Control device and control method

Abstract

To provide a control device that can appropriately direct sunlight into the garage according to the arrangement of solar panels mounted on the vehicle. [Solution] The control device according to the present invention is a control device for controlling a garage that includes a light-transmitting section that transmits sunlight and a light-blocking section that blocks sunlight, and when a vehicle parked in the garage is equipped with solar cells, the control device includes a specification section that identifies the arrangement of the solar cells and a control section that controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting section according to the arrangement of the solar cells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device and a control method.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a garage that allows sunlight to enter from a part of the roof into a vehicle equipped with a solar cell. Patent Document 1 describes a technique related to a garage that condenses and irradiates sunlight with a condensing member onto a vehicle parked in the garage and equipped with a solar power generation device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, sunlight enters the interior of the garage even during a time period when the vehicle equipped with the solar cell is not stopped, and the temperature inside the garage rises, which may cause damage to the human body and the equipment inside the garage. Further, since the condensing member is fixedly installed on the roof of the garage, parts of the vehicle other than the solar cell are irradiated with sunlight, and there is a risk of problems occurring in the painting or the like.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can appropriately cause sunlight to enter the interior of a garage according to the arrangement of a solar cell mounted on a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The control device according to the present invention is a control device for controlling a garage that includes a light-transmitting section that transmits sunlight and a light-blocking section that blocks sunlight, and when a vehicle parked in the garage is equipped with solar cells, the control device includes a specification section that identifies the arrangement of the solar cells and a control section that controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting section according to the arrangement of the solar cells. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention provides a control device that can appropriately direct sunlight into the interior of a garage according to the arrangement of solar cells mounted on the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a garage configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the light-transmitting section and the light-shielding section in a garage according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows a modified example of the configuration of the light-transmitting and light-shielding sections in a garage according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure shows the flow of the control method executed by the control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below 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 their depiction. Furthermore, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Also, in the following embodiments, when referring to the number of elements (including quantity, numerical value, amount, range, etc.), unless specifically stated or clearly limited to a particular number in principle, the number is not limited to that particular number and may be greater than or less than that number.

[0010] Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the components are not necessarily essential unless otherwise explicitly stated 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 shall include those that substantially approximate or resemble their shape, etc., unless otherwise explicitly stated or considered to be clearly not essential in principle. The same applies to the numbers, etc. (including the number of items, numerical values, quantities, ranges, etc.).

[0011] [First Embodiment] <Configuration of Garage 1> Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a garage 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The garage 1 comprises side walls 2, a roof 3, a light-transmitting section 4, a light-shielding section 5, a detection device 6, and a communication device 7. A vehicle 8 enters and parks in the garage 1. The vehicle 8 has a solar panel 9 mounted on its roof.

[0012] The light-shielding section 5, detection device 6, and communication device 7 of the garage 1 are connected to the control device 10 in a communicative manner. The control device 10 may be installed inside the garage 1, or outside the garage 1 or in another building. The roof 3 of the garage 1 is supported by side walls 2 at both ends in a direction that intersects the direction of movement of the vehicle 8.

[0013] As shown in the figure, the roof 3 is provided with a light-transmitting section 4 and a light-blocking section 5. The light-transmitting section 4 transmits sunlight, and the light-blocking section 5 blocks sunlight. The position and size of the light-transmitting section 4 are configured to be changeable so that sunlight enters the solar cell 9 mounted on the vehicle 8.

[0014] More specifically, the light-transmitting portion 4 is the area of ​​the light-transmitting member 41 that is not covered by the light-shielding member 51. The light-shielding member 51 may be provided to cover the light-transmitting member 41 from the outside of the garage 1, as shown in the figure, or it may be provided to cover the light-transmitting member 41 from the inside of the garage 1. Furthermore, the light-transmitting portion 4 and the light-shielding portion 5 are not limited to the roof 3, but may also be provided on the side wall 2. Details of the structure of the light-transmitting portion 4 and the light-shielding portion 5 will be explained later with reference to Figure 2, etc.

[0015] The detection device 6 may also be an imaging device. Examples of imaging devices include monocular cameras, celestial cameras, and omnidirectional cameras (360-degree cameras, full-sphere cameras). The imaging device, which is the detection device 6, photographs the parked vehicle 8 so that its position and the position and size of the solar cells 9 can be recognized. The control device 10 acquires the image captured by the imaging device, which is the detection device 6, extracts the area in which the vehicle 8 and solar cells 9 are visible from the acquired image, and identifies the position and size of the solar cells 9.

[0016] Furthermore, the detection device 6 may be a position sensor that identifies the stopping position of the vehicle 8. Examples of position sensors include laser sensors (LIDAR: Light Detection and Ranging), radar sensors (RADAR: Radio Detection and Ranging), millimeter-wave radar, infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc. The control device 10 acquires information regarding the distance to the vehicle 8 detected by the position sensor, which is the detection device 6, and identifies the position of the vehicle 8.

[0017] The position and size of the solar cell 9 mounted on the vehicle 8 often depend on the vehicle type of the vehicle 8. Therefore, the control device 10 specifies the arrangement of the solar cell 9 based on the vehicle identification information including the vehicle type of the vehicle 8 acquired from the communication device 7 and the position of the vehicle 8. Note that the solar cell 9 is not limited to the roof of the vehicle 8, and may be provided on a vehicle body part other than the roof such as a bonnet and a hatchback door, and on the window glass of the vehicle 8.

[0018] The communication device 7 communicates with a communication means (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 8. The communication device 7 receives, from the vehicle 8, information regarding the presence or absence of the vehicle 8 in the garage 1, the vehicle identification information, and the presence or absence of the solar cell 9. The communication device 7 may receive, from the vehicle 8, information regarding the position and size of the mounted solar cell 9. The communication device 7 transmits these pieces of information received from the vehicle 8 to the control device 10.

[0019] The communication device 7 may perform short-range wireless communication with the vehicle 8. As the short-range wireless communication, various short-distance wireless communications with a short communication distance can be used. As the short-range wireless communication, for example, a communication method conforming to an arbitrary communication standard established by IEEE, ISO, IEC, etc. is used. As an example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), etc. are used for the short-range wireless communication. In addition to these, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication), etc. may be used as technologies for performing short-range wireless communication.

[0020] When the vehicle 8 stored in the garage 1 has the solar cell 9 mounted thereon, the control device 10 identifies the arrangement of the solar cell 9 and controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting part 4 according to the arrangement of the solar cell 9. As a hardware configuration, the control device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an input / output I / F (Interface) respectively. These are electrically connected to each other via a bus.

[0021] The CPU controls the operation of the control device 10. The ROM stores programs and the like 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 that performs input / output of various signals and data with an external device.

[0022] <Configuration of the light-transmitting part 4 and the light-shielding part 5> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the light-transmitting part 4 and the light-shielding part 5 in the garage 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the light-transmitting part 4 is provided on the roof 3 of the garage 1. The arrangement of the light-transmitting part 4 and the light-shielding part 5 is not limited to this example.

[0023] The light-transmitting part 4 is configured to be able to change its position and size so that sunlight can pass through the solar cell 9 mounted on the roof of the vehicle 8. The light-transmitting member 41 is a member that transmits sunlight. The member that transmits sunlight may be, for example, a transparent member such as a glass member or an acrylic plate. Further, the member that transmits sunlight may be an optical filter that transmits light having a wavelength component absorbed by the solar cell 9.

[0024] The light-shielding part 5 includes a light-shielding member 51, a guide (not shown) for guiding the light-shielding member 51, and a drive motor. The light-shielding member 51 is movable and operates to cover the light-transmitting member 41. The light-shielding member 51 may be a light-shielding plate formed of a material having light-shielding properties and capable of blocking sunlight.

[0025] The light-shielding member 51 operates to cover the light-transmitting member 41. The light-transmitting portion 4 is the area of ​​the light-transmitting member 41 that is not covered by the light-shielding member 51. Therefore, the control device 10 controls the operation of the light-shielding member 51 so that the light-transmitting portion 4 is positioned in such a way that sunlight can irradiate the solar cells 9, according to the arrangement of the solar cells 9 in the vehicle 8.

[0026] <Modified configuration of the light-transmitting portion 4 and the light-shielding portion 5> Figure 3 shows a modified example of the configuration of the light-transmitting section 4 and the light-shielding section 5 in a garage 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the light-transmitting member 41 is a liquid crystal panel using a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules. S in the figure indicates a section into which the liquid crystal panel is divided into multiple parts.

[0027] In liquid crystal panels, the light-transmitting and light-blocking states of the liquid crystal layer are switched by applying and releasing a voltage between two electrodes that sandwich the liquid crystal layer. When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, multiple liquid crystal molecules are oriented irregularly. As a result, sunlight incident on the liquid crystal layer is scattered, resulting in a light-blocking state where the visibility of light from the exit side of the liquid crystal layer is reduced.

[0028] Therefore, when a liquid crystal panel is used for the light-transmitting member 41, the light-transmitting portion 4 and the light-shielding portion 5 can be arranged for each portion S depending on whether or not a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer of each portion S.

[0029] Note that the configuration of the light-transmitting portion 4 and the light-shielding portion 5 is not limited to the example shown in Figure 3. For example, the light-transmitting portion 4 may be an opening surrounded by light-shielding members 51 without a light-transmitting member 41.

[0030] Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which the light-shielding member 51 covers the entire light-transmitting member 41 during times when sunlight does not enter the garage 1, and the light-shielding member 51 does not cover the light-transmitting member 41 during times when sunlight enters the garage 1. In the case of such a configuration, the control device 10 may control the operation of the light-shielding member 51 by a timer (not shown).

[0031] <Example of the functional configuration of the control device 10> Next, the functional configuration of the control device 10 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The control device 10 comprises an acquisition unit 11, a identification unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0032] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information about the solar cell 9 from the vehicle 8 that has entered the garage 1. The information about the solar cell 9 includes whether or not the vehicle 8 is equipped with the solar cell 9, and information to identify the location and size of the solar cell 9.

[0033] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information about the solar cells 9 of the vehicle 8 from the detection device 6 installed in the garage 1 when it detects the vehicle 8. If the detection device 6 is an imaging device, it acquires an image that allows recognition of the position of the vehicle 8 and the position and size of the solar cells 9. If the detection device 6 is a position sensor, it acquires position information that identifies the parked position of the vehicle 8.

[0034] If a vehicle 8 parked in garage 1 is equipped with solar panels 9, the identification unit 12 identifies the arrangement of the solar panels 9 based on the information about the solar panels 9 acquired from the vehicle 8 by the acquisition unit 11. More specifically, the identification unit 12 identifies the arrangement of the solar panels 9 based on the location of the vehicle 8 acquired by the acquisition unit 11 and vehicle identification information including the vehicle type of the vehicle 8 acquired from the communication device 7.

[0035] The control unit 13 controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting section 4 according to the arrangement of the solar cells 9 of the vehicle 8 identified by the identification unit 12. The arrangement of the light-transmitting section 4 may be controlled by controlling the position where the light-shielding member 51 covers the light-transmitting section 41. In addition, if the light-transmitting member 41 is a liquid crystal panel, the arrangement of the light-transmitting section 4 and the light-shielding section 5 may be controlled by controlling the voltage of each section S in the liquid crystal panel.

[0036] The control unit 13 may determine the placement of the light-transmitting section 4 based on the position of the solar cell 9 of the vehicle 8 identified by the identification unit 12, for example, based on the angle of incidence of sunlight at the current time. The control unit 13 can control the position and size of the light-transmitting section 4 to change over time.

[0037] <Control Method> Figure 5 is a diagram showing the flow of the control method executed by the control device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The control device 10 determines whether or not the vehicle 8 is equipped with solar cells 9 based on the information about the solar cells 9 of the vehicle 8 that has entered the garage 1, which has been acquired by the acquisition unit 11 (S101). If the vehicle 8 is not equipped with solar cells 9 (NO in S101), the process ends.

[0039] If the vehicle 8 is equipped with solar cells 9 (YES in S101), the identification unit 12 identifies the arrangement of the solar cells 9 based on the information about the solar cells 9 acquired from the vehicle 8 by the acquisition unit 11 (S102). The control unit 13 controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting unit 4 according to the arrangement of the solar cells 9 on the vehicle 8 identified by the identification unit 12 (S103).

[0040] These steps carry out a control method according to one aspect of the present invention. However, the control method according to one aspect of the present invention may include other steps as appropriate, depending on the measurement conditions, measurement environment, etc.

[0041] <Effects of the control device 10 according to this embodiment> The control device 10 according to this embodiment controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting section 4 of the garage 1 based on the position and size of the solar cells 9 mounted on the vehicle 8 that has entered the garage 1. As a result, the garage 1 efficiently irradiates the solar cells 9 with sunlight while suppressing the irradiation of sunlight to parts other than the solar cells 9.

[0042] Therefore, during times when the vehicle 8 equipped with solar panels 9 is not stationary, sunlight does not enter the garage 1, thus suppressing the rise in temperature inside the garage 1. In addition, defects in the paintwork of the vehicle 8 caused by sunlight irradiating parts of the vehicle 8 other than the solar panels 9 can be suppressed.

[0043] Therefore, according to the control device 10 of this embodiment, sunlight can be appropriately directed into the garage 1 according to the arrangement of the solar cells 9 mounted on the vehicle 8.

[0044] [Second Embodiment] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The control device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a identification unit 12, and a control unit 13. Unlike the first embodiment, the control device 10 is communicably connected to the solar position information system 20 via a network N. In the following, components identical to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, redundant explanations are omitted, and matters that differ from the first embodiment are described.

[0045] The solar position information system 20 is a system that provides solar position information indicating the position of the sun at each date and time. The solar position information includes the solar azimuth angle and solar altitude at each date and time. The solar position information system 20 may be a device or a program that provides solar position information. The solar position information system 20 only needs to have the function of providing solar position information.

[0046] The acquisition unit 11 acquires solar position information from the solar position information system 20, which indicates the position of the sun during a predetermined period. The predetermined period is, for example, the period during which the vehicle 8 equipped with solar panels 9 is scheduled to be parked in the garage 1.

[0047] The control unit 13 changes the arrangement of the light-transmitting section 4 based on information regarding the installation location of the garage 1, the arrangement of the solar cells 9 identified by the identification unit 12, and the solar position information. More specifically, the control unit 13 calculates the altitude angle and azimuth angle of the sun relative to the garage 1 based on the latitude and longitude of the location where the garage 1 is installed, the solar position information, and information regarding the scheduled date and time of parking of the vehicle 8, which is a predetermined period.

[0048] The control unit 13 then controls the placement of the light-transmitting section 4 according to the arrangement of the solar cells 9 on the vehicle 8 and the altitude angle and azimuth angle of the sun relative to the garage 1, as identified by the identification unit 12. The control unit 13 can also control the position of the light-transmitting section 4 to change over time.

[0049] <Effects of the control device 10 according to this embodiment> The control device 10 according to this embodiment predicts the position of the sun in advance and controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting section 4 based on the positional relationship between the garage 1 and the sun. Therefore, according to the control device 10 according to this embodiment, sunlight can be appropriately introduced into the garage 1 according to the arrangement of the solar cells 9 mounted on the vehicle 8.

[0050] Although the present invention has been described above in accordance with the embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and of course includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims of the present patent application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1 Garage 4 Translucent part 5. Light-shielding part 6. Detection device 7. Communication equipment 8 vehicles 9 Solar cells 10 Control device 11 Acquisition Department 12 Specific part 13 Control Unit

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a garage, which includes a light-transmitting section that allows sunlight to pass through and a light-blocking section that blocks sunlight, If a vehicle parked in the aforementioned garage is equipped with solar panels, the identification unit identifies the arrangement of the solar panels, A control unit that controls the arrangement of the light-transmitting portion according to the arrangement of the solar cells, A control device equipped with the following features.

2. The vehicle further comprises an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the solar cells in the vehicle, The identifying unit identifies the arrangement of the solar cells based on the information relating to the solar cells. The control device according to claim 1.

3. The garage is equipped with a detection device for detecting the vehicle that has entered the garage. The acquisition unit acquires information about the solar cell from the detection device. The control device according to claim 2.

4. The acquisition unit acquires solar position information indicating the position of the sun during a predetermined period. The control unit changes the arrangement of the light-transmitting section based on information regarding the installation location of the garage, the arrangement of the solar cells identified by the identification unit, and the solar position information. The control device according to claim 2.

5. A control method executed by a control device for controlling a garage that includes a light-transmitting section that allows sunlight to pass through and a light-blocking section that blocks sunlight, If a vehicle parked in the aforementioned garage is equipped with solar panels, the steps include identifying the arrangement of the solar panels, The steps include controlling the arrangement of the light-transmitting portion according to the arrangement of the solar cells, A control method including

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