Charging monitoring device, charging monitoring method, and charging monitoring system

Abstract

The invention provides a charging monitoring device, a charging monitoring method, and a charging monitoring system. The present invention appropriately notifies a person who waits for the completion of charging of a vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle being charged with information, and enables sequential charging of a plurality of vehicles to be smoothly performed. A charging monitoring device is provided with: a monitoring unit that monitors the state of a charging operation performed from a power supply device outside a vehicle to a secondary battery provided in the vehicle; a recognition unit that detects and recognizes a person located in the vicinity of the vehicle; and a transmission control unit that controls the operation of an external display device that is a display device provided in the vehicle and that is disposed at a position visible from the outside of the vehicle. The transmission control unit displays, on the external display device, a notification screen facing a person located in the periphery of the vehicle when a charging operation performed from the power supply device to the secondary battery is continued and a person different from a current user, which is a current user of the vehicle, is detected in the periphery of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging monitoring device, a charging monitoring method and a charging monitoring system. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to ensure reliable, continuous, and advanced access to energy for more people, research and development related to charging and discharging in mobility equipped with secondary batteries that contribute to improving energy efficiency has been conducted.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a charging monitoring and notification system that monitors the charging process of an electric vehicle. Upon detecting a charging interruption, the system sends a notification message to relevant personnel according to a series of notification instructions. These notification instructions may include criteria for determining whether to allow the charging interruption and, based on the determination, for not requiring the transmission of the notification message.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-21914 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] However, in the technology related to charging and discharging in mobility equipped with secondary batteries, the problem is to charge multiple vehicles from the power supply device in sequence and smoothly. For example, when the power supply device is charging one vehicle, there may be a situation where other people who intend to charge other vehicles are waiting for the completion of charging of the above-mentioned vehicle. In addition, since charging of the vehicle requires a certain amount of time, the user of the above-mentioned vehicle may leave the above-mentioned vehicle for a little shopping, etc., or take a nap in the vehicle during the period until charging is completed. In this case, if the charging of the vehicle is completed before the user returns to the above-mentioned vehicle or the user does not notice that charging is completed, other people who intend to charge another vehicle may waste unnecessary time while the power supply device is not operating.

[0009] The purpose of this application is to solve the above-mentioned problem by appropriately notifying people around a charging vehicle waiting for the vehicle to be charged, such as the charging status, so as to smoothly charge multiple vehicles sequentially from a power supply device. Furthermore, this contributes to energy efficiency.

[0010] Means for solving problems

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention is a charging monitoring device comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors the state of a charging operation performed from a power supply device outside a vehicle to a secondary battery possessed by the vehicle; an identification unit that detects and identifies people located in the vicinity of the vehicle; and a transmission control unit that controls the operation of an external display device, the external display device being a display device provided on the vehicle and configured to be visible from the outside of the vehicle, the transmission control unit performing the following processing: while the charging operation from the power supply device to the secondary battery is ongoing, when a person different from a current user who is the current user of the vehicle is detected in the vicinity of the vehicle, a notification screen for people located in the vicinity of the vehicle is displayed on the external display device.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the transmission control unit displays the notification screen on the external display device when a person different from the current user stays in the vicinity of the vehicle for a predetermined time period or longer.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the notification screen includes information regarding a charging operation performed by the power supply device on the secondary battery.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transmission control unit obtains input from an external input device, which is provided in the vehicle and can be operated by a person outside the vehicle. When the charging action from the power supply device to the secondary battery is in a predetermined specified state, the transmission control unit performs the following processing: displays a message on the external display device asking whether it is necessary to notify the occupants of the vehicle; and when a request to notify the occupants of the vehicle, i.e., a notification request, is input through the external input device, an input notification indicating that the notification request has been input is sent to a predetermined user terminal device accessible to the current user.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, when the charging operation from the power supply device to the secondary battery is not in the predetermined state, the transmission control unit displays the estimated time until the charging operation reaches the predetermined state or the current remaining charge of the vehicle on the external display device.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the notification request is input through the external input device and a passenger is detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit notifies the passenger of the presence of a waiting person around the vehicle through an output device provided in the interior of the vehicle.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the identification unit identifies a person located in the interior of the vehicle, and when the notification request is input through the external input device, when the current user of the vehicle is detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit notifies the current user of the presence of a person waiting around the vehicle through an output device provided in the interior of the vehicle.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the notification request is input through the external input device, when the current user is not detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit sends a notification to a predetermined user terminal device that the current user can access to indicate that there is a person waiting around the vehicle.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle comprises: an outside-vehicle microphone for capturing the voice of a person outside the vehicle; and an outside-vehicle speaker for outputting sound toward the outside of the vehicle. When the notification request is input by the external input device and the current user is not detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit establishes communication with a predetermined user terminal device held by the current user for conducting a call using the outside-vehicle microphone and the outside-vehicle speaker.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, the transmission control unit obtains an estimated arrival time of the current user at the vehicle charging location input by the current user to the user terminal device, and displays the obtained estimated arrival time on the external display device.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the user terminal device is a portable terminal held by the current user, and the transmission control unit calculates the estimated arrival time of the current user at the vehicle based on the location information of the current user's current location sent by the user terminal device and the current location of the vehicle, and displays the calculated estimated arrival time on the external display device.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the prescribed state is a state in which the secondary battery is charged until the remaining charge amount of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined target value and the charging operation is terminated, and / or a state in which the charging operation of the secondary battery is interrupted before the remaining charge amount of the secondary battery reaches the target value.

[0023] Another embodiment of the present invention is a charging monitoring system comprising: any one of the above-mentioned charging monitoring devices; and an autonomous driving device, which is mounted on the vehicle, and which enables the vehicle to travel to a destination by autonomous driving. The transmission control unit of the charging monitoring device communicates with a predetermined user terminal device accessible to the current user, and when the transmission control unit receives a notification of permission for autonomous driving from the user terminal device, the autonomous driving device enables the vehicle to travel to a predetermined specified destination by autonomous driving and stops the vehicle at the destination.

[0024] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a charging monitoring method, which is a charging monitoring method executed by a computer of a charging monitoring device, wherein the charging monitoring device monitors the charging action performed from a power supply device outside the vehicle to a secondary battery possessed by the vehicle, wherein the charging monitoring method comprises: a monitoring step of monitoring the state of the charging action performed from the power supply device to the secondary battery; an identification step of detecting and identifying a person located around the vehicle; and a transmission step of controlling the action of an external display device, which is a display device provided on the vehicle and is configured at a position visible from the outside of the vehicle, wherein in the transmission step, when the charging action from the power supply device to the secondary battery is ongoing, when it is detected that there is a person different from the current user who is the current user of the vehicle around the vehicle, a notification screen for the people located around the vehicle is displayed on the external display device.

[0025] Effects of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, the charging status and other information are appropriately notified to people waiting for the charging of a vehicle being charged, thereby enabling smooth sequential charging of a plurality of vehicles from the power supply device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of a scenario in which a vehicle including a charge monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

[0028] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing the internal structure of the charging opening of a vehicle.

[0029] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the structure of a charge monitoring device.

[0030] Figure 4 This is an example of a notification screen displayed on the touch panel outside the vehicle, including a message asking whether notification to the vehicle occupants is necessary.

[0031] Figure 5This is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the charge monitoring device.

[0032] Description of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1 ...Charging monitoring device, 2 ...Charging monitoring system, 3 ...Vehicle, 5 ...Secondary battery, 6 ...Charging opening, 7 ...Charging connector, 8 ...External touch panel, 9 ...External microphone, 10 ...External speaker, 20 ...FOB key, 21 ...Mobile terminal, 22 ...Touch panel, 30 ...Drive motor, 31 ...Steering device, 32 ...Charging circuit, 33 ...Charging control device, 34 ...Remaining battery sensor, 35 ...Person detection sensor, 36 ...Indoor display device, 37 ...Indoor speaker, 38 ...Communication device, 39 ...Navigation device, 40 ...GNSS receiver, 50 ...Processor, 51 ...Memory, 52 ...Program, 53 ...Monitoring unit, 54 ...Identification unit, 55 ...Transmission control unit, 80 ...Notification request / reject button, 80a ...Yes button, 80b ...No button, NW ...Communication network, P ...Person, PS ...Power supply device, CA ...Power supply cable, S ...Server device, U ...User, V ...Other vehicle DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] [1. Implementation Method]

[0036] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates an example of a scenario in which a vehicle 3 is used, equipped with a charge monitoring device 1 including an embodiment of the present invention and a charge monitoring system 2 for the charge monitoring device 1. Vehicle 3 is, for example, an electric vehicle and includes a secondary battery 5 that supplies power for driving the vehicle. Secondary battery 5 in vehicle 3 is charged from a power supply device PS external to vehicle 3. Power supply device PS can be any power supply device installed at any charging station that can charge the vehicle.

[0037] In addition, hereinafter, “charging of the vehicle 3 ” refers to charging of the secondary battery 5 of the vehicle 3 .

[0038] In this embodiment, the charge monitoring device 1 is provided in the vehicle 3, but may be configured as an external device provided outside the vehicle 3. For example, the charge monitoring device 1 may be implemented as a server device S communicably connected to the vehicle 3 via a communication network NW such as the Internet.

[0039] The vehicle 3 has a charging opening 6 on the outer surface of the vehicle body, and a charging connector 7 ( Figure 2) is connected to the power supply cable CA of the power supply device PS, thereby charging from the power supply device PS. According to the conventional technology, the charging opening 6 has a charging cover (lid) (not shown) and is closed by the charging cover when not receiving charging from the power supply device PS.

[0040] While the secondary battery 5 is being charged by the power supply device PS, the user U of the vehicle 3 may take a nap inside the vehicle 3 or leave the vehicle 3 for shopping, etc., carrying the fob key 20 and the portable terminal 21. The portable terminal 21 may include a touch panel 22 according to conventional techniques.

[0041] Here, the user U corresponds to the current user in the present disclosure who is the current user of the vehicle 3. In addition, the mobile terminal 21 corresponds to a predetermined user terminal device that can be accessed by the current user in the present disclosure.

[0042] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated scenario, outside the vehicle 3 , another person P who intends to charge another vehicle V from the power supply device PS waits for the charging of the vehicle 3 to be completed.

[0043] Figure 2 This figure shows the internal structure of the charging opening 6 of the vehicle 3. Inside the charging opening 6, in addition to the charging connector 7, there is also an exterior touch panel 8, an exterior microphone 9, and an exterior speaker 10. Here, the exterior touch panel 8 corresponds to an external display device located in a position visible from outside the vehicle 3 and an external input device operable by a person outside the vehicle 3, as used in this disclosure.

[0044] The vehicle exterior microphone 9 captures the voice of a person outside the vehicle 3 . The vehicle exterior speaker 10 outputs the sound toward the outside of the vehicle 3 .

[0045] Figure 3 This diagram shows the configuration of the charge monitoring device 1 along with other equipment included in vehicle 3. Vehicle 3 includes an autonomous driving device 11, which instructs a drive motor 30, which drives vehicle 3, and a steering system 31, which controls the direction of vehicle 3, to enable autonomous driving. The charge monitoring device 1 and autonomous driving device 11 together constitute the charge monitoring system 2. Upon receiving a notification that autonomous driving is permitted, the autonomous driving device 11 autonomously drives the vehicle 3 to a predetermined destination. Upon reaching the destination, the autonomous driving device 11 stops the vehicle 3 at that destination.

[0046] Vehicle 3 includes a charging circuit 32 that controls the supply of power from charging connector 7 to secondary battery 5, and a charging control device 33 that controls charging circuit 32. Charging circuit 32 starts and stops charging secondary battery 5 in accordance with instructions from charging control device 33. While charging secondary battery 5, charging circuit 32 measures the terminal voltage, terminal current, and inter-terminal impedance of secondary battery 5 at predetermined time intervals and transmits these measurements to charging control device 33.

[0047] The charge control device 33 obtains information about the current remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 at predetermined time intervals from a remaining charge sensor 34 that detects the remaining charge level (SOC) of the secondary battery 5. The charge control device 33 transmits the obtained information about the current remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 to the charge monitoring device 1 at predetermined time intervals.

[0048] When power is input via the charging connector 7 and the current remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 is less than a predetermined value, the charging control device 33 instructs the charging circuit 32 to start charging the secondary battery 5. When charging the secondary battery 5 is started, the charging control device 33 transmits a charge start notification to the charge monitoring device 1.

[0049] After starting to charge the secondary battery 5, the charge control device 33 calculates, based on the current remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 obtained from the remaining charge sensor 34 and information such as the terminal voltage, terminal current, and inter-terminal impedance of the secondary battery 5 received from the charging circuit 32, an estimated completion time, which is the estimated time until the remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 reaches a target value and the charging operation is completed, at predetermined time intervals, in accordance with conventional techniques. The charge control device 33 transmits the calculated estimated completion time to the charge monitoring device 1 at predetermined time intervals. In this embodiment, the target value can be determined by, for example, the transmission control unit 55 of the charge monitoring device 1 (described later) and transmitted to the charge control device 33.

[0050] When the current remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 obtained from the remaining charge sensor 34 exceeds the target value, the charge control device 33 instructs the charging circuit 32 to terminate charging of the secondary battery 5. Upon terminating charging of the secondary battery 5, the charge control device 33 transmits a charge completion notification to the charge monitoring device 1.

[0051] The vehicle 3 further includes a human detection sensor 35 , an interior display device 36 , an interior speaker 37 , and a communication device 38 .

[0052] The human detection sensor 35 detects humans around the vehicle 3 and inside the vehicle 3 and determines the locations of the detected humans. The human detection sensor 35 may be, for example, one or more radars, sonars, pyroelectric sensors, or cameras installed outside and / or inside the vehicle 3.

[0053] The interior display device 36 may be a touch panel installed in a position easily visible to passengers in the interior of the vehicle 3, such as near the center of the instrument panel in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the interior speaker 37 may be a single speaker installed in a position easily audible to passengers in the interior of the vehicle 3, or a plurality of speakers dispersed throughout the interior of the vehicle 3. Here, the interior display device 36 and the interior speaker 37 correspond to the output device installed in the interior of the vehicle 3 in the present disclosure.

[0054] The communication device 38 includes a transceiver for communicating with devices external to the vehicle 3, such as the portable terminal 21 and the server device S. Furthermore, the communication device 38 includes a short-range transceiver for communicating with the vehicle key of the vehicle 3 held by the user U. The vehicle key of the vehicle 3 is, for example, an electronic key such as a fob key or a mobile phone storing a key code. Hereinafter, the vehicle key of the vehicle 3 with which the communication device 38 communicates will also be referred to as the electronic key of the vehicle 3.

[0055] The short-range transceiver included in the communication device 38 attempts to communicate with the electronic key of vehicle 3 via multiple antennas (not shown) distributed throughout vehicle 3, thereby searching for electronic keys in the vicinity of vehicle 3. For example, in accordance with conventional techniques, the communication device 38 transmits a response request to the electronic key via each of the distributed antennas and receives a response from the electronic key. Furthermore, the communication device 38 determines the location of the electronic key that transmitted the response based on the radio wave strength of the response received by each antenna and the location of each antenna in vehicle 3.

[0056] Vehicle 3 also includes a navigation device 39. This device includes a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver 40. According to conventional technology, navigation device 39 uses GNSS receiver 40 to determine the current location of vehicle 3, guides the user U along a route to a destination input, and outputs route information. Furthermore, navigation device 39 can calculate the estimated time required for walking from the user U's current location, as specified by the charge monitoring device 1, to the current location of vehicle 3, and transmit this information to the charge monitoring device 1.

[0057] In the above description, the autonomous driving device 11 and the charging control device 33 may each be an electronic control unit (ECU) including a processor and a memory.

[0058] The charge monitoring device 1 includes a processor 50 and a memory 51. The memory 51 is composed of, for example, a volatile and / or nonvolatile semiconductor memory and / or a hard disk device.

[0059] The processor 50 is, for example, a computer including a CPU. The processor 50 may also include a ROM in which a program is written, a RAM for temporarily storing data, etc. The processor 50 includes a monitoring unit 53, an identification unit 54, and a transmission control unit 55 as functional elements or functional units.

[0060] These functional elements of the processor 50 are implemented, for example, by the processor 50, which is a computer, executing a program 52 stored in a memory 51. Furthermore, the program 52 can be stored in advance in any computer-readable storage medium. Alternatively, all or part of the functional elements of the processor 50 may be implemented by hardware each including one or more electronic circuit components.

[0061] The monitoring unit 53 monitors the status of the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 from the power supply device PS. Specifically, the monitoring unit 53 communicates with the charging control device 33 to obtain information regarding the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 and monitor the status of this charging operation. For example, the monitoring unit 53 receives charging start and charging end notifications from the charging control device 33 to determine whether the secondary battery 5 is currently charging. Furthermore, the monitoring unit 53 obtains the remaining charge level and estimated completion time of the secondary battery 5 from the charging control device 33 at predetermined time intervals, and monitors the current remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 being charged and the estimated completion time of the charging operation.

[0062] The recognition unit 54 detects and identifies people in the vicinity of the vehicle 3 and people inside the vehicle 3. Specifically, the recognition unit 54 receives sensor information from the human detection sensor 35, detects people in the vicinity of the vehicle 3 and people inside the vehicle 3, and determines the location of the detected people. Furthermore, when the recognition unit 54 detects a person in the vicinity of the vehicle 3 and / or a person inside the vehicle 3 based on the sensor information from the human detection sensor 35, it searches for the electronic key of the vehicle 3 via the communication device 38 and determines the location of the electronic key in the vicinity of the vehicle 3.

[0063] Then, when the position of the person detected by the person detection sensor 35 matches the position of the electronic key determined by the communication device 38, the recognition unit 54 recognizes the detected person as the user U. Here, if there are multiple people holding the electronic key of the vehicle 3, each person holding the electronic key may be detected as the user U (i.e., the current user).

[0064] Thus, the recognition unit 54 detects people around the vehicle 3 and recognizes whether the detected people are the user U. Similarly, the recognition unit 54 detects people inside the vehicle 3 and recognizes whether the detected people are the user U.

[0065] The transmission control unit 55 controls the display operation of the exterior touch panel 8, which serves as a display device, and receives input via the exterior touch panel 8, which serves as an input device. As described above, the exterior touch panel 8 corresponds to an external display device that is arranged at a position visible from the outside of the vehicle 3 and an external input device that can be operated by a person outside the vehicle 3 in the present disclosure.

[0066] In this embodiment, in particular, when the recognition unit 54 detects the presence of a person other than the user U in the vicinity of the vehicle 3 while the charging operation from the power supply device PS to the secondary battery 5 is ongoing, the transmission control unit 55 displays a notification screen on the exterior touch panel 8 for the person in the vicinity of the vehicle 3. The notification screen may display a message such as "It will take some time" or "Please wait" prompting the user to continue waiting.

[0067] Here, the monitoring unit 53 can recognize that the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 from the power supply device PS is continuing.

[0068] For example, in Figure 1 In the scenario, when a person P who is waiting to be charged by another vehicle V approaches the vicinity of the vehicle 3, the recognition unit 54 detects the presence of a person different from the user U around the vehicle 3. When the monitoring unit 53 recognizes that the secondary battery 5 is being charged, the transmission control unit 55 displays a notification screen on the exterior touch panel 8 facing the person P located near the vehicle 3 if the recognition unit 54 detects the presence of a person different from the user U around the vehicle 3.

[0069] Thus, person P can see the message displayed on exterior touch panel 8 located within charging opening 6 of vehicle 3, notifying them that vehicle 3 is still charging and realizing that waiting for vehicle 3 to complete charging is not a waste of time. Consequently, person P does not wait, for example, without knowing whether vehicle 3 is charging, and thus does not stop waiting and cause other vehicles V to move to other charging stations unnecessarily. As a result, multiple vehicles can be charged smoothly and sequentially by power supply device PS.

[0070] Based on the results of human detection and recognition by the recognition unit 54 , the transmission control unit 55 may display the notification screen on the exterior touch panel 8 when a person other than the user U stays around the vehicle 3 for a predetermined time or longer.

[0071] Thus, the notification screen can be displayed on the outside touch panel 8 only when a person who is likely to be waiting for the completion of the charging action of the vehicle 3 is detected around the vehicle 3, so that useless notification screens will not be displayed on the outside touch panel 8, and useless power consumption of the outside touch panel 8 can be suppressed.

[0072] The transmission control unit 55 may include information on the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 from the power supply device PS in the notification screen displayed on the exterior touch panel 8 .

[0073] For example, as an example of information related to the charging operation, the notification screen may include messages such as “Charging is not yet completed” and “Charging in progress”.

[0074] This allows information about the charging process in vehicle 3 to be provided to people waiting for the completion of charging of vehicle 3, thereby further reducing the number of people waiting and giving up. Consequently, the power supply device can more smoothly charge multiple vehicles in sequence.

[0075] Here, the transmission control unit 55 can set a target value for the remaining charge of the secondary battery 5 during the charging operation when the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 begins, and transmit it to the charging control device 33. This target value can be a predetermined value. Alternatively, it can be the remaining charge required to travel to the destination currently set in the navigation device 39. The transmission control unit 55 obtains the distance of the route to the currently set destination from the navigation device 39 and, based on the obtained distance and the predetermined power consumption (power consumption per unit distance), can calculate the remaining charge required to travel to the destination in accordance with conventional technology.

[0076] Furthermore, the transmission control unit 55 may display a message on the exterior touch panel 8 asking whether notification to the occupants of the vehicle 3 is necessary when the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 from the power supply device PS reaches a predetermined state while the notification screen is displayed on the exterior touch panel 8. When a notification request is input via the exterior touch panel 8 as a request to notify the occupants of the vehicle 3, the transmission control unit 55 may transmit an input notification indicating that the notification request has been input to the portable terminal 21 of the user U.

[0077] The predetermined state may be a state in which the secondary battery 5 is charged until the remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 reaches a predetermined target value, and the charging operation is terminated. Alternatively, the predetermined state may be a state in which the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 is interrupted before the remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 reaches the target value. Such interruption of the charging operation may be caused by a malfunction of the power supply device PS, etc. Alternatively, the predetermined state may be a state in which the secondary battery 5 is charged to a value obtained by multiplying the target remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5 by a predetermined ratio (e.g., 80%). The predetermined state may be predefined.

[0078] As a result, a person waiting for charging to complete near a charging vehicle 3 can actively request notification from the user U when charging of the vehicle 3 is complete, nearing completion, or interrupted. This prevents a situation where a person waiting for charging to complete is wasted and prolonged due to the user U of the vehicle 3 not noticing a predetermined state such as completion of charging. Consequently, the power supply device PS can more smoothly perform sequential charging of multiple vehicles.

[0079] Figure 4 This is an example of a notification screen displayed on the exterior touch panel 8, including a message asking whether to notify the occupants of the vehicle 3. In the illustrated example, the predetermined state is defined as the state in which the secondary battery 5 is charged to the target remaining charge value. The exterior touch panel 8, located in the charging opening 6, displays a message indicating the predetermined state, "Charging Completed," and a question, "Do you want to notify the occupants?" Below these messages, notification buttons 80 are displayed, including an affirmative button 80a displaying "Yes" and a negative button 80b displaying "No."

[0080] In addition, the message indicating the above-mentioned predetermined state is not limited to "charging completed", and may be a message such as "charging interrupted" or "charging is about to be completed" depending on the content of the defined predetermined state.

[0081] When a person (for example, Figure 1 When the person P in the scene shown touches the OK button 80a, the transmission control unit 55 receives the touch operation as a notification request and sends an input notification to the portable terminal 21 of the user U.

[0082] Furthermore, if a person near the vehicle 3 touches the deny button 80b, the transmission control unit 55 receives the touch operation as input and, for example, causes the question message, the affirmative button 80a, and the deny button 80b displayed on the exterior touch panel 8 to disappear. In this case, the transmission control unit 55 may re-display the question message, the affirmative button 80a, and the deny button 80b after a predetermined time has elapsed from the disappearance.

[0083] In addition, the transmission control unit 55 may also display the estimated time until the charging action becomes the specified state, or the current remaining charge of the secondary battery 5, on the outside-vehicle touch panel 8 when the charging action performed from the power supply device PS to the secondary battery 5 is not in the above-mentioned specified state. For example, the transmission control unit 55 may also display the estimated completion time of the charging action on the outside-vehicle touch panel 8 when the specified state is a state in which the secondary battery 5 is charged to the target value of the remaining charge. Such a display is, for example, a message such as "Charging is not completed. The occupants can be notified in 15 minutes." Here, the above-mentioned "15 minutes" may be the estimated completion time until the charging action is completed calculated by the charging control device 33. In addition, the above-mentioned "The occupants can be notified in 15 minutes" means, for example Figure 4 The notification screen including the message asking whether or not to notify the occupants of the vehicle 3 can be displayed as “15 minutes later” as shown.

[0084] Thus, people waiting around vehicle 3 for charging to complete can learn the estimated time until a predetermined state, such as charging completion, is reached, as well as the current remaining charge level of vehicle 3, allowing them to roughly estimate the length of their waiting time. As a result, this can further reduce the number of people waiting and abandoning their waiting time, allowing for smoother sequential charging of multiple vehicles by the power supply device PS.

[0085] In addition, the transmission control unit 55 may also be configured to receive the notification request when the above notification request is input via the vehicle exterior touch panel 8 (for example, Figure 4 When the recognition unit 54 detects a passenger inside the vehicle 3, the indoor display device 36 and / or indoor speaker 37, which are output devices provided inside the vehicle 3, notify the passenger that there is a person waiting around the vehicle 3. For example, the notification control unit 55 can display a message such as "There is a person waiting for charging to be completed outside the vehicle" on the indoor display device 36 and / or output an audio message from the indoor speaker 37.

[0086] As a result, passengers inside a vehicle 3 being charged can be notified of the presence of people waiting for charging to complete around the vehicle 3, and can therefore take prompt action to address the movement of the vehicle 3, such as contacting the user U of the vehicle 3 or moving the vehicle 3. Consequently, the power supply device PS can more smoothly charge multiple vehicles in sequence.

[0087] Furthermore, when the notification request is input via the exterior touch panel 8, and the recognition unit 54 detects the user U inside the vehicle 3, the transmission control unit 55 may notify the user U via the interior display device 36 and / or the interior speaker 37 that someone is waiting near the vehicle 3. This notification may be, for example, a display and / or audio output of a message such as "There is a person waiting outside the vehicle for charging to complete" from the interior display device 36 and / or the interior speaker 37, as described above.

[0088] Thus, the user U inside the vehicle 3 being charged is notified of the presence of people waiting for charging to complete around the vehicle 3 , and the vehicle 3 can be moved quickly, thereby enabling the power supply device PS to charge multiple vehicles sequentially more smoothly.

[0089] Furthermore, when the notification request is input via the exterior touch panel 8, the transmission control unit 55 may send a notification to the portable terminal 21 of the user U indicating that a person is waiting near the vehicle 3, if the recognition unit 54 does not detect the user U inside the vehicle 3. This notification can be sent to the portable terminal 21 as a push notification, for example. The portable terminal 21 receives the notification in accordance with conventional techniques and displays the received notification on the touch panel 22 of the portable terminal 21.

[0090] Thus, even if the user U of a vehicle 3 undergoing charging leaves the vehicle 3, those waiting for charging to complete near the vehicle 3 can proactively notify the user U of the vehicle 3 of the occurrence of the specified charging state upon notifying the user U of the vehicle 3 of the specified state of charging. Therefore, even if the user U of the vehicle 3 undergoing charging leaves the vehicle 3, those waiting for charging to complete can avoid a situation where the user of the vehicle 3 is unaware of the specified state and is thus forced to wait unnecessarily for a long time for charging to complete. As a result, even when the user U of the vehicle 3 undergoing charging is away from the vehicle 3, the power supply device can smoothly and sequentially charge multiple vehicles.

[0091] Furthermore, when the notification request is input via the exterior touch panel 8, the transmission control unit 55 may establish communication with the portable terminal 21 of the user U for conducting a conversation using the exterior microphone 9 and the exterior speaker 10, if the user U is not detected inside the vehicle 3 by the recognition unit 54. For example, the communication may be telephone communication with the portable terminal 21 via a public line.

[0092] Thus, even if the user U of the vehicle 3 being charged leaves the vehicle 3 , the person waiting for charging to complete around the vehicle 3 can communicate with the user U and learn about the whereabouts of the user U. Thus, even if the user U of the vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle 3 , the person waiting for charging to complete can appropriately determine whether to continue waiting based on the status of the user U of the vehicle obtained through the conversation, for example.

[0093] The transmission control unit 55 may also obtain the estimated arrival time of the user U at the current charging location of the vehicle 3 (i.e., the current location of the vehicle 3), which is input by the user U into the mobile terminal 21, and display the obtained estimated arrival time on the exterior touch panel 8. For example, the transmission control unit 55 may display a message indicating the estimated arrival time, such as "Occupant scheduled to arrive in 10 minutes," on the exterior touch panel 8. The transmission control unit 55 may also display the above-mentioned estimated arrival time message on the exterior touch panel 8 together with the above-mentioned message indicating the predetermined status.

[0094] Thus, even if the user U of the charging vehicle 3 leaves the vehicle 3 , people waiting for charging completion around the vehicle 3 can more appropriately determine whether to continue waiting based on the estimated arrival time.

[0095] For example, user U can input the estimated arrival time into portable terminal 21 based on the notification sent by transmission control unit 55 to portable terminal 21 indicating that a person is waiting near vehicle 3 and displayed on touch panel 22 of portable terminal 21. Portable terminal 21 can, for example, receive the input of the estimated arrival time as a function of a predetermined application and transmit the input estimated arrival time to charge monitoring device 1 of vehicle 3. Upon receiving the input notification as a push notification, portable terminal 21 can display a message on touch panel 22 prompting user U to activate the application, thereby prompting user U to activate the application.

[0096] In addition, the transmission control unit 55 can also calculate the estimated arrival time of user U at vehicle 3 based on the location information of user U's current location sent by the portable terminal 21 held by user U and the current location of vehicle 3 obtained from the navigation device 39, and display the calculated estimated arrival time on the outside-vehicle touch panel 8.

[0097] Therefore, when user U of the charging vehicle 3 leaves the vehicle 3, even if the estimated arrival time of the vehicle cannot be obtained from the user U, the estimated arrival time can be calculated based on the positional relationship between the user U and the vehicle 3, and the people around the vehicle 3 can be prompted. Therefore, people waiting for charging to be completed around the vehicle 3 can appropriately judge whether to continue waiting based on the estimated arrival time.

[0098] For example, the transmission control unit 55 sends a current location transmission request to the portable terminal 21 executing the application. In response to the transmission request, the portable terminal 21 can transmit the current location acquired from the GPS receiver (not shown) included in the portable terminal 21 to the charge monitoring device 1 as a function of the application.

[0099] Furthermore, upon receiving a notification of permission for autonomous driving from the portable terminal 21 of the user U, the transmission control unit 55 transmits the received permission notification to the autonomous driving device 11. For example, the user U can input an instruction to transmit the permission notification for autonomous driving to the portable terminal 21 that is executing the aforementioned application. The portable terminal 21 can transmit the permission notification for autonomous driving to the charge monitoring device 1 in accordance with the input transmission instruction as a function of the aforementioned application, in accordance with conventional technology.

[0100] In response to the transmission control unit 55 receiving the autonomous driving permission notification and the monitoring unit 53 confirming that the power supply cable CA has been removed from the charging connector 7, the autonomous driving device 11 can cause the vehicle 3 to autonomously drive to a predetermined destination and stop the vehicle 3 at the destination. Multiple destinations can be predetermined. The autonomous driving device 11 can autonomously drive the vehicle 3 to a destination within a travelable range based on the current remaining charge of the secondary battery 5 and stop the vehicle 3 at the destination. The transmission control unit 55 can obtain the current remaining charge of the secondary battery 5 from the monitoring unit 53 and transmit it to the autonomous driving device 11 along with the permission notification.

[0101] Thus, even if the user U of the vehicle 3 being charged moves away from the vehicle 3 and cannot immediately return to the vehicle 3 , the vehicle 3 can be moved, and thus the power supply device PS can smoothly charge a plurality of vehicles in sequence.

[0102] Next, the operation process of the charge monitoring device 1 will be described.

[0103] Figure 5 1 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a charge start method executed by the processor 50 , which is a computer of the charge monitoring device 1 . Figure 5 The processing shown in Figure 3 The process starts when the charging monitoring device 1 is activated with the power supply of each device being turned on.

[0104] When the process begins, the monitoring unit 53 of the charge monitoring device 1 begins monitoring the charging of the secondary battery 5, and the recognition unit 54 begins detecting and recognizing people around the vehicle 3 and inside the vehicle (S100). Next, the monitoring unit 53 determines whether charging of the secondary battery 5 has started (S102). If charging of the secondary battery 5 has not started (S102, No), the monitoring unit 53 returns to step S102 and repeats the process, waiting for charging of the secondary battery 5 to start.

[0105] When charging of the secondary battery 5 begins (S102, Yes), the recognition unit 54 determines whether a person other than the user U is detected around the vehicle 3 (S104). If no person other than the user U is detected around the vehicle 3 (S104, No), the recognition unit 54 returns to step S104 and repeats the process, waiting for a person other than the user U to be detected around the vehicle 3. At this time, the transmission control unit 55, if the screen display on the exterior touch panel 8 is in progress, causes the display to disappear, thereby terminating the screen display.

[0106] On the other hand, if a person other than the user U is detected around the vehicle 3 (S104, Yes), the transmission control unit 55 determines whether the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 is in the aforementioned predetermined state based on the information from the monitoring unit 53 (S106). Furthermore, if the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 is not in the predetermined state (S106, No), a notification screen indicating the current charging state is displayed on the exterior touch panel 8 (S110), and the process returns to step S104 and repeats. As described above, the notification screen may include a message prompting people around the vehicle 3 to wait, a message notifying of information related to the charging operation, and / or a message indicating the estimated time until the charging operation reaches the predetermined state or the remaining charge level of the secondary battery 5.

[0107] On the other hand, when the charging operation of the secondary battery 5 is in a predetermined state (S106, Yes), the transmission control unit 55 displays a notification screen including the notification button 80 on the vehicle exterior touch panel 8 (S108). The notification screen including the notification button 80 may be, for example, Figure 4 The screen shown.

[0108] Next, the transmission control unit 55 determines whether a notification request is received via the exterior touch panel 8 ( S112 ). As described above, a notification request can be input by a person near the vehicle 3 touching the affirmative button 80 a of the notification request / request buttons 80 displayed on the exterior touch panel 8 .

[0109] If there is no notification request (S112, No), the transmission control unit 55 returns the process to step S104. On the other hand, if there is a notification request (S112, Yes), the transmission control unit 55 determines whether the recognition unit 54 has detected a passenger inside the vehicle 3 (S114). If the recognition unit 54 has detected a passenger inside the vehicle 3 (S114, Yes), the transmission control unit 55 notifies the passenger inside the vehicle 3 via the interior display device 36 and / or interior speaker 37 that there is a person waiting near the vehicle 3 (S116).

[0110] The transmission control unit 55 also determines whether the recognition unit 54 has detected the user U inside the vehicle 3 (S118). If the recognition unit 54 has not detected the user U inside the vehicle 3 (S118, No), the transmission control unit 55 transmits an input notification to the user U's portable terminal 21, indicating that a person near the vehicle 3 has input a notification request (S120). In response, the user U can transmit a notification of permission for autonomous driving or an estimated arrival time at the vehicle 3 to the charge monitoring device 1 via the portable terminal 21. The transmission control unit 55 may also establish a call connection with the portable terminal 21 during step S120, allowing people near the vehicle 3 to communicate with the user U via the exterior microphone 9 and exterior speaker 10.

[0111] Next, the transmission control unit 55 determines whether a notification of permission for autonomous driving has been received from the portable terminal 21 of the user U (S122). If a notification of permission for autonomous driving has been received from the portable terminal 21 of the user U (S122, Yes), the transmission control unit 55 transmits the received permission notification to the autonomous driving device (S124), terminating the present process. Upon receiving the permission notification, the autonomous driving device 11 causes the vehicle 3 to autonomously drive to the specified destination and stops the vehicle 3 at the destination.

[0112] On the other hand, when no notification of permission for autonomous driving is received from the portable terminal 21 of user U in step S122 (S122, No), the estimated arrival time of user U at the vehicle 3 received from the portable terminal 21 of user U, or the estimated arrival time calculated by the transmission control unit 55 based on the location information of the portable terminal 21 and the location information of the vehicle 3 is displayed on the outside-vehicle touch panel 8 (S126).

[0113] Next, the transmission control unit 55 determines whether the vehicle 3 has started traveling (S128). The transmission control unit 55 can determine that the vehicle 3 has started traveling when the vehicle speed detected by a speed sensor (not shown) included in the vehicle 3 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0114] Then, when the vehicle 3 does not start traveling ( S128 , No), the transmission control unit 55 returns to step S128 and repeats the process, waiting for the vehicle 3 to start traveling.

[0115] On the other hand, when the vehicle 3 starts traveling (S128, YES), the transmission control unit 55 ends this process. After this process ends, the processor 50 of the charge monitoring device 1 restarts this process until the power of the charge monitoring device 1 is turned off, and repeats the above process.

[0116] On the other hand, in step S118 , when the recognition unit 54 detects the presence of the user U inside the vehicle 3 ( S118 , Yes), the transmission control unit 55 shifts the process to step S128 .

[0117] Here, in Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present disclosure, steps S100, S102, and S106 correspond to the monitoring step in the present disclosure. In addition, steps S100, S104, S114, and S118 correspond to the identification step in the present disclosure. In addition, steps S108, S110, and S126 correspond to the transmission step in the present disclosure.

[0118] [2. Other Implementations]

[0119] In the above embodiment, the charge monitoring device 1 is provided in the vehicle 3, but as described above, it may be configured as an external device provided outside the vehicle 3. For example, the charge monitoring device 1 may be implemented as a server device S communicably connected to the vehicle 3 via the communication network NW.

[0120] In the above-described embodiment, the recognition unit 54 detects the presence of the user U based on the position of the electronic key of the vehicle 3 and the position of the person detected by the person detection sensor 35. However, the presence of the user U may also be detected by recognizing a facial image of the person. For example, the person detection sensor 35 may include a camera that captures the periphery of the vehicle 3 and a camera that captures the interior of the vehicle 3, and the recognition unit 54 may detect the presence of the user U by comparing the facial images of the person captured by these cameras with the facial images of the user U pre-stored in the memory 51.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the exterior touch panel 8 is disposed in the charging opening 6 , but may be disposed at any position that is visible from outside the vehicle 3 and operable by a person outside the vehicle 3 .

[0122] Furthermore, the external display device and the external input device in the present disclosure are implemented by the exterior touch panel 8 in the above-described embodiment, but they may be implemented as independent display devices and input devices, respectively.

[0123] The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0124] [3. Structure supported by the above-mentioned embodiment]

[0125] The above-mentioned embodiment supports the following configuration.

[0126] (Structure 1) A charging monitoring device comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors the state of a charging operation performed from a power supply device outside a vehicle to a secondary battery of the vehicle; an identification unit that detects and identifies a person located in the vicinity of the vehicle; and a transmission control unit that controls the operation of an external display device, the external display device being a display device provided on the vehicle and arranged at a position that can be seen from the outside of the vehicle, the transmission control unit performing the following processing: while the charging operation from the power supply device to the secondary battery is ongoing, when a person different from a current user who is the current user of the vehicle is detected in the vicinity of the vehicle, a notification screen for the person located in the vicinity of the vehicle is displayed on the external display device.

[0127] According to the charging monitoring device of configuration 1, for example, a person waiting for a vehicle to charge another vehicle nearby while waiting for that vehicle to complete charging can obtain information about the charging status of that vehicle through a notification screen displayed on the vehicle's external display device. This prevents, for example, other vehicles from being wasted while waiting for charging of the vehicle and moving to another charging station. As a result, multiple vehicles can be charged smoothly and sequentially by the power supply device.

[0128] (Structure 2) The charge monitoring device according to Structure 1, wherein the transmission control unit displays the notification screen on the external display device when a person different from the current user stays in the vicinity of the vehicle for a predetermined time or longer.

[0129] According to the charging monitoring device of structure 2, when a person who is likely to be waiting for the completion of the charging operation of the vehicle is detected around the vehicle, a notification screen is displayed on the external display device. Therefore, useless notification screens will not be displayed on the external display device, and useless power consumption of the external display device can be suppressed.

[0130] (Structure 3) The charge monitoring device according to Structure 1 or 2, wherein the notification screen includes information on a charging operation performed by the power supply device on the secondary battery.

[0131] The charging monitoring device of configuration 3 can provide information about the charging process in a vehicle to people waiting near the vehicle for charging to complete, thereby further reducing the number of people waiting and giving up. Consequently, the power supply device can more smoothly charge multiple vehicles in sequence.

[0132] (Structure 4) A charging monitoring device according to any one of Structures 1 to 3, wherein the transmission control unit obtains input from an external input device, the external input device is provided in the vehicle and can be operated by a person outside the vehicle, and the transmission control unit performs the following processing when the charging action from the power supply device to the secondary battery is in a predetermined specified state: displays a message on the external display device asking whether notification to the occupants of the vehicle is required; and when a request to notify the occupants of the vehicle, i.e., a notification request, is input through the external input device, an input notification indicating that the notification request has been input is sent to a predetermined user terminal device accessible to the current user.

[0133] According to the charge monitoring device of Configuration 4, when a person waiting for the vehicle's charging to be completed notices a predetermined state, such as the completion of charging, the user of the vehicle can be proactively notified of the occurrence of the predetermined state. This prevents a situation in which the person waiting for charging to be completed is wasted and prolonged due to the vehicle user not noticing the predetermined state. As a result, the charge monitoring device of Configuration 4 enables smoother sequential charging of multiple vehicles by the power supply device.

[0134] (Structure 5) The charging monitoring device described in Structure 4, wherein the transmission control unit displays the estimated time until the charging action becomes the specified state or the current charge remaining amount of the vehicle on the external display device when the charging action performed from the power supply device to the secondary battery is not in the specified state.

[0135] According to the charging monitoring device of Configuration 5, a person waiting near a vehicle for charging to be completed can be informed of the estimated time until a predetermined state, such as charging completion, is reached, as well as the vehicle's current remaining charge level, thereby allowing them to approximate the length of the subsequent waiting time. Consequently, the charging monitoring device of Configuration 5 can further reduce the number of people waiting and abandon their waiting time, enabling smoother sequential charging of multiple vehicles by the power supply device.

[0136] (Structure 6) A charging monitoring device according to Structure 4 or 5, wherein, when the notification request is input through the external input device and a passenger is detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit notifies the passenger of the presence of a waiting person around the vehicle through an output device provided in the interior of the vehicle.

[0137] With the charge monitoring device of Configuration 6, passengers inside a vehicle undergoing charging can be notified of the presence of people waiting for charging to complete near the vehicle, allowing them to quickly respond to the vehicle's movement, such as contacting the vehicle's user or relocating the vehicle. Consequently, the charge monitoring device of Configuration 6 enables smoother sequential charging of multiple vehicles by the power supply device.

[0138] (Structure 7) A charging monitoring device according to Structure 4 or 5, wherein the identification unit identifies a person located inside the vehicle, and when the transmission control unit detects the current user of the vehicle inside the vehicle in response to the notification request being input through the external input device, the transmission control unit notifies the current user of the presence of a person waiting around the vehicle through an output device provided inside the vehicle.

[0139] According to the charging monitoring device of configuration 7, the user of the vehicle in the cabin of the vehicle being charged is informed of the presence of people waiting for charging to be completed around the vehicle, and can move the vehicle quickly, thereby enabling the power supply device to charge multiple vehicles in sequence more smoothly.

[0140] (Structure 8) A charging monitoring device according to Structure 7, wherein, when the notification request is input through the external input device, and when the current user is not detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit sends a notification to a predetermined user terminal device accessible to the current user indicating that there is a person waiting around the vehicle.

[0141] According to the charging monitoring device of Configuration 8, even if the user of a vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle, those waiting for charging to complete, upon notifying the user of the vehicle of a predetermined state, such as charging completion, can proactively notify the user of the vehicle of the occurrence of the predetermined state. Therefore, even if the user of a vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle, those waiting for charging to complete can avoid a situation where the user of the vehicle being charged is unaware of the predetermined state and is left waiting for charging to complete for an unnecessarily long period of time. Consequently, according to the charging monitoring device of Configuration 8, multiple vehicles can be smoothly charged sequentially by the power supply device even when the user of the vehicle being charged is away from the vehicle.

[0142] (Structure 9) A charging monitoring device according to Structure 7 or 8, wherein the vehicle comprises: an outside-vehicle microphone for capturing the voice of a person located outside the vehicle; and an outside-vehicle speaker for outputting sound toward the outside of the vehicle, and when the notification request is input by the external input device and the current user is not detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit establishes communication with a predetermined user terminal device held by the current user for conducting a call using the outside-vehicle microphone and the outside-vehicle speaker.

[0143] According to the charging monitoring device of configuration 9, even if the user of a vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle, a person waiting for charging to complete can communicate with the user and learn about the user's whereabouts. Thus, even if the user of the vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle, the person waiting for charging to complete can appropriately determine whether to continue waiting based on the user's status as learned through the conversation, for example.

[0144] (Structure 10) The charging monitoring device described in Structure 8 or 9, wherein the transmission control unit obtains the estimated arrival time of the current user at the charging location of the vehicle input by the current user to the user terminal device, and displays the obtained estimated arrival time on the external display device.

[0145] According to the charge monitoring device of configuration 10 , even if the user of the vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle, people waiting for charging completion around the vehicle can more appropriately determine whether to continue waiting based on the estimated arrival time.

[0146] (Structure 11) A charging monitoring device according to any one of Structures 8 to 9, wherein the user terminal device is a portable terminal held by the current user, and the transmission control unit calculates the estimated arrival time of the current user at the vehicle based on the location information of the current user's current location sent by the user terminal device and the current location of the vehicle, and displays the calculated estimated arrival time on the external display device.

[0147] According to the charging monitoring device of structure 11, when the user of the vehicle being charged leaves the vehicle, even if the estimated arrival time of the vehicle cannot be obtained from the above-mentioned user, the above-mentioned estimated arrival time can be calculated based on the positional relationship between the user and the vehicle and prompted to people around the vehicle. Therefore, people waiting for charging to be completed around the vehicle can appropriately judge whether to continue waiting based on the above-mentioned estimated arrival time.

[0148] (Structure 12) A charging monitoring device according to any one of Structures 4 to 11, wherein the prescribed state is a state in which the secondary battery is charged until the remaining charge of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined target value and the charging action is terminated, and / or a state in which the charging action of the secondary battery is interrupted before the remaining charge of the secondary battery reaches the target value.

[0149] According to the charging monitoring device of configuration 12, people waiting for charging to be completed around a vehicle being charged can be notified when charging of the vehicle is completed or interrupted, and can therefore appropriately determine whether to continue waiting.

[0150] (Structure 13) A charging monitoring system comprising: a charging monitoring device as described in any one of Structures 1 to 12; and an autonomous driving device, which is mounted on the vehicle, and causes the vehicle to travel to a destination by autonomous driving, the transmission control unit of the charging monitoring device communicating with a predetermined user terminal device that can be accessed by the current user, and when the transmission control unit receives a permission notification for autonomous driving from the user terminal device, the autonomous driving device causes the vehicle to travel to a predetermined specified destination by autonomous driving and stops the vehicle at the destination.

[0151] According to the charge monitoring system of Configuration 13, even if the user of a vehicle being charged moves away from the vehicle and cannot immediately return to the vehicle, the vehicle can be moved, thereby enabling the power supply device to smoothly charge a plurality of vehicles in sequence.

[0152] (Structure 14) A charging monitoring method, which is a charging monitoring method executed by a computer of a charging monitoring device, wherein the charging monitoring device monitors the charging action performed from a power supply device outside the vehicle to a secondary battery possessed by the vehicle, wherein the charging monitoring method comprises: a monitoring step of monitoring the state of the charging action performed from the power supply device to the secondary battery; an identification step of detecting and identifying a person located around the vehicle; and a transmission step of controlling the action of an external display device, which is a display device provided on the vehicle and is configured at a position that can be seen from the outside of the vehicle, wherein in the transmission step, when the charging action from the power supply device to the secondary battery is ongoing, when it is detected that there is a person different from the current user who is the current user of the vehicle around the vehicle, a notification screen for the people located around the vehicle is displayed on the external display device.

[0153] According to the charging monitoring method of configuration 14, for example, a person waiting for a vehicle to charge another vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle to complete charging can obtain information about the charging status of the vehicle through a notification screen displayed on the external display device of the vehicle. This prevents, for example, other vehicles from being wasted while waiting for charging of the vehicle and moving to another charging station. As a result, multiple vehicles can be smoothly charged sequentially by the power supply device.

Claims

1. A charging monitoring device comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors a state of charging operation performed from a power supply device external to the vehicle to a secondary battery provided in the vehicle; an identification unit that detects and identifies a person located around the vehicle; and a transmission control unit that controls the operation of an external display device, the external display device being a display device provided on the vehicle and being arranged at a position visible from outside the vehicle, The transmission control unit performs the following processing: While charging of the secondary battery by the power supply device is ongoing, if a person different from the current user of the vehicle is detected around the vehicle, a notification screen for the person around the vehicle is displayed on the external display device.

2. The charging monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein The transmission control unit displays the notification screen on the external display device when a person different from the current user stays in the vicinity of the vehicle for a predetermined period of time or longer.

3. The charging monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein: The notification screen includes information related to a charging operation of the secondary battery from the power supply device.

4. The charging monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission control unit receives input from an external input device, the external input device being provided in the vehicle and operable by a person outside the vehicle. The transmission control unit performs the following processing when the charging operation of the secondary battery from the power supply device is in a predetermined state: displaying a message on the external display device asking whether notification to an occupant of the vehicle is required; When a notification request, which is a request to notify an occupant of the vehicle, is input via the external input device, an input notification indicating that the notification request has been input is transmitted to a predetermined user terminal device accessible to the current user.

5. The charging monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein: The transmission control unit causes the external display device to display an estimated time until the charging operation reaches the predetermined state or a current remaining charge amount of the vehicle when the charging operation from the power supply device to the secondary battery is not in the predetermined state.

6. The charge monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein: When the notification request is input through the external input device and a passenger is detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit notifies the passenger of the presence of a waiting person around the vehicle through an output device provided in the interior of the vehicle.

7. The charge monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein: The recognition unit recognizes a person located in the interior of the vehicle, When the notification request is input through the external input device, when the current user of the vehicle is detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit notifies the current user of the presence of a waiting person around the vehicle through an output device provided in the interior of the vehicle.

8. The charging monitoring device according to claim 7, wherein: When the notification request is input through the external input device and the current user is not detected in the vehicle, the transmission control unit sends a notification indicating that there is a person waiting around the vehicle to a predetermined user terminal device accessible to the current user.

9. The charging monitoring device according to claim 7, wherein: The vehicle includes: an exterior microphone configured to capture a voice of a person located outside the vehicle; and an exterior speaker that outputs sound toward the exterior of the vehicle, When the notification request is input by the external input device and the current user is not detected in the interior of the vehicle, the transmission control unit establishes communication with a predetermined user terminal device held by the current user for conducting a call using the external microphone and the external speaker.

10. The charging monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein The transmission control unit acquires an estimated arrival time of the current user at a charging location for the vehicle, which is input by the current user to the user terminal device, and displays the acquired estimated arrival time on the external display device.

11. The charging monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein: The user terminal device is a portable terminal held by the current user, The transmission control unit calculates an estimated arrival time of the current user at the vehicle based on the position information of the current user's current position transmitted by the user terminal device and the current position of the vehicle, and displays the calculated estimated arrival time on the external display device.

12. The charge monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein: The predetermined state is a state in which the secondary battery is charged until the remaining charge level of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined target value and the charging operation is terminated, and / or a state in which the charging operation of the secondary battery is interrupted before the remaining charge level of the secondary battery reaches the target value.

13. A charging monitoring system comprising: The charging monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 12; and an autonomous driving device mounted on the vehicle, the autonomous driving device causing the vehicle to travel to a destination by autonomous driving, The transmission control unit of the charge monitoring device communicates with a predetermined user terminal device that the current user can access. The autonomous driving device causes the vehicle to travel to a predetermined destination by autonomous driving and stops the vehicle at the destination when the transmission control unit receives the autonomous driving permission notification from the user terminal device.

14. A charging monitoring method executed by a computer of a charging monitoring device, wherein the charging monitoring device monitors charging from a power supply device external to a vehicle to a secondary battery provided in the vehicle, wherein: The charging monitoring method comprises: a monitoring step of monitoring a state of charging operation performed by the power supply device to the secondary battery; an identification step of detecting and identifying a person located around the vehicle; as well as a transmitting step of controlling the operation of an external display device, wherein the external display device is a display device provided on the vehicle and is arranged at a position visible from outside the vehicle; In the transmission step, when the charging action from the power supply device to the secondary battery is ongoing, when it is detected that there is a person different from the current user of the vehicle around the vehicle, a notification screen for people around the vehicle is displayed on the external display device.

Images