Vehicle control system

Abstract

A vehicle control system according to the present disclosure is provided with: a data collection unit that collects data relating to driving characteristics of a vehicle driven by a user; an analysis unit that uses the collected data to analyze the load borne by the battery that is the main cause of deterioration of the battery mounted in the vehicle; and a control unit that cools the battery at a cooling intensity corresponding to the analysis result. Thus, the vehicle control system according to the present disclosure can effectively prevent battery degradation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle control systems. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the development of technology for optimizing vehicle equipment according to the user's driving characteristics has been progressing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-158003 discloses a vehicle setting inheritance system. The vehicle setting inheritance system optimizes the equipment of a second vehicle according to the user's characteristic information learned from a first vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-158003 only describes optimizing vehicle equipment such as steering feel and seat position according to the user's driving characteristics. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-158003 does not describe performing appropriate measures to prevent degradation of the battery mounted on the vehicle. In other words, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-158003, there is a problem that appropriate measures to prevent degradation of the battery mounted on the vehicle cannot be performed in accordance with the user's driving characteristics.

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle control system that can effectively prevent a battery mounted on a vehicle from deteriorating.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a vehicle control system, comprising:

[0006] a data collection unit that collects data related to driving characteristics of a vehicle driven by a user;

[0007] an analyzing unit that analyzes a load on the battery mounted on the vehicle that is a major cause of deterioration of the battery using the collected data; and

[0008] The control unit cools the battery at a cooling intensity corresponding to the analysis result.

[0009] This vehicle control system can effectively prevent deterioration of a battery mounted on a vehicle by adjusting the cooling intensity of the battery according to the driving characteristics of a user.

[0010] The present disclosure can provide a vehicle control system that can effectively prevent degradation of a battery mounted on a vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and appended hereto:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle control system according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 It is shown that the Figure 1 A flowchart of the operation of the vehicle control device of the vehicle control system shown.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle control system according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to the embodiments of the invention, but the invention involved in the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, not all structures described in the embodiments are necessary as means for solving the problems. For the clarification of the description, the following description and drawings are appropriately omitted and simplified. In each of the drawings, the same symbol is added to the same element, and repeated description is omitted as needed.

[0016] Implementation Method 1

[0017] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle control system 1 according to Embodiment 1. The vehicle control system 1 can effectively prevent degradation of a battery mounted on a vehicle by adjusting the cooling intensity of the battery mounted on the vehicle according to the driving characteristics of the user.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle control system 1 includes a vehicle control device 10, a vehicle 20_1, and a network 50. The vehicle control device 10 can also be referred to as a vehicle control system as a single unit. The vehicle control device 10 and the vehicle 20_1 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a wired or wireless network 50. The vehicle control device 10 can be mounted on the vehicle 20_1 or can be set independently of the vehicle 20_1.

[0019] The vehicle 20_1 is a battery electric vehicle owned by the user U1 of this system. The vehicle 20_1 is provided with a rechargeable secondary battery 21_1 such as a lithium-ion battery and a cooling device 22_1 for cooling the secondary battery 21_1. The cooling device 22_1 may be an air-cooling cooling device such as a fan or a water-cooling cooling device such as a pipe through which cooling water flows.

[0020] The vehicle control device 10 is a device that adjusts the cooling intensity of the secondary battery 21_1 mounted on the vehicle 20_1 by the cooling device 22_1 according to the driving characteristics of the user U1. Specifically, the vehicle control device 10 includes a data collection unit 11, an analysis unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0021] The data collection unit 11 collects data related to the driving characteristics of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1. The data related to the driving characteristics of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 refers to, for example, the travel distance of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 per predetermined period, the speed (i.e., average speed) of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 per predetermined period, or the accelerator opening degree of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 per predetermined period.

[0022] The analysis unit 12 analyzes the burden placed on the secondary battery 21_1 which is a factor of deterioration of the secondary battery 21_1 mounted on the vehicle 20_1, using the data collected by the data collection unit 11. The burden placed on the secondary battery is, in other words, a load applied to the secondary battery.

[0023] For example, the analysis unit 12 determines that the longer the travel distance per predetermined period of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 is, the greater the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is. The analysis unit 12 determines that the shorter the travel distance per predetermined period of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 is, the smaller the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is. Alternatively, the analysis unit 12 determines that the faster the speed per predetermined period of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 is, the greater the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is. The analysis unit 12 determines that the slower the speed per predetermined period of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 is, the smaller the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is. Alternatively, the analysis unit 12 determines that the greater the accelerator opening per predetermined period of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 is, the greater the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is. The analysis unit 12 determines that the smaller the accelerator opening per predetermined period of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 is, the smaller the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is. The analyzing unit 12 may analyze the burden placed on the secondary battery 21_1 based on driving characteristics other than these. Furthermore, the analyzing unit 12 converts the analysis result of the burden placed on the secondary battery 21_1 into digitized form and outputs the result, for example.

[0024] The control unit 13 causes the cooling device 22_1 to cool the secondary battery 21_1 with a cooling intensity corresponding to the result analyzed by the analyzing unit 12. For example, when the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 (a numerical value indicating the burden) is greater than a predetermined value, the control unit 13 increases the intensity of cooling the secondary battery 21_1 using the cooling device 22_1. As a result, the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is reduced, so the degradation of the secondary battery 21_1 is suppressed. In addition, when the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 (a numerical value indicating the burden) is less than a predetermined value, the control unit 13 weakens or maintains the intensity of cooling the secondary battery 21_1 using the cooling device 22_1. As a result, the burden of the cooling process of the cooling device 22_1 is reduced.

[0025] In addition, the control unit 13 may be configured to increase the intensity of cooling the secondary battery 21_1 by the cooling device 22_1 and also reduce the upper limit of the current supplied to the secondary battery 21_1 during charging when the load (a numerical value indicating the load) borne by the secondary battery 21_1 exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined number of times. Thus, although the charging time of the secondary battery 21_1 becomes longer, the load borne by the secondary battery 21_1 during charging is reduced, so that the deterioration of the secondary battery 21_1 is further suppressed.

[0026] Next, use Figure 2 The operation of the vehicle control device 10 will be described. Figure 2 It is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle control device 10 .

[0027] First, the vehicle control device 10 collects data on driving characteristics of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1 ( S101 ).

[0028] Then, the vehicle control device 10 uses the collected data to analyze the burden on the secondary battery 21_1 that is the main cause of the deterioration of the secondary battery 21_1 mounted on the vehicle 20_1 ( S102 ).

[0029] For example, when the burden (numerical value indicating the burden) of the secondary battery 21_1 is less than a predetermined value (No in S103), the vehicle control device 10 reduces or maintains the intensity of cooling the secondary battery 21_1 by the cooling device 22_1 (S104). Thus, the cooling burden of the cooling device 22_1 is reduced.

[0030] On the other hand, when the burden (numerical value indicating the burden) borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is greater than the predetermined value (Yes in S103), the vehicle control device 10 increases the intensity of cooling the secondary battery 21_1 by the cooling device 22_1 (S106). As a result, the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 is reduced, so that the degradation of the secondary battery 21_1 is suppressed.

[0031] Furthermore, when the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 exceeds a predetermined value (a numerical value indicating the burden) for a predetermined number of times ("Yes" in S107), the vehicle control device 10 not only increases the intensity of cooling the secondary battery 21_1 by the cooling device 22_1, but also reduces the upper limit of the current supplied to the secondary battery 21_1 during charging (S108). As a result, the charging time of the secondary battery 21_1 becomes longer. However, the burden borne by the secondary battery 21_1 during charging is reduced, so the deterioration of the secondary battery 21_1 is further suppressed.

[0032] After any of the processing of S104, the processing of "No" of S107, and the processing of S108, the vehicle control device 10 returns to the processing of data collection (S101) when the cooling control of the secondary battery 21_1 is continued ("Yes" of S105). When the cooling control of the secondary battery 21_1 is not continued ("No" of S105), the vehicle control device 10 ends the processing.

[0033] In this way, the vehicle control system 1 of the present embodiment adjusts the cooling intensity of the secondary battery 21_1 mounted on the vehicle 20_1 by the cooling device 22_1 according to the driving characteristics of the user U1. By adjusting the cooling intensity in this way, the secondary battery 21_1 can be effectively prevented from deteriorating.

[0034] Implementation Method 2

[0035] Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle control system 2 according to Embodiment 2. The vehicle control system 2 further includes a vehicle 20_2 compared to the vehicle control system 1. The vehicle control device 10 and the vehicles 20_1 and 20_2 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a wired or wireless network 50.

[0036] The vehicle 20_2 is a battery electric vehicle owned by the user U1 of this system. The vehicle 20_2 is provided with a rechargeable secondary battery 21_2 such as a lithium-ion battery and a cooling device 22_2 for cooling the secondary battery 21_2. The cooling device 22_2 may be an air-cooling cooling device such as a fan or a water-cooling cooling device such as a pipe through which cooling water flows.

[0037] The driving characteristics of the vehicle 20_2 driven by the user U1 tend to be similar to the driving characteristics of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vehicle control device 10 adjusts the cooling intensity of the secondary battery 21_2 of the vehicle 20_2 based on the result obtained by analyzing the data related to the driving characteristics of the vehicle 20_1 driven by the user U1. Thus, for example, even if the vehicle 20_2 is a new vehicle and data is not collected from the vehicle 20_2, the deterioration of the secondary battery 21_2 is effectively suppressed.

[0038] As described above, the vehicle control system according to the above embodiment can effectively prevent the secondary battery from being deteriorated by adjusting the cooling intensity of the secondary battery mounted on the vehicle according to the driving characteristics of the user.

[0039] In addition, the present disclosure can realize a part or all of the processing of the vehicle control device 10 by causing a central processing unit (CPU) to execute a computer program.

[0040] The above-mentioned program includes a command group (or software code) for causing the computer to execute one or more functions described in the embodiment when read by the computer. The program can also be stored in a non-temporary computer-readable medium or a physical storage medium. As an example, a computer-readable medium or a physical storage medium includes a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk or other optical disk storage device, a magnetic cassette, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk storage device or other magnetic storage device, but is not limited to this. The program can also be sent via a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium. As an example, a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium includes an electrical, optical, sound, or other form of transmission signal, but is not limited to this.

[0041] A part or all of the above-mentioned embodiments may be further described as in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited to the following.

[0042] Note 1

[0043] A vehicle control method, wherein:

[0044] The vehicle control system collects data related to the driving characteristics of the vehicle driven by the user,

[0045] The vehicle control system uses the collected data to analyze the load on the battery mounted on the vehicle, which is a major cause of battery deterioration.

[0046] The vehicle control system cools the battery at a cooling intensity corresponding to the analysis result.

[0047] Note 2

[0048] A control program that causes a computer to:

[0049] Processing of data collected related to driving characteristics of a vehicle driven by a user;

[0050] Using the collected data, a process of analyzing a burden placed on the battery mounted on the vehicle that is a major cause of degradation of the battery; and

[0051] The battery is cooled at a cooling intensity corresponding to the analysis result.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising: a data collection unit that collects data related to driving characteristics of a vehicle driven by a user; an analyzing unit that uses the collected data to analyze a load on the battery that is a major cause of deterioration of the battery mounted on the vehicle; and The control unit cools the battery at a cooling intensity corresponding to the analysis result.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit increases the intensity of cooling the battery as the load on the battery increases.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, wherein: The analyzing unit determines that the burden on the battery is greater as the travel distance of the vehicle per predetermined period is longer, the vehicle speed of the vehicle per predetermined period is faster, or the accelerator opening degree of the vehicle per predetermined period is larger.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, wherein: When the analysis unit determines a predetermined number of times that the load on the battery is heavy, the control unit increases the cooling intensity and reduces an upper limit value of a current supplied to the battery when charging the battery.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein: A battery mounted on a vehicle of the user different from the vehicle is cooled at a cooling intensity corresponding to the analysis result.

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