Charging support device

Abstract

To provide a charging support device capable of controlling the inflow of wastewater from a vehicle to a charger / discharger when the vehicle is being charged.SOLUTION: The charging support device includes a processor. The processor predicts whether there will be drainage from a vehicle. When drainage from the vehicle is predicted, the processor proposes charging by a second power receiving device among a first power receiving device installed below the vehicle and the second power receiving device installed other than below the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging assistance device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a flap-type power supply device in which a flap (a cover member) made of an insulating material opens when a vehicle approaches, and power supply begins after detecting a connection with the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-255144 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although a flap-type power supply device can prevent the inflow of rainwater, garbage, etc., if there is drainage from a vehicle, there is a possibility that the drainage may flow in. Therefore, there has been a demand for technology that can suppress the inflow of drainage from a vehicle into a charger / discharger when the vehicle is being charged.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a charging assistance device that can suppress the inflow of wastewater from a vehicle into a charger / discharger when the vehicle is being charged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The charging assistance device of the present disclosure is equipped with a processor that predicts whether or not water will be discharged from the vehicle, and if water is predicted to be discharged from the vehicle, suggests charging using the second power receiving device, out of a first power receiving device provided below the vehicle and a second power receiving device provided other than below the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the inflow of wastewater from a vehicle into a charger / discharger when the vehicle is being charged. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a ground-based charger / discharger (non-contact charger / discharger) used for charging a vehicle in a charging support device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a ground-mounted charger / discharger (flap-type charger / discharger) used for charging a vehicle in the charging support device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a side-connection type charger / discharger used for charging a vehicle in a charging support device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a vehicle that functions as a charging support device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a processing procedure of a charging support method executed by the charging support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of the processing procedure of the charging support method executed by the charging support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of the processing procedure of the charging support method executed by the charging support device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A charging support device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] (Charging support device) A charging support device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. The charging support device according to the embodiment is realized by a vehicle 1 including a plurality of power receiving devices (a first power receiving device 16, a second power receiving device 17) as shown in Fig. 1. Examples of the vehicle 1 include a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that can receive power from an external source, and an electric vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle). The vehicle 1 may also be a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that can generate power without receiving power from an external source. The vehicle 1 may also be a manually operated vehicle driven by a user, or an autonomously operated vehicle that runs autonomously.

[0011] The charging support device according to the embodiment can be realized by the functions of the vehicle 1, and can also be realized by the functions of a server capable of communicating with the vehicle 1 via a network. The following mainly describes the case where the charging support device is realized by the functions of the vehicle 1.

[0012] Chargers and dischargers assisted by the charging assistance device according to the embodiment include ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, and a side-connected charger and discharger 4 as shown in Fig. 3. The ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 and the side-connected charger and discharger 4 shown in these figures are capable of not only supplying power to the vehicle 1 (charging power to the vehicle 1), but also receiving power from the vehicle 1 (discharging power from the vehicle 1).

[0013] For example, if the vehicle 1 is a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, it can perform both charging (receiving power) and discharging (transmitting power) by using the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 and the side-connection type charger / discharger 4. On the other hand, if the vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle, it can only discharge by using the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 and the side-connection type charger / discharger 4.

[0014] In addition, the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 and the side-connected charger / discharger 4 may be installed at locations such as gas stations or service areas for use by an unspecified number of users, or may be installed in homes for personal use only.

[0015] 1 is specifically a non-contact charger / discharger installed on a road surface, etc. When the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2 detects that the first power receiving device 16 of the vehicle 1 is located above the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2, the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2 starts supplying power to the vehicle 1.

[0016] The ground-mounted charger / discharger 3 shown in Fig. 2 is specifically a flap-type charger / discharger (contact-type charger / discharger) installed on a road surface or the like. In this ground-mounted charger / discharger 3, for example, when it is detected that the first power receiving device 16 of the vehicle 1 is located above the ground-mounted charger / discharger 3, the flap 31 made of an insulator is opened. Then, after detecting the connection with the vehicle 1, the supply of power to the vehicle 1 is started.

[0017] 3 supplies power to the vehicle 1 by connecting the power supply plug 41 to the second power receiving device 17. At that time, the power supply plug 41 may be connected to the second power receiving device 17 by a robot arm, a transport device, or the like, or a user (e.g., the driver, etc.) may connect the power supply plug 41 to the second power receiving device 17 by himself / herself. Note that the side-connection type charger / discharger 4 may be a contact type device that charges via the power supply plug 41 as shown in the figure, or may be a non-contact type device like the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3.

[0018] 4, the vehicle 1 functioning as the charging support device includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 13, a positioning unit 14, an output unit 15, a first power receiving device 16, and a second power receiving device 17. Note that in the figure, only the components of the vehicle 1 that are necessary to realize the functions of the charging support device are illustrated, and other components (e.g., hardware configurations such as a motor, an inverter, and a battery) are not illustrated.

[0019] The control unit 11 is an electronic control unit (ECU) whose main components include a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (main storage unit) such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and executes various programs.

[0020] The control unit 21 executes various programs to comprehensively control the operations of various components mounted on the charging support device. The control unit 11 also functions as a drainage prediction unit 111 and a route search unit 112 through the execution of various programs.

[0021] The drainage prediction unit 111 predicts whether or not drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging and discharging (during charging or discharging). For example, when the operating time of the air conditioner in the vehicle 1 is equal to or longer than a preset time, the drainage prediction unit 111 can predict that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging and discharging. Furthermore, when the vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle, the drainage prediction unit 111 can predict that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during discharging when the running time of the vehicle 1 (time of FCEV running) is equal to or longer than a preset time.

[0022] When the drainage prediction unit 111 predicts that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging or discharging, it suggests to the user that charging or discharging be performed using the second power receiving device 17 out of the first power receiving device 16 provided below the vehicle 1 and the second power receiving device 17 provided elsewhere than below the vehicle 1.

[0023] In this case, the drainage prediction unit 111 displays sentences such as "There is drainage from the vehicle, so please avoid using a ground-mounted charger / discharger" or "There is drainage from the vehicle, so please use a side-connected charger / discharger" on the output unit 15. The drainage prediction unit 111 may also output audio such as "There is drainage from the vehicle, so please avoid using a ground-mounted charger / discharger" or "There is drainage from the vehicle, so please use a side-connected charger / discharger" from the output unit 15.

[0024] The route search unit 112 searches for a route from the current location of the vehicle 1 to a destination specified by the user. For example, the route search unit 112 displays a route search condition input screen, a route search start button, and the like on the output unit 15, and performs route search processing based on information input or selection by the user.

[0025] In addition, when charging is required due to a decrease in the remaining battery level (SoC: State Of Charge) of the vehicle 1 and the drainage prediction unit 111 predicts that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging or discharging, the route search unit 112 re-searches for a route that stops at a charger / discharger (i.e., a side-connected charger / discharger 4) that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 and suggests this to the user.

[0026] In this case, first, the route searching unit 112 searches for a charger / discharger near the current location or on the route from the current location to the destination, based on the location information of the vehicle 1 detected by the positioning unit 14 (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle location information") and the location information of the charger / discharger acquired in advance. If the search results in finding a side-connection type charger / discharger 4 connectable to the second power receiving device 17, a new route including the side-connection type charger / discharger 4 is created. Next, the route searching unit 112 proposes the created route to the user via the output unit 15. Then, if the user approves this route, the route is set as the planned driving route of the vehicle 1.

[0027] The communication unit 12 is configured by, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module), etc. The communication unit 12 communicates with an external server, etc., as necessary.

[0028] The storage unit 13 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and removable media. Examples of removable media include a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD). The storage unit 13 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like.

[0029] The memory unit 13 stores, as necessary, for example, a route search program for realizing the function of the route search unit 112, the prediction result of the drainage prediction unit 111 as to whether or not drainage will occur from the vehicle 1, the route search result searched by the route search unit 112, vehicle position information detected by the positioning unit 14, the remaining battery charge (SoC) of the vehicle 1, position information of the charger / discharger, etc.

[0030] The positioning unit 14 receives radio waves from, for example, a GPS satellite and detects vehicle position information and time information. The method of detecting the vehicle position information is not limited to the method using the GPS satellite, and may be, for example, a method combining LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging) with a 3D map. The vehicle position information detected by the positioning unit 14 is used for processing such as route search in the route search unit 112.

[0031] The output unit 15 is for outputting various information to the user of the vehicle 1. Examples of the output unit 15 include a display (display means) capable of outputting characters, figures, and the like, and a speaker (audio output means) capable of outputting sound. In addition to the information output function, the output unit 15 may also have an input function such as a touch panel display or a microphone capable of inputting instructions from the user to the vehicle 1 side. Specifically, the output unit 15 can be realized by a navigation system or an instrument panel provided in the vehicle 1.

[0032] The output unit 15 outputs, for example, the prediction result of the drainage prediction unit 111 as to whether or not drainage will occur from the vehicle 1, the route search result searched by the route search unit 112, and information suggesting avoiding the use of the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 based on the prediction by the drainage prediction unit 111, in the form of text, figures, voice, etc.

[0033] 1 and 2, the first power receiving device 16 is for receiving a supply of electric power from the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3. The first power receiving device 16 is provided under the body of the vehicle 1. When supplying (transmitting) electric power from the vehicle 1 to the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3, the first power receiving device 16 may function as a power transmitting device (first power transmitting device), or a power transmitting device may be provided in a position adjacent to the first power receiving device 16.

[0034] 3, the second power receiving device 17 is for receiving power from the side-connection type charger / discharger 4. The second power receiving device 17 is provided other than under the body of the vehicle 1, for example, on the side of the body of the vehicle 1. When supplying (transmitting) power from the vehicle 1 to the side-connection type charger / discharger 4, the second power receiving device 17 may function as a power transmitting device (second power transmitting device), or a power transmitting device may be provided in a position adjacent to the second power receiving device 17.

[0035] (Charging assistance method: First example) A first example of the processing procedure of the charging support method executed by the charging support device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In this example, an example of a case where charging is suggested to a user when charging becomes necessary due to a decrease in the remaining battery level of the vehicle 1 will be described. Note that, when performing the processing of this example, it is sufficient for the control unit 11 of the vehicle 1 to have at least the function of the drainage prediction unit 111, and it is not essential that it has the function of the route search unit 112.

[0036] First, the drainage prediction unit 111 predicts whether or not there will be drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging, for example, based on the operating time of the air conditioner of the vehicle 1 (step S1). When it predicts that there will be drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging (Yes in step S1), the drainage prediction unit 111 suggests to the user via the output unit 15 to avoid using the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2, 3 (step S2), and completes this process. Note that in step S2, the drainage prediction unit 111 may also suggest to the user via the output unit 15 to use the side-connected charger / discharger 4.

[0037] Here, in step S1, when it is predicted that there will be no drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging (No in step S1), the drainage prediction unit 111 ends this process.

[0038] (Charging assistance method: second example) A second example of the processing procedure of the charging support method executed by the charging support device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In this example, in a situation where charging is required due to a decrease in the remaining battery level of the vehicle 1, a new route is proposed to the user in addition to a proposal regarding charging.

[0039] First, the drainage prediction unit 111 predicts whether or not there will be drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging, for example, based on the operating time of the air conditioner of the vehicle 1 (step S11). If it is predicted in step S11 that there will be drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging (Yes in step S11), the route search unit 112 searches for a charger / discharger near the current location or on the route from the current location to the destination, based on the vehicle position information and the position information of the charger / discharger (step S12).

[0040] Next, the route searching unit 112 determines whether or not there is a charger / discharger (i.e., a side-connection type charger / discharger 4) that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 of the vehicle 1 (step S13). If it is determined in step S13 that there is a side-connection type charger / discharger 4 that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 (Yes in step S13), the route searching unit 112 proposes a new route that includes the searched side-connection type charger / discharger 4 to the user via the output unit 15 (step S14).

[0041] Next, it is determined whether the route proposed in step S14 is approved by the user (step S15). If it is determined in step S15 that the route is approved by the user (Yes in step S15), the route search unit 112 sets the route (step S16) and completes this process.

[0042] Here, in step S11, when it is predicted that there will be no drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging (No in step S11), the route search unit 112 completes this process. Also, in step S13, when it is determined that there is no side-connected charger / discharger 4 that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 (No in step S13), or when it is determined that the route has not been approved by the user in step S15 (No in step S15), the drainage prediction unit 111 suggests to the user through the output unit 15 to avoid using the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 (step S17), and completes this process. Note that in step S17, it may be possible to suggest to the user through the output unit 15 to use the side-connected charger / discharger 4.

[0043] (Charging assistance method: third example) A third example of the processing procedure of the charging support method executed by the charging support device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In this example, an example will be described in which some of the functions of the vehicle 1 are assigned to an external server 5 connected to the vehicle 1 via a network, and processing similar to that of Fig. 6 is performed. In the processing of this example, information related to the vehicle 1 is transmitted to the server 5 via the network as needed, and processing of the drainage prediction unit 111 and the route search unit 112 is performed on the server 5 side.

[0044] First, the control unit 11 of the vehicle 1 transmits driving information of the vehicle 1 to the server 5 (step S21). This driving information includes, for example, information on the remaining battery charge (SoC) of the vehicle 1, vehicle position information, information on the operating status of the air conditioner of the vehicle 1, and information on the operating status of the fuel cell if the vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle.

[0045] Next, the server 5 predicts whether or not water will be discharged from the vehicle 1 during charging, for example, based on the operating time of the air conditioner of the vehicle 1 (step S22). If it is predicted in step S22 that water will be discharged from the vehicle 1 during charging (Yes in step S22), the server 5 determines whether or not charging of the vehicle 1 is necessary, based on the remaining battery charge (SoC) of the vehicle 1 (step S23).

[0046] If it is determined in step S23 that charging of vehicle 1 is necessary (Yes in step S23), server 5 searches for a charger / discharger near the current location of vehicle 1 or on the route from the current location of vehicle 1 to the destination based on the vehicle position information and the charger / discharger position information (step S24).

[0047] Next, the server 5 determines whether or not there is a charger / discharger (i.e., a side-connection type charger / discharger 4) that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 of the vehicle 1 (step S25). If it is determined in step S25 that there is a side-connection type charger / discharger 4 that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 (Yes in step S25), the route search unit 112 transmits a new route including the searched side-connection type charger / discharger 4 to the vehicle 1 and proposes the route to the user via the output unit 15 of the vehicle 1 (step S26). Next, the control unit 11 of the vehicle 1 sets the route received from the server 5 (step S27) and completes this process.

[0048] Here, if it is predicted in step S22 that there will be no drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging (No in step S22), if it is determined in step S23 that charging of the vehicle 1 is not necessary (No in step S23), or if it is determined in step S25 that there is no side-connected charger / discharger 4 that can be connected to the second power receiving device 17 (No in step S25), the server 5 completes this process.

[0049] The charging support device according to the embodiment described above suggests to the user to avoid using the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 (or to use the side-connection type charger 4) when wastewater has accumulated due to the use of air conditioning or when the vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle and wastewater generated during driving has accumulated. This makes it possible to prevent the inflow of wastewater from the vehicle 1 into the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 when the vehicle 1 is being charged by the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3, and to prevent breakdowns or leakage of the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3.

[0050] Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 vehicle 11 Control section 111 Drainage Prediction Department 112 Route Search Unit 12 Communications Department 13 Storage section 14 Positioning unit 15 Output section 16 First power receiving device 17 Second power receiving device 2,3 Ground-mounted charger / discharger 31 Flap 4 Side-connected charger / discharger 41 Power plug

Claims

[Claim 1] A processor is provided. The processor, Predicts whether water will be discharged from the vehicle, When drainage from the vehicle is predicted, a suggestion is made to charge the vehicle using a first power receiving device provided below the vehicle and a second power receiving device provided at a position other than below the vehicle. Charging support device.

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