METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC MANEUVERING AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the automatic maneuvering of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1) comprising a parking step, said trunk (4) being positioned at a first distance (d1) from said electric charging means (3); a step of inserting the charging cable into the charging base and into said charging means (3); a step of first automatic maneuvering, said trunk (4) being positioned at a second distance from said charging means (3); a step of interrupting said charging period at the driver's command, said vehicle (1) performing a second automatic maneuver, said trunk (4) being positioned at a third distance from said charging means (3). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC MANEUVERING AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to electric or hybrid motor vehicles, and more particularly to the movement of these vehicles when they are connected to a means of recharging.

[0002] Prior art patent application EP3393845 is known, describing a charging device for an electric or hybrid vehicle in an automated parking lot. The automated parking lot comprises a vertical column including a power outlet. The column further comprises a first part and a second part. The column includes a support element positioned perpendicular to the first part of the column. The charging device includes a recess for inserting a tooth of a vehicle handling trolley. The second part of the column further comprises a plurality of electrical contacts wired to the power outlet. The automated parking lot comprises a parking area including a plurality of coupling contacts configured to couple with the plurality of electrical contacts.The support element comprises a plurality of magnetized elements enabling the removable adhesion of the charging device to a support plate. Furthermore, the charging device includes a plurality of removable locking means to secure it when positioned on the support plate. To recharge an electric or hybrid vehicle in the automated parking facility, the vehicle must be positioned in an entry and exit station. The charging device is placed on the support plate without connecting its electrical contacts. The connection between the vehicle and the power outlet is established via an electrical connection cable. This results in the simultaneous movement of the vehicle and the charging device to the predetermined parking area equipped with coupling contacts by a transport trolley.The coupling contacts then connect with the electrical contacts. However, some drawbacks remain. The vehicle's movement is automatic and does not take into account the driver's will. Indeed, the driver cannot manually control the vehicle's movement within the parking area to access a specific part of the vehicle, for example, the trunk.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and to allow a driver to move a vehicle when it is connected to a charging station.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a method for the automatic maneuvering of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a front axle and a rear axle whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane defined by a first longitudinal direction corresponding to straight-line driving, by a second transverse direction orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction and a third vertical direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and oriented away from the ground, said vehicle comprising wheels, a battery and a charging base, said battery being configured to be electrically recharged by a charging means, said charging means being configured to deliver an electric current during a charging period, said charging means being connected to said charging base by a charging cable,said charging cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being configured to plug into said charging base, said second end being configured to plug into the charging device, said vehicle having a trunk positioned at the rear of said vehicle in the first direction, said trunk being capable of containing said charging cable outside the charging period, said vehicle having a parking assistance system and a parking lock device, said parking assistance system having at least one parking sensor positioned on said trunk to measure a distance between said trunk and said charging device, said parking lock device being configured to prevent the movement of said vehicle during the charging period,remarkable in that said process comprises the following steps: , - a parking stage of the vehicle in reverse in the first direction in a parking space containing said electric charging means by a driver, said charging means being positioned opposite the trunk in the first direction, said trunk being positioned at a first distance from said electric charging means, said first distance being determined by said parking sensor; - a step of inserting said first end of the electric charging cable into the charging base of said vehicle and of the second end of the charging cable into said charging means by the driver; - a first automatic maneuvering step during which said vehicle moves towards said charging means in the first direction, the wheels of said vehicle being aligned in said first direction, said trunk being positioned at a second distance of said recharging means when said first automatic maneuver is completed, said second distance being less than said first distance, said vehicle being locked by said parking locking device so as to prevent its movement following said first automatic maneuver, the recharging period beginning when the vehicle is locked; - a step of interruption of said charging period on driver command causing said vehicle to be unlocked by said parking locking device, said vehicle performing a second automatic maneuver during which said vehicle moves in the opposite direction to said first maneuver in the first direction when said vehicle is unlocked, said trunk being positioned at a third distance from said charging means when said second automatic maneuver is completed, said third distance being greater than said second distance.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the vehicle can be moved on command by the user despite the fact that it is still connected to the charging means.

[0006] Advantageously, said method includes a step of opening said trunk by the driver to take said charging cable and a step of closing said trunk, said opening step and said closing step being carried out after said parking step and before said interruption step, said method including a step of automatically opening said trunk after said interruption step.

[0007] Thus, the driver can access the trunk to retrieve or store the charging cable.

[0008] Advantageously, said means of charging is an electric charging station or an electrical outlet.

[0009] Advantageously, said first distance, said second distance and said third distance are each less than 2 m.

[0010] Preferably, said first distance is equal to said third distance.

[0011] Thus, the vehicle returns to its initial position when recharging is complete.

[0012] Preferably, said vehicle comprises an engine and a means for measuring torque engine, during the first automatic maneuvering step or during the interruption step, when said vehicle performs said first automatic maneuver or said second automatic maneuver, said vehicle moving in a direction opposite to the direction of the first automatic maneuver or the direction of the second automatic maneuver along the first direction when the engine torque measured by said engine torque measuring means is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0013] This avoids crushing an obstacle or colliding with an obstacle present in the path of said vehicle.

[0014] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the automatic maneuvering process of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle configured to implement said method of automatic maneuvers of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described.

[0016] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electric or hybrid motor vehicle following a parking stage; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the vehicle shown in [Fig.1] following a first automatic maneuver step.

[0017] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an electric or hybrid automobile 1 comprising a front axle and a rear axle whose points of contact with the ground define a basic plane XY defined by a first longitudinal direction X corresponding to straight-line travel, a second transverse direction Y orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction X, and a third vertical direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y and oriented away from the ground. The vehicle 1 comprises wheels 2, a battery, and a charging base. The battery is configured to be electrically recharged by a charging means 3. The charging means 3 is configured to deliver an electric current during a charging period. In Figures 1 and 2, said charging means is a public or private electric charging station.In another embodiment, the charging means 3 is an electrical outlet. The charging means 3 and the charging base are configured to be connected by a charging cable. The charging cable has a first end configured to plug into the charging base during charging and a second end configured to plug into the charging means 3. The vehicle 1 has a storage compartment 4 positioned at the rear of the vehicle 1 in the first direction X. The storage compartment 4 is suitable for storing the charging cable outside of the charging period. Thus, when the charging cable is not in use, i.e., when the vehicle 1 is not charging, the charging cable is stored in the storage compartment 4. The vehicle 1 has a parking assistance system.The parking assistance system is designed to help the driver park vehicle 1 accurately and safely, in particular. in confined spaces such as parking lots or narrow parking spaces. The parking assistance system includes at least one parking sensor positioned on the trunk to measure the distance between the trunk and the charging device. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a parking lock configured to prevent the vehicle 1 from moving while charging. Thus, when the vehicle 1 is charging, it is impossible to move the vehicle 1. This prevents, in particular, the risk of damage to the charging base, the charging cable, and / or the charging device 3 if the vehicle 1 moves too far from the charging device 3 while the vehicle 1 is connected to the charging device 3. During a parking step, the driver parks vehicle 1 in a parking space, reversing in the first direction X. The parking space includes the charging device 3. The charging device 3 is positioned behind vehicle 1, opposite the trunk 4, in the first direction X. Figure 1 illustrates vehicle 1 during this parking step. Vehicle 1 is positioned at a first distance dl from the electric charging device 3, this first distance dl being determined by the parking sensor. During a plugging-in step, the driver plugs the first end of the charging cable into the charging port of vehicle 1. The driver then plugs the second end of the charging cable into the charging device 3. During a first automatic maneuver step, vehicle 1 moves towards the charging device 3.The wheels 2 of said vehicle 1 are aligned along said first direction X so that said vehicle 1 moves towards said charging means 3 along said first direction X. When said first maneuver is completed, said vehicle 1 is positioned at a second distance d2 from said charging means 3, said second distance d2 being less than said first distance d1. Following the first automatic maneuver, said vehicle 1 is locked by said parking locking device. The charging period begins when said vehicle 1 is locked. Figure 2 illustrates said vehicle 1 following the first automatic maneuver step. During an interruption step, said charging period is interrupted at the driver's command. Indeed, it is the driver's decision that brings the charging period to an end.The charging period can be interrupted by the driver at the charging station, notably by presenting a card with an RFID chip (Radio Frequency Identification). The charging period can also be interrupted from a mobile device configured to communicate with the vehicle or the charging station. In this case, the driver... The system issues a stop command from the mobile terminal, for example, via a mobile application feature. This stop command is then communicated to vehicle 1 or the charging station, thus interrupting the charging period. Vehicle 1 may also be equipped with a stop control. This stop control can be a feature on a touchscreen located in vehicle 1, or a control button located on the dashboard of vehicle 1 or in a housing containing the charging base. Stopping the charging process triggers the unlocking of vehicle 1 by the parking lock device. Vehicle 1 then performs a second automatic maneuver, during which it moves in the opposite direction to the first maneuver, along the first direction X. In other words, vehicle 1 moves in the opposite direction to the first direction X.When the second automatic maneuver is complete, the storage compartment 4 is positioned at a third distance d3 from the charging device 3. This third distance d3 is greater than the second distance d2. The first distance d1, the second distance d2, and the third distance d3 are preferably less than 2 m, so that the vehicle 1 remains, at least partially, in the parking space. Preferably, the first distance d1 and the third distance d3 are equal. Thus, the vehicle 1 returns to its initial position after the charging period. The vehicle 1 includes an engine and, optionally, a means for measuring engine torque.During the first automatic maneuver step or the interruption step, when vehicle 1 performs the first or second automatic maneuver, vehicle 1 moves in the opposite direction to the first or second automatic maneuver along the first direction X when the engine torque measured by the engine torque measuring device exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Indeed, an increase in engine torque indicates the presence of an obstacle in the path of vehicle 1. Thus, it is preferable for vehicle 1 to reverse a few centimeters to avoid crushing or colliding with the obstacle. Optionally, the method includes three additional steps. The first additional step is the opening of the trunk 4 by the driver to retrieve the charging cable.The second additional step is a closing step of said trunk 4 by the driver when said driver is in possession of said charging cable. The opening and closing steps are carried out between said parking step and said interruption step. The third additional step is an automatic opening step of said trunk 4. Thus, the driver directly stores said charging cable in said trunk 4 before getting into said vehicle 1.

[0018] The invention also relates to a computer program configured to implement said method. Finally, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid automobile configured to implement said method.

Claims

1. Demands Method for automatic maneuvering of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1) comprising a front axle and a rear axle whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane (XY) defined by a first longitudinal direction (X) corresponding to straight-line driving, by a second transverse direction (Y) orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction (X) and a third vertical direction (Z) orthogonal to the first direction (X) and to the second direction (Y) and is oriented away from the ground, said vehicle (1) comprising wheels (2), a battery and a charging base, said battery being configured to be electrically recharged by a charging means (3), said charging means (3) being configured to deliver an electric current during a charging period, said charging means (3) being connected to said charging base by a charging cable,said charging cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being configured to plug into said charging base, said second end being configured to plug into the charging means (3), said vehicle (1) having a trunk (4) positioned at the rear of said vehicle (1) in the first direction (X), said trunk (4) being capable of containing said charging cable outside the charging period, said vehicle (1) having a parking assistance system and a parking lock device, said parking assistance system having at least one parking sensor being positioned on said trunk to measure a distance between said trunk and said charging means, said parking lock device being configured to prevent the movement of said vehicle (1) during the charging period,characterized in that said process comprises the following steps: - a parking stage of the vehicle (1) in reverse in the first direction (X) in a parking space (5) comprising said electric charging means (3) by a driver, said charging means (3) being positioned opposite the trunk (4) in the first direction (X), said trunk (4) being positioned at a first distance (dl) from said electric charging means (3), said first distance (dl) being determined by said parking sensor; - a step of plugging said first end of the electric charging cable into the charging base of said vehicle (1) and of the second end of the charging cable into said charging means (3) by the driver;- a first automatic maneuvering step during which said vehicle (1) moves towards said charging means (3) in the first direction (X), the wheels (2) of said vehicle (1) being aligned in said first direction (X), said trunk (4) being positioned at a second distance (d2) from said charging means (3) when said first automatic maneuver is completed, said second distance (d2) being less than said first distance (d1), said vehicle (1) being locked by said parking locking device so as to prevent its movement following said first automatic maneuver, the charging period beginning when the vehicle (1) is locked;- a step of interruption of said charging period on command of the driver resulting in the unlocking of said vehicle (1) by said parking locking device, said vehicle (1) performing a second automatic maneuver during which said vehicle (1) moves in the opposite direction to said first maneuver along the first direction (X) when said vehicle (1) is unlocked, said trunk (4) being positioned at a third distance (d3) from said charging means (3) when said second automatic maneuver is completed, said third distance (d3) being greater than said second distance (d2).;

2. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that said method comprises a step of opening said trunk (4) by the driver to take said charging cable and a step of closing said trunk (4), said opening step and said closing step being carried out after said parking step and before said interruption step, said method comprising a step of automatically opening said trunk (4) after said interruption step.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said charging means (3) is an electric charging station or an electric outlet.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said first distance (dl), said second distance (d2) and said third distance (d3) are each less than 2 m.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said first distance (dl) is equal to said third distance (d3).

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said vehicle (1) comprises an engine and an engine torque measurement means, during the first automatic maneuvering step or during the interruption step, when said vehicle (1) performs said first automatic maneuver or said second automatic maneuver, said vehicle (1) moving in a direction opposite to the direction of the first automatic maneuver or the direction of the second automatic maneuver along the first direction (X) when the engine torque measured by said engine torque measurement means is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

7. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method for automatically maneuvering an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. (1) electric or hybrid motor vehicle configured to implement said method of automatic maneuvering of (1) electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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