Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control device capable of appropriately displaying on a display unit that a vehicle includes an outlet function by using information other than the presence or absence of a charger.SOLUTION: The vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle includes: a storage unit that stores vehicle specifications information including at least information on the availability of electrical outlets in the vehicle; and a determination unit that determines whether to display on the display unit the vehicle includes an outlet function capable of being externally supplied with the electricity by an outlet based on the vehicle specifications information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method for determining the presence or absence of a power supply inverter based on an operation state signal output from the power supply inverter. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, Disclosure of Technical Information, No. 2022-500524 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a vehicle is equipped with an accessory outlet or power outlet (hereinafter referred to as "outlet") inside the vehicle cabin to provide power to an external device, a power supply inverter is installed as a charger in vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine.On the other hand, electric vehicles such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are equipped with a bidirectional charger that combines the ability to charge the drive battery from an external source and the ability to supply power to an external device.

[0005] Although this bidirectional charger has an external power supply capability, the implementation of the outlet function is an optional item that vehicle users can freely select, so there are cases where vehicles are equipped with a charger but do not have the outlet function. For this reason, it is difficult to determine whether or not the vehicle has the outlet function based on the presence or absence of a charger, and there is a problem in that it is not possible to determine whether or not the display device should display the fact that the vehicle has the outlet function. Therefore, there is room for further study on methods for appropriately displaying on the display device that the vehicle has the outlet function.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a vehicle control device that can appropriately display on a display device that a vehicle has an outlet function using information other than the presence or absence of a charger. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the disclosed technology is a vehicle control device that is mounted on a vehicle and includes a memory unit that stores vehicle specification information that includes at least information regarding whether or not the vehicle has an outlet, and a judgment unit that determines, based on the vehicle specification information, whether or not to display on a display device that the vehicle has an outlet function that allows external power supply from the outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the vehicle control device of the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately display on the display device, based on the vehicle specification information, that the vehicle is equipped with an outlet function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle including a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information included in vehicle specification information; [Figure 3] Processing flowchart of function display control (first example) executed by a vehicle control device [Figure 4] Processing flowchart of function display control (second example) executed by a vehicle control device [Figure 5] Processing flowchart of function display control (third example) executed by a vehicle control device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The vehicle control device disclosed herein determines whether a vehicle has an outlet function based on vehicle specification information stored in the vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU) on the vehicle production line, and displays information corresponding to the determination result on a display device. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <Embodiment> [composition] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle including a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes a vehicle control device 110, a vehicle control device 120, a display device 130, and a connection connector 140. The vehicle control device 110, the vehicle control device 120, the display device 130, and the connection connector 140 are communicatively connected to each other via an in-vehicle network 150 such as a CAN. The vehicle 100 is also configured to be connectable to a factory tool 200 via the connection connector 140.

[0012] Vehicle 100 may be equipped with a power supply inverter (not shown), a bidirectional charger (not shown), or neither. The power supply inverter is a power converter that converts a direct current (DC 12V, for example) from an auxiliary battery (not shown) or the like into a predetermined alternating current (AC 100V, for example), and is installed when implementing a power outlet function in vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine that do not have a charger as a standard feature. The bidirectional charger is a power converter that integrates a power outlet function into a charger for externally charging the drive battery (not shown), and is always installed in electric vehicles powered by electric motors.

[0013] The factory tool 200 is an external device that is connected to a connector 140 provided on the vehicle 100 via a communication cable 210 and communicates with the vehicle 100. The factory tool 200 can transmit vehicle specification information, including various information related to the equipment and functions installed on the vehicle 100, to the vehicle 100 via communication. In this embodiment, the vehicle specification information includes at least information regarding the "presence or absence of an outlet," which indicates whether an outlet is installed in the vehicle cabin. Preferably, the vehicle specification information also includes information regarding the "output power of the outlet," which indicates the maximum power that can be output from the outlet. Note that the vehicle specification information may include information regarding the "number of outlets" installed in the vehicle cabin instead of the presence or absence of an outlet.

[0014] An example of information regarding the presence or absence of an electrical outlet and the output power of the outlet, included in the vehicle specification information, is shown in Figure 2. The factory tool 200 selects a combination that corresponds to the implementation details of the vehicle 100 from the multiple pieces of information shown in Figure 2, and transmits this selected information to the vehicle 100 together with the vehicle specification information.

[0015] The vehicle control device 110 is a main electronic control unit (master ECU) that controls the vehicle 100. The vehicle control device 110 includes a memory unit 111. The vehicle control device 110 acquires vehicle specification information from the factory tool 200 via the connection connector 140 and stores the acquired vehicle specification information in the memory unit 111. Based on the vehicle specification information stored in the memory unit 111, the vehicle control device 110 also sends a signal A indicating the presence or absence of an outlet and a signal B indicating the output power of the outlet to the in-vehicle network 150.

[0016] The vehicle control device 120 is a secondary electronic control unit (slave ECU) that controls the vehicle 100. The vehicle control device 120 includes a storage unit 121 and a determination unit 122. The vehicle control device 120 acquires signals A and B from the vehicle control device 110 via the in-vehicle network 150 and stores the acquired signals A and B in the storage unit 121. The vehicle control device 120 also switches its own control (such as control of the power supply inverter or the bidirectional charger) based on the signals A and B stored in the storage unit 121. The vehicle control device 120 also uses the determination unit 122 to determine whether to display that the vehicle control device 120 has an outlet function, based on the signals A and B stored in the storage unit 121. The vehicle control device 120 then sends a signal C to the in-vehicle network 150, instructing the display mode of the outlet function based on the result of the determination by the determination unit 122.

[0017] Display device 130 is a display medium, such as a center display, that can graphically display the status of the equipment and functions of vehicle 100. Display device 130 receives signal C from vehicle control device 120 via in-vehicle network 150 and displays an appropriate display about the outlet function in the display mode instructed by the received signal C. The display mode of the outlet function will be described later.

[0018] [control] Next, with further reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, some of the display controls of the outlet function performed in the vehicle 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0019] (1) Example 1 3 is a processing flowchart of a first example of function display control executed by the vehicle control device 110 (master ECU), the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU), and the display device 130. The function display control shown in FIG. 3 is started, for example, when the factory tool 200 is connected to the connection connector 140 of the vehicle 100.

[0020] (Step S301) The vehicle control device 110 (master ECU) acquires the vehicle specification information from the factory tool 200. That is, the vehicle specification information is written from the factory tool 200 to the storage unit 111 of the vehicle control device 110 (transmission of vehicle specification information in FIG. 1). Once the vehicle specification information is acquired by the vehicle control device 110, the process proceeds to step S302.

[0021] (Step S302) The vehicle control device 110 (master ECU) transmits information regarding the presence or absence of an electrical outlet from the vehicle specification information stored in the storage unit 111 to the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) (transmission of signal A in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 110 transmits the information regarding the presence or absence of an electrical outlet to the vehicle control device 120, the process proceeds to step S303.

[0022] (Step S303) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) receives information about the presence or absence of an outlet from the vehicle control device 110 (master ECU), and determines whether the vehicle 100 has an outlet function based on this received information. If the information about the presence or absence of an outlet is "present" (step S303, Yes), the process proceeds to step S304. On the other hand, if the information about the presence or absence of an outlet is "absent" (step S303, No), the process proceeds to step S305.

[0023] (Step S304) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) determines that the vehicle 100 is equipped with an outlet function and instructs the display device 130 to display that the vehicle 100 is equipped with an outlet function (transmission of signal C in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 120 instructs the display device 130 to display the outlet function, the process proceeds to step S306.

[0024] (Step S305) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) determines that the vehicle 100 does not have an outlet function and instructs the display device 130 not to display that the outlet function is provided (transmission of signal C in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 120 instructs not to display the outlet function, the process proceeds to step S306.

[0025] (Step S306) The display device 130 sets the display mode for the outlet function based on an instruction received from the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU). As an example, when the instruction is to display, the display device 130 sets the vehicle 100 to a mode in which a digital switch (such as a software switch) with the words "outlet function" written on it is displayed on the screen. When the instruction is not to display, the display device 130 sets the vehicle 100 to a mode in which a digital switch with the words "outlet function" written on it is not displayed on the screen. When the display mode for the outlet function is set by the display device 130, the function display control of this first example ends.

[0026] (2) Second Example 4 is a processing flowchart of a second example of function display control executed by the vehicle control device 110 (master ECU), the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU), and the display device 130. The function display control shown in FIG. 4 is started, for example, when the factory tool 200 is connected to the connector 140 of the vehicle 100.

[0027] (Step S401) The vehicle control device 110 (master ECU) acquires the vehicle specification information from the factory tool 200. That is, the vehicle specification information is written from the factory tool 200 to the storage unit 111 of the vehicle control device 110 (transmission of vehicle specification information in FIG. 1). Once the vehicle specification information is acquired by the vehicle control device 110, the process proceeds to step S402.

[0028] (Step S402) The vehicle control device 110 (master ECU) transmits information regarding the presence or absence of an outlet and the output power of the outlet to the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) (transmission of signals A and B in FIG. 1 ) from the vehicle specification information stored in the storage unit 111. When the vehicle control device 110 transmits the information regarding the presence or absence of an outlet and the output power of the outlet to the vehicle control device 120, the process proceeds to step S403.

[0029] (Step S403) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) receives information about the presence or absence of an outlet and the output power of the outlet from the vehicle control device 110 (master ECU), and determines whether the vehicle 100 has an outlet function based on this received information. If the information about the presence or absence of an outlet is "present" (step S403, Yes), the process proceeds to step S404. On the other hand, if the information about the presence or absence of an outlet is "absent" (step S403, No), the process proceeds to step S405.

[0030] (Step S404) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) determines that the vehicle 100 has an outlet function and instructs the display device 130 to display that the vehicle 100 has the outlet function together with the output power (for example, wattage) (transmission of signal C in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 120 instructs the display device 130 to display the outlet function, the process proceeds to step S406.

[0031] (Step S405) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) determines that the vehicle 100 does not have an outlet function and instructs the display device 130 not to display that the vehicle 100 has an outlet function (transmission of signal C in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 120 instructs the display device 130 not to display the outlet function, the process proceeds to step S406.

[0032] (Step S406) The display device 130 sets the display mode for the outlet function based on an instruction received from the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU). As an example, when the instruction is to display, the display device 130 sets the vehicle 100 to a mode in which a digital switch (such as a software switch) on which the characters for the outlet function and the wattage are written is displayed on the screen. When the instruction is not to display, the display device 130 sets the vehicle 100 to a mode in which a digital switch on which the characters for the outlet function and the wattage are written is not displayed on the screen. When the display mode for the outlet function is set by the display device 130, the function display control of this second example ends.

[0033] (3) Third Example 5 is a processing flowchart of a third example of function display control executed by the vehicle control device 110 (master ECU), the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU), and the display device 130. The function display control shown in FIG. 5 is started, for example, when the factory tool 200 is connected to the connection connector 140 of the vehicle 100.

[0034] (Step S501) The vehicle control device 110 (master ECU) acquires the vehicle specification information from the factory tool 200. That is, the vehicle specification information is written from the factory tool 200 to the storage unit 111 of the vehicle control device 110 (transmission of vehicle specification information in FIG. 1). Once the vehicle specification information is acquired by the vehicle control device 110, the process proceeds to step S502.

[0035] (Step S502) The vehicle control device 110 (master ECU) transmits information regarding the presence or absence of an outlet and the output power of the outlet to the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) (transmission of signals A and B in FIG. 1 ) from the vehicle specification information stored in the storage unit 111. When the vehicle control device 110 transmits the information regarding the presence or absence of an outlet and the output power of the outlet to the vehicle control device 120, the process proceeds to step S503.

[0036] (Step S503) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) receives information about the presence or absence of an outlet and the output power of the outlet from the vehicle control device 110 (master ECU), and determines whether the vehicle 100 has an outlet function based on this received information. If the information about the presence or absence of an outlet is "present" (step S503, Yes), the process proceeds to step S504. On the other hand, if the information about the presence or absence of an outlet is "absent" (step S503, No), the process proceeds to step S506.

[0037] (Step S504) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) refers to information about the output power of the outlet and determines whether the output power is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. This determination is made to prevent an external device with high power consumption from being connected to the outlet when the output power of the outlet is not very high (for example, 100 W). Therefore, this threshold is appropriately set depending on the capacity of the on-board battery, the power supply capacity provided by the vehicle 100, and the like. If the output power of the outlet is equal to or greater than the threshold (step S504, Yes), the process proceeds to step S505. On the other hand, if the output power of the outlet is less than the threshold (step S504, No), the process proceeds to step S506.

[0038] (Step S505) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) determines that the vehicle 100 has an outlet function and that the maximum power that can be output is sufficiently large, and instructs the display device 130 to display that the vehicle 100 has an outlet function together with the output power (for example, wattage) (transmission of signal C in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 120 instructs the display device 130 to display the outlet function, the process proceeds to step S507.

[0039] (Step S506) The vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) determines that the vehicle 100 does not have an outlet function, or that even if it has an outlet function, the maximum power that can be output is small (for example, only enough to charge a smartphone), and instructs the display device 130 not to display that the outlet function is provided (transmission of signal C in FIG. 1). When the vehicle control device 120 instructs not to display the outlet function, the process proceeds to step S507.

[0040] (Step S507) The display device 130 sets the display mode for the outlet function based on an instruction from the vehicle control device 120 (slave ECU) regarding the display of the outlet function. As an example, when the instruction is to display, the display device 130 sets the vehicle 100 to a mode in which a digital switch (such as a software switch) on which the characters for the outlet function and the wattage are written is displayed on the screen. When the instruction is not to display, the display device 130 sets the vehicle 100 to a mode in which a digital switch on which the characters for the outlet function and the wattage are written is not displayed on the screen. When the display mode for the outlet function is set by the display device 130, the function display control of this third example ends.

[0041] <Actions and Effects> As described above, the vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure determines whether to display on the display device that the vehicle has an outlet function based on vehicle specification information that includes at least information regarding the presence or absence of an outlet in the vehicle cabin, the information being stored in the vehicle through, for example, a factory tool. This allows the display device to appropriately display that the vehicle has an outlet function.

[0042] The above describes one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure can be understood as not only a vehicle control device, but also a display control method executed by a vehicle control device having a processor and a memory, a control program for executing the display control method, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing the control program, and a vehicle equipped with a vehicle control device. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The vehicle control device of the present disclosure can be used in vehicles where it is desired to appropriately display on a display device that the vehicle is equipped with an outlet function. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 100 vehicles 110 Vehicle control device 111 Storage section 120 Vehicle control device 121 Storage section 122 Judgment Department 130 Display device 140 Connector 150 In-vehicle network 200 Factory Tools 210 Communication Cable

Claims

1. A vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, a storage unit that stores vehicle specification information including at least information regarding the presence or absence of an electrical outlet in the vehicle; a determination unit that determines, based on the vehicle specification information, whether to display on a display device that the vehicle is equipped with an outlet function that allows external power supply from the outlet.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit, when the vehicle has the outlet, displays on the display device that the vehicle has the outlet function.

3. The vehicle specification information further includes information regarding the output power of the outlet; The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the vehicle has the outlet, the determination unit displays on the display device that the vehicle has the outlet function together with the output power.

4. The vehicle specification information further includes information regarding the output power of the outlet; 2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the outlet is present in the vehicle and the output power is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the determination unit displays on the display device that the vehicle has the outlet function together with the output power.

5. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle specification information is written to the storage unit via a factory tool on a vehicle production line.

Images