Parking assistance system

Abstract

To provide a parking assistance system that facilitates the guidance of a vehicle equipped with a power receiving device to a location where contactless charging is possible when parking in a parking space where a power transmission device is installed. [Solution] The parking assistance system of the present invention is a parking assistance system that assists a vehicle equipped with a power receiving device that receives power wirelessly from a power transmission device installed within a parking space in a parking space so that wireless charging is possible within the parking space, and recesses or protrusions extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are provided within the parking space to guide the vehicle's wheels so that the relative position of the power transmission device and the power receiving device in the vehicle width direction is a position where wireless charging is possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking assistance system.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, in order to perform parking assistance, a touch display including a display unit for displaying the surrounding situation of a vehicle and an input unit for inputting a target parking position of the vehicle, a control device for calculating a route according to the target parking position and performing parking assistance control, and a back monitor camera for photographing the surrounding situation of the vehicle are provided. When an identifier indicating a device-side power supply and reception unit exists near the target parking position of the photographed surrounding situation, a parking assistance device that recognizes the position of the identifier and performs alignment assistance control is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in order to enable non-contact charging by parking the vehicle at a position where non-contact charging is possible within the parking space without the driver inputting the target parking position so as not to impair the convenience of non-contact charging, there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a parking assistance system that can easily guide a vehicle equipped with a power reception device to a position where non-contact charging is possible when the vehicle parks in a parking space where a power transmission device is installed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] <00,00033>To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the parking assistance system according to the present invention is a parking assistance system that assists a vehicle equipped with a power receiving device that receives power non-contactually from a power transmission device installed within a parking space in such a way that contactless charging is possible within the parking space, characterized in that recesses or protrusions extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are provided within the parking space to guide the wheels of the vehicle so that the relative position of the power transmission device and the power receiving device in the vehicle width direction is a position in which contactless charging is possible. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The parking assistance system according to the present invention has the effect of easily guiding a vehicle equipped with a power receiving device to a position where contactless charging is possible when the vehicle is parked in a parking space where a power transmission device is installed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of a contactless power transmission system to which the parking assistance system according to Embodiment 1 is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the contactless power transmission system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of a parking assistance system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of a parking assistance system according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of a parking assistance system according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of the parking assistance system according to Embodiment 3 when parking a vehicle smaller than the vehicle shown in Figure 5 within a parking space. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 of the parking assistance system according to the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a contactless power transmission system 2 to which the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 1 is applied. As shown in Figure 1, the contactless power transmission system 2 comprises a power transmission device 10 and a power receiving device 20. The power transmission device 10 is installed, for example, on the road surface 50 within a parking space 5 and receives power from a power supply device 3 having an AC power source via a power cable 30. The power transmission device 10 is configured to transmit power to the power receiving device 20 non-contact via a magnetic field when the vehicle 4 is aligned so that the power receiving device 20 mounted on the vehicle 4 faces the power transmission device 10. The power receiving device 20 is mounted on a vehicle 4 that can run using power stored in a battery storage device (BAT) 25 (see Figure 2). The power receiving device 20 is provided, for example, on the underside of the vehicle 4 (road surface 50 side) and is configured to receive power from the power transmission device 10 non-contact.

[0011] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a contactless power transmission system 2 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 2, the power transmission device 10 includes a PFC circuit 11, an inverter (INV) 12, a filter circuit 13, a power transmission unit 14, a communication unit 19, a power supply ECU 100, a voltage sensor 181, and a current sensor 182. The power receiving device 20 includes a power receiving unit 21, a filter circuit 22, a rectifier circuit 23, a relay circuit 24, a power storage device 25, a communication unit 29, a charging ECU 200, a current sensor 281, a voltage sensor 282, a current sensor 283, and a voltage sensor 284.

[0012] In the contactless power transmission system 2, power from the power supply unit 3 is supplied to the power transmission unit 14 via the PFC circuit 11, the inverter 12, and the filter circuit 13. Each of the power transmission unit 14 and the power receiving unit 21 has a coil and a capacitor and is designed to resonate at the transmission frequency. When power is supplied to the power transmission unit 14 from the power transmission device 10, power is supplied from the power transmission unit 14 to the power receiving unit 21 through the magnetic field formed between the power transmission coil of the power transmission unit 14 and the power receiving coil of the power receiving unit 21. The power supplied to the power receiving unit 21 is used to charge the energy storage device 25 via the filter circuit 22, the rectifier circuit 23, and the relay circuit 24.

[0013] The voltage sensor 181 detects the output voltage V1 of the inverter 12 and outputs the detected value to the power supply ECU 100. The current sensor 182 detects the output current I1 of the inverter 12 and outputs the detected value to the power supply ECU 100. Based on the detected values ​​of the voltage sensor 181 and the current sensor 182, the power supplied from the inverter 12 to the power transmission unit 14 can be detected. The communication unit 19 is configured to communicate wirelessly with the communication unit 29 of the power receiving device 20, and receives the target value of the power transmission power (target power) transmitted from the power receiving device 20, as well as information regarding the start and stop of power transmission, and information regarding the power receiving status of the power receiving device 20 (receiving voltage, receiving current, and receiving power, etc.) with the power receiving device 20. The power supply ECU 100 has a CPU, memory, and input / output buffers. The power supply ECU 100 receives signals from various sensors and devices and controls various devices in the power transmission device 10.

[0014] The power receiving unit 21 receives power supplied from the power transmission unit 14 of the power transmission device 10 via a magnetic field generated between it and the power transmission unit 14 in a non-contact manner. The power receiving unit 21 includes a resonant circuit for non-contact power reception from the power transmission unit 14. The resonant circuit is composed of a power receiving coil and a capacitor. The power receiving unit 21 then outputs the received power to the subsequent filter circuit 22. The filter circuit 22 is provided between the power receiving unit 21 and the rectifier circuit 23 to suppress harmonic noise generated during power reception. The rectifier circuit 23 is provided between the power receiving unit 21 and the relay circuit (charging relay) 24 to rectify the AC power received by the power receiving unit 21 and output it to the relay circuit 24. The relay circuit 24 is provided between the rectifier circuit 23 and the energy storage device 25 and is closed (turned on) when the energy storage device 25 is charged by the power transmission device 10. The energy storage device 25 is a rechargeable DC power source and is composed of secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries. A large-capacity capacitor can also be used as the energy storage device 25. The energy storage device 25 stores the power output from the rectifier circuit 23. The energy storage device 25 then supplies the stored power to the drive motor for propulsion and other components.

[0015] The current sensor 281 detects the current I2 flowing through the power receiving unit 21 and outputs its detected value to the charging ECU 200. The voltage sensor 282 detects the output voltage (receiving voltage) V2 from the power receiving unit 21. The current sensor 283 detects the output current I3 from the rectifier circuit 23. The voltage sensor 284 detects the output voltage V4 from the rectifier circuit 23. Each sensor outputs its detected value to the charging ECU 200. The communication unit 29 is configured to communicate wirelessly with the communication unit 19 of the power transmission device 10 and transmits the target value (target power) of the power transmission power generated in the charging ECU 200 to the power transmission device 10. The communication unit 29 also exchanges information with the power transmission device 10 regarding the start and stop of power transmission and transmits information regarding the power receiving status of the power receiving device 20 to the power transmission device 10. The charging ECU 200 includes a CPU, memory, and input / output buffers, and receives signals from various sensors and devices, as well as controlling various devices in the power receiving device 20.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 3, the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction are the same as the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 4 parked in reverse in the parking frame 5 delimited by a pair of white lines 51L and 51R in the vehicle width direction. Also, in FIG. 3, the front and rear sides in the vehicle longitudinal direction are the same as the front and rear sides in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle 4 parked in reverse in the parking frame 5.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, in the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1, left groove portions 53L and right groove portions 53R, which are recessed portions extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, are provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction within the parking frame 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed.

[0018] The left groove portion 53L is inside (right side) of the left white line 51L in the vehicle width direction within the parking frame 5 and is provided near the white line 51L. The front side of the left groove portion 53L in the vehicle longitudinal direction extends outside the parking frame 5, and the rear side of the left groove portion 53L in the vehicle longitudinal direction extends to the wheel stopper 52L provided within the parking frame 5. Also, the right groove portion 53R is inside (left side) of the right white line 51R in the vehicle width direction within the parking frame 5 and is provided near the white line 51R. The front side of the right groove portion 53R in the vehicle longitudinal direction extends outside the parking frame 5, and the rear side of the right groove portion 53R in the vehicle longitudinal direction extends to the wheel stopper 52R provided within the parking frame 5.

[0019] Note that the interval in the vehicle width direction between the left groove portion 53L and the right groove portion 53R may be set according to, for example, the width between the left and right wheels (vehicle width) of the vehicle 4 assumed to be parked within the parking frame 5. Also, the depth of the left groove portion 53L and the right groove portion 53R may be set to about 3 [cm] to 5 [cm], for example.

[0020] And in the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1, when the vehicle 4 parks within the parking frame 5, the left groove portion 53L and the right groove portion 53R guide the wheels 40FL, 40RL, 40FR, 40RR of the vehicle 4 so that the relative positions of the power transmission device 10 and the power reception device 20 in the vehicle width direction become positions where non-contact charging is possible.

[0021] In the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1, as shown in FIG. 3, when the vehicle 4 reverses and parks in the parking space 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed, the left front wheel 40FL and the left rear wheel 40RL are placed in the left groove portion 53L, and the right front wheel 40FR and the right rear wheel 40RR are placed in the right groove portion 53R. Then, the driver of the vehicle 4 reverses the vehicle 4 without deviating the left front wheel 40FL and the left rear wheel 40RL from the left groove portion 53L and without deviating the right front wheel 40FR and the right rear wheel 40RR from the right groove portion 53R. Thereby, the vehicle 4 can be guided so that the relative position between the power transmission device 10 and the power reception device 20 in the vehicle width direction becomes a position where non-contact charging is possible (optimal position for non-contact charging). Further, in the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1, by bringing the left rear wheel 40RL and the right rear wheel 40RR into contact with or close to the wheel stoppers 52L and 52R, the relative position between the power transmission device 10 and the power reception device 20 in the vehicle longitudinal direction becomes a position where non-contact charging is possible (optimal position for non-contact charging), and the vehicle 4 can be guided. The position where non-contact charging is possible (optimal position for non-contact charging) is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a position where the center position P1 of the power transmission device 10 and the center position P2 of the power reception device 20 approach within a predetermined range and non-contact charging can be performed with a power transmission efficiency of a predetermined value or more.

[0022] As described above, in the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1, when the vehicle 4 parks in the parking space 5, the left groove portion 53L and the right groove portion 53R can easily guide the vehicle to a position where non-contact charging is possible (optimal position for non-contact charging). Thereby, in the parking support system 1 according to Embodiment 1, even without the driver's awareness, the vehicle 4 can be parked at a position where non-contact charging is possible (optimal position for non-contact charging) within the parking space 5 and non-contact charging can be performed, so that the convenience of non-contact charging can be improved.

[0023] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 of the parking support system according to the present invention will be described. In Embodiment 2, the same description as in Embodiment 1 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0024] Figure 4 shows an example of the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 4, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2, a left peak 54L and a right peak 54R, which are convex portions (bulges) extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, are provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction within the parking space 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed.

[0025] The left-hand section 54L is located, at least in part, inside (to the right of) the left white line 51L in the vehicle width direction within the parking space 5, and is situated near the white line 51L. The front of the left-hand section 54L in the vehicle-rear direction extends beyond the parking space 5, and the rear of the left-hand section 54L in the vehicle-rear direction extends to the wheel stop 52L provided within the parking space 5. The right-hand section 54R is located, at least in part, inside (to the left of) the right white line 51R in the vehicle width direction within the parking space 5, and is situated near the white line 51R. The front of the right-hand section 54R in the vehicle-rear direction extends beyond the parking space 5, and the rear of the right-hand section 54R in the vehicle-rear direction extends to the wheel stop 52R provided within the parking space 5.

[0026] The distance between the left peak 54L and the right peak 54R in the vehicle width direction should be set according to, for example, the width between the left and right wheels of a vehicle 4 that is expected to be parked in the parking space 5 (vehicle width). The height of the left peak 54L and the right peak 54R should be set to, for example, about 3 cm to 5 cm.

[0027] Furthermore, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2, the left mountain section 54L and the right mountain section 54R guide the wheels 40FL, 40RL, 40FR, and 40RR of the vehicle 4 so that when the vehicle 4 is parked within the parking space 5, the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle width direction is in a position where contactless charging is possible.

[0028] In the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2, as shown in Figure 4, when the vehicle 4 reverses and parks in a parking space 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed, the left front wheel 40FL and left rear wheel 40RL are aligned with the inside of the left hill 54L, and the right front wheel 40FR and right rear wheel 40RR are aligned with the inside of the right hill 54R. The driver of the vehicle 4 then reverses the vehicle 4 without letting the left front wheel 40FL and left rear wheel 40RL ride up onto the left hill 54L, and without letting the right front wheel 40FR and right rear wheel 40RR ride up onto the right hill 54R. This allows the vehicle 4 to be guided so that the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle width direction is a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging). Furthermore, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2, by bringing the left rear wheel 40RL and the right rear wheel 40RR into contact with or close to the wheel stops 52L and 52R, the vehicle 4 can be guided so that the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle becomes a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging).

[0029] As described above, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2, when a vehicle 4 is parked in the parking space 5, the left-hand peak 54L and the right-hand peak 54R can easily guide it to a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging). As a result, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 2, the vehicle 4 can be parked in a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging) within the parking space 5 and contactless charging can be performed without the driver being aware of it, thus improving the convenience of contactless charging.

[0030] (Embodiment 3) Embodiment 3 of the parking assistance system according to the present invention will be described below. In Embodiment 3, explanations similar to those in Embodiment 1 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0031] Figure 5 shows an example of the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3. Figure 6 shows an example of the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3 when parking a vehicle 4a smaller than the vehicle 4 shown in Figure 5 within the parking space 5. Note that the smaller vehicle 4a has a narrower vehicle width (distance between the left front wheel 40aFL and the right front wheel 40FR in the vehicle width direction, and distance between the left rear wheel 40aRL and the right rear wheel 40RR in the vehicle width direction) and a shorter vehicle length (length in the front-to-rear direction) than vehicle 4.

[0032] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, a groove 53, which is a recess extending in the vehicle-rear direction, is provided on one side in the vehicle-width direction within the parking space 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed. The groove 53 is located inside (to the left of) the right-hand white line 51R in the vehicle-width direction within the parking space 5, and is located near the white line 51R. The front end of the groove 53 in the vehicle-rear direction extends outside the parking space 5, and the rear end of the groove 53 in the vehicle-rear direction extends to the wheel stopper 52R provided within the parking space 5. The depth of the groove 53 can be set to, for example, about 3 cm to 5 cm.

[0033] Furthermore, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, the groove 53 guides the wheels 40RL and 40RR of the vehicle 4 so that when the vehicle 4 is parked in the parking space 5, the relative positions of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle width direction are in a position where contactless charging is possible.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, when a vehicle 4 with a width approximately the same as the width of the parking space 5 reverses and parks in the parking space 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed, the right front wheel 40FR and the right rear wheel 40RR are placed in the groove 53. The driver of the vehicle 4 then reverses the vehicle 4 without causing the right front wheel 40FR and the right rear wheel 40RR to deviate from the groove 53. This allows the vehicle 4 to be guided so that the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle width direction becomes a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging). Furthermore, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, by bringing at least the right rear wheel 40RR into contact with or close to the wheel stop 52R, the vehicle 4 can be guided so that the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction becomes a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging).

[0035] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, when a vehicle 4a, which is smaller than vehicle 4, reverses into a parking space 5 where the power transmission device 10 is installed, the right front wheel 40aFR and the right rear wheel 40aRR are placed into the groove 53. The driver of vehicle 4a then reverses the vehicle 4a without causing the right front wheel 40aFR and the right rear wheel 40aRR to deviate from the groove 53. This allows the vehicle 4a to be guided so that the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle width direction becomes a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging). In addition, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, by bringing at least the right rear wheel 40aRR into contact with or close to the wheel stop 52R, the vehicle 4a can be guided so that the relative position of the power transmission device 10 and the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction becomes a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging).

[0036] As described above, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, when vehicles 4 and 4a are parked within the parking space 5, the groove 53 makes it easy to guide them to a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging). As a result, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, the vehicle 4 and 4a can be parked in a position where contactless charging is possible (the optimal position for contactless charging) within the parking space 5 and contactless charging can be performed without the driver being aware of it, thus improving the convenience of contactless charging.

[0037] Furthermore, in the parking assistance system 1 according to Embodiment 3, it is desirable to position the power receiving devices 20 on the vehicles 4 and 4a such that the distance from the groove 53 to the center position P2 of the power receiving device 20 in the vehicle width direction is the same as the distance from the groove 53 to the center position P1 of the power transmitting device 10 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the center position P2 of each power receiving device 20 on the vehicles 4 and 4a is set to the same position as the center position P1 of the power transmitting device 10 from the groove 53, and the vehicles 4 and 4a can be guided to the optimal position for contactless charging regardless of the width of the vehicles 4 and 4a parked in the parking space 5 (without fixing the type of vehicle parked in the parking space 5). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. Parking Assist System 2. Contactless power transmission system 3 Power supply 4,4a Vehicle 5 parking spaces 10 Power transmission equipment 20 Power receiving equipment 30 Power Cables 50 Road surface 51L,51R White line 52L, 52R Wheel chocks 53 Groove 53L Left groove 53R Right groove section 54L left mountain part 54R right mountain part P1,P2 center position

Claims

[Claim 1] A parking assistance system that assists a vehicle equipped with a power receiving device that receives power wirelessly from a power transmission device installed within a parking space, in order to enable wireless charging within the parking space, A recess or protrusion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is provided within the parking frame to guide the vehicle's wheels so that the relative position of the power transmission device and the power receiving device in the vehicle width direction is such that contactless charging is possible. A parking assistance system characterized by the following features.

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