Charging control system and charging control method

Abstract

To suppress power amount during the charging of a vehicle, while corresponding to the addition of charging palettes of a parking device.SOLUTION: A charge control system 10 includes a power receiving portion 12 that is connected to a primary side power source 60, a plurality of charge outlets 14 installed on a plurality of charging palettes, a switching portion 20 that switches supply destinations of power from the power receiving portion 12 among the plurality of charging outlets 14, a power amount meter 30 that measures power amount from the power receiving portion 12 to the switching portion 20, and a control portion 34. The control portion 34 controls the switching portion 20 so as to supply power to one vehicle selected as a charging object and to switch the vehicle of the charging object. Thereby, regardless of the number of the charging outlets 14, power is always supplied to only one vehicle from the primary side power source 60, so that the power amount during the charging of the vehicle can be suppressed, and it is possible to easily correspond to the addition of the charging palettes 84.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging control system and a charging control method used for charging vehicles in a parking device equipped with a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, due to environmental concerns and other factors, the demand for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles has been increasing, and accordingly, the demand for charging facilities for charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles has also been increasing. For this reason, there is a demand for securing charging parking spaces for vehicles in surface parking lots and mechanical multi-story parking systems, as well as for expanding the number of such charging parking spaces. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply system for supplying power to vehicles parked in surface parking lots of apartment buildings. This system is said to enable reduction in installation costs, which is one of the challenges when installing charging parking spaces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6251444 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the power supply system described above, the chargers installed in the parking spaces are divided into multiple groups, and the charger that supplies power is switched on a group-by-group basis, meaning that power is supplied to multiple chargers in the same group simultaneously. For this reason, this power supply method cannot be directly applied to parking equipment that also uses power to move the multiple pallets that house vehicles and is subject to restrictions such as the amount of power available for vehicle charging. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to reduce the amount of electricity used when charging a vehicle while accommodating the addition of additional charging pallets to parking devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] (Aspects of the invention) The following embodiments of the present invention are examples of the configuration of the present invention and are described in terms to facilitate understanding of the various configurations of the present invention. Each term does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, while taking into consideration the best mode for carrying out the invention, some of the components of each term may be replaced or deleted, or other components may be added, and these may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0006] (1) A charging control system used for charging vehicles in a parking device having a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, the charging control system including: a power receiving unit connected to a primary power source; a plurality of charging outlets that are installed on each of a plurality of charging pallets among the plurality of pallets corresponding to the charging of the vehicles and connected to the vehicles via charging cables; a switching unit that is connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets and that switches the destination of the supply of power from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; an electricity meter that measures the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; and a control unit that controls the entire system, wherein the control unit controls the switching unit so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched. Hmm.

[0007] The charging control system described in this section includes a power receiving unit, multiple charging outlets, a switching unit, an energy meter, and a control unit. The power receiving unit is connected to a primary power source that supplies power used to charge a vehicle. The multiple charging outlets are installed on each of multiple charging pallets corresponding to the vehicle charging among multiple pallets in a parking device that accommodates vehicles, and are connected to the vehicle accommodated on the charging pallet via a charging cable. The switching unit is interposed between the power receiving unit and the multiple charging outlets and connected to both, and switches the destination of the power supply from the power receiving unit among the multiple charging outlets. In other words, power supplied from the primary power source is first taken into the system by the power receiving unit, then reaches the switching unit, and the switching unit switches the destination of the power supply among the multiple charging outlets.

[0008] The watt-hour meter measures the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit as described above, and the control unit controls the entire system. The control unit controls the switching unit as part of system control, and at this time, controls the switching unit so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged among vehicles connected to multiple charging outlets, and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched. In other words, power taken in via the power receiving unit is always supplied only to the one vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged, and the one vehicle to be charged that receives the power is switched.

[0009] As a result, regardless of how many of the multiple charging outlets are connected to a vehicle, power is always supplied from the primary power source to only one vehicle, thereby reducing the amount of power used to charge the vehicle. Furthermore, even if the number of charging pallets in the parking device increases, the amount of power used during charging is always the same for one vehicle, making it easy to accommodate additional charging pallets. Furthermore, the simple configuration in which the destination of power supplied from the primary power source is switched among multiple charging outlets by a switching unit reduces equipment costs. It should be noted that there are various methods for determining whether a vehicle is connected to a charging outlet, such as monitoring an electricity meter to determine whether power is flowing to each charging outlet or using a signal that physically detects connection.

[0010] (2) In the above paragraph (1), the charging control system further includes a rapid charger connected to the power receiving unit for rapid charging the vehicle, and a plurality of rapid charging connection means installed on each of the charging pallets and connected to the vehicles for rapid charging, wherein the switching unit has a normal switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, and a rapid switching unit connected to the rapid charger and the plurality of rapid charging connection means, and the control unit controls the normal switching unit and the rapid switching unit so that power is supplied to either the charging outlet connected to the vehicle to be charged or the rapid charging connection means, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged (claim 2).

[0011] The charging control system described in this section further includes a rapid charger for rapid charging the vehicle, and this rapid charger is connected to the power receiving unit. The charging control system described in this section also includes a plurality of rapid charging connection means connected to the vehicle for rapid charging, and each of these multiple rapid charging connection means is installed on a charging pallet. Therefore, each charging pallet is equipped with both a charging outlet connected to the vehicle for normal charging and a rapid charging connection means connected to the vehicle for rapid charging. The charging outlet is connected to the vehicle's normal charging jack via a charging cable, and the rapid charging connection means is connected to the vehicle's rapid charging jack separately and simultaneously. The rapid charging connection means may be a socket type connected to the vehicle via a charging cable or a cable type connected directly to the vehicle without an outlet. Furthermore, the switching unit has a normal switching unit interposed between the power receiving unit and the multiple charging outlets and connected to both of them, and a rapid switching unit interposed between the rapid charger and the multiple rapid charging connection means and connected to both of them. That is, the normal switching unit switches the power supply destination among a plurality of charging outlets, and the rapid switching unit switches the power supply destination among a plurality of rapid charging connection means.

[0012] With the above configuration, a normal charging power supply route from the power receiving unit to the multiple charging outlets via the normal switching unit and a rapid charging power supply route from the power receiving unit to the rapid charger and then to the multiple rapid charging connection means exist in parallel. The control unit controls the normal switching unit and the rapid switching unit so that power is supplied to either the charging outlet connected to the vehicle to be charged or the rapid charging connection means depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged. The remaining charge amount of the vehicle being charged is determined based on, for example, the current amount of current measured by an electricity meter. More specifically, while each vehicle to be charged is being charged, control may be performed to supply power to the rapid charging connection means while the measured current amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and then switch to supplying power to the charging outlet when the measured current amount falls below the predetermined threshold. By supporting both normal charging and rapid charging in this way, the charging time required to fully charge each vehicle is shorter than when charging is performed using only normal charging, allowing multiple vehicles to be charged efficiently.

[0013] (3) In the above paragraph (1), the charging control system further includes two quick chargers, one small and one large, connected in parallel to the power receiving unit for quick charging the vehicle, and a plurality of quick charge connection means installed on each of the charging pallets and connected to the vehicles for quick charging, wherein the switching unit has a first switching unit connected to the small-capacity quick charger and the plurality of quick charge connection means, and a second switching unit connected in parallel to the first switching unit to the high-capacity quick charger and the plurality of quick charge connection means, and the control unit controls the first switching unit and the second switching unit so that power is supplied to the quick charge connection means connected to the vehicle to be charged from either the small-capacity quick charger or the high-capacity quick charger depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged (claim 3).

[0014] The charging control system described in this section further includes two quick chargers, one small-capacity and one large-capacity, for rapid charging the vehicle, and these quick chargers are connected to the power receiving unit in parallel with each other. In addition, the charging control system described in this section further includes a plurality of quick charge connection means connected to the vehicle for rapid charging, and each of these multiple quick charge connection means is installed on the charging pallet and connected to the vehicle's quick charge jack. The quick charge connection means may be an outlet type connected to the vehicle via a charging cable or a cable type connected directly to the vehicle without an outlet. In addition, the switching unit has a first switching unit interposed between the small-capacity quick charger and the multiple quick charge connection means and connected to both of them, and a second switching unit interposed between the high-capacity quick charger and the multiple quick charge connection means and connected to both of them in parallel with the first switching unit. That is, the first switching unit switches the destination of power supply from the small-capacity quick charger among a plurality of quick charging connection means, and the second switching unit switches the destination of power supply from the large-capacity quick charger among a plurality of quick charging connection means.

[0015] With the above configuration, a power supply route for small-capacity quick charging, which runs from the power receiving unit through the small-capacity quick charger and then via the first switching unit to the multiple quick charge connection means, and a power supply route for large-capacity quick charging, which runs from the power receiving unit through the large-capacity quick charger and then via the second switching unit to the multiple quick charge connection means, exist in parallel.The control unit then controls the first switching unit and the second switching unit so that power is supplied to the quick charge connection means connected to the vehicle to be charged from either the small-capacity quick charger or the large-capacity quick charger, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged.

[0016] As described in (2) above, the remaining charge of a vehicle being charged is determined based on, for example, the amount of current currently flowing as measured by a watt-hour meter. More specifically, while each vehicle being charged is being charged, power may be supplied from a high-capacity quick charger while the measured current is equal to or greater than a preset threshold. When the measured current falls below the preset threshold, power may be supplied from a low-capacity quick charger. By specializing in quick charging using both high-capacity and low-capacity chargers in this way, the number of power supply systems to the vehicle is limited to one for quick charging, while the amount of power consumed is reduced compared to when only a high-capacity charger is used. Furthermore, compared to when vehicles are charged using standard charging, the charging time required to fully charge each vehicle is significantly shorter, allowing multiple vehicles to be charged more efficiently.

[0017] (4) In paragraphs (1) to (3) above, the parking device is a pit-type parking device in which multiple lifting pallets connected vertically via supports move up and down between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the multiple lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, and further includes a relay terminal block interposed between the switching unit and the multiple charging outlets and serving as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the multiple charging outlets, and the relay terminal block is a charging control system installed on the uppermost lifting pallet of the multiple lifting pallets (claims 1 and 6).

[0018] The charging control system described in this section is applied to a pit-type parking device, in which multiple lifting pallets connected vertically via supports move up and down between an underground pit and above ground. Of the multiple lifting pallets, two or more are charging pallets for charging vehicles. The charging control system described in this section also includes an intermediate terminal block interposed between the switching unit and the multiple charging outlets. This intermediate terminal block serves as a base point for branching power supply wiring leading to the multiple charging outlets, and is installed on the uppermost lifting pallet of the multiple lifting pallets.

[0019] That is, the multiple power supply wiring from the switching unit to the multiple charging outlets arrives together at the relay terminal block installed on the top-level lift-up pallet, where it branches off and extends to each charging pallet. Here, the top-level lift-up pallet of a pit-type parking device is never positioned in the underground pit, even when the multiple connected lift-up pallets are raised or lowered, and is always positioned above ground. Therefore, the relay terminal block installed on the top-level lift-up pallet is also always positioned above ground. This ensures that, even if the underground pit is flooded due to weather or other reasons, the relay terminal block, which is always located above ground, will not be submerged, further enhancing safety measures.

[0020] (5) In the above paragraph (1), the parking device is a pit-type parking device in which multiple lifting pallets connected vertically via pillars move up and down between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the multiple lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, and the multiple charging outlets are provided on the pillars (claim 4). The charging control system described in this section is applied to a pit-type parking device. In this pit-type parking device, multiple lifting pallets connected vertically via support columns rise and fall between an underground pit and above ground. Of the multiple lifting pallets, at least two are charging pallets compatible with vehicle charging. In addition, in the charging control system described in this section, multiple charging outlets installed on the charging pallets compatible with charging among the multiple lifting pallets are provided on the support columns connecting the multiple lifting pallets. This eliminates the need for dedicated stands for the charging outlets, improving the appearance. In addition, the power supply wiring leading to the multiple charging outlets is compactly organized along the support columns, minimizing the risk of getting caught on such wiring.

[0021] (6) In the above paragraphs (1) to (4), the control unit switches the vehicle to be charged when the charging of the vehicle currently being supplied with power is completed as a trigger (claim 5). In the charging control system described in this section, when the control unit controls the switching unit to switch the vehicle to be charged, the switching of the vehicle to be charged is triggered by the completion of charging of the vehicle currently being charged and currently receiving power. At this time, completion of vehicle charging can be determined by monitoring the amount of power flowing to the charging outlet connected to the vehicle currently being charged, as measured by an electricity meter, and determining that charging is complete when that amount of power approaches zero. As a result, even if multiple vehicles are connected to a charging outlet, the vehicle to be charged is switched after the current vehicle to be charged has completed charging, so that all vehicles will eventually be fully charged, resulting in efficient charging of all vehicles.

[0022] (7) In the above paragraphs (4) and (5), a charging control system further includes a flooding sensor installed in the pit, and the control unit controls the switching unit so that all of the multiple charging outlets are connected when the flooding sensor detects flooding in the pit (Claim 7). The charging control system described in this section further includes a flooding sensor installed in the pit of a pit-type parking device. When the flooding sensor detects that the pit is flooded due to weather, for example, the control unit controls the switching unit to cut off the power supply to all of the multiple charging outlets. In other words, if the pit is flooded, there is a risk that the charging pallets located in the pit will be submerged, so by cutting off the power supply to all charging outlets, including the charging outlets on such charging pallets, safety is ensured more thoroughly.

[0023] (8) The above ( 2 ) to (7), a charging control system (claim 8) further including a billing unit for billing the user for a charging fee via a cloud service based on the amount of electricity measured by the electricity meter. The charging control system described in this section further includes a fee billing unit for billing a user who uses the system to charge a vehicle. The fee billing unit is capable of communicating via an external network such as the Internet and bills the charging fee via a cloud service to a device such as a smartphone carried by the user. That is, the fee billing unit keeps track of the amount of electricity measured by the watt-hour meter for each vehicle selected for charging and bills the charging fee calculated from the amount of electricity measured for each vehicle to the contact information of the user of each vehicle that has been obtained in advance. This allows for smooth collection of charging fees without the need to install a dedicated payment machine or directly exchange cash.

[0024] (9) A charging control method used for charging vehicles in a parking device having a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, the charging control method comprising: connecting a power receiving unit to a primary power source; installing a plurality of charging outlets connected to vehicles via charging cables on each of a plurality of charging pallets among the plurality of pallets that are to be used for vehicle charging; connecting a switching unit to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets for switching the destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; installing an electricity meter to measure the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; and controlling the switching unit to supply power to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets and to switch the vehicle to be charged. Law.

[0025] (10) In the above paragraph (9), a quick charger for quick charging the vehicle is connected to the power receiving unit, and multiple quick charging connection means that connect to the vehicles for quick charging are installed on each of the charging pallets, and the switching unit is provided with a normal switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the multiple charging outlets, and a quick switching unit connected to the quick charger and the multiple quick charging connection means, and the normal switching unit and the quick switching unit are controlled to supply power to either the charging outlet connected to the vehicle to be charged or the quick charging connection means depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged (claim 10).

[0026] (11) In the above paragraph (9), two quick chargers, one small and one large, for rapid charging the vehicle are connected in parallel to each other to the power receiving unit, and multiple quick charge connection means for connecting to the vehicles for rapid charging are installed on each of the charging pallets, and the switching unit includes a first switching unit connected to the small capacity quick charger and the multiple quick charge connection means, and a second switching unit connected in parallel to the first switching unit to the high capacity quick charger and the multiple quick charge connection means, and a charging control method controlling the first switching unit and the second switching unit to supply power from either the small capacity quick charger or the high capacity quick charger to the quick charge connection means connected to the vehicle to be charged depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged (claim 11).

[0027] (12) In the above paragraphs (9) to (11), the parking device is a pit-type parking device in which multiple lifting pallets connected vertically via supports move up and down between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the multiple lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, and a relay terminal block that serves as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the multiple charging outlets is interposed between the switching unit and the multiple charging outlets, and the relay terminal block is installed on the uppermost lifting pallet of the multiple lifting pallets (claims 9 and 14). (13) In the above paragraph (9), the parking device is a pit-type parking device in which multiple lifting pallets connected vertically via pillars move up and down between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the multiple lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, and the multiple charging outlets are provided on the pillars (Claim 12).

[0028] (14) In the above paragraphs (10) to (13), a charging control method in which, when switching the vehicle to be charged, the completion of charging of the vehicle to which power is currently being supplied is used as a trigger to switch the vehicle to be charged (claim 13). (15) In the above (12) and (13), a charging control method is provided in which a flooding sensor is installed in the pit, and when the flooding sensor detects flooding in the pit, the switching unit is controlled to cut off the power supply to all of the multiple charging outlets (Claim 15).

[0029] (16) The above ( 10 ) to (15), a charging control method in which a charging fee is charged to the user via a cloud service based on the amount of electricity measured by the electricity meter (claim 16). The charging control methods described in paragraphs (9) to (16) are each executed using the charging control systems described in paragraphs (1) to (8) above, and thus have the same effect as the charging control systems described in paragraphs (1) to (8) above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] Since the present invention is configured in this manner, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed when charging a vehicle while also accommodating the addition of additional charging pallets to parking devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a charge control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a pit-type parking device to which the charge control system of FIG. 1 is applied, as viewed from the side. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric circuit of the charge control system of FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit showing a configuration compatible with rapid charging of a vehicle in a charging control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5]5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electric circuit of a charging control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is different from that shown in FIG. 4 and corresponds to rapid charging of a vehicle. [Figure 6] 3 is a conceptual diagram showing, from the side, a different configuration from that of FIG. 2 of a charge control system according to an embodiment of the present invention that is applied to a pit-type parking device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, identical or corresponding parts will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of parts that are identical or corresponding to those in the prior art will be omitted. First, a charging control system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in a parking device equipped with multiple pallets for accommodating vehicles, which is installed in, for example, an apartment building, etc. Among the vehicles parked in such a parking device, any vehicle whose built-in battery can be charged via a charging cable, such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, is the target for charging.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a charge control system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a side view of a parking device 80 to which the charge control system 10 is applied. The parking device 80 in FIG. 2 is a so-called pit-type parking device that utilizes a pit 86 constructed underground and has multiple (three in the embodiment of FIG. 2) lift-up pallets 82 connected vertically via multiple support columns 88. These multiple lift-up pallets 82 are connected and move up and down between a lowest position where the top lift-up pallet 82 is at the same height as ground level and a highest position where the bottom lift-up pallet 82 is at the same height as ground level. These multiple lift-up pallets 82 are installed in one to multiple rows in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2. Note that in FIG. 2, the right side of the drawing is the front, in the direction in which a vehicle will leave the parking lot.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a charging control system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power receiving unit 12, multiple charging outlets 14, a switching unit 20, an energy meter 30, a control unit 34, a relay terminal block 38, a flood sensor 40, and a billing unit 50. The power receiving unit 12 is connected to a primary power source 60 supplied with power from an electric power company via a primary power source connection cable 62, and this power receiving unit 12 is the source of charging power supplied from the system 10 to vehicles. The multiple charging outlets 14 are connected to standard charging jacks on vehicles via charging cables and are installed on respective charging pallets 84 corresponding to vehicle charging among multiple pallets 82 included in a parking device 80. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , all three pallets 82 shown are charging pallets 84, and charging outlets 14 are installed on charging stands 70 erected behind each charging pallet 84 (on the left side in the figure).

[0035] Switching unit 20 switches the destination of power supplied from power receiving unit 12 among multiple charging outlets 14, and as described below, the destination of the power supply is switched under control of control unit 34. For this reason, power supply wiring for a number of systems equal to the number of charging outlets 14 extends from switching unit 20 to each charging outlet 14, and relay terminal block 38 is installed midway along such power supply wiring. Relay terminal block 38 serves as a base point from which the multiple systems of power supply wiring branch off, and the multiple systems of power supply wiring extend from switching unit 20 to relay terminal block 38 in a unified state (for example, a single multi-core cable), branch off at relay terminal block 38, and then extend to each charging outlet 14 through a cable for each system. As shown in FIG. 2 , relay terminal block 38 is installed in charging stand 70 that is erected on the uppermost pallet 82 of multiple pallets 82 of parking device 80.

[0036] The watt-hour meter 30 measures the amount of electricity transmitted from the power receiving unit 12 to the switching unit 20, in other words, the amount of electricity currently being used to charge the vehicle, and the measurement results are transmitted to the control unit 34 and the billing unit 50. The flooding sensor 40 detects flooding in the pit 86 of the pit-type parking device 80, and is installed near the bottom of the pit 86, as shown in FIG. 2. The detection results of the flooding sensor 40 are constantly monitored by the control unit 34. The control unit 34 controls the entire system 10, and, as will be described in more detail below, monitors various information in addition to the measurement results of the watt-hour meter 30 and the detection results of the flooding sensor 40, and controls the entire system 10 based on this information.

[0037] The fee billing unit 50 bills the user of the parking device 80 who has charged a vehicle using the charging control system 10 for a charging fee. The billing method is, for example, to communicate with a user-owned device 66, such as a smartphone or other mobile device, owned by the user via a cloud service 64, and billing is performed by that method. The method of calculating the charging fee for each user will be described later. Here, among the above-mentioned components of the charging control system 10, the power receiving unit 12, the switching unit 20, the watt-hour meter 30, and part of the control unit 34 are mounted on an electric circuit described below and installed in a control panel 72 shown in Fig. 2. The billing unit 50 may also be installed in the control panel 72. The control panel 72 is installed in a fixed position that is not affected by the up and down movement of the multiple pallets 82, such as the ground frame 90 of the parking device 80. Also shown in Fig. 2 is a primary power supply connection cable 62 extending from the power receiving unit 12 in the control panel 72 to the primary power supply 60.

[0038] Next, Fig. 3 shows an example of the configuration of an electric circuit in which the above-described power receiving unit 12, switching unit 20, watt-hour meter 30, and part of the control unit 34 are implemented. Note that, although the electric circuit in Fig. 3 supplies power to the three charging pallets 84 shown in Fig. 2, the number of charging pallets 84 to which power is supplied is not limited to three and may be any number. As shown in Fig. 3, the power receiving unit 12 receives power at the R phase and the T phase, and the R phase and T phase power lines extending from the power receiving unit 12 pass through an earth leakage circuit breaker ELB and a thermal relay TH to the switching unit 20.

[0039] The switching unit 20 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes three magnetic switches MS11, MS12, and MS13. The magnetic switch MS11 turns on / off the power line leading to the charging outlet 14 installed on the bottom charging pallet 84 of the three charging pallets 84 in FIG. 2. Similarly, the magnetic switch MS12 turns on / off the power line leading to the charging outlet 14 installed on the middle charging pallet 84, and the magnetic switch MS13 turns on / off the power line leading to the charging outlet 14 installed on the top charging pallet 84. These three magnetic switches MS11, MS12, and MS13 are opened and closed by relays TF11, TF12, and TF13, which are controlled by the control unit 34.

[0040] The PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) constitutes part of the control unit 34 and acquires the measurement results of the amount of power from the watt-hour meter 30, which is installed to measure the amount of power flowing from the power receiving unit 12 to the switching unit 20. The PLC (control unit 34) also receives information on whether the earth leakage breaker ELB has tripped via a breaker alarm switch BSW, which operates in conjunction with the earth leakage breaker ELB, and whether the flood sensor 40 has detected flooding via a flood alarm switch FSW, which operates in conjunction with the flood sensor 40. The PLC also receives other information (not shown) and outputs various signals using the received information. For example, the PLC generates a parking abnormality signal indicating that some abnormality has occurred in the parking device 80 based on the trip information of the earth leakage breaker ELB, and transmits this signal to a component that controls the parking device 80.

[0041] Furthermore, the PLC uses the charging object selection signal to control relays TF11, TF12, and TF13 as described above, and controls the on / off of magnetic switches MS11, MS12, and MS13 of switching unit 20 to switch the power supply destination among the three charging outlets 14. For example, the PLC outputs the charging object selection signal so that power is supplied to a charging outlet 14 only when the charging permission signal generated internally for each charging outlet 14 is on, the parking abnormality signal as described above is off, and the flooding detection signal received from flooding sensor 40 is off. In other words, when some abnormality has occurred in parking device 80 or when flooding is detected in pit 86 of parking device 80, control unit 34 controls switching unit 20 so that power is not supplied to any of the charging outlets 14.

[0042] Furthermore, when the PLC internally generates the above-described charging permission signal for each charging outlet 14, the PLC generates the charging permission signal so that power is supplied only to the charging outlet 14 connected to a vehicle selected according to a predetermined method as the vehicle to be charged, in order to supply power to the selected vehicle. Furthermore, the PLC determines that charging of the vehicle currently being charged has been completed, for example, based on the amount of power acquired from the watt-hour meter 30, when the amount of power approaches zero. Then, using the completion of charging as a trigger, the PLC generates a charging permission signal so that power is supplied only to the charging outlet 14 connected to the next vehicle to be charged, selected according to a predetermined method, so that power is supplied to the next vehicle to be charged. Note that the completion of charging of the vehicle currently being charged may also be determined by directly acquiring information regarding the amount of charge from the vehicle.

[0043] Here, the predetermined method for selecting a vehicle to be charged refers to a method predetermined by the control unit 34. For example, a dedicated charging reservation system corresponding to the charging control system 10 may be established, and the vehicle to be charged may be selected sequentially according to information about the charging order obtained from the charging reservation system. Alternatively, the order in which the charging outlets 14 were connected to the vehicles may be determined, and the vehicle to be charged may be selected sequentially according to that order. In either case, if the control unit 34 generates a charging permission signal to supply power to the vehicle to be charged, but determines from the energy meter 30 or the like that no power is being supplied to the vehicle, the control unit 34 may determine that the vehicle is not connected to the charging outlet 14 or is already sufficiently charged, and switch to the next vehicle to be charged. As a result, the vehicle to be charged is selected from the vehicles connected to the charging outlet 14.

[0044] Furthermore, the control unit 34 may determine that a vehicle is connected to the charging outlet 14 using some kind of electrical or physical detection signal, or may determine this by directly communicating with the vehicle. The control unit 34 may also determine in advance the remaining battery capacity of each vehicle via the above-mentioned charging reservation system or by directly communicating with the vehicle, calculate the required charging time from that amount, and use this to adjust the timing of charging. For example, the control unit 34 may flexibly respond to the charging order, such as by controlling the switching unit 20 so that a vehicle with a shorter required charging time is charged first during an available time when there are no charging reservations.

[0045] 3, the PLC constituting the control unit 34 further transmits a signal indicating the power consumption value to the billing unit 50 shown in FIG. 1. This signal indicating the power consumption value is generated for each vehicle to be charged that has been supplied with power for charging. That is, because the PLC controls the switching unit 20 as described above, it always keeps track of the currently selected vehicle to be charged and, for each vehicle to be charged, integrates the amount of power obtained from the watt-hour meter 30 to calculate the power consumption value for each vehicle. Upon receiving this signal indicating the power consumption value, the billing unit 50 calculates a charging fee from the power consumption value of each vehicle and, based on the user information associated with each vehicle that has been previously obtained, transmits the charging fee for each vehicle to the user-owned device 66 owned by the user, thereby billing the user for the charging fee. Note that at least a portion of the functions of the billing unit 50 may be implemented in the above-mentioned charging reservation system, etc.

[0046] 4 and 5 show electrical circuits of the charging control system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which are configured to support rapid charging of a vehicle. Differences between these electrical circuits and the electrical circuit shown in FIG. 3 will be described. First, referring to FIG. 4, this electrical circuit has two power output systems, one for normal charging and one for rapid charging, and is equipped with a rapid charger 44 for rapid charging. The power receiving unit 12 receives power at the R-phase, S-phase, and T-phase, and of the power lines that pass through the earth leakage breaker ELB, the R-phase and S-phase power lines branch into two. The switching unit 20 has a normal switching unit 22 equipped with three magnetic switches MS11-A, MS12-A, and MS13-A, and a rapid switching unit 24 equipped with three magnetic switches MS11-B, MS12-B, and MS13-B. Furthermore, each charging pallet 84 is equipped with a charging outlet 14 that is connected to the vehicle's normal charging jack, as well as rapid charging connection means 16 (not shown) that is connected to the vehicle's rapid charging jack. Similar to charging outlet 14, this rapid charging connection means 16 may be a socket-type device that is connected to the vehicle via a charging cable and is installed in charging stand 70 as shown in Fig. 2. Alternatively, rapid charging connection means 16 may be a cable-type device that extends from the electrical circuit in Fig. 4 through charging stand 70 or the like to each charging pallet 84 and is then directly connected to the vehicle.

[0047] One of the branched R-phase and S-phase power lines extending upward in FIG. 4 passes through thermal relay TH and reaches normal switching unit 22. Magnetic switch MS11-A of normal switching unit 22 turns on / off the power line leading to the charging outlet 14 installed on the lower charging pallet 84 in FIG. 2 out of the three charging pallets 84 shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, magnetic switch MS12-A turns on / off the power line leading to the charging outlet 14 installed on the middle charging pallet 84, and magnetic switch MS13-A turns on / off the power line leading to the charging outlet 14 installed on the upper charging pallet 84. These three magnetic switches MS11-A, MS12-A, MS13-A are opened and closed by relays TF11-A, TF12-A, TF13-A controlled by control unit 34 (PLC).

[0048] The other branched R-phase and T-phase power lines and the S-phase power line extending from earth leakage circuit breaker ELB to the right in FIG. 4 pass through thermal relay TH and reach rapid charger 44. In this rapid charger 44, the power received from power receiving unit 12 is converted into a format compatible with rapid charging of the vehicle and supplied from rapid charger 44 to rapid switching unit 24. Magnetic switch MS11-B of rapid switching unit 24 turns on / off the power line leading to the rapid charging connection means 16 installed on the lower charging pallet 84 of the three charging pallets 84 shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, magnetic switch MS12-B turns on / off the power line leading to the rapid charging connection means 16 installed on the middle charging pallet 84, and magnetic switch MS13-B turns on / off the power line leading to the rapid charging connection means 16 installed on the upper charging pallet 84. These three magnetic switches MS11-B, MS12-B, and MS13-B are opened and closed by relays TF11-B, TF12-B, and TF13-B controlled by the control unit 34 (PLC).

[0049] The PLC (control unit 34) acquires the measurement results of the amount of power from both the watt-hour meter 30 installed to measure the amount of power flowing from the power receiving unit 12 to the normal-mode switching unit 22 and the watt-hour meter 30 installed to measure the amount of power flowing from the power receiving unit 12 to the rapid charger 44. The PLC also controls the normal-mode switching unit 22 and the rapid-mode switching unit 24 so that power is supplied to only one of the charging outlet 14 and the rapid-mode connection means 16 connected to a vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged. That is, the PLC outputs a signal indicating not only the vehicle to be charged but also the charging status (normal charging or rapid charging), and controls relays TF11-A, TF12-A, TF13-A, TF11-B, TF12-B, and TF13-B accordingly. For example, the PLC performs exclusive control by including the condition for generating the signal permitting normal charging and the signal permitting rapid charging for each vehicle in such a way that both signals are off.

[0050] The PLC of this embodiment also switches between normal charging and rapid charging of a vehicle selected for charging depending on the remaining charge of the vehicle. For example, the PLC may control the switching unit 20 to perform rapid charging from the rapid charger 44 while the battery of the vehicle to be charged is less than 80% charged, and control the switching unit 20 to switch to normal charging when the battery of the vehicle to be charged exceeds 80% charged. The method for determining the remaining charge of the vehicle may be any method, such as using the measurement results of the energy meter 30 or directly obtaining the information through communication with the vehicle. The PLC also generates a signal indicating the power consumption value to be sent to the billing unit 50 using the measurement results of both the one energy meter 30 that measures the amount of power used in normal charging and the other energy meter 30 that measures the amount of power used in rapid charging. That is, for each vehicle to be charged, the amount of power obtained from one energy meter 30 and the amount of power obtained from the other energy meter 30 are integrated to calculate the power consumption value for each vehicle.

[0051] Next, referring to FIG. 5, this electrical circuit has one power output system for rapid charging, which is equipped with a small-capacity rapid charger 46 and a large-capacity rapid charger 48. Therefore, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4, each charging pallet 84 is provided with a rapid charging connection means 16 that connects to a vehicle's rapid charging jack. The power receiving unit 12 receives power through the R-phase, S-phase, and T-phase, and these three power lines branch into two after passing through an earth leakage breaker ELB. The switching unit 20 has a first switching unit 26 equipped with three magnetic switches MS11-A, MS12-A, and MS13-A, and a second switching unit 28 equipped with three magnetic switches MS11-B, MS12-B, and MS13-B.

[0052] One of the branched power lines extending upward in FIG. 5 passes through thermal relay TH and leads to small-capacity quick charger 46. In this small-capacity quick charger 46, the power received from power receiving unit 12 is converted into a format compatible with quick charging of the vehicle, and is supplied from small-capacity quick charger 46 to first switching unit 26. Magnetic switch MS11-A of first switching unit 26 turns on / off the power line leading from small-capacity quick charger 46 to quick charging connection means 16 installed on the lower charging pallet 84 in FIG. 2 out of the three charging pallets 84 shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, magnetic switch MS12-A turns on / off the power line leading from the small-capacity quick charger 46 to the quick charge connection means 16 installed on the middle charging pallet 84, and magnetic switch MS13-A turns on / off the power line leading from the small-capacity quick charger 46 to the quick charge connection means 16 installed on the upper charging pallet 84. These three magnetic switches MS11-A, MS12-A, MS13-A are opened and closed by relays TF11-A, TF12-A, TF13-A controlled by the control unit 34 (PLC).

[0053] The other power line extending from earth leakage circuit breaker ELB to the right in Fig. 5 passes through thermal relay TH and leads to high-capacity rapid charger 48. In this high-capacity rapid charger 48, the power received from power receiving unit 12 is converted into a format compatible with rapid charging of the vehicle and supplied from high-capacity rapid charger 48 to second switching unit 28. Magnetic switch MS11-B of second switching unit 28 turns on / off the power line leading from high-capacity rapid charger 48 to rapid charging connection means 16 installed on the lower charging pallet 84 in Fig. 2 out of the three charging pallets 84 shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, magnetic switch MS12-B turns on / off the power line leading from the high-capacity rapid charger 48 to the rapid charge connection means 16 installed on the middle charging pallet 84, and magnetic switch MS13-B turns on / off the power line leading from the high-capacity rapid charger 48 to the rapid charge connection means 16 installed on the upper charging pallet 84. These three magnetic switches MS11-B, MS12-B, MS13-B are opened and closed by relays TF11-B, TF12-B, TF13-B controlled by the control unit 34 (PLC).

[0054] The PLC (control unit 34) acquires the measurement results of the amount of power from both the watt-hour meter 30 installed to measure the amount of power flowing from the power receiving unit 12 to the small-capacity quick charger 46 and the watt-hour meter 30 installed to measure the amount of power flowing from the power receiving unit 12 to the large-capacity quick charger 48. The PLC also controls the first switching unit 26 and the second switching unit 28 so that power is supplied from either the small-capacity quick charger 46 or the large-capacity quick charger 48 to the quick charge connection means 16 connected to a vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged. In other words, the PLC outputs a signal indicating not only the vehicle to be charged but also the charging details, whether small-capacity quick charge or large-capacity quick charge, and controls relays TF11-A, TF12-A, TF13-A, TF11-B, TF12-B, and TF13-B accordingly. For example, the PLC controls each vehicle exclusively by including in the conditions for generating a signal that permits small-capacity rapid charging and a signal that permits large-capacity rapid charging that both signals be off.

[0055] The PLC of this embodiment also switches between low-capacity and high-capacity rapid charging of a vehicle selected for charging depending on the remaining charge of the vehicle. For example, the PLC may control the switching unit 20 to perform rapid charging from the high-capacity rapid charger 48 while the battery of the vehicle to be charged is less than 80% charged, and control the switching unit 20 to switch to rapid charging from the low-capacity rapid charger 46 when the battery of the vehicle to be charged exceeds 80% charged. The PLC also generates a signal indicating the power consumption value to be sent to the billing unit 50 using the measurement results of both one watt-hour meter 30 that measures the amount of power used in the low-capacity rapid charge and the other watt-hour meter 30 that measures the amount of power used in the high-capacity rapid charge. That is, for each vehicle to be charged, the amount of power obtained from one watt-hour meter 30 and the amount of power obtained from the other watt-hour meter 30 are integrated to calculate the power consumption value for that vehicle.

[0056] Meanwhile, Fig. 6 shows a different configuration from that shown in Fig. 2 of a charging control system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention that is applied to a pit-type parking device 80. That is, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, a charging outlet 14 for each charging pallet 84 and an intermediate terminal block 38 are attached to one rear support pillar 88A among multiple support pillars 88 that support multiple lift-up pallets 82. This support pillar 88A protrudes above the uppermost charging pallet 84, and the charging outlet 14 for the uppermost charging pallet 84 is installed near its upper end, with the intermediate terminal block 38 installed below that. Furthermore, the charging outlet 14 for the middle charging pallet 84 is installed at a position above the support pillar 88A relative to that charging pallet 84, and the charging outlet 14 for the lower charging pallet 84 is installed at a position above the support pillar 88A relative to that charging pallet 84. For this reason, support pillar 88A has a cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction that has a groove, such as a hat shape, and charging outlet 14 and relay terminal block 38 are stored inside the groove, and also a charging cable that connects the vehicle to charging outlet 14 is stored inside the groove. Here, charging outlet 14 and relay terminal block 38 may be installed on multiple support pillars 88, rather than on a single pillar.

[0057] The charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and can take various forms depending on the configuration of the parking device 80 to which it is applied. For example, a watt-hour meter 30 may be disposed on the power line extending from the switching unit 20 to each charging outlet 14 so that the amount of power consumed by each vehicle can be measured in advance. The electrical circuit used in the charging control system 10 is also not limited to the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and may have any circuit configuration using any components as long as it can fulfill the functions of each component shown in FIG. 1. For example, the electrical circuit may have one output system for rapid charging of vehicles, as shown in the lower half of FIG. 4. Furthermore, multiple systems such as those shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 may be provided depending on the number of charging pallets 84.

[0058] 2 and 6, the number of lifting pallets 82, the number of charging pallets 84, and the like may differ from the illustrated configuration. For example, the parking device may have two or more levels above the pit 86 in the vertical direction, two or more rows in the lateral direction, and / or two or more rows in the depth direction in which the lifting pallets 82 can be accommodated. Furthermore, the parking device 80 is not limited to a pit-type parking device, but may be a parking device including pallets 82 that can move laterally or ascend and descend.

[0059] The embodiment of the present invention configured as described above can achieve the following advantageous effects. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , a charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a power receiving unit 12, multiple charging outlets 14, a switching unit 20, an energy meter 30, and a control unit 34. A primary power source 60, which is a source of power used to charge a vehicle, is connected to the power receiving unit 12. The multiple charging outlets 14 are installed on multiple charging pallets 84 corresponding to the vehicle charging among multiple pallets 82 of a parking device 80 that accommodates vehicles, and are connected to the vehicles accommodated in the charging pallets 84 via charging cables. The switching unit 20 is interposed between the power receiving unit 12 and the multiple charging outlets 14 and connected to both, and switches the destination of the power supplied from the power receiving unit 12 among the multiple charging outlets 14. Specifically, power supplied from the primary power source 60 is first taken into the system 10 by the power receiving unit 12, then reaches the switching unit 20, and the switching unit 20 switches the destination of the power supply among the multiple charging outlets 14.

[0060] The watt-hour meter 30 measures the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit 12 to the switching unit 20 as described above, and the control unit 34 controls the entire system 10. The control unit 34 controls the switching unit 20 as part of the system control, and at this time, controls the switching unit 20 so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the multiple charging outlets 14, and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched. In other words, the power received via the power receiving unit 12 is always supplied only to the one vehicle selected as the vehicle to be charged, and further, the one vehicle to be charged that receives the power is switched.

[0061] As a result, regardless of how many of the multiple charging outlets 14 are connected to vehicles, power is always supplied from primary power supply 60 to only one vehicle, making it possible to reduce the amount of power used when charging a vehicle. Furthermore, even if the number of charging pallets 84 in parking device 80 increases, the amount of power used during charging is always for one vehicle, making it easy to accommodate the addition of additional charging pallets 84. Furthermore, the simple configuration in which the destination of the power supply from primary power supply 60 is switched among the multiple charging outlets 14 by switching unit 20 reduces equipment costs.

[0062] Furthermore, in charge control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when control unit 34 controls switching unit 20 to switch the vehicle to be charged, the switching of the vehicle to be charged is triggered by the completion of charging of the vehicle currently being charged and currently receiving power. At this time, completion of vehicle charging can be determined by monitoring the amount of power flowing to charging outlet 14 connected to the vehicle currently being charged, as measured by watt-hour meter 30, and determining that charging is complete when the amount of power measured approaches zero. As a result, even if multiple vehicles are connected to charging outlet 14, the vehicle to be charged is switched after charging of the vehicle currently being charged is completed, so that all vehicles can eventually be fully charged, enabling efficient charging of all vehicles.

[0063] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 , charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a pit-type parking device 80. In this pit-type parking device 80, a plurality of lifting pallets 82 that are connected vertically via supports 88 move up and down between an underground pit 86 and the ground. Of the plurality of lifting pallets 82, two or more serve as charging pallets 84 for charging vehicles. Furthermore, charging control system 10 further includes an intermediate terminal block 38 that is interposed between switching unit 20 and the plurality of charging outlets 14. This intermediate terminal block 38 serves as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the plurality of charging outlets 14, and is installed on the uppermost lifting pallet 82 of the plurality of lifting pallets 82.

[0064] That is, the multiple power supply wiring from switching unit 20 to the multiple charging outlets 14 arrives together at relay terminal block 38 installed on the topmost lift-up pallet 82, branches off at relay terminal block 38, and then extends to each charging pallet 84. Here, even when the multiple connected lift-up pallets 82 are raised and lowered, the topmost lift-up pallet 82 of pit-type parking device 80 is never positioned in the underground pit 86 but is always positioned above ground, and therefore the relay terminal block 38 installed on the topmost lift-up pallet 82 is also always positioned above ground. As a result, even if the underground pit 86 is flooded due to weather or other reasons, the relay terminal block 38, which is always positioned above ground, will not be submerged, allowing for even greater consideration to safety measures.

[0065] Furthermore, the charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a flooding sensor 40 that is installed in the pit 86 of the pit-type parking device 80. When the flooding sensor 40 detects that the pit 86 is flooded due to weather, for example, the control unit 34 controls the switching unit 20 to cut off the power supply to all of the multiple charging outlets 14. In other words, when the pit 86 is flooded, there is a risk that the charging pallets 84 arranged in the pit 86 are submerged, and therefore, by cutting off the power supply to all of the charging outlets 14, including the charging outlets 14 of such charging pallets 84, safety can be ensured more thoroughly.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 1 , the charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a fee billing unit 50 for billing a user who charges a vehicle using the system 10 for a charging fee. The fee billing unit 50 is capable of communicating via an external network such as the Internet and bills a device 66, such as a smartphone, carried by the user for the charging fee via a cloud service 64. That is, the fee billing unit 50 keeps track of the amount of power measured by the energy meter 30 for each vehicle selected as the charging target, and bills the charging fee calculated from the amount of power measured for each vehicle to the contact information of the user of each vehicle, which has been obtained in advance. This allows for smooth collection of the charging fee without the need to install a dedicated payment machine or directly exchange cash.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4 , the charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a rapid charger 44 for rapid charging the vehicle, and this rapid charger 44 is connected to the power receiving unit 12. Furthermore, the charging control system 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 connected to the vehicle for rapid charging, and each of these plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 is installed on a charging pallet 84. Therefore, each charging pallet 84 is equipped with both a charging outlet 14 connected to the vehicle for normal charging and a rapid charge connection means 16 connected to the vehicle for rapid charging. The charging outlet 14 is connected to a normal charging jack of the vehicle via a charging cable, and the rapid charge connection means 16 is connected to a rapid charging jack of the vehicle separately and simultaneously. Furthermore, the switching unit 20 includes a normal-mode switching unit 22 interposed between the power receiving unit 12 and the plurality of charging outlets 14 and connected to both of them, and a rapid-mode switching unit 24 interposed between the rapid charger 44 and the plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 and connected to both of them. That is, the normal switching unit 22 switches the power supply destination among the multiple charging outlets 14, and the rapid switching unit 24 switches the power supply destination among the multiple rapid charging connection means 16.

[0068] With the above configuration, a normal charging power supply route from the power receiving unit 12 to the multiple charging outlets 14 via the normal switching unit 22 and a rapid charging power supply route from the power receiving unit 12 to the multiple rapid charging connection means 16 via the rapid charger 44 and then via the rapid switching unit 24 exist in parallel. The control unit 34 controls the normal switching unit 22 and the rapid switching unit 24 so that power is supplied to either the charging outlet 14 or the rapid charging connection means 16 connected to the vehicle to be charged, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged. At this time, the remaining charge amount of the vehicle being charged is determined based on, for example, the amount of current currently flowing measured by the watt-hour meter 30. More specifically, while each vehicle to be charged is being charged, control may be performed so that power is supplied to the rapid charging connection means 16 while the measured current amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and then the power supply may be switched to the charging outlet 14 when the measured current amount falls below the predetermined threshold. In this way, by supporting both normal charging and rapid charging, the charging time required to fully charge each vehicle can be shortened compared to when only normal charging is used, making it possible to efficiently charge multiple vehicles.

[0069] 5, the charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may also include two rapid chargers 46, 48, one small and one large, for rapid charging the vehicle, and these rapid chargers 46, 48 are connected in parallel to each other to the power receiving unit 12. In addition, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the charging control system 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 connected to the vehicle for rapid charging, and each of these plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 is installed on a charging pallet 84 and connected to a rapid charge jack of the vehicle. The switching unit 20 also includes a first switching unit 26 interposed between the small-capacity rapid charger 46 and the plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 and connected to both of them, and a second switching unit 28 interposed between the high-capacity rapid charger 48 and the plurality of rapid charge connection means 16 and connected in parallel to the first switching unit 26 to both of them. That is, the first switching unit 26 switches the destination of the power supply from the small-capacity quick charger 46 among the multiple quick charging connection means 16, and the second switching unit 28 switches the destination of the power supply from the large-capacity quick charger 48 among the multiple quick charging connection means 16.

[0070] With the above configuration, there exist in parallel a power supply route for small-capacity quick charging from the power receiving unit 12 via the small-capacity quick charger 46 and further via the first switching unit 26 to the multiple quick charge connection means 16, and a power supply route for large-capacity quick charging from the power receiving unit 12 via the large-capacity quick charger 48 and further via the second switching unit 28 to the multiple quick charge connection means 16. Then, the control unit 34 controls the first switching unit 26 and the second switching unit 28 so that power is supplied from either the small-capacity quick charger 46 or the large-capacity quick charger 48 to the quick charge connection means 16 connected to the vehicle to be charged, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged.

[0071] Additionally, the remaining charge of a vehicle being charged is determined based on, for example, the amount of current currently flowing as measured by the watt-hour meter 30. More specifically, while each vehicle is being charged, power may be supplied from the high-capacity quick charger 48 while the measured current is equal to or greater than a preset threshold. When the measured current falls below the preset threshold, power may be supplied from the low-capacity quick charger 46. By specializing in quick charging using both the high-capacity and low-capacity chargers 46, 48 in this manner, the number of power supply systems to the vehicle can be limited to one for quick charging, while reducing the amount of power used compared to when only the high-capacity charger 48 is used. Furthermore, compared to when vehicles are charged using normal charging, the charging time required to fully charge each vehicle can be significantly shortened, enabling more efficient charging of multiple vehicles.

[0072] Furthermore, in charge control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 6, multiple charging outlets 14 installed on charging pallets 84 corresponding to charging among multiple lift-up pallets 82 may be provided on support pole 88 (one support pole 88A in the embodiment of Fig. 6) connecting the multiple lift-up pallets 82. This eliminates the need for a dedicated stand 70 (see Fig. 2) for the charging outlets 14, thereby improving the appearance, and also allows power supply wiring and charging cables leading to the multiple charging outlets 14 to be compactly arranged along support pole 88A, minimizing the risk of getting caught on such wiring.

[0073] The charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above has the same primary power source 60 to which the power receiving unit 12 is connected as in the conventional case, and therefore can be applied not only to newly installed parking devices 80, but also to existing parking devices 80 when replacing them, etc. On the other hand, the charging control method according to the embodiment of the present invention can achieve the same effects as the charging control system 10 by being executed using the charging control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10: Charging control system, 12: Power receiving unit, 14: Charging outlet, 16: Rapid charging connection means, 20: Switching unit, 22: Normal switching unit, 24: Rapid switching unit, 26: First switching unit, 28: Second switching unit, 30: Watt-hour meter, 34: Control unit, 38: Relay terminal block, 40: Flooding sensor, 44: Rapid charger, 46: Small-capacity rapid charger, 48: Large-capacity rapid charger, 50: Billing unit, 60: Primary power supply, 64: Cloud service, 80: Parking device, 82: Pallet (lifting pallet), 84: Charging pallet, 86: Pit, 88 (88A): Support

Claims

1. A charging control system used to charge vehicles in a parking device having a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, a power receiving unit connected to a primary power source; a plurality of charging outlets installed on a plurality of charging pallets corresponding to vehicle charging among the plurality of pallets, the charging outlets being connected to the vehicles via charging cables; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; a control unit that controls the entire system, the control unit controls the switching unit so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets, and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched; The parking device is a pit-type parking device in which a plurality of lifting pallets connected vertically via supports rise and fall between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the plurality of lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, further including a relay terminal block interposed between the switching unit and the plurality of charging outlets and serving as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the plurality of charging outlets, The charging control system is characterized in that the relay terminal block is installed on the uppermost lift-up pallet among the plurality of lift-up pallets.

2. A charging control system used to charge vehicles in a parking device equipped with multiple pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: a power receiving unit connected to a primary power source; a plurality of charging outlets installed on a plurality of charging pallets corresponding to vehicle charging among the plurality of pallets, the charging outlets being connected to the vehicles via charging cables; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; a control unit that controls the entire system, the control unit controls the switching unit so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets, and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched; The charging system further includes a rapid charger connected to the power receiving unit for rapid charging the vehicle, and a plurality of rapid charging connection means installed on each of the charging pallets and connected to the vehicle for rapid charging, the switching unit includes a normal switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, and a rapid switching unit connected to the rapid charger and the plurality of rapid charging connection means, a charging control system for charging a vehicle to be charged, the charging control unit controlling the normal switching unit and the rapid switching unit so that power is supplied to either the charging outlet connected to the vehicle to be charged or the rapid charging connection means, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged.

3. A charging control system used to charge vehicles in a parking device equipped with multiple pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: a power receiving unit connected to a primary power source; a plurality of charging outlets installed on a plurality of charging pallets corresponding to vehicle charging among the plurality of pallets, the charging outlets being connected to the vehicles via charging cables; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; a control unit that controls the entire system, the control unit controls the switching unit so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets, and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched; The charging system further includes two quick chargers, one with a small capacity and the other with a large capacity, which are connected in parallel to the power receiving unit and used to quickly charge the vehicle, and a plurality of quick charge connection means which are installed on each of the charging pallets and connected to the vehicle for quick charging, the switching unit includes a first switching unit connected to the small-capacity quick charger and the plurality of quick charge connection means, and a second switching unit connected to the large-capacity quick charger and the plurality of quick charge connection means in parallel with the first switching unit; a control unit that controls the first switching unit and the second switching unit so that power is supplied to the rapid charging connection means connected to the vehicle to be charged from either the small-capacity rapid charger or the large-capacity rapid charger, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged.

4. A charging control system used to charge vehicles in a parking device having a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: a power receiving unit connected to a primary power source; a plurality of charging outlets installed on a plurality of charging pallets corresponding to vehicle charging among the plurality of pallets, the charging outlets being connected to the vehicles via charging cables; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter for measuring the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; a control unit that controls the entire system, the control unit controls the switching unit so that power is supplied to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets, and so that the vehicle to be charged is switched; The parking device is a pit-type parking device in which a plurality of lifting pallets connected vertically via supports rise and fall between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, A charging control system, characterized in that the plurality of charging outlets are provided on the support pole.

5. 5. The charging control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the vehicle to be charged when charging of the vehicle to which power is currently being supplied is completed as a trigger.

6. The parking device is a pit-type parking device in which a plurality of lifting pallets connected vertically via supports rise and fall between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, further including a relay terminal block interposed between the switching unit and the plurality of charging outlets and serving as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the plurality of charging outlets, 4. The charging control system according to claim 2, wherein the relay terminal block is installed on the uppermost liftable pallet among the plurality of liftable pallets.

7. Further, a flood sensor is installed in the pit, 7. The charging control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the switching unit so that power supply to all of the plurality of charging outlets is cut off when the flooding sensor detects flooding in the pit.

8. The charging control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a billing unit for billing a user for a charging fee via a cloud service based on the amount of power measured by the watt-hour meter.

9. A charging control method used to charge vehicles in a parking device having a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: Connect the power receiving part to the primary power supply, a plurality of charging outlets connected to the vehicles via charging cables are installed on each of a plurality of charging pallets that are adapted to charge the vehicles among the plurality of pallets; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter is installed to measure the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; controlling the switching unit to supply power to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets and to switch the vehicle to be charged; The parking device is a pit-type parking device in which a plurality of lifting pallets connected vertically via supports rise and fall between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, a relay terminal block serving as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the plurality of charging outlets is interposed between the switching unit and the plurality of charging outlets, The charging control method is characterized in that the relay terminal block is installed on the uppermost lift-up pallet among the plurality of lift-up pallets.

10. A charging control method used to charge vehicles in a parking device having a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: Connect the power receiving part to the primary power supply, a plurality of charging outlets connected to the vehicles via charging cables are installed on each of a plurality of charging pallets that are adapted to charge the vehicles among the plurality of pallets; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter is installed to measure the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; controlling the switching unit to supply power to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets and to switch the vehicle to be charged; a rapid charger for rapid charging the vehicle is connected to the power receiving unit; a plurality of quick charge connection means for connecting to vehicles for quick charging are provided on each of the charging pallets; the switching unit includes a normal switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets, and a rapid switching unit connected to the rapid charger and the plurality of rapid charging connection means; a charging control method for controlling a normal switching unit and a rapid switching unit so as to supply power to either the charging outlet or the rapid charging connection means connected to the vehicle to be charged, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged.

11. A charging control method used to charge vehicles in a parking device equipped with a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: Connect the power receiving part to the primary power supply, a plurality of charging outlets connected to the vehicles via charging cables are installed on each of a plurality of charging pallets that are adapted to charge the vehicles among the plurality of pallets; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter is installed to measure the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; controlling the switching unit to supply power to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets and to switch the vehicle to be charged; two rapid chargers, one having a small capacity and the other having a large capacity, for rapid charging the vehicle are connected in parallel to the power receiving unit; a plurality of quick charge connection means for connecting to vehicles for quick charging are provided on each of the charging pallets; the switching unit includes a first switching unit connected to the small-capacity quick charger and the plurality of quick charge connection means, and a second switching unit connected in parallel to the first switching unit to the large-capacity quick charger and the plurality of quick charge connection means; A charging control method characterized by controlling the first switching unit and the second switching unit so that power is supplied from either the small-capacity quick charger or the large-capacity quick charger to the quick charging connection means connected to the vehicle to be charged, depending on the remaining charge amount of the vehicle to be charged.

12. A charging control method used to charge vehicles in a parking device equipped with a plurality of pallets for accommodating vehicles, comprising: Connect the power receiving part to the primary power supply, a plurality of charging outlets connected to the vehicles via charging cables are installed on each of a plurality of charging pallets that are adapted to charge the vehicles among the plurality of pallets; a switching unit connected to the power receiving unit and the plurality of charging outlets for switching a destination of power supply from the power receiving unit among the plurality of charging outlets; a watt-hour meter is installed to measure the amount of power transmitted from the power receiving unit to the switching unit; controlling the switching unit to supply power to one vehicle selected as a vehicle to be charged among the vehicles connected to the plurality of charging outlets and to switch the vehicle to be charged; The parking device is a pit-type parking device in which a plurality of lifting pallets connected vertically via supports rise and fall between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the plurality of lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, The charging control method is characterized in that the plurality of charging outlets are provided on the support pole.

13. 13. The charging control method according to claim 9, wherein when switching the vehicle to be charged, the vehicle to be charged is switched when charging of the vehicle to which power is currently being supplied is completed as a trigger.

14. The parking device is a pit-type parking device in which a plurality of lifting pallets connected vertically via supports rise and fall between a pit constructed underground and the ground, and two or more of the plurality of lifting pallets correspond to the charging pallets, a relay terminal block serving as a base point for branching of power supply wiring leading to the plurality of charging outlets is interposed between the switching unit and the plurality of charging outlets, 12. The charge control method according to claim 10, wherein the relay terminal block is installed on an uppermost lift-up pallet among the plurality of lift-up pallets.

15. A flood sensor is installed in the pit, A charging control method as claimed in any one of claims 9, 12 or 14, characterized in that when the flooding sensor detects flooding in the pit, the switching unit is controlled to cut off power supply to all of the multiple charging outlets.

16. 16. The charging control method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of billing the user for a charging fee via a cloud service based on the amount of power measured by the watt-hour meter.

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