Charger Management System

Abstract

To improve the convenience for a user.SOLUTION: A charger management system for managing a plurality of chargers to charge a power storage device equipped in a motor vehicle notifies a user of information to the effect that a second charger of a plurality of chargers, which satisfies the condition of charging requested by a user more than a first charger, while the first charger of the plurality of chargers is charging the power storage device when the second charger becomes available. This notification allows the user to select between continuing using the first charger to charge the power storage device and switching to the second charger to charge the power storage device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charger management system. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional technology of this type is a charger reservation system that includes a reservation processing unit that receives charger usage reservation registrations and manages reservation information including usage start date and time and tentative usage end date and time, and a charging required time calculation unit that calculates the amount of time required for charging once a user starts using the charger based on the usage reservation registration (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this system, the reservation processing unit calculates a new usage end date and time based on the required time, and updates the tentative usage end date and time to the new usage end date and time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 137071 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some users may be unable to reserve a charger that best meets the user's desired charging conditions and may end up using a different charger to charge the onboard power storage device. Even if a charger that best meets the user's desired charging conditions becomes available during charging, the user is unaware of this and is therefore unable to choose whether to change chargers. In this regard, there is room for improvement in user convenience.

[0005] The charger management system of the present disclosure has a primary objective of improving user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The charger management system of the present disclosure employs the following measures to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

[0007] The charger management system disclosed herein is a charger management system that manages a plurality of chargers for charging a power storage device mounted on an electric vehicle, and when a second charger that is closer to the user's desired charging conditions than the first charger becomes available while the power storage device is being charged by a first charger among the plurality of chargers, the charger management system notifies the user of this information.

[0008] In the charger management system disclosed herein, when a second charger that meets a charging condition closer to the user's desired charging condition than the first charger becomes available while a first charger among a plurality of chargers is charging the power storage device, information to that effect is provided. This allows the user to know that the second charger is available and select whether to continue charging the power storage device using the first charger or to switch to charging the power storage device using the second charger. This improves user convenience. The desired charging condition may include, for example, at least one of a desired location (e.g., a shopping center or a leisure facility), a desired usage time (length), a desired amount of charge for the power storage device, and the like. When multiple conditions are used as the predetermined charging condition, a second charger may be searched for by prioritizing the multiple conditions, or a second charger may be searched for for each condition. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a charging system 10. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electric vehicle 220 as an example of a vehicle that can use chargers 22A to 22C in predetermined facilities 20A to 20C. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing routine executed by a charger management unit 34. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a charging system 10. As shown in the figure, the charging system 10 includes a plurality of predetermined facilities 20A to 20C, a wired or wireless communication network 12, a management server 30 connected to the communication network 12, and a user terminal 120 connected to the communication network 12. Here, the management server 30 and the user terminal 120 correspond to a charger management system of this embodiment.

[0011] Examples of predetermined facilities 20A to 20C include shopping centers, leisure facilities, and parking lots in service areas. Predetermined facilities 20A to 20C are provided with chargers 22A to 22C, respectively. Chargers 22A to 22C are connected to a power supply source such as a commercial power source, and are configured to be able to charge power storage devices mounted on vehicles connected thereto.

[0012] Chargers 22A to 22C are each configured to supply DC power to a vehicle connected thereto. Each charger 22A to 22C includes a power supply unit that supplies DC power to the vehicle, a communication device that communicates with management server 30 and the vehicle, and a control unit that controls the power supply unit and the communication device.

[0013] Management server 30 includes a computer and a communication device 32. Communication device 32 communicates with communication network 12, chargers 22A to 22C, and vehicles. Management server 30 also includes a charger management unit 34. Charger management unit 34 is a functional block in which hardware and application software function together, and receives and manages reservations for use of chargers 22A to 22C, etc.

[0014] The user terminal 120 is configured as a portable communication terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, and includes a computer, a display 122, and a communication device 124. The display 122 is configured as a touch panel type. The communication device 124 communicates with the communication network 12 and vehicles. A charger reservation application 126 for making reservations for use of chargers 22A to 22C, etc. is installed on the user terminal 120.

[0015] An example of a vehicle that can use the chargers 22A to 22C at the predetermined facilities 20A to 20C is an electric vehicle 220 shown in Fig. 2. The electric vehicle 220 includes a motor 232, an inverter 234, a power storage device 236, a connector 240, a navigation system 246, a communication device 248, and an electronic control unit 250.

[0016] The motor 232 is configured as, for example, a synchronous generator motor, and a rotor of the motor 232 is connected to a drive shaft 226 that is coupled to the drive wheels 222 via a differential gear 224. The inverter 234 is connected to a power line 238 together with a power storage device 236, and converts DC power from the power storage device 236 into three-phase AC power and supplies it to the motor 232, thereby driving and rotating the motor 232. The power storage device 236 is configured as, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery. The connector 240 is connected to the power line 238 and is configured to be connectable to the chargers 22A to 22C. The navigation system 246 includes a main body, a GPS antenna, and a display. The navigation system 246 receives the current location of the vehicle via the GPS antenna and provides route guidance by displaying various information on the display. The communication device 248 communicates with other vehicles, with the chargers 22A to 22C and the like, and with the user terminal 120.

[0017] The electronic control unit 250 includes a microcomputer. The electronic control unit 250 receives signals from various sensors. Examples of the signals received include a start signal from a start switch 260, a rotational position θm from a rotational position sensor that detects the rotational position of the motor 232, and a voltage Vb and a current Ib from a voltage sensor 236v and a current sensor 236i attached to the output terminals of the power storage device 236. The electronic control unit 250 outputs various control signals. Examples of the signals received include a control signal to the inverter 234 and a control signal to the communication device 248. The electronic control unit 250 communicates with the navigation system 246. The electronic control unit 250 calculates the power storage rate SOC of the power storage device 236 based on the integrated value of the current Ib of the power storage device 236 received from the current sensor 236i.

[0018] Next, the operation of the charging system 10 of this embodiment will be described, particularly the operation when selecting one of the chargers 22A-22C in the predetermined facilities 20A-20C and reserving its use, and the operation when the power storage device 236 of the electric vehicle 220 is being charged by that charger. When the user launches the charger reservation application 126 of the user terminal 120, inputs or selects necessary information in the charging reservation form, and issues a transmission instruction, information on the necessary information is transmitted from the user terminal 120 to the management server 30. Examples of necessary information include the user's name, contact information (telephone number and email address), and desired charging conditions. Examples of desired charging conditions include a desired location (such as a shopping center or a leisure facility). The desired location can be selected by the user entering an address or telephone number, or by the user selecting the desired location from a map, for example.

[0019] The charger management unit 34 of the management server 30 arranges the chargers 22A to 22C in order of proximity to the desired point, determines whether or not each can be reserved for use, and transmits the determination result to the user terminal 120 to display it on its display 122. When a user applies for a reservation to use the charger based on the content displayed on the display 122, the application information is transmitted from the user terminal 120 to the management server 30, and the management server 30 reserves the charger for use based on the application information.

[0020] For example, consider a case where chargers 22A to 22C are arranged in descending order of proximity to the desired point, charger 22A is unavailable (reserved or in use by another person), and chargers 22B and 22C are available (hereinafter referred to as a "predetermined case"). In this case, the charger management unit 34 displays, for example, "charger 22A: unavailable, charger 22B: available, charger 22C: available" on the display 122 of the user terminal 120. When the user requests a reservation for use of charger 22B, the management server 30 makes the reservation for use of charger 22B. Thereafter, the user charges the power storage device 236 of the electric vehicle 220 at charger 22B in the predetermined facility 20B.

[0021] During this charging, the management server 30 executes the processing routine of Fig. 3. In this processing routine, the charger management unit 34 determines, through communication with the electric vehicle 220, whether charging of the power storage device 236 of the electric vehicle 220 by the current charger has been completed (step S100). If it is determined that charging of the power storage device 236 by the current charger has not been completed, it determines whether a charger that meets the user's desired charging conditions more closely than the current charger has become available (steps S110, S112). If it is determined that a charger that meets the user's desired charging conditions more closely than the current charger has not become available, the process returns to step S100. The processes of steps S100 to S112 are repeatedly executed, and if it is determined in step S100 that charging of the power storage device 236 by the current charger has been completed, the routine ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in steps S110 and S112 that a charger that meets the user's desired charging conditions more closely than the current charger has become available before it is determined in step S100 that charging of power storage device 236 using the current charger has been completed, a notification to that effect is transmitted to user terminal 120 and displayed on display 122 (step S120), and this routine ends. Considering the above-described given case, if charger 22A becomes available while power storage device 236 is being charged using charger 22B, a notification to that effect is displayed on display 122 of user terminal 120. This process allows the user to know that a charger (e.g., charger 22A) that meets the user's desired charging conditions more closely than the current charger (e.g., charger 22B) has become available. Therefore, the user can select whether to continue charging power storage device 236 using the current charger or to change to charging power storage device 236 using a charger that meets the user's desired charging conditions more closely than the current charger. This improves user convenience.

[0022] In management server 30 provided in charging system 10 of the present embodiment described above, when a second charger (e.g., charger 22A) that meets charging conditions closer to the user's desired conditions than the first charger becomes available while power storage device 236 is being charged by a first charger (e.g., charger 22B), the second charger is displayed on display 122 of user terminal 120. This allows the user to know that the second charger has become available, and allows the user to select whether to continue charging power storage device 236 by the first charger or to change to charging power storage device 236 by the second charger. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

[0023] In the above-described embodiment, a desired location is used as the desired charging condition. Additionally or alternatively, a desired usage time (length) or a desired charge amount of the power storage device may be used. The desired usage time may be, for example, input by the user of a start time and an end time. The desired charge amount may be, for example, input by the user of a numerical value or selected by the user from options acquired from the electric vehicle 220. The options acquired from the electric vehicle 220 may be, for example, a desired charge amount Qc of B1 [kWh] when charging the power storage device 236 from its current power storage percentage SOC to A1 [%], or a desired charge amount Qc of B2 [kWh] when charging to A2 [%]. When multiple conditions are used as the desired charging conditions, the chargers 22A-22C may be ranked according to a predetermined or user-set priority order and the availability of each may be determined. Alternatively, the chargers 22A-22C may be ranked for each condition and the availability of each may be determined.

[0024] In the above-described embodiment, when a second charger that has charging conditions closer to the user's desired conditions than the first charger becomes available while the first charger is charging the power storage device 236, the charger management unit 34 displays the second charger on the display 122 of the user terminal 120. However, in addition to or instead of this, the second charger may be output as audio from the speaker of the user terminal 120.

[0025] In the above-described embodiment, the chargers 22A to 22C are provided in the predetermined facilities 20A to 20C, respectively. However, a plurality of the chargers 22A to 22C may be provided in the same predetermined facility.

[0026] In the above-described embodiment, the management server 30 manages three chargers 22A to 22C, but may manage two chargers or four or more chargers.

[0027] In the above-described embodiment, a portable communication terminal is exemplified as the user terminal 120. However, in addition to or instead of this, an in-vehicle unit including the electronic control unit 250 of the electric vehicle 220, the navigation system 246, the communication device 248, etc. may also be used.

[0028] In the above-described embodiment, electric vehicle 220 is provided with connector 240 that is connected to power storage device 236 via power line 238 and that can be connected to chargers 22A to 22C that can supply DC power. However, in addition to or instead of this, electric vehicle 220 may be provided with a charging circuit that is connected to power storage device 236 via power line 238, and an AC connector that is connected to the charging circuit and that can be connected to an AC charger that can supply AC power. In this case, when the AC connector is connected to the AC charger, AC power from the AC charger is converted into DC power by the charging circuit and supplied to power line 238 (power storage device 236), thereby charging power storage device 236.

[0029] In the above-described embodiment, an example of a vehicle that can use the chargers 22A to 22C in the predetermined facilities 20A, 22B, and 22C is the electric vehicle 220 illustrated in Fig. 2, specifically, the electric vehicle 220 equipped with the motor 232, inverter 234, and power storage device 236. However, the vehicle is not limited to this, and may be a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine in addition to the motor, inverter, and power storage device, or a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell in addition to the motor, inverter, and power storage device.

[0030] In the above-described embodiment, the charger management system includes the management server 30 and the user terminal 120. However, the charger management system may include only the management server 30.

[0031] The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problems" section will be explained. In the embodiment, the chargers 22A to 22C correspond to "plurality of chargers," and the management server 30 (and the user terminal 120) corresponds to "a charger management system."

[0032] The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiments and the main elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section does not limit the elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section, since the embodiments are examples for specifically explaining the mode for implementing the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section should be based on the description in that section, and the embodiments are merely specific examples of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section.

[0033] The above describes embodiments for implementing the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments and can, of course, be implemented in various forms within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0034] The present disclosure is applicable to industries such as the manufacturing industry of charger management systems. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 charging system, 12 communication network, 20A to 20C designated facilities, 22A to 22C chargers, 30 management server, 32 communication device, 34 charger management unit, 120 user terminal, 122 display, 124 communication device, 126 charger reservation app, 220 electric vehicle, 236 power storage device, 238 power line, 240 connector, 246 navigation system, 248 communication device, 250 electronic control unit.

Claims

[Claim 1] A charger management system that manages a plurality of chargers for charging a power storage device mounted on an electric vehicle, When a second charger among the plurality of chargers that has a charging condition closer to that desired by the user than the first charger becomes available while the power storage device is being charged by a first charger among the plurality of chargers, information to that effect is notified. Charger management system.

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