Means of transport and methods for charging a user's portable mobile terminal device

Abstract

A means of transportation (10) and a method for charging a portable mobile user device (1) of a user (11) are proposed. The method comprises the steps of determining a user command to open a cover (2) in an outer skin (3) of a means of transportation (10), charging a portable mobile user device (1) in a cavity (5) located behind or in the cover (2), and closing the cavity (5) by means of the cover (2) while the user device (1) is being charged, wherein the cavity (5) includes a charging port for charging a traction energy storage device (4) of the means of transportation.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a means of transportation and a method for charging a user's portable mobile terminal. In particular, the present invention relates to an expanded availability of charging options in urban areas.

[0002] Mobile end devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, smart watches, smart wearables, etc.) continue to enjoy increasing popularity. These devices are typically charged at home or in the passenger compartment of a car. Power banks, which can transfer electrochemically stored energy to the end device via a cable, are also well-known for supplying power to mobile end devices. Mobile charging stations are also common, for example, at airports or in stores. Restaurants and bars also sometimes offer charging boxes, within which the end device can be supplied with electrical energy. In some of these charging boxes, the end devices are protected from unauthorized access.

[0003] Based on the aforementioned prior art, it is an object of the present invention to increase the availability of charging options, particularly in urban areas. This object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1 and a means of transportation having the features of claim 10. The subclaims describe preferred developments of the invention.

[0004] The method is used to charge a user's portable mobile user terminal using a stationary (e.g. parked, in particular locked) vehicle. The portable mobile user terminal can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a smart watch, a smart wearable, or similar. The means of transport can be, for example, a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft, and / or watercraft. In a first step, a user command to open a cover which is located in an outer skin of the means of transport or forms part of the outer skin of the means of transport is determined. The outer skin of the means of transport can be regarded as the surface that determines the external shape. The user command can, for example, be received directly in the means of transport or via an interface assigned to the means of transport.Alternatively or additionally, the user command can also be generated with the user terminal or another (also: second) user terminal. The previously locked cover can thus be opened by a user of the user terminal, even if they no longer have access to the means of transport (e.g. passenger compartment, on-board network, etc.). In a second step, the portable mobile user terminal is inserted into a cavity located behind the cover or a cavity located in the cover and charged. This creates an electrical connection between the user terminal and the means of transport. This can be conductive or inductive, for example. Using the user command, the user can thus bring their user terminal into an area protected from unauthorized access, while the means of transport supplies the user terminal's energy storage device with electrical energy.Finally, the cavity is closed again using the cover while the user terminal is being charged or is located in the cavity. The cavity is arranged in particular where a charging port for charging a traction energy storage device of the means of transport can be located. In other words, a charging socket of the means of transport is protected by the cover from unauthorized access as well as from mechanical damage and the entry of foreign objects. Closing the cavity using the cover can also include locking or locking the cover, so that no access to the user terminal is possible until an access authorization code (key, signal, fingerprint, retinal scan, or similar) is entered. The user terminal can now be supplied with electrical energy and removed from the cavity after a successful charging process and entry of the corresponding code.While the prior art only allows charging via the vehicle's electrical system sockets located in the passenger compartment or trunk (this obviously requires additional hardware units), the present invention enables spontaneous charging of other devices while passing by or spontaneously and unexpectedly. This can increase the mobility of user devices and draw users' attention to the means of transportation or its brand, thereby positively influencing the brand image.

[0005] The user terminal can be charged, for example, using energy from the vehicle's traction energy storage system. Alternatively or additionally, an alternative energy source can be used to power the user terminal. For example, solar cells or a thermoelectric cell can be used to supply the user terminal with electrical energy.

[0006] The user command to open the cover can, in particular, only unlock the cover, but not the passenger compartment and / or the trunk. Rather, those covers can be unlocked which are usually intended for supplying traction energy. In particular, the engine hood or a pivoting cover / hinged cover closing off the charging socket to the outside are suitable for this purpose. In the prior art, when a means of transport is unlocked, the passenger compartment or the trunk is usually also unlocked, which means that unwanted access to the passenger compartment / trunk of the means of transport could occur by the owner of the user terminal to be charged. This can be prevented according to the invention, thus increasing the acceptance of the inventive method for all parties involved.

[0007] Since the user of the user terminal and the vehicle driver do not have to be one and the same person according to the method according to the invention, the situation can fundamentally arise that the means of transport is to be moved even though it is currently supplying the user terminal with electrical energy. This would correspond to an undesired distance of the user terminal from the known handover location. Therefore, it can be optionally and automatically / data-based determined that a vehicle driver is accessing a passenger compartment of the means of transport and / or a starting device of the means of transport. If the means of transport then determines that the portable user terminal is still in the cavity or behind the cover, a signal is output in a further step to prevent the start of the journey and / or to inform the vehicle driver.For example, the driver can receive a message in the instrument cluster and / or on a central information display and / or on a (panoramic) head-up display informing them that the user terminal is in the cavity and that the journey should therefore not be continued. Optionally, the driver can be informed of the current location of the user of the user terminal and asked whether the vehicle should be approached to this location in order to hand over the user terminal. In this context, the driver can also optionally be asked whether they wish to remove the user terminal from the cavity, for example to prevent vibrations of the vehicle occurring during the journey from damaging / impairing the user terminal.This step can, of course, only be carried out if the user of the user device has consented to access by the driver, as otherwise the driver could illegally remove the data.

[0008] If the charging process has been completed correctly, the user can associate an access authorization identifier with the device. For example, they can have the device's camera perform a facial scan, allow the device to perform a retina scan, or enter a fingerprint. Alternatively, the user can enter a digital identifier using another user device, which the device receives via an antenna and compares with a predefined reference. If the comparison is successful, the cover opens, and the user can remove the charged user device.If the user does not carry a second user device or does not wish to use one for whatever reason, the vehicle can also issue a gesture, a sequence of gestures, or other visually perceptible signals to the user when locking the cover, which can be used to authorize subsequent access to the vehicle. For example, the user can perform the signals within the detection range of an external camera (front camera, rear view camera, etc.) of the vehicle, which are then compared with the predefined reference by an evaluation unit on the vehicle. If the comparison is successful, access to the cover and the user device secured behind it can be granted; otherwise, access is denied.

[0009] Once the user has inserted the user terminal to be charged into the cavity and closed the cover, they can technically associate a second portable user terminal, if carried, with the means of transport. To do so, they can, for example, create an account or specify a PIN code / password, which can be used to open the cover at a later time. This pairing or comparison can take place, in particular, via an ad hoc network, an internet-based connection, or via Bluetooth. In particular, the user can be prompted to download an application provided by the means of transport for executing the method according to the invention. This allows for secure and traceable negotiation of the comparison.

[0010] After the charging process is complete, the vehicle can send a message to the data-linked second portable user device. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle can send a short message (SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, or similar) to an account predefined by the user of the user device to inform them that the user device has been successfully charged. This prevents the user device from blocking the position of the vehicle for longer than necessary or from requiring additional effort to continue driving.

[0011] If the second portable user terminal is used at a later time to unlock the cover, a wireless communication signal can be sent from the second portable user terminal (e.g., directly or via the internet) to the vehicle to unlock the cover and, in particular, to open it motorically. This eliminates the need for indiscreet or complex steps for entering an access authorization code and potentially unwanted contact with the vehicle (which can, for example, prevent contamination on both sides).

[0012] If the means of transport used is autonomous, the detection that the user terminal has been fully charged can be used to move the means of transport autonomously to a location predefined by the user of the user terminal. For example, the means of transport can drive to a location marked on the second portable user terminal carried by the user. This process could also be referred to as the follow-me function. This enables a particularly convenient handover of the first user terminal to the user. In addition, the time until the means of transport loses the user terminal again or has to accept mobility restrictions due to the presence of the user terminal in the cavity is reduced.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a means of transportation is proposed, which can be configured as a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft, or watercraft. This means of transportation has a cover in its outer skin, which in particular accommodates a charging port for a traction energy storage device of the means of transportation. In this way, the means of transportation is configured to implement the features, combinations of features, and advantages of the method according to the invention in a manner that is clearly evident; to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations.

[0014] Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a situation in which an embodiment of a means of transport according to the invention carries out an embodiment of a method according to the invention; and Fig. 2 a flowchart illustrating steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a passenger car as an exemplary embodiment of a means of transport 10 designed according to the invention, which has a passenger compartment 6, a trunk 7, an outer skin 3, a traction energy storage device 4, an electric traction motor 8, a charging control unit 15, a cavity 5, and a cover 2 that closes the cavity 5 if necessary. Located in the cavity 5 is a smartphone as the user terminal 1, which a user 11 has inserted for charging. The user 11 is located in a building, where they work using a second user terminal 14 that is data-technically and logically associated with the means of transport 10. The passenger car can communicate with the Internet via a transmission mast 13 and a stationary server 9 and access the user profile of the user 11. For this purpose, the user terminal 1 can send a message to the user profile of the user 11 that their user device 1 has been successfully charged.Alternatively or additionally, the car can send a message to the user 11 if a driver 12 accesses the car to continue the journey. The user 11 can now go to the car to remove their charged user terminal 1 from the cavity 5. If the car is locked at this time, they can unlock the cover 2 with their second portable user terminal 14. Another alternative is represented by the trajectory P. If the car is an autonomous vehicle, the car can travel the trajectory P after successfully charging the user terminal 1 in order to wait near the user 11 for them to remove their user terminal 1 from the cavity. The proximity to the second portable user terminal 14 alone can cause the car to unlock the cover 2.After successfully removing and closing the cover 2, the car can return to its previous location or use a user terminal carried by the driver 12 to approach the driver 12.

[0016] Fig.2 shows steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for charging a user's portable mobile user terminal using a means of transportation. In step 100, a second portable user terminal is data-technically associated with a parked means of transportation in order to configure the means of transportation to execute the method according to the invention. In step 200, a user command for opening a cover in an outer skin of the means of transportation is subsequently determined. For example, a signal originating from a user account is received by an antenna of the means of transportation, and in response to the detection of the signal, the cover is opened as an unlocking command (in step 300). In step 400, the user's portable mobile user terminal inserted into the cavity is charged.In other words, a traction energy storage device of the vehicle supplies power via the on-board electrical system to a charging device located in the cavity, where an induction coil or a cable suitable for the user device is used for energy transfer. In step 500, the cavity is closed and locked using the cover during the charging process. Until a positive check of an access authorization identifier, the user terminal thus remains secured behind the cover within the vehicle. In step 600, the access authorization identifier is received by the vehicle and thereby predefined for later access to the cavity. The user then moves away from the vehicle to use the charging time for something else. In step 700, the driver accesses the vehicle and attempts to start the engine.When the ignition signal is received, step 800 additionally determines that the portable user terminal is still behind or in the cover, and step 900 issues a signal to prevent the vehicle from starting a journey and / or to inform the driver. This prevents the vehicle from being removed with the portable mobile user terminal inserted, preventing the user from losing their user terminal. In step 1000, a predefined call signal is subsequently received by the vehicle, and in response, the vehicle is guided to a user location defined in the call signal (step 1100).Once there, a predefined spatial proximity between the vehicle and the user's second portable user terminal is automatically determined, and in step 1200, the cover is automatically unlocked, allowing the user to remove the first portable user terminal from the cavity. To do so, the user opens the cover in step 1300 and waits for the motorized opening of the cover.

[0017] A core concept of the present invention is to utilize the stored electrochemical energy of parked vehicles to charge portable mobile user devices. Combining this with a wireless payment function allows for flexible activation for any user. On the one hand, the charging device can be integrated into the plug of the charging cable. On the other hand, it can be integrated into the charging socket or flap of the car.

[0018] An exemplary process is given below without any limiting effect: - The user activates the charging process via wireless communication (e.g. NFC). - The wireless charging function for the mobile device is activated. - the user brings his smartphone to the charging plug inside the cavity, where, for example, a holder and / or an (optionally padded) compartment is provided. - The user ends the charging process by logging out, for example by holding an NFC chip to a reader on the vehicle.

[0019] If the charging function is integrated into the car's charging flap (cover), it is also possible to lock the mobile phone in the charging flap, e.g., locking the charging flap after the smartphone has been attached. In this case, a separate NFC chip can be attached, which is removed before the flap is closed and then used to reopen it. For this purpose, a token and / or a hardware access authorization identifier can be contained in the cavity and / or cover. This token must be replaced at the end of the charging process after being used to open the cover. List of reference symbols: 1 user terminal 2 Cover 3 Outer skin 4 traction energy storage 5 Cavity 6 Passenger compartment 7 trunk 8 electric traction machine 9 stationary servers 10 means of transport 11 users 12 drivers 13 transmission tower 14 second portable user terminal 15 Charging control unit 100 to 1300 process steps P trajectory

Claims

[1] Method for charging a portable mobile user terminal (1) of a user (11) comprising the steps - Determining (200) a user command to open a cover (2) in an outer skin (3) of a means of transport (10) - loading (400) a portable mobile user terminal (1) in a cavity (5) located behind or in the cover (2) and - closing (500) the cavity (5) by means of the cover (2) while the user terminal (1) is being charged, wherein the cavity (5) comprises a charging connection for charging a traction energy storage device (4) of the means of transport. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the cover (2) comprises a loading flap. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging of the user terminal (1) is carried out by means of energy from the traction energy storage device (4). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging of the user terminal (1) is carried out inductively or conductively. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - Unlocking (300) the cover (2), but not the passenger compartment (6) and / or the trunk (7). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - Determining (700) an access by a driver (12) to a passenger compartment (6) of the means of transport (10) and / or an attempt to start a journey, - Determining (800) that the portable user terminal (1) is located behind or in the cover (2) and - Outputting (900) a signal to prevent a start of travel and / or to inform a driver (12). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - receiving (600) an access authorization identifier by the means of transport (10) and - opening (1300) the cover in response to the means of transport (10) receiving the access authorization identifier again. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - Data-technical association (100) of a second portable user terminal with the means of transport (10) and - automatically unlocking (1200) the cover in response to receiving a wireless communication signal from the second portable user terminal (14). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - Receiving (1000) a predefined call signal by the means of transport (10) and in response thereto - automatically moving (1100) the means of transport (10) to a location predefined in the call signal. [10] Means of transport which has a cover (2) in its outer skin (3), wherein the means of transport (10) is arranged to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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