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 has a processor. The processor predicts whether there will be drainage from a vehicle when a vehicle provided with a power receiving device below a vehicle body is to be charged by a charger / discharger installed on a road surface. If drainage from the vehicle is predicted, a parking orientation for the vehicle is to be specified so that the vehicle does not drain over the charger / discharger from a drainage outlet of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

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 includes a processor that predicts whether or not water will be discharged from a vehicle having a power receiving device mounted under the vehicle body when the vehicle is charged by a charger / discharger installed on the road surface, and if water is predicted to be discharged from the vehicle, specifies the parking orientation of the vehicle so that water is not discharged from the vehicle's drain onto the charger / discharger. 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 block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a charging support system including a charging support device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a ground-based charger / discharger (non-contact 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 ground-mounted charger / discharger (flap-type charger / discharger) used for charging a vehicle in the charging support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the charging support device according to the embodiment proposes forward parking to a vehicle having a drainage outlet at the rear of the vehicle body. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the charging support device according to the embodiment suggests rearward parking to a vehicle having a drainage outlet provided at the front of the vehicle body. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a 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 system) A charging support system including a charging support device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the charging support system includes a vehicle 1 and a server 5. The vehicle 1 and the server 5 are provided with a communication function and configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network N. This network N is configured, for example, from an Internet network, a mobile phone network, or the like.

[0011] Examples of the vehicle 1 include a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that can receive power from an external source, a battery electric vehicle (BEV), and the like. 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 may be an autonomous vehicle that runs autonomously.

[0012] The charging support device according to the embodiment is realized by the functions of the server 5. However, the charging support device according to the embodiment can be realized not only by the functions of the server 5, but also by only the functions of the vehicle 1. The following mainly describes the case where the charging support device is realized by the functions of the server 5.

[0013] Chargers and dischargers assisted by the charging assistance device according to the embodiment include ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 shown in these figures can not only supply power to the vehicle 1 (charging power to the vehicle 1), but also receive power from the vehicle 1 (discharging power from the vehicle 1).

[0014] 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. 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.

[0015] Furthermore, the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 may be installed at places such as gas stations or service areas so that they can be used by an unspecified number of users, or may be installed in homes for personal use.

[0016] 2 is specifically a non-contact charger / discharger installed on a road surface, etc. When the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2 detects that the 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.

[0017] The ground-mounted charger / discharger 3 shown in Fig. 3 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 detects that the power receiving device 16 of the vehicle 1 is located above the ground-mounted charger / discharger 3, it opens a flap 31 made of an insulator. Then, after detecting a connection with the vehicle 1, it starts supplying power to the vehicle 1.

[0018] (vehicle) 1, vehicle 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 13, a positioning unit 14, an output unit 15, and a power receiving device 16. Note that in the figure, only the components of 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 11 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 travel information transmission unit 111 through the execution of the various programs.

[0021] The travel information transmission unit 111 transmits travel information of the vehicle 1 to the server 5 via the network N. This travel information includes, for example, information on the remaining battery charge (SoC: State Of Charge) of the vehicle 1, vehicle position information (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle position information"), information on the orientation of the vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle orientation information"), information on the position of the drain outlet 17 of the vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as "drain outlet 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.

[0022] The communication unit 12 is configured by, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module), etc. The communication unit 12 communicates with the server 5, for example, when transmitting driving information of the vehicle 1.

[0023] 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.

[0024] The memory unit 13 stores, as necessary, for example, vehicle position information and vehicle orientation information detected by the positioning unit 14, drain outlet information, the remaining battery charge (SoC) of the vehicle 1, prediction results of whether or not drainage is occurring from the vehicle 1 obtained from the server 5, route search results obtained from the server 5, etc.

[0025] The positioning unit 14 receives radio waves from, for example, a GPS satellite and detects vehicle position information, vehicle orientation information, time information, etc. The method of detecting the vehicle position information and vehicle orientation information is not limited to a method using a 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 and vehicle orientation information detected by the positioning unit 14 are used for processing such as route search in the route search unit 513 of the server 5.

[0026] 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.

[0027] The output unit 15 outputs, for example, the results of a prediction of the presence or absence of drainage from the vehicle 1 by the drainage prediction unit 512 of the server 5, the results of a route search by the route search unit 513 of the server 5, etc., in the form of characters, figures, voice, etc.

[0028] 2 and 3, the power receiving device 16 is for receiving a supply of electric power from the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3. The 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 power receiving device 16 may function as a power transmitting device, or a power transmitting device may be provided in a position adjacent to the power receiving device 16.

[0029] Vehicle 1 is provided with drain outlet 17 for draining water accumulated inside at a predetermined position on the vehicle body, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows an example in which drain outlet 17 is provided on the rear side surface of the vehicle body, and Figure 5 shows an example in which drain outlet 17 is provided on the front side surface of the vehicle body.

[0030] (server) The server 5 functioning as a charging support device includes a control unit 51, a communication unit 52, and a storage unit 53, as shown in FIG.

[0031] Specifically, the control unit 51 includes a processor including a CPU, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc., and a memory (main storage unit) including a RAM, a ROM, etc. The control unit 51 functions as a charging determination unit 511, a drainage prediction unit 512, and a route search unit 513 through the execution of various programs.

[0032] The charging determination unit 511 determines whether charging is necessary for the vehicle 1. The charging determination unit 511 determines whether charging is necessary based on the remaining battery charge (SoC) of the vehicle 1, for example, included in the traveling information acquired from the vehicle 1. That is, the charging determination unit 511 determines that charging is necessary when the remaining battery charge of the vehicle 1 is less than a preset value, and determines that charging is not necessary when the remaining battery charge of the vehicle 1 is equal to or greater than the preset value.

[0033] When the charging determination unit 511 determines that charging is necessary, the drainage prediction unit 512 predicts whether or not drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging or discharging of the vehicle 1 (during charging or discharging). The drainage prediction unit 512 can predict whether or not drainage will occur based on information regarding the operating status of the air conditioner (air conditioner) of the vehicle 1, which is included in the traveling information acquired from the vehicle 1, for example. In this case, the drainage prediction unit 512 predicts that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging or discharging when the operating time of the air conditioner in the vehicle 1 is equal to or longer than a preset time.

[0034] Furthermore, the drainage prediction unit 512 can predict the presence or absence of drainage based on information relating to the operating status of the fuel cell, which is included in the driving information acquired from the vehicle 1. In this case, when the vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle, the drainage prediction unit 512 predicts that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during discharging if the driving time of the vehicle 1 (FCEV driving time) is equal to or longer than a preset time.

[0035] Then, when the drainage prediction unit 512 predicts that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1 during charging / discharging, it transmits the prediction result to the vehicle 1. In response to this, the output unit 15 of the vehicle 1 outputs information proposing a parking orientation when charging / discharging, and prompts the user to charge / discharge in a predetermined parking orientation.

[0036] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when there is a drain outlet 17 at the rear of the vehicle 1, the output unit 15 outputs a sentence or voice such as "Because water will be discharged from the vehicle, please park facing forward (front parking) with respect to the charger / discharger when charging / discharging." Also, as shown in Fig. 5, when there is a drain outlet 17 at the front of the vehicle 1, the output unit 15 outputs a sentence or voice such as "Because water will be discharged from the vehicle, please park facing backward (back parking) with respect to the charger / discharger when charging / discharging." This makes it possible to prevent the drain outlet 17 of the vehicle 1 from passing over the charger / discharger when charging / discharging.

[0037] The route search unit 513 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 513 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.

[0038] Furthermore, when the charging determination unit 511 determines that charging is necessary, the route searching unit 513 re-searches for a route that stops at a charger / discharger that can be connected to the power receiving device 16, and proposes the route to the user.

[0039] In this case, first, the route search unit 513 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 detected by the positioning unit 14 and the position information of the charger / discharger acquired in advance.

[0040] Next, when the vehicle 1 uses ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 and the drainage prediction unit 512 predicts that drainage will occur from the vehicle 1, the route search unit 513 creates a route that includes the searched charger and a specification of the parking orientation (forward or backward) for the charger.

[0041] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when a drain outlet 17 is located at the rear of the vehicle 1, the route search unit 513 creates information to the effect that the parking orientation is to face forward with respect to the charger / discharger, based on the drain outlet information of the vehicle 1. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, when a drain outlet 17 is located at the front of the vehicle 1, the route search unit 513 creates information to the effect that the parking orientation is to face backward with respect to the charger / discharger, based on the drain outlet information of the vehicle 1.

[0042] Next, the route search unit 513 transmits the created route information to the vehicle 1. In response to this, the output unit 15 of the vehicle 1 outputs a route including designations of chargeable chargers and dischargers and parking orientations during charging and discharging, and proposes a new route to the user. Then, if the route is approved by the user, the route is set as the planned travel route of the vehicle 1. This makes it possible to prevent the drain outlet 17 of the vehicle 1 from passing over the chargers during charging and discharging.

[0043] The communication unit 52 is configured with, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication, etc. The communication unit 52 communicates with the vehicle 1, for example, when transmitting newly created route information.

[0044] The memory unit 53 stores, as necessary, the result of the determination of the need for charging by the charging determination unit 511, the prediction result of the presence or absence of drainage from the vehicle 1 by the drainage prediction unit 512, a route search program for realizing the function of the route search unit 513, the route search result searched by the route search unit 513, driving information obtained from the vehicle 1, etc.

[0045] (Charging support method) An example of a processing procedure of a charging support method executed by a charging support device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In this example, when the remaining battery level of a vehicle 1 is low and charging is required, a new route including a charger / discharger capable of charging and a parking direction for charging / discharging is proposed to a user.

[0046] First, the driving information transmission unit 111 of the vehicle 1 transmits driving information of the vehicle 1 to the server 5 (step S1). This driving information includes, for example, information on the remaining battery charge (SoC) of the vehicle 1, vehicle position information, vehicle orientation information, drain outlet 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.

[0047] Next, the server 5 determines whether charging is necessary based on, for example, the remaining battery charge of the vehicle 1 (step S2). If it is determined in step S2 that charging is necessary (Yes in step S2), the route search unit 513 searches for a charger / discharger near the current location of the vehicle 1 or on the route from the current location of the vehicle 1 to the destination based on the vehicle location information and the charger / discharger location information (step S3).

[0048] Next, the route search unit 513 determines whether the vehicle 1 uses the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3 (step S4). The determination in step S4 can be made based on, for example, information on the charging method (information on whether the method uses the ground-mounted chargers 2 and 3) previously acquired from the vehicle 1. The information on the charging method of the vehicle 1 may be included in the traveling information of the vehicle 1.

[0049] In step S4, if it is determined that the vehicle 1 will use the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2, 3 (Yes in step S4), the route search unit 513 determines whether or not there will be drainage from the vehicle 1 during charging, based on the prediction result in the drainage prediction unit 512 (step S5).

[0050] In step S5, when it is determined that water is discharged from the vehicle 1 during charging (Yes in step S5), the route search unit 513 transmits a new route including the searched ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 and a designation of the parking orientation (forward or backward) for the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3 to the vehicle 1, and proposes the route to the user via the output unit 15 of the vehicle 1 (step S6). Next, the control unit 11 of the vehicle 1 sets the route received from the server 5 (step S7), and completes this process.

[0051] Here, if it is determined in step S2 that charging is not necessary (No in step S2), if it is determined in step S4 that the vehicle 1 will not use the ground-mounted charger / discharger 2, 3 (No in step S4), or if it is determined in step S5 that no water will be discharged from the vehicle 1 during charging (No in step S5), the route search unit 513 completes this process.

[0052] In the charging support device according to the embodiment described above, 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, the parking orientation of the vehicle 1 is specified so that water is not discharged from the drain outlet 17 of the vehicle 1 onto the ground-mounted chargers 2, 3. 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] For example, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the charging support device is realized by the functions of the server 5, but the charging support device can also be realized by the functions of the vehicle 1. In this case, by having the vehicle 1 assume the functions of the charging determination unit 511, the drainage prediction unit 512, and the route search unit 513, the vehicle 1 alone can perform charging support without using the server 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 vehicle 11 Control section 111 Driving information transmission unit 12 Communications Department 13 Storage section 14 Positioning unit 15 Output section 16 Power receiving device 17 Drain 2,3 Ground-mounted charger / discharger 31 Flap 5 Server 51 Control section 511 Charge determination section 512 Drainage Prediction Department 513 Route Search Unit 52 Communications Department 53 Storage section N Network

Claims

[Claim 1] A processor is provided. The processor, When a vehicle having a power receiving device provided under a vehicle body is charged by a charger / discharger installed on a road surface, the vehicle predicts whether or not drainage will occur from the vehicle; When drainage from the vehicle is predicted, a parking orientation of the vehicle is specified so that water is not drained from a drain outlet of the vehicle onto the charger / discharger. Charging support device.

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