Display control device, display control method, and program
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
Abstract
Description
Display control device, display control method, and recording medium
[0001] The present invention relates to a display control device, a display control method, and a recording medium.
[0002] As an example of technology for preventing a vehicle from running out of power, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device with the following functions. This navigation device displays a warning to the user when the vehicle's remaining battery capacity is below a warning level. The navigation device then calculates the remaining driving distance based on the remaining battery capacity and the driving power consumption rate, and searches for charging facilities that are within a specified area centered on the vehicle's position and are reachable. The navigation device then displays the relevant charging facilities superimposed on a map.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-215124
[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, location information of charging facilities is provided by the vehicle user when selecting charging facilities. However, when vehicle users select charging facilities, they often use information other than the location of the charging facilities as a basis for their decision. For this reason, it is preferable to provide information other than the location of the charging facilities in a manner that is easy for the vehicle user to recognize when selecting charging facilities.
[0005] The display control device of the present disclosure comprises: a search means for searching for charging facilities capable of charging a vehicle using location information relating to the location of the vehicle or the planned driving route of the vehicle, which uses electricity as at least part of its power source; and a display control means for displaying a map on a display located within the vehicle, and displaying on the map an equipment mark indicating the charging equipment searched for by the search means at a position corresponding to the charging equipment, and determining the display mode of the equipment mark according to the attributes of the charging equipment.
[0006] The display control method disclosed herein is a method in which at least one computer searches for charging facilities that can charge a vehicle using location information regarding the location of a vehicle that uses electricity as at least part of its power source or a planned route, displays a map on a display located within the vehicle, and displays an equipment mark indicating the found charging facility on the map at a position corresponding to the charging facility, and determines the display mode of the equipment mark according to the attributes of the charging facility.
[0007] The recording medium of the present disclosure is a recording medium storing a program that has at least one computer: a search means that searches for charging facilities that can charge a vehicle using location information regarding the location of a vehicle that uses electricity as at least part of its power source or a planned driving route; and a display control means that displays a map on a display located within the vehicle and displays on the map an equipment mark indicating the charging facility searched for by the search means at a position corresponding to the charging facility, and determines the display mode of the equipment mark according to the attributes of the charging facility.
[0008] According to the present disclosure, when a vehicle user selects charging equipment, information other than the location of the charging equipment can be provided in a manner that is easy for the user to recognize.
[0009] 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a display control device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example environment for using a display control device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of a display control device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operation of a display control device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operation of a display control device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display; FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operation of a display control device according to the present disclosure.
[0010] Hereinafter, in this disclosure, the drawings relate to one or more embodiments. In addition, in all drawings, similar components are given similar reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
[0011] First Embodiment As shown in FIG. 1, a display control device 10 includes a search unit 110 and a display control unit 120 .
[0012] The search unit 110 searches for charging facilities that can charge the vehicle, using location information related to the location of the vehicle or the planned driving route of the vehicle that uses electricity as at least a part of its power source. An example of this vehicle is an electric vehicle, but it may also be a so-called hybrid vehicle. For example, the search unit 110 searches for charging facilities near the current location of the vehicle. As another example, the search unit 110 searches for charging facilities near the planned driving route of the vehicle.
[0013] The display control unit 120 displays a map on a display located inside the vehicle, for example, on a display 20 described later, and also displays on this map a facility mark indicating the charging facility searched for by the search unit 110 at a position corresponding to the charging facility. At this time, the display control unit 120 determines the display mode of the facility mark according to the attributes of the charging facility.
[0014] An example of an attribute of a charging facility used by the display control unit 120 is at least one of whether the charging facility has a settlement function and whether the people or vehicles that can use the charging facility have been predetermined.
[0015] The attribute of the charging facility may also indicate whether it is (1) or (2) below: (1) The charging facility is one that is not predefined for people or vehicles that can use it, i.e., is open to the public; or (2) The charging facility is one that can be used by the vehicle or the user of the vehicle, but is not open to the public.
[0016] An example of the above (2) is charging equipment located within a facility that can only be used by vehicles associated with the facility (e.g., vehicles used by the company that owns the facility). In this case, for example, there may be vehicles or people who, by contract, can use the charging equipment even if they are not associated with the facility. The display control device 10 determines that the charging equipment falls under the above (2) even when it is used by such vehicles or people. Information used for this determination, such as information identifying available charging equipment for each vehicle or person, is stored in advance in, for example, the map information storage unit 40 described below.
[0017] Furthermore, the attribute of the charging facility may be the availability of the charging facility, for example, whether it is full or not. As an example, whether a facility is full is determined based on the usage status and reservation status of the charging facility. For example, if the scheduled charging time of all charging facilities is 30 minutes or more, the facility is determined to be full. The scheduled charging time is calculated using, for example, the remaining charging time of the vehicle currently being charged and the scheduled charging time of reserved vehicles. Furthermore, the value obtained by subtracting the time required to reach the charging facility from the scheduled charging time may be used instead of the scheduled charging time.
[0018] The display control unit 120 may determine the display mode of the facility mark of the charging facility based on the planned charging time. For example, the display control unit 120 determines the color of the facility mark depending on the length of the planned charging time.
[0019] The display mode used by the display control unit 120 includes at least one of the shape of the mark, the size of the mark, the color of the mark, and the pattern given to the mark.
[0020] According to the display control device 10, the display mode of the facility mark displayed on the display located inside the vehicle is determined according to the attributes of the charging facility. In this way, when the vehicle user selects charging facility, the display control device 10 can provide the user with information other than the location of the charging facility in a manner that is easy for the user to recognize.
[0021] A detailed example of the display control device 10 will be described below.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the display control device 10 is used together with a display 20, a vehicle 30, and a map information storage unit 40.
[0023] The display 20 is located inside the vehicle 30. For example, the display 20 may be part of a portable communication device brought into the vehicle by a user of the vehicle 30. An example of this communication device may be a tablet-type communication device or a so-called smartphone. The display 20 may also be built into the vehicle 30.
[0024] The map information storage unit 40 stores map information. The map information includes various information necessary for route guidance. The search unit 110 of the display control device 10 uses this map information to search for charging facilities. The display control unit 120 of the display control device 10 also uses this map information to display a map on the display 20. This map information also includes location information and attribute information of the charging facilities. The display control unit 120 uses the map information to determine the display position and display mode of a facility mark.
[0025] Note that part of the processing performed by the display control device 10, for example part of the processing performed by the display control unit 120, may be performed by a device having the display 20.
[0026] The display control device 10 acquires information regarding the remaining charge of a secondary battery installed in the vehicle 30 as necessary. Hereinafter, this information will be referred to as battery information. The battery information includes, for example, SOC (State Of Charge) and may further include output voltage. The display control device 10 may acquire the battery information by communicating with a communication device pre-installed in the vehicle 30. The display control device 10 may also acquire the battery information from the vehicle 30 via a portable communication device brought inside the vehicle 30, such as a communication device having a display 20. In this case, the communication device may acquire the battery information according to input from a user, or may acquire the battery information by communicating with the vehicle 30.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the display control device 10 has, as its hardware configuration, for example, a bus 1010, a processor 1020, a memory 1030, a storage device 1040, an input / output interface 1050, and a network interface 1060.
[0028] The bus 1010 is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving data among the processor 1020, memory 1030, storage device 1040, input / output interface 1050, and network interface 1060. However, the method of connecting the processor 1020 and the like to each other is not limited to bus connection.
[0029] The processor 1020 is implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the like.
[0030] The memory 1030 is a main storage device realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.
[0031] The storage device 1040 is an auxiliary storage device realized by removable media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a memory card, or a read-only memory (ROM). The storage device 1040 stores program modules that realize each function of the display control device 10 (for example, the search unit 110 and the display control unit 120). The processor 1020 loads each of these program modules into the memory 1030 and executes them, thereby realizing each function corresponding to the program module.
[0032] The input / output interface 1050 is an interface for connecting the display control device 10 to various input / output devices. For example, the display control device 10 communicates with the map information storage unit 40 via the input / output interface 1050.
[0033] The network interface 1060 is an interface for connecting the display control device 10 to a network. This network is, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). The network interface 1060 may connect to the network wirelessly or by wire. The display control device 10 may communicate with the display 20 and the vehicle 30 via the network interface 1060.
[0034] The display control device 10 performs, for example, the process shown in Fig. 4. First, the search unit 110 acquires a search request for charging facilities from, for example, a device having the display 20, such as a communication device operated by a user of the vehicle 30 (step S10). This search request includes, for example, at least one of the current position of the vehicle 30 and information that can identify a planned driving route along which the vehicle 30 should travel. The information that can identify the planned driving route may be the planned driving route itself, or may be the starting point (or current position) and the destination point.
[0035] Next, the search unit 110 searches for charging facilities using the information acquired in step S10 and the information stored in the map information storage unit 40. For example, the search unit 110 searches for charging facilities near the current location of the vehicle. As another example, the search unit 110 searches for charging facilities near the planned driving route of the vehicle 30 (step S20). Here, the search unit 110 may search for the planned driving route of the vehicle 30 using the starting point (or current location) and the destination point, and may also search for charging facilities near this planned driving route.
[0036] Next, the display control unit 120 uses the information stored in the map information storage unit 40 to generate display data that indicates a screen to be displayed on the display 20. This display data includes a map and a facility mark. The facility mark indicates the charging facility searched for by the search unit 110, and is displayed at a position on the map that corresponds to the charging facility. At this time, the display control unit 120 obtains attribute information of the charging facility searched for by the search unit 110 from the map information storage unit 40, and determines the display mode of the facility mark using this attribute information (step S30).
[0037] Next, the display control unit 120 transmits the generated display data to the display 20 and causes the display 20 to display the data (step S40).
[0038] As shown in Fig. 5 , in step S40 of Fig. 4 , the display control unit 120 may display a map on the display 20 and may also overlay facility marks 100, 102 on the map. In this example, the search unit 110 searches for charging facilities using the planned driving route of the vehicle 30. The display control unit 120 changes the display mode of the facility marks 100, 102 depending on the attributes of the charging facilities. Therefore, by looking at the map displayed on the display 20, the user of the vehicle 30 can understand the attributes of the charging facilities as well as the location of the charging facilities. Furthermore, the display control unit 120 may also overlay the planned driving route on the display 20.
[0039] The display control unit 120 may display the screen shown in FIG. 6 after the user selects a specific facility mark 100 (or facility mark 102) on the screen shown in FIG.
[0040] For example, a device having a display 20 transmits information identifying the selected facility mark 100 (or facility mark 102) to the display control device 10. The display control unit 120 of the display control device 10 then reads detailed information about the charging facility corresponding to the selected facility mark 100 (or facility mark 102) from the map information storage unit 40, and displays the read information on the display 20 together with the map.
[0041] In this case, the device having the display 20 sets a part of the area of the display 20 as a facility information display area 300, and displays detailed information about the charging facility in this facility information display area 300. In this way, the user of the vehicle 30 can easily check the detailed information when selecting charging facility.
[0042] In the example shown in FIG. 6 , the detailed information includes the name of the charging facility (e.g., the store name), address, telephone number, business hours, and information about availability. The information about availability is information that indicates the availability level in stages, such as available (e.g., an availability rate of 50% or less), slightly crowded (e.g., an availability rate of more than 50% and less than 80%), crowded (e.g., an availability rate of more than 80% and less than 100%), and full (an availability rate of 100%). The information about availability includes at least one of text information and a mark. The display mode of this mark changes depending on the availability level.
[0043] A device having a display 20 may operate as shown in FIG. 7 when displaying the screens shown in FIGS.
[0044] In this operation example, the display control device 10 calculates a driving route in advance. When creating the planned driving route, the display control device 10 calculates predicted values of SOC when passing through each of multiple points on the planned driving route.
[0045] Furthermore, the vehicle 30 is traveling according to a planned travel route. The display 20 displays a map together with the current position and the planned travel route. A search mark for performing a search may be displayed on this display. The user of the vehicle 30 selects this search mark when searching for charging equipment. When the search mark is selected, a search process for charging equipment, such as the process shown in FIG. 4, is performed. This allows the user of the vehicle 30 to easily input a search command for charging equipment.
[0046] While the vehicle 30 is traveling, the device having the display 20 repeatedly acquires the current location and battery information of the vehicle 30 (step S110). The battery information includes, for example, the SOC. When the battery information satisfies a criterion, for example, if the acquired SOC is lower than the expected value at that location (step S120: Yes), the device causes the display 20 to display a warning indicating this (step S130).
[0047] At this time, the display 20 continues to display the warning message and the search mark for performing a search. This process may also be performed by the display control unit 120.
[0048] Note that the search mark may not be displayed before the warning is displayed. In this case, the display 20 may start displaying the search mark when the warning is displayed. In this way, the user of the vehicle 30 can easily recognize that it is better to search for charging equipment.
[0049] The conditions for displaying the warning in step S120 may further include that the difference between the acquired SOC and the predicted value is greater than a reference value. In addition, the conditions for displaying the warning in step S120 may be other conditions related to battery information.
[0050] The processes shown in steps S110 to S130 may be performed by the display control device 10. In this case, in steps S110 to S130, communication is performed between the display control device 10 and a device having the display 20.
[0051] If the user of vehicle 30 wishes to search for charging facilities, he or she selects this search mark (step S140: Yes). The device having display 20 then transmits a search command to display control device 10 (step S150). Thereafter, display control device 10 searches for charging facilities and generates display data (step S160). An example of the processing performed here is as described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0052] When the device having the display 20 receives the display data (step S170), it displays a screen based on the display data on the display 20 (step S180).
[0053] 7, steps S130 and S140 may be omitted. In this case, when the battery information satisfies the criteria (step S120: Yes), the device having the display 20 transmits a search command to the display control device 10. That is, when the battery information satisfies the criteria, the search unit 110 of the display control device 10 searches for charging facilities.
[0054] Furthermore, as described with reference to FIG. 4 , the display control device 10 may search for charging facilities when generating a planned driving route for the vehicle 30 .
[0055] For example, in step S130 of Fig. 7 , the display control unit 120 of the display control device 10 or a device having a display 20 causes the display 20 to display a screen shown in Fig. 8 . In the example shown in Fig. 8 , the display 20 simultaneously displays a map 210, a route search mark 220, and a charging facility search mark 230. The planned driving route may also be superimposed on the map 210. It is preferable that these displays are always displayed while the vehicle 30 is traveling.
[0056] The display 20 further displays a warning 240 superimposed on the map 210. The warning 240 includes a mark 242 for erasing the warning 240.
[0057] When the user of the vehicle 30 searches for charging facilities, the user selects the charging facility search mark 230 .
[0058] In addition, after the processing shown in Figure 4, when an equipment mark is selected on the display 20, as shown in steps S50 to S70 in Figure 9, the display control device 10 may generate route information indicating the driving route from the current position of the vehicle 30 to the charging equipment corresponding to the equipment mark, and display the route information on the display 20.
[0059] For example, after the screen shown in Fig. 5 is displayed in step S40, the user of the vehicle 30 selects charging equipment. Alternatively, after the screen shown in Fig. 6 is displayed, the user of the vehicle 30 selects charging equipment whose detailed information is displayed. Then, the device having the display 20 transmits information indicating the selection result to the display control device 10.
[0060] When the display control unit 120 of the display control device 10 acquires this information (step S50), it generates route information indicating the driving route from the current position of the vehicle 30 to the charging facility indicated by this information (step S60), and transmits the generated route information to a device having a display 20 (step S70). The display 20 displays the route indicated by this route information superimposed on a map.
[0061] In this way, the user of the vehicle 30 can easily reach the charging facility.
[0062] As described above, according to the display control device 10, the display mode of the facility mark displayed on the display located inside the vehicle is determined according to the attributes of the charging facility. In this way, when the vehicle user selects charging facility, the display control device 10 can provide the user with information other than the location of the charging facility in a manner that is easy for the user to recognize.
[0063] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each example can be combined with other examples as appropriate.
[0064] In addition, in the flowcharts used in the above explanation, multiple steps (processes) are described in order, but the order of the steps executed in each example is not limited to the order described. In each example, the order of the steps shown in the drawings can be changed to the extent that the content is not affected.
[0065] Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited to them. Supplementary Note 1. A display control device comprising: a search means that searches for charging facilities that can charge a vehicle that uses electricity as at least part of its power source, using location information related to the vehicle's location or a planned driving route; and a display control means that displays a map on a display located in the vehicle and displays on the map a facility mark indicating the charging facility searched for by the search means at a location corresponding to the charging facility, and that determines the display mode of the facility mark according to an attribute of the charging facility. Supplementary Note 2. The display control device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the attribute of the charging facility includes at least one of whether the charging facility has a payment settlement function and whether people or vehicles that can use the charging facility are specified in advance. Supplementary Note 3. The display control device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein before the search means searches for the charging facility, a search mark for performing the search is displayed on the display, and the search means searches for the charging facility when the search mark is selected. Supplementary Note 4. A display control device according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the search mark is displayed on the display when information relating to the remaining charge of a secondary battery mounted on the vehicle satisfies a criterion. Supplementary Note 5. A display control device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 4, wherein, when the facility mark is selected, the display control means generates route information indicating a driving route from the current position of the vehicle to the charging facility corresponding to the facility mark, and displays the route information on the display. Supplementary Note 6. A display control device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 5, wherein the search means searches for the charging facility at least one of when information relating to the remaining charge of a secondary battery mounted on the vehicle satisfies a criterion and when generating a planned driving route for the vehicle. Supplementary Note 7. A display control device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 6, wherein the display control means further displays information relating to the availability of the charging facility on the display.Supplementary Note 8. The display control device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the display is part of a portable communication device carried inside the vehicle. Supplementary Note 9. A display control method in which at least one computer searches for charging facilities capable of charging the vehicle, using location information related to the location of the vehicle that uses electric power as at least part of its power source or a planned driving route, and displays a map on a display located inside the vehicle, and displays on the map a facility mark indicating the searched charging facility at a position corresponding to the charging facility, and determines the display mode of the facility mark according to the attributes of the charging facility. Supplementary Note 10. A program in which at least one computer has: a search means that searches for charging facilities capable of charging the vehicle, using location information related to the location of the vehicle that uses electric power as at least part of its power source or a planned driving route, and a display control means that displays a map on a display located inside the vehicle, and displays on the map a facility mark indicating the charging facility searched for by the search means at a position corresponding to the charging facility, and determines the display mode of the facility mark according to the attributes of the charging facility. Supplementary Note 11. A recording medium on which the program described in Appendix 10 is recorded.
[0066] Furthermore, some or all of the configurations described in Supplementary Notes 2 to 8 that are subordinate to the above-mentioned annotated display control device may also be subordinate to the annotated display control method, the annotated program, and the annotated recording medium in the same subordinate relationship as Supplementary Notes 2 to 8. Furthermore, not limited to the annotated display control device, the annotated display control method, the annotated program, and the annotated recording medium, some or all of the configurations described as annotated may also be subordinate to various hardware, software, various recording means for recording software, or systems within the scope of each of the above-mentioned embodiments.
[0067] 10 Display control device 20 Display 30 Vehicle 40 Map information storage unit 110 Search unit 120 Display control unit
Claims
1. A search means for searching for charging facilities that can charge a vehicle, using location information relating to the location or planned route of a vehicle that uses electricity as at least part of its power source, A display control means that displays a map on a display located inside the vehicle, displays an equipment mark indicating the charging equipment found by the search means on the map at a position corresponding to the charging equipment, and determines the display manner of the equipment mark according to the attributes of the charging equipment, A display control device equipped with the following features.
2. In the display control device according to claim 1, A display control device in which the attributes of the charging equipment include at least one of the following: whether or not the charging equipment has a payment function, and whether or not the persons or vehicles that can use the charging equipment are predetermined.
3. In the display control device according to claim 1 or 2, Before the search means searches for the charging equipment, a search mark for performing the search is displayed on the display. The search means is a display control device that searches for the charging equipment when the search mark is selected.
4. In the display control device according to claim 3, A display control device wherein the search mark is displayed on the display when the information regarding the remaining charge of the secondary battery installed in the vehicle meets the criteria.
5. In the display control device according to claim 1 or 2, The display control means generates route information indicating a driving route from the vehicle's current location to the charging facility corresponding to the equipment mark when the equipment mark is selected, and displays the route information on the display.
6. In the display control device according to claim 1 or 2, The search means is a display control device that searches for the charging equipment when information regarding the remaining charge of a secondary battery installed in the vehicle meets a standard, and when generating a planned route for the vehicle to travel.
7. In the display control device according to claim 1 or 2, The display control means further includes a display control device that causes the display to show information regarding the availability of the charging equipment.
8. In the display control device according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned display is a display control device, which is part of a portable communication device brought into the vehicle.
9. In the display control device according to claim 7, The display control means is a display control device that displays marks in different ways depending on the availability of the charging equipment.
10. In the display control device according to claim 7, Information regarding the availability of the charging facility is estimated based on the usage status of the charging facility and the time required to reach the charging facility, by a display control device.
11. In the display control device according to claim 1 or 2, The search means is a display control device that searches for charging facilities near the destination of the planned driving route.
12. At least one computer, Using location information relating to the location or planned route of a vehicle that uses electricity as at least part of its power source, a charging facility capable of charging the said vehicle is searched for. A display control method comprising: displaying a map on a display located inside the vehicle; displaying equipment marks indicating the searched charging facilities on the map at positions corresponding to the charging facilities; and determining the display manner of the equipment marks according to the attributes of the charging facilities.
13. On at least one computer, A search means for searching for charging facilities that can charge a vehicle, using location information relating to the location or planned route of a vehicle that uses electricity as at least part of its power source, A display control means that displays a map on a display located inside the vehicle, displays an equipment mark indicating the charging equipment found by the search means on the map at a position corresponding to the charging equipment, and determines the display manner of the equipment mark according to the attributes of the charging equipment, A program to give it a specific feature.