Charging management system

Abstract

To provide a charging management system capable of improving a response until the start of charging.SOLUTION: The charging management system includes a controller, and when a connector of a charger disposed in a charging station is connected to a charging port of a vehicle to be charged, the controller locks the connector after user authentication is performed, starts charging the vehicle, and then receives a notification regarding a state of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charge management system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for switching the user authentication method depending on the timing of starting up the charger. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5743159 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a time lag before charging starts, and there is room for improvement in the charging procedure, including user authentication.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a charge management system that can improve response time until the start of charging. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The charging management system according to the present disclosure includes a control unit, and when the connector of a charger placed in a charging station is connected to the charging port of a vehicle to be charged, the control unit performs user authentication, locks the connector, starts charging the vehicle, and then receives a notification regarding the status of the vehicle.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the response time until the start of charging. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charge management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a logic flow of charge management by a conventional charge management system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a logic flow of charge management by the charge management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the charge management method executed by the charge management system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

[0010] (Charging management system) The configuration of a charge management system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 1, the charge management system according to the embodiment is realized by a vehicle 1 to be charged, a charger 2, a local controller 3, and a management system 4.

[0011] Vehicle 1 is a mobile object that can be charged with externally supplied power, and examples thereof include a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Vehicle 1 includes at least an ECU 11, a battery 12, and a charging port 13. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates only the components necessary to realize the charging management system according to the embodiment from the actual configuration of vehicle 1, and does not illustrate the other components.

[0012] The ECU 11 is an electronic control unit whose main components are a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The ECU 11 controls each component of the vehicle 1.

[0013] The battery 12 is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. When the battery 12 is a lithium ion battery, it may be either a liquid battery or an all-solid-state battery. The charging port (inlet) 13 is for receiving a supply of power from the charger 2.

[0014] The charger 2 is a device for charging the vehicle 1, and is provided in a charging station. The charger 2 includes a charging connector 21 and a cable 22. The charger 2 is also connected to a local controller 3.

[0015] The local controller 3 is a device that controls the charger 2 and is provided in the charging station. For example, when the connector 21 of the charger 2 is connected to the charging port 13 of the vehicle 1, the local controller 3 performs user authentication, receives a vehicle ID, and receives notifications regarding the status of the vehicle 1 (hereinafter also referred to as "status notifications"). Examples of status notifications include the following (1) to (3).

[0016] (1) Notification that the connector 21 is connected to the charging port 13 (connector connected) (2) Notification that vehicle 1 is connected to charger 2 (EV connected) (3) Notification that vehicle 1 is charging (charging)

[0017] The above functions of the local controller 3 may be incorporated in the charger 2. In this case, a separate local controller 3 is not required. Furthermore, although the present embodiment will be described on the assumption that the vehicle 1 is charged from the charger 2, it is also possible for the vehicle 1 to discharge to the charger 2 (the charger 2 receives power from the vehicle 1).

[0018] The management system (CSMS: Charging Station Management System) 4 is configured by a server or the like arranged on the cloud. The management system 4 includes a control unit 41. The control unit 41 is realized by a processor such as a CPU and a memory (main storage unit) such as a RAM and a ROM.

[0019] When the connector 21 of the charger 2 arranged in the charging station is connected to the charging port 13 of the vehicle 1 to be charged, the control unit 41 performs user authentication, locks the connector 21, and starts charging the vehicle 1. Then, after starting charging the vehicle 1, the control unit 41 receives a notification regarding the status of the vehicle 1 (status notification).

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a logic flow of charge management by a conventional charge management system, and Fig. 3 shows a logic flow of charge management by a charge management system according to an embodiment.

[0021] In conventional charging management, as shown in Figure 2, for example, the following processes are performed in this order: (1) notification of connector connected status, (2) notification of EV connected status, and (3) user authentication. Charging from the charger 2 to the vehicle 1 is performed by locking the connector 21 after (3) user authentication. Therefore, in conventional charging management, many communications are performed between the management system 4 and the charger 2 (effectively the local controller 3) before charging the vehicle 1, resulting in a delayed response before charging begins.

[0022] On the other hand, in charge management by the charge management system according to the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, for example, processes are performed in the following order: (1) user authentication, (2) connector-connected state notification, and (3) EV-connected state notification. Therefore, in charge management by the charge management system according to the embodiment, after (1) user authentication, the connector 21 is locked and charging can start immediately. In other words, in charge management by the charge management system according to the embodiment, the number of communications between the management system 4 and the charger 2 before charging the vehicle 1 can be reduced, thereby improving response time to start charging compared to conventional systems.

[0023] More specifically, the charging management system according to the embodiment waits for a short time when the connector 21 is connected to the charging port 13, and then performs different processing depending on whether or not the vehicle ID can be received at that time. That is, if the vehicle ID can be received, the processing is performed in the order shown in Fig. 3, and if the vehicle ID cannot be received, the processing is performed in the order shown in Fig. 2. Details of these processing steps will be described later (see Fig. 4).

[0024] (Charge management method) The flow of the charge management method executed by the charge management system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The processing described below is mainly performed by the control unit 41 of the management system 4, but the local controller 3 or the vehicle 1 may also be involved in the processing as necessary.

[0025] First, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the connector 21 is connected to the charging port 13 (step S1). The determination in step S1 can be made, for example, by the management system 4 acquiring, via the local controller 3, information regarding the connection of the connector 21 to the charging port 13 detected by the charger 2.

[0026] If it is determined in step S1 that connector 21 is connected to charging port 13 (Yes in step S1), control unit 41 waits for a short time (step S2). The waiting time in step S2 is a time long enough to confirm the vehicle ID (to receive the vehicle ID from vehicle 1), for example, about 1 second.

[0027] Next, it is determined whether or not the vehicle ID can be received from the vehicle 1 (step S3). If it is determined in step S3 that the vehicle ID can be received (Yes in step S3), the control unit 41 performs user authentication (step S4). Next, the control unit 41 receives the vehicle ID of the vehicle 1 through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S5).

[0028] Next, the control unit 41 locks the connector 21 through the local controller 3 (S6) and starts charging the vehicle 1 (step S7). Next, the control unit 41 receives a status notification of the vehicle 1 (connector connected) through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S8). Next, the control unit 41 receives a status notification of the vehicle 1 (EV connected) through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S9). Next, the control unit 41 receives a status notification of the vehicle 1 (charging) through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S10), completing the series of processes.

[0029] Here, if it is determined in step S1 that connector 21 is not connected to charging port 13 (No in step S1), control unit 41 waits until connector 21 is connected (return to the determination in step S1). Also, if it is determined in step S3 that the vehicle ID cannot be received (No in step S3), control unit 41 receives a status notification (connector connected) from vehicle 1 through charger 2 and local controller 3 (step S11).

[0030] Next, the control unit 41 receives a status notification (EV connected) of the vehicle 1 through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S12). Next, the control unit 41 performs user authentication (step S13). Next, the control unit 41 receives a vehicle ID of the vehicle 1 through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S14).

[0031] Next, the control unit 41 locks the connector 21 through the local controller 3 (S15) and starts charging the vehicle 1 (step S16). Next, the control unit 41 receives a status notification (charging) from the vehicle 1 through the charger 2 and the local controller 3 (step S17), and completes the series of processes.

[0032] In the charge management system according to the embodiment described above, communication between the management system 4 and the charger 2 is delayed for a short time, and user authentication is performed before a connector-connected status notification or other status notifications are sent, thereby improving response time until the start of charging. Furthermore, the charge management system according to the embodiment can shorten the waiting time of the user confirming the start of charging. Furthermore, the charge management system according to the embodiment can start charging early, which increases the likelihood that the user himself or herself will notice a charging failure or malfunction, for example.

[0033] 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]

[0034] 1 vehicle 11 ECU 12 Battery 13 Charging port 2 charger 21 Connector 22 Cable 3 Local Controller 4. Management System (CSMS) 41 Control Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] A control unit is provided, The control unit When a connector of a charger arranged at a charging station is connected to a charging port of a vehicle to be charged, the connector is locked after user authentication and charging of the vehicle is started; thereafter receiving a notification regarding the status of the vehicle; Charging management system.

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