Vehicle Battery Replacement Alerts Based on Reachable Swap Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to prompt users to replace electrical storage devices before the remaining power falls below the required amount needed to reach a replacement location, especially in areas with limited charging infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

A notification control method and controller that set a power threshold based on the distance and power requirements to identify and notify users to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining power drops below the required level, offering booking assistance and considering traffic congestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If notification information is displayed on the instrument panel or audio output is provided through the speaker, then the driver can be notified of vehicle states, but the driver's attention is distracted from the road

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification effectivenessVSAvoiddriver distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a notification controller as an intermediary device that receives notification information from the vehicle controller and selectively outputs it through different channels (instrument panel, speaker, or silent mode). This intermediary layer enables flexible mediation between the need for notification and the need to avoid distraction, allowing the system to adapt to different driving conditions and driver preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple notification methods are provided (instrument panel display and audio output), then notification reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoidnotification system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification controller is designed as a universal control unit that can manage multiple notification output methods (instrument panel display and audio speaker) through a single device. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate control systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multiple notification channels for improved reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If notification information is continuously displayed or played, then driver awareness is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver awarenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification controller implements periodic action by selectively activating notification outputs based on current vehicle states and driving conditions. Rather than continuous display or audio playback, the system periodically assesses whether notification is necessary and activates the appropriate output channel only when needed, thereby maintaining driver awareness while minimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4638188B1Notification control method, notification controller, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4638188B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4638188B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4638188B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A notification control method is executed by a notification controller configured to notify a user of a vehicle to replace an electrical storage device mounted on the vehicle and configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicle. The notification control method includes setting a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between a current location of the vehicle and, of a plurality of a replacement places for the electrical storage device, the replacement place that satisfying a predetermined condition, identifying a status value with which a remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified, and, a controlling a notification device such that the notification device notifies the user to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device when the status value falls below the threshold. The notification controller includes the processor and the notification device.