Method for electrically charging a portable communication device in a motor vehicle with a corresponding charging function, as well as charging system and motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for electrically charging a portable communication terminal (2) in a motor vehicle (3), wherein - in the motor vehicle (3) a charging system (1) is provided which has at least one fast charging function for charging the portable communication terminal (2) and at least one different slow charging function for charging the portable communication terminal (2), wherein - before a charging process of the portable communication terminal (2) in the motor vehicle (3) both charging functions are offered to a user (6) for selection by the charging system (1) and depending on the selection made by the user (6) the selected charging function is carried out, characterized in that - a priority list of charging functions is generated by the charging system (1), whereby the charging function selected most frequently and / or in the last charging process is assigned the highest priority.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for electrically charging a portable communications terminal in a motor vehicle, wherein a charging system is provided in the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a charging system with an evaluation unit and to a motor vehicle.

[0002] DE 20 2017 003 298 U1 discloses a reserve tank for an electric vehicle. The reserve tank can, for example, be designed as a power bank for the electric vehicle and serves to charge an energy storage device of the electric vehicle with electrical energy, thereby independently enabling an increase in the electric vehicle's range.

[0003] DE 10 2015 105 610 B3 discloses a device for wirelessly charging a mobile device and for radio coupling the same, as well as a vehicle-mounted charging and radio coupling system with a device for wirelessly charging a mobile device and radio coupling the same. The device comprises a wireless low-frequency charging device and a radio-frequency signal coupling device with the aim of designing the wireless low-frequency charging device and the radio-frequency signal coupling device in a manner that is as simple as possible to combine. The radio-frequency signal coupling device comprises a radio-frequency coupling structure for wirelessly coupling a radio-frequency signal from or to the mobile device, as well as a frequency-selective structure, wherein the frequency-selective structure is arranged between the low-frequency charging device and the radio-frequency coupling structure.The frequency-selective structure is essentially permeable to low frequencies and essentially reflective to high frequencies.

[0004] US 2016 / 0 091 942 A1 discloses an interface device including a port unit to which an external device is connected and configured to transmit a first power transmitted from the multimedia player to the external device. A control unit is configured to control external power into a second power, and a selection unit is configured to switch the first power transmitted to the port unit to the second power based on a mode of the external device.

[0005] CN 105 922 945 A discloses a fast charging function for a smartphone in a vehicle.

[0006] EP 3 024 113 A1 provides an electronic device including a battery and a processor configured to charge the battery at a second charging rate that is lower than a first charging rate set for the battery according to a battery charging condition.

[0007] US 2013 / 0 307 473 A1 discloses a mobile terminal capable of wirelessly charging a battery using a magnetic induction method. The mobile terminal may include a battery configured to support normal charging mode and rapid charging mode.

[0008] In particular, fast charging of lithium-ion batteries has a negative impact on the battery life

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a method, a charging system and a motor vehicle with which an improved and more battery-friendly charging option can be provided, in particular for a battery of a communication terminal in a motor vehicle.

[0010] This problem is solved by a method, a charging system, and a motor vehicle according to the independent patent claims. Useful further developments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0011] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for electrically charging a portable communications terminal in a motor vehicle, wherein a charging system is provided in the motor vehicle, which charging system has at least one fast charging function for charging the portable communications terminal and at least one different slow charging function for charging the portable communications terminal during a charging process. Before a charging process of the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle, both charging functions for the charging system are offered to a user and the selected charging function is carried out depending on the user's selection. By being able to select a corresponding charging function for charging the portable communications terminal, it can be ensured in particular that the service life of the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal is not shortened or impaired.In particular, the selectable charging functions can give the user the option of gently charging the portable communications terminal using the slow charging function. This allows the user to decide whether they urgently need a quick charging function to quickly charge their portable communications terminal or to allow a little more time for the charging process so that the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal can be charged more gently. For example, depending on the charge level of the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal, the customer can decide for themselves whether a quick charging function or a slow charging function should be performed by the charging system for the upcoming charging process. This can, in particular, prevent or reduce aging effects on the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal.

[0012] In particular, the option to select the charging functions can be provided to the user on a display unit of the motor vehicle or on the display of the portable communications terminal. The display unit can be, for example, a navigation system or an infotainment system of the motor vehicle. The portable communications terminal can, in particular, be a smartphone or a tablet.

[0013] With the help of the charging system, in particular, an inductive or conductive charging process of the portable communication terminal in the motor vehicle can take place. The charging system can, for example, comprise a charging device to which the portable communication terminal can be coupled for charging. The charging device can, for example, comprise an inductive charging plate for an inductive charging process and / or an electrical connection for connecting the portable communication terminal to the charging device. The charging connection can, for example, be a USB socket. For example, the charging device can be formed in the center console of the motor vehicle.

[0014] The fast-charging function, in particular, allows the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal to be charged in rapid succession, allowing the energy storage unit to be sufficiently charged in a short charging time. The slow-charging function is a battery-saving charging function that charges the energy storage unit more gently over a longer period of time. Both charging functions can be selected by the user, in particular, by operating a control element or acoustically via voice recognition.

[0015] It is intended that a priority list of charging functions is generated by the charging system, whereby the charging function selected most frequently and / or during the last charging process is assigned the highest priority. This allows the user of the portable communications terminal, in particular, to be presented with a suitable and targeted selection option for the charging function to be selected for the upcoming charging process of the portable communications terminal.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a default setting for the charging process is provided by the charging system depending on a current and / or past charging function selected by the user. The default setting enables the charging system, in particular, to provide the user with a suitable charging function for charging the portable communications terminal in accordance with the user's wishes when an upcoming charging process is due. This allows a quick and suitable selection option for a corresponding charging function to be provided, in particular, as soon as the user gets into the motor vehicle. This allows the portable communications terminal, in particular, to be charged more effectively and quickly using the appropriate charging function.To provide the default setting, the charging system can consider the user's previous charging processes and the corresponding charging functions. The charging system can also analyze a specific number of charging functions performed and check which charging function was selected most frequently by the user. The most frequently selected charging function can, for example, be provided to the user as the default setting. For example, different default settings can be defined for multiple users of the vehicle. This allows each user to be provided with an individual setting for the upcoming charging process of the portable communications device upon entering the vehicle.For example, the default setting can also take into account the type or model of the portable communication terminal, so that a suitable and particularly gentle charging function can be provided for the upcoming charging process, particularly in the case of older models or weaker energy storage units of the portable communication terminal.

[0017] It may be provided that this priority list is created automatically by the charging system. However, it may also be provided that such a priority list is only created by the charging system when the user requests it. This could be done, for example, by entering a value into an input unit of the motor vehicle.

[0018] In particular, the charging processes performed in the past and the associated charging functions selected for the charging system can be taken into account when creating such a priority list. The user can be shown the charging function that the user selected most frequently in the past and / or most recently. This allows the user to be presented with a simpler and more user-friendly display and selection option for the appropriate charging function for the upcoming charging process of the portable communications terminal.

[0019] In particular, this provides the user with a more user-friendly selection, as only the charging functions with the highest priorities are displayed. This allows the selection options to be presented more clearly on the display unit and / or on the portable communications device, making them available for selection. The charging system can continuously adjust the priority list so that it is always up to date and dependent on the charging processes performed by the user.

[0020] A charging function can be purely a slow-charging function or a pure fast-charging function. However, a charging function can also be configured to have both a slow-charging function and a fast-charging function. For example, a continuous, and therefore uninterrupted, charging process can begin with a slow charge and continue with a fast charge. A reverse procedure can also be used for this type of charging process.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the charging system provides a suggestion for the appropriate charging function for the upcoming charging process, depending on the charging state of the portable communications terminal and / or usage information of the portable communications terminal, for the user to select. By taking into account the current charging state of the portable communications terminal and / or user information for the upcoming charging process of the portable communications terminal, the appropriate and more battery-friendly charging function can be suggested to the user. This makes it possible to ensure that the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal can be charged gently and effectively, and to accommodate a user's wish or need for the upcoming charging process.In particular, if the charge level is very low and the charging time window is short, the fast charging function can be suggested. If the portable communications device has sufficient charge level and sufficient charging time is available, the charging system can suggest the slow charging function to the user. The user can confirm the suggested charging function using the display unit, allowing the charging system to perform the corresponding charging function.

[0022] Preferably, during the charging process of the portable communications terminal, a decision criterion is used to check whether the currently running charging function should be changed. If so, the user is provided with the charging function to be changed. This allows the charging of the portable communications terminal to be considered and analyzed in the event of unforeseeable situations or imminent situations, so that the charging process can still be carried out to some extent while ensuring that the energy storage device is not subjected to excessive strain.For example, if the motor vehicle is about to stop shortly, the charging system can check the current charge level of the portable communications device. If the charge level is too low, it can switch from a slow charge function to a fast charge function, so that the user's portable communications device can be sufficiently charged despite the motor vehicle's short stop. Likewise, if it is determined that the motor vehicle will be traveling for a somewhat longer time, the user can be advised that a slow charge function would be sufficient for charging the portable communications device, so it is better to switch from the fast charge function to the slow charge function.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that automatic detection of the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle is carried out, and the corresponding charging function of an impending charging process is output to the user at an output unit of the motor vehicle. By detecting or detecting the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle, a corresponding charging function can be output to the user as quickly as possible at the output unit, thereby providing a more effective charging option for the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle. In particular, the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle or in the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be detected using a detection unit and / or a sensor unit, so that the charging system can provide a corresponding charging function.For example, the portable communications terminal can transmit the position of the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle or in the surroundings of the motor vehicle to the charging system using a communications connection. The charging system can then provide the user with a corresponding charging function for selection depending on the charge level of the portable communications terminal and / or the duration of use and / or the length of time the portable communications terminal is in the motor vehicle.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that, when a charging process of the portable communication terminal is about to begin using the rapid charging function, a limiting threshold for the charging process is defined depending on the charge level of the energy storage unit of the portable communication terminal. This makes it possible to ensure that, despite a rapid charging function being carried out, the energy storage unit of the portable communication terminal is not excessively impaired, and thus an aging effect of the energy storage unit can be limited and / or minimized. For example, the limiting threshold can be used to specify that the energy storage unit can be charged up to a maximum charge level of 80%, in particular 90%. In particular, the charging system can specify a charging current for the charging process of the portable communication terminal depending on the limiting threshold.In particular, the charging current can be divided into several stages, allowing the charging system to continuously adjust the charging current depending on the limit threshold and / or the charge level of the battery or energy storage unit. For example, despite the limit threshold, the charging system can offer the user the option of fully charging the energy storage unit, but the charging system can use the display unit to warn the user that doing so could reduce the service life of the energy storage unit.

[0025] Preferably, the limit threshold determines the maximum battery level up to which the energy storage unit or the battery of the portable communications terminal is charged using the rapid charging function. In particular, the limit threshold is displayed to the user and can be confirmed or rejected by the user. The limit threshold set by the charging system and the resulting charging function can be displayed, in particular, to the user of the portable communications terminal on a display unit of the motor vehicle, and the user can then decide whether or not to perform the corresponding charging function.

[0026] An optional embodiment of the invention provides that if the user has not selected the charging functions provided by the charging system, in particular after a predefined period of time has elapsed, the charging system automatically and thus independently selects and executes the corresponding charging function. In particular, the charging system can automatically select one of the at least two charging functions depending on at least one current and / or future usage criterion of the motor vehicle. The portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle is then charged at least temporarily with the automatically selected charging function.

[0027] The charging system can consider the duration of use and / or the length of time the portable communications terminal is in the motor vehicle as a usage criterion for selecting the charging function. This ensures, in particular, that if a charging function is not selected for the user's charging process, the portable communications terminal is still charged using the charging system. The charging system can, in particular, select an appropriate charging function for the upcoming charging process without placing a load on the energy storage unit of the portable communications terminal.

[0028] It can be provided that after starting the automatically selected charging function and after a period of time and / or depending on decision criteria, the charging system makes a further request to the user as to whether charging should continue with the current charging function or whether the user requires a different charging function for further charging.

[0029] A further aspect of the invention relates to a charging system with an evaluation unit, wherein the charging system is designed to carry out a method according to one of the previously described aspects or an embodiment thereof. In particular, the method is carried out using the charging system. The charging system is used in particular for charging a portable communications terminal in a motor vehicle, wherein a fast charging function for charging the portable communications terminal and / or a different slow charging function for charging the communications terminal can be provided in the motor vehicle with the aid of the charging system. Before a charging process of the portable communications terminal in the motor vehicle, one of the two charging functions can be offered to a user by the charging system, and depending on the selection made by the user, the selected charging function can be carried out by the charging system.

[0030] A further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a charging system as described in the previous aspects and their exemplary embodiments. In particular, the charging system can be implemented in the motor vehicle and designed to charge a portable communications terminal.

[0031] The invention also includes further developments of the charging system according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the charging system according to the invention are not described again here.

[0032] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0033] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. The single figure (Fig.) shows a charging system for charging a portable communications terminal in a motor vehicle.

[0034] The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual, independently considered features of the invention, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are thus also to be considered as components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0035] The single figure shows a charging system 1 with which a portable communication terminal 2 in a motor vehicle 3 can be electrically charged. The charging system 1 can in particular have a charging device 4 in the motor vehicle 3. With the help of the charging device 4, in particular an inductive and / or conductive electrical charging process for charging the portable communication terminal 2 can be carried out. The charging device 4 has, for example, an inductive charging plate for inductively charging the portable communication terminal 2 and an electrical connection for conductively charging the portable communication terminal. In particular, the electrical connection can be a USB socket, for example. The portable communication terminal 2 can in particular be a smartphone or a tablet, which can be charged with the help of the charging system 1.The charging system 1 has, in particular, an evaluation unit 5, with which a charging function can be offered to a user 6 of the portable communication terminal 2 before an impending charging process of the portable communication terminal 2 in the motor vehicle 3. Depending on the selection made by the user 6, the selected charging function is executed by the charging system 1. In particular, with the charging function for a charging process of the portable communication terminal 2, at least one fast charging function or at least one different slow charging function can be provided by the charging system 1. A selection from the at least two charging functions can then be made by the user 6. It can be provided that the selection is made by a voice signal or by actuating a control element or by gesture control.For example, a touch-sensitive control panel on an operating device, in particular of the motor vehicle 3, can be touched here.

[0036] The corresponding charging function can be displayed to the user 6 of the portable communication terminal 2 and made available for selection, in particular via an output unit 7, such as a screen, of the operating device of the motor vehicle 3. The output unit 7 can in particular also be a display unit of the motor vehicle 3. In particular, the output unit 7 can also be part of an infotainment system of the motor vehicle 3. Likewise, the charging functions to be selected can be displayed to the user 6 on a display of the portable communication terminal 2. In particular, the selection of the charging functions can be presented to the user 6 either visually or acoustically, and the user 6 can select the corresponding charging function either by actuating a control element or via voice recognition.

[0037] In particular, an energy storage unit 8 or a battery of the portable communication terminal 2 can be charged using the charging system 1 and one of the two charging functions. For example, the energy storage unit 8 can be a lithium-ion battery.

[0038] For example, the charging system 1 can automatically detect the portable communication terminal 2 in the motor vehicle 3 or in the surroundings of the motor vehicle 3. This can be achieved, for example, through a wireless signal exchange between the communication terminal 2 and a unit in the motor vehicle 3, for example, the evaluation unit 5. Depending on the detection of the portable communication terminal 2, the charging system 1 can, with the aid of the evaluation unit 5, display and provide a corresponding charging function for an upcoming charging process to the user 6 for selection at the output unit 7 of the motor vehicle 3.

[0039] In particular, the portable communication terminal 2 can be additionally or instead detected using an optical detection unit 9 in the motor vehicle 3 and in the surroundings of the motor vehicle. The detection unit 9 can be a camera, in particular a camera that detects the interior of the motor vehicle 3. Likewise, the portable communication terminal 2 can transmit the current position (GPS position) of the portable communication terminal 2 to the charging system 1 via a communication connection with the charging system 1 or the evaluation unit 5.

[0040] With the aid of the evaluation unit 5, the charging system 1 can provide a default setting (basic setting) for the charging process depending on a current and / or past charging function selected by the user 6. The evaluation unit 5 can, in particular, analyze all charging processes performed in the past for the portable communications terminal 2 in the motor vehicle 3 and thereby provide a corresponding default setting for the charging process. The default setting can, for example, be made available to the user 6 for selection at the output unit 7 when entering the motor vehicle 3. The user 6 can thus select the corresponding charging function with the aid of the output unit 7, so that the charging system can carry out the charging process using the corresponding charging function of the portable communications terminal 2.

[0041] The evaluation unit 5 of the charging system 1 can in particular generate a priority list of the charging functions, whereby in particular the most frequently used charging function and / or the charging function selected during the last charging process is assigned the highest priority.

[0042] In particular, the evaluation unit 5 can assign a corresponding default setting and / or a corresponding priority list to several different users 6 of the motor vehicle 3 and / or different portable communication devices. This allows the charging system 1 to be used in a more diverse manner.

[0043] Likewise, with the aid of the evaluation unit 5, the charging system 1 can generally also provide the user 6 with a suggestion for a suitable charging function for the upcoming charging process, depending on a charge level of the portable communications terminal 2 and / or usage information of the portable communications terminal 2 and / or the type of communications terminal 2 to be charged. For example, the charging system 1 can suggest a corresponding charging function to the user 6 depending on a future usage period known by the system or estimated by the system and / or a future duration of the portable communications terminal 2 in the motor vehicle 3 known by the system or estimated by the system. In this context, the term "future" refers to the immediately following period, in particular with regard to an immediately imminent use of the motor vehicle 3.For example, if the portable communication terminal 2 is to remain in the motor vehicle 3 for a longer period of time, for example due to an immediately following, estimated longer journey time, the user 6 can be provided with a slow charging function to choose from, or if the portable communication terminal 2 is to remain in the motor vehicle 3 for a short period of time, the fast charging function can be made available to choose from. This makes it possible to ensure that the user 6 can always be provided with a sufficient charge level of the portable communication terminal 2. For example, during the charging process of the portable communication terminal 2, the evaluation unit 5 can check, depending on a decision criterion, whether the currently performed charging function should be changed. If so, this can be displayed to the user 6 on the output unit 7, thereby prompting the user 6 to change the charging function.This can in particular increase the service life of the energy storage unit 8 of the portable communication terminal 2.

[0044] When a charging process of the portable communication terminal 2 with the rapid charging function is about to begin, the evaluation unit 5 of the charging system 1 can define a limit threshold for the charging process depending on the charge level of the energy storage unit 8 of the portable communication terminal 2. This can ensure or achieve that the energy storage unit 8 is not subjected to excessive strain, thus preventing the service life of the energy storage unit 8 from being reduced due to aging effects. For example, the limit threshold can be set by the charging system 1 or by the evaluation unit 5 and / or by the user 6 using the portable communication terminal 2. In particular, the evaluation unit 5 can use the limit threshold to determine the maximum charge level up to which the energy storage unit 8 of the portable communication terminal 2 will be charged with the rapid charging function.For example, the evaluation unit 5 can specify that the energy storage unit 8 can only be charged up to a maximum of 80%, in particular 90%, of its maximum charge level using the rapid charging function. In particular, this can be displayed to the user 6 on the output unit 7 and made available for selection. The user 6 then has the option of deciding whether to allow the rapid charging process to be carried out up to the limit threshold or whether to reject this suggestion. List of reference symbols 1 charging system 2 portable communication terminal 3 Motor vehicle 4 Charging device 5 Evaluation unit 6 users 7 Output unit 8 Energy storage unit 9 Recording unit

Claims

[1] Method for electrically charging a portable communication terminal (2) in a motor vehicle (3), wherein - a charging system (1) is provided in the motor vehicle (3), which has at least one fast charging function for charging the portable communication terminal (2) and at least one different slow charging function for charging the portable communication terminal (2) for a charging process, wherein - before a charging process of the portable communication terminal (2) in the motor vehicle (3), both charging functions are offered for selection by the charging system (1) for a user (6) and the selected charging function is carried out depending on the selection made by the user (6), characterized by , that - a priority list of the charging functions is generated by the charging system (1), whereby the charging function selected most frequently and / or during the last charging process is assigned the highest priority. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that a default setting for the charging process is provided by the charging system (1) depending on a current and / or past charging function selected by the user (6). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that a suggestion of the appropriate charging function of the upcoming charging process is provided to the user (6) for selection by the charging system (1) depending on a charging state of the portable communication terminal (2) and / or usage information of the portable communication terminal (2). [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized bythat, for this purpose, a corresponding charging function is proposed to the user (6) by the charging system (1) as a function of a future usage period known by the system or estimated by the system and / or of a future duration of stay of the portable communication terminal (2) in the motor vehicle (3) known by the system or estimated by the system. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that during the charging process of the portable communication terminal (2) it is checked depending on a decision criterion whether the currently performed charging function should be changed, and if so, the user (6) is provided with the charging function to be changed for selection, in particular the selection is carried out by a voice signal of the user (6) or by actuating a control element or by gesture control. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an automatic detection of the portable communication terminal (2) in the motor vehicle (3) is carried out, and the corresponding charging functions of an impending charging process are output to the user (6) after detection of the portable communication terminal (2) at an output unit (7) of the motor vehicle (3), in particular with the aid of a detection unit (9) and / or a sensor unit, the portable communication terminal (2) is detected in the motor vehicle (3) or in the surroundings of the motor vehicle (3), so that the charging system (1) can provide a corresponding charging function. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat, when a charging process of the portable communication terminal (2) with the quick-charging function is about to begin, a limiting threshold for the charging process is defined depending on a charge state of an energy storage unit (8) of the portable communication terminal (2), in particular the limiting threshold is used to determine up to which maximum battery state level the energy storage unit (8) of the portable communication terminal (2) is charged with the quick-charging function, in particular the limiting threshold is displayed to the user (6) and confirmed or rejected by the user (6). [8] Method according to claim 7, characterized bythat the charging system (1) determines a charging current for the charging process of the portable communication terminal (2) depending on the limiting threshold, in particular the charging current is divided into several stages, so that the charging system (1) can continuously adjust the charging current depending on the limiting threshold and / or the charge state of the energy storage unit (8). [9] Charging system (1) with an evaluation unit (5), wherein the charging system (1) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8. [10] Motor vehicle (3) with a charging system (1) according to claim 9.

Images