Charging station and transportable battery rental system

Abstract

To provide a charging station and a transportable battery rental system that prevent unauthorized use by third parties without rights to use.SOLUTION: A charging station 10 includes: a main communication unit 24 capable of wireless communication with a vehicle capable of mounting a transportable battery; and a locking device 12 capable of switching between a locked state in which the charged transportable battery cannot be removed, and an unlocked state in which it can be removed. When a user performs a predetermined operation to replace the transportable battery, the main communication unit 24 receives a vehicle ID from the vehicle, and the locking device 12 switches between the locked state and the unlocked state of the charged transportable battery based on the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging station and a portable battery rental system. [Background technology]

[0002] A charging station that lends portable batteries to users is known, for example from Patent Document 1. In such a charging station, used batteries are charged within the charging station and then loaned out to users again. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7030994 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, the demand for portable batteries has been increasing due to social demands, etc. In charging stations that use ID cards or the like to authenticate users as in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that a third party without the authority to use the station may borrow the ID card and impersonate the user, resulting in unauthorized use.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a charging station and a portable battery rental system that prevents unauthorized use by third parties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A charging station according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: We provide a rental service for charged portable batteries, a main communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with a vehicle in which the portable battery can be mounted; a locking device capable of switching between a locked state in which the charged portable battery cannot be removed and an unlocked state in which the portable battery can be removed; Equipped with when a user performs a predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery, the main communication unit receives a vehicle ID from the vehicle; The lock device switches between the locked state and the unlocked state of the charged portable battery based on the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit.

[0007] The portable battery rental system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: The charging station and an authentication server capable of network communication are provided, The charging station further includes a network communication unit, The network communication unit transmits the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit to the authentication server, The authentication server performs vehicle authentication based on the vehicle ID and transmits a vehicle authentication result to the network communication unit; The lock device switches between a locked state and an unlocked state of the portable battery based on a result of authentication by the authentication server of the vehicle ID received by the network communication unit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a charging station and a portable battery rental system are provided that prevent unauthorized use by third parties. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a lending system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the authentication system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the charging station according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle equipped with a portable battery. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a lending system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the authentication system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a charging station according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present disclosure relates to a charging station 10 for a portable battery and a rental system 1. A portable battery is a battery that can be carried by a user. A portable battery is a battery used in a means of transportation such as a vehicle mounted on an electric motorcycle, an electric four-wheeled vehicle, an electric bicycle, an electric kick scooter, etc. First Embodiment

[0011] The lending system according to the first embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a rental system according to a first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, a charging station 10 provides a service in which a user U of a vehicle 100 equipped with a portable battery B returns a used portable battery B, and the charging station 10 rents out a charged portable battery B. At that time, the charging station 10 performs user authentication of the user U and vehicle authentication of the vehicle 100. The charging station 10 also charges the returned battery with power supplied from a commercial power source 2. Details of the authentication system, including user authentication and vehicle authentication, will be described later.

[0012] For convenience of drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a single charging station 10, but in reality, multiple charging stations 10 are provided, and each charging station 10 provides a service of lending portable batteries to users.

[0013] 1 shows an example in which the battery is charged in the charging station 10 with power from the commercial power source 2, but the charging station 10 may have a solar power generation facility or be connected to a solar power generation facility, and may be configured to charge the battery with a power source other than the commercial power source 2. Power sources other than the commercial power source 2 include, in addition to solar power generation facilities, geothermal power generation facilities, biomass power generation facilities, wind power generation facilities, and the like.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the authentication system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, first, the charging station 10 starts accepting user identification information such as a password, an electronic certificate, and biometric information (S1). When a user U of the vehicle 100 inputs user identification information to the input unit 14 (see FIG. 3) of the charging station 10, the charging station 10 executes user authentication (S2) and checks whether the user identification information input to the input unit 14 is registered in the recording unit 15 (see FIG. 3) (S3). If the user identification information is registered in the input unit 14, the charging station 10 permits user login (Yes in S3). If the user identification information is not registered in the input unit 14, the charging station 10 does not permit user login (No in S3) and returns to the process of step S2.

[0015] After permitting user login, the charging station 10 starts accepting the vehicle ID (S4). Here, the charging station 10 and the vehicle 100 are configured to be able to receive the vehicle ID from the vehicle 100 by wireless communication when the user U performs a predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery B. The predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery B and the configuration for transmitting and receiving the vehicle ID will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle equipped with a portable battery. In the example of FIG. 4, the vehicle 100 has a mechanism that can be opened by unlocking a locked seat, and is configured to be able to accommodate a portable battery B in a battery accommodation box 110 located below the seat. In addition, a communication unit M (not shown) capable of wireless communication with the main communication unit 24 (see FIG. 3) of the charging station 10 is disposed below the area in which the portable battery B is accommodated. The communication unit M is, for example, an RFID tag, and a vehicle ID is recorded in the communication unit M. The predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery B described above is, for example, an operation in which the user U removes the portable battery B from the battery accommodation box 110. In a state in which the portable battery B is accommodated in the battery accommodation box 110, the portable battery B functions as a shield, and the communication unit M cannot wirelessly communicate with the main communication unit 24, but by removing the portable battery B from the battery accommodation box 110, the communication unit M can wirelessly communicate with the main communication unit 24.

[0017] In this way, by configuring the communication unit M to wirelessly communicate with the main communication unit 24 through a predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery B, vehicle authentication of the vehicle 100 can be performed without imposing a workload on the user U. In addition, unnecessary vehicle authentication can be suppressed for vehicles of other users who do not intend to replace the portable battery.

[0018] The predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery B is not limited to the operation of removing the portable battery B from the battery housing box 110, and may be the operation of unlocking a locked seat. In this case, as a configuration for transmitting the vehicle ID, the communication unit M may be arranged near a locking part of the seat, and by unlocking the seat, power is applied to the communication unit M by a battery cell provided in the communication unit M or the battery of the vehicle 100, and wireless communication with the main communication unit 24 is performed. The vehicle ID may be a vehicle number or an identification number of the vehicle 100 registered in advance in the rental system 1.

[0019] Returning to the description of Fig. 2, when the charging station 10 receives a vehicle ID by the user U performing a predetermined action within a predetermined time after starting to accept the vehicle ID (Yes in S5), the charging station 10 executes vehicle authentication (S8).

[0020] Furthermore, if the charging station 10 does not receive the vehicle ID via wireless communication within a predetermined time (No in S5), it starts accepting the vehicle number of the vehicle 100 (S6). If the user U inputs the vehicle number into the input unit 14 of the charging station 10 (Yes in S7), the charging station 10 executes vehicle authentication (S8). This allows vehicle authentication to be performed by manual input by the user if the vehicle ID cannot be received via wireless communication within a predetermined time due to a wireless communication malfunction or the like. If the user U does not input the vehicle number into the input unit 14 of the charging station 10 (No in S7), the charging station 10 cannot execute vehicle authentication and therefore returns to the process of step S2.

[0021] When vehicle authentication is performed (S8), the charging station 10 checks whether the vehicle ID received by wireless communication or the vehicle number entered into the input unit 14 is registered in the recording unit 15 (S9). If registered, vehicle authentication is permitted (Yes in S9), and the locked state of the rack unit 11 (see FIG. 3) is released (S10), allowing the user U to replace the portable battery B. If not registered, user login is not permitted (No in S9), and the process returns to step S2.

[0022] In step 8, when the user U performs a predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery B, the charging station 10 may capture still images or videos of the periphery of the charging station 10 using the imaging unit 16 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, when the charging station 10 captures still images or videos of the periphery of the charging station 10 using the imaging unit 16, if the face of the authorized user U cannot be identified, the charging station 10 may warn the user U by voice or screen display to turn his / her face toward the imaging unit 16. This allows the authorized user U to perform only user authentication, and prevents unauthorized third parties from masquerading as the authorized user U and illegally using the charging station.

[0023] Furthermore, the user ID and the vehicle ID or the vehicle number may be linked and stored in the recording unit 15. In this case, in step S9, the vehicle ID received by wireless communication or the vehicle number input to the input unit 14 is checked to see if it matches the vehicle ID or the vehicle number registered in association with the user ID received in step S5.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the charging station according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the charging station 10 includes a rack unit 11, a locking device 12, a charging unit 13, an input unit 14, a recording unit 15, an imaging unit 16, a display unit 17, and a control unit 20. The rack unit 11 accommodates a portable battery B. The locking device 12 switches the rack unit 11 between a locked state and an unlocked state in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 20. The charging unit 13 charges the portable battery B accommodated in the rack unit 11. The input unit 14 is a user interface that accepts input of user identification information and a vehicle number. The recording unit 15 is a storage device (storage) such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a flash memory, and is configured to store programs and various data (user identification information, a vehicle ID, etc.). The imaging unit 16 is a camera that captures still images and videos around the charging station 10.

[0025] The control unit 20 has an inventory management unit 21, a lock control unit 22, a charging control unit 23, a main communication unit 24, and an authentication unit 25. The inventory management unit 21 grasps the inventory status of the batteries in the charging station 10. The lock control unit 22 controls the lock device 12 to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state of the rack unit 11 based on the results of the user authentication and the vehicle authentication. The charging control unit 23 controls the operation of the charging unit 13, such as which battery should be charged and when. The main communication unit 24 is, for example, an RFID reader, and receives a vehicle ID from the vehicle 100 by wireless communication when the user U performs a predetermined operation. The authentication unit 25 performs user authentication based on user identification information such as a password, an electronic certificate, and biometric information input to the input unit 14, and performs vehicle authentication based on the vehicle ID received by wireless communication or input to the input unit 14.

[0026] The control unit 20 includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions (programs). For example, the memory is configured with a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which various programs and the like are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which various programs and the like to be executed by the processor are stored, and the like. The processor is configured with at least one of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor may be configured to load a program designated from various programs incorporated in the storage device or the ROM onto the RAM, and to execute various processes in cooperation with the RAM.

[0027] As described above, by performing not only user authentication but also vehicle authentication, it is possible to prevent unauthorized third parties from impersonating the user and using the system fraudulently by, for example, asking for the password or borrowing the electronic certificate. Second Embodiment

[0028] The lending system according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Note that only the differences from the lending system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described, and a description of the common parts will be omitted. Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a rental system according to the second embodiment. Compared to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the rental system 1 according to the second embodiment includes an authentication server 3 capable of communicating via a network 5. In this embodiment, instead of the authentication unit 25 of the charging station 10, the authentication server 3 performs user authentication and vehicle authentication. As a result, when multiple charging stations 10 are provided, each charging station 10 does not need to have an authentication unit 25, and the load of user authentication and vehicle authentication can be reduced. In addition, the authentication server 3 facilitates centralized management of the system related to user authentication and vehicle authentication.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the authentication system according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, when a user U of a vehicle 100 inputs user identification information into the input unit 14 of the charging station 10 (see FIG. 7), the charging station 10 transmits the user identification information to the authentication server 3 (S12). The authentication server 3 performs user authentication based on the received user identification information and transmits the authentication result to the charging station 10 (S13). Furthermore, when the user U performs a predetermined operation within a predetermined time and receives a vehicle ID (Yes in S16), or when the user U inputs a vehicle number into the input unit 14 of the charging station 10 (Yes in S18), the charging station 10 transmits the vehicle ID or vehicle number to the authentication server 3 (S19). The authentication server 3 performs user authentication based on the received vehicle ID or vehicle number, and transmits the authentication result to the charging station 10 (S20). Thus, in this embodiment, the authentication server 3 is configured to perform user authentication and vehicle authentication.

[0030] Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a charging station according to the second embodiment. Compared to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the charging station 10 according to the second embodiment includes a network communication unit 26 capable of network communication with the authentication server 3, instead of the authentication unit 25. The network communication unit 26 transmits a user ID and a received vehicle ID or vehicle number to the authentication server 3, thereby causing the authentication server 3 to perform user authentication and vehicle authentication.

[0031] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the description of the embodiment. The embodiment is merely an example, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiment are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0032] For example, in the above-described embodiment, vehicle authentication is performed after user authentication, but it may also be configured so that user authentication is performed after vehicle authentication, or so that user authentication and vehicle authentication are accepted simultaneously. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Lending System 2 Commercial power supply 3 Authentication Server 5. Network 10. Charging Station 11 Rack section 12 Locking device 13 Live parts 14 Input section 15 Recording section 16 Imaging unit 17 Display section 20 Control section 21 Inventory Management Department 22 Lock control section 23 Charging control unit 24 Main Communication Section 25 Authentication Section 26 Network Communication Department 100 vehicles 110 Battery storage box B Portable battery U User

Claims

1. A charging station that provides a rental service of a charged portable battery, The charging station includes: a main communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with a vehicle in which the portable battery can be mounted; a locking device capable of switching between a locked state in which the charged portable battery cannot be removed and an unlocked state in which the portable battery can be removed; Equipped with when a user performs a predetermined operation for replacing the portable battery, the main communication unit receives a vehicle ID from the vehicle; The locking device switches between the locked state and the unlocked state of the charged portable battery based on the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit.

2. The charging station further includes an authentication unit that performs authentication regarding the vehicle. The authentication unit performs vehicle authentication based on the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit, The charging station according to claim 1 , wherein the locking device switches between the locked state and the unlocked state of the portable battery based on an authentication result, performed by the authentication unit, of the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit.

3. The authentication unit performs user authentication based on a user ID of the user, The charging station according to claim 2 , further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit matches the vehicle ID registered in association with the user ID.

4. The charging station according to claim 3 , wherein the authentication unit performs the user authentication using at least one of a password, an electronic certificate, and biometric information.

5. The charging station further includes an imaging unit. The charging station according to claim 2 , wherein the authentication unit causes the imaging unit to capture an image of the periphery of the charging station when the user performs the predetermined action for replacing the portable battery.

6. The charging station according to claim 5 , wherein when the authentication unit causes the imaging unit to capture an image of the periphery of the charging station, if the imaging unit cannot identify a face of the user, the authentication unit issues a warning to the user.

7. the charging station further comprising a user input; The charging station according to claim 2 , wherein the authentication unit accepts an input of a vehicle number of the vehicle by the user when vehicle authentication based on the vehicle ID cannot be performed within a predetermined time.

8. A portable battery rental system comprising the charging station according to claim 1 and an authentication server capable of network communication, The charging station further includes a network communication unit, The network communication unit transmits the vehicle ID received by the main communication unit to the authentication server, The authentication server performs vehicle authentication based on the vehicle ID and transmits a vehicle authentication result to the network communication unit; The locking device switches between a locked state and an unlocked state of the portable battery based on an authentication result by the authentication server of the vehicle ID received by the network communication unit.

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