US 10090567

Here is a concise summary of US patent 10090567:

US Patent 10090567

• Title: Vehicular battery charger, charging system, and method
• Current Assignee: CHARGELOGIC LLC
• Original Assignee: Individual
• Inventors: Christopher B. Austin
• Filing Date: 2009-08-18
• Issue Date: 2018-10-02

Abstract:
The patent describes a vehicular battery charger, charging system, and associated methods. The system features a vehicle charger adapted for communication with a remote first controller, such as from a power utility or a user's device. This charger includes an electrical power cord, a local second controller, and a transceiver, allowing the second controller to adjust the charger's state based on signals from the first controller. The invention also encompasses vehicle chargers with user interfaces (displays and controls) for programming charging sessions based on a desired end time, displaying charging information like time remaining, power consumed, and cost, and can account for electricity pricing. Variations include chargers with internal batteries, multiple vehicle connectors, and systems utilizing inductive charging with positional feedback for optimal alignment. Additionally, a method is disclosed for centrally managing battery charging for multiple vehicles connected to a power grid, optimizing power supply based on user-specified completion times.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims (based on "Definitions" section):

The patent broadly covers several independent inventive concepts, summarized below:

1. Remote-Controlled Vehicle Charger: A vehicle charger for an electric vehicle battery that can communicate with a remote controller. It features an electrical power cord, a local controller, and communication hardware (transmitter/receiver). This local controller can change the charger's operational state based on signals received from the remote controller.
2. Time-of-Day End-Time Controlled Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller, a display for time, and user controls to set a charging session end time. The controller manages the power supply to the battery (e.g., increasing/decreasing charge rate, starting/stopping charging) to ensure the battery is charged by the user-specified end time.
3. In-Vehicle Display & Control Charger: A vehicle charger that includes a display and user controls located within the vehicle's interior. A controller connected to this display and the battery adjusts the power supply during charging based on a user-entered time of day.
4. Threshold Charge Independent of Time Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller and memory to store a user-entered time of day for charging adjustments. Crucially, if the battery charge falls below a preset threshold, the controller supplies power to the battery regardless of the user-entered time, until that threshold is met.
5. Multi-Screen Display Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller, a display, and memory to save time-of-day settings. The charger's controller can display at least two different screens: one for charging session information and another for charger settings.
6. Remote Communication Status Display Charger: A vehicle charger that communicates with a remote controller. It includes a display coupled to a local controller, which manages power supply based on a time of day, and a transceiver for remote communication. The local controller displays an indicator showing the status of communication with the remote controller.
7. Time Remaining Display Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller and display that can adjust battery charging based on a time of day. The controller is capable of displaying the estimated time remaining until the battery is fully charged.
8. Power Consumed Display Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller and display that can adjust battery charging based on a time of day. The controller is capable of displaying the amount of power consumed by the battery during the charging session.
9. Cost of Power Display Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller and display that can adjust battery charging based on a time of day. The controller is capable of displaying the cost of power supplied to the charger.
10. Cord-Integrated Display & Control Charger: A vehicle charger with an electrical power cord that includes a housing on the cord. This housing contains a controller, a display, and user controls to enter a time of day. The controller then adjusts power supply based on this user-entered time.
11. Remote-Controlled Charger with User Input: A vehicle charger communicating with a remote controller, featuring a display and user controls. A local controller, coupled to the display, modifies the charging process (rate, start/stop) and is responsive to both remote signals and user-entered time-of-day information to change its charging state.
12. Power Interruption Notification Charger: A vehicle charger with a controller that manages power supply based on a time of day. This controller is configured to transmit a signal if it detects an interruption in the power supply to the charger.
13. Charger with Internal Battery Control: A vehicle charger that includes its own internal battery, which is coupled to a controller. An electrical power cord connects the vehicle's battery to either the vehicle or the charger's internal battery. The controller adjusts the charging of the charger's internal battery based on a time of day.
14. Inductive Charging with Positional Feedback: A vehicle charger for inductive charging, comprising a first core on the vehicle and a second stationary core. Sensors detect the relative position of the cores, and a vehicle-mounted display, coupled to a controller, provides indicators to the user on how to move the vehicle to improve the positional relationship between the cores.
15. Vehicle with Dual Charging Connectors: A vehicle battery charging system that features a controller and two electrical connectors on different sides of the vehicle, both capable of being connected to an external power cord for charging.
16. Method for Coordinated Multi-Vehicle Charging: A method for managing battery charging for multiple vehicles connected to a power grid. It involves establishing communication with each vehicle's battery charger, obtaining a desired charging completion time from each, and then adjusting the power supply to at least some of the chargers based on these completion times.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, no specific dockets for US Patent 10090567 were found in the publicly available CAFC 2026 scheduled cases. The patent information indicates that there is a US District Court case filed in the Texas Western District Court (case number 7:26-cv-00100) related to this patent family. However, this is a District Court case, and no appeal to the CAFC has been identified at this time.