Method for displaying the state of charge of an energy storage device of a vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for displaying the state of charge (1) of an energy storage device (2) of a vehicle (3), wherein the state of charge (1) is displayed by means of a lighting device (4) of the vehicle (3). The method according to the invention is characterised in that the state of charge (1) is projected by the lighting device (4) in the form of a graphic (5) onto a surface in the environment of the vehicle (3), wherein the lighting device (4) commences projection of the state of charge (1) into the environment when the vehicle (3) detects, by means of an environment sensor system (6), that a vehicle, a person, and / or an identification feature is approaching the vehicle (3) to below a predefined distance.

Description

[0001] Method for displaying the state of charge of an energy storage device of a vehicle and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a method for displaying the state of charge of an energy storage device of a vehicle and a corresponding vehicle for carrying out the method.

[0003] When a battery-electric vehicle is being charged at a charging station, it is usually difficult to determine from the outside how far the charging has progressed. The current charge status of the vehicle's traction battery can, for example, be read at the charging station, shown on a display in the vehicle, or read via an application running on a mobile device that is linked to the vehicle and / or the charging station directly or indirectly via a cloud service. Furthermore, a lighting device can be integrated at various points on the charging interface, for example on the charging plug itself or in the corresponding charging socket on the vehicle. This lighting device can emit colored light, for example, to indicate whether the charging process is in progress or has been completed, or whether the charging process was aborted due to an error or cannot be completed.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2011 115 161 A1 and DE 10 2012 007 224 A1 disclose methods for displaying the charge level of the vehicle's energy storage device using a vehicle lighting device. These publications describe the use of, for example, daytime running lights, indicators, taillights, additional brake lights, license plate lights, or the like to display a light signal representative of the charge level. For example, the charge level of a vehicle's traction battery can be visualized as a bar graph using the numerous LEDs of the vehicle's additional brake light. Depending on the situation, the individual lighting devices can then also emit light of different colors.

[0005] The methods listed above for visualising the charge level of the vehicle's energy storage system have the disadvantage that the charge level cannot be easily determined when passing by the vehicle, or that it is not immediately clear to an uninvolved third party what the meaning of the light signal emitted by a lighting device on the vehicle is.

[0006] Providing information about the current charge level of the vehicle's energy storage system is not only relevant during a charging process, but also, for example, when a vehicle user wants to use their vehicle again after a longer period of storage, for example after a vacation.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2013 226 188 A1 discloses an ambient light with a status indicator. The ambient light can be used to project the status and, additionally, the charge level of a vehicle's drive battery into the vehicle's surroundings. The ambient light is integrated into a side mirror or a door handle. The ambient light can be manually activated by a vehicle user by unlocking the vehicle using a remote key.

[0008] Furthermore, DE 10 2020 000 293 A1 discloses a device for a vehicle and a method for projecting symbols onto a road section. To project different symbols, the device has a separate arrangement of an object image and a light source for each symbol to be projected. Using the device, warning messages can be projected into the vehicle's surroundings, for example.

[0009] Furthermore, DE 10 2017 211 430 A1 discloses the control of a vehicle's pixel headlight. First, the pixel headlight(s) shine a particularly bright light onto a roadway for a particularly brief moment, so that a person cannot perceive it, in order to illuminate it. At the same time, an image is captured with a vehicle camera. This image is analyzed to identify indicative roadway equipment. A comparison is made with a database to determine whether the information represented by the indicative roadway equipment is actually correct. If this is not the case, the indicative roadway equipment is excluded from further illumination by the pixel headlight or over-illuminated with correct information.

[0010] Furthermore, a plug-in vehicle function display is known from DE 10 2010 002 514 A1. The function display is attached to a trim element in a vehicle interior and can be viewed from outside the vehicle. The function display can be used to display information relating to a currently ongoing charging process of an electrical energy storage device in the vehicle. The function display is automatically activated when the charging process starts and / or when a door is locked and can be automatically deactivated after a specified period of time. Furthermore, the light intensity emitted by the function display can be adjusted depending on the ambient brightness measured by a light sensor.

[0011] The present invention is based on the object of providing a method for displaying the state of charge of an energy storage device of a vehicle that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0012] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for displaying the state of charge of an energy storage device of a vehicle having the features of claim 1 and a corresponding vehicle having the features of claim 5. Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the dependent claims.

[0013] A generic method for displaying the charge level of an energy storage device of a vehicle, in which the charge level is displayed by means of a lighting device of the vehicle, and the charge level is projected by the lighting device in the form of a graphic onto a surface in the surroundings of the vehicle, wherein the lighting device begins to project the charge level into the surroundings when the vehicle detects, with an environmental sensor system, an approach of a vehicle, a person, and / or an identification feature to within a specified distance of the vehicle, is further developed according to the invention in that at least one headlight of the vehicle is used as the lighting device; and the projection of the charge level into the surroundings is terminated upon the occurrence of a deactivation event; wherein one of the following actions is used as the deactivation event:

[0014] - Closing an open vehicle door;

[0015] - Locking the vehicle doors;

[0016] - Entering a manual operating action;

[0017] - Activating the vehicle's ignition;

[0018] - starting a vehicle's engine; or

[0019] - Uncoupling the vehicle from a charging station.

[0020] The method according to the invention enables, on the one hand, a particularly quick and intuitive understanding of the meaning of the information presented by the lighting device. By displaying a graphic, people, even those unfamiliar with the vehicle, are able to understand that the graphic indicates the charge level of the vehicle's energy storage device and the degree to which the energy storage device is filled with electrical energy. The graphic can be projected onto a vertical, inclined, or horizontal surface. Suitable surfaces include, for example, the ground on which the vehicle is parked, a wall such as a house or wall, or another vehicle parked in front of the vehicle.

[0021] In general, it would be possible for the graphic to be continuously projected into the surroundings when the vehicle is stationary or parked. However, this is not absolutely necessary and, on the one hand, would lead to faster discharge of the energy storage device due to the power consumption for the projection, and on the other hand, it could be perceived as distracting by people in the vicinity of the vehicle. It is therefore desirable that the charge level be projected into the surroundings only when the charge level display is actually desired.

[0022] To do this, the vehicle monitors its immediate surroundings using environmental sensors, including various environmental sensors such as cameras, radar sensors, ultrasonic sensors and / or laser scanners. This allows dynamic environmental objects such as vehicles and people to be detected and their distance from the vehicle to be recorded. If a vehicle and / or person approaches the vehicle, the charge level is only projected when the vehicle and / or person in question has come within at least the specified distance of the vehicle. With the help of image recognition methods, people can also be distinguished from vehicles in camera images, and the graphic is only projected into the surroundings when either a vehicle or a person is detected. The specified distance can be chosen arbitrarily and can be configured, for example, via the vehicle's infotainment system.However, the specified distance may also be stored in a vehicle subsystem, making it impossible to change from within the vehicle, for example, during vehicle manufacture. For example, the specified distance may be one meter, two meters, ten meters, or even fractions or multiples thereof.

[0023] For example, if the vehicle is being charged at a charging station, the vehicle projects its current charge level into the surrounding area when a person walks past the vehicle. This enables the person to record the current charge level and estimate how long the vehicle is likely to be parked at the charging station until the energy storage device is charged. This also increases convenience for the person, as they do not have to look inside the vehicle or operate the charging station to record the relevant information. If the vehicle owner is standing close to their vehicle, for example, they could interpret this behavior from the person as suspicious. Such an unpleasant situation can be avoided with the help of the method according to the invention.

[0024] The graphical representation of the charge level also allows another person who wants to charge their own electric vehicle at the charging station to record the charge level as they drive past. This allows the person driving past to quickly and easily estimate when the next available charging point will be available.

[0025] Situations may also arise in which the charge level projection is not desired automatically upon detection of a vehicle and / or a person approaching the vehicle, but only when an authorized person approaches the vehicle. Such an authorized person can be identified using the identification feature. For example, the vehicle owner or vehicle user is in possession of the identification feature. This enables the charge level to be projected into the environment only when the vehicle owner approaches the vehicle. The underlying idea can be illustrated by the following example: The vehicle owner drives their vehicle to the airport and parks the vehicle in the parking garage there. They then go on vacation for two weeks.During this time, projecting the vehicle's state of charge onto the surroundings is not desirable, as this would unnecessarily drain the energy storage device over this long period. Furthermore, no one can benefit from the displayed state of charge. However, when the vehicle owner returns from vacation and wants to drive the vehicle home, it is important for the vehicle owner to record the state of charge of the energy storage device, which has been partially discharged due to the vehicle being parked for a long time, as they approach the vehicle. If the vehicle detects that the vehicle owner is approaching by detecting the identification feature, it begins to project the state of charge. This allows the vehicle owner to quickly and easily determine whether they should charge the vehicle at a charging station before a long drive home.

[0026] The manner in which the vehicle should project the charge level into the environment can also be configured via an input device in the vehicle. This can also be done using a mobile device linked to the vehicle or a cloud service or backend, and a corresponding application running on the mobile device.

[0027] The use of headlights enables the display of a wide variety of graphics. Headlights are comparatively large, making it particularly easy to incorporate design modifications to enable them to function as projectors. For example, various projection masks and / or differently colored light sources can be integrated into a headlight, enabling graphics to be projected like a slide projector. Due to their comparatively high luminosity, headlights also enable particularly bright and therefore clearly visible graphics, even during the day. A headlight can incorporate one or more glow plugs, xenon lamps, LEDs, lasers, and / or other light-emitting units as light sources.Furthermore, a headlight can include various lenses, filters, apertures, mirrors, masks, diffusers, or other units that influence the light beam path generated by the headlight. These can be designed to be movable, particularly when controlled by an actuator.

[0028] The projection of the charge state into the environment is terminated after the deactivation event occurs.

[0029] If a person flying on vacation parks their vehicle in an airport parking garage, the charge level can be projected into the surrounding area once they exit the vehicle, informing the vehicle user of the current charge level upon exiting. If the vehicle user then closes the door after exiting or locks the vehicle, the projection is stopped.

[0030] By uncoupling the vehicle from a charging station, the end of a charging process can be reliably and easily detected, which also adjusts the projection of the charging status into the surrounding area.

[0031] The projection of the charge level can also be stopped when a driver intends to drive off. This can be detected, for example, by activating the vehicle's ignition or starting the vehicle's engine. The projection of the charge level to the surroundings can also be stopped manually, for example, by entering an operator action via the vehicle's infotainment system, an application running on a mobile device, and / or by pressing a corresponding button on a remote key.

[0032] An advantageous development of the method provides that at least one symbol, pictogram, text, numbers and / or special characters are projected into the environment using the graphic, at least two image sections of the graphic have a different color, brightness, contrast and / or transparency and / or at least part of the graphic is animated. This enables a particularly intuitive representation of the state of charge. For example, a vehicle, a battery, a battery cell, a lightning bolt, a plug or the like can be projected into the environment as a symbol and / or pictogram. Using text, numbers and / or special characters, additional information can be presented, such as the display of a percentage state of charge, for example "the traction battery is 80 percent charged".Additional information can also be displayed, such as the remaining time required to charge the energy storage device to a preset value such as 100 percent, the currently used charging current, charging voltage and / or charging power, or the like. This allows a person waiting to charge to estimate even more precisely when a suitable charging station will become available. By using different colors, brightness, contrast and / or transparency, the display variety of the graphic can be increased even further. For example, a battery can be projected into the surrounding area in yellow when the vehicle's energy storage device is being charged and green when the traction battery is fully charged. In the event of a malfunction, the battery can be displayed in orange, for example, and in red in the event of a technical defect.The battery icon can, for example, also include a charging bar, with the portions already charged being shown brightly and the portion still to be charged being shown darker. For example, the charging bar can consist of five sections, each representing 20 percent of charge. This charging bar can also be animated, so that portions already charged are shown as continuously lit and the portion currently charged flashes. Portions not yet charged are then shown dark, in a different color, or not at all.

[0033] During a charging process, the graphic can be supplemented with a plug, for example, so that the vehicle owner can quickly and easily see that the vehicle is plugged into the charging station and that charging is taking place. During inductive charging of the energy storage device, a lightning bolt can be displayed, for example, which also allows the vehicle owner to quickly and easily see that the vehicle is charging. This is not always intuitively apparent, especially with inductive charging, as no plugs are plugged in, meaning the connection between the vehicle and the charging station is not immediately apparent. A headlight designed as a matrix headlight is preferred as the lighting device. Many vehicles today are already equipped with matrix headlights. With the help of a matrix headlight, it is possible to project high-resolution information into the area around a vehicle.This eliminates the need for any other structural modifications, especially to the headlights. Furthermore, animated graphics can be displayed particularly easily. The absence of moving parts also increases the lifespan of the matrix headlight.

[0034] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, an identification feature integrated into a vehicle key, a transponder, or a mobile device is used. This enables easy assignment of the identification feature, for example, to the person driving the vehicle or the vehicle owner. The vehicle key, transponder, and / or the mobile device can communicate, for example, via Bluetooth, ultra-wideband communication, NFC, or the like. The identification feature can be implemented as a code. The use of a transponder and / or a mobile device also enables other persons, in addition to the person driving the vehicle, to project the charge level into the surroundings when approaching the vehicle. For example, smartphones are already being used as digital vehicle keys.A code stored in a mobile device in this process can then also be used as an identification feature.

[0035] In a vehicle with a lighting device, a computing unit, and environmental sensors, the lighting device, the computing unit, and the environmental sensors are configured to carry out a method described above. The vehicle can be any vehicle, such as a car, truck, van, bus, or the like. The environmental sensors can comprise various environmental sensors, such as one or more cameras, laser scanners (also known as LIDAR), radar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, or the like. Sensor data generated by the respective environmental sensors is evaluated by the vehicle's computing unit in order to detect an approach of a vehicle, a person, and / or an identification feature to the vehicle. The environmental sensors can also be used to determine a distance between the respective vehicle, person, and / or identification feature and the vehicle.If a specified distance is then exceeded, the lighting system projects the charge level of the vehicle's energy storage device into the surrounding area. An exact distance determination, for example, in meters, is not necessarily required. If the charge level is projected, for example, after the identification feature has been recognized, the radio range used to detect the identification feature can be used to define the specified distance. If, for example, a remote key fob is within radio range of the vehicle, this is considered to be below the specified distance.

[0036] A matrix headlight is preferred as the lighting system. However, the lighting system can also include one or more matrix headlights. For example, both headlights of the vehicle are used to project the graphics into the surrounding area.

[0037] The advantage of using both headlights as matrix headlights is that a particularly large projection field can be used to display the graphics. For example, an animation projected into the surrounding area by the left headlight can be continued via the right headlight. Furthermore, headlights usually have a comparatively high luminosity, allowing for the display of high-resolution graphics with clear visibility. Furthermore, no other structural modifications to the vehicle are required.

[0038] Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention for displaying the state of charge of the energy storage device of the vehicle and of the vehicle also emerge from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0039] Shown are: Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of a vehicle according to the invention, which projects a charge state of its energy storage device as a graphic into the environment by means of a lighting device;

[0040] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an animated graphic; and

[0041] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a graphic supplemented by text.

[0042] Figure 1 shows a top view of a vehicle 3 according to the invention. The vehicle 3 has been parked and, with a lighting device 4, projects a charge level 1 of its energy storage device 2, for example, a traction battery, into its immediate surroundings. The vehicle 3 uses one or more headlights as the lighting device 4. The headlights 4.1 are used. In particular, the headlights are designed as matrix headlights, which enables the projection of high-resolution graphics 5 into the surroundings.

[0043] Vehicle 3 begins projecting graphic 5 into the surroundings when an environmental sensor system 6 detects the approach of a vehicle, a person, and / or an identification feature to the vehicle 3 to within a specified distance. Environmental sensor system 6 can comprise a camera, ultrasonic sensor, radar sensor, laser scanner, and / or an antenna. The detection of an identification feature transmitted wirelessly by the antenna can be interpreted as a violation of the specified distance.

[0044] Sensor data generated by the environmental sensor system 6 are evaluated by a computing unit 7. The computing unit 7 can be implemented as a central on-board computer, a control unit of a vehicle subsystem, or the like.

[0045] For a particularly clear representation of charge level 1, Figure 5 is shown as a pictogram of a battery with five charge bars (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5). Depending on the charge level, an appropriate number of charge bars (8.1-8.5) are then displayed.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a detailed representation of Graphic 5 at different times t1, t2, and t3. For example, a portion of energy storage device 2 that is already fully charged is represented by permanently displayed charging bars 8.1, 8.2, 8.3. A portion currently to be charged can be indicated by a flashing charging bar 8.4. This is indicated in Figure 2 by the fading out of charging bar 8.4 at the second time t2. An amount of energy still to be charged later can be symbolized by a charging bar 8.5 (not shown). In general, Graphic 5 can be displayed in different colors, brightness, transparency, and / or contrast. For example, one of the charging bars 8.1-8.5 represents 20 percent of the capacity of energy storage device 2.By means of the animated graphic 5 shown in Figure 2, persons viewing the graphic 5 can then quickly and intuitively understand that the energy storage unit 2 of the vehicle 3 is currently being charged and will soon be fully charged.

[0047] Graphic 5 may also be supplemented by further symbols, pictograms, text, numbers and / or special characters, as shown in Figure 3.

[0048] Figure 3 shows that energy storage unit 2 will be charged to 80 percent in eight minutes at 22 kW. This allows for an even more differentiated presentation of information.

[0049] The projection of the charge level into the environment is terminated after a deactivation event occurs, using one of the following actions as the deactivation event:

[0050] - Closing an open vehicle door;

[0051] - Locking the vehicle doors;

[0052] - Entering a manual operating action;

[0053] - Activating the ignition of vehicle 3;

[0054] - starting a prime mover of vehicle 3; or

[0055] - Uncoupling vehicle 3 from a charging station.

Claims

Claims: A method for displaying the state of charge (1) of an energy storage device (2) of a vehicle (3), wherein the state of charge (1) is displayed by means of a lighting device (4) of the vehicle (3), and the state of charge (1) is projected by the lighting device (4) in the form of a graphic (5) onto a surface in the vicinity of the vehicle (3), wherein the lighting device (4) begins the projection of the state of charge (1) into the environment when the vehicle (3) detects an approach of a vehicle, a person, and / or an identification feature to within a defined distance of the vehicle (3) by means of an environment sensor (6), characterized in that at least one headlight (4.1) of the vehicle (3) is used as a lighting device (4); and the projection of the state of charge (1) into the environment is terminated after the occurrence of a deactivation event; wherein one of the following actions is used as the deactivation event: - Closing an open vehicle door; - Locking the vehicle doors; - Input of a manual operating action; - Activating the vehicle's ignition (3); - Starting a propulsion motor of the vehicle (3); or - Disconnecting the vehicle (3) from a charging station. Method according to claim 1. characterized in that at least one symbol, pictogram, text, numbers and / or special characters are projected into the environment by means of the graphic (5), at least two image sections of the graphic (5) have a different color, brightness, contrast and / or transparency and / or at least a part of the graphic (5) is animated. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a headlight designed as a matrix headlight is used as the lighting device (4). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an identification feature integrated into a vehicle key, a transponder or a mobile device is used.Vehicle (3) with a lighting device (4), a processing unit (7) and an environmental sensor system (6), characterized in that the lighting device (4), the processing unit (7) and the environmental sensor system (6) are configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Vehicle (3) according to claim 5, characterized in that the lighting device (4) is designed as a matrix headlight (4.1) or at least comprises a matrix headlight.

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