Charging control device

Abstract

To prevent a situation where charge power is set to be low although the situation is not intended by a user.SOLUTION: A control device controls charging to a power storage device of a vehicle. The control device includes a CPU that controls the control device, and a memory that stores prescribed information. The CPU executes a process of receiving, from a user, an upper limit set value of charge power to the power storage device (steps S111 to S113), stores the received set value in the memory (step S114), and executes a process of recovering the set value to a defined value (steps S121 to S124, steps S131 to S133) when a prescribed condition regarding the set value is established and the set value is apart from the defined value regarding the power storage device after the set value is stored.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charge control device, and more particularly to a charge control device that controls charging to a power storage device of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in a facility equipped with power generation equipment and charging equipment, there has been a charging management system that obtains the amount of power generated by the power generation equipment, the amount of power used by the load of the facility, and the charging power allowed by an electric vehicle that can be charged by the charging equipment, and calculates the charging fee required to charge an electric vehicle at the charging equipment based on the obtained amount of power generated, amount of power used, and charging power before charging begins (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 026681 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a fee system in which the charging fee varies depending on the charging power as shown in Patent Document 1, a user may consider lowering the upper limit setting value of the charging power of the power storage device of an electric vehicle from a default value for the power storage device (for example, the maximum power that can be charged in the power storage device) to a setting value that reduces the fee in order to save on the fee. However, if the setting value is left set lower than the default value, a problem occurs in that the charging time becomes longer when charging the same amount of power compared to when the setting value is higher. As a result, when an electric vehicle set to such a low setting value is charged using charging equipment that charges by charging time, the longer charging time may result in a higher charging fee, or the charging equipment may become crowded due to the longer exclusive time of the charging equipment.

[0005] This disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a charging control device that can prevent the charging power from being set low without the user's intention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A charging control device according to the present disclosure is a charging control device that controls charging to a power storage device of a vehicle, and includes a control unit that controls the charging control device and a storage unit that stores predetermined information. The control unit executes a process for receiving from a user a setting value for an upper limit of charging power to the power storage device, stores the received setting value in the storage unit, and executes a process for returning the setting value to a default value when a predetermined condition related to the setting value is satisfied after the setting value is stored and when the setting value differs from a default value related to the power storage device.

[0007] According to this configuration, after the set value of the upper limit of the charging power to the power storage device is stored in the storage unit, if a predetermined condition related to the set value is satisfied and if the set value differs from the default value related to the power storage device, a process is executed to return the set value to the default value. As a result, it is possible to prevent the charging power from being set low without the user's intention. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a charge control device that can prevent the charging power from being set low without the user's intention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of a charge control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a charging power setting process according to this embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for an upper limit of charging power according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a charging control system according to this embodiment. The charging control system includes a vehicle 10, a power supply facility 40, and a user terminal 50. The vehicle 10 includes an inlet 13, a charger 14, a power storage device 15, a monitoring unit 15a, a motor drive device 16, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device 18, a communication device 19, and a control device 20.

[0012] Vehicle 10 is an electrically powered vehicle (for example, an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle) configured to be capable of performing external charging for charging an on-board power storage device 15 with electric power supplied from a power supply facility 40 external to the vehicle.

[0013] The inlet 13 is configured to be connectable to a power supply facility 40 outside the vehicle, and receives power for performing external charging from the power supply facility 40. The charger 14 is configured to operate in response to a control signal from the control device 20 and to perform external charging.

[0014] The power storage device 15 is, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery, etc. The power storage device 15 may also be a large-capacity capacitor.

[0015] The monitoring unit 15a monitors the state (voltage, current, temperature, etc.) of the power storage device 15, and outputs the monitoring result to the control device 20.

[0016] Motor drive device 16 generates vehicle driving force using electric power supplied from power storage device 15. Motor drive device 16 includes a motor generator mechanically connected to the drive wheels, and a power control unit (such as an inverter) that controls the amount of electricity supplied to the motor generator in response to a command from control device 20. The number of motor generators included in motor drive device 16 may be one or two or more.

[0017] The HMI device 18 is provided inside the vehicle 10 and is a user interface for providing various information to the user and accepting operations from the user. The HMI device 18 includes a touch panel display, a speaker, and the like provided in the vehicle cabin. Note that the HMI device 18 may be, for example, a touch panel display and a speaker of a navigation device (not shown).

[0018] The communication device 19 is configured to be able to communicate with a power supply facility 40 outside the vehicle and a user terminal 50. The user terminal 50 is a user interface (e.g., a smartphone, a personal computer, etc.) used by a user (owner) of the vehicle 10. The user terminal 50 includes a device for accepting operations by a user, and a touch panel display 51 and a speaker for providing information to the user.

[0019] The control device 20 has a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory (not shown), and controls each device of the vehicle 10 (charger 14, motor drive device 16, HMI device 18, communication device 19, etc.) based on information stored in the memory and information from each sensor.

[0020] The control device 20 sets the upper limit power under control that can be input to the power storage device 15 (hereinafter also referred to as the "upper limit charging power WIN") to a maximum charging power WINmax or less based on the temperature of the power storage device 15 and other factors. The unit of the upper limit charging power WIN is "watts."

[0021] Here, when charging the vehicle 10 from the power supply facility 40, in a fee system in which the charging fee varies depending on the charging power (for example, a fee system in which the fee is higher for charging with power of a predetermined kW or more than for charging with power of less than the predetermined kW for the same charging time), the user may consider lowering the set value of the upper limit of the charging power of the power storage device 15 of the vehicle 10 from a default value for the power storage device 15 (for example, the maximum value of power that can be charged in the power storage device 15) to a set value that reduces the fee in order to save on the fee. However, if the set value is set to a value lower than the specified value, a problem occurs in that the charging time becomes longer when charging the same amount of power compared to a case where the set value is higher. As a result, when the vehicle 10 set to such a low set value is charged by the power supply facility 40 in a fee system in which the fee is charged according to the charging time (for example, a fee system in which the fee is charged according to the length of the charging time), the charging fee becomes higher due to the longer charging time, or the power supply facility 40 becomes congested due to the longer exclusive time of the power supply facility 40.

[0022] Therefore, the CPU of the control device 20 executes a process for receiving from the user a setting value for the upper limit of the charging power to the storage device 15, stores the received setting value in memory, and after the setting value is stored, executes a process for returning the setting value to the default value if a predetermined condition related to the setting value is met and if the setting value is different from the default value related to the storage device 15.

[0023] As a result, after the set value of the upper limit of the charging power to the power storage device 15 is stored in the memory, if a predetermined condition related to the set value is satisfied and if the set value differs from the default value related to the power storage device 15, a process is executed to return the set value to the default value. As a result, it is possible to prevent the charging power from being set low without the user's intention.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the charging power setting process of this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 2, this charging power setting process is called from a higher-level process at predetermined intervals and executed. The CPU of the control device 20 determines whether or not an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed (step S111).

[0025] Specifically, in the case where the setting of the upper limit of the charging power is executed by the user terminal 50, when an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power is executed in the user terminal 50, information that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed in the user terminal 50 is transmitted from the user terminal 50 to the control device 20 via the communication device 19 of the vehicle 10. When the CPU of the control device 20 receives information from the user terminal 50 that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed, it determines that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed.

[0026] Furthermore, in the case where setting of the upper limit of the charging power is executed by the HMI device 18 of the vehicle 10, when an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power is executed in the HMI device 18, information that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed in the HMI device 18 is transmitted from the HMI device 18 to the control device 20. When the CPU of the control device 20 receives information from the HMI device 18 that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed, it determines that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed.

[0027] When it is determined that an operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power has been performed (YES in step S111), the CPU of the control device 20 executes a process for displaying a setting screen for the upper limit of the charging power (step S112).

[0028] When the setting of the upper limit of the charging power is executed by the user terminal 50, the CPU of the control device 20 executes a process of transmitting information required for displaying the setting screen of the upper limit of the charging power on the touch panel display 51 of the user terminal 50 (for example, the upper limit charging power WIN, and information indicating whether the power storage device 15 is fully charged or not) as a process for displaying the setting screen of the upper limit of the charging power. When the user terminal 50 receives the information required for displaying the setting screen of the upper limit of the charging power, the user terminal 50 controls the touch panel display 51 to display a screen for setting the upper limit of the charging power within a range equal to or less than the upper limit charging power WIN. Note that, when the user terminal 50 receives information indicating that the power storage device 15 of the vehicle 10 is fully charged, the user terminal 50 may control the touch panel display 51 not to display the setting screen of the upper limit of the charging power, but to display the fact that the power storage device 15 of the vehicle 10 is fully charged.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for the upper limit of charging power in this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 3, the setting screen displayed on the touch panel display 51 of the user terminal 50 displays information indicating that the displayed screen is a setting screen for the upper limit of charging power, a selection window displaying options for the upper limit of charging power (in Fig. 3, the option "100 kW" is displayed), an operation unit for switching the options displayed in the selection window, a decision button for deciding on the upper limit of charging power displayed in the selection window, and a back button for returning to the screen displayed before this setting screen.

[0030] When the user operates an operation unit for switching the options upward or downward, the option for the upper limit of charging power displayed in the selection window is switched upward or downward within a range equal to or less than the upper limit charging power WIN received from the vehicle 10.

[0031] When the setting of the upper limit of the charging power is executed by the HMI device 18 of the vehicle 10, the CPU of the control device 20 executes a process of controlling the touch panel display of the HMI device 18 so as to display a setting screen for the upper limit of the charging power, as a process for displaying the setting screen for the upper limit of the charging power. The setting screen displayed on the touch panel display of the HMI device 18 is the same as the setting screen displayed on the touch panel display 51 of the user terminal 50 shown in Fig. 3. Note that, when the power storage device 15 is fully charged, the CPU of the control device 20 may control the touch panel display so as to display the fact that the power storage device 15 is fully charged, without displaying the setting screen for the upper limit of the charging power.

[0032] If it is determined that there is no operation to start setting the upper limit of the charging power (NO in step S111), or after step S112, the CPU of the control device 20 determines whether the set value of the upper limit of the charging power has been determined (step S113).

[0033] When the setting of the upper limit of the charging power is executed by the user terminal 50, when the confirm button is operated on the setting screen displayed on the touch panel display 51, the user terminal 50 transmits the upper limit of the charging power selected in the selection window as a setting value to the vehicle 10. When the CPU of the control device 20 of the vehicle 10 receives the setting value from the user terminal 50 via the communication device 19, it determines that the setting value of the upper limit of the charging power has been decided.

[0034] When the setting of the upper limit of the charging power is executed by the HMI device 18, when the enter button is operated on the setting screen displayed on the touch panel display of the HMI device 18, the CPU of the control device 20 accepts the upper limit of the charging power selected in the selection window as the set value. When the set value is accepted by the HMI device 18, the CPU of the control device 20 determines that the set value of the upper limit of the charging power has been decided.

[0035] When it is determined that the set value of the upper limit of the charging power has been determined (YES in step S113), the CPU of the control device 20 stores the set value in memory (step S114).

[0036] When this set value is stored in the memory of the control device 20 and charging of the storage device 15 is performed, the control device 20 controls the charger 14 so that the storage device 15 is charged with a charging power that is equal to or less than the set value stored in the memory.

[0037] If it is determined that the upper limit set value for the charging power has not been determined (NO in step S113), or after step S114, the CPU of the control device 20 determines whether or not it is the start time of the next charging after one charging has been performed using the set value stored in the memory (step S121).

[0038] If it is determined that it is time to start the next charging with the set value stored in the memory (YES in step S121), the CPU of the control device 20 determines whether the set value stored in the memory is different from the maximum charging power WINmax of the storage device 15 (step S122).

[0039] When it is determined that the set value is different from the maximum charging power WINmax (YES in step S122), the CPU of the control device 20 controls the communication device 19 to transmit information prompting a change to the maximum charging power WINmax to the user terminal 50 (step S123).

[0040] When the user terminal 50 receives the information urging the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax, the user terminal 50 controls the touch panel display 51 to display information urging the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax. The user terminal 50 may also control the speaker to output similar information by voice. Information urging the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax is, for example, information such as "The upper limit of the charging power is set to a value other than the maximum charging power WINmax, so charging may take longer."

[0041] Next, the CPU of the control device 20 controls the HMI device 18 to display information that prompts the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax (step S124). As a result, information that prompts the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax is displayed on the touch panel display of the HMI device 18. Note that similar information may be output as audio from the speaker of the HMI device 18.

[0042] If it is determined that it is not the time to start the next charging with the set value stored in the memory (NO in step S121), if it is determined that the set value is the same as the maximum charging power WINmax (NO in step S122), or after step S124, the CPU of the control device 20 determines whether a predetermined period (e.g., a predetermined number of days) has elapsed since the charging power setting was changed by storing the set value in the memory (step S131).

[0043] If it is determined that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the setting change (YES in step S131), the CPU of the control device 20 determines whether the setting value stored in the memory is different from the maximum charging power WINmax of the power storage device 15 (step S132).

[0044] When it is determined that the set value is different from the maximum charging power WINmax (YES in step S132), the CPU of the control device 20 stores the maximum charging power WINmax as the set value in the memory (step S133).

[0045] If it is determined that a predetermined period of time has not elapsed since the setting change (NO in step S131), if it is determined that the set value is the same as the maximum charging power WINmax (NO in step S132), or after step S133, the CPU of the control device 20 returns the processing to be executed to the higher-level processing that called this charging power setting processing.

[0046] [Variations] (1) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in steps S121 to S124 in FIG. 2, the timing for notifying the user of the information for prompting the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax is the start of the next charge after one charge is performed with the set value stored in the memory of the control device 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the timing for notifying the user of the information for prompting the user to change to the maximum charging power WINmax may be the timing when a predetermined first condition related to the set value is satisfied. The predetermined first condition may be, for example, the start of the next charge after a predetermined number of charges (the predetermined number of times being two or more) are performed with the set value stored in the memory of the control device 20, or a condition that a predetermined number of times (the predetermined number of times being one or more) is completed with the set value stored in the memory of the control device 20, or a condition that a predetermined period (for example, a predetermined number of days) has passed since the set value was stored in the memory of the control device 20.

[0047] (2) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in steps S131 to S133 in FIG. 2, the timing at which the maximum charging power WINmax is stored as a set value in the memory of the control device 20, i.e., the timing at which the set value is reset to the maximum charging power WINmax, is the timing at which a predetermined period has elapsed since the set value stored in the memory was changed. However, this is not limited to this, and the timing at which the set value is reset to the maximum charging power WINmax may be the timing at which a predetermined second condition related to the set value is satisfied. The predetermined second condition may be, for example, a condition at the end of a predetermined number of charging times (the predetermined number of times being one or more times) using the set value stored in the memory of the control device 20, or may be the start of the next charging time after a predetermined number of charging times (the predetermined number of times being one or more times) using the set value stored in the memory of the control device 20 has been performed.

[0048] (3) In the embodiment described above, the process for returning the set value to the maximum charging power WINmax is executed by executing the processes shown in steps S123, S124, and S133 in Fig. 2. However, the value to which the set value is returned is not limited to the maximum charging power WINmax of the power storage device 15, and may be any default value related to the power storage device 15, and may be, for example, a charging power that has little effect on the life of the power storage device 15, or may be another charging power.

[0049] (4) The above-described embodiment can be regarded as a disclosure of a charging control device such as the control device 20, or as a disclosure of an electric vehicle equipped with a charging control device, or as a disclosure of a control method or control program for the charging control device.

[0050] [summary] 1, the control device 20 is a device that controls charging to the power storage device 15 of the vehicle 10, and includes a CPU that controls the control device 20 and a memory that stores predetermined information. As shown in Fig. 2, the CPU executes a process for receiving from a user a set value of an upper limit of charging power to the power storage device 15 (for example, steps S111 to S113), stores the received set value in memory (for example, step S114), and after the set value is stored, executes a process for returning the set value to the default value when a predetermined condition related to the set value is satisfied and when the set value is different from the default value related to the power storage device 15 (for example, steps S121 to S124, steps S131 to S133).

[0051] As a result, after the set value of the upper limit of the charging power to the power storage device 15 is stored in the memory, if a predetermined condition related to the set value is satisfied and if the set value differs from the default value related to the power storage device 15, a process is executed to return the set value to the default value. As a result, it is possible to prevent the charging power from being set low without the user's intention.

[0052] It is also intended that the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in appropriate combination. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not by the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10 vehicle, 13 inlet, 14 charger, 15 power storage device, 15a monitoring unit, 16 motor drive device, 18 HMI device, 19 communication device, 20 control device, 40 power supply equipment, 50 user terminal, 51 touch panel display.

Claims

[Claim 1] A charge control device that controls charging of a vehicle's power storage device, A control unit that controls the charging control device; A storage unit that stores predetermined information, The control unit is execute a process for receiving from a user a setting value of an upper limit of charging power to the power storage device; storing the received setting value in the storage unit; A charging control device that, after the set value is stored, if a predetermined condition regarding the set value is satisfied and if the set value is different from a default value regarding the storage device, executes processing to return the set value to the default value.

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