Charging control device, charging control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a charging control device, a charging control method, and a program that can suppress restrictions that may occur on daily power usage by securing charging power for a mobile object.SOLUTION: In a house where a mobile object, a charging device for charging the mobile object, and a charging control device are located in a garage, the charging control device 30 includes an acquisition unit 90 that acquires information supplied from an electronic device in the house, a determination unit 92 that determines whether a resident 50 in the house has gone to bed on the basis of information acquired by the acquisition unit 90, and a control unit 94 that charges the mobile object using a charging device installed in the house when the determination unit determines that the resident has gone to bed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging control device, a charging control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, research and development on charging and discharging in mobility equipped with secondary batteries that contribute to energy efficiency have been conducted in order to ensure more people's access to handy, reliable, sustainable, and advanced energy.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses restricting the power supplied to home-installed electrical equipment so as to secure the amount of electric power set as the charging power to an electric vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] There is a problem that restrictions can occur in daily power use when charging power to a moving body is secured as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and by extension, contribute to energy efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is a charging control device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires information supplied from electronic devices in a house; a determination unit that determines whether or not a person staying in the house has gone to sleep based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and a control unit that, if the determination unit determines that the person staying in the house has gone to sleep, performs charging of a mobile device using a charging device provided in the house.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is a charging control method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring information supplied from an electronic device in a house; a determination step of determining whether or not a person staying in the house has gone to sleep based on the information acquired in the acquisition step; and a control step of charging a mobile device using a charging device provided in the house if it is determined in the determination step that the person staying in sleep has gone to sleep.

[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to perform the following steps: an acquisition step of acquiring information supplied from electronic devices in a house; a determination step of determining whether or not a person staying in the house has gone to sleep based on the information acquired in the acquisition step; and a control step of charging a mobile device using a charging device provided in the house if the determination step determines that the person staying in sleep has gone to sleep. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the limitations that may arise in daily power use due to charging a mobile device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the arrangement of a charging control device that charges a mobile object using a charging device. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the charging control device. [Figure 3]Figure 3A illustrates a table for determining whether a resident has gone to sleep based on information indicating that the lights have been turned off. Figure 3B illustrates a table for determining whether a resident has gone to sleep based on information obtained by a motion sensor that detects resident presence in the house. Figure 3C illustrates a table for determining whether a resident has gone to sleep based on information indicating the sleep status of a resident in the house. Figure 3D illustrates a table for determining whether a resident has gone to sleep based on information indicating the usage status of communication devices possessed by a resident in the house. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing steps of the charging control process performed by the charging control device. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a modified charging control device. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the processing steps of the charging control process performed by the charging control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Figure 1 shows an example of the arrangement of a charging control device 30 that charges a mobile body 20 using a charging device 10. The charging device 10, mobile body 20, and charging control device 30 are located in a garage 42 inside a house 40. In this embodiment, the charging device 10, mobile body 20, and charging control device 30 are located in a garage 42 inside a house 40, but they may also be located outside the house 40. The charging control device 30 is communicatively connected to the charging device 10. In addition to the garage 42, the house 40 is provided with a bedroom 44, a study 46, and a living room 48. At least one occupant 50 is staying inside the house 40.

[0013] Examples of electronic devices within the residence 40 include a lighting fixture 60, a motion sensor 62, an air conditioning unit 64 equipped with the motion sensor 62, a sensor 66 that acquires sleep state information, and a communication device 68. The sleep state information is information indicating the sleep state of the occupants 50.

[0014] Bedroom 44 is equipped with a lighting fixture 60 and an air conditioner 64 equipped with a human presence sensor 62. The study 46 is equipped with a lighting fixture 60A and an air conditioner 64A equipped with a human presence sensor 62A. The living room 48 is equipped with a lighting fixture 60B and an air conditioner 64B equipped with a human presence sensor 62B. The occupant 50 possesses a sensor 66 and a communication device 68.

[0015] The charging control device 30 acquires information supplied from electronic devices within the house 40 by wireless communication. The lighting fixture 60 supplies information indicating that the lighting fixture 60 has been turned off to the charging control device 30. The lighting fixtures 60A and 60B are the same as the lighting fixture 60.

[0016] The human presence sensor 62 detects the occupant 50. The human presence sensors 62A and 62B are the same as the human presence sensor 62. The air conditioner 64 supplies the information acquired by the human presence sensor 62 to the charging control device 30. The air conditioners 64A and 64B are the same as the air conditioner 64.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, when the occupant 50 goes to bed in the bedroom 44, the sensor 66 is in the bedroom 44. The sensor 66 supplies sleep state information to the charging control device 30. The sensor 66 is, for example, an activity meter. The activity meter measures the heart rate and body movement. It is known that the state regarding sleep is represented by the heart rate and body movement. The activity meter supplies the information on the heart rate and body movement as sleep state information to the charging control device 30.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, when the occupant 50 goes to bed in the bedroom 44, the communication device 68 is in the bedroom 44. The communication device 68 supplies information indicating the usage state of the communication device 68 to the charging control device 30. The communication device 68 is, for example, a smartphone. When the state of not being used continues for a certain period of time, the smartphone transitions to the sleep mode. The smartphone supplies information indicating that it has transitioned to the sleep mode to the charging control device 30.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the charging control device 30. The charging control device 30 includes a processing circuit 80 and a storage unit 82. The processing circuit 80 includes a processor such as a CPU or a GPU. The storage unit 82 includes a volatile memory such as a RAM and a non-volatile memory such as a ROM or a flash memory. The volatile memory is used as a working memory of the processor. The non-volatile memory stores programs executed by the processor and other necessary data.

[0020] The processing circuit 80 includes an acquisition unit 90, a determination unit 92, and a control unit 94. By executing the program stored in the storage unit 82 by the processing circuit 80, the acquisition unit 90, the determination unit 92, and the control unit 94 are realized. At least a part of the acquisition unit 90, the determination unit 92, and the control unit 94 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA, or an electronic circuit including discrete devices.

[0021] The acquisition unit 90 acquires information supplied from electronic devices in the house 40. The determination unit 92 determines whether or not the occupant 50 in the house 40 has gone to bed based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90. When it is determined by the determination unit 9 that the occupant 50 has gone to bed, the control unit 94 charges the mobile body 20 using the charging device 10 provided in the garage 42 in the house 40.

[0022] FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a table 110 for determining whether or not the occupant 50 in the house 40 has gone to bed based on information indicating that the lighting fixtures 60, 60A, and 60B have been turned off. Charging of the mobile body 20 using the charging device 10 is performed at night. As shown in the table 110, when all of the lighting fixtures 60 in the bedroom 44, the lighting fixture 60A in the study 46, and the lighting fixture 60B in the living room 48 are turned off at night, it is presumed that the occupant 50 has gone to bed.

[0023] Table 110 is pre-stored in the storage unit 82. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 matches the contents of Table 110, the determination unit 92 determines that the resident 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 uses the charging device 10 to charge the mobile unit 20. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 does not match the contents of Table 110, the determination unit 92 does not determine that the resident 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 does not yet start charging the mobile unit 20.

[0024] Figure 3B illustrates a table 112 used to determine whether or not a person 50 has gone to sleep, based on information obtained by motion sensors 62, 62A, and 62B that detect a person 50 in the house 40. As shown in detection result R1 of table 112, if the detection result of the motion sensor 62 in the bedroom 44 is "detected", it is presumed that the person 50 has gone to sleep.

[0025] If a house 40 has multiple bedrooms 44 and multiple occupants 50 sleep in multiple bedrooms 44, the detection results of the motion sensors 62 in the multiple bedrooms 44 are used to estimate whether the occupants 50 are asleep. If the detection result of the motion sensors 62 in the multiple bedrooms 44 is "detected", it is estimated that the multiple occupants 50 are asleep.

[0026] As shown in the detection result R2 of Table 112, even if the detection results of all motion sensors 62A and 62B other than the motion sensor 62 in the bedroom 44 are "not detected", it is presumed that the occupant 50 went to sleep. In other words, if the detection result of the motion sensor 62A in the study 46 and the detection result of the motion sensor 62B in the living room 48 are both "not detected", it is presumed that the occupant 50 went to sleep.

[0027] Table 112 is pre-stored in the storage unit 82. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 matches at least one of the detection results R1 and R2 shown in Table 112, the determination unit 92 determines that the occupant 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 charges the mobile body 20 using the charging device 10. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 does not match the detection result R1 or R2 in Table 112, the determination unit 92 does not determine that the occupant 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 does not yet start charging the mobile body 20.

[0028] Figure 3C illustrates a table 114 used to determine whether or not a resident 50 has gone to sleep, based on information indicating the sleep status of the resident 50 in the residence 40. As shown in table 114, if the sleep status information supplied by the sensor 66 carried by the resident 50 indicates that the resident 50 is asleep, it is presumed that the resident 50 has gone to sleep.

[0029] When multiple occupants 50 are staying in the residence 40, sleep state information supplied from multiple sensors 66 held by the multiple occupants 50 is used for estimation. If the sleep state information supplied from the multiple sensors 66 indicates that the multiple occupants 50 are sleeping, it is estimated that the multiple occupants 50 are asleep.

[0030] Table 114 is pre-stored in the storage unit 82. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 matches the contents of Table 114, the determination unit 92 determines that the resident 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 uses the charging device 10 to charge the mobile unit 20. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 does not match the contents of Table 114, the determination unit 92 does not determine that the resident 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 does not yet start charging the mobile unit 20.

[0031] Figure 3D illustrates a table 116 used to determine whether or not a resident 50 has gone to sleep, based on information indicating the usage status of a communication device 68 owned by the resident 50 in the residence 40. As shown in table 116, if the communication device 68 owned by the resident 50 is not being used, it is presumed that the resident 50 has gone to sleep.

[0032] When multiple occupants 50 are staying in a residence 40, information indicating the usage status of multiple communication devices 68, which are possessed by the multiple occupants 50, is used for estimation. If the information indicating the usage status supplied by the multiple communication devices 68 indicates that the multiple communication devices 68 are not being used, it is presumed that the multiple occupants 50 are asleep.

[0033] Table 116 is pre-stored in the storage unit 82. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 matches the contents of Table 116, the determination unit 92 determines that the resident 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 uses the charging device 10 to charge the mobile unit 20. If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 does not match the contents of Table 116, the determination unit 92 does not determine that the resident 50 has gone to sleep. In that case, the control unit 94 does not yet start charging the mobile unit 20.

[0034] The determination unit 92 uses at least one of tables 110, 112, 114, and 116 to determine whether or not the resident 50 has gone to sleep.

[0035] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the charging control process performed by the charging control device 30. This processing procedure is performed, for example, by the processing circuit 80 of the charging control device 30 executing a program stored in the storage unit 82. When this processing procedure is started, in step S10, the acquisition unit 90 acquires information supplied from electronic devices in the house 40.

[0036] In step S12, the determination unit 92 determines, based on the information obtained in step S10, whether or not the occupants 50 in the residence 40 have gone to sleep. If the result in step S12 is YES, the process proceeds to step S14. If the result in step S12 is NO, the process returns to step S10.

[0037] In step S14, the control unit 94 charges the mobile unit 20 using the charging device 10 provided in the house 40. Once charging is complete, this process procedure ends.

[0038] [Differentiation] The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0039] If the information acquired by the acquisition unit 90 matches the contents of at least one of tables 110, 112, 114, and 116, it is presumed that the occupant 50 has gone to sleep. However, the occupant 50 may resume activity and use electricity shortly thereafter. If charging of the mobile unit 20 has already begun at that point, there is a risk that the electricity usage associated with the occupant 50 resuming activity may be restricted.

[0040] In this modified charging control device 30, if the state in which the occupant 50 is presumed to be asleep continues for a time threshold or longer, it is determined that the occupant 50 is asleep. Subsequently, charging is started. To improve the accuracy of determining whether or not the occupant 50 is asleep, it is preferable that the time threshold be of a sufficient length. However, if the time threshold is too long, there is a possibility that the occupant 50 will wake up and start activities before charging is complete. Considering that the charging time will be longer when the battery level of the mobile body 20 is low, the time threshold is determined according to the battery level. Specifically, the lower the battery level, the smaller the time threshold, thereby ensuring sufficient charging time.

[0041] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a modified charging control device 30A. The charging control device 30A includes a processing circuit 80A and a storage unit 82. The processing circuit 80A of the charging control device 30A shown in Figure 5 is equipped with a battery level information acquisition unit 130, a determination unit 132, and a timing unit 134, which are not present in the processing circuit 80 of the charging control device 30 shown in Figure 2. The processing circuit 80A includes a processor such as a CPU or GPU.

[0042] The processing circuit 80A includes an acquisition unit 90, a determination unit 92, a control unit 94, a battery level information acquisition unit 130, a decision unit 132, and a timing unit 134. The acquisition unit 90, the determination unit 92, the control unit 94, the battery level information acquisition unit 130, the decision unit 132, and the timing unit 134 are realized when the processing circuit 80A executes a program stored in the storage unit 82. At least a part of the acquisition unit 90, the determination unit 92, the control unit 94, the battery level information acquisition unit 130, the decision unit 132, and the timing unit 134 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA, or by an electronic circuit including discrete devices.

[0043] The battery level information acquisition unit 130 acquires battery level information from the charging device 10, which indicates the remaining battery level of the battery provided in the mobile unit 20. In this modified example, the battery level information is acquired from the charging device 10, but if the charging control device 30 and the mobile unit 20 can communicate with each other, the battery level information may also be acquired from the mobile unit 20.

[0044] The determination unit 132 determines the time threshold based on the battery level information. The smaller the battery level, the smaller the time threshold. For example, if the battery level (SOC: State of Charge) is 50% or more, the time threshold is set to 2 hours, and if the battery level is less than 50%, the time threshold is set to 1 hour.

[0045] The timekeeping unit 134 has a clock circuit or timer circuit and measures time. Based on the time information from the clock circuit or timer circuit, the timekeeping unit 134 measures the elapsed time since it was first estimated that the occupant 50 had gone to sleep and timekeeping began.

[0046] The determination unit 92 repeatedly determines whether or not the occupant 50 is presumed to be asleep until the elapsed time since the start of timing exceeds a time threshold. If the state in which the occupant 50 is presumed to be asleep continues for longer than the time threshold, the determination unit 92 determines that the occupant 50 is asleep. If the determination unit 92 determines that the occupant 50 is asleep, the control unit 94 uses the charging device 10 to charge the mobile body 20.

[0047] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the charging control process performed by the charging control device 30A. This processing procedure is performed, for example, by the processing circuit 80A of the charging control device 30A executing a program stored in the memory unit 82. When this processing procedure is started, in step S30, the battery level information acquisition unit 130 acquires battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of the mobile unit 20.

[0048] In step S32, the determination unit 132 determines a time threshold based on the battery level information acquired in step S30. In step S34, the acquisition unit 90 acquires information supplied from electronic devices in the dwelling 40. In step S36, the determination unit 92 determines, based on the information acquired in step S34, whether or not it is presumed that the occupant 50 in the dwelling 40 has gone to sleep. If the result in step S36 is YES, the process proceeds to step S38. If the result in step S36 is NO, the process returns to step S34.

[0049] In step S38, the timing unit 134 starts timing. In step S40, the acquisition unit 90 acquires information supplied from electronic devices inside the house 40. In step S42, the determination unit 92 determines, based on the information acquired in step S40, whether or not it is presumed that the occupant 50 inside the house 40 has gone to sleep. If the result in step S42 is YES, the process proceeds to step S44. If the result in step S42 is NO, the process proceeds to step S70. If the result in step S42 is NO, in step S70, the timing unit 134 stops timing. Once the processing in step S70 is complete, the process returns to step S34.

[0050] If the answer in step S42 is YES, in step S44 the determination unit 92 determines whether the elapsed time since the start of timing in step S38 is equal to or greater than the time threshold determined in step S32. If the answer in step S44 is YES, this processing procedure proceeds to step S46. If the answer in step S44 is NO, this processing procedure returns to step S40. The series of processes from step S40 to step S44 are performed once or more times until the state in which the occupant 50 is presumed to be asleep continues for a period of time equal to or greater than the time threshold since the start of timing in step S38.

[0051] In step S46, the timing unit 134 stops timing. Since the state in which the occupant 50 is presumed to be asleep has continued for a time threshold or longer, in step S48, the determination unit 92 determines that the occupant 50 in the house 40 has gone to sleep. In step S50, the control unit 94 charges the mobile unit 20 using the charging device 10 provided in the house 40. Once charging is complete, this processing procedure ends.

[0052] [Invention obtained from the embodiment] The inventions that can be understood from the above embodiments and modified examples are described below.

[0053] (1) The charging control device (30) includes an acquisition unit (90) that acquires information supplied from electronic devices in the house (40), a determination unit (92) that determines whether or not the occupant (50) in the house has gone to sleep based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a control unit (94) that, if the determination unit determines that the occupant has gone to sleep, charges the mobile device (20) using a charging device (10) provided in the house. This makes it possible to suppress the constraints that may arise on daily power use due to charging the mobile device.

[0054] (2) The electronic device includes lighting fixtures (60, 60A, 60B) installed in the dwelling, and the determination unit may determine whether the occupant has gone to sleep based on the information indicating that the lighting fixtures have been turned off. This makes it possible to determine with high accuracy whether the occupant in the dwelling has gone to sleep.

[0055] (3) The electronic device includes motion sensors (62, 62A, 62B) for detecting the occupant, and the determination unit may determine whether the occupant has gone to sleep based on the information obtained by the motion sensors. This makes it possible to determine with high accuracy whether the occupant in the house has gone to sleep.

[0056] (4) The electronic device includes a sensor (66) that acquires sleep state information, which is information indicating the sleep state of the occupant, and the determination unit may determine whether or not the occupant has gone to sleep based on the sleep state information. This makes it possible to determine with high accuracy whether or not the occupant in the house has gone to sleep.

[0057] (5) The electronic device includes a communication device (68) owned by the occupant, and the determination unit may determine whether the occupant has gone to sleep based on the information indicating the usage status of the communication device. This makes it possible to determine with high accuracy whether the occupant in the house has gone to sleep.

[0058] (6) The charging control device further includes a battery level information acquisition unit (130) that acquires information indicating the remaining battery level of the battery installed in the mobile body, and the determination unit determines that the resident has fallen asleep if the state in which it is estimated that the resident has fallen asleep continues for a time threshold or longer, and the time threshold may be smaller if the battery level is small. This makes it possible to further reduce the constraints that may arise on daily power use due to charging the mobile body.

[0059] (7) The charging control method comprises an acquisition step of acquiring information supplied from electronic devices in the house (40), a determination step of determining whether or not the occupant (50) in the house has gone to sleep based on the information acquired in the acquisition step, and a control step of charging the mobile device (20) using a charging device (10) provided in the house if it is determined in the determination step that the occupant has gone to sleep. This makes it possible to suppress the constraints that may arise on daily power use due to charging the mobile device.

[0060] (8) The program causes the computer to perform the following steps: an acquisition step of acquiring information supplied from electronic devices in the house (40); a determination step of determining whether or not the occupant (50) in the house has gone to sleep based on the information acquired in the acquisition step; and a control step of charging the mobile device (20) using the charging device (10) provided in the house if the determination step determines that the occupant has gone to sleep. This makes it possible to reduce the constraints that may arise on daily power use due to charging the mobile device.

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the disclosure described above, and can take various configurations without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 10...Charging device 20...Moving object 30...Charging control device 40...Housing 42...Garage 44...Bedroom 46...Study 48...Living room 50... Residents 60... Lighting fixtures 62…Motion sensor 64…Air conditioning unit 66...Sensors 68...Communication equipment 80... Processing circuit 82... Memory unit 90...Acquisition section 92...Judgment section 94...Control unit 110, 112, 114, 116...Table 130...Battery level information acquisition unit 132...Determination unit 134...Timekeeping section

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires information supplied from electronic devices within the house, A determination unit determines whether or not the occupant in the residence has gone to sleep based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit, When the determination unit determines that the occupant has gone to sleep, the control unit performs charging of the mobile device using the charging device installed in the dwelling. A battery level information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the remaining battery level, which is the remaining amount of the battery installed in the mobile device. Equipped with, The determination unit determines that the resident has fallen asleep if the state in which the resident is presumed to be asleep continues for a time threshold or longer. A charging control device wherein the time threshold decreases as the remaining battery level decreases.

2. A charging control device according to claim 1, The aforementioned electronic equipment includes lighting fixtures installed in the aforementioned residence, The determination unit is a charging control device that determines whether or not the occupant has gone to sleep based on the information indicating that the lighting fixture has been turned off.

3. A charging control device according to claim 1, The electronic device includes a motion sensor for detecting the person present, The determination unit is a charging control device that determines whether or not the occupant has gone to sleep based on information acquired by the motion sensor.

4. A charging control device according to claim 1, The electronic device includes a sensor that acquires sleep state information, which is information indicating the sleep state of the person staying there. The determination unit is a charging control device that determines whether or not the occupant has fallen asleep based on the sleep state information.

5. A charging control device according to claim 1, The aforementioned electronic devices include communication devices possessed by the resident, The determination unit is a charging control device that determines whether or not the occupant has gone to sleep based on the information indicating the usage status of the communication device.

6. The acquisition step involves obtaining information supplied from electronic devices within the home, A determination step is made to determine whether or not the occupant in the residence has gone to sleep, based on the information obtained in the acquisition step, If the determination step determines that the occupant has gone to sleep, the control step involves charging the mobile device using the charging device provided in the dwelling. A battery level information acquisition step involves acquiring information indicating the remaining battery level, which is the remaining amount of the battery installed in the mobile device. Equipped with, In the determination step, if the state in which the resident is presumed to be asleep continues for a time threshold or longer, it is determined that the resident has fallen asleep. A charging control method wherein the time threshold decreases as the remaining battery level decreases.

7. The acquisition step involves obtaining information supplied from electronic devices within the home, A determination step is made to determine whether or not the occupant in the residence has gone to sleep, based on the information obtained in the acquisition step, If the determination step determines that the occupant has gone to sleep, the control step involves charging the mobile device using the charging device provided in the dwelling. A battery level information acquisition step involves acquiring information indicating the remaining battery level, which is the remaining amount of the battery installed in the mobile device. A program that causes a computer to execute, In the determination step, if the state in which the resident is presumed to be asleep continues for a time threshold or longer, it is determined that the resident has fallen asleep. A program in which the time threshold decreases as the battery level decreases.

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