Power supply device

Abstract

To provide a power supply device that can perform power supply work while avoiding contact with a mirror of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A power supply device autonomously travels to a power supply port which is set around a mirror of a vehicle and performs power supply. The power supply device includes a control unit and a power supply connector. To start power supply to the vehicle and pass by the mirror of the vehicle, the control unit outputs a mirror folding request to the vehicle before passing by. When the power supply to the vehicle is completed, the control unit outputs a mirror unfolding request to the vehicle after passing by the mirror of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a vehicle to be supplied with power is determined based on the vehicle's position, the position of the vehicle's power supply port, or information received by an input unit, and a self-propelled power supply device is moved to the position of the power supply port of the vehicle to be supplied with power to supply power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-023044 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology proposed in Patent Document 1 leaves room for improvement, for example, when multiple vehicles are parked adjacent to each other and a power supply port is provided near the mirror of the vehicle itself or an adjacent vehicle, because there is a risk that the power supply device may come into contact with the mirror during power supply operations.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a power supply device that allows power supply work to be performed while avoiding contact with a vehicle mirror. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The power supply device according to the present disclosure is a power supply device that moves independently to supply power to a power supply port provided near a mirror of a vehicle, and includes a control unit and a power supply connector, and when the control unit starts supplying power to the vehicle and passes by the mirror of the vehicle, it outputs a request to the vehicle to close the mirror before passing by, and when power supply to the vehicle is completed, it outputs a request to the vehicle to open the mirror after passing by the mirror of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, power supply work can be performed while avoiding contact with the vehicle mirror. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power supply system including a power supply device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle to be supplied with power by the power supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power supply work space when the power supply device according to the embodiment supplies power to a vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when starting power feeding to a vehicle in a power feeding method executed by a power feeding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when power feeding to a vehicle is completed in a power feeding method executed by a power feeding device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A power supply device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] (Power supply system) A power supply system including a power supply device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the power supply system includes a vehicle 1 and a power supply device 2. Both the vehicle 1 and the power supply device 2 are provided with a communication function (communication unit) and are configured to be able to communicate with each other and exchange various information via a network N. This network N is configured, for example, from an internet network, a mobile phone network, or the like.

[0011] (vehicle) The vehicle 1 is an electrically powered vehicle that can be supplied with power, such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The vehicle 1 may also be an autonomous vehicle that can travel autonomously without being operated by a driver. The vehicle 1 may also be equipped with an automatic parking function that automatically parks the vehicle or a parking assist function that assists with parking.

[0012] Vehicle 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a power supply port 13, and a mirror 14. Note that, among the components of vehicle 1, Fig. 1 illustrates only the components essential for realizing the power supply device according to the embodiment, and other components are not illustrated.

[0013] The control unit 11 is an electronic control unit (ECU) whose main components are a microcomputer including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The control unit 11 executes various programs to comprehensively control the operations of various components of the vehicle 1.

[0014] The control unit 11 opens and closes the mirror 14 based on a request (open request, close request) for opening or closing the mirror 14 from the power supply device 2. The mirror 14 is a door mirror provided on the side of the vehicle 1.

[0015] The communication unit 12 is configured by, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module), etc. The communication unit 12 exchanges information with the power supply device 2 through communication via the network N.

[0016] Power inlet 13 is used to receive power from power supply device 2. When power supply connector 23 of power supply device 2 is connected to power inlet 13, power from power supply device 2 is stored in a battery (not shown). Power inlet 13 is provided on the side of vehicle 1 (on the left side in FIG. 1 ) near mirror 14.

[0017] (Power supply device) The power supply device 2 is a device for supplying power to the vehicle 1. This power supply device 2 is installed in a parking lot or the like. The power supply device 2 is a self-propelled power supply device that self-propels to the position of the power supply port 13 of the vehicle 1 parked in a parking space in the parking lot to supply power. The power supply device 2 supplies power to the vehicle 1 within a predetermined power supply work space (see FIG. 3). The power supply device 2 may also include means (e.g., a sensor) for detecting the position of the power supply port 13 of the vehicle 1 to be supplied with power within this power supply work space.

[0018] The power supply device 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a power supply connector 23. Note that, of the components of the power supply device 2, Fig. 1 illustrates only the components essential for realizing the power supply device according to the embodiment, and other components are not illustrated.

[0019] Similar to the control unit 11, the control unit 21 is an electronic control device whose main components are a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The control unit 21 comprehensively controls the operations of the various components of the power supply device 2 by executing various programs.

[0020] When starting power supply to vehicle 1 and passing beside mirror 14 of vehicle 1, control unit 21 outputs a request to vehicle 1 to close mirror 14 (hereinafter referred to as a "mirror close request") before mirror 14 passes. Note that "when starting power supply to vehicle 1" refers to, for example, a case where a power supply request is output from vehicle 1 to power supply device 2. Also, "closing mirror 14" refers to folding (storing) mirror 14 toward the vehicle body. Closing mirror 14 in this manner can eliminate the state in which mirror 14 interferes with the power supply work space (see FIG. 3).

[0021] When starting power supply to the vehicle 1, the control unit 21 first inquires of the vehicle 1 about the open / closed state of the mirror 14, and outputs a mirror closing request to the vehicle 1 only if the mirror 14 is open.

[0022] Furthermore, when power supply to vehicle 1 is completed, control unit 21 outputs a request to vehicle 1 to open mirror 14 again (hereinafter referred to as a "mirror open request") after power supply device 2 passes beside mirror 14 of vehicle 1. Note that "when power supply to vehicle 1 is completed" refers to, for example, a case where information regarding the completion of power supply is output from vehicle 1 to power supply device 2.

[0023] When power supply to the vehicle 1 is completed, the control unit 21 may first inquire of the vehicle 1 about the open / closed state of the mirror 14, and output a mirror opening request to the vehicle 1 only if the mirror 14 is closed.

[0024] The communication unit 22 is configured with, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication, etc. The communication unit 22 exchanges information with the vehicle 1 through communication via the network N.

[0025] The power supply connector 23 is for supplying electric power to the vehicle 1. By connecting the power supply connector 23 to the power supply port 13 of the vehicle 1, electric power is supplied to the vehicle 1 side.

[0026] (Power supply method (when power supply starts)) A flow at the start of power feeding in a power feeding method executed by a power feeding device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0027] First, the control unit 21 determines whether or not there is a power supply request from the vehicle 1 (step S1). If it is determined in step S1 that there is no power supply request from the vehicle 1 (No in step S1), the control unit 21 returns to the determination in step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that there is a power supply request from the vehicle 1 (Yes in step S1), the control unit 21 inquires of the vehicle 1 about the open / closed state of the mirror 14 (step S2).

[0028] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 is open or not based on the inquiry result of step S2 (step S3). If the control unit 21 determines in step S3 that the mirror 14 is not open (No in step S3), the control unit 21 proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if the control unit 21 determines in step S3 that the mirror 14 is open (Yes in step S3), the control unit 21 outputs a mirror close request to the vehicle 1 (step S4).

[0029] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the closing operation of the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 is completed (step S5). The determination in step S5 can be made based on, for example, the result of inquiring the vehicle 1 again about the open / closed state of the mirror 14.

[0030] If it is determined in step S5 that the closing operation of the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 has not been completed (No in step S5), the control unit 21 returns to the determination in step S5. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the closing operation of the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 has been completed (Yes in step S5), the control unit 21 inserts the power feeding connector 23 into the power feeding port 13 of the vehicle 1 (step S6), starts feeding power, and completes this process.

[0031] (Power supply method (when power supply is complete)) A flow at the time of power supply completion in the power supply method executed by the power supply device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] First, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the power supply to the vehicle 1 has been completed (step S11). If the control unit 21 determines in step S11 that the power supply to the vehicle 1 has not been completed (No in step S11), the control unit 21 returns to the determination in step S11. On the other hand, if the control unit 21 determines in step S11 that the power supply to the vehicle 1 has been completed (Yes in step S11), the control unit 21 removes the power supply connector 23 from the power port 13 of the vehicle 1 (step S12).

[0033] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the mirror 14 was opened before power supply (step S13). If it is determined in step S13 that the mirror 14 was not opened before power supply (No in step S13), the control unit 21 completes this process. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the mirror 14 was opened before power supply (Yes in step S13), the control unit 21 outputs a mirror opening request to the vehicle 1 (step S14).

[0034] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the opening operation of the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 is completed (step S15). The determination in step S15 can be made based on, for example, the result of inquiring the vehicle 1 again about the open / closed state of the mirror 14.

[0035] In step S15, if it is determined that the opening operation of the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 is not completed (No in step S15), the control unit 21 returns to the determination in step S15. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that the opening operation of the mirror 14 of the vehicle 1 is completed (Yes in step S15), the control unit 21 completes this process.

[0036] Here, when a self-propelled power supply device 2 is used to automatically supply power to a vehicle 1 in a parking lot or the like, for example, in order to increase space efficiency and park many vehicles 1, it is desirable to make the power supply work space (see FIG. 3 ) for inserting and removing the power supply connector 23 as small as possible. Therefore, in the power supply device according to the embodiment, before inserting the power supply connector 23 into the power supply port 13 (at the start of power supply), a mirror close request is output to the vehicle 1, causing the mirror 14 to close. Also, before removing the power supply connector 23 from the power supply port 13 (at the completion of power supply), a mirror open request is output to the vehicle 1, causing the mirror 14 to open. In this way, the power supply device according to the embodiment automatically opens and closes the mirror 14 at an appropriate timing when performing the power supply work, thereby suppressing the expansion of the power supply work space and realizing a highly efficient parking space.

[0037] According to the power supply device of the embodiment described above, when a self-propelled power supply device 2 is used to automatically supply power to a vehicle 1, the power supply device 2 can perform the power supply operation while avoiding contact with the mirrors 14 of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, according to the power supply device of the embodiment, for example, when the power supply device 2 passes between adjacent vehicles 1, the power supply device 2 can be prevented from contacting the vehicle 1 (mirrors 14 of the vehicle 1). Furthermore, according to the power supply device of the embodiment, the power supply connector 23 can be prevented from contacting the vehicle 1 (mirrors 14 of the vehicle 1) when inserting or removing the power supply connector 23 into or from the power supply port 13. Furthermore, according to the power supply device of the embodiment, the spacing between parked vehicles in a parking lot or the like can be minimized, thereby improving the efficiency of parking space.

[0038] Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 vehicle 11 Control section 12 Communications Department 13 Power supply port 14. Mirror 2 Power supply equipment 21 Control Unit 22 Communications Department 23 Power supply connector N Network

Claims

[Claim 1] A power supply device that moves autonomously to supply power to a power supply port provided near a vehicle mirror, A control unit and a power supply connector are provided, The control unit When starting power supply to the vehicle and when passing beside a mirror of the vehicle, outputting a request to the vehicle to close the mirror before passing; When power supply to the vehicle is completed, a request to open the mirror after passing by the vehicle is output to the vehicle. Power supply device.

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