives after the calculation of the first travel route is taken into account for the further route planning This measure also saves time, lowers the energy consumption of the logistics vehicle and reduces its emissions.

[0044] Advantageously, in a refinement of the subject innovation, a message is sent to a recipient after each change to the travel route. The recipient can be the recipient of a shipment and/or a dispatch center of the logistics service provider. In a variant of this embodiment of the subject innovation, however, a message is only sent to a recipient if the change in the travel route results in a change in the original travel time.

[0045] Another objective of the subject innovation is to propose a logistics vehicle that is equipped in such a way that it allows the execution of the method according to the subject innovation.

[0046] According to the subject innovation, a vehicle, especially a logistics vehicle, is proposed that has a hybrid drive and a detection device. The detection device is configured in such a way that it autonomously acquires delivery addresses for loaded goods. Moreover, a telematics system is provided that is connected to the hybrid drive, to the detection device, and to navigation satellites in order to exchange information.

[0047] In one embodiment of the subject innovation, the telematics system is configured in such a way that it reads out the delivery addresses from the detection device and calculates a travel route.

[0048] The detection device can advantageously have RFID reading devices.