Driver assistance system, electrically powered means of transport and method for assisting a user in approaching a charging station for charging an electrically powered means of transport

Abstract

Method for assisting a user in approaching a charging station (1) for charging an electrically powered means of transport (10) comprising the steps: - Determining (300) an availability state of the charging station (1) and - Outputting (400) a notification in the means of transport (10) to the user regarding the availability state, wherein determining (300) the availability state includes evaluating (100) a signal from a camera (2) in the area of ​​the charging station (1).

Description

The present invention relates to an electrically powered means of transport, a driver assistance system, and a method for assisting a user in approaching a charging station for charging an electrically powered means of transport. In particular, the present invention relates to the disclosure of an expected availability of the charging station or waiting time at the charging station. The electrification of personal transportation is currently progressing rapidly. Concerns about this trend stem in part from the fact that charging times for a full charge of a vehicle's electrochemical energy storage system are considerably longer compared to charging with fossil fuels. Consequently, the availability of charging stations can drastically decrease during periods of high demand, making the wait for an available charging point unacceptable for potential customers. In particular, if several vehicles are waiting for a charging station, waiting times of one to several hours must be expected. Furthermore, there is a risk that the remaining energy in the battery will not be sufficient to reach another charging station. US 2013 / 0090936A1 discloses an electric vehicle charging network server with an interface for owners of electric vehicle charging stations. US 2013 / 0110296A1 discloses a method for managing the charging of an electric vehicle. Navigation systems already exist that list fossil fuel filling stations as possible destinations and allow them to be defined as waypoints within a radius search (e.g., in conjunction with the current position and / or the currently traveled route). What the driver is not shown is whether the filling station or charging station is currently occupied or whether there are even vehicles waiting there. As mentioned at the beginning, no such function is required in connection with fossil fuels. Based on the prior art identified above, it is an object of the present invention to make the use of electrically powered means of transport more efficient and comfortable. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to enable the necessary energy reserves of an electrically powered means of transport to be built up as quickly as possible. The problem identified above is solved according to the invention by a method for assisting a user in approaching a charging station for charging an electrically powered vehicle. The charging station can, for example, be a commercial provider similar to a conventional gas station. Alternatively, the charging station can be provided by a fleet manager and / or a vehicle manufacturer and / or an employer and / or the operator of a parking facility (parking lot or parking garage) and / or an energy supplier and / or a public institution and / or a company, or for general public use (e.g., a hardware store), and can comprise one or more charging points, each of which can be configured for charging a vehicle. The electrically powered vehicle can, in particular, be a passenger car, a van, a truck, a two-wheeler, or similar.In a first step, the availability status of the charging station is determined. Within the scope of the present invention, an "availability status" is understood to be information indicating the immediate availability of at least one charging station for a newly arriving customer or an estimated waiting time until that time. Accordingly, the availability status can be represented by a time duration and / or by the number of available charging stations and / or by a minimum number of vehicles waiting in front of each charging station. Upon receiving the determined availability status, the invention provides the user with a notification regarding the availability status within the vehicle. This notification can be issued, for example, via a loudspeaker and / or a display device in the vehicle.Alternatively or additionally, the notification can be issued via a loudspeaker and / or a display on a mobile user device (e.g., a wireless communication device) located in the vehicle. Optionally, notifications can be issued for a large number of charging stations located within a predefined radius of the vehicle's current location. In particular, the selection of notifications can take into account a large number of charging stations located within the vehicle's current remaining range. This allows the user to decide, for example, whether to accept a waiting time at a nearby charging station or prefer to travel to a more distant one. This enables particularly comprehensive information for route planning in electrified personal transport. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention. According to the invention, the availability status is determined by a signal from an optical camera located near the charging station. For example, the camera could be a stationary surveillance camera for monitoring the charging station's premises. Alternatively or additionally, a camera located within a vehicle currently near the charging station could be used to determine the availability status. The camera signals could be analyzed, for example, using prior art algorithms for image analysis to identify vehicles drawing energy from the charging stations and / or vehicles waiting in front of the charging stations. Alternatively or additionally, an information technology status signal from each charging station could be determined by the charging station operator and provided to represent the availability status of that specific charging station or the entire charging station. For example,High availability of charging stations can lead to more customers choosing to use a particular charging station, thus achieving a good average utilization of the electric vehicle charging stations. Information technology status signals can be determined, for example, based on the current electrical power output of the charging station and / or based on pilot contacts or pilot signals. Availability status can be communicated, for example, via the internet and a wireless connection to vehicles within range. This communication can be facilitated by an integrated telematics module in the vehicle and / or an internet-enabled smartphone / telephone connected to the vehicle. Determining the availability status can, for example, involve evaluating position information sent by a vehicle waiting near the charging station or drawing power from the charging station. In other words, the position of a vehicle near the charging station (e.g., determined via satellite) can be sent to a fleet operator's data server and made available for central retrieval by other vehicles. Such data servers can be provided by vehicle manufacturers, fleet managers, rental car companies, car-sharing operators, etc., to increase the mobility of their own vehicle fleet. Furthermore, the information can be made available for a fee or in exchange for corresponding information from other operators, which can significantly improve the availability of information.The position information can alternatively or additionally be determined using cameras. In other words, cameras and other sensors located in vehicles within the vicinity of the charging station can be used to identify the vehicle as being within the charging station's range based on object and symbol recognition. The availability status information can be displayed, for example, on a navigation system's display and include a visual element associated with a symbol representing the charging station. This allows for the generation of a map showing the current surroundings of the vehicle, where available charging stations display their current availability (provided this information has been successfully retrieved). This further simplifies maintaining mobility when using electrically powered vehicles. A particularly reliable information base is obtained by considering predefined navigation destinations of other means of transport located in the vicinity of the charging station and whose direction of travel coincides with that of the charging station. In other words, the charging station is on the route of these other means of transport, which increases the likelihood that their drivers will choose to recharge at the charging station in question. In conjunction with such a scenario, it is also advantageous to consider the current state of charge (e.g., remaining range, percentage of energy storage, etc.) of the respective other means of transport, whereby the probability that the charging station will actually be visited increases as the remaining range decreases. A comparatively reliable piece of information is provided by a potentially...The predefined navigation destination of the external means of transport represents the charging station. In both cases, external means of transport whose theoretical or actual expected arrival time at the charging station is closer in the future than that of the means of transport under consideration can be included in the determination of the availability status. Vehicles with a later expected arrival time can only influence the availability status for the means of transport under consideration with a very low probability, as they would occupy a place behind the means of transport under consideration in the queue. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a driver assistance system is proposed which is suitable for supporting a user when approaching a charging station for charging an electrically powered vehicle. This system comprises a receiver configured to receive the availability status of a charging station. Furthermore, a signaling device is provided which, upon receiving the availability status, is configured to output a message to the user in the vehicle (e.g., on a screen of the vehicle and / or on a screen of a user terminal device) regarding the availability status. Alternatively or additionally, the signaling device can include a loudspeaker which provides audible feedback to the user.Designed in this way, the driver assistance system according to the invention realizes the features, combinations of features and the advantages arising therefrom in accordance with the method according to the invention, so that reference is made to the above statements to avoid repetition. The driver assistance system can also include means for determining the availability status of a currently visited charging station, enabling it to send availability information to a data server and / or other vehicles upon arrival at a charging station. For this purpose, it has a transmitting device configured to send a message via the internet to a central server when an availability status is determined, or to inform approaching vehicles about the availability of the currently visited charging station via car-to-car communication. The message can, in particular, represent the number of available charging points, the number of other vehicles already waiting for a charging point to become available, the number of other vehicles drawing power from the charging station, and / or the expected waiting time for the other vehicle.In this way, the driver assistance system can be used to collect information which, in the form of a credit, entitles the means of transport to obtain corresponding information at a later time, which has been provided by other means of transport and / or the operator of the charging station. According to a third aspect of the present invention, an electrically powered means of transportation is proposed, which can be configured as a passenger car, van, truck, land vehicle, and / or water vehicle. It comprises a driver assistance system as described in detail above in connection with the second aspect of the invention. Regarding the features, combinations of features, and advantages, reference is made accordingly to the aspects of the invention described above. Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. Figure 1 shows a possible scenario illustrating the processes involved in carrying out a method designed according to the invention to assist a user in approaching a charging station for charging an electrically powered means of transport; and Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the steps of a corresponding method. Fig. 1 shows an electrically powered car 10 as a means of transport, which is equipped with a front camera 16 for determining the availability status of a currently visited charging station 1. This charging station 16 is connected to an electronic control unit 8 as an evaluation unit. The electronic control unit 8 is in turn connected to an antenna 9 as a transmitter / receiver and to a central information display 7 as a display device for showing information regarding the availability status of the charging station 1. The car 10 is approaching a charging station 1, with the area in front of the payment booth 13 being monitored by two optical cameras 2. If payment is processed via a wireless interface or the internet, the payment booth 13 may be unnecessary. The charging station 1 is connected to the data server 4 for signal exchange via the internet.Charging station 1 has two charging points 3, which are currently being used by two third-party vehicles 11. Electrical energy is transferred from the charging points 3 to the third-party vehicles 11. This transfer is recorded as an information technology status signal within the payment booth 13 and transmitted to a data server 4. Additionally, another third-party vehicle 12 is parked near charging station 1, waiting for one of the charging points 3 to become available. The presence of the waiting third-party vehicle 12 is also communicated to the data server 4. This allows vehicles with a destination located in the area of ​​a finish flag 6 behind charging station 1 to receive the aforementioned availability status information from the data server 4 via a transmission mast 5. This enables them to avoid waiting times before charging and to proceed to another charging station (not shown).The car 10, approaching charging station 1, receives corresponding information from data server 4. In response, a lightning bolt 15, representing charging station 1 and marked with a checkered flag 6, is supplemented by a display element 14 as a notification. This display element 14 shows the number of occupied charging stations, the number of free charging stations, and a preview of the earliest availability of a free charging station. Based on this information, the driver of car 10 can decide whether to proceed to charging station 1 or another charging station and modify their route accordingly. Figure 2 shows the steps of a method for assisting a user in approaching a charging station to charge an electrically powered vehicle. In step 100, a signal from an optical camera in the vicinity of the charging station is evaluated. The camera can be a 2D camera that uses infrared light to detect the charging points and any vehicles waiting in front of them, even in low-light conditions. This information can be evaluated at the charging station and / or on a potentially more powerful processor of a data server connected via the internet. Alternatively, the camera images can be evaluated on the user's device or in the approaching vehicle. In step 200, position information transmitted by other vehicles located in the vicinity of the charging station is evaluated to determine the availability status.Furthermore, in step 200, the number of third-party vehicles currently connected to the charging station for charging is determined based on the charging station operator's billing system. This number and the remaining charging time are transmitted to the central server for further evaluation. In other words, the third-party vehicles at the charging station determine their own position and wirelessly transmit their own status (waiting / charging) and, if applicable, the status of other third-party vehicles in the vicinity. Simultaneously, the information available to the charging station operators is provided to the data server. In step 300, the availability status of the charging station is determined based on the aforementioned information. The result is a data package representing the expected waiting time at the charging station.In step 400, the availability status is communicated to the user by displaying a message in the vehicle. The information contained in the message can, for example, be integrated into route calculations in such a way that, if intermediate charging is required, the charging station that offers the shortest overall travel time to reach a predefined destination on a guided route after charging the energy storage system is suggested or even automatically integrated as an intermediate stop. For example, a slight detour to such a charging station, which promises shorter or no waiting time at all, can be accepted. As a result, the present invention can make electromobility more accessible. Reference symbol list: 1 Charging station 2 Optical surveillance camera 3 Charging column 4 Data server 5 Transmission mast 6 Checkered flag 7 Screen 8 Electronic control unit 9 Antenna 10 Car 11 External vehicle drawing power 12 Waiting external vehicle 13 Ticket booth 14 Display element 15 Flash 16 Front camera 100 - 400 process steps

Claims

Method for assisting a user in approaching a charging station (1) for charging an electrically powered means of transport (10) comprising the steps: - Determining (300) an availability state of the charging station (1) and - Outputting (400) a notification in the means of transport (10) to the user regarding the availability state, wherein determining (300) the availability state includes evaluating (100) a signal from a camera (2) in the area of ​​the charging station (1). Method according to claim 1, wherein determining (300) the availability state comprises evaluating (100) an information technology state signal of a respective charging station (3). Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein determining (00) the availability state comprises evaluating (200) position information which was sent by a foreign means of transport (12) waiting in the area of ​​the charging station (1) or a foreign means of transport (11) receiving energy from the charging station (1). Method according to claim 3, wherein the position information is kept available via a data server (4) of a vehicle fleet operator for central retrieval by the means of transport (10). Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the position information was determined satellite-based and / or camera-based. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the availability state represents a number of free charging stations (3) and / or a number of external means of transport (12) already waiting for a charging station (3) to become available and / or a presumed waiting time for the means of transport (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the indication is displayed on a display device (7) of the means of transport (10) and comprises a display element (14) which is assigned to a symbol (15) associated with the charging station (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein predefined navigation destinations are taken into account when determining the availability status for external means of transport (11, 12), in particular if the charging station (1) is on the way and / or is itself the navigation destination. Driver assistance system comprising a receiving device (9) which is configured to receive an availability status of a charging station (1) and a signaling device (7) which, in response to the receipt of the availability status, is configured in the means of transport (10) to issue a notification to the user regarding the availability status, wherein the received availability status includes an evaluation (100) of a signal from a camera (2) in the area of ​​the charging station (1). Driver assistance system according to claim 9 further comprising: means (16) for determining the availability status of a currently visited charging station (1) and a transmitting device (9) which is configured to send a message to a central server (4) in response to a determined availability status, wherein the message in particular represents: a number of free charging stations (3) and / or: a number of external means of transport (12) already waiting for a charging station (3) to become available and / or: a number of external means of transport (11) drawing energy from the charging station (1) and / or: an expected waiting time for the means of transport (10). Electrically powered means of transport (10) comprising a driver assistance system according to one of the preceding claims 9 or 10.

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