Vehicle monitoring device

Abstract

To quickly grasp an abnormality occurrence in a battery mounted on an electric vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicular monitoring device provided in an electric vehicle mounted with a battery, comprises: a monitoring unit which monitors a state of the battery under a situation where the electric vehicle is stopped; and a transmission unit which, when the monitoring unit determines that the state of the battery is an abnormal state, transmits information indicating that the battery is in the abnormal state to an outside of the electric vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle monitoring device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that, for a power storage device installed inside a building, when a fire detection signal indicating that the building's fire alarm has been activated is received, the power of the power storage device is forcibly discharged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-075906 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Electric vehicles are also equipped with batteries. When transporting a large number of electric vehicles on a large ship, the vehicles are often packed together for long periods of time. In such situations, it is desirable to quickly detect any abnormalities in the batteries to prevent fires or damage caused by battery ignition.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle monitoring device that can quickly detect an abnormality in a battery mounted on an electric vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a vehicle monitoring device provided in an electric vehicle equipped with a battery, comprising a monitoring unit that monitors the state of the battery when the electric vehicle is stopped, and a transmitting unit that, when the monitoring unit determines that the state of the battery is abnormal, transmits information indicating that the battery is in an abnormal state to the outside of the electric vehicle.

[0007] According to this configuration, the battery condition is monitored while the electric vehicle is stopped, and if an abnormality occurs, information about the abnormality is transmitted to the outside, so that the occurrence of a battery abnormality can be quickly detected from the outside.

[0008] The monitoring unit may monitor the state of the battery when set to a monitoring mode, and the monitoring mode may be set when the electric vehicle is being transported together with a plurality of other electric vehicles.

[0009] With this configuration, the monitoring mode can be set when a large number of electric vehicles are being transported by ship, etc. This allows any abnormalities in the batteries to be quickly detected from outside while a large number of electric vehicles are being transported.

[0010] The transmitting unit may also notify the information indicating the abnormal state to the outside by sounding a horn or flashing a lamp of the electric vehicle.

[0011] With this configuration, the occurrence of a battery abnormality is notified to the outside by sounding the horn or flashing a lamp, making it easy for external parties to identify which electric vehicle has experienced the abnormality in a situation where there are multiple electric vehicles.

[0012] In addition, the vehicle information transmission device may include a providing unit that provides vehicle information indicating the state of the electric vehicle to an external device when an external device requests the acquisition of vehicle information indicating the state of the electric vehicle after the transmitting unit has transmitted information indicating the abnormal state to the outside.

[0013] According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an external device with information for identifying the cause of the battery abnormality, as necessary. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly detect an abnormality in a battery mounted on an electric vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a monitoring control flow. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0017] 1 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring system according to an embodiment. The monitoring system 1 monitors the state of batteries 3 installed in electric vehicles 2 when, for example, a large number of electric vehicles 2 are transported by ship or the like.

[0018] The electric vehicle 2 includes a motor for driving the vehicle and a battery 3 for storing power to be supplied to the motor. For example, the electric vehicle 2 is an electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid vehicle (HEV), or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV).

[0019] The electric vehicle 2 also includes a vehicle monitoring device (hereinafter simply referred to as the monitoring device) 4. The monitoring device 4 is an electronic control device for monitoring the state of the battery 3. Signals from sensors that detect the state of the battery 3 are input to the monitoring device 4. For example, signals from a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the battery 3, a signal from a voltage sensor that detects the voltage of the battery 3, and a signal from a current sensor that detects the current of the battery 3 are input to the monitoring device 4. The monitoring device 4 then performs monitoring control to monitor the battery 3 based on input signals from the various sensors. The monitoring control is control that monitors the temperature, charging state, etc. of the battery 3.

[0020] Furthermore, the electric vehicle 2 is equipped with communication equipment such as a DCM. A management device 5 is installed outside the electric vehicle 2. The electric vehicle 2 is capable of wireless communication with the management device 5 using the DCM or the like. The monitoring device 4 is configured to be able to provide vehicle information held by the electric vehicle 2 to the management device 5. The vehicle information includes location information of the electric vehicle 2 and battery information indicating the state of the battery 3. For example, the battery information includes the SOC of the battery 3, the temperature of the battery 3, the current value of the battery 3, and the temperature of the coolant used to cool the battery 3. The monitoring device 4 is also provided with permission conditions that permit information communication in advance, such as when the electric vehicle 2 is being transported. The monitoring device 4 provides the vehicle information held by the electric vehicle 2 to the management device 5, provided that the permission conditions are met.

[0021] Specifically, the monitoring device 4 includes a monitoring unit, a transmitting unit, and a providing unit.

[0022] The monitoring unit monitors the state of the battery 3 while the electric vehicle 2 is stopped. For example, the monitoring unit monitors the state of the battery 3 when it is set to a monitoring mode. The monitoring mode is set when the electric vehicle 2 is being transported together with multiple other electric vehicles 2. In other words, the monitoring mode includes a vehicle transport mode.

[0023] The vehicle transport mode is set to be valid from the time the vehicle leaves the factory until it arrives at the dealer. The vehicle transport mode is set to be valid from the time the vehicle leaves the factory until it is handed over to the user. In the case of transporting used cars, the vehicle transport mode can also be set to be valid when the reseller and manufacturer sign a contract.

[0024] During transport mode, monitoring for the risk of fire is performed even when the ignition of the electric vehicle 2 is off. In other words, monitoring mode is a mode in which the state of the battery 3 is monitored when the ignition is off. The monitoring unit monitors the state of the battery 3 for each period in which there is a risk of the battery 3 catching fire. The items monitored include the temperature of the battery 3, the temperature around the battery 3, the current of the battery 3, and the current of each component. The monitoring unit measures the temperature and current at predetermined intervals and corrects the monitoring frequency based on the difference (amount of change) between the current measurement value and the previous measurement value.

[0025] The monitoring unit also determines whether there is a risk of the battery 3 catching fire. If the monitoring unit determines that there is a risk of the battery 3 catching fire, it determines that the state of the battery 3 is abnormal.

[0026] When the monitoring unit determines that the state of the battery 3 is abnormal, the transmitting unit transmits information indicating that the battery 3 is in an abnormal state to the outside of the electric vehicle 2. For example, the transmitting unit notifies the outside by sounding the horn or flashing the lamps of the electric vehicle 2. Flashing the lamps includes flashing the passing lights and hazard lamps. The transmitting unit also transmits the information indicating that the battery 3 is in an abnormal state to the management device 5 via a communication device such as a DCM or other short-range or long-range communication.

[0027] The providing unit provides the vehicle information to the external device when there is a request from the external device to acquire vehicle information indicating the state of the electric vehicle 2 after the transmitting unit has transmitted information indicating that the state of the battery 3 is abnormal. For example, a vehicle transporter can use the management device 5 to acquire the monitor values ​​of each electric vehicle 2 at any time. In this case, the management device 5 and the electric vehicle 2 are connected by a wire and can communicate via wire. In this way, the electric vehicle 2 accepts a request to acquire vehicle information from an external device such as the management device 5.

[0028] 2 is a flowchart showing a monitoring control flow. The control shown in FIG. 2 is performed by the monitoring device 4 during the monitoring mode.

[0029] The monitoring device 4 determines whether the temperature of the battery 3 is higher than a predetermined value (step S1). The predetermined value is a preset threshold value. In step S1, it is determined whether an abnormal temperature rise has occurred in the battery 3 while the electric vehicle 2 is stopped.

[0030] If it is determined that the temperature of the battery 3 is equal to or lower than the predetermined value (step S1: No), this control routine returns to step S1.

[0031] If it is determined that the temperature of the battery 3 is higher than the predetermined value (step S1: Yes), the monitoring device 4 transmits a warning to the outside of the electric vehicle 2 (step S2). In step S2, since it is determined that the state of the battery 3 is abnormal, information (warning) indicating that the battery 3 is in an abnormal state is transmitted to the outside of the electric vehicle 2. The warning includes sounding the horn of the electric vehicle 2, flashing the hazard lights of the electric vehicle 2, wireless communication with the management device 5, and the like. For example, the monitoring device 4 sounds the horn and flashes the hazard lights.

[0032] After transmitting the warning to the outside of the electric vehicle 2, the monitoring device 4 determines whether or not there is a request to acquire vehicle information from an external device (step S3). In step S3, it is determined whether or not the request to acquire vehicle information from the management device 5 has been accepted.

[0033] If it is determined that there is no request to acquire vehicle information (step S3: No), this control routine returns to step S3.

[0034] If it is determined that there is a request to acquire vehicle information (step S3: Yes), the monitoring device 4 provides vehicle information indicating the state of the electric vehicle 2 to an external device (step S4). In step S4, the vehicle information is provided to the management device 5. After the processing of step S4 is performed, this control routine ends.

[0035] As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to quickly grasp the occurrence of an abnormality in the battery 3 based on the warning transmitted to the outside of the electric vehicle 2. Then, it becomes possible to take appropriate measures, thereby preventing the battery 3 from catching fire or breaking out into a fire. As a result, damage to the battery 3 and the electric vehicle 2 can be minimized.

[0036] Furthermore, in a situation where a plurality of electric vehicles 2 exist, information on the electric vehicle 2 to be managed from among the whole can be obtained at the required timing.

[0037] The vehicle transportation mode may include a control mode that controls the state of the battery 3. For example, the monitoring device 4 executes control to increase power consumption so that the SOC of the battery 3 falls within a target value during the vehicle transportation mode. The monitoring device 4 prioritizes safety over efficiency in controlling the temperature of the battery 3. In other words, the target value for temperature control is shifted to a lower temperature.

[0038] The monitoring mode can also be linked to a transportation management system. For example, when transporting by ship, the monitoring mode and the transportation management system are linked. When transporting by car carrier, the monitoring mode and the transportation management system are linked if the number of vehicles loaded is large. Whether transporting by ship or car carrier, monitoring of the battery 3 begins when the electric vehicle 2 is loaded. The system may have a function to notify the transportation management system of vehicle information before transport from the electric vehicle 2 side.

[0039] Furthermore, the permission conditions for permitting information communication in advance include the worker who transports the electric vehicle 2, the transport company, and the owner of the electric vehicle 2. When the electric vehicle 2 is stored, the permission conditions include a storage company, a parking lot management company, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1. Surveillance System 2. Electric vehicles 3 batteries 4. Vehicle monitoring devices (monitoring devices) 5 Management device

Claims

1. A vehicle monitoring device provided in an electric vehicle equipped with a battery, a monitoring unit that monitors the state of the battery while the electric vehicle is stopped; a transmitting unit that transmits information indicating that the battery is in an abnormal state to an outside of the electric vehicle when the monitoring unit determines that the battery is in an abnormal state; A vehicle monitoring device comprising:

2. the monitoring unit monitors the state of the battery when set to a monitoring mode; The monitoring mode is set when the electric vehicle is being transported together with a plurality of other electric vehicles.

2. The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 1.

3. The transmitting unit notifies the information indicating the abnormal state to the outside by sounding a horn or flashing a lamp of the electric vehicle.

3. The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 2.

4. and a providing unit that provides the vehicle information indicating the state of the electric vehicle to an external device when the external device requests acquisition of the vehicle information indicating the state of the electric vehicle after the transmitting unit transmits the information indicating the abnormal state to the outside.

4. The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle monitoring device is a vehicle monitoring device.

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