Information instrument

Abstract

To secure a drivable distance of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle 100 comprises a processor 81 that determines a standby location of the vehicle 100. The processor 81 determines a standby location from a plurality of standby place candidates to ensure that the cabin temperature of the vehicle 100 is close to the reference temperature when the vehicle is in standby mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information device, and more particularly to an information device that provides information regarding a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-168922 (Patent Document 1) discloses a vehicle dispatching system for electric vehicles, particularly for business-use electric vehicles such as taxis.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, power can be consumed by the operation of an air conditioner (particularly heating and cooling) even when the vehicle is waiting (for example, when a taxi is waiting for a passenger or when a taxi driver is taking a break). In particular, in an electric vehicle, the power consumption associated with the use of the air conditioner is larger compared to a conventional engine vehicle (so-called combi vehicle). Therefore, the cruising range of the electric vehicle may be shortened when the vehicle is waiting.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and one of the objects of the present disclosure is to ensure the cruising range of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information device according to an aspect of the present disclosure provides information regarding a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner. The information device includes a processor that determines a waiting location of the vehicle. The processor determines, as the waiting location, a candidate among a plurality of candidate waiting locations that causes the temperature inside the vehicle cabin to be close to a reference temperature when waiting.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the cruising range of the vehicle can be ensured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010] [Embodiment] [System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle management system 900 includes a vehicle 100 and a server 200. Although not shown for the sake of simplicity of the drawing, the vehicle management system 900 may include a number of vehicles 100.

[0011] The vehicle 100 is an electric vehicle (BEV) in this example. The vehicle 100 is typically used for business purposes such as taxis and hires. The vehicle 100 includes a battery 1, a PCU 2, a motor generator 3, an air conditioner 4, a power-on switch 5, a navigation device 6, a sunroof 7, and an ECU 8. The ECU 8 includes a processor 81 and a memory 82.

[0012] Server 200 is, for example, a vehicle allocation server that manages the allocation of vehicle 100 (such as the destination of vehicle 100, the driving route, etc.). Server 200 is configured to communicate bidirectionally with vehicle 100. Server 200 includes a processor 201 and a memory 202.

[0013] <Processing Flow> ECU 8 is configured to execute a guiding process for guiding vehicle 100 to a waiting location and an air-conditioning control process for controlling the air conditioning of vehicle 100 at the waiting location. In this example, these processes are realized using a "waiting location indication flag", which is a flag for managing the waiting location.

[0014] ≪Guiding Process≫ Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the guiding process in the present embodiment. The processes shown in this flowchart are called from the main routine and executed when predetermined conditions are satisfied (for example, at predetermined intervals). Each step is realized by software processing by ECU 8 (processor 81), but may also be realized by hardware (electrical circuit) arranged within ECU 8.

[0015] In S11, ECU 8 determines whether the waiting location indication flag 8 is on or off. If the waiting location indication flag is on (ON in S11), ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine. If the waiting location indication flag is off (OFF in S11), ECU 8 determines whether vehicle 100 is on the return route (the way back after dropping off passengers) (S12).

[0016] If vehicle 100 is traveling on the outbound route (in the middle of dropping off passengers) (NO in S12), ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine. If vehicle 100 is on the return route (YES in S12), ECU 8 determines the current season (S13).

[0017] The ECU 8 determines, according to the current season, among a plurality of predetermined candidate waiting locations, a candidate where the temperature inside the vehicle compartment of the vehicle 100 is close to the reference temperature (the temperature at which the user feels comfortable) as the waiting location. More specifically, when the current season is summer (summer in S13), the ECU 8 proceeds to S14 and guides the vehicle 100 to a waiting location suitable for summer among the candidates of the plurality of waiting locations. A waiting location suitable for summer is a location where the temperature rise inside the vehicle compartment can be suppressed, for example, indoors where the vehicle 100 can avoid direct sunlight. On the other hand, when the current season is winter (winter in S13), the ECU 8 proceeds to S15 and guides the vehicle 100 to a waiting location suitable for winter among the candidates of the plurality of waiting locations. A waiting location suitable for winter is a location where the temperature rise inside the vehicle compartment can be promoted, for example, outdoors where the vehicle 100 can receive direct sunlight. The destination waiting location is presented to the user by the navigation device 6 (navigation screen).

[0018] In addition, when the current season is neither summer nor winter (in S13, otherwise), the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine.

[0019] The ECU 8 may also determine the current time (the current time zone) in addition to the current season. For example, during a time zone when the vehicle 100 is cooled by the outside air (or the air flow) (such as at night), the ECU 8 may guide the vehicle 100 to an indoor waiting location even if it is winter. Alternatively, the ECU 8 may guide the vehicle 100 to an outdoor waiting location even if it is summer.

[0020] After guiding the waiting location in S14 or S15, the ECU 8 switches the waiting location instruction flag from off to on (S16). Then, the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine.

[0021] ≪Air conditioning process≫ Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the air conditioning process in the present embodiment. In S21, the ECU 8 determines whether the waiting location instruction flag 8 is on or off. If the waiting location instruction flag is off (OFF in S21), the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine. If the waiting location instruction flag is on (ON in S21), the ECU 8 determines whether the vehicle 100 is parked at the waiting location guided in S14 or S15 of the guidance process (S22). Whether the vehicle 100 is parked at the waiting location can be determined based on the current position information (GPS information) of the vehicle 100 from the navigation device 6, the position of the shift range (P range), and the on / off state of the parking brake (EPB = ON).

[0022] If the vehicle 100 is not parked at the waiting location (NO in S22), the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine. If the vehicle 100 is parked at the waiting location (YES in S22), the ECU 8 determines the current season (S23).

[0023] The ECU 8 adjusts the temperature inside the vehicle cabin by controlling the air conditioner 4 and the sunroof 7 according to the current season. More specifically, if the current season is summer (summer in S23), the ECU 8 proceeds to S24 and executes shading activation control. Shading activation control is control to close the sunroof 7 (sunshade) so as to block direct sunlight and operate the air conditioner 4 so that air flows from the inside air to the outside air. On the other hand, if the current season is winter (winter in S23), the ECU 8 proceeds to S25 and executes daylighting heat insulation control. Daylighting heat insulation control is control to open the sunroof 7 (sunshade) so as to let in direct sunlight and operate the air conditioner 4 so that internal air circulation is performed.

[0024] If the current season is neither summer nor winter (otherwise in S13), the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine.

[0025] After starting the control of the air conditioner 4 and the sunroof 7 in S24 or S25, the ECU 8 determines whether the parking time of the vehicle 100 at the waiting location has reached a specified time (for example, several tens of seconds to several tens of minutes) (S26).

[0026] Until the parking time exceeds the specified time (NO in S26), the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine. When the parking time exceeds the specified time (YES in S26), the ECU 8 switches the waiting location instruction flag from on to off (S16). Then, the ECU 8 returns the process to the main routine.

[0027] As described above, in the present embodiment, by the guidance process, when the vehicle 100 waits, a waiting location where the temperature inside the vehicle cabin approaches a temperature at which the user feels comfortable is guided. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to use the air conditioner 4 during waiting, or the usage time of the air conditioner 4 is shortened, or the air volume of the air conditioner 4 is weakened. Therefore, the power consumption by the air conditioner 4 can be suppressed, and thereby more power can be left in the battery 1. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the cruising range (so-called EV range) of the vehicle 100 can be ensured.

[0028] In addition, by the air conditioning process, shading / lighting is controlled while the vehicle 100 is waiting. This also enables suppression of the use of the air conditioner 4 and the like. Therefore, the power consumption by the air conditioner 4 can be further suppressed, and thereby more power can be left in the battery 1. Therefore, a longer cruising range can be ensured.

[0029] In the present embodiment, an example in which the guidance process is executed by the vehicle 100 has been described. In this case, the vehicle 100 corresponds to the "information device" according to the present disclosure. However, the guidance process may be executed by the server 200 (processor 201). In this case, the server 200 corresponds to the "information device" according to the present disclosure.

[0030] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the scope of the claims rather than the description of the above embodiments, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims be included.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0031] 100 Vehicle, 1 Battery, 2 PCU, 3 Motor Generator, 4 Air Conditioning Unit, 5 Power On Switch, 6 Navigation Device, 7 Sunroof, 8 Waiting Location Indicator Flag, 81 Processor, 82 Memory, 200 Server, 201 Processor, 202 Memory, 900 Vehicle Management System.

Claims

【Claim 1】 An information device that provides information regarding a vehicle equipped with an air conditioning device, comprising a processor that determines a waiting location of the vehicle, wherein the processor determines, as the waiting location, a candidate among a plurality of candidate waiting locations that causes the temperature inside the vehicle cabin to approach a reference temperature when waiting.

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