Branching device and system

Abstract

To remotely monitor and efficiently control energy supply to a plurality of supply targets when a primary side energy supply path is branched into a plurality of secondary side energy supply paths to supply energy to a plurality of supply targets.SOLUTION: A branching device branches a primary side energy supply path into a plurality of secondary side energy supply paths. The branching device includes secondary side measuring means for measuring energy supply status in each of the plurality of secondary side energy supply paths, opening / closing means for opening and closing each of the plurality of secondary side energy supply paths, and control means for transmitting information on the measurement results to the secondary side measuring means, and controlling the opening / closing means so as to individually open and close each of the plurality of secondary side energy supply paths on the basis of the control information received from the management device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a branching device and system for branching energy such as electric power used for charging a vehicle or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a system that branches energy such as electric power supplied from an energy source such as a power source and supplies the branched energy to a plurality of target vehicles, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that includes a power output device that branches electric power supplied from an external power line and outputs the branched electric power via the plurality of power lines from a plurality of outlets used for charging the vehicles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-284039 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a primary power line (hereinafter also referred to as a "primary power line") on the power source side is branched into multiple secondary power lines (hereinafter also referred to as "secondary power lines") to supply power to multiple supply targets such as vehicles, as in the above-mentioned conventional system, there is a limit to the amount of power that can be supplied to the multiple supply targets simultaneously, and therefore there is a problem that it is desirable to remotely monitor and efficiently control the power supply to the multiple supply targets. Note that this problem can also arise when supplying energy other than electricity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A branching device according to one aspect of the present invention is a branching device that branches a primary energy supply path into multiple secondary energy supply paths, and includes: secondary measurement means that measures an energy supply status in each of the multiple secondary energy supply paths; switching means that opens and closes each of the multiple secondary energy supply paths; and control means that transmits information on the measurement results of the secondary measurement means to a management device, receives control information from the management device that is generated based on the information on the measurement results of the secondary measurement means, and controls the switching means to individually open and close each of the multiple secondary energy supply paths based on the control information.

[0006] The branching device may include a primary side measuring means for measuring the energy supply status in the primary side energy supply path, and the control means may transmit information on the measurement results of the primary side measuring means to the management device, receive control information generated based on the information on the measurement results of the primary side measuring means from the management device, and control the opening and closing means to open and close each of the multiple secondary side energy supply paths individually based on the control information.

[0007] Here, the primary side measuring means may measure the amount of energy supplied in the primary side energy supply path, and the control means may control the opening / closing means to close at least one of the plurality of secondary side energy supply paths when the measurement result of the energy supply amount in the primary side energy supply path exceeds a predetermined threshold value or when the measurement result is predicted to exceed the threshold value.

[0008] In the branching device, the control information may include information on the priority of energy supply for each of the multiple secondary energy supply paths, and the control means may control the opening and closing means to supply energy preferentially to some of the multiple secondary energy supply paths based on the priority information received from the management device.

[0009] In the branching device, the control information may include information on interruption energy supply in the multiple secondary energy supply paths, and the control means may control the opening and closing means, based on the information on the interruption energy supply received from the management device, to stop energy supply to a secondary energy supply path among the multiple secondary energy supply paths that is currently supplying energy, and to start energy supply to other secondary energy supply paths that are currently not supplying energy.

[0010] In the branching device, the control means may receive control information from the management device generated based on at least one of information on the supply target to which energy is supplied via the secondary energy supply path and information on the measurement results of the secondary measuring means, and control the opening and closing means to open and close each of the multiple secondary energy supply paths individually based on the control information.

[0011] In the branching device, the energy supplied through the secondary energy supply path is electrical energy used to charge a battery installed in a vehicle, the primary energy supply path and the multiple secondary energy supply paths are each power lines, and the measured energy supply status may be power, current, or amount of power.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing a vehicle charging service, the system including the branching device, a management device capable of communicating with the branching device via a communication network, and a plurality of power output units that output power supplied via each of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths. The management device includes an information receiving means that receives information on the measurement results from the branching device, an information generating means that generates control information for individually opening and closing each of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths based on the information on the measurement results, and an information transmitting means that transmits the control information to the branching device.

[0013] In the system, the management device may be provided with a billing processing means that, for each of the plurality of power output units, charges a usage fee for charging the vehicle via the power output unit based on information on the measurement results of the secondary side measurement means to at least one of a user of the vehicle's charging service, the vehicle, a battery installed in the vehicle, and a terminal device operated by the user.

[0014] According to the present invention, when a primary energy supply path is branched into multiple secondary energy supply paths to supply energy to multiple supply targets, the energy supply to the multiple supply targets can be remotely monitored and efficiently controlled. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a schematic overall configuration of a charging service management system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a configuration of a main part of a charging service management system according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams showing examples of images attached to an outlet according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of main functions of a charge management server according to the embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging hub device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for providing a charging service according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing at the start of charging in providing the charging service of FIG. 6; [Figure 8] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing during charging in providing the charging service of FIG. 6; [Figure 9] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing at the end of charging in providing the charging service of FIG. 6; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the configuration of the charging hub device according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for avoiding power interruption during charging when providing a charging service. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system for managing an energy supply service from an energy output unit to an energy supply target. The energy output unit is, for example, owned or managed by a provider that provides energy in the energy supply service. The supplied energy may be, for example, primary energy in the form of petroleum, natural gas, coal, etc., or secondary energy in the form of electricity, hydrogen, gasoline, diesel oil, heavy oil, city gas, alcohol, etc.

[0017] The supply target to which energy is supplied is, for example, an electrically powered mobile body (e.g., an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV)) driven by a motor equipped with an externally rechargeable battery. The mobile body may be a ground mobile body such as an electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle (e.g., a fuel cell vehicle (FCV)), an airborne mobile body such as a drone, or a mobile body such as a ship that moves on water such as the sea. The mobile body may be a vehicle with four or more wheels, a tricycle, a two-wheeled vehicle (motorcycle, bicycle), a truck, a bus, a private car, a commercial vehicle, or the like. The battery may be owned by the user, leased from a leasing company, or owned by a business operator other than the user. The supply target may also be an electrical or electronic device such as a portable or fixed-type home appliance, office equipment, or communication terminal device.

[0018] In the following embodiments, as an example, the energy to be used is electric energy, the energy output unit that outputs the energy is an outlet that outputs electric energy, the supply target to which the energy is supplied is a drive battery built into a vehicle, and a charging service management system that manages a charging service (energy supply service) that charges the vehicle battery with power output from the outlet will be described. The supply target vehicle in the embodiments is, for example, an electric vehicle.

[0019] In the following embodiments, the energy output unit (power output unit) may be, for example, a charger that can quickly charge the vehicle battery with a direct current in a relatively short time.

[0020] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a charging service management system according to an embodiment. The charging service management system of this embodiment is a system (charging management system) that manages the charging of vehicles 30, such as electric vehicles, as multiple supply targets (charging targets) to which power is supplied from multiple outlets 20. The example of Fig. 1 shows an example of a system that can charge eight vehicles 30 from eight outlets 20, but the number of each of the outlets 20 and vehicles 30 may be 2 to 7, or may be 9 or more.

[0021] The charging service management system includes a charging hub device (also referred to as a "charging hub unit") 10 as a branching device. The charging hub device 10 branches a primary power line 11 as a primary energy supply path (power supply path) drawn from an external power line of an electric power company into a power distribution facility of a facility into multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) as multiple secondary energy supply paths (power supply paths). A portion of the power supplied by the primary power line 11 is supplied to multiple secondary power lines 12, and the remaining power is supplied to another load in the facility via another power line 13.

[0022] The charging hub 10 can communicate with a charging management server 70, which serves as a management device, provided in a communication network 60 such as a mobile communication network or the Internet, via a wireless or wired communication line. The charging hub 10 may communicate directly with the charging management server 70, or may communicate with the charging management server 70 via a maintenance management server 75 that remotely maintains and manages the charging hub 10. Some of the processing of the charging management server 70 may be executed by the maintenance management server 75, and some or all of the processing of the maintenance management server 75 may be executed by the charging management server 70.

[0023] The ends of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) connected to the charging hub 10 are connected to multiple outlets 20 provided on charging stands (e.g., self-supporting poles) 24 of power output units 25(1) to 25(8) as multiple energy output units arranged near multiple parking spaces (vehicle compartments) in a parking lot, etc. Eight sets of charging circuits are formed by the charging hub 10, the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8), and the outlets 20 of the power output units 25(1) to 25(8), and up to eight vehicles 30 can be charged simultaneously.

[0024] A code image 21 is attached near each of the outlets 20 of the multiple charging stands 24. Furthermore, a power cable 40 from the vehicle 30 can be connected to each of the outlets 20 of the multiple charging stands 24.

[0025] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a main part of a charging service management system according to an embodiment. In Fig. 2, the supply target in the embodiment is a battery 31 of a vehicle 30 that is charged with power from an outlet 20. Power is supplied from the outlet 20, for example, via a wired power cable (charging cable) 40 and a plug 41. Power may be supplied from the outlet 20 wirelessly, for example, by electromagnetic induction, radio waves such as microwaves, or light such as laser light. In addition, the voltage (current) supplied from the outlet 20 may be alternating current (for example, AC 200 V, maximum output of 3 to 4 kW / 15 to 20 A) or direct current (DC 50 to 500 V, maximum 50 kW).

[0026] The outlet 20 in FIG. 2 (and also in FIG. 3 described later) is an example of a charging outlet for EVs and PHEVs, having a plug receptacle 20a for AC 200V (rated: 20A, 250V, with ground terminal) on the underside of the outlet body, which is formed in a convex shape toward the front of the figure. The outlet 20 may have an openable outlet cover that covers the plug receptacle 20a when the outlet is not in use. The outlet 20 may also have a function to prevent the plug 41 inserted into the plug receptacle 20a from falling out. The outlet 20 may also have a plug receptacle 20a for AC 100V (rated: 15A, 1500V, with ground terminal). Note that the type and configuration of the outlet 20 and the plug receptacle 20a are not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 described later.

[0027] The charging service management system includes a charging management server 70 as a management device that manages the use of power (electric energy), and a maintenance management server 75 that remotely controls and maintains devices such as the charging hub device 10. Each of the charging management server 70 and the maintenance management server 75 may be configured as a single computer device, may be configured to link multiple computer devices, or may be configured as a cloud system on a network.

[0028] The outlet 20 of the power output unit (energy output unit) 25 capable of outputting electric power (electrical energy) is an outlet provided, for example, on the wall of a facility such as a parking lot, a detached house, an apartment building or other multi-family home, an office building, an event venue, or a factory, or in an outdoor or indoor parking lot or a stand of a charging facility (charging station). The outlet 20 may be a general-purpose outlet with no particular use, or may be a dedicated outlet with a particular use. Furthermore, the outlet 20 may be an outlet that is open to any user, or may be an outlet that is available only to specific users.

[0029] 3(a) to 3(c) are explanatory diagrams showing examples of images attached to the outlet 20 according to the embodiment. The outlet 20 in FIG. 3(a) has a code image (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark) image) 21 attached to it. The code image 21 may be a one-dimensional code image or a two-dimensional code image. The code image 21 is an image in which information such as the name of the outlet 20, its identification number, installation location, and the person who installed it is encoded. The code image 21 may be printed on a sticker 26 by the user or the person who installed it and attached to the side of the outlet 20.

[0030] The outlet 20 in FIG. 3(b) has an image of letters (e.g., handwritten letters) 21' attached as an auxiliary identification image for the outlet 20, which has been arbitrarily added by the user or the installation body, etc. Furthermore, the outlet 20 in FIG. 3(c) has an image of an illustration 21'' attached as an auxiliary identification image, which has been arbitrarily added by the user or the installation body, etc. The letters 21' or illustration 21'' may be attached to the outlet 20. The letters 21' and illustration 21'' for the outlet 20 may be drawn on a sticker member 26 by the user or the installation body, etc., and attached to the side of the outlet 20. The auxiliary identification image may be a design or mark in addition to letters and illustrations.

[0031] A terminal device 51 of a user 50 who wishes to use power supplied from an outlet 20 can communicate with a charging management server 70 via a communication network 60 such as a mobile communication network or the Internet. The terminal device 51 includes an operation unit such as keys, buttons, or a touch panel, a display unit such as an LCD display, and an imaging unit such as a camera that captures an image of the outlet's code or an identification aid image. The terminal device 51 can be operated by a user to launch and execute a pre-installed predetermined power usage application (e.g., an application for using a charging service). The terminal device 51 may also include a current location acquisition unit such as a GNSS receiver that acquires information about the current location of the terminal device 51. The terminal device 51 may be, for example, a mobile station (also referred to as a "mobile device" or "user equipment (UE)") that can communicate via a fourth-generation, fifth-generation, or later-generation mobile communication network.

[0032] The vehicle 30 can communicate with the charge management server 70 via a communication network 60 using an external communication unit 32 of an in-vehicle device. The external communication unit 32 may be, for example, a remote control unit (TCU: Telematic Control Unit) connected to an in-vehicle network (CAN: Controller Area Network) via a gateway. The remote control unit (TCU) may have a short-range wireless communication function such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark) in addition to a communication function via the communication network 60. In addition to the remote control unit (TCU), a battery management system (BMS) that manages the battery 31 and one or more electronic control units (ECUs) that control each of the other components are connected to the in-vehicle network (CAN).

[0033] Power usage information (e.g., battery identification information, amount of power, charging start time, charging end time) related to the power used to charge the battery 31 can be transmitted from a battery management system (BMS) to the charging management server 70 via a remote control unit (TCU), for example. Furthermore, vehicle identification information can be transmitted from an electronic control unit (ECU) having a memory that stores basic vehicle information to the charging management server 70 via the remote control unit (TCU), for example. The transmission of such information to the charging management server 70 is executed based on a transmission request generated by an application running on the terminal device 51, for example. The transmission request from the terminal device 51 may be received by the vehicle's remote control unit (TCU) via short-range wireless communication such as wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0034] The charging management server 70 may acquire the above-mentioned vehicle-related information such as the power usage information and vehicle identification information from a vehicle management server provided for each vehicle manufacturer or each vehicle model, for example.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of main functions of the charging management server 70 according to the embodiment. In Fig. 4, the charging management server 70 includes a terminal communication unit 701, a supply target communication unit 702, an authentication processing unit 703, a storage unit (DB: database) 704, and a charging control communication unit 706.

[0036] The terminal communication unit 701 has a function of communicating with the terminal device 51 of the user 50 via the communication network 60, or via another public line or dedicated line.

[0037] In one example of charging service management, the terminal communication unit 701 receives, from the terminal device 51 of the user 50, read data of a code image (e.g., an image of a QR code (registered trademark)) 21 (see FIG. 3(a)) attached to the outlet 20, identification information of the user 50 or the terminal device 51, and identification information of a supply target to which power is supplied from the outlet 20 (e.g., identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31). The read data of the code image 21 may be, for example, image data of the code image 21 captured by a camera of the terminal device 51, or may be data obtained by decoding the image data.

[0038] In another example of charging service management, the terminal communication unit 701 receives, from the terminal device 51 of the user 50, the identification auxiliary image 21′ or 21″ (FIG. 3 ( b ) and 3(c)), location information of the terminal device 51, identification information of the user 50 or the terminal device 51, and identification information of the device to which power is supplied from the outlet 20 (for example, identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31). The read data of the identification auxiliary images 21′, 21″ is, for example, image data of the identification auxiliary images 21′, 21″ captured by a camera of the terminal device 51. The location information of the terminal device 51 is, for example, location information (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the terminal device 51 measured by a GNSS receiver of the terminal device 51.

[0039] The supply target communication unit 702 has a function of communicating with the supply target vehicle 30 via the communication network 60 or via another public line or dedicated line. The supply target communication unit 702 receives, for example, from the vehicle 30, identification information of the supply target (e.g., identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) and charging information (e.g., battery identification information, amount of power, charging start time, charging end time) as information on the use of power supplied from the outlet 20 and used by the vehicle 30. The supply target communication unit 702 may receive the supply target identification information and charging information from the vehicle management server described above.

[0040] The charging control communication unit 706 has a function of communicating with the charging hub device 10 via the communication network 60 or via another public line or dedicated line, and functions as an information receiving means, an information generating means, and an information transmitting means.

[0041] The charging control communication unit 706 receives, for example, measurement result information of power, current, or energy, which is the energy supply status of the primary power line 11, and measurement result information of power, current, or energy, which is the energy supply status of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8), or information on both of these measurements. Furthermore, the charging control communication unit 706 generates control information for individually opening and closing each of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) in the eight sets of charging circuits based on the measurement result information of the primary side or the secondary side, or based on the measurement result information of the primary side and the secondary side, and transmits the control information to the charging hub 10.

[0042] The control information may be, for example, control information for monitoring the charging status in each parking space (vehicle compartment) based on information on the measurement results of the power, current, or amount of power of each of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8), and for controlling the execution of multiple charging operations via each of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) in a time-division distributed manner.

[0043] The control information may be, for example, control information for controlling at least one of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) in the eight charging circuits to be closed when a measurement result of power, current, or energy, which indicates the energy supply status of the primary power line 11, exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., a target demand value) or when the measurement result is predicted to exceed the threshold. Based on this control information, the charging hub 10 controls at least one of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) to be closed, thereby reducing the overall power, current, and energy of the primary power line 11 and preventing unexpected power outages in facilities that share the primary power line 11, such as parking lots, detached houses, apartment complexes, office buildings, event venues, and factories.

[0044] The control information may include, for example, information on the priority of power supply (priority of charging) for each of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) in the eight charging circuits. Based on this priority information, the charging hub 10 controls to execute prioritized charging, which supplies power preferentially to some of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8).

[0045] The control information may also include information about interruption power supply (interruption charging) for the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) in the eight charging circuits. Based on the information about interruption power supply (interruption charging), the charging hub 10 performs control to stop power supply to the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) that are currently supplying power, and start power supply to the other secondary power lines that are currently not supplying power, thereby executing interruption charging.

[0046] The power supply priority (charging priority) and the interrupt power supply (interrupt charging) are determined based on, for example, a policy-based, rule-based, machine learning model, or other method so as to maximize charging efficiency or billing operation for all charging from the outlets via the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) in the eight charging circuits. The policy-based method is a method in which, for example, a program created based on preset policy information is used to determine the priority (charging priority) of multiple vehicles 30 to be charged and whether or not to allow interrupt charging for the vehicles 30, based on information such as the current charging status and information about the vehicles to be charged. The rule-based method is a method in which, for example, a conversion table created based on preset rules is used to determine the priority (charging priority) of multiple vehicles 30 to be charged and whether or not to allow interrupt charging for the vehicles 30, based on information such as the current charging status and information about the vehicles to be charged. The machine learning model method is a method in which, for example, a pre-set machine learning model is trained using charging information and vehicle information data from past charging service executions, to create a trained model, and then, based on the trained model, information on the current charging status, information on the supply target, etc., the priority (charging priority) of multiple vehicles 30 to be charged and whether or not to allow interrupt charging for the vehicles 30 is determined.

[0047] The terminal communication unit 701, the supply target communication unit 702, and the charge control communication unit 706 may be configured as an integrated communication device (for example, a mobile communication module).

[0048] The authentication processing unit 703 performs at least one of authentication of the user using the power (user authentication) and authentication of the supply target (e.g., vehicle 30 or battery 31) (supply target authentication) based on the identification information of the user 50 or terminal device 51 and the identification information of the supply target (e.g., identification information of the vehicle 30 or battery 31).

[0049] For example, the authentication processing unit 703 may perform user authentication to confirm whether the user 50 is a legitimate user pre-registered for a predetermined charging service by comparing the identification information (user ID) of the user 50 received from the terminal device 51 with the identification information (user ID) of the user pre-registered in the charging management server 70. In this case, if the user is a legitimate user, the use of the charging service may be permitted, and if the user is not a legitimate user, the use of the charging service may be restricted (for example, not permitted).

[0050] Furthermore, for example, the authentication processing unit 703 may perform supply target authentication to confirm whether the supply target (e.g., the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) is a legitimate supply target pre-registered in a predetermined power usage management service by comparing the identification information of the supply target (e.g., the identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) received from the terminal device 51 with the identification information of the supply target (e.g., the identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) received from the vehicle 30. In this case, if the supply target is a legitimate supply target, use of the power usage management service may be permitted, and if the supply target is not a legitimate supply target, use of the power usage management service may be restricted (e.g., not permitted). Note that in this authentication, the authentication process may be performed by comparing the identification information of the supply target (e.g., the identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) received from the terminal device 51 or the vehicle 30 with the identification information of the supply target pre-registered in the charging management server 70.

[0051] In one example of charging service management, the storage unit (DB) 704 identifies the identification information of the outlet 20 and the identification information of the charging hub 10 to which the outlet 20 is connected based on the read data of the code image, and stores the identification information of the outlet 20 (outlet ID), the identification information of the charging hub 10 (HUB ID), the identification information of the user 50 or terminal device 51, the identification information of the supply target (e.g., the identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31), and the power usage information in association with one another. For example, as shown in Table 1, for each series of power usage transactions, one record is stored in which the outlet ID, user ID, terminal ID (e.g., IMEI), vehicle ID, and power usage information are associated with one another, and an electricity usage transaction table (electricity usage ledger) is formed as a whole.

[0052] [Table 1]

[0053] In another example of charging service management, the memory unit (DB) 704 identifies the identification information of the outlet 20 based on the read data of the above-mentioned identification auxiliary image and the current location information of the terminal device 51, and stores the identification information of the outlet 20 (outlet ID), the identification information of the user 50 or the terminal device 51, the identification information of the supply target (e.g., the identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31), and the power usage information in association with each other.

[0054] Furthermore, various tables used for managing charging services via multiple outlets are stored in the storage unit (DB) 704. For example, the storage unit (DB) 704 stores an outlet management table of Table 2, a user management table of Table 3, and a vehicle management table of Table 4.

[0055] [Table 2]

[0056] [Table 3]

[0057] [Table 4]

[0058] A new record is added to the outlet management table, the user management table, and the vehicle management table when a new outlet 20, a user 50 (terminal device 51), and a vehicle 30 (battery 31) are registered to use the charging service via the outlet 20 provided by the charging management server 70 of this embodiment. Furthermore, by referring to the outlet management table of Table 2, it is possible to construct a public outlet virtual space that indicates the locations of public outlets that can be newly registered by users in the charging service provided by the charging management server 70 of this embodiment. By overlaying and displaying this public outlet virtual space on a map of the real space, users can easily understand and access the locations of public outlets that can be newly registered.

[0059] The storage unit (DB) 704 may also store a registered outlet table shown in Table 5. A record is added to this registered outlet table when a user registers a new outlet 20. By linking and referencing the registered outlet table with the various tables described above, it is possible to construct a My Outlet virtual space that shows the locations of registered outlets that can be used by the user in the charging service provided by the charging management server 70 of this embodiment. By overlaying and displaying this My Outlet virtual space on a map of the real space, the user can easily understand and access the locations of outlets that he or she has registered and can use. [Table 5]

[0060] In the present embodiment, the charging management server 70 may include a billing processing unit 705. The billing processing unit 705 performs processing to bill at least one of the user 50, the supply target (vehicle 30 or battery 31), and the terminal device 51 for the usage fee for the electric power used by the vehicle 30 via the outlet 20. For example, the entire amount or a part of the usage fee for the electric power used by the vehicle 30 via the outlet 20 may be billed to the user 50, or may be billed as an addition to the usage fee for the terminal device 51. If the vehicle 30 or the battery 31 is rented from a rental company or leased from a leasing company, the entire amount or a part of the usage fee for the electric power used by the vehicle 30 via the outlet 20 may be billed to the rental company or the leasing company.

[0061] Furthermore, the billing process for electricity usage may take into consideration various billing benefits (billing benefits). For example, if environmental value certificates such as "Green Power Certificates," "J Credits," and "Non-Fossil Certificates," which certify the environmental value of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass, or something of equivalent value (hereinafter referred to as "environmental value such as environmental value certificates") are considered to be added to the current supplied to vehicle 30 via outlet 20, the addition status of such environmental value such as environmental value certificates may be managed, for example, by a flag in the billing benefit column of the user management table of Table 3, and the billing for the environmental value (increase or decrease) may be performed in parallel with the amount of electricity. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a billing benefit, such as the purchase of such environmental value such as environmental value certificates, may be managed, for example, by a flag in the billing benefit column of the user management table of Table 3.

[0062] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging hub 10 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 5, a primary power line 11 is connected to the charging hub 10 via a terminal box (TB) 14 and a charging circuit breaker (CB) 15. The primary power line 11 branches off at the TB 14 and is connected via another circuit breaker (CB) 16 to a load other than the vehicle charging circuit (for example, various electrical devices other than those used for charging in a parking lot, electrical devices in the living areas of a multi-family home or condominium, electrical devices in each office in an office building, electrical devices at an event venue, electrical devices in a factory, etc.).

[0063] A primary power line 11 connected to a charging hub device 10 is branched into secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) for eight sets of charging circuits.

[0064] The charging hub device 10 includes a communication control device 100, an interface converter 102 as a control data conversion device, remote control breakers 104(1) to 104(8) having a plurality of remote control relays as switching means for opening and closing the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8), and an electric energy monitor device 105 as measuring means for measuring the electric energy of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8).

[0065] The communication control device 100 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer that can read and execute a predetermined control program for controlling the opening and closing of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8), and has a function of communicating with the charging management server 70 or the maintenance management server 75. The interface converter 102 is connected to the communication control device 100, for example, via a LAN cable 101, converts control information data received from the communication control device 100 into a control signal, and transmits the control signal to each of the multiple remote control breakers 104(1) to 104(8).

[0066] Each of the multiple remote control breakers 104(1) to 104(8) is connected to the interface converter 102 via a predetermined signal line. When the remote control breakers 104(1) to 104(8) receive a control signal corresponding to an ON command from the communication control device 100, they close the circuits of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) (circuit conduction state), and when the remote control breakers 104(1) to 104(8) receive a control signal corresponding to an OFF command from the communication control device 100, they open the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) (circuit interruption state).

[0067] The power amount monitoring device 105 is connected, for example, to split-type current transformers 107 as current sensors attached to each of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) via a dedicated cable 106. Measurement data on the power amount of each of the secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) measured by the power amount monitoring device 105 is sent to the communication control device 100 via a cable 108 of a dedicated interface (for example, an RS485 serial interface).

[0068] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of providing a charging service according to the embodiment. In Fig. 6, the process of providing a charging service according to the embodiment includes an advance preparation phase (S100) and an operation phase (S200).

[0069] In the advance preparation phase (S100), an operator inputs data about a plurality of outlets 20 used in the power usage management service into the charging management server 70, and the charging management server 70 creates the outlet management table of Table 2. The charging management server 70 also receives new registration data including information about the users 50 and the terminal devices 51 and information about the supply targets (vehicles 30 and batteries 31) from the terminal devices 51 of a plurality of users 50 who use the charging service, and creates the user management table of Table 3 and the vehicle management table of Table 4.

[0070] The operation phase (S200) includes a process S210 at the start of charging, a process S220 during charging, and a process S230 at the end of charging, and may include a billing process S240 as an optional process.

[0071] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (S210) at the start of charging in providing the charging service in Fig. 6. Note that, in the example of Fig. 7, the charging management server 70 controls the charging hub 10 by communicating with it via the maintenance management server 75, but the charging management server 70 may also control the charging hub 10 by communicating with it without the maintenance management server 75 (the same applies to Figs. 8 to 11 below).

[0072] 7, first, the user 50 operates the terminal device 51 to start an application for using the charging service, captures and reads a code image (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) 21 that is located near the outlet 20 and includes identification information of the outlet 20, and selects "My Car" from a menu selection displayed on the display screen of the terminal device 51 (S211). This operation causes the terminal device 51 to request authorization and authentication for use of the charging service from the charging management server 70 (S212). At the time of this request, the identification information of the user 50 (or the terminal device 51), the read data of the code image 21, and the identification information of the vehicle 30 (or the battery 31) that has been pre-registered in the terminal device 51 as "My Car" are transmitted to the charging management server 70.

[0073] Next, when the charging management server 70 receives a request for use permission authentication from the terminal device 51 of the user 50, the request including the identification information of the user 50 (or the terminal device 51), the read data of the code image 21, and the identification information of the vehicle 30 (or the battery 31), the charging management server 70 performs authentication processing for the combination of the identification information of the user 50 (or the terminal device 51) and the vehicle 30 (or the battery 31) based on the identification information of the user 50 (or the terminal device 51) and the identification information of the vehicle 30 (or the battery 31) received from the terminal device 51. Here, if the outlet 20 is not registered for the user 50, the charging management server 70 newly registers the outlet ID and the user ID corresponding to each other in the registered outlet table of Table 5 described above, with the outlet 20 as an outlet available for the user 50.

[0074] When the authentication process is completed, the charging management server 70 notifies the maintenance management server 75 of usage permission information including the outlet ID of the outlet to be controlled (S213). When the maintenance management server 75 receives the usage permission information from the charging management server 70, it notifies the communication control device 100 of the charging hub 10 of the usage permission information (S214).

[0075] The communication control device 100 of the charging hub device 10 pre-stores data on the correspondence between the outlet ID and the identification information of the remote control breaker (remote control relay), and when it receives the above-mentioned usage permission information from the maintenance management server 75, it notifies an ON command to the remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 that is permitted to be used and that corresponds to the outlet ID based on the outlet ID included in the usage permission information (S215).

[0076] When the permitted remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 receives an ON command from the communication control device 100, it closes the circuit of the corresponding secondary power line 12 (circuit conduction state) and starts supplying power (e.g., AC 200V) to the corresponding outlet 20 (S216).

[0077] The communication control device 100 of the charging hub 10 notifies the maintenance management server 75 of availability information indicating that the corresponding outlet 20 is available for charging based on the open / close information from the remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 (S217). Upon receiving the availability information from the charging hub 10, the maintenance management server 75 transmits a response to the usage permission information to the charging management server 70 (S218).

[0078] When the charge management server 70 receives the response to the use permission information, the user 50 can confirm on the application of the terminal device 51 that the outlet 20 is in a usable state (S219).

[0079] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (S220) during charging in providing the charging service of Fig. 6. In Fig. 8, when charging of the vehicle 30 from the outlet 20 starts, the charging hub 10 measures the amount of power [kWh] during charging on the secondary power line 12 of the outlet 20 using the power amount monitor device 105 (S221).

[0080] The communication control device 100 of the charging hub device 10 periodically notifies the maintenance management server 75 of charging information including information on the measured amount of power during charging (S222), and the maintenance management server 75 notifies the charging management server 70 of the charging information received from the charging hub device 10 (S223).

[0081] When the charging management server 70 receives the charging information, the user 50 can check the charging status of the vehicle 30 from the outlet 20 on the application of the terminal device 51 (S224).

[0082] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (S230) at the end of charging in providing the charging service of Fig. 6. When charging of the battery 31 of the vehicle 30 with power supplied from the outlet 20 is completed, the vehicle 30 transmits, to the charging management server 70, identification information of the supply target (identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) and information on the use of power supplied from the outlet 20 and used to charge the battery 31 of the vehicle 30, either in response to a request from the terminal device 51 of the user 50 or autonomously. The charging management server 70 receives the identification information of the supply target (identification information of the vehicle 30 or the battery 31) and the power use information from the vehicle 30.

[0083] 9, when the charging management server 70 receives the information from the vehicle 30, the charging management server 70 notifies the maintenance management server 75 of usage end information including the outlet ID of the outlet to be terminated (S231). When the maintenance management server 75 receives the usage end information from the charging management server 70, the maintenance management server 75 notifies the usage end information to the communication control device 100 of the charging hub device 10 (S232).

[0084] When the communication control device 100 of the charging hub device 10 receives the usage end information from the maintenance management server 75, it notifies an OFF command to the remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 that has been terminated and corresponds to the outlet ID based on the outlet ID included in the usage end information (S233).

[0085] When the remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 that has been deactivated receives an OFF command from the communication control device 100, it opens the circuit of the corresponding secondary power line 12 (to a circuit interruption state) and stops the power supply (e.g., AC 200V) to the corresponding outlet 20 (S234).

[0086] The communication control device 100 of the charging hub 10 notifies the maintenance management server 75 of usage end status information indicating that charging from the corresponding outlet 20 has ended based on the open / close information from the remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 (S235). Upon receiving the usage end status information from the charging hub 10, the maintenance management server 75 transmits a response to the usage end information to the charging management server 70 (S236).

[0087] When the charge management server 70 receives the response to the use end information, the user 50 can confirm on the application of the terminal device 51 that the use of the outlet 20 has ended (S237).

[0088] Furthermore, the charging management server 70 refers to the outlet management table of Table 2 described above based on the read data of the code image, and identifies the identification information of the outlet 20. Furthermore, the charging management server 70 associates the identification information (outlet ID) of the outlet 20, the identification information (user ID, terminal ID) of the user 50 or the terminal device 51, the identification information of the supply target (vehicle ID or battery ID), and the power usage information with each other, and stores them in the storage unit (DB) 104 so as to be added to the power usage transaction table (power usage ledger) of Table 1 described above.

[0089] The charging management server 70 can manage the power usage via the outlets of each user in the power usage management service by referring to the power usage transaction table (power usage ledger).

[0090] In addition, the charging management server 70 may refer to the electricity usage transaction table (electricity usage ledger) to perform a process of charging at least one of the user 50, the supply target (vehicle 30 or battery 31), and the terminal device 51 for the electricity usage fee for the vehicle 30 via the outlet 20 (S240 in Figure 6 mentioned above).

[0091] In addition, the auxiliary identification image 21' or 21'' (FIG. 3( b 7, the charging management server 70 receives the read data of the identification auxiliary image 21′ or 21″ and the location information of the terminal device 51 from the terminal device 51 instead of the read data of the code image. Also, in step S211 of FIG. 7, the charging management server 70 refers to the outlet management table of Table 2 described above based on the read data of the identification auxiliary image 21′ or 21″ and the location information of the terminal device 51 to identify the identification information of the outlet 20.

[0092] Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the configuration of a charging hub according to an embodiment. In the configuration example of Fig. 10, a charging hub 10 includes a power amount monitor device 109 as a measuring means for measuring the amount of power in a primary power line 11. The other configuration of Fig. 10 is the same as that of Fig. 5 described above.

[0093] The power amount monitoring device 109 is connected via a dedicated cable 110 to a split-type current transformer 111, which serves as a current sensor attached to the primary power line 11. Measurement data on the amount of power in the primary power line 11 measured by the power amount monitoring device 109 is sent to the communication control device 100 via a cable 108 of the dedicated interface (for example, an RS485 serial interface) described above. The measurement data on the amount of power in the primary power line 11 can be used, for example, for processing to avoid power interruptions during charging.

[0094] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the power interruption avoidance process (S300) during charging in providing a charging service. In FIG. 11, the charging management server 70 or the maintenance management server 75 periodically receives measurement data of the amount of power on the primary power line 11 measured by the charging hub device 10 (S301), and determines whether the amount of power on the primary power line 11 has exceeded a predetermined threshold (e.g., a target demand value) or whether the measurement data is predicted to exceed the threshold (S302).

[0095] When the charge management server 70 or the maintenance management server 75 determines that the amount of power in the primary power line 11 has exceeded a predetermined threshold (for example, a target demand value) (or that the measurement data is predicted to exceed the threshold) (YES in S302), it determines an outlet for suspending charging from among the outlets 20 used for charging (S303). This determination may be made using the information on the power supply priority (charging priority) described above.

[0096] Next, the maintenance management server 75 notifies the communication control device 100 of the charging hub 10 of usage suspension information including the outlet ID of the outlet to be suspended for charging (S304).

[0097] When the communication control device 100 of the charging hub device 10 receives the above-mentioned usage interruption information from the maintenance management server 75, it notifies an OFF command to the remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 of the usage interruption corresponding to the outlet ID based on the outlet ID included in the usage interruption information (S305).

[0098] When the interrupted remote control breaker (remote control relay) 104 receives an OFF command from the communication control device 100, it opens the circuit of the corresponding secondary power line 12 (to a circuit interruption state) and stops the power supply (e.g., AC 200V) to the corresponding outlet 20 (S306). This reduces the overall power, current, and energy of the primary power line 11, making it possible to avoid unexpected power outages in facilities that share the primary power line 11, such as parking lots, detached houses, apartment complexes, office buildings, event venues, and factories.

[0099] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the primary power line 11 is branched into multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) to supply power to and charge multiple vehicles 30, the power supply to the multiple vehicles 30 can be remotely monitored and efficiently controlled.

[0100] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently operate and control charging outlets and chargers of the charging circuits (up to eight sets of charging circuits in this embodiment) of multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) branched from the primary power line 11.

[0101] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the charging status in the charging circuits of the multiple secondary power lines 12(1) to 12(8) can be monitored, and the charging control required for charging the vehicle 30 such as an electric vehicle can be remotely performed from the charging management server 70 configured as a cloud system.

[0102] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the charging service providing system has the scalability to perform priority charging and interrupt charging based on a policy base, a rule base, a machine learning model, or the like.

[0103] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the amount of power in the main breaker (primary power line) is measured, and if it exceeds a target demand value (threshold value), charging of vehicles 30 such as electric cars is controlled, thereby making it possible to avoid power outages in the entire facility that shares the primary power line.

[0104] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to realize power usage management involving authentication of the power supplied from the outlet 20 and used to charge the battery 31 of the vehicle 30 without providing any additional device to the outlet 20.

[0105] The processing steps and components of the information processing device, terminal device, vehicle-mounted device, etc. described herein can be implemented by various means. For example, these steps and components may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0106] For hardware implementation, the means, such as processing units, used to implement the steps and components in an entity (e.g., a computer device, a server, a terminal device (user device, mobile station, communication terminal), an on-board device in a vehicle, a hard disk drive device, or an optical disk drive device) may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processors (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, computers, or combinations thereof.

[0107] Additionally, for firmware and / or software implementations, the means, such as processing units, used to implement the components may be implemented with programs (e.g., code, such as procedures, functions, modules, instructions, etc.) that perform the functions described herein. In general, any computer / processor-readable medium tangibly embodying firmware and / or software code may be used to implement the means, such as processing units, used to implement the steps and components described herein. For example, the firmware and / or software code may be stored in a memory and executed by a computer or processor, such as in a controller. The memory may be implemented within the computer or processor or external to the processor. Furthermore, the firmware and / or software code may be stored in a computer- or processor-readable medium, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, floppy disk, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), magnetic or optical data storage device, etc. The code may be executed by one or more computers or processors and may cause the computers or processors to perform certain aspects of the functionality described herein.

[0108] The medium may be a non-transitory recording medium. The program code may be in any format as long as it can be read and executed by a computer, processor, or other device or machine. For example, the program code may be in any of source code, object code, and binary code, or may be a mixture of two or more of these codes.

[0109] Moreover, the description of the embodiments disclosed herein is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 10:Charging HUB device 20, 20(1)~20(8): Outlet 21, 21(1)~21(8): Code image 30: Vehicle 31: Battery 32: External Communications Department 40: Power cable 41: Plug 50: User 51: Terminal device 60: Communication network 70: Charging management server 75: Maintenance management server

Claims

1. A system for providing a vehicle charging service, a branching device that branches a primary energy supply path that supplies electrical energy used to charge a battery mounted on the vehicle into a plurality of secondary energy supply paths; a management device capable of communicating with the branching device via a communication network; a plurality of power output units that output power supplied via each of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths, The management device an information receiving means for receiving, from the branching device, information on a measurement result of an energy supply state in each of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths of the branching device; an information generating means for determining the priority of charging and whether or not to allow interruption charging for the plurality of vehicles connected to the plurality of power output units based on information on the charging status via each of the plurality of power output units obtained from the measurement results and information on at least one supply target side of a user of the vehicle charging service, the vehicle, a battery installed in the vehicle, and a terminal device operated by the user, and generating control information for individually opening and closing each of the plurality of secondary-side energy supply paths; an information transmitting means for transmitting the control information to the branching device, The branching device is a secondary side measuring means for measuring an energy supply status in each of the plurality of secondary side energy supply paths; a switching unit that opens and closes each of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths; a control means for transmitting information on the measurement results of the secondary-side measurement means to a management device, receiving the control information generated by determining the priority of the charging and whether or not to allow the interrupt charging from the management device, and controlling the opening and closing means to individually open and close each of the plurality of secondary-side energy supply paths based on the control information; the priority of the charging and whether or not to allow the interrupt charging are determined so as to maximize charging efficiency or billing for all of the charging from the plurality of power output units via the plurality of secondary-side energy supply paths; A system characterized by:

2. 10. The system of claim 1, The priority of the charging and whether or not to allow the interrupt charging are determined by a program created based on preset policy information, by a conversion table created based on preset rules, or by a preset machine learning model. A system characterized by:

3. In the system of claim 1 or 2, the branching device includes a primary-side measuring means for measuring an energy supply status in the primary-side energy supply path, the control means of the branching device transmits information on the measurement results of the primary side measurement means to the management device, receives control information generated based on the information on the measurement results of the primary side measurement means from the management device, and controls the opening and closing means to individually open and close each of the plurality of secondary side energy supply paths based on the control information. A system characterized by:

4. In the system of claim 3, the primary-side measuring means of the branching device measures an amount of energy supplied in the primary-side energy supply path; the control means of the branching device controls the opening and closing means to close at least one of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths when a measurement result of the energy supply amount in the primary energy supply path exceeds a predetermined threshold value or when the measurement result is predicted to exceed the threshold value. A system characterized by:

5. 5. The system of claim 1, the control means of the branching device controls the switching means to supply energy preferentially to some of the plurality of secondary energy supply paths based on the priority information in the control information received from the management device. A system characterized by:

6. 6. The system of claim 1, the control means of the branching device controls the opening and closing means to stop energy supply to the secondary energy supply path in which energy is being supplied, and to start energy supply to the other secondary energy supply path in which energy supply is being stopped, based on information on whether the interruption charging is permitted in the control information received from the management device. A system characterized by:

7. 7. The system of claim 1, the primary energy supply path and the plurality of secondary energy supply paths are each a power line; The energy supply status to be measured is power, current, or amount of power. A system characterized by:

8. 8. The system of claim 1, The management device is a system characterized in that it includes a billing processing means that, for each of the multiple power output units, charges a usage fee for charging the vehicle via the power output unit based on information on the measurement results of the secondary side measurement means to at least one of the user of the vehicle's charging service, the vehicle, the battery installed in the vehicle, and a terminal device operated by the user.

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