Management apparatus

Abstract

To provide a management device capable of warning that a charging rate of a driving battery is approaching a lower limit value.SOLUTION: A management device provided in a vehicle including a battery for driving and capable of supplying electric power stored in the battery to a device outside the vehicle when a charging rate of the battery is equal to or greater than a lower limit value includes a measurement unit configured to measure an output value of the battery, and a process execution unit configured to execute a warning process when an allowable value calculated based on the output value and indicating an allowable range until the charging rate reaches the lower limit value becomes equal to or less than a warning value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electric vehicle that includes a drive battery, and in which the drive battery can be electrically connected to an external device via an inlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-071102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Such electric vehicles have a power supply function that supplies the power stored in the drive battery to devices outside the vehicle, but because various inconveniences can arise if the power stored in the drive battery is used excessively, the electric vehicle is made capable of supplying the power stored in the drive battery to devices outside the vehicle when the charge rate of the drive battery is above a lower limit value.

[0005] Therefore, if the charge rate of the drive battery falls below a lower limit while the power stored in the drive battery is being supplied to a device outside the vehicle, the power supply to the device outside the vehicle may suddenly be stopped, which may have a negative impact on the device outside the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a management device that can warn that the charging rate of a drive battery is approaching a lower limit value. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples.

[0008] The management device of this application example is a management device installed in a vehicle that has a drive battery and is capable of supplying the power stored in the battery to a device outside the vehicle when the charging rate of the battery is above a lower limit value, and is equipped with a measurement unit that measures the output value of the battery, and a processing execution unit that executes a warning process when an allowable value that is calculated based on the output value and indicates the allowable range until the charging rate reaches the lower limit value falls below a warning value.

[0009] The management device according to this application example can issue a warning that the charging rate of the drive battery is approaching the lower limit before the charging rate of the drive battery reaches the lower limit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention and a power supply mode of the vehicle; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the electrical configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a management device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the management device according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 1. Vehicle configuration First, a vehicle 1 and a power supply mode of the vehicle 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a vehicle 1 of this embodiment and a power supply mode of the vehicle 1.

[0012] The vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle. Specifically, the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle that can operate in a power supply mode in which power stored in a drive battery 10 is supplied to an external device 400. The vehicle 1 can also operate in a charge mode in which the battery 10 receives power supplied from an external charger (not shown).

[0013] Examples of the vehicle 1 include a plug-in battery electric vehicle (PEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a plug-in fuel cell electric vehicle (PFCEV).

[0014] The external device 400 is a device outside the vehicle 1. Examples of the external device 400 include electrical powered appliances and some devices provided in building facilities. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the external device 400 is an electric cooking appliance.

[0015] When the vehicle 1 operates in power supply mode, i.e., when the electricity stored in the battery 10 is supplied to the external device 400, the connector 202 of the repeater 200 is inserted into the inlet 12 of the vehicle 1, and the repeater 200 and the battery 10 are electrically connected via a power circuit or the like.

[0016] In addition to the connector 202, the repeater 200 is equipped with various cables, various sensors, a control unit, a power converter (DC-AC converter), and a power supply socket (power supply outlet, power supply port) 204, etc., and converts the power input from the connector 202 side and outputs the converted power to the power supply socket 204 side.

[0017] Furthermore, when the vehicle 1 operates in power supply mode, one connector (plug) 302 of the AC-DC conversion adapter 300 is inserted into the power supply socket 204 of the repeater 200, and the other connector (connection terminal) of the AC-DC conversion adapter 300 is inserted into the external device 400, thereby electrically connecting the repeater 200 and the external device 400 via a power circuit or the like.

[0018] Next, the electrical configuration of the vehicle 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the electrical configuration of the vehicle 1 of this embodiment. In Fig. 2, the power circuit is shown by a solid line, and the control circuit is shown by a dashed line.

[0019] In addition to the battery 10 and the inlet 12, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a relay 14, a measuring unit 16, a PCU (Power Control Unit) 22, a motor generator 24, a horn 26, a sound generating unit 28, a display unit 30, a communication unit 32, and a control unit 40.

[0020] The battery 10 is a large-capacity secondary battery, and the power stored in the battery 10 is mainly used to generate driving force in the motor generator 24. As described above, the power stored in the battery 10 is also used to supply power to the external device 400. Examples of the battery 10 include a nickel-metal hydride battery and a lithium-ion battery.

[0021] The battery 10 is charged by inserting a connector of an external charger into the inlet 12. The battery 10 is also charged by the motor generator 24 generating electric power through regenerative braking.

[0022] The relay 14 is electrically connected to the battery 10 via a power circuit between the battery 10 and the inlet 12. The relay 14 can be switched between an open state and a closed state, and is in the closed state while the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode or the charging mode. The opening and closing operation of the relay 14 is performed in response to an instruction from the control unit 40.

[0023] The measuring unit 16 is electrically connected to the relay 14 via a power circuit between the relay 14 and the inlet 12. The inlet 12 is also electrically connected to the measuring unit 16 via a power circuit.

[0024] The measurement unit 16 measures the output value of the battery 10 on the inlet 12 side while the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode, and outputs information about the output value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40. Specifically, the measurement unit 16 includes a current measurement unit 18, a voltage measurement unit 20, etc., and measures the output current value and output voltage value of the battery 10 on the inlet 12 side while the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode, and outputs information about the output current value and output voltage value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40.

[0025] The current measuring unit 18 measures the output current value of the battery 10 by measuring the current value flowing in the power line of the power circuit while the vehicle 1 is in power supply mode, and outputs information on the output current value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40.

[0026] While the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode, the voltage measurement unit 20 measures the voltage value between the power lines of the power circuit, thereby measuring the output voltage value of the battery 10, and outputs information about the output voltage value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40.

[0027] The PCU 22 is electrically connected to the battery 10 via a power circuit between the battery 10 and the motor generator 24. The motor generator 24 is also electrically connected to the PCU 22 via a power circuit.

[0028] The PCU 22 includes, for example, a converter, an inverter, a drive circuit, etc., and appropriately converts the power supplied from one of the battery 10 and the motor generator 24 to the other. Note that each operation of the PCU 22 is performed in response to an instruction from the control unit 40.

[0029] The motor generator 24 is an electric motor (motor) that also functions as a generator. An example of the motor generator 24 is a three-phase AC synchronous motor.

[0030] The horn 26 is electrically controllable and sounds an alarm in response to an instruction from the control unit 40.

[0031] The sound generator 28 is a general-purpose speaker, and generates, for example, a sound similar to a horn or various message sounds in response to an instruction from the controller 40.

[0032] The display unit 30 is a general-purpose display, and displays, for example, the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 10 or various messages in response to instructions from the control unit 40.

[0033] The communication unit 32 is a wireless communication circuit or a wireless communication module. The communication unit 32 performs wireless communication with the outside using a known wireless communication method. The communication unit 32 may perform short-range wireless communication with the information processing terminal 500 using, for example, a known short-range wireless communication method, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), or may perform wireless communication with the information processing terminal 500 via a network such as the Internet. The communication unit 32 transmits, for example, an instruction to the information processing terminal 500 in response to an instruction from the control unit 40. The information processing terminal 500 is, for example, a smartphone of the owner of the vehicle 1.

[0034] The control unit 40 is a computer, such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), that performs overall control of the vehicle 1. The control unit 40 is electrically connected to the relay 14, the measurement unit 16, the PCU 22, the horn 26, the sound generation unit 28, the display unit 30, the communication unit 32, etc. via a control circuit.

[0035] The vehicle 1 is provided with an auxiliary battery (not shown) different from the battery 10, and the horn 26, the sound generating unit 28, the display unit 30, the communication unit 32, and the control unit 40 receive power from the different auxiliary battery.

[0036] In such a vehicle 1, in order to prevent excessive supply of the power stored in the battery 10 while the vehicle 1 is in power supply mode, that is, to ensure that the power stored in the battery 10 is secured, the supply of the power stored in the battery 10 to the external device 400 is permitted when the charge rate of the battery 10 is equal to or higher than a lower limit value (e.g., 30%).

[0037] On the other hand, when the charging rate of the battery 10 falls below a lower limit, the power supply to the external device 400 is stopped in order to ensure the power stored in the battery 10. Note that the lower limit for the charging rate of the battery 10 is set in advance.

[0038] 2. Management Device Configuration The vehicle 1 further includes a management device 100 that manages the charging rate of the battery 10. The management device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the management device 100 of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is also a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the vehicle 1.

[0039] The management device 100 includes the above-mentioned measurement unit 16, horn 26, sound generation unit 28, display unit 30, communication unit 32, control unit 40, and the like.

[0040] The control unit 40 is also a computer that performs overall control of the management device 100, and as described above, is electrically connected to each of the measurement unit 16, horn 26, sound generation unit 28, display unit 30, and communication unit 32, etc. via control circuits.

[0041] The control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50 and a storage unit 60 that can be directly accessed by the CPU 50. The storage unit 60 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a solid state drive (SSD), or any combination thereof.

[0042] The storage unit 60 stores programs and data for controlling the operation of the management device 100. Data acquired by various components of the management device 100 is also stored in the storage unit 60.

[0043] The data stored in the storage unit 60 is updated to the latest version as needed by being acquired by various components of the management device 100. The data pre-stored in the storage unit 60 is updated when settings are changed, etc.

[0044] The CPU 50 executes the programs stored in the storage unit 60 to function as a calculation unit 52, a processing execution unit 54, and the like.

[0045] The calculation unit 52 refers to the output value data 62 and the lower limit value data 68 while the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode.

[0046] The output value data 62 is data stored in the memory unit 60 when the measuring unit 16 outputs information on the output value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40, and indicates the output value of the battery 10. The output value data 62 includes output current value data 64, output voltage value data 66, etc.

[0047] The output current value data 64 is data stored in the storage unit 60 when the current measurement unit 18 outputs information on the output current value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40, and indicates the output current value of the battery 10.

[0048] The output voltage value data 66 is data stored in the storage unit 60 when the voltage measurement unit 20 outputs information on the output voltage value of the battery 10 to the control unit 40, and indicates the output voltage value of the battery 10.

[0049] The lower limit data 68 indicates the lower limit of the charging rate of the battery 10, and is stored in the storage unit 60 in advance.

[0050] The calculation unit 52 refers to the output value data 62 and the lower limit value data 68, and calculates an allowable value indicating an allowable range until the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit value, based on the output value of the battery 10. Specifically, the calculation unit 52 calculates the allowable value by applying one or more well-known methods to the output value of the battery 10.

[0051] The allowable value is, for example, the remaining amount of power that can be used before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches a lower limit. When calculating the remaining amount of power that can be used before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches a lower limit as the allowable value, for example, a known method for estimating the charging rate of the battery is used. Known methods for estimating the charging rate of the battery include, for example, an estimation method using an OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) curve and a current integration method.

[0052] The allowable value may also be, for example, the remaining time until the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit value. The remaining time until the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit value is calculated based on the remaining amount of power that can be used until the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit value and the output current value of the battery 10 per unit time.

[0053] Once the tolerance is calculated in this manner, tolerance data 70 indicating the tolerance is stored in the storage unit 60.

[0054] The process execution unit 54 refers to the tolerance value data 70 and the warning value data 72 while the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode.

[0055] The warning value data 72 is data indicating a warning value and is stored in advance in the storage unit 60. The warning value is a value that determines the timing of issuing a warning until the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit, in other words, until the tolerance value reaches 0. Specifically, the warning value is a value equivalent to the tolerance value and greater than 0. For example, if the tolerance value indicates the remaining time until the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit, the warning value indicates a time (for example, 1 minute or 60 seconds).

[0056] The processing execution unit 54 refers to the tolerance data 70 and the warning value data 72, and executes a warning process when the tolerance value falls below the warning value. The warning process is a process for warning that the charging rate of the battery 10 is approaching the lower limit. The warning process uses an auditory warning method, a visual warning method, a tactile warning method, or any combination of these.

[0057] Examples of auditory warning methods include sounding a warning whistle with the horn 26, sounding a message sound with the sound generation unit 28, and sending an instruction from the communication unit 32 to the information processing terminal 500 and sounding a sound on the information processing terminal 500.

[0058] Examples of visual warning methods include a method of displaying a message on the display unit 30, and a method of sending an instruction from the communication unit 32 to the information processing terminal 500 and causing the information processing terminal 500 to display a message.

[0059] Examples of a tactile warning method include a method in which an instruction is transmitted from the communication unit 32 to the information processing terminal 500 to vibrate the information processing terminal 500.

[0060] 3. Example of management device operation Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of the operation of the control unit 40 of the management device 100. The process of the flow shown in Fig. 4 starts, for example, when the vehicle 1 operates in the power supply mode.

[0061] In step S1, the calculation unit 52 of the control unit 40 starts calculating the tolerance value, and the control unit 40 proceeds to step S2.

[0062] In step S2, it is determined whether the allowable value is equal to or less than the warning value. If the answer is "NO" in step S2, that is, if the allowable value is greater than the warning value, the control unit 40 proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if the answer is "YES" in step S2, that is, if the allowable value is equal to or less than the warning value, the control unit 40 proceeds to step S3.

[0063] In step S3, the process execution unit 54 of the control unit 40 executes a warning process, and the control unit 40 proceeds to step S4.

[0064] In step S4, the calculation unit 52 of the control unit 40 finishes calculating the allowable value, and the processing flow shown in FIG. 4 ends.

[0065] In step S5, the control unit 40 determines whether the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode. If the determination in step S5 is "NO," that is, if the vehicle 1 is not in the power supply mode, the control unit 40 proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if the determination in step S5 is "YES," that is, if the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode, the control unit 40 returns the process to step S2.

[0066] According to the management device 100, while the vehicle 1 is in the power supply mode, a warning process is executed before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit. In other words, according to the management device 100, it is possible to make people around the vehicle 1 aware that the charging rate of the battery 10 is approaching the lower limit before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit. Examples of people around the vehicle 1 include the owner of the vehicle 1 and the owner of the external device 400.

[0067] Furthermore, if it is possible to make people around the vehicle 1 aware that the charging rate of the battery 10 is approaching the lower limit before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit, the people around the vehicle 1 can take measures in advance, such as operating the external device 400 to switch the power from on to off, before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit. Therefore, such a management device 100 can prevent adverse effects on the external device 400 caused by the stop of power supply.

[0068] This concludes the description of the embodiment of the present invention, but the specific configuration shown in this embodiment is just an example, and the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the configuration shown in this embodiment.

[0069] The flow diagram showing the operation of the management device 100 of the above embodiment is merely an example, and the order of the steps may be changed as long as the same results are obtained.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if the external device 400 has a communication function, the external device 400 and the communication unit 32 may be communicatively connected, and the warning process may be performed using a warning method that transmits instructions to the external device 400.

[0071] In the above embodiment, multiple warning values ​​may be set. In this case, the warning values ​​may be different from one another, and the warning process may be executed multiple times before the charging rate of the battery 10 reaches the lower limit.

[0072] Furthermore, if the warning process is executed multiple times in this way, the warning method may be changed for each warning process, or the degree of emphasis of the warning may be changed.

[0073] If the warning process is executed multiple times, it is preferable to increase the emphasis of the warning as the number of times the warning process is executed increases. For example, when the warning process is executed a second time, the horn 26 is sounded longer or more frequently than when the warning process was executed the first time. When the warning process is executed a third time, the horn 26 is sounded longer or more frequently than when the warning process was executed the second time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 vehicle 10 Battery 16 Measuring part 18 Current measurement section 20 Voltage measurement section 52 Arithmetic section 54 Processing execution unit 62 Output value data 64 Output current value data 66 Output voltage value data 68 Lower limit data 70 Tolerance Data 72 Warning Value Data 100 Management Device

Claims

[Claim 1] A management device provided in a vehicle that has a drive battery and is capable of supplying power stored in the battery to a device outside the vehicle when the charging rate of the battery is equal to or higher than a lower limit value, a measurement unit for measuring an output value of the battery; a processing execution unit that executes a warning process when a tolerance value that is calculated based on the output value and indicates an allowable range until the charging rate reaches the lower limit value falls below a warning value.

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