Charging system

Abstract

To provide a charging system that can improve user convenience. [Solution] The charging system is a charging system comprising a plurality of chargers 1a, 1b for charging secondary batteries mounted on electric vehicles 2a, 2b, each of which chargers 1a, 1b is equipped with a display means for displaying at least one of the status of the charging output and the status of the remaining charging time, and an operation screen 14a, 14b for operating the chargers 1a, 1b, the display means being provided above the main bodies 11a, 11b of each charger 1a, 1b.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a charging control device that displays, on a direction indicator (flashing winkers) at the rear of a vehicle, an upper limit of the amount of charge set by a user and the amount of charge of a battery being charged. This charging control device uses 20 LEDs provided in upper and lower two stages that constitute the direction indicator, and represents, by the lighting state of 10 LEDs in the upper stage, the ratio (%) of the upper limit of the amount of charge with respect to full charge, and represents, by the lighting state of 10 LEDs in the lower stage, the ratio (%) of the amount of charge of the battery with respect to full charge.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since it takes time to charge an electric vehicle, when charging at a charging station or the like, it is easy to have to wait in line for a charger. When waiting in line, it is convenient to know how long one has to wait for which charger to become available. However, in the charging control device of Patent Document 1, although the upper limit of the amount of charge and the amount of charge in progress are displayed on the direction indicator, just from that display, it is not possible to know how long one has to wait for the charging to complete. Also, when in a place where the direction indicators of each vehicle are not visible, it is not even possible to grasp the upper limit of the amount of charge or the amount of charge in progress of each vehicle.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a charging system that can improve the convenience for users.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A charging system according to one aspect of the present invention is a charging system comprising a plurality of chargers for charging a secondary battery mounted on a vehicle, wherein each charger includes a display means for displaying at least one of the status of the charging output and the status of the remaining charging time, and an operation screen for operating the charger, the display means being provided above the main body of each charger.

[0007] According to this embodiment, each of the multiple chargers installed at a charging station or the like can be equipped with a display means above the charger body that displays at least one of the charging output status and the remaining charging time status, so that the current charging status can be grasped at a glance not only by the user but also by those waiting in line for the charger. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a charging system that can improve user convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates a schematic configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0011] Referring to Figure 1, the configuration of the charging system according to the embodiment will be described. The charging system includes a plurality of chargers 1a, 1b installed at a charging station or the like. In Figure 1, two chargers, charger 1a and charger 1b, are shown as an example, but it may include three or more chargers. Chargers 1a and 1b are external power sources for charging batteries (secondary batteries) installed in electric vehicles 2a and electric vehicles 2b, such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

[0012] Charger 1a and charger 1b each comprise a main unit 11a and main unit 11b, a first display unit (display means) 12a and first display unit (display means) 12b, a second display unit (display means) 13a and second display unit (display means) 13b, an operation screen 14a and operation screen 14b, and a charging cable 15a and charging cable 15b, respectively.

[0013] In the following, unless it is necessary to distinguish between charger 1a and charger 1b, and electric vehicle 2a and electric vehicle 2b, they will be referred to as charger 1 and electric vehicle 2, respectively. The parts of charger 1 will also be referred to as main unit 11, first display unit 12, second display unit 13, operation screen 14, and charging cable 15. Preferably, charger 1 includes a processor (control unit) and memory (storage unit) for controlling and managing the functions of each part.

[0014] The first display unit 12 is located above the main unit 11 (for example, on the top surface) and is an illumination or LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp that indicates the charging output status. The charging output may include output current, output voltage, and charging energy.

[0015] Specifically, the upper end of the light portion of the first display unit 12 is set to the maximum output of the charger 1, and the entire light is turned on when the maximum output is reached. As the charging output decreases, the illuminated portion of the light gradually decreases from the top, and when the charging output reaches 0, the entire light turns off.

[0016] This makes it possible to quickly grasp the charging output status of each charger 1 by checking the illumination status of the first display unit 12 located on the top of the main unit 11, even when the user is located away from the charger 1.

[0017] The second display unit 13 is located above the main unit 11 and is a light that indicates the remaining charging time status using illumination or LED lamps. The remaining charging time can be calculated, for example, by dividing the remaining charge amount [kWh] by the output [kW] of the charger 1. The remaining charge amount can be calculated, for example, using SOC (State of Charge).

[0018] Specifically, the upper end of the light portion of the second display unit 13 is set to the calculated remaining charging time, and the entire light is turned on when charging begins. As the remaining charging time decreases, the illuminated portion of the light gradually decreases from the top, and when the remaining charging time reaches 0, the entire light is turned off.

[0019] In addition, for rapid charging, the upper end of the light portion of the second display unit 13 may be set to a time limit, for example, 30 minutes. In this case, the entire light is turned on when charging starts, and the illuminated portion of the light is gradually reduced as time passes, until the entire light is turned off after 30 minutes.

[0020] This makes it possible to quickly grasp the remaining charging time for each charger 1 by checking the illumination status of the second display unit 13 located on the top of the main unit 11, even when the user is located away from the charger 1.

[0021] Here, it is preferable to change the color of the lights when the first display unit 12 and the second display unit 13 are illuminated. For example, the first display unit 12 may be set to green and the second display unit 13 to be set to red. This makes it possible to visually determine the current charging output status and the remaining charging time by recognizing the color of the lights.

[0022] The operation screen 14 is, for example, a display having a touch panel, and is a screen for the user to operate the charger 1. On the operation screen 14, for example, buttons for the user to select operation contents, messages for guiding the user such as operation procedures and operation results, etc. are displayed.

[0023] As described above, according to the charging system according to the embodiment, each of the plurality of chargers 1 installed in a charging station or the like can include a first display unit 12 and a second display unit 13 that display the charging output state and the remaining charging time status above the main body 11 of the charger 1. Therefore, it is possible to let not only the person himself / herself but also the standby person waiting in line for the charger 1 grasp the current charging status at a glance.

[0024] Thereby, it becomes possible to improve the convenience of the users who use a charging station or the like.

[0025] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Therefore, the above embodiment is merely an example in every respect and should not be construed in a limited manner.

[0026] For example, a speaker may be provided to periodically output the charging output state and the remaining charging time status as voice messages, or a large-sized electric bulletin board may be provided to display the charging output state and the remaining charging time status in the form of text, graphs, etc.

[0027] Also, in the above-described embodiment, both the charging output state and the remaining charging time status are displayed, but either one of the charging output state and the remaining charging time status may be displayed, or in addition to the display of the charging output state and the remaining charging time status, SOC information or the like may be further displayed.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0028] 1a, 1b… Charger, 2a, 2b… Electric vehicle, 11a, 11b… Main unit, 12a, 12b… First display section, 13a, 13b… Second display section, 14a, 14b… Operation screen, 15a, 15b… Charging cable

Claims

[Claim 1] A charging system comprising multiple chargers for charging secondary batteries installed in a vehicle, Each of the aforementioned chargers is A display means for displaying at least one of the status of the charging output and the remaining charging time, An operation screen for operating the aforementioned charger, Equipped with, The display means is provided above the main body of each charger, Charging system.

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