Parking location guidance system

Abstract

To improve user convenience. [Solution] A parking location guidance system that guides the vehicle to a parking position when charging the vehicle's battery using power from an external charging device, wherein the parking position is set based on information about the vehicle, information related to the charging device, and information about the vehicle's user. This improves user convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a parking position guidance system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of parking position guidance system, there has been proposed one that guides the parking position of a vehicle when charging a battery mounted on the vehicle using power from a charging device outside the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this system, the parking position of the vehicle is guided using the position information of the charging inlet of the vehicle and the information indicating the positions of normal charging stands and rapid charging stands.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described parking position guidance system, it is not assumed that it will be used by various users. Therefore, depending on the user, charging may not be possible at the guided parking position, or the user may feel inconvenience.

[0005] The main object of the parking position guidance system of the present disclosure is to improve the convenience of the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The parking location guidance system of this disclosure employs the following means to achieve the main objective described above. The parking location guidance system of this disclosure is a parking location guidance system that guides the parking location of a vehicle when charging a battery mounted on the vehicle using power from an external charging device, wherein the parking location is set based on information about the vehicle, information related to the charging device, and information about the vehicle's user. This configuration improves user convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the parking position guidance system of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows an example of a guidance processing routine executed by the ECU's CPU. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of target position images Ireq(1) and (2) displayed on the screen. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the parking location guidance system of this embodiment. The parking location guidance system 10 is configured as a system that guides a user who is an occupant in a vehicle 20 to the parking location of the vehicle 20, and comprises a vehicle 20, an information providing device 42, and a reservation management device 44.

[0009] The vehicle 20 is equipped with a motor MG, a battery 22, a charger 24, a camera 26, a navigation system 28, a head-up display system (hereinafter referred to as "HUD") 30, and an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as "ECU") 32.

[0010] The motor MG outputs power for driving. The battery 22 exchanges power with the motor MG via an inverter (not shown). The inverter is controlled by the ECU 32.

[0011] The charger 24 charges the battery 22 by converting the charging power supplied from the external charging device 40 via the charging cable 40a plugged into the charging inlet 25 into a voltage suitable for the battery 22.

[0012] Camera 26 is configured to capture images of the area in front of the vehicle 20. Camera 26 transmits the captured forward image data (hereinafter referred to as "forward image data") to the ECU 32 via communication over the in-vehicle network. Camera 26 is controlled by the ECU 32.

[0013] The navigation system 28 comprises a main unit 28a and a display 28b. The main unit 28a includes a computer (not shown) having a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, input / output ports, communication ports, etc. The main unit 28a receives radio waves from GPS satellites with a GPS antenna (not shown) and calculates the current location Pnow of the vehicle 20 based on that information. The display 28b is configured as a touch panel that displays various information and allows various information to be obtained by touching the screen. The main unit 28a reads map data stored in the HDD and displays a map of the area around the current location Pnow of the vehicle 20 on the display 28b, or searches for a route from the current location Pnow to the destination and displays it on the display 28b, thereby providing route guidance to the user of the vehicle 20 to the destination. The navigation system 28 exchanges various data via the HUD 30 and ECU 32.

[0014] The HUD30 is configured as an image projection system that displays the vehicle speed, a map of the area around the current location Pnow from the navigation system 28, and the route from the current location Pnow to the destination on the windshield. The HUD30 is controlled by the ECU32.

[0015] The ECU32 is equipped with a computer (not shown) that includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, input / output ports, communication ports, etc. The ECU32 receives input values ​​from various sensors such as a voltage sensor, current sensor, and temperature sensor that detect the state of the battery 22, as well as forward image data from the camera 26, via its input ports. The ECU32 outputs control signals for controlling the charger 24, drive signals to an inverter (not shown), and image signals to the HUD 30 via its output ports. The ECU32 exchanges various information with the navigation system 28 via communication through the in-vehicle network. The ECU32 also exchanges various information with the information provision device 42 and the reservation management device 44 via external communication through a DCM (data communication module) (not shown).

[0016] In the vehicle 20 configured in this way, when the user plugs the charging connector 40b of the charging cable 40a of the charging device 40 into the charging inlet 25 of the vehicle 20, the charging device 40 supplies power from the commercial power supply PS to the charger 24 of the vehicle 20 via the charging cable 40a. The charger 24 of the vehicle 20, having received the power supply, performs external charging to charge the battery 22 with the supplied power.

[0017] The information providing device 42 is installed in the information center and is equipped with a computer (not shown) having a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, input / output ports, communication ports, etc. The information providing device 42 stores various information about the charging device 40, such as whether or not a roof 40r covering the top of the charging device 40 is installed, whether or not a step 40s installed at the bottom of the charging device 40 is installed, and the relationship between the range Ag of the location of the charging inlet 25 where the charging cable 40a can reach and where the user can easily operate the charging cable 40a, and the ambient temperature Ta, in the HDD as charging device information Imfc. The information providing device 42 exchanges various information with the ECU 32 via external communication.

[0018] The reservation management device 44 is installed in the reservation management center and is equipped with a computer (not shown) that has a CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output ports, communication ports, etc. The reservation management device 44 stores reservation information for the charging device 40 from the vehicle 20 or a portable terminal (not shown) carried by the user in its HDD. The reservation information includes the location (longitude, latitude) of the reserved charging device 40, the scheduled start time for starting charging to the vehicle 20, the type of vehicle the user is riding in, and the license plate number. The reservation management device 44 exchanges various information with the ECU 32 via external communication.

[0019] Next, the operation of the parking position guidance system 10 configured in this way, in particular, the operation when guiding the user to a parking position when charging the battery 22 using the charging device 40, will be described. Figure 2 is a flowchart of an example of a guidance processing routine executed by the CPU of the ECU. This routine is executed when the CPU of the ECU 32 determines that the vehicle 20 is approaching the charging device 40. The CPU of the ECU 32 determines that the vehicle 20 is approaching the charging device 40 when the current position Pnow is within a predetermined range centered on the charging device 40, and at least a part of the charging device 40 is included in the forward image data included in the vehicle information Imfv.

[0020] Prior to executing this routine, the CPU of the ECU32 acquires user information Imfusr. User information Imfusr includes information such as whether or not a wheelchair is used, the type of wheelchair if one is used, the user's preferred parking location, whether or not the user is pregnant or elderly, whether or not there are passengers, the purpose of using the vehicle, and at least one of the current location's climate. User information Imfusr is input by the user via the display 28b of the navigation system 28. Timing for acquiring user information Imfusr includes after the ignition is turned on but before the vehicle 20 starts moving, and when the vehicle 20 starts to enter a charging facility where the charging device 40 is installed.

[0021] When the guidance process routine is executed, the CPU of ECU 32 generates vehicle information Imfv including user information Imfusr, forward image data from camera 26, current position Pnow from navigation system 28, the position of charging inlet 25, and outside air temperature Ta detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) (S100).

[0022] Subsequently, the CPU of ECU 32 determines whether it is possible to communicate with information providing device 42 (S110). In S110, the CPU of ECU 32 transmits a confirmation request signal to information providing device 42. When information providing device 42 receives the confirmation request signal, it transmits a confirmed signal. When the CPU of ECU 32 receives the confirmed signal transmitted from information providing device 42, it determines that communication with information providing device 42 is possible. When the CPU of ECU 32 determines that communication with information providing device 42 is not possible, this routine ends.

[0023] When the CPU of ECU 32 determines in S110 that communication with information providing device 42 is possible, it transmits an information request signal Sref requesting information providing device 42 to transmit vehicle information Imfv and information regarding charging device 40 (S120), and waits until it receives charging device information Imfc from information providing device 42 (S130). Information providing device 42 that has received vehicle information Imfv and information request signal Sref identifies the charging device 40 that vehicle 20 is attempting to use based on the forward image data from camera 26 and current position Pnow from navigation system 28 included in vehicle information Imfv. Then, information providing device 42 transmits the charging device information Imfc of the identified charging device 40 to ECU 32. The range Ag included in the charging device information Imfc is obtained based on the position of charging inlet 25 and outside air temperature Ta included in vehicle information Imfv.

[0024] When the CPU of the ECU32 receives the charging device information Imfc in S130, it sets a target parking position for parking the vehicle 20 near the charging device 40 based on the user information Imfusr and the charging device information Imfc, and creates target position images Ireq(1) to (6) that indicate the target parking position, and displays them on the display 28b as selectable (S140). Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of target position images Ireq(1) and (2) displayed on the display. In the figure, the thick solid line indicates the target position image Ireq(1). The thick dashed line indicates the target position image Ireq(2). In the figure, the device image Ic, step image Is, and cable image Icab are images showing the charging device 40, the step 40s of the charging device 40, and the charging cable 40a.

[0025] The CPU of the ECU32 sets the target parking position to a position where the location of the charging inlet 25 is included in the range Ag contained in the charging device information Imfc, and which corresponds to the user information Imfusr. If the user information Imfusr includes information that a wheelchair is used, the CPU sets the target parking position to a position where the vehicle 20 is far enough away from the charging device 40 for the wheelchair to fit, and creates a target position image Ireq(1) indicating the target parking position. If the user information Imfusr includes the user's preferred parking position, the CPU sets the target parking position to the user's preferred parking position, which corresponds to the user information Imfusr, and creates a target position image Ireq(2) indicating the target parking position. If the user information Imfusr includes information that the user is pregnant or elderly, the CPU sets the target parking position to a position near the step 40s of the charging device 40, which corresponds to the user information Imfusr, and creates a target position image Ireq(3) indicating the target parking position. When user information Imfusr includes information about the presence of passengers, a target parking position is set at a distance from the charging device 40 that allows the doors of the vehicle 20 to open, and a target position image Ireq(4) indicating the target parking position is created. When user information Imfusr includes "shopping" as the purpose of using the car, there is a need to open the rear door of the vehicle 20, so a target parking position is set at a distance from the charging device 40 that allows the rear door of the vehicle 20 to open, and a target position image Ireq(5) indicating the target parking position is created. When user information Imfusr includes "rain" or "high temperature" as information about the current location's weather, a target parking position is set at a position that allows the user to get out of the vehicle 20 and stand under the roof 40r of the charging device 40, and a target position image Ireq(6) indicating the target parking position is created. Once the CPU of the ECU32 has created the target position images Ireq(1) to (6), it displays the created target position images Ireq(1) to (6) on the display 28b in a selectable format.

[0026] The CPU of ECU32 displays the target position images Ireq(1) to (6) on the display 28b in a selectable format, and waits until one of the target position images Ireq(1) to (6) is selected (S150). When a user views the target position images Ireq(1) to (6) displayed on the display 28b in a selectable format and selects one of them, the CPU of ECU32 displays the image selected by the user as a guidance image Ig on the display 28b (S160). This display guides the user to park the vehicle 20 at the target position corresponding to the guidance image Ig. The CPU of ECU32 then determines whether or not parking of the vehicle 20 has started (S170). If parking of the vehicle 20 has not started, the CPU of ECU32 terminates the display of the guidance image Ig on the display 28b (S210) and ends this routine.

[0027] When parking of vehicle 20 begins, the CPU of ECU 32 receives forward image data from camera 26 and updates the guidance image Ig displayed on display 28b based on the input forward image data (S180). Then, the CPU of ECU 32 determines whether or not parking is complete (S190). If parking is not complete, the CPU of ECU 32 determines whether or not guidance to the user regarding the parking position has been completed (S200). The CPU of ECU 32 determines that guidance to the user is complete when vehicle 20 reaches the target position corresponding to the guidance image Ig. If the CPU of ECU 32 determines that guidance to the user regarding the parking position is not complete, it returns to S180 and repeats S180 to S200 until parking is completed in S190 or guidance to the user regarding the parking position is completed in S200.

[0028] When parking is completed in S190 or when the user has finished being guided to the parking position in S200, the CPU of ECU32 terminates the display of the guidance image Ig (S210) and ends this routine.

[0029] According to the parking position guidance system 10 of this embodiment described above, user convenience can be improved by setting the target parking position based on vehicle information Imfv, user information Imfusr, and charging device information Imfc.

[0030] In the embodiment described above, user information Imfur may be input from the reservation management device 44.

[0031] In the embodiment described above, the target position images Ireq(1) to (6) and the guidance image Ig may be displayed on the HUD30.

[0032] In the embodiment described above, the camera 26 may be used to photograph the rear or sides, or if the camera 26 is capable of photographing in all 360 degrees, it may photograph the area around the vehicle 20 in a 360-degree range.

[0033] In the embodiment described above, user information Imfusr may be obtained from the information providing device 42. In this case, user information Imfusr should be transmitted from the information providing device 42 before executing S140.

[0034] The correspondence between the main elements of the invention described in the section on the main elements of the embodiment and the means for solving the problem will be explained. In the embodiment, the parking position guidance system 10 corresponds to the "parking position guidance system".

[0035] Furthermore, the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem is merely an example to specifically explain the form in which the embodiment implements the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem should be based on the description in that section, and the embodiment is merely one specific example of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem.

[0036] Although the embodiments for implementing this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited in any way to these embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of this disclosure. [Industrial applicability]

[0037] This disclosure can be used in industries such as the manufacturing of parking location guidance systems. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10 parking location guidance systems, 20 vehicles, 42 information provision devices.

Claims

[Claim 1] A parking location guidance system that guides the vehicle to a parking position when charging the vehicle's battery using power from an external charging device, The parking position is set based on information about the vehicle, information related to the charging device, and information about the vehicle's user. Parking location guidance system.

Images