Energy storage management system for an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, and method

Abstract

Energy storage management system for an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, and method of using an energy storage management system 1 for an at least partially electrically driven vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to an energy storage management system for an at least partially electrically driven motor vehicle. At least one control device is suitable and 5 designed for operating an energy storage device for the vehicle as a function of stored planning rules. At least one interface device comprising at least one graphical user interface is used to create the planning rules in a user-defined manner. The planning rules include planning parameters configurable by means of the user interface. The interface device stores the created planning rules for the control device. The invention 10 also relates to a method for operating such an energy storage management system. A system of this type is known from DE 10 2015 201 895 A1. The adjustable planning parameters therein are used to produce a schedule for automatically charging the energy storage device of the vehicle. For this purpose, time data for the schedule are adjusted on a graphical user interface. CM C\|15 However, it is desirable for the charging behavior to be able to be influenced by the "i- user in an even greater variety of ways. Using the known options, however, the CO creation of more complex planning rules usually proves to be very difficult and £M confusing or inconvenient. This is an obstacle to being able to take full advantage of the benefits of charge planning, in particular for inexperienced users. 20 In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide an improved option for creating planning rules of an energy storage management system. It should preferably also be possible, even for inexperienced users, to clearly and conveniently create more complex planning rules. This may be achieved by means of an energy storage management system having 25 the features of claim 1 as well as by means of a method according to claim 15. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. Further advantages and features of the present invention will emerge from the general description and the description of the exemplary embodiments. The energy storage management system according to an aspect of the invention is provided for an at least partially electrically driven vehicle and preferably for an electric vehicle and / or hybrid vehicle. The energy storage management system comprises at least one control device which is suitable and designed for operating an energy 5 storage device for the vehicle as a function of stored planning rules. The energy storage management system comprises at least one interface device comprising at least one graphical user interface for creating the planning rules in a user-defined manner. The planning rules at least include planning parameters. The planning parameters are configurable by means of the user interface. The interface device is 10 suitable and designed for storing the created planning rules for the control device. The control device in particular controls a charging process and / or a vehicle preconditioning taking into account the stored planning rules. The planning rules can therefore also be referred to as charging rules and / or conditioning rules. The planning rules at least also include planning operators. The interface device is suitable and 15 designed for supporting a selection and a compilation (combination) of the planning parameters and the planning operators (with one another) to create one or more planning rules using a drag and drop method by means of the user interface. A planning rule consists in particular of at least one planning parameter and at least one planning operator. The at least one planning parameter and the at least one planning C\J20 operator are functionally (logically) related. The energy storage management system according to an aspect of the invention offers many advantages. The planning operators provide a significant advantage. This also makes it possible to create more complex and highly individualised planning rules. The compilation of the planning parameters using the drag and drop method provides a 25 significant advantage as well. Overall, this enables even an inexperienced user to easily understandably influence the charging behavior of the vehicle or the vehicle preconditioning according to personal preference. It is particularly preferred that the planning operators be taken from a group of planning operators comprising: IF functions; THEN functions; IF-NOT functions; THEN-NOT 30 functions. Such planning operators make it possible to create particularly multilayered or complex planning rules. At the same time, such planning operators are easy to understand in terms of their effects on the planning rules, even for inexperienced users. The planning operators are in particular suitable and designed for compiling the planning parameters within the meaning a programming language syntax. The interface device is suitable and designed for displaying the planning parameters and the planning operators on the user interface by means of respective graphic icons. 5 The graphic icons are preferably movable by means of the user interface and arranged in a spatial relationship to one another. The arrangement of the graphic icons in particular characterises their functional (logical) relationship to one another. The interface device is in particular suitable and designed for creating or recognizing the planning rules on the basis of the spatial arrangement of the graphic icons. The 10 interface device in particular recognises the functional (logical) relationship between the planning parameters and the planning operators based on the spatial arrangement of the graphic icons (in the target area). The graphic icons are preferably movable by means of the user interface from at least one selection area to at least one target area. Doing so provides a particularly intuitive creation of even complex planning ^|15 parameters. The graphic icons are at least partially freely combinable with one another in the target i— area by means of the user interface. The graphic icons are in particular freely CO interchangeable with one another in the target area. It is also preferred that the graphic icons be movable from the target area back to the selection area by means of the user 20 interface. As a result, it is particularly easy to implement changes to existing planning rules or partially completed planning rules. The free combination of graphic icons is in particular restricted by admissibility requirements and / or plausibility requirements. Non-admissible and / or non-plausible combinations are in particular graphically highlighted and thereby displayed to the user. 25 In one advantageous embodiment, the interface device is suitable and designed for linking the graphic icons that have been moved to the target area to a planning rule automatically in accordance with their arrangement made by the user and / or on the basis of at least one user command. The planning rule is in particular then made available to the control device. It is possible that a display of the graphic icons will be 30 changed once the graphic icons have been successfully linked to a planning rule. In particular, an unsuccessful linking of the graphic icons will be displayed graphically. As a result, the user can easily see whether the drag and drop method was successful or whether further adjustments are needed. In one advantageous embodiment, values and / or additional properties can be set for at least some of the graphic icons. The values can, e.g., be entered and / or selected. 5 It is possible that at least some of the graphic icons comprise selection menus. Menu selection is in particular made via an activation (e.g., clicking and / or tapping). The interface device is preferably suitable and designed for assigning created planning rules to at least one user account and in particular store them in that location. The assignment is performed on the basis of an input previously made by the user, for 10 example, and / or a user action (e.g., depending on a key used). The interface device is in particular suitable and designed for displaying planning rules stored in at least one user account by means of the user interface, so that they can be changed if needed using the drag and drop method and in particular combined differently. xt The interface device is in particular suitable and designed for subjecting the compiled C\Jl5 planning parameters and planning operators (in the target area) to an admissibility check and / or plausibility check and, in particular in the event of an incorrect compilation, to output a (graphical) user notification and / or correct the compilation at least partially independently. The interface device in particular checks whether the compilation of the planning parameters and planning operators is non-admissible 20 and / or non-plausible. At least one syntax check or the like can be performed for this purpose. Non-admissibility can, e.g., mean that the created planning rules include values or requirements that are outside the intended operating range of the vehicle. Lack of plausibility can, e.g., mean that the planning rules include values or requirements that 25 conflict with the values or requirements of this or another planning rule. The planning parameters are preferably taken from a group of planning parameters comprising: start state of charge (start SOC), end state of charge (end SOC), charging power, time of day, day of week, frequency, locations (e.g. from the navigation app), seasons, temperatures, user account (driver ID), charging column identification, expected wait time at a charging column, vehicle preconditioning (e.g. interior conditioning), feedback to a power grid (bidirectional charging), price of electricity, operating state of a solar panel, supply of energy to external consumers, surplus charging (by means of regenerative energy), sequential charging (in a motor pool). 5 Other planning parameters suitable for energy storage management are possible as well. The planning parameters in particular include at least one battery parameter and / or at least one charging parameter and / or at least one vehicle parameter and / or at least one time parameter. In a preferred and advantageous embodiment, it is provided that at least one planning 10 rule (with planning parameters and planning operators) can be compiled using the drag and drop method and that this planning rule specifies when and / or under what conditions the control device should or can perform a charging process of the energy storage device and / or a vehicle preconditioning. Xl The charging process in particular includes charging and / or discharging of the energy C\J 15 storage device. In the context of the present invention, the term “discharging” is in particular understood to mean targeted consumption. This can, e.g., be used for i— preconditioning, or to supply external consumers with energy. Charging in particular CO includes surplus charging by means of regenerative energy and sequential charging in a motor pool. 20 The interface device is preferably suitable and designed for checking the created planning rules while taking into account at least one driving parameter that is characteristic of the driving behavior. The interface device is in particular suitable and designed for adjusting the (previously created) planning rules and / or issuing an adjustment proposal on the basis of said check. The driving behavior in particular also 25 includes a charging behavior. It is advantageously possible that the interface device be suitable and designed for independently creating and / or proposing its own planning rules taking into account at least one driving parameter that is characteristic of the driving behavior. The driving behavior in particular also includes a charging behavior. This further simplifies the 30 creation of planning rules. Planning rules that were created by the user in a not economically or environmentally optimal manner can moreover be recognised and optimised. In all of the embodiments, it is preferred that the interface device be suitable and designed for assigning at least one fallback plan to the planning rules (created using 5 the drag and drop method). The interface device in particular makes the fallback plan available to the control device at least if the planning rules can currently or in the future not be implemented. This is in particular the case when the energy storage device cannot be operated according to the planning rules and / or vehicle preconditioning according to the planning rules is not possible. 10 For this purpose, the interface device can evaluate events or parameters that it monitors by means of sensors or are made available to it in some other way, for example. For instance, according to a planning rule, a target state of charge with solar power is desired at a specific time of day and cannot be achieved due to a lack of solar Xl power. The interface device then resorts to the fallback plan. This can, e.g., include CM 15 the use of a different power source or calculating a different state of charge. CM It is possible and advantageous for the user interface to be provided by a mobile terminal, in particular a smart device (e.g., smartphone, smartwatch, tablet). It is also possible and advantageous for the user interface to be provided by a vehicle multimedia system. The interface device is in particular suitable and designed for 20 connection to such devices. It is also possible that the interface device has its own user interface. The method according to an aspect of the invention is used to operate an energy storage management system, in particular as has been described hereinabove. The method is in particular designed such that the energy storage management system 25 according to an aspect of the invention and preferably also its embodiments can be operated using said method. The method is in particular designed such that it can also be used to perform processes performable by the energy storage management system described herein. The interface device and / or the control device is in particular suitable and designed for performing the method, and the embodiments thereof in particular. 30 The interface device and / or the control device is in particular suitable and designed for performing the steps described in the form of a method in the context of the present invention. The interface device in particular comprises at least one algorithm for performing the steps described herein. It is possible that this algorithm be stored at least in part on the mobile terminal (e.g., as an app). 5 In the method, an energy storage device for the vehicle is in particular operated as a function of stored planning rules. In particular a charging process (charging and / or discharging) of the energy storage device and / or vehicle preconditioning is performed taking into account the planning rules. The planning rules are in particular created in a user-defined manner (by a user) using a graphical user interface of an interface 10 device. The planning rules in particular include a plurality of planning parameters configurable by means of the user interface. The planning rules in particular also include planning operators. The creation of the planning rules in particular includes a user-based configuration of the planning operators. A selection and a compilation (combination) of the planning parameters and the planning operators (with one ^|15 another) to create one or more planning rules is preferably performed using a drag and drop method by means of the user interface. Graphic icons, which respectively represent the planning parameters and the planning operators and are displayed on the user interface, are in particular moved on the user interface and arranged in any desired (admissible or plausible) compilation. The interface device can in particular 20 check the compilation for admissibility and / or plausibility. The control device in particular takes into account the planning rules for its energy storage management that are created in this way. The operation of the energy storage device as a function of the planning rules in particular at least includes controlling a charging process of the energy storage device 25 and preferably charging and / or discharging of the energy storage device. The operation in particular also at least includes a vehicle preconditioning and preferably an interior conditioning. The interior conditioning in particular includes air conditioning of the interior and / or the heating of heatable vehicle components and, e.g., seats, mirrors, and windows, or the like. Configuring the planning parameters in particular at 30 least includes an input of values, a selection and / or adjustment of stored planning parameters, and / or a setting of additional properties of at least one planning parameter. In the context of the present invention, the created planning rules are preferably understood to mean the planning rules created using the drag and drop method. The planning rules are in particular stored in a memory device of the control device. The control device and the interface device and the energy storage device are in 5 particular operatively connected to one another. The graphical user interface in particular includes at least one display unit and / or at least one input unit. The display unit and the input unit are preferably combined and are in particular provided by a touch-sensitive display (touchscreen). The display unit and the input unit can also be designed separately. For example, a display with a joystick or the like can be provided. 10 The energy storage device is in particular a traction battery of the vehicle. The traction battery is in particular designed as a high-voltage battery. Further advantages and features of the present invention will emerge from the embodiments explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, xt C\l |n the drawings: CM 1 15 Fig. 1 is a purely schematic illustration of an energy storage management system CO according to an embodiment of the invention. CM Fig. 1 shows an energy storage management system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention for an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle not shown in more detail here. The energy storage management system 1 is operated according to the method 20 according to an embodiment of the invention and comprises a control device 2 for controlling an energy storage device 3 and, e.g., a traction battery. The control device 2 operates the energy storage device 3 as a function of stored planning rules 4. The energy storage management system 1 comprises an interface device 5 with a graphical user interface 15 which is designed in this case as a touch-sensitive display 25 or touchscreen 45. The user interface 15 is used to create the planning rules 4 in a user-defined manner. Planning parameters 14 are configured for this purpose by means of the user interface 15. For example, values are input, or additional properties or the like are selected. The planning rules 4 also include planning operators 24. To enable even inexperienced users to create complex planning rules, a drag and drop method is provided here. For this purpose, the planning parameters 14 and the planning operators 24 are respectively displayed by means of individual graphic icons 34 on the user interface 15. The graphic icons 34 can be selected from a selection 5 area 25 by tapping on them and moved to a target area 35 with the finger. The planning parameters 14 and the planning operators 24 can thus be combined with one another in the target area 35 in a desired functional order. Depending on the selection and the combination, this results in a wide range of different planning rules 4. In text form a planning rule 4 may, for example, read: "If driver A is at location B on 10 Saturdays, then the state of charge must be at least 50% SOC at temperatures >15°C and at least 70% SOC at temperatures <15°C." A currently active user account 6 is in this case displayed on the user interface 15. The created planning rule 4 is thus assigned to this user account 6. Doing so enables Xl different users of the vehicle to each create and activate their own planning rules 4. CM CMl5 The user interface 15 in this case is part of a vehicle multimedia system 151. In an alternative embodiment, the user interface 15 shown here is provided by a mobile terminal 150 and, e.g., a smartphone or tablet or the like. The charging behavior of the vehicle can be influenced by the user in a variety of ways: e.g., on the vehicle, desired SOC at the target location, start SOC with a selected time 20 of day, desired setting for fast travel with optimization of stop a for fastest charging. The charging process can also be optimized in terms of infrastructure, e.g., by surplus charging with solar power or sequentially charging in a motor pool. Bidirectional charging can be provided as well. Current vehicles can trigger certain functions, for instance depending on their position (e.g., home garage) ("geofencing"). 25 The individual planning parameters 14 such as time of day, day of week, frequency, locations (e.g., from the navigation app), seasons, temperatures, driver ID, charging column, start state of charge (start SOC), end state of charge (end SOC), charging power, expected wait time at the charging column, interior conditioning, feedback to the power grid (bidirectional charging), e.g., from a particular price of electricity, etc. are each assigned a unique graphic icon 34 in the user interface 15, e.g., of the vehicle multimedia system 151 or the app of a terminal 150. There are also graphic icons 34 for the planning operators 24 "IF" and "THEN" or "IF-NOT", similar to a programming language. Using these graphic icons 34, the user can 5 easily compile various very complex individual planning rules 4 (also referred to as charging rules) as needed by dragging and dropping them on the touchscreen 45. The interface device 5 stores corresponding fallback levels for these planning rules 4. These planning rules 4 can then also be exported or assigned to the driver ID in the backend. 10 The vehicle can moreover derive its own planning rules 4 from the driving behavior of the drivers and offer them to the driver as a suggestion or propose suggestions with optimizations for the driver's planning rules 4.

Claims

1. An energy storage management system for an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, comprising at least one control device which is suitable and designed for operating an energy storage device for the vehicle as a function of stored planning rules and comprising at least one interface device with at least one graphical user interface for creating the planning rules in a user-defined manner, wherein the planning rules include planning parameters configurable by means of the user interface, wherein the interface device stores the created planning rules for the control device, whereinthe planning rules include planning operators, and wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for supporting a selection and a compilation of the planning parameters and the planning operators to create one or more planning rules using a drag and drop method by means of the user interface, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for displaying the planning parameters and the planning operators on the user interface by means of respective graphic icons and wherein the graphic icons are at least partially freely combinable in the target area by means of the user interface.

2. The energy storage management system according to the preceding claim, wherein the planning operators are taken from a group of planning operators comprising: IF functions; THEN functions; IF-NOT functions; THEN-NOT functions.

3. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the graphic icons are movable from at least one selection area to at least one target area by means of the user interface.

4. The energy storage management system according to the preceding claim, wherein the graphic icons are movable from the target area back to the selection area by means of the user interface.

5. The energy storage management system according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed forlinking the graphic icons that have been moved to the target area to a planning rule automatically in accordance with their arrangement made by the user and / or on the basis of a user command.

6. The energy storage management system according to any one of the three preceding claims, wherein values and / or additional properties can be set for at least some of the graphic icons.

7. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for assigning created planning rules to at least one user account and storing them in that location.

8. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for displaying planning rules stored in at least one user account by means of the user interface so that they can be changed using the drag and drop method.

9. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for subjecting the compiled planning parameters and planning operators to an admissibility check and / or plausibility check and, in the event of an incorrect compilation, to output a user notification and / or correct the compilation at least partially independently.

10. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the planning parameters are taken from a group of planning parameters comprising: start state of charge (start SOC), end state of charge (end SOC), charging power, time of day, day of week, frequency, locations (e.g., from the navigation app), seasons, temperatures, user account (driver ID), charging column identification, expected wait time at a charging column, vehicle preconditioning (e.g., interior conditioning), feedback to a power grid (bidirectional charging), price of electricity, operating state of a solar panel.

11. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one planning rule which specifies when and / or underwhat conditions the control device should or can perform a charging process of the energy storage device can be compiled using the drag and drop method.

12. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one planning rule which specifies a vehicle preconditioning can be compiled using the drag and drop method.

13. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for checking the created planning rules taking into account at least one driving parameter that is characteristic of the driving behavior and, based on the check, adjusting the planning rules and / or issuing an adjustment proposal.

14. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for independently creating and / or proposing its own planning rules taking into account at least one Xl driving parameter that is characteristic of the driving behavior.CM£\J 15. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding"i- claims, wherein the interface device is suitable and designed for respectivelyCO assigning at least one fallback plan to the created planning rules and makingthe fallback plan available to the control device, at least if the planning rules can currently or in the future not be implemented.

16. The energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user interface is provided by a mobile terminal.

17. The energy storage management system according to claim 16, wherein the user interface is provided by a smart device, and / or by a vehicle multimedia system.

18. A method for operating an energy storage management system according to any one of the preceding claims.

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