Vehicle charging system

Abstract

To provide a vehicle charging system that has a simple configuration and can be used for general purposes.SOLUTION: A tracking unit 112 of a vehicle charging system 1 acquires a vehicle identification information image, a parking completion image, and a tracking image, and also performs a vehicle identification information acquisition process to acquire vehicle identification information of the vehicle 40 on the basis of the vehicle identification information image, and also performs a section identification information acquisition process to acquire section identification information of the parking section 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked on the basis of the parking completion image. In addition, the tracking unit performs a tracking process to track the vehicle 40 by identifying each vehicle 40 in each acquired image in chronological order, and performs an association process to associate the vehicle identification information and the section identification information based on the tracking results of the vehicle 40. Then, a charging control unit 111 of the vehicle charging system 1 controls charging by a charging device 20 corresponding to the section identification information associated with the vehicle identification information, on the basis of the vehicle identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The disclosed technology relates to a vehicle charging system equipped with a charging unit capable of charging the batteries of each vehicle parked in a parking space in a parking lot. [Background technology]

[0002] There have been systems in the past that can charge vehicles equipped with batteries. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a system that switches multiple vehicles to charging parking spaces that are provided among multiple parking spaces in a parking lot, while managing the overall power consumption related to charging to be kept below an allowable power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 261073 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above system, the charging device in the parking space cannot recognize the vehicle information, and vehicle information is transmitted and received through communication between the vehicle and a management device that manages the charging of the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle to be charged must be equipped with a communication device that can communicate with the management device. In other words, the system of the above-mentioned conventional technology has a problem that the configuration is complex and it is difficult to use for general purposes.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle charging system that has a simple configuration and can be used for general purposes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the disclosed technology is a parking lot comprising: a charging unit capable of charging a battery of a vehicle parked in a parking space of a parking lot; a charging control unit capable of controlling charging of the vehicle by the charging unit; a tracking unit that can track a vehicle based on the images captured by the camera; wherein the tracking unit acquires a vehicle identification information image that is captured before the vehicle is parked in the parking space and that includes identification information for each vehicle, a parking completion image that is captured after the vehicle identification information image and includes the vehicle parked in the parking space, and a tracking image that is captured after the vehicle identification information image but before the parking completion image and includes the vehicle; and performs a vehicle identification information acquisition process that acquires vehicle identification information corresponding to the identification information of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification information image; a section identification information acquisition process that acquires section identification information, which is identification information corresponding to the parking space in which the vehicle is parked, based on the parking completion image; a tracking process that tracks the vehicle by identifying the vehicles included in the vehicle identification information image, the tracking image, and the parking completion image in chronological order; and an association process that associates the vehicle identification information and the section identification information based on the results of tracking from the vehicle identification information image to the parking completion image by the tracking process; and wherein the charging control unit is capable of controlling charging by the charging unit of a vehicle parked in a parking space indicated by the section identification information associated with the vehicle identification information, based on the vehicle identification information.

[0007] In this vehicle charging system, no special information or equipment is required to identify the vehicle to be charged by the charging unit. Therefore, this vehicle charging system has a simple configuration and can be used for general purposes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the disclosed technique, a vehicle charging system that has a simple configuration and can be used for general purposes is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle charging system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2]1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a charging management device of a vehicle charging system according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a vehicle charging process in a vehicle charging system according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart of a parking section identification process in the vehicle charging system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a parking section identification process in the vehicle charging system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a vehicle identification information image according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of tracking images according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a tracking image after FIG. 7 according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a tracking image after FIG. 8 according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a tracking image after FIG. 9 and an example of a parking completion image according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle charging system 1 according to this embodiment. The vehicle charging system 1 has a charging function for charging a battery 45 mounted on a vehicle 40. The battery 45 is a power source for the vehicle 40. The battery 45 supplies power to each component of the vehicle 40 as the vehicle 40 is used, such as for traveling. Therefore, the remaining battery capacity of the battery 45 decreases as the vehicle 40 is used.

[0011] The vehicle charging system 1 includes a charging device 20 capable of charging a battery 45 of a vehicle 40. The charging device 20 has a charging cable 21. The charging cable 21 is a cable that electrically connects the vehicle 40 and the charging device 20. The charging cable 21 is disconnected from the vehicle 40 when the vehicle 40 is traveling. The charging device 20 is a charging unit that can supply power to the battery 45 of the connected vehicle 40 through the charging cable 21. Note that all of the charging devices 20 in this embodiment are normal chargers. The charging device 20 in this embodiment is not capable of obtaining information from the vehicle 40 that can identify the connected vehicle 40.

[0012] A plurality of charging devices 20 are provided in the parking lot 30. In this embodiment, two charging devices 20, 20A and 20B, are provided as the charging devices 20. In this embodiment, the two charging devices 20A and 20B constitute charging units 20A and 20B. A plurality of parking spaces 35 for parking vehicles 40 are provided in the parking lot 30. Charging devices 20A and 20B are provided for parking spaces 35A and 35B, respectively. Charging device 20A can charge the vehicle 40 parked in parking space 35A. Charging device 20B can charge the vehicle 40 parked in parking space 35B. In addition to the two parking spaces 35A and 35B, the parking lot 30 in this embodiment has a plurality of parking spaces 35 provided.

[0013] By connecting charging cable 21, vehicle 40 enters a chargeable state in which it can be charged by charging device 20. After parking vehicle 40 in a parking space 35, the user of vehicle 40 connects charging cable 21 of charging device 20 corresponding to that parking space 35 to vehicle 40. This places vehicle 40 in a chargeable state while it is parked in the parking space 35 corresponding to charging device 20. Charging device 20 can charge vehicle 40 during the chargeable state period in which vehicle 40 remains in the chargeable state. FIG. 1 shows an example in which vehicle 40A is parked in parking space 35A and vehicle 40B is parked in parking space 35B. Naturally, vehicle 40A can also be parked in parking space 35B and vehicle 40B can be parked in parking space 35A.

[0014] A camera 50 is provided in the parking lot 30. The camera 50 is positioned so that its imaging range includes at least a portion of the parking lot 30. In this embodiment, two cameras 50 are provided: a first camera 51 and a second camera 52. In this embodiment, both the first camera 51 and the second camera 52 are capable of capturing video (video). In this embodiment, the images captured by the camera 50 are frames related to the video data captured by the camera 50. Note that the first camera 51 and the second camera 52 may also be cameras capable of capturing photographs (still images).

[0015] First camera 51 is an imaging device whose imaging range includes at least parking space 35 corresponding to charging device 20. First camera 51 in this embodiment is capable of capturing an overhead image of parking lot 30, and can capture an image that includes all of the multiple parking spaces 35 in parking lot 30. In other words, first camera 51 in this embodiment can capture an image that includes both parking spaces 35A and 35B. Therefore, first camera 51 can also capture images of vehicles 40 parked in each of parking spaces 35A and 35B.

[0016] The second camera 52 is a photographing device whose photographing range includes the entrance passage 31 of the parking lot 30. The entrance passage 31 forms the route of the vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 from the outside. Therefore, the second camera 52 can photograph the vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 from the outside. In this embodiment, the entrance passage 31 can also be used by the vehicle 40 when leaving the parking lot 30.

[0017] The vehicle charging system 1 includes a charging management device 10. The charging management device 10 is a device that can control a charging device 20, etc. The charging management device 10 is connected to the charging device 20 and a camera 50 via a network 5 such as the Internet. The charging management device 10, the charging device 20, and the camera 50 may be connected to the network 5 either by wire or wirelessly.

[0018] 2 shows the configuration of the charge management device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the charge management device 10 has a control unit 110, an operation IF 120, a communication IF 130, and a storage unit 140. The control unit 110 executes various processes in accordance with a program read from the storage unit 140 and based on an operation by an operator. The operation IF 120 can accept an operation input by the operator of the charge management device 10 and send the input information to the control unit 110.

[0019] The communication IF 130 includes hardware for communicating with an external device such as the charging device 20 via the network 5. The communication standard of the communication IF 130 is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The charging management device 10 may be provided with a plurality of communication IFs 130 compatible with a plurality of communication standards.

[0020] The storage unit 140 is a memory that stores various programs including an operating system (OS) and various data. A buffer provided in the control unit 110 is also an example of a memory. Information related to charging of the vehicle 40 is registered in the storage unit 140. An example of the storage unit 140 is not limited to a ROM, RAM, HDD, etc. built into the charge management device 10, but may also be a storage medium that is readable and writable by the control unit 110.

[0021] The control unit 110 has a charging control unit 111 and a tracking unit 112. The charging control unit 111 can control charging of the vehicle 40 by the charging device 20. The charging control unit 111 can control charging of the vehicle 40 by each of the multiple charging devices 20A and 20B. That is, it is possible to charge the vehicle 40 by the charging device 20A while stopping charging of the vehicle 40 by the charging device 20B. Furthermore, it is possible to start and stop charging of each charging device 20 at a predetermined timing. Furthermore, the charging control unit 111 can also control the charging voltage and charge amount to the vehicle 40. The charging control unit 111 of this embodiment creates a charging schedule for each vehicle 40. The charging schedule specifies a period for supplying power from the charging device 20 for each vehicle 40. The charging control unit 111 can charge the vehicle 40 by each charging device 20 in accordance with the charging schedule.

[0022] The tracking unit 112 can track the vehicle 40 moving within the parking lot 30 based on the multiple images captured by the camera 50, and identify the parking section 35 in which the tracked vehicle 40 is parked. To achieve this, the tracking unit 112 of this embodiment performs a parking section identification process.

[0023] In the parking section identification process, the tracking unit 112 acquires vehicle identification information corresponding to the identification information of each vehicle 40 based on an image captured by the camera 50 of the vehicle 40 before it enters the parking lot 30 and is parked in a parking section 35. The tracking unit 112 also tracks the vehicle 40 for which the vehicle identification information has been acquired within the parking lot 30 based on the image captured by the camera 50. Then, when the vehicle 40 is parked in a parking section 35, the tracking unit 112 acquires section identification information, which is identification information corresponding to the parking section 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked, based on the image captured by the camera 50. Furthermore, the tracking unit 112 can identify the parking section 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked by associating the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 40 with the section identification information of the parking section 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked.

[0024] In this embodiment, the identification information for each vehicle 40 is information written on a license plate (automobile registration number plate, vehicle number plate). For example, the information written on the license plate itself can be used as the vehicle identification information. Note that, depending on the information on the license plate, vehicle identification information different from the information on the license plate can also be assigned.

[0025] The storage unit 140 stores various databases related to the control of the charging device 20. Specifically, the storage unit 140 stores a charging schedule DB141, a captured image DB142, a vehicle identification information DB143, a section identification information DB144, and an association information DB145.

[0026] The charging schedule DB 141 is a file that stores charging schedules created by the charging control unit 111. The charging schedule DB 141 of this embodiment stores charging schedules for each of the vehicles 40A and 40B. That is, the charging schedule defines a period during which power is supplied by the charging device 20 for each of the vehicles 40A and 40B. A charging schedule file for each of the vehicles 40 in the charging schedule DB 141 is created in response to the creation of a charging schedule for each of the vehicles 40. Furthermore, the charging schedule for each of the vehicles 40 stored in the charging schedule DB 141 may be updated in response to the creation of a new charging schedule.

[0027] The captured image DB 142 is a file in which images captured by the camera 50 are stored. In the captured image DB 142 of this embodiment, images captured by the camera 50 are stored for each camera 50 that captured the image. In this embodiment, the cameras 50 include a first camera 51 and a second camera 52. Therefore, in the captured image DB 142, images captured by these cameras are stored in the folder of either the first camera 51 or the second camera 52 that captured the image. Furthermore, each image stored in the captured image DB 142 is stored together with information about the time of capture.

[0028] The vehicle identification information DB 143 is a file that stores vehicle identification information, which is identification information of the vehicle 40. The vehicle identification information DB 143 stores vehicle identification information for each vehicle 40. The vehicle identification information for each vehicle 40 corresponds to the identification information for each vehicle 40 acquired by the tracking unit 112 based on an image captured by the camera 50. In a situation where vehicles 40A and 40B are parked in the parking lot 30, the vehicle identification information DB 143 stores different vehicle identification information for each vehicle 40A and 40B.

[0029] The section identification information DB 144 is a file that stores section identification information, which is identification information for the parking section 35. The section identification information DB 144 stores section identification information for each parking section 35. The section identification information can be determined in advance for each parking section 35. In this embodiment, a corresponding parking section 35 is provided for each charging device 20. Therefore, the section identification information is information that identifies the parking section 35 as well as information that identifies the charging device 20.

[0030] The association information DB 145 is a file that stores association information that associates vehicle identification information with section identification information. The association information is acquired based on the results of the tracking unit 112 tracking the vehicle 40 within the parking lot 30. The association information in this embodiment is information that associates each parking section 35 with the vehicle 40 parked in that parking section 35. The association information DB 145 in this embodiment has a folder for each parking section 35. When a vehicle 40 is parked in a parking section 35, the vehicle identification information of the associated vehicle 40 is registered in the folder for that parking section 35.

[0031] Next, the operation of the vehicle charging system 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow when the charging control unit 111 charges the vehicle 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the charging control unit 111 creates a charging schedule (P11). The charging control unit 111 creates a charging schedule for the corresponding vehicle 40 for each piece of vehicle identification information. The charging control unit 111 stores the created charging schedule in the charging schedule DB 141.

[0032] Next, the charging control unit 111 refers to the association information DB 145 and acquires association information indicating the correspondence between the parking spaces 35 and the parked vehicles 40 (P12). That is, for example, when vehicle 40A is parked in parking space 35A and vehicle 40B is parked in parking space 35B, the charging control unit 111 acquires that information. This allows the charging control unit 111 to determine which of the multiple charging devices 20 should control charging based on the charging schedule for each vehicle 40.

[0033] Then, based on the charging schedule, the charging control unit 111 sends a charging start instruction (P13) to each charging device 20 to start charging the connected vehicle 40 and a charging end instruction (P15) to end charging the vehicle 40 from the charging management device 10. The charging device 20 that has received the charging start instruction (P13) starts supplying power to the vehicle 40 (P14). The charging device 20 that has received the charging end instruction (P15) ends supplying power to the vehicle 40 (P16). This allows each vehicle 40 to be appropriately charged according to the charging schedule, even when it is not yet determined in which parking space 35 each of the multiple vehicles 40 will be parked.

[0034] Next, the parking space identification process performed by the tracking unit 112 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the procedure of the parking space identification process executed by the tracking unit 112. In this embodiment, the parking space identification process is performed for each vehicle 40 that enters the parking lot 30. The parking space identification process can be started, for example, when the vehicle 40 enters the parking lot 30. The entry of the vehicle 40 into the parking lot 30 can be detected, for example, based on the video captured by the second camera 52. Furthermore, the images used in the parking space identification process can be those stored in the captured image DB 142.

[0035] 4, in the parking space identification process, the tracking unit 112 first performs a vehicle identification information acquisition process (S101). In the vehicle identification information acquisition process, identification information for each vehicle 40 is acquired based on a vehicle identification information image captured by the camera 50. The vehicle identification information image is an image captured before the vehicle 40 is parked in any of the parking spaces 35.

[0036] In this embodiment, the image captured by the second camera 52 is used as the vehicle identification information image. The tracking unit 112 extracts and acquires the identification information of the vehicle 40 from the vehicle identification information image. Furthermore, the tracking unit 112 stores the vehicle identification information corresponding to the identification information of the vehicle 40 acquired from the vehicle identification information image in the vehicle identification information DB 143. In this way, the vehicle 40 to be tracked by the tracking unit 112 is set.

[0037] The tracking unit 112 performs a tracking process (S102) following a vehicle identification information acquisition process (S101). In the tracking process, the vehicle 40 is tracked based on a tracking image captured by the camera 50. In this embodiment, the image captured by the first camera 51 is used as the tracking image. In the tracking process, the vehicle 40 to be tracked is tracked until it is parked in one of the parking spaces 35 (NO in S103).

[0038] In the tracking process, the tracking unit 112 of this embodiment uses an existing detection algorithm to extract the vehicle 40 from the image captured by the camera 50. Examples of detection algorithms for the vehicle 40 included in the image include YOLO (You Only Look Once) and SSD (Single Shot MultiBox Detector). The vehicle 40 extracted in the image is indicated by a bounding box that surrounds the area of ​​the vehicle 40 in a rectangular shape. Furthermore, in the tracking process, tracking identification information, which is identification information for tracking, is assigned to the vehicle 40 detected by the bounding box. For example, the vehicle identification information acquired in the vehicle identification information acquisition process can be used as the tracking identification information.

[0039] In the tracking process, when the vehicle 40 to be tracked moves, the tracking unit 112 identifies the vehicle 40 extracted from each of a plurality of images taken at different times. This makes it possible to track the moving vehicle 40 using a plurality of images taken at different times. Furthermore, when a plurality of vehicles 40 exist in the parking lot 30, the tracking unit 112 can identify and track each of the plurality of vehicles 40 from a plurality of images taken at different times based on information such as shape characteristics, past positions, past movement speeds, and past movement directions. Examples of tracking algorithms that identify and track the vehicle 40 from a plurality of images taken at different times include existing algorithms such as ByteTrack and SMILEtrack.

[0040] When the vehicle 40 to be tracked is parked in any of the parking spaces 35 (YES in S103), the tracking unit 112 performs a space identification information acquisition process (S104). Whether the vehicle 40 has been parked in the parking space 35 can be determined, for example, based on whether the time the vehicle 40 has been stopped in the parking space 35 is equal to or longer than a predetermined parking time.

[0041] In the section identification information acquisition process, section identification information, which is identification information of the parking section 35 in which the tracked vehicle 40 is parked, is acquired based on the parking completion image captured by the camera 50. The parking completion image is an image captured when the tracked vehicle 40 is parked in one of the parking sections 35. In this embodiment, the image captured by the first camera 51 is used as the parking completion image.

[0042] Following the section identification information acquisition process (S104), the tracking unit 112 performs an association process (S105). In the association process, the vehicle identification information and the section identification information are associated based on the results of tracking from the vehicle identification information image to the parking completion image by the tracking process. In this embodiment, the tracking unit 112 registers the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 40 to be tracked in a folder in the association information DB 145 for the parking section 35 where the vehicle 40 to be tracked is parked in the section identification information acquisition process.

[0043] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of each process performed in the parking section identification process. Fig. 5 shows the vehicle identification information acquisition process (S101), the tracking process (S102), and the section identification information acquisition process (S104).

[0044] In the vehicle identification information acquisition process (S101) of this embodiment, as described above, the image captured by the second camera 52 is used as the vehicle identification information image. Therefore, in the vehicle identification information acquisition process, the tracking unit 112 of this embodiment issues an image acquisition instruction from the charging management device 10 to the second camera 52 to instruct it to acquire a captured image (P21). Upon receiving the image acquisition instruction, the second camera 52 transmits the captured image to the charging management device 10 (P22). The transmitted image is stored in the captured image DB 142. This allows the tracking unit 112 to acquire the vehicle identification information image. Then, the tracking unit 112 acquires the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 40 before parking based on the vehicle identification information image (P23).

[0045] In the tracking process (S102) of this embodiment, as described above, the image captured by the first camera 51 is used as the tracking image. Therefore, in the tracking process, the tracking unit 112 of this embodiment issues an image acquisition instruction from the charging management device 10 to the first camera 51 to instruct it to acquire a captured image (P24). Upon receiving the image acquisition instruction, the first camera 51 transmits the captured image to the charging management device 10 (P25). The transmitted image is stored in the captured image DB 142. This allows the tracking unit 112 to acquire the tracking image. Then, the tracking unit 112 tracks the tracking target vehicle 40 based on the multiple tracking images (P26).

[0046] In the section identification information acquisition process (S104) of this embodiment, as described above, the image captured by the first camera 51 is used as the parking completion image. Therefore, in the section identification information acquisition process, the tracking unit 112 of this embodiment issues an image acquisition instruction from the charging management device 10 to the first camera 51 to instruct it to acquire a captured image (P27). Upon receiving the image acquisition instruction, the first camera 51 transmits the captured image to the charging management device 10 (P28). The transmitted image is stored in the captured image DB 142. This allows the tracking unit 112 to acquire the parking completion image from the first camera 51. Then, the tracking unit 112 acquires section identification information of the parking section 35 in which the tracked vehicle 40 is parked, based on the parking completion image (P29).

[0047] Next, an example of an image in the parking space identification process of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 shows an example of a vehicle identification information image 61 captured by the second camera 52. As shown in Fig. 6, the vehicle identification information image 61 shows a vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 through the entrance passage 31. In Fig. 6, the parking lot 30 is located further back than the vehicle 40.

[0048] The second camera 52 is installed at a position and angle behind the vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 through the entrance passage 31 so as to capture an image of the license plate 41 of the vehicle 40. The vehicle identification information image 61 shows the license plate 41 bearing the identification information of the vehicle 40. Therefore, the tracking unit 112 can extract and acquire the identification information of the vehicle 40 from the vehicle identification information image 61.

[0049] 7 to 10 each show an example of a tracking image 62 captured by the first camera 51. The tracking images 62 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 are images captured by the first camera 51 in this order over time. FIG. 7 shows a first tracking image 62A captured when the vehicle 40 entered the parking lot 30 through the entrance passage 31. The vehicle 40 that appears in the vehicle identification information image 61 can be identified from the vehicle 40 that appears in the first tracking image 62A by, for example, comparing the time the vehicle identification information image 61 was captured by the second camera 52 with the time the first tracking image 62A was captured by the first camera 51. In addition, in the first tracking image 62A, the area in which the vehicle 40A entering the parking lot 30 exists is indicated by a bounding box 65.

[0050] Figure 8 shows a second tracking image 62B, which was captured a little later than the first tracking image 62A, and Figure 9 shows a third tracking image 62C, which was captured a little later than the second tracking image 62B. In each of the second tracking image 62B and the third tracking image 62C, a bounding box 65 shows the vehicle 40 moving through the parking lot 30.

[0051] 10 shows a fourth tracking image 62D, which was captured a little later than the third tracking image 62C. In the fourth tracking image 62D, the vehicle 40A parked in the parking space 35A is indicated by a bounding box 65. In this way, by extracting and identifying the vehicle 40A included in the multiple tracking images 62 captured in chronological order using the bounding box, the vehicle 40A that entered the parking lot 30 can be tracked until it is parked in the parking space 35A.

[0052] The image shown in FIG. 10 can also be used as the parking completion image 63. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the image captured by the first camera 51 includes not only the parking space 35A but also the vehicle 40A parked in the parking space 35A. The image shown in FIG. 10 can be used as the parking completion image 63 to obtain the space identification information of the parking space 35A in which the vehicle 40A is parked. This allows the tracking unit 112 of this embodiment to identify the parking space 35A in which the vehicle 40A is parked. Therefore, the charging control unit 111 of the charging management device 10 can control the charging device 20A corresponding to the parking space 35A in which the vehicle 40A is parked based on the charging schedule for the vehicle 40A. This allows the vehicle 40A to be appropriately charged. The same applies when the vehicle 40A is parked in the parking space 35B. Furthermore, even when multiple vehicles 40 exist in the parking lot 30, each vehicle 40 can be tracked in the same way and appropriately charged according to the charging schedule.

[0053] As described above in detail, the vehicle charging system 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of charging devices 20, a charging control unit 111, a camera 50, and a tracking unit 112. The plurality of charging devices 20 are capable of charging the batteries 45 of the vehicles 40 parked in a plurality of parking spaces 35 in a parking lot 30. The charging control unit 111 is capable of controlling the charging of the vehicles 40 by the plurality of charging devices 20. The camera 50 is capable of capturing images including the parking spaces 35. The tracking unit 112 is capable of tracking the vehicles 40 based on the images captured by the camera 50. The tracking unit 112 also acquires a vehicle identification information image, a parking completion image, and a tracking image, and performs a vehicle identification information acquisition process, a space identification information acquisition process, a tracking process, and an association process. In the vehicle identification information acquisition process, vehicle identification information corresponding to the identification information of the vehicle 40 is acquired based on the vehicle identification information image. In the space identification information acquisition process, space identification information, which is identification information corresponding to the parking space 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked, is acquired based on the parking completion image. In the tracking process, the vehicle 40 is tracked by identifying the vehicle 40 included in the vehicle identification information image, the tracking image, and the parking completion image in chronological order. In the association process, the vehicle identification information and the section identification information are associated based on the results of tracking from the vehicle identification information image to the parking completion image in the tracking process. Then, the charging control unit 111 controls charging by the charging device 20 of the vehicle 40 parked in the parking section 35 identified by the section identification information associated with the vehicle identification information, based on the vehicle identification information. In this way, the charging control unit 111 can control charging of the vehicle 40 based on the vehicle identification information. In other words, the vehicle charging system 1 of this embodiment does not require any other special information or equipment to identify the vehicle 40 to be charged by the charging device 20. In other words, a vehicle charging system 1 that has a simple configuration and can be used for general purposes is realized.

[0054] Furthermore, the vehicle charging system 1 of this embodiment includes, as cameras 50, a second camera 52 that is a vehicle identification camera capable of capturing a vehicle identification information image and a first camera 51 that is a parking completion camera capable of capturing a parking completion image. Capturing a vehicle identification information image that allows accurate recognition of the identification information of the vehicle 40 requires a relatively clear captured image of the vehicle 40. A camera that captures such an image may have difficulty capturing a wide enough area to accurately recognize, for example, a parking space 35 that is far from the entrance passage 31 in a large parking lot 30. In contrast, in this embodiment, the second camera 52 can appropriately capture a vehicle identification information image, and the first camera 51 can appropriately capture a parking completion image. Therefore, the vehicle charging system 1 of this embodiment can accurately recognize the parking space 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked.

[0055] Furthermore, in the vehicle charging system 1 of this embodiment, the second camera 52 includes the entrance passage 31 of the parking lot 30 in its imaging range. In other words, the second camera 52 includes the route of the vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 from outside to inside the parking lot 30 in its imaging range. The route of the vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 from outside to inside is a place that the vehicle 40 connected to the charging device 20 will surely pass through. Furthermore, the orientation of the vehicle 40 tends to be constant on the route of the vehicle 40 entering the parking lot 30 from outside to inside. Therefore, the vehicle charging system 1 can more reliably obtain accurate identification information of the vehicle 40.

[0056] Furthermore, tracking unit 112 in this embodiment uses an image captured by first camera 51 as a tracking image. A camera installed at a position and angle that allows it to capture an image of parking space 35 tends to be able to capture a wide range of images within parking lot 30. By using an image captured by at least one first camera 51 as a tracking image, the number of cameras required for vehicle charging system 1 can be prevented from increasing.

[0057] The above-described embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the present disclosure in any way. Therefore, the present disclosure can be naturally improved and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0058] For example, the number of charging devices provided in the parking lot and the number of vehicles that can be charged by the charging devices shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the respective numbers can be different. That is, the number of charging devices can be three or more. Also, for example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the charging unit was configured with multiple charging devices. However, for example, the charging unit could also be a single charging device that has multiple charging cables that can be connected to each vehicle and can charge the batteries of vehicles parked in multiple parking spaces. Also, for example, the charging unit could be configured with a charging device that can charge one vehicle and a charging device that can charge multiple vehicles.

[0059] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a parking lot has multiple parking bays where parked vehicles can be charged by a charging unit. However, for example, the parking lot may have only one parking bay corresponding to the charging unit. Even if there is only one parking bay corresponding to the charging unit, multiple different vehicles may alternate, resulting in different vehicles parked in the parking bay corresponding to the charging unit over time. Specifically, for example, if there are two parking bays in the parking lot, one of which supports vehicle charging by a charging unit and the other does not, the two vehicles parked in these two parking bays may be alternately charged while being alternately charged. Even in such a case, by being able to track vehicles in the parking lot as in the above embodiment, it is possible to accurately identify the vehicle parked in the parking bay corresponding to the charging unit. Therefore, even if there is only one parking bay corresponding to the charging unit, it is possible to control charging for each vehicle parked in that single parking bay.

[0060] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which information printed on a license plate was used as identification information for each vehicle. However, other information, such as numbers or other characters printed on the surface of the vehicle, can also be used as identification information for each vehicle. Specifically, for example, if each vehicle is assigned a management number in addition to the license plate, the management number can be acquired as identification information for each vehicle.

[0061] For example, in the above embodiment, an example of a vehicle charging system using two cameras has been described. However, the number of cameras can be changed as appropriate depending on the size and shape of the parking lot. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if a first camera capable of capturing images of a parking space can capture images of a vehicle entering the parking lot and the vehicle's identification information can be accurately obtained from the captured image, a second camera is not necessarily required. For example, camera 50 may also function as a security camera, rather than being solely intended for the purpose of capturing vehicle identification information and tracking.

[0062] For example, in the above embodiment, the second camera has been described as including in its imaging range the path of a vehicle entering a parking lot from outside. However, the second camera may be configured to capture a vehicle identification information image from which the vehicle's identification information can be accurately acquired. For example, the second camera may be configured to include in its imaging range the path of a vehicle moving through the parking lot after entering the parking lot and before parking in a parking space. For example, the second camera is not limited to being configured to capture images of a vehicle entering a parking lot from outside from the rear, but may also be configured to capture images of a vehicle entering a parking lot from outside from the front. For example, if the second camera is configured to capture identification information provided on the side of a vehicle as a vehicle identification information image, the second camera may be configured to capture images of the side of a vehicle entering a parking lot from outside.

[0063] For example, in the above embodiment, an image captured by a first camera is used as the tracking image. However, for example, the tracking image may be acquired from multiple cameras. Specifically, for example, an image captured by a second camera may be used as part of the tracking image. For example, in the above embodiment, an example of a parking lot with one entrance passage has been described. However, a parking lot may have multiple entrance passages. Furthermore, if multiple entrance passages are provided, a camera capable of capturing images may be provided for each entrance passage. Note that, for example, if the parking lot according to the above embodiment has two entrance passages, the first camera may be provided in an arrangement that includes one entrance passage in its capturing range, and the second camera may be provided in an arrangement that includes the other entrance passage in its capturing range.

[0064] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the association information has been described as information associating each parking space 35 with the vehicle 40 parked in that parking space 35. However, the association information may be information that indicates the correspondence between the vehicle 40 and the parking space 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked. Therefore, the association information may be, for example, information that associates each vehicle 40 with the parking space 35 in which the vehicle 40 is parked.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the charging control unit is described as charging each vehicle according to a charging schedule created for each vehicle identification information. However, the charging control unit may be configured to control charging of vehicles parked in parking spaces indicated by space identification information associated with the vehicle identification information, based on the vehicle identification information. Therefore, the charging control unit may charge vehicles in order of priority, starting with the vehicles with the highest priority, until the vehicles are fully charged, according to the priority assigned to each vehicle identification information.

[0066] Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the charging management device and the charging devices directly transmit and receive information via a network. However, for example, a server that comprehensively manages a plurality of charging devices may be provided, and information may be transmitted between the charging devices and the charging management device via the server. Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the charging management device also tracks vehicles in a parking lot. However, for example, a device that can communicate with the charging management device and tracks vehicles in a parking lot may be provided separately from the charging management device. In other words, the hardware configurations, the database configurations that store each piece of information, and the like that have been specifically described in the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and any configuration that can realize each process may be used.

[0067] The above-mentioned disclosed technology also includes the following means 1 to 5. [Means 1] a charging unit capable of charging a battery of a vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking lot; a charging control unit capable of controlling charging of the vehicle by the charging unit; a camera capable of capturing an image including the parking space; a tracking unit capable of tracking a vehicle based on an image captured by the camera, The tracking unit a vehicle identification information image that is taken before the vehicle is parked in the parking space and includes identification information for each vehicle; a parking completion image captured after the vehicle identification information image and including the vehicle parked in the parking space; a tracking image including the vehicle, the tracking image being taken after the vehicle identification information image and before the parking completion image; a vehicle identification information acquisition process for acquiring vehicle identification information corresponding to the vehicle identification information based on the vehicle identification information image; a section identification information acquisition process for acquiring section identification information, which is identification information corresponding to the parking section in which the vehicle is parked, based on the parking completion image; a tracking process for tracking a vehicle by identifying the vehicle included in each of the vehicle identification information image, the tracking image, and the parking completion image in time series; performing an association process of associating the vehicle identification information and the section identification information based on a result of tracing from the vehicle identification information image to the parking completion image by the tracing process; The charging control unit A vehicle charging system capable of controlling charging by the charging unit of a vehicle parked in the parking space indicated by the space identification information associated with the vehicle identification information based on the vehicle identification information.

[0068] [Means 2] The vehicle charging system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises: The vehicle charging system is configured such that the parking lot is provided with a plurality of parking spaces where parked vehicles can be charged by the charging units.

[0069] [Means 3] The vehicle charging system according to means 1 or 2, The camera includes: a vehicle identification camera capable of capturing the vehicle identification information image; a parking completion camera capable of capturing the parking completion image.

[0070] [Means 4] The vehicle charging system according to Means 3, The vehicle identification camera has a photographing range that includes the path of a vehicle entering the parking lot from outside.

[0071] [Means 5] The vehicle charging system according to means 3 or 4, The tracking unit A vehicle charging system that uses an image captured by the parking completion camera as the tracking image. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1: Vehicle charging system 20: Charging device 30: Parking lot 31: Entrance passage 35: Parking space 40: Vehicle 41: License plate 45: Battery 50: Camera 51: First camera 52: Second camera 111: Charging control unit 112: Tracking Department

Claims

1. a charging unit capable of charging a battery of a vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking lot; a charging control unit capable of controlling charging of the vehicle by the charging unit; a camera capable of capturing an image including the parking space; a tracking unit capable of tracking a vehicle based on an image captured by the camera, The tracking unit a vehicle identification information image that is taken before the vehicle is parked in the parking space and includes identification information for each vehicle; a parking completion image captured after the vehicle identification information image and including the vehicle parked in the parking space; a tracking image including the vehicle, the tracking image being taken after the vehicle identification information image and before the parking completion image; a vehicle identification information acquisition process for acquiring vehicle identification information corresponding to the vehicle identification information based on the vehicle identification information image; a section identification information acquisition process for acquiring section identification information, which is identification information corresponding to the parking section in which the vehicle is parked, based on the parking completion image; a tracking process for tracking a vehicle by identifying the vehicle included in each of the vehicle identification information image, the tracking image, and the parking completion image in time series; performing an association process of associating the vehicle identification information and the section identification information based on a result of tracing from the vehicle identification information image to the parking completion image by the tracing process; The charging control unit A vehicle charging system capable of controlling charging by the charging unit of a vehicle parked in the parking space indicated by the space identification information associated with the vehicle identification information based on the vehicle identification information.

2. 10. The vehicle charging system of claim 1, The vehicle charging system is configured such that the parking lot is provided with a plurality of parking spaces where parked vehicles can be charged by the charging units.

3. 3. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, The camera includes: a vehicle identification camera capable of capturing the vehicle identification information image; a parking completion camera capable of capturing the parking completion image.

4. 4. The vehicle charging system according to claim 3, The vehicle identification camera has a photographing range that includes the path of a vehicle entering the parking lot from outside.

5. 4. The vehicle charging system according to claim 3, The tracking unit A vehicle charging system that uses an image captured by the parking completion camera as the tracking image.

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