DEVICE, VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR MINING A BLOCK

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for mining, comprising a computing unit for the calculation of hash values for a character string by means of a cryptographic hash function, the computing unit being configured to calculate the hash values at a hash rate of at least 109 H/s and/or a hash calculation efficiency of at least 107 H/J. The device includes an electrical power supply to which the computing unit can be electrically connected, and a frame to which the computing unit and the electrical power supply are fixedly connected. The device is designed for the transport of an additional payload.

Claims

1-52. (canceled)

53. A device for mining, comprising: a computing unit for calculating hash values of a character string by means of a cryptographic hash function, wherein the computing unit is configured to calculate the hash values at a hash rate of at least 10.sup.9 H/s and/or a hash calculation efficiency of at least 10.sup.7 H/J; an electrical power supply to which the computing unit is electrically connectable; and a frame to which the computing unit and the electrical power supply are fixedly connected, wherein the device is designed for the transport of an additional payload.

54. A device according to claim 53, wherein the device is a motorized vehicle, wherein the device is a rail vehicle or a motor vehicle, in particular a truck, a bus, or a passenger car, in particular, a taxi, a rental vehicle, and/or a car-sharing vehicle, and/or wherein the electrical power supply comprises an electrical energy storage device, in particular a vehicle battery and/or a traction battery, wherein the hash rate is at least 10.sup.10 H/s or even at least 10.sup.11 H/s, wherein the hash calculation efficiency is at least 10.sup.8 H/J or even 10.sup.9 H/J, wherein the hash values have a length of 256 bits or an integer multiple thereof, wherein the hash function is an SHA hash function, in particular an SHA-2 hash function, wherein the computing unit has a power consumption of a maximum of 700 W and/or can be reprogrammed, wherein the computing unit is specially designed and/or even optimized for the calculation of the cryptographic hash function, wherein the computing unit is designed and/or even optimized for the calculation of several cryptographic hash functions, wherein the computing unit has several computing subunits configured to execute an algorithm for calculating the respective cryptographic hash function, wherein the computing subunits are arranged on one, two, or even more hashboards, wherein the computing unit further comprises a motherboard, wherein the computing unit is electrically connectable to the electrical power supply via a circuit breaker and/or a power converter, and/or wherein the computing unit is connected to the frame directly or indirectly, e.g., via a body of the device.

55. A device according to claim 53, wherein the computing unit comprises an FPGA.

56. A device according to claim 53, wherein the computing unit comprises a hashboard and/or an ASIC.

57. A device according to claim 54, wherein the respective computing subunit comprises at least one of an FPGA and an ASIC.

58. A device according to claim 54, wherein the power converter is arranged in a first part of the vehicle, in particular, in an engine compartment of the vehicle, and/or wherein the computing unit is arranged in a second part, spaced apart from the first part, of the vehicle, in particular, in a storage space, e.g. in a trunk, in particular in a lower part of the trunk or underneath the trunk.

59. A device according to claim 53, further comprising at least one of: a passive cooling system, connected to the computing unit, an active cooling system connected to the computing unit, a motor, connected to the frame for driving the device, in particular an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor, and a cooling unit for the motor, the cooling unit typically being fluidically separated from the active cooling system.

60. A device according to claim 59, wherein the active cooling system comprises a liquid cooling system, in particular, a water cooling system, a heat exchanger, a coolant pump, and/or a fan, the fan typically being connected via a vibration damper to the body and/or the frame, and/or wherein the liquid cooling system comprises a cooling capacity of at least 100 W, at least 200 W, or even at least 500 W or 700 W.

61. A device according to claim 53, wherein the frame is designed for an additional load of at least 100 kg, at least 500 kg, or even at least 1,500 kg.

62. A device according to claim 53, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of: a vehicle computer for controlling, regulating, and/or monitoring vehicle functions, and wherein the computing unit is operable independently of the vehicle computer; a control computer for the computing unit; and a radio module connected to the computing unit and/or to the control computer.

63. A vehicle comprising: a chassis; and a computing unit fixedly connected to the chassis, the computing unit comprising a hash rate of at least 10.sup.9 H/s and/or a hash calculation efficiency of at least 10.sup.7 H/J for calculating a cryptographic hash function.

64. A vehicle according to claim 63, wherein the vehicle comprises an electrical energy supply, in particular an electrical energy storage, typically a vehicle battery and/or a traction battery, wherein the computing unit is electrically connectable to the electrical energy supply, wherein the computing unit is specially designed and/or even optimized for the calculation of the cryptographic hash function, wherein the computing unit is designed and/or even optimized for the calculation of several cryptographic hash functions, wherein the computing unit has a hashboard, wherein the computing unit has several computing subunits configured to execute an algorithm for calculating the respective cryptographic hash function, and/or wherein the computing subunits are arranged on one, two, or even more hashboards, wherein the hash rate is at least 10.sup.10 H/s or even at least 10.sup.11 H/s, wherein the hash calculation efficiency is at least 10.sup.8 H/J or even 10.sup.9 H/J, wherein the hash values correspond to a length of 256 bits or an integer multiple thereof, and/or wherein the hash function is an SHA hash function, in particular an SHA-2 hash function.

65. A vehicle according to claim 63, wherein the computing unit comprises at least one of an FPGA and an ASIC.

66. A vehicle according to claim 63, wherein the computing unit is electrically connectable to the electrical power supply via a circuit breaker and/or a power converter, wherein the power converter is typically arranged in a first part of the vehicle, in particular in an engine compartment of the vehicle, wherein the computing unit is arranged in a second part, spaced apart from the first part, of the vehicle, in particular in a storage space, e.g. in a trunk, in particular in a lower part of the trunk or underneath the trunk, and/or wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle or a motor vehicle, in particular a truck, a bus, or a passenger car, in particular, a taxi, a rental vehicle, and/or a car-sharing vehicle.

67. A vehicle according to claim 63, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

68. A vehicle according to 63, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of; a vehicle computer for controlling, regulating, and/or monitoring vehicle functions, and wherein the computing unit is operable independently of the vehicle compute; a body via which the computing unit is connected to the chassis; a passive cooling system connected to the computing unit; an active cooling system connected to the computing unit; a cooling unit for a drive motor of the vehicle, the cooling unit typically being fluidically separated from the active cooling system; an air-conditioning unit for an interior of the vehicle, air-conditioning unit typically being fluidically separated from the active cooling system; a control computer for the computing unit; and a radio module connected to the computing unit and/or to the control computer.

69. A vehicle according to claim 68, wherein the active cooling system comprises a liquid cooling system typically designed as a water cooling system, a heat exchanger, a coolant pump, and/or one or more fans, wherein the heat exchanger, the coolant pump, and/or at least one of the fans are arranged neither in the first part nor in the second part of the vehicle, in particular, at least partially in an outer region of the vehicle, typically between a rear bumper and the vehicle frame of the vehicle, wherein the liquid cooling system comprises a cooling capacity of at least 100 W, at least 200 W, or even at least 500 W or 700 W, and/or wherein the fan is connected via a damper to the vehicle frame.

70. An installation kit for a vehicle, in particular a truck, a passenger car, or a rail vehicle, the kit comprising: a computing unit for calculating hash values of a character string by means of a cryptographic hash function; and a liquid cooling system, which can be installed in the vehicle, for the computing unit.

71. An installation kit according to claim 70, wherein the computing unit is specially designed and/or even optimized for the calculation of the cryptographic hash function, wherein the computing unit is designed and/or even optimized for the calculation of several cryptographic hash functions, wherein the computing unit comprises a hashboard, an FPGA, and/or an ASIC, wherein the computing unit comprises several computing subunits configured to execute an algorithm for calculating the respective cryptographic hash function, wherein the respective computing subunit comprises an FPGA and/or an ASIC, wherein the computing subunits are arranged on one, two, or even more hashboards, wherein the computing unit is configured to calculate the hash values at a hash rate of at least 10.sup.9 H/s, at least 10.sup.10 H/s, or even at least 10.sup.11 H/s, and/or with a hash calculation efficiency of at least 10.sup.7 H/J, at least 10.sup.8 H/J, or even at least 10.sup.9 H/J, and/or wherein the hash values have a length of 256 bits or an integer multiple thereof, and/or wherein the hash function is an SHA hash function, in particular, an SHA-2 hash function.

72. An installation kit according to claim 70, further comprising at least one of: installation instructions; a fastening means for fastening the computing unit on and/or in the vehicle; a control computer for the computing unit, the control computer typically comprising a nominal power during operation of less than 10 W and/or an idle power of less than 4 W; a power converter, which can be electrically connected to an electrical power supply of the vehicle, for the computing unit and/or the control computer; a circuit breaker for an electrical connection between the electrical power supply and the power converter, the computing unit, and/or the control computer; and a radio module, which can be connected to the computing unit and/or the control computer.

Description

[0091] Further advantageous embodiments, details, aspects, and features of the present invention are apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the accompanying drawings. Shown are:

[0092] FIG. 1A a schematic view of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0093] FIG. 1B a schematic view of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0094] FIG. 2A a schematic view of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0095] FIG. 2B a further schematic view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 2A according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0096] In the figures, the same reference signs, as well as reference signs that differ from one another only in the first character, denote similar parts, which may even be identical.

[0097] For reasons of simplicity, the further features of the device for mining and of the vehicle are typically explained in detail below only with respect to passenger cars. However, it is understood that other devices for mining can also have the explained further features.

[0098] FIG. 1A shows a schematic side view of a vehicle 10. The vehicle shown by way of example is a passenger car, e.g., a taxi, with a chassis 11 and a computing unit 15, which is typically indirectly but fixedly connected to the chassis 11 and which is designed to calculate a cryptographic hash function.

[0099] FIG. 1B shows a schematic top view of a vehicle 20 or of an electrical circuit diagram of the vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 is similar to the vehicle 10 explained above with reference to FIG. 1A. For reasons of clarity, a representation of the chassis in FIG. 1B and the following figures is omitted.

[0100] The exemplary embodiment is a hybrid vehicle 20, e.g., a Toyota Prius, like the car the author of the present document modified and used for mobile crypto-mining.

[0101] Accordingly, in a central vehicle section (central vehicle part) 20A, the vehicle 20 has an electrical power supply 20D, comprising a powerful battery, for the (temporary) electric driving of the vehicle 20. Such a battery is also referred to as a traction battery.

[0102] An advantage of hybrid vehicles in comparison to purely electrically-driven vehicles is that the vehicle battery 20D can be recharged by the existing internal combustion engine without having to interrupt the drive.

[0103] In addition, the vehicle 20 has a power converter 20H, which, for safety reasons, is connected via a first circuit breaker 20E to the electrical power supply 20D.

[0104] In FIG. 1B and the following figures, electrical connections for the power supply are shown as dashed lines. It is understood that an illustrated dashed line can correspond to a (single-wire, 2-wire, or multi-wire) cable, but also to several cables.

[0105] In the Toyota Prius, as also in other hybrid vehicles, the direct current from the traction battery is converted by an inverter (not shown in FIG. 1B) of the power supply 20D into three-phase alternating current for the driving of the electric motors. The inverter of the power supply 20D of the Toyota Prius does in fact contain a DC-DC converter, which supplies the 12-V battery and the standard motor-vehicle on-board power supply with electrical power. However, since the standard motor-vehicle on-board power supply could be at least temporarily overloaded by the crypto-mining, the computing unit 25 is not connected to the standard motor-vehicle on-board power supply or the 12-V battery, but is typically supplied via the power converter 20H designed as an AC-DC converter, which is connected via the first circuit breaker 20E to the three-phase AC connection of the power supply unit 20D (see also the “˜” and “=” symbols on the cables in FIG. 1B for DC and AC connections).

[0106] For safety reasons, a further circuit breaker 20G is also connected between the power converters 20H and the computing unit 25. It should be noted in this respect that a pair of circuit breakers can be used for each of the circuit breakers 20E and 20G.

[0107] The power converter 20H, which is also referred to as a power supply below, with, for example, 750 W power, can be fastened in a manner thermally well-decoupled from the computing unit 25, as already explained above, in the engine compartment 20B, e.g., in the vicinity of the fuse box. As a result, the requirements for the cooling system in the rear vehicle section 20C can be reduced.

[0108] FIG. 2A shows a schematic view from above of a rear section 30C of a vehicle 30 or of an electrical circuit diagram of the vehicle 30 in the rear section 30C.

[0109] The vehicle 30 is similar to the vehicle 20 explained above with reference to FIG. 1B. For example, the vehicle 30 can likewise be a Toyota Prius, of which FIG. 2A, again, only schematically shows the trunk or a lower part of the trunk.

[0110] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A, the supply with electrical power takes place via a distributor or plug 30S, which is connected to the circuit breaker 30G and may be a six-pin plug. Both the computing unit 35 and two coolant pumps 30P, 30Q and also a control computer 30SC are electrically supplied via the distributor 30S.

[0111] The control computer 30SC can, for example, be a Raspberry Pi—in particular, a Raspberry Pi 4—but also another (single-board) computer with low nominal power during operation of typically less than 10 W and/or low idle power of typically less than 4 W.

[0112] In contrast, the power consumption of the computing unit 35 is typically significantly greater during operation. It can be several hundred watts or even more. The author of the present application used an FPGA-based computing unit with a power consumption during the (mining) operation of a maximum of 700 W.

[0113] Due to the comparatively high power consumption of the computing unit 35, the latter can be connected via two pins/lines to the distributor 30S.

[0114] The connection, shown as a double arrow, between the computing unit 35 and the control computer 30SC can be a pure (bidirectional) data connection—in particular, a corresponding data cable (for example, a LAN cable).

[0115] Typically, the computing unit 35 has several computing subunits. The computing unit used by the author of the present document has a hashboard with several FPGA's, which can each execute one of the algorithms listed in the following table.

TABLE-US-00001 Power consumption of Algorithm Hash rate the computing unit Lyra2z 53.0 MH/s 590 W Skein 5.04 GH/s 423 W Lyra2REv2 216.0 MH/s 334 W Phil612 314.0 MH/s 558 W Tribus 2.8 GH/s 607 W Nexus 2.45 GH/s 550 W BCX 16.56 GH/s 474 W 0xtoken 21.12 GH/s 605 W Keccak 21.12 GH/s 605 W Xdag 14.7 GH/s 609 W ZP 22.0 GH/s 610 W VerusHash 1.0 64.8 GH/s 237 W Keccakc 21.12 GH/s 605 W Keccakd 21.12 GH/s 605 W Amoveo 46.0 GH/s 570 W Veriblock 11.5 GH/s 600 W Sha3d 9.1 GH/s 605 W Verus2 272.0 MH/s 219 W BCD 178.0 MH/s 462 W Lyra2rev3 240.0 MH/s 540 W DigiByte (odocrypt) 3.52 GH/s 620 W Bmw512 8.78 GH/s 328 W C11 0.152 GH/s 404 W BST 18.0 GH/s 600 W K12 43.2 GH/s 626 W

[0116] According to the hash rates and the electrical power consumptions specified in the above table, revenues of approximately $9 per day can currently be achieved, for example, by digging for the crypto-currency, “Denarius Coin,” with the implemented Tribus algorithm, and thus a profit of about €5 per day can be achieved with a Toyota Prius at the current exchange rates and the fuel prices in Germany.

[0117] In addition to the hashboard, the computing unit 35 can also have a motherboard, which is connected via the data cable to the control computer 30SC and via a further data cable to the actual hashboard.

[0118] The motherboard may serve the communication between the control computer 30SC and the hashboard. In addition, the motherboard can monitor important information, such as chip temperatures or hashboard temperatures, and can forward error messages and connections to the crypto-mining pool.

[0119] In addition, a USB stick 30F (including SIM card) as a radio module for the desired Internet connection can be connected to the control computer 30SC. In this embodiment, a separate power supply of the radio module is omitted.

[0120] As further illustrated in FIG. 2A, the control computer 30SC can be connected via a power supply (e.g., a DC-DC voltage converter from 12 V to 5 V) to the distributor 30S.

[0121] By means of long-term tests, it was possible to determine that, with the selected structure, additional income (revenues minus additional fuel costs) in the amount of approximately $9 per day in the form of crypto-currencies can be achieved on average during a daily operating time of the Toyota Prius of approximately 12 hours per day.

[0122] FIG. 2B shows a schematic top view of the rear section 30C of the vehicle 30, which illustrates both the structure and the cooling system of the computing unit 35.

[0123] As illustrated by the dashed quadrilateral in FIG. 2B, the computing unit and the control computer 30SC can be accommodated in a common housing and be mechanically fixedly connected via the latter to the bottom of the (lower section) of the trunk. For example, the housing can be fastened with one or more screw connections.

[0124] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B, the computing unit is provided on its upper side with a cooling element 30K, which is typically in good thermal contact/good thermal connection with the powerful calculation units (for example, ASIC's or typical FPGA's).

[0125] The cooling element 30K can be one, but also several, cooling blocks through which liquid can flow.

[0126] The cooling block 30K illustrated by way of example is connected via hoses, illustrated as thick curves, and two coolant pumps 30P, 30Q to a cooler 30M.

[0127] In this case, it can be provided that one hose, but also two hoses, lead from each pump 30P, 30Q to the cooling element 30K.

[0128] However, the cooling circuit formed can also have only one coolant pump.

[0129] The cooler 30M can be designed as a cooling module or radiator and/or can be mounted between the rear bumper and the body of the vehicle. There, the cooler 30M is exposed to particularly good air circulation and also protected against water from below.

[0130] Despite the good air circulation during the drive, the cooler 30M can be equipped with one or two fans, or even more fans. In this way, a good cooling capacity can be ensured, even during standstill of the vehicle and/or at comparatively high outside temperatures.

[0131] A respective vibration damper is typically arranged between the body and the fan(s). In this way, a (perceptible or audible) vibration excitation of the body or of the vehicle frame by the cooler 30M can be at least largely avoided.

[0132] For example, the cooler 30M can have two rows of fans, e.g., with in each case 2 to 4 fans, between which the cooling element, through which liquid can flow, is arranged with its lamellae. This design of the cooler 30M (when arranged between the body and the bumper) has proven to be particularly effective in long-term experiments.

[0133] In particular, water, or a mixture of water and an antifreezing agent, can be used as the coolant.

[0134] In addition, it can be provided that the housing of the computing unit 35 have air openings and/or fans for generating or assisting air convection in the housing and/or an air flow through the housing. This can assist the liquid cooling system.

[0135] The control of the cooling system of the computing unit 35 can be assumed, for example, by the control computer 30SC, which receives temperature data from the motherboard for this purpose. For reasons of clarity, a representation of the data connection or the connections between the interfaces of the control computer 30SC and the pumps 30P and 30Q in FIG. 2B has been omitted.

[0136] The present invention has been explained with reference to exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments should in no way be understood as restrictive for the present invention. The following claims represent a first, non-binding, attempt to define the invention in general.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0137] 10, 20, 30 Vehicle, device for crypto-mining [0138] 11 Frame, chassis [0139] 15, 25, 35 Computing unit, hashboard [0140] 20A Central vehicle section/central vehicle part [0141] 20B Front vehicle section/front vehicle part/engine compartment [0142] 20C, 30C Rear vehicle section/rear vehicle part/trunk [0143] 20D Electrical energy store/vehicle battery [0144] 20E, 20G, 30G Circuit breaker [0145] 20H Power converter [0146] 30K Cooling element [0147] 30F (Mobile) radio module/USB surfstick [0148] 30M Heat exchanger/cooler/fan [0149] 30N (Adjustable) power supply [0150] 30P, 30Q Pump [0151] 30S Distributor/(6-pin) plug [0152] 30SC Control computer (e.g., Raspberry Pi)