Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control device capable of continuing the use of a battery for a predetermined period desired by a user.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device has a control unit. The control unit predicts power consumption of a battery in a predetermined period by monitoring an output current from the battery to an apparatus connected to the battery, and limits the power supply from the battery to the apparatus based on prediction results.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that displays the remaining battery life, and when the battery capacity falls below a predetermined value, notifies the user while suppressing power consumption. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-067439 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration, for example, how long a battery can be used if a device powered by the battery continues to be used as is. Therefore, even if a user wants to continue using the battery for a predetermined period, there is a risk that the battery will run out of power midway, which could impair user convenience.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a vehicle control device that can continue to use a battery for a predetermined period desired by a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle control device of the present disclosure includes a control unit that monitors the output current from the battery to a device connected to the battery to predict the power consumption of the battery over a predetermined period of time, and limits the supply of power from the battery to the device based on the prediction result. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to continue using the battery for a predetermined period of time desired by the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle to which a vehicle control device according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of a vehicle control method executed by the vehicle control device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle control 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] (Vehicle control device) The configuration of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The vehicle control device according to the embodiment is for controlling the power supply to a battery according to the user's situation. Examples of vehicles to which the vehicle control device according to the embodiment can be applied include hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

[0011] 1, vehicle 1 includes a control unit 11, a battery 12, an inverter 13, and a display unit 14. Vehicle 1 is also connected to an external device (load) 2. This device 2 is a home appliance or the like that operates by receiving power from battery 12 of vehicle 1, and examples of such appliances include an electric kettle, a rice cooker, and a smartphone charger.

[0012] 1 illustrates only the components necessary to realize the vehicle control device according to the embodiment, and does not illustrate other components among the actual components of the vehicle 1. In the following, a description will be given assuming a situation in which, for example, when a disaster or the like occurs and there is a power shortage or a power outage, a device 2 such as a home appliance is used by receiving power from the battery 12.

[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), and a random access memory (RAM). For example, if the vehicle 1 is a hybrid vehicle, the control unit 11 is configured with an HV-ECU or the like. The control unit 11 executes various programs to comprehensively control the operations of the various components of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, the control unit 11 functions as a power consumption prediction unit 111 and an output value calculation unit 112 through the execution of the various programs.

[0014] The power consumption prediction unit 111 predicts the power consumption of the battery 12 for a predetermined period. The "predetermined period" refers to a period during which the user desires to use the power of the battery 12 (desiring to supply power from the battery 12 to the device 2). For example, in the event of a disaster, examples of the predetermined period include the number of days from the present time until rescue arrives, the number of days from the present time until the power supply is restored, the number of days from the present time until the power outage is resolved, etc.

[0015] An instruction to turn on the disaster mode (hereinafter referred to as a "disaster mode on instruction") is input from the display unit 14 to the power consumption prediction unit 111. The "disaster mode" is a mode instructed by the user when, for example, a disaster or the like occurs, and limits the power supply from the battery 12 to the device 2 depending on the situation. The disaster mode on instruction is input from the display unit 14 to the power consumption prediction unit 111 when the user presses a disaster mode switch displayed on the display unit 14 and selects the disaster mode. The disaster mode on instruction also includes information regarding the usage period (predetermined period) of the battery 12 desired by the user.

[0016] The power consumption prediction unit 111 receives input of remaining amount information (voltage, current) from the battery 12. The power consumption prediction unit 111 also receives input of a feedback result of the output current from the battery 12 to the device 2 (hereinafter referred to as (output current F / B)) from the current monitoring unit 132 of the inverter 13. The power consumption prediction unit 111 predicts the power consumption of the battery 12 for a predetermined period based on, for example, information about the predetermined period included in the disaster mode-on instruction, remaining amount information of the battery 12, and the output current F / B.

[0017] The output value calculation unit 112 calculates the output value of power from the inverter 13 to the device 2 based on the prediction result of the power consumption prediction unit 111. Furthermore, the output value calculation unit 112 restricts or permits the supply of power from the battery 12 to the device 2 based on the prediction result of the power consumption prediction unit 111. Furthermore, when restricting the supply of power from the battery 12 to the device 2, the output value calculation unit 112 outputs an instruction to that effect (hereinafter referred to as a "use restriction display instruction") to the display unit 14, and causes the display unit 14 to display a message to the effect that the use of the device 2 is restricted (hereinafter referred to as a "use restriction message"). Examples of this use restriction message include a message to the effect that power cannot be supplied to devices 2 other than the currently connected device 2, a message regarding the available power to be supplied, the name of the device, etc.

[0018] For example, when the disaster mode is turned on (when a disaster mode on instruction is input to the control unit 11), the output value calculation unit 112 outputs an output permission instruction to the output circuit 131 of the inverter 13, and permits the output of power from the output circuit 131 to the device 2. This starts the supply of power to the device 2. Next, the output value calculation unit 112 compares the predicted result of the power consumption of the battery 12 by the power consumption prediction unit 111 with the current remaining capacity of the battery 12 to determine whether or not to limit the output of power.

[0019] If the current remaining charge of the battery 12 is less than the power consumption predicted by the power consumption prediction unit 111, the output value calculation unit 112 outputs an output limit instruction to the output circuit 131 of the inverter 13, and limits the power output from the inverter 13 to the device 2. On the other hand, if the current remaining charge of the battery 12 is equal to or greater than the power consumption predicted by the power consumption prediction unit 111, the output value calculation unit 112 continues to output the output permission instruction to the output circuit 131 of the inverter 13, and allows the inverter 13 to output power to the device 2. Note that "limiting the power output from the inverter 13 to the device 2" may, for example, limit the power that is normally output at AC 100V from the inverter 13.

[0020] The battery 12 is a power storage device that operates at a high voltage, and is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery. The battery 12 supplies power to the device 2 via the inverter 13. The battery 12 also outputs remaining capacity information (voltage, current) of the battery 12 to the power consumption prediction unit 111 and the output value calculation unit 112.

[0021] The inverter 13 includes an output circuit 131 and a current monitoring unit 132. The output circuit 131 converts the DC current supplied from the battery 12 into AC current and supplies it to the device 2. The current monitoring unit 132 is composed of a sensor or the like that detects the current supplied from the inverter 13 to the device 2. The current monitoring unit 132 outputs the detected current to the power consumption prediction unit 111 as an output current F / B.

[0022] The display unit 14 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting display (OLED), a touch panel display, etc. The display unit 14 displays to the user a disaster mode switch, a message indicating that use of the device 2 is restricted, etc. When displaying the disaster mode switch, the display unit 14 also accepts input of a predetermined period (a period during which the user desires to use the power of the battery 12).

[0023] (Vehicle control method) The flow of a vehicle control method executed by a vehicle control device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0024] First, the display unit 14 displays a disaster mode switch (step S1). Next, the user selects the disaster mode by pressing the disaster mode switch on the display unit 14, and selects the period until rescue (step S2).

[0025] Next, the display unit 14 transmits a disaster mode on instruction to the power consumption prediction unit 111 of the control unit 11 (step S3). Next, the output value calculation unit 112 of the control unit 11 transitions to the disaster mode (step S4). Next, the output value calculation unit 112 of the control unit 11 transmits an output permission instruction to the output circuit 131 of the inverter 13 (step S5).

[0026] Next, the output circuit 131 of the inverter 13 outputs, for example, AC 100V power to the device 2 (step S6). Next, the current monitoring unit 132 of the inverter 13 monitors the output current from the output circuit 131 and provides feedback (F / B) to the power consumption prediction unit 111 of the control unit 11 (step S7).

[0027] Next, the battery 12 transmits remaining capacity information (voltage, current) to the power consumption prediction unit 111 of the control unit 11 (step S8). Next, the power consumption prediction unit 111 of the control unit 11 predicts the power consumption of the battery 12 for a predetermined period from information such as the output current F / B and the remaining capacity of the battery 12 (step S9).

[0028] Next, if the current remaining capacity of battery 12 is less than the power consumption of battery 12 over a predetermined period, output value calculation unit 112 of control unit 11 transmits an output limit instruction to output circuit 131 of inverter 13 (step S10). Next, output value calculation unit 112 of control unit 11 transmits an instruction to display a usage limit message to display unit 14 (step S11). Next, display unit 14 displays the predetermined usage limit message (step S12), and this process is completed.

[0029] For example, in the case of a hybrid vehicle, even if gasoline runs out during a disaster, the battery can still be used as an AC 1500W power source until it runs out. However, until now, there has been no way for users to know how many hours or days it will take for the battery to run out, or whether they can continue to use the battery until rescue arrives.

[0030] Therefore, in the vehicle control device according to the embodiment, a disaster mode is newly provided, and for example, the power consumption of the battery 12 is predicted by counting backward from the number of days (from a predetermined period) until rescue arrives, and the output current is limited, and a warning (a usage restriction message) to the user is displayed on the display unit 14. This allows the battery 12 to be used (power supply control can be performed) for the predetermined period desired by the user (for example, until rescue arrives).

[0031] 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]

[0032] 1 vehicle 11 Control section 111 Power Consumption Prediction Unit 112 Output value calculation unit 12 Battery 13 Inverter 131 Output circuit 132 Current monitoring section 14 Display section 2 Equipment (load)

Claims

[Claim 1] A control unit is provided, The control unit a power consumption control unit that controls the amount of power consumed by the battery over a predetermined period of time by monitoring an output current from the battery to a device connected to the battery, and that controls the amount of power supplied from the battery to the device based on the predicted result; Vehicle control device.

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