EV Charging Time Display Switching for In-Vehicle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-vehicle control devices for charging power storage devices display complex and potentially misread information regarding charging times to full and partial charge states, with users desiring simpler and more accurate displays.

Innovation Solution

An in-vehicle control device with a processor that outputs different charging times to a display device based on predetermined conditions, such as the battery's state of charge, switching between times required to reach a partial charge level and full charge, thereby simplifying the display and reducing user misinterpretation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If both the necessary time to reach full charge and the necessary time to reach a predetermined charge state are displayed on the liquid crystal display panel, then the user can check multiple charging information, but the displayed contents become complex and may be misread by the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging information completenessVSAvoiddisplay content complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device dynamically switches between showing the first necessary charging time (to predetermined charge state) and the second necessary charging time (to full charge) based on the current charge state of the power storage device. When the charge state is below the predetermined threshold, the display shows the first necessary charging time; when the charge state reaches or exceeds the threshold, the display switches to showing the second necessary charging time. This dynamic adjustment simplifies the display content at any given moment while still providing complete charging information throughout the charging process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the necessary time to reach full charge is displayed, then the user can plan charging duration, but some users may desire to display just one type of charging time information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay flexibilityVSAvoiddisplay simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adapts the display content based on the charging stage, showing different charging time information at different charge states without requiring user intervention. This provides both adaptability (showing different information types) and simplicity (only one type shown at a time), resolving the contradiction between user flexibility and display simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4474208A1In-vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4474208A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4474208A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4474208A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An in-vehicle control device (30), configured to control charging of a power storage device (24) that is installed in a vehicle, includes a processor. The processor is configured to output a first necessary charging time to a display device (52) when a predetermined condition is satisfied while charging the power storage device (24). The first necessary charging time is an amount of time required for a storage proportion of the power storage device (24) to reach a predetermined storage proportion that is lower than a full-charge proportion. The processor is configured to output a second necessary charging time to the display device (52) when the predetermined condition is not satisfied while charging the power storage device (24). The second necessary charging time is an amount of time required for the storage proportion of the power storage device (24) to reach the full-charge proportion.