Charging system

Abstract

To provide a charging system capable of starting a charging even in the case where a connector is not positioned at a home position in an automatic charging mode using an arm device.SOLUTION: A charging system of the present invention, comprises: a charging device with a charging cable having a connector being connected to a device main body; and an arm device that grips the connector, and automatically pulling / inserting the connector out / into a charging port of a vehicle positioned at a charging space, and can selectively execute a manual charging mode of manually pulling / inserting, by a user, the connector to perform the charging, and an automatic charging mode of automatically pulling / inserting, by the arm device, the connector to perform the charging. The charging system comprises: connector position detection means for detecting a position of the connector; and a control device that, when determining in the automatic charging mode, that the connector does not position at a home position, on the basis of a detection result of the connector position detection means charging mode, switches the mode to the manual charging mode, and executes a control of starting the charging.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0006] , , , , , ,

[0005] , , ,

[0003] , , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a charging device that enables selection between an automatic charging mode for automatically charging an electric vehicle battery during a predetermined charging time period and a manual charging mode for immediately starting charging when charging start is specified.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When performing automatic charging by grasping the connector of the charging device with a robotic arm, if the user manually inserts the connector into the charging port before the robotic arm inserts the connector into the vehicle's charging port, there is a risk that the position of the connector cannot be grasped and charging cannot be performed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a charging system that can start charging even when the connector is not in a fixed position in an automatic charging mode using an arm device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the charging system according to the present invention comprises a charging device to which a charging cable having a connector is connected to the main body of the device, and an arm device that grasps the connector and automatically inserts and removes the connector into and out of the charging port of a vehicle located in the charging space, and is a charging system that can selectively perform a manual charging mode in which the user manually inserts and removes the connector to perform charging, and an automatic charging mode in which the arm device inserts and removes the connector to perform charging, and is characterized by comprising a connector position detection means for detecting the position of the connector, and a control device that, in the automatic charging mode, executes control to switch to manual charging mode and start charging if it is determined that the connector is not in the correct position based on the detection result of the connector position detection means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The charging device according to the present invention has the effect that, in automatic charging mode, even if the user manually inserts the connector into the vehicle's charging port and the connector is not in the correct position, it can switch to manual charging mode and start charging. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a first example of charge control in the charging system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a second example of charge control in the charging system according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes in detail an embodiment of the charging system according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a charging system 1 according to an embodiment. The charging system 1 according to the embodiment comprises a charging device 2 and a charging robot 3. The charging device 2 comprises a device body 20, a charging cable 22 having a connector 21, a connector holder 23, a connector position detection means 24, and a charging control device 25. The end of the charging cable 22 opposite to the connector 21 is connected to the device body 20. The connector holder 23 is provided on the side of the device body 20 and holds the connector 21 in a detachable manner. In the charging system 1 according to the embodiment, the position in which the connector 21 is mounted and held in the connector holder 23 is defined as the fixed position of the connector 21. The connector position detection means 24 can use, for example, a camera provided on the same side of the device body 20 as the connector holder 23, and the camera detects whether the connector 21 is at least in the fixed position.

[0011] Furthermore, the method for detecting the connector position by the connector position detection means is not limited to detecting the connector position using a camera. For example, a proximity communication device may be used as the connector position detection means, and the connector position may be detected by proximity communication (Bluetooth® or infrared communication). Alternatively, a physical button or sensor provided on the connector holder 23 may be used as the connector position detection means, and the presence or absence of a connector 21 in the connector holder 23 may be detected by the physical button or sensor. In addition, as a method for detecting the connector position by the connector position detection means, the charging device 2 energizes the connector 21 via the charging cable 22 to check whether the battery (not shown) of the vehicle 4 can be charged. If energization is possible (charging is possible), the connector 21 is assumed to be inserted into the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4, and the connector position is detected.

[0012] The charging control device 25 can receive a charging start command from the user and selectively execute a manual charging mode in which the user manually inserts and removes the connector 21 from the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4 to perform charging, and an automatic charging mode in which the charging robot 3 automatically inserts and removes the connector 21 from the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4 to perform charging.

[0013] The charging robot 3, which is an arm device, comprises a robot body 30, a robot arm 31, and a robot control device 32. The robot arm 31 is mounted on the robot body 30 and its operation is controlled by the robot control device 32. The charging robot 3's robot arm 31 grasps the connector 21 of the charging device 2 and automatically inserts and removes the connector 21 from the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4 located in the charging space 5.

[0014] In the embodiment of the charging system 1, the charging control device 25 of the charging device 2 and the robot control device 32 of the charging robot 3 are capable of communicating with each other. For example, the robot control device 32 can control the operation of the robot arm 31 when the automatic charging mode is being executed, based on information regarding the charging start instruction received by the charging control device 25.

[0015] In the charging system 1 according to this embodiment, after receiving a charging start instruction from the user, if manual charging mode is selected, the system executes manual charging mode and starts charging in manual charging mode. If automatic charging mode is selected, the system executes automatic charging mode and first detects the connector position using the connector position detection means 24. If the connector 21 is in a fixed position such as the connector holder 23 provided on the charging device 2, charging starts in automatic charging mode. That is, the charging robot 3 automatically inserts the connector 21 into the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4 located in the charging space 5 and starts charging. On the other hand, if the connector 21 is not in a fixed position, the system determines that the user has manually inserted the connector 21 into the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4, switches from automatic charging mode to manual charging mode, and starts charging in manual charging mode.

[0016] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a first example of charging control in the charging system 1 according to the embodiment. First, the charging control device 25 of the charging device 2 of the charging system 1 receives a charging start instruction from the user using a communication terminal such as a smartphone or an operation panel (not shown) provided on the main body 20 of the charging device 2 (step S1). Next, the charging control device 25 determines whether or not the automatic charging mode is selected based on the information regarding the charging start instruction from the user (step S2). If the charging control device 25 determines that the automatic charging mode is not selected (manual charging mode is selected) (No in step S2), it executes the manual charging mode (step S3). Next, the charging control device 25 starts charging in manual charging mode (step S4). Next, when the charging completion conditions are met, such as when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging or when the battery of the vehicle 4 has been charged to a predetermined amount, the charging control device 25 ends charging in manual charging mode (step S5). Then, the charging control device 25 ends the series of charging control.

[0017] On the other hand, in step S2, if the charging control device 25 determines that the automatic charging mode is selected (Yes in step S2), it executes the automatic charging mode (step S6). Next, the charging control device 25 detects the connector position using the connector position detection means 24 (step S7). Next, the charging control device 25 determines whether the connector 21 is in the correct position based on the detection result of the connector position detection means 24 (step S8). If the charging control device 25 determines that the connector 21 is in the correct position (Yes in step S8), it communicates with the robot control device 32 of the charging robot 3 and starts charging in automatic charging mode (step S9). Next, when the charging control device 25 has met the charging completion conditions, such as whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging or whether the vehicle 4's battery has been charged to a predetermined amount, it terminates charging in automatic charging mode (step S10). Then, the charging control device 25 terminates the series of charging controls.

[0018] On the other hand, in step S8, if the charging control device 25 determines that the connector 21 is not in the correct position (No in step S8), it switches to manual charging mode (step S11). Next, the charging control device 25 starts charging in manual charging mode (step S12). Next, when the charging completion conditions are met, such as when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging or when the battery of the vehicle 4 has been charged to a predetermined amount, the charging control device 25 ends charging in manual charging mode (step S13). Then, the charging control device 25 ends the series of charging controls.

[0019] In the charging system 1 according to this embodiment, if it is determined that the connector 21 is not in its designated position in automatic charging mode, the system can switch to manual charging mode and perform charging by assuming that the user has manually inserted the connector 21 into the charging port 40 of the vehicle 4. This prevents an error from occurring in automatic charging mode, where the charging robot 3 cannot grasp the connector 21 with the robot arm 31 due to the connector 21 not being in its designated position, thus preventing charging from being performed. The determination of the connector position based on the detection results of the connector position detection means 24, and the determination of manual charging mode and automatic charging mode, may be performed by the robot control device 32.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second example of charging control in the charging system 1 according to the embodiment. First, a charging control device 25 included in the charging device 2 of the charging system 1 receives a charging start instruction from a user, which is performed using a communication terminal such as a smartphone or an operation panel (not shown) provided on the device body 20 of the charging device 2 (step S21). Next, the charging control device 25 determines whether or not the automatic charging mode is selected based on the information regarding the charging start instruction from the user (step S22). When the charging control device 25 determines that the automatic charging mode is not selected (the manual charging mode is selected) (No in step S22), it executes the manual charging mode (step S23). Next, the charging control device 25 starts charging in the manual charging mode (step S24). Next, when the charging control device 25 satisfies the charging completion conditions such as whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging or whether the battery of the vehicle 4 has been charged to a predetermined amount, it ends the charging in the manual charging mode (step S25). Then, the charging control device 25 ends a series of charging controls.

[0021] On the other hand, in step S2, when the charging control device 25 determines that the automatic charging mode is selected (Yes in step S22), it executes the automatic charging mode (step S26). Next, the charging control device 25 performs a power-on check (step S27). Next, the charging control device 25 determines whether or not power-on is impossible (power-on is possible) (step S28). When the charging control device 25 determines that power-on is impossible (Yes in step S28), it determines that the connector 21 is in a fixed position (step S29). Next, the charging control device 25 communicates with the robot control device 32 of the charging robot 3 and starts charging in the automatic charging mode (step S30). Next, when the charging control device 25 satisfies the charging completion conditions such as whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging or whether the battery of the vehicle 4 has been charged to a predetermined amount, it ends the charging in the automatic charging mode (step S31). Then, the charging control device 25 ends a series of charging controls.

[0022] On the other hand, in step S28, when the charging control device 25 determines that power supply is possible (No in step S28), it determines that the connector 21 is not in the fixed position (step S32). Next, the charging control device 25 switches to the manual charging mode (step S33). Next, the charging control device 25 starts charging in the manual charging mode (step S34). Next, when the charging control device 25 satisfies the charging completion conditions such as whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging or whether the battery of the vehicle 4 has been charged to a predetermined amount, it ends the charging in the manual charging mode (step S35). Then, the charging control device 25 ends a series of charging controls.

[0023] In the charging system 1 according to the embodiment, in the automatic charging mode, a power supply check is executed. When power supply is possible, if the user manually inserts the connector 21 into the charging port 40 and it is determined that the connector 21 is not in the fixed position, the charging mode can be switched to the manual charging mode to perform charging. Thereby, in the automatic charging mode, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an error where the charging robot 3 cannot grasp the connector 21 by the robot arm 31 due to the connector 21 not being in the fixed position, resulting in the inability to perform charging.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0024] 1 Charging system, 2 Charging device, 3 Charging robot, 4 Vehicle, 5 Charging space, 20 Device main body, 21 Connector, 22 Charging cable, 23 Connector holder, 24 Connector position detection means, 25 Charging control device, 30 Robot main body, 31 Robot arm, 32 Robot control device, 40 Charging port.

Claims

[Claim 1] A charging device in which a charging cable with a connector is connected to the main body of the device, An arm device that grasps the connector and automatically inserts and removes the connector from the charging port of a vehicle located in the charging space, Equipped with, A charging system that can selectively perform a manual charging mode in which the user grasps the connector and manually inserts and removes the connector from the charging port to charge, and an automatic charging mode in which the arm device inserts and removes the connector to charge, A connector position detection means for detecting the position of the connector, with the position in which the connector is mounted and held in the connector holder provided on the charging device being defined as the fixed position of the connector. A control device that, when executing the automatic charging mode and determining, based on the detection result of the connector position detection means, that the connector is not in the designated position, switches from the automatic charging mode to the manual charging mode and performs control to start charging in the manual charging mode, A charging system characterized by having the following features.

Images