Parking lot guidance system

Abstract

To provide a parking lot guidance system capable of smoothing the usage history of a plurality of chargers installed in a parking lot. [Solution] The parking lot guidance system of the present invention is a parking lot guidance system that guides vehicles entering a parking lot that has multiple parking spaces, each equipped with a charger and an alarm unit, to the parking spaces.It comprises a calculation unit that calculates a usage index that indicates the degree of cumulative usage of the chargers installed in each parking space, a selection unit that selects the charger with the lowest usage index based on the calculated usage index, and an instruction unit that instructs the alarm unit and a server connected to a terminal device used by the user of the vehicle to notify the user of the parking space in which the selected charger is installed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking lot guidance system. [Background technology]

[0002] In parking lots that have multiple parking spaces equipped with chargers for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, technology is used to guide vehicles entering the parking lot to specific parking spaces. Patent Document 1 discloses a parking guidance device that preferentially guides vehicles to available parking spaces where the planned charging time is equal to or longer than the required charging time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5630617 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 focuses on the power consumption of the charger, but does not take into account the burden on the charger, such as the number of charges, total charging time, and total power consumption, or the degree of deterioration of the charger, making it difficult to equalize the degree of deterioration of each charger.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a parking lot guidance system that can smooth out the degree of deterioration of multiple chargers installed in a parking lot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The parking lot guidance system of the present invention is a parking lot guidance system that guides vehicles entering a parking lot that has multiple parking spaces, each equipped with a charger and an alarm unit, to the parking spaces, and is equipped with a calculation unit that calculates a usage index that indicates the degree of cumulative usage of the chargers installed in each parking space, a selection unit that selects the charger with the lowest usage index based on the calculated usage index, and an instruction unit that instructs the alarm unit and a server connected to a terminal device used by the user of the vehicle to notify the user of the parking space in which the selected charger is installed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention can provide a parking lot guidance system that can smooth out the degree of deterioration of multiple chargers installed in a parking lot. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a parking lot equipped with a parking lot guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a parking lot guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a process executed by the parking lot guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are simplified, and the technical scope of the embodiments should not be narrowly interpreted based on the description in the drawings. Furthermore, identical elements are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, when referring to the number of elements (including the number, numerical value, amount, range, etc.), unless otherwise specified or when it is clearly limited to a specific number in principle, it is not limited to that specific number, and may be more or less than the specific number.

[0010] Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the components are not necessarily essential unless otherwise specified or considered to be clearly essential in principle. Similarly, in the following embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of the components, etc., it is intended to include those that are substantially similar or similar to the shape, etc., unless otherwise specified or considered to be clearly not essential in principle. The same applies to the above numbers, etc. (including numbers, numerical values, amounts, ranges, etc.).

[0011] <Embodiment> A parking lot guidance system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a parking lot P equipped with a parking lot guidance system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The parking lot guidance system 1 is a system that guides a vehicle V entering a parking lot P that has multiple parking spaces PS equipped with chargers 2 to the parking space PS, and also charges the battery of the vehicle V. The parking lot P has multiple parking spaces PS, each partitioned into spaces large enough for one vehicle V to park. The vehicle V is an electric vehicle that has a battery that can be charged from an external power source.

[0013] A charger 2 is provided in each parking space PS. The charger 2 is supplied with power from a power supply device (not shown). The charger 2 includes a charging outlet 3 that serves as a connection point with the vehicle V, a notification unit 4, and a charger ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 10 or a master charger ECU 20. The charger 2 supplies charging power to the battery of the vehicle V via a charging connection cable 3a.

[0014] The notification unit 4 may be any one of means for lighting an illumination lamp or the like, means for displaying in text or an image that the parking position is the parking space PS, and means for outputting a voice announcement, or a combination of these.

[0015] The charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20 control the power supply to the vehicle V. A parking lot P may be provided with a plurality of charger ECUs 10, or a single master charger ECU 20. The charger ECUs 10 and the master charger ECU 20, and the charger ECUs 10 themselves, are communicatively connected via a communication cable, wireless LAN, or other communication means. Details of the charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0016] As will be described later, a guidance display device that guides the vehicle V to the parking space PS selected by the master charger ECU 20 may be provided near the entrance to the parking lot P. In addition, the charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20 are connected to a network N.

[0017] 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a parking lot guidance system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the parking lot guidance system 1 includes a charger ECU 10 and a master charger ECU 20. The master charger ECU 20 is capable of communicating with a server 30 via a network N. The server 30 is capable of communicating with a terminal device 40 used by a user of a vehicle V.

[0018] The charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20 can communicate with each other. The charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20 have functions such as accepting various settings related to battery charging of the charger 2 and controlling the amount of power supply (charging amount) and power supply time (charging time), and settling the charging fee. The master charger ECU 20 is the parent device of the charger ECU 10, and in addition to the functions of the charger ECU 10, has functions such as selecting a parking space PS to which a user of a vehicle V parked in a parking lot P is guided.

[0019] The charger ECU 10 includes a calculation unit 11. The master charger ECU 20 includes a calculation unit 21, a selection unit 22, and an instruction unit 23. The calculation unit 11 of the charger ECU 10 and the calculation unit 21 of the master charger ECU 20 have the same functions.

[0020] The calculation unit 11 of the charger ECU 10 and the calculation unit 21 of the master charger ECU 20 calculate a usage index that indicates the degree of cumulative usage of the charger 2 installed in each parking space PS. The usage index is an index calculated based on, for example, the number of charges (times), total charging time (h), and total amount of power (kWh) of the charger 2. A charger 2 with a low usage index can be said to have a low degree of deterioration.

[0021] The calculation unit 21 of the master charger ECU 20 selects a charger 2 with a small usage index based on the calculated usage index. The selected charger 2 may be the charger 2 with the smallest usage index, that is, the charger 2 with the lowest degree of deterioration, among the available chargers 2.

[0022] The instruction unit 23 of the master charger ECU 20 instructs the notification unit 4 and the server 30 connected to the terminal device 40 used by the user to notify the user of the parking space PS where the selected charger 2 is installed.

[0023] The instruction unit 23 may instruct the notification unit 4 to notify the user of the parking space PS by transmitting a flag to the charger ECU 10. The user of the vehicle V can recognize the parking space PS where the vehicle V will be parked by the notification by the notification unit 4.

[0024] Furthermore, the instructing unit 23 may transmit information identifying the selected charger 2 to the server 30 and instruct the terminal device 40 to display the parking space PS. In response to an instruction from the master charger ECU 20, the server 30 can cause the terminal device 40 to display the parking space PS in which the selected charger 2 is installed. The server 30 may also cause the parking space PS to be displayed on a search site that allows a search for parking spaces PS in the parking lot P.

[0025] The terminal device 40 is a device used by the user of the vehicle V, and is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The terminal device 40 displays numbers and letters representing the parking space PS on a screen based on information obtained from the server 30, thereby displaying the parking space PS to the user of the vehicle V. In addition, the terminal device 40 may use a navigation function to display a map of the parking space P on the display screen and provide route guidance from the current position of the vehicle V to the selected parking space PS.

[0026] The charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20 each have a hardware configuration including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and input / output I / F (Interface), which are electrically connected to each other via a bus.

[0027] The CPU controls the operation of the charger ECU 10 and the master charger ECU 20. The ROM stores programs executed by the CPU. The RAM is used as a workspace for the CPU. The HDD stores various data such as programs. The input / output I / F is an interface for inputting and outputting various signals and data to and from external devices.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process executed by the parking lot information system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] First, when charging of the charger 2 is completed, the calculation unit 11 of the charger ECU 10 and the calculation unit 21 of the master charger ECU 20 calculate a usage index (S101). The calculation of the usage index is performed based on, for example, the number of charges, the total charging time, and the total amount of power. The charger ECU 10 transmits the calculated usage index to the master charger ECU 20 (S102).

[0030] The selection unit 22 of the master charger ECU 20 selects the charger 2 with the lowest usage index, i.e., the lowest degree of deterioration, based on the usage index acquired from each charger ECU 10 (S103). The instruction unit 23 of the master charger ECU 20 instructs the notification unit 4 of the selected charger 2 and the server 30 to display the parking space PS in which the selected charger 2 is installed (S104).

[0031] The instruction by the instructing unit 23 to display the parking spaces PS in which the chargers 2 are installed may be, for example, a means for transmitting "low stress flag: 1" to the charger ECU 10 of the selected charger 2 and "low stress flag: 0" to the charger ECU 10 of the other chargers 2. Alternatively, the instructing unit 23 may be a means for transmitting information identifying the selected charger 2 to the server 30.

[0032] The server 30 displays the parking space PS where the selected charger 2 is installed on the search site (S105). The notification unit 4 of the selected charger 2 notifies the user of the vehicle V of the parking space PS, which is the parking location (S106). Note that the order of the processing of S105 and S106 does not matter.

[0033] <Advantages of the parking lot guidance system 1 according to this embodiment> The parking lot guidance system 1 of this embodiment can be applied even when it is not anticipated that a large-scale charging facility such as a charging station will be designed from scratch, and when a charger 2 is to be added to an existing parking lot P.

[0034] Furthermore, the parking lot guidance system 1 according to this embodiment takes into consideration the load and degree of deterioration of the multiple chargers 2 installed in the parking lot P, and guides the vehicle V to a parking space PS that has a charger 2 with a low degree of deterioration. Therefore, the parking lot guidance system 1 according to this embodiment makes it possible to smooth the usage history of the multiple chargers 2 installed in the parking lot P.

[0035] The present invention has been described above in accordance with the above-mentioned embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-mentioned embodiments, and naturally includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention claimed in the claims of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1. Parking lot information system 2 charger 4. Notification Department 10 Charger ECU 11 Calculation section 20 Master Charger ECU 21 Calculation section 22 Selection section 23 Instruction section 30 servers 40 Terminal Equipment

Claims

[Claim 1] A parking lot guidance system that guides a vehicle entering a parking lot having a plurality of parking spaces, each of which is provided with a charger and a notification unit, to the parking spaces, a calculation unit that calculates a usage index that indicates the degree of cumulative usage of the chargers installed for each parking space; a selection unit that selects the charger having a small usage index based on the calculated usage index; an instruction unit that instructs the notification unit and a server connected to a terminal device used by a user of the vehicle to notify the user of the parking space in which the selected charger is installed; A parking lot guidance system equipped with

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