Charging control device

Abstract

To provide a charging control device capable of simply and accurately determining the pairing status between a vehicle and a charger.SOLUTION: The charging control device includes a control unit that creates a vehicle charging plan and outputs the created charging plan to a charger. When the control unit determines, on the basis of information acquired from multiple vehicles, that multiple vehicles are connected to a single charger, it outputs a predetermined test charging plan to the charger to initiate charging for the multiple vehicles, on the basis of changes in an SOC acquired from the multiple vehicles, and it identifies which of the multiple vehicles is actually connected to the charger.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging control device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for identifying the charging efficiency of a charger connected to a vehicle based on the identification information of the charger, creating a charging plan in consideration of the charging efficiency, and transmitting the charging plan to the vehicle through a network.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, if there is an error in the association between the vehicle and the charger, there is a risk that charging cannot be performed correctly, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a charging control device that can easily and accurately determine the state of association between a vehicle and a charger.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The charging control device according to the present disclosure includes a control unit that creates a charging plan for a vehicle and outputs the created charging plan to a charger. When the control unit determines, based on information acquired from a plurality of vehicles, that the plurality of vehicles are connected to one charger, the control unit outputs a predetermined charging plan for inspection to the charger to start charging for the plurality of vehicles, and identifies, based on changes in the SOC acquired from the plurality of vehicles, the vehicles actually connected to the charger among the plurality of vehicles. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the status of the connection between the vehicle and the charger can be easily and accurately determined. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a charging control system including a charging control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the charging control device in which it is determined that multiple vehicles are connected to a single charger. [Figure 3] Figure 3 illustrates a case in which, in a charging control device according to an embodiment, when it is determined that multiple vehicles are connected to a single charger, the device charges multiple vehicles based on a test charging plan. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the charging control device in which it is determined that multiple vehicles are connected to a single charger. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the charging control method executed by the charging control device according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A charging control device according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable or substantially identical to those that are replaceable by a person skilled in the art.

[0010] (Charging control system) A charging control system including a charging control device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the charging control system includes a charging control device 1, a charger 2, and vehicles 4 and 5. The charging control device 1, the charger 2, and the vehicles 4 and 5 are configured to communicate with each other through a network N. This network N consists of, for example, an internet network, a mobile phone network, etc.

[0011] The charging control device 1 controls the charger 2 that charges the vehicles 4 and 5. The charging control device 1 is implemented by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or personal computer located in the cloud or locally. The charging control device 1 also includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage unit 13.

[0012] The control unit 11 is implemented by a processor, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and memory (main memory unit), such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory).

[0013] The control unit 11 creates a charging plan for vehicles 4 and 5 and outputs (transmits) the created charging plan to the charger 2. The control unit 11 also obtains information about the charger 2 to which each of the multiple vehicles 4 and 5 is connected (hereinafter referred to as "connection information"). Based on this connection information, the control unit 11 determines which vehicle is connected to the charger 2 and outputs a charging plan corresponding to the determined vehicle to the charger 2.

[0014] The control unit 11 may either create a charging plan after determining which vehicle is connected to the charger 2 and output it to the charger 2, or it may output a pre-created charging plan to the charger 2. An example of a charging plan would be, "The vehicle will arrive at the business premises at 6 PM today and depart at 6 AM the following day, so charge the vehicle so that its State of Charge (SOC) reaches 100% between 6 PM today and 6 AM the following day."

[0015] The communication unit 12 consists of, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board and a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication. The communication unit 12 exchanges various information with the charger 2 and vehicles 4 and 5 through communication via the network N.

[0016] The storage unit 13 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), and removable media. Examples of removable media include USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and BD (Blu-ray® Disc). The storage unit 13 can also store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like.

[0017] The memory unit 13 stores, for example, the charging plans for vehicles 4 and 5 created by the control unit 11, as needed. Note that these charging plans may be created by a device other than the control unit 11 and stored in the memory unit 13 in advance.

[0018] Charger 2 is a device for charging vehicles 4 and 5, and is installed, for example, at a charging station or business premises. This charger 2, for example, is equipped with only one charging cable and can only charge either vehicle 4 or 5 at a time.

[0019] Vehicles 4 and 5 are electric vehicles such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). When vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to the charger 2 for charging, they output connection information regarding the charger 2 to which the host vehicle is connected to the charge control device 1. This connection information includes at least information (such as an ID, etc.) that can identify the charger 2 and the vehicles 4 and 5. Also, vehicles 4 and 5 output information regarding the SOC of the host vehicle to the charge control device 1. Note that vehicles 4 and 5 may output information regarding the SOC to the charge control device 1 periodically, or may output information regarding the SOC in response to a request from the charge control device 1.

[0020] Here, the connection information regarding the charger 2 to which the vehicles 4 and 5 are connected is output to the charge control device 1, for example, by a manual operation of the driver of the vehicles 4 and 5. In this case, for example, when the driver of the vehicle 4 or 5 operates a button, switch, etc. installed in the vehicle interior of the corresponding vehicle 4 or 5, the connection information is output to the charge control device 1.

[0021] In such a case, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, due to the occurrence of driver operation errors, system bugs, etc., it is assumed that connection information indicating that the vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to the charger 2 is output to the charge control device 1 from each of the vehicles 4 and 5. In this case, the control unit 11 that has acquired the connection information from the vehicles 4 and 5 determines that a plurality of vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to one charger 2. Note that in the example of FIG. 2, it shows a case where vehicle 4 is actually connected to the charger 2 and vehicle 5 is not connected to the charger 2.

[0022] Thus, when it is determined that a plurality of vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to one charger 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 outputs a charging plan for inspection, which is predetermined, to the charger 2. This charging plan for inspection is, for example, a low-power and short-time charging plan such as "charge at 6 kW for 5 minutes", and is a charging plan such that the SOC of the vehicles 4 and 5 changes beyond the error range.

[0023] Next, the charger 2, having acquired a test charging plan, begins charging multiple vehicles 4, 5 (actually only vehicle 4) based on the test charging plan. Subsequently, the control unit 11 acquires SOC information from the multiple vehicles 4, 5 and identifies which of the multiple vehicles 4, 5 is actually connected to the charger 2 based on the change in SOC of each vehicle 4, 5.

[0024] For example, in Figure 3, in vehicle 4, which is actually connected to charger 2, the SOC increases slightly as charging is performed based on the test charging plan. On the other hand, in vehicle 5, which is not connected to charger 2, no charging is performed, so naturally the SOC does not change. As a result, the control unit 11 identifies vehicle 4 as the one actually connected to charger 2 and outputs a charging plan corresponding to vehicle 4 to charger 2, thereby charging vehicle 4. Meanwhile, the control unit 11 notifies vehicle 5, which is not connected to charger 2, that the connection information is incorrect.

[0025] In Figure 2, an example is shown in which the drivers of vehicles 4 and 5 output connection information regarding the charger 2 to which their vehicles are connected to the charging control device 1. However, the method of outputting connection information is not limited to this. For example, the driver may identify the charger 2 to which their vehicle is connected based on the vehicle's position determined using GPS (Global Positioning System), the distance between the vehicle and the charger 2, etc., and then output connection information regarding the identified charger 2 from vehicle 4 or 5 to the charging control device 1.

[0026] Even in such cases, as shown in Figure 4, for example, if a misrecognition or error occurs in the GPS sensor, or if there is an abnormality in the position / distance determination system, it is expected that connection information indicating that both vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to the charger 2 will be output to the charging control device 1. In the example in Figure 4, vehicle 4 is actually connected to the charger 2, while vehicle 5 is connected to a different charger 3.

[0027] Even in such cases, as shown in Figure 4, the control unit 11 outputs a predetermined test charge plan to the charger 2, thereby starting to charge the multiple vehicles 4 and 5. For example, in Figure 3, in vehicle 4, which is actually connected to charger 2, the SOC increases slightly as charging is performed based on the test charge plan. On the other hand, in vehicle 5, which is connected to another charger 3, no charging is performed, so naturally the SOC does not change. As a result, the control unit 11 identifies vehicle 4 as the one actually connected to charger 2 and performs charging on vehicle 4 by outputting a charge plan corresponding to vehicle 4 to charger 2. Meanwhile, the control unit 11 notifies vehicle 5, which is not connected to charger 2, that the connection information is incorrect.

[0028] (Charging control method) The flow of the charging control method executed by the charging control device according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 5.

[0029] First, the control unit 11 acquires information from the vehicles 4 and 5 (step S1). This information includes, for example, connection information to the charger 2 and information regarding the State of Charge (SOC) of the vehicles 4 and 5. Next, the control unit 11 determines, based on the connection information to the charger 2, whether multiple vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to a single charger 2 (step S2).

[0030] In step S2, if it is determined that multiple vehicles 4 and 5 are not connected to a single charger 2 (No in step S2), the control unit 11 completes this process. On the other hand, if it is determined that multiple vehicles 4 and 5 are connected to a single charger 2 (Yes in step S2), the control unit 11 sends a test charging plan to the charger 2 (step S3).

[0031] Next, the control unit 11 identifies the vehicle actually connected to the charger 2 based on the change in the State of Charge (SOC) of each vehicle 4, 5 (step S4), and completes this process.

[0032] According to the charging control device of the embodiment described above, when there is a risk that multiple vehicles 4, 5 are connected to a single charger 2, the status of the linkage between the vehicles 4, 5 and the chargers 2, 3 can be easily and accurately determined by performing a test charge on each vehicle 4, 5 based on a test charge plan.

[0033] In other words, if a charger 2, which has only one charging cable, is determined to have multiple vehicles 4 and 5 connected simultaneously, charging may not start unless the connected vehicles 4 and 5 are identified and the incorrectly identified vehicles 4 and 5 are notified.

[0034] Therefore, the charging control device according to this embodiment outputs a test charging plan to the charger 2 and checks the change in SOC of each vehicle 4, 5. As a result, vehicles whose SOC has increased are identified as vehicles that are actually connected to the charger 2, and vehicles that are not connected to the charger 2 are notified that the connection information is incorrect.

[0035] Further effects and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Therefore, broader aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments expressed and described above. Accordingly, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1. Charging control device 11 Control Unit 12 Communications Department 13 Storage section 2,3 Charger 4,5 vehicles N Network

Claims

[Claim 1] The system includes a control unit that creates a vehicle charging plan and outputs the created charging plan to a charger, The control unit, Based on information obtained from multiple vehicles, if it is determined that multiple vehicles are connected to a single charger, a predetermined test charging plan is output to the charger, thereby starting charging for the multiple vehicles. Based on the changes in SOC obtained from the aforementioned multiple vehicles, the vehicle that is actually connected to the charger is identified from among the aforementioned multiple vehicles. Charging control device.

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