Charging system

Abstract

To provide a technique for notifying what a power storage device is charged.SOLUTION: A charging device 100 can be connected to a power system 10 or a power generation device 20. The power storage device 200 can be connected to the charging device 100 and is charged by the charging device 100. The charging device 100 identifies whether it is connected to the power system 10 or connected to the power generation device 20. The power storage device 200 specifies a ratio of a power from the power generation device 20 to the charged power on the basis of the result of identification by the charging device 100, displays the power in the first mode when the ratio is less than a threshold value, and displays the power in the second mode when the ratio is greater than or equal to the threshold value. Here, the first mode and the second mode are different.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging technology, and more particularly to a charging system that charges a power storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] An uninterruptible power supply supplies power to a load in place of the commercial power supply when the commercial power supply experiences a power outage. However, because uninterruptible power supplies have a power supply limit, they are forced to shut down in the event of a prolonged commercial power outage. For this reason, uninterruptible power supplies are required to display the amount of time they can operate continuously. Therefore, uninterruptible power supplies display the amount of time they can operate continuously under the maximum rated load (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-233380 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An electric storage device such as an uninterruptible power supply can be charged by a commercial power grid. The electric storage device can also be charged by a power generation device such as a solar cell. Since the electric storage device does not distinguish between being charged by the electric grid and by the power generation device, the user of the electric storage device cannot distinguish between the two. Meanwhile, in an era of advancing global warming, it is preferable to use clean energy generated by a power generation device. Therefore, it is desirable for the electric storage device to inform the user of how it is being charged.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in light of these circumstances, and has as its object to provide a technique for informing a user of how a power storage device is being charged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problem, a charging system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a charging device connectable to an electric power grid or a power generation device, and a power storage device connectable to the charging device and charged by the charging device. The charging device identifies whether it is connected to the electric power grid or the power generation device, and the power storage device specifies the proportion of power from the power generation device in the charged power based on the result of the identification by the charging device, and displays the proportion in a first manner if the proportion is less than a threshold value, and displays the proportion in a second manner if the proportion is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the first and second manners being different from each other.

[0007] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc., are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to inform the user of how the power storage device is being charged. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing the time change of the voltage input to the input terminal of FIG. [Figure 3] 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams showing the data structures of tables held in the control unit of the power storage device and the control unit of the charging device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a display procedure performed by a control unit of the power storage device of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a time change in voltage input to an input terminal according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Before describing specific embodiments of the present disclosure, an overview of the embodiments will be provided. The present embodiment relates to a charging system including a power storage device and a charging device. The charging device is connected to a power grid or a power generation device, and is also connected to the power storage device. The charging device charges the power storage device with power from the power grid or the power generation device. The power storage device supplies power to a load when connected to the load while disconnected from the charging device. As described above, it is desirable to inform a user whether the power storage device is being charged by the power grid or the power generation device.

[0011] The charging device according to this embodiment determines whether it is connected to a power grid or a power generation device, and notifies the power storage device of the determined information. Based on the information notified by the charging device, the power storage device determines the proportion of power from the power generation device in the charged power. If the proportion is less than a threshold, i.e., if the power is not mainly from the power generation device, the power storage device lights an LED (Light Emitting Diode) in red. On the other hand, if the proportion is equal to or greater than the threshold, i.e., if the power is mainly from the power generation device, the LED lights in blue. The change in the color of the LED notifies the user whether the power storage device is being charged by the power grid or the power generation device.

[0012] 1 shows the configuration of a charging system 1000. The charging system 1000 includes a charging device 100 and a power storage device 200. The charging device 100 and the power storage device 200 are detachable. The charging device 100 can be connected to an electric power grid 10 via a conversion device 12 or a power generation device 20, and the power storage device 200 can be connected to a load 30. The charging device 100 includes an input terminal 110, a control unit 120, an output terminal 130, a first communication unit 140, and a display unit 150, and the control unit 120 includes an identification unit 122. The power storage device 200 includes an input terminal 210, a control unit 220, an output terminal 230, a second communication unit 240, a third communication unit 242, a display unit 250, and a storage battery 260.

[0013] The power system 10 is a commercial power source and outputs AC power. The conversion device 12 receives power from the power system 10, converts the AC power to DC power, and outputs it. Since any known technology can be used for AC / DC conversion, a description thereof will be omitted here. The power generation device 20 is a device that generates renewable energy, such as a solar cell. The power generation device 20 outputs the generated DC power.

[0014] The input terminal 110 of the charging device 100 can be connected to either the conversion device 12 or the power generation device 20. Since being connected to the conversion device 12 is equivalent to being connected to the power grid 10, hereinafter, being connected to the conversion device 12 will be referred to as being connected to the power grid 10. When connected to the power grid 10, the input terminal 110 receives power from the power grid 10 (hereinafter referred to as "first power"), and when connected to the power generation device 20, it receives power from the power generation device 20 (hereinafter referred to as "second power"). The input terminal 110 outputs the first power or the second power. The first power or the second power output from the input terminal 110 is DC power.

[0015] The power system 10 may be connected to the input terminal 110 without going through the conversion device 12. In this case, the first power received by the input terminal 110 is AC power. The input terminal 110 converts the first power from AC power to DC power. Alternatively, the power generation device 20 may be connected to the control unit 220 via a conversion device (not shown). The conversion device converts the second power from DC power to AC power. Therefore, the input terminal 110 receives the second power, which is AC power. The input terminal 110 converts the second power from AC power to DC power. In other words, even if the first power or the second power input to the input terminal 110 is AC power, the first power or the second power output from the input terminal 110 is DC power.

[0016] Control unit 120 receives first power or second power (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as "power") from input terminal 110. In addition, output terminal 130 and first communication unit 140 are connected to control unit 120. As described above, charging device 100 and power storage device 200 are detachable, and when charging device 100 and power storage device 200 are connected, output terminal 130 is connected to input terminal 210 of power storage device 200, and first communication unit 140 is connected to second communication unit 240 of power storage device 200. When output terminal 130 and input terminal 210 are connected, control unit 120 charges power storage device 200 by outputting the received power from output terminal 130 to power storage device 200. This can also be said to mean that power storage device 200 is connectable to charging device 100 and is charged by charging device 100.

[0017] The identification unit 122 identifies whether the input terminal 110 is connected to the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20. The identification unit 122 performs the identification based on, for example, the change in power received from the input terminal 110 over time. FIGS. 2(a)-(b) show the change in voltage input to the input terminal 110 over time. The horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates voltage. FIG. 2(a) shows the change in the second voltage over time. When the power generation device is a solar cell, the second voltage is always unstable due to the relationship between the sun and clouds. FIG. 2(b) shows the change in the first voltage over time. The first voltage becomes a stable value. Return to FIG. 1. The identification unit 122 sequentially calculates the slope of the power received at the input terminal 110. If the power is increasing during a predetermined period (hereinafter referred to as the "first period"), the sign of the power slope is "positive," and if the power is decreasing during the first period, the sign of the power slope is "negative."

[0018] The identification unit 122 counts the number of times the sign of the power gradient changes (hereinafter referred to as the "number of changes") in a period longer than the first period (hereinafter referred to as the "second period"), for example, one minute. A change in the sign of the power gradient includes a case where the sign of the power gradient changes from "positive" to "negative" and a case where the sign of the power gradient changes from "negative" to "positive." The above process corresponds to counting the number of changes in the sign of the time-varying differential value of power. If the number of changes is smaller than a reference value, the identification unit 122 identifies the power received at the input terminal 110 as the first power. This corresponds to identifying that the input terminal 110 is connected to the power grid 10. On the other hand, if the number of changes is equal to or greater than the reference value, the identification unit 122 identifies the power received at the input terminal 110 as the second power. This corresponds to identifying that the input terminal 110 is connected to the power generation device 20. The reference value is a preset value, for example, "10."

[0019] When connected to each other, the first communication unit 140 and the second communication unit 240 perform wired communication using, for example, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART). When power is being supplied from the output terminal 130 to the power storage device 200, the control unit 120 causes the first communication unit 140 to transmit an identification result to the second communication unit 240. The identification result is the result of identification by the identification unit 122 and indicates whether the power is the first power or the second power. This corresponds to the input terminal 110 being connected to the power grid 10 or the input terminal 110 being connected to the power generation device 20.

[0020] As described above, when the charging device 100 and the power storage device 200 are connected, the input terminal 210 of the power storage device 200 is connected to the output terminal 130 of the charging device 100, and the second communication unit 240 of the power storage device 200 is connected to the first communication unit 140 of the charging device 100. The input terminal 210 and the second communication unit 240 are connected to the control unit 220. When the input terminal 210 and the output terminal 130 are connected and the input terminal 210 receives power from the output terminal 130, the control unit 220 charges the storage battery 260. The storage battery 260 is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery.

[0021] The control unit 220 also executes the following process when charging the storage battery 260. When the input terminal 210 receives power from the output terminal 130, the second communication unit 240 receives an identification result from the first communication unit 140. By receiving the identification result, the control unit 220 identifies whether the received power is the first power or the second power. The control unit 220 also includes a power meter and measures the value of the power received from the output terminal 130. Furthermore, the control unit 220 associates the measured power value with the identified first power or second power.

[0022] Subsequently, the control unit 220 integrates the measured power values ​​among the associated first power or second power. As a result, the amount of power from the power grid 10 charged to the storage battery 260 (hereinafter referred to as the "first amount of power") and the amount of power from the power generation device 20 (hereinafter referred to as the "second amount of power") are calculated. Based on the first amount of power and the second amount of power, the control unit 220 determines the proportion of the power from the power generation device 20 in the power charged to the storage battery 260. Ratio = Second power amount / (First power amount + Second power amount) Here, the maximum value of the sum of the first amount of power and the second amount of power is the capacity (amount of power) of the storage battery 260.

[0023] The control unit 220 determines the display mode of the display unit 250 by referring to a table based on the identified ratio. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show the data structures of the tables respectively held by the control unit 220 of the power storage device 200 and the control unit 120 of the charging device 100. In particular, FIG. 3(a) shows the data structure of the table held by the control unit 220. The control unit 220 determines the first mode when the ratio is less than a threshold value (hereinafter referred to as the "first state"). The first state corresponds to a case where the storage battery 260 is charged mainly with power from the power grid 10. On the other hand, the control unit 220 determines the second mode when the ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value (hereinafter referred to as the "second state"). The second state corresponds to a case where the storage battery 260 is charged mainly with power from the power generation device 20. The first mode and the second mode are different. Examples of the first mode and the second mode will be described later. The threshold value is preset, for example, to "0.5." FIG. 3(b) will be described later, and we will return to FIG. 1.

[0024] The control unit 220 causes the display unit 250 to display in the determined first or second mode. The display unit 250 is, for example, an LED. The first mode and the second mode have different colors, with the first mode being lit in "red" and the second mode being lit in "blue." The first mode and the second mode may have different color tones. The first mode and the second mode may have different blinking intervals. For example, the first mode is constantly lit and the second mode is blinking at regular intervals.

[0025] The charging device 100 and the power storage device 200 may be disconnected, and the power storage device 200 may be connected to the load 30. Specifically, the output terminal 230 and the third communication unit 242 are connected to the load 30. For example, the output terminal 230 is a terminal for Universal Serial Bus (USB) (registered trademark), and the third communication unit 242 performs wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark). The load 30 is, for example, an electronic device, and when the output terminal 230 and the load 30 are connected, the control unit 220 supplies power from the storage battery 260 to the load 30. Furthermore, the control unit 220 causes the third communication unit 242 to transmit state information indicating the first state or the second state to the load 30.

[0026] The load 30 operates using power supplied from the power storage device 200. The load 30 may also be charged using power supplied from the power storage device 200. When the load 30 receives state information from the power storage device 200, the load 30 may display the first state or the second state on a display unit (not shown). This display may be made in the same manner as the display of the first mode or the second mode on the display unit 250.

[0027] The storage battery 260 consumes power as it discharges to the load 30. The control unit 220 measures the amount of power consumed (hereinafter referred to as "power consumption"). Known techniques may be used to measure the power consumption, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The control unit 220 also maintains a history of changes in the first and second powers in the identification results and a history of the accumulated values ​​of the measured power. The control unit 220 subtracts the oldest power consumption from the first and second power consumptions. In other words, the control unit 220 updates the first and second power consumptions in a first-in, first-out manner according to the power consumption. The control unit 220 calculates the aforementioned ratio based on the updated first and second power consumptions. If, for example, the first state changes to the second state due to the update of the first and second power consumptions, the display on the display unit 250 changes from the first state to the second state.

[0028] The control unit 120 of the charging device 100 may change the display of the display unit 150 depending on the identified first power or second power. The display unit 150 is, for example, an LED. FIG. 3(b) shows the data structure of a table held in the control unit 120. The control unit 120 determines the third mode when connected to the power grid 10. Connection to the power grid 10 corresponds to the case where the first power has been identified. On the other hand, the control unit 120 determines the fourth mode when connected to the power generation device 20. Connection to the power generation device 20 corresponds to the case where the second power has been identified. The third mode and the fourth mode are different. Return to FIG. 1. The third mode and the fourth mode of the display unit 150 may be the same as the first mode and the second mode of the display unit 250.

[0029] The subject of the device, system, or method of the present disclosure includes a computer. The computer executes a program to realize the functions of the subject of the device, system, or method of the present disclosure. The computer includes, as its main hardware component, a processor that operates according to the program. The processor may be of any type, as long as it can realize the functions by executing the program. The processor may be composed of one or more electronic circuits, including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integration (LSI). The electronic circuits may be integrated into a single chip or may be provided on multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into a single device or may be provided on multiple devices. The program is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium, such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disk, or hard disk drive. The program may be pre-stored on the recording medium or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide-area communication network, including the Internet.

[0030] The operation of the charging system 1000 configured as described above will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a display procedure performed by the control unit 220 of the power storage device 200. The control unit 220 identifies the proportion of power from the power generation device 20 in the power charged in the storage battery 260 (S10). If the proportion is less than a threshold value (Y in S12), the control unit 220 causes the display unit 250 to display in a first manner (S14). If the proportion is not less than the threshold value (N in S12), the control unit 220 causes the display unit 250 to display in a second manner (S16).

[0031] (Variation) Next, a modified example will be described. As with the embodiment, the modified example relates to a charging system 1000 including a charging device 100 and a power storage device 200. The identification unit 122 in the embodiment identifies whether the input terminal 110 is connected to the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20 based on the change over time in the power received from the input terminal 110. In the modified example, the method of identifying whether the input terminal 110 is connected to the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20 differs from that in the embodiment. The charging system 1000 according to the modified example is of the same type as that shown in FIG. 1. The differences from the embodiment will be mainly described here.

[0032] The power generation device 20 outputs the second power as before. Furthermore, the power generation device 20 has a power line communication function and superimposes information on the second power via power line communication. The information indicates the power generation device 20 or the second power. The second power from the power generation device 20 is input to the input terminal 110 of the charging device 100. Figure 5 shows the time variation of the voltage (second voltage) input to the input terminal 110. Normally, the second voltage changes over time as shown in Figure 2(a), but here the second voltage is shown as not changing over time to clarify the superimposition of information via power line communication. The value of the second power is periodically and instantaneously suppressed via power line communication. Return to Figure 1.

[0033] The identification unit 122 is equipped with power line communication and extracts information from the power input to the input terminal 110. If the information is extracted, the identification unit 122 identifies the power input to the input terminal 110 as the second power. On the other hand, if the information is not extracted, the identification unit 122 identifies the power input to the input terminal 110 as the first power. The former corresponds to the input terminal 110 being connected to the power generation device 20, and the latter corresponds to the input terminal 110 being connected to the power grid 10. The subsequent processing is the same as before, and therefore will not be described here.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the power storage device 200 identifies the proportion of power from the power generation device 20 in the power charged to the storage battery 260, and displays the proportion in a first manner when the proportion is less than a threshold value, and displays the proportion in a second manner when the proportion is equal to or greater than the threshold value, thereby making it possible to notify whether the power storage device 200 has been charged by the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20. Furthermore, since it is notified whether the power storage device 200 has been charged by the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20, it is possible to notify what has charged the power storage device 200. Furthermore, the charging device 100 automatically identifies whether it is connected to the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20, thereby eliminating the need for an additional device for identification. Furthermore, the charging device 100 identifies that it is connected to the power grid 10 when information via power line communication is superimposed on the power from the power storage device 200, thereby improving the accuracy of identification.

[0035] Furthermore, since the colors are different between the first state and the second state, it is possible to inform the user as to how the power storage device 200 is being charged. Furthermore, since the color tones are different between the first state and the second state, it is possible to inform the user as to how the power storage device 200 is being charged. Furthermore, since the blinking intervals are different between the first state and the second state, it is possible to inform the user as to how the power storage device 200 is being charged. Furthermore, the charging device 100 displays in the third state when it is identified as being connected to the power grid 10, and displays in the fourth state when it is identified as being connected to the power generation device 20, it is possible to inform the user as to whether the charging device 100 is connected to the power grid 10 or the power generation device 20.

[0036] An outline of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows. (Item 1) a charging device (100) connectable to a power grid (10) or a power generation device (20); a power storage device (200) connectable to the charging device (100) and charged by the charging device (100); The charging device (100) identifies whether it is connected to the power grid (10) or the power generation device (20); The power storage device (200) identifies a ratio of the power from the power generation device (20) to the charged power based on the result of the identification by the charging device (100), and displays the ratio in a first manner when the ratio is less than a threshold value, and displays the ratio in a second manner when the ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value; The first embodiment and the second embodiment are different charging systems (1000).

[0037] (Item 2) Item 1. The charging system (1000) according to item 1, wherein the first and second modes have different colors.

[0038] (Item 3) Item 1. The charging system (1000) according to item 1, wherein the first and second modes have different color tones.

[0039] (Item 4) Item 1. The charging system (1000) according to item 1, wherein the blinking intervals are different between the first mode and the second mode.

[0040] (Item 5) the charging device (100) displays in a third manner when it is identified as being connected to the power grid (10), and displays in a fourth manner when it is identified as being connected to the power generation device (20); The charging system (1000) according to item 1, wherein the third aspect and the fourth aspect are different.

[0041] (Item 6) 6. The charging system (1000) according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the charging device (100) and the power storage device (200) are integrated.

[0042] (Item 7) 7. The charging system (1000) according to item 6, wherein the power storage device (200) is capable of being discharged.

[0043] The present disclosure has been described above based on examples. These examples are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] The charging system 1000 in this embodiment includes a detachable charging device 100 and a power storage device 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the charging device 100 and the power storage device 200 may be integrated in the charging system 1000. According to this modification, the degree of freedom in the configuration can be improved.

[0045] The charging device 100 in this embodiment is capable of charging the power storage device 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the charging device 100 may be capable of charging the power storage device 200 and discharging the power storage device 200. Such a charging device 100 is also called a charging / discharging device. According to this modification, the degree of freedom in the configuration can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 power system, 20 power generation device, 30 load, 100 charging device, 110 input terminal, 120 control unit, 122 identification unit, 130 output terminal, 140 first communication unit, 150 display unit, 200 storage device, 210 input terminal, 220 control unit, 230 output terminal, 240 second communication unit, 250 display unit, 260 storage battery, 1000 charging system.

Claims

1. a charging device connectable to a power grid or a power generating device; a power storage device connectable to the charging device and charged by the charging device; The charging device identifies whether it is connected to the power grid or the power generation device; the power storage device specifies a ratio of the power from the power generation device to the charged power based on the result of the identification by the charging device, and displays the ratio in a first manner when the ratio is less than a threshold value, and displays the ratio in a second manner when the ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value; The first aspect and the second aspect are different charging systems.

2. The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein the first state and the second state have different colors.

3. The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein the first state and the second state have different color tones.

4. The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein the intervals of the flashing lights are different between the first mode and the second mode.

5. the charging device displays in a third manner when it is identified that it is connected to the power grid, and displays in a fourth manner when it is identified that it is connected to the power generation device; The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein the third mode and the fourth mode are different.

6. The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein the charging device and the power storage device are integrated together.

7. The charging system according to claim 6, wherein the power storage device is capable of being discharged.

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