EV Lock-Triggered Charging Notification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems waste energy by displaying remaining power levels to non-users and fail to effectively notify users of the need to charge, leading to wasted time and potential travel disruptions.
Innovation Solution
An information control device for electric vehicles that includes a lock operation detector, a remaining power detector, and a notification controller, which recommends power charging by activating external notifications, such as tail lamps, only when the vehicle is locked and the power level is low, ensuring that users are informed outside the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the remaining power amount is displayed using an approach sensor to detect user approach, then the user is notified of the remaining power, but electric power is wasted and the display may be shown to non-users
Solution Approach 1:
The notification is triggered in advance when the door lock is operated, which serves as a preliminary action indicating the user is leaving the vehicle. This timing ensures the user receives the notification before actually departing, allowing them to take appropriate action (such as charging the battery) without wasting energy on continuous or premature notifications to potential non-users
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the door lock operation as a feedback signal from the user's behavior. When the user locks the door, this action provides feedback that they are indeed the user and are leaving the vehicle, triggering the notification. This feedback mechanism ensures notifications are only sent to actual users without wasting energy on random or premature displays
2Loss of information
If the remaining power amount is displayed every time a person approaches the vehicle, then the user is always informed, but electric power is wasted on unnecessary displays
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous or frequent periodic notifications upon every approach, the system uses a specific periodic trigger event (door lock operation) that occurs at a meaningful interval in the user's workflow. This reduces energy consumption by notifying only at the appropriate moment when the user is actually leaving, rather than at every approach
3Adaptability or versatility
If the remaining power amount is displayed to anyone who approaches, then all approaching persons are informed, but the information may be meaningless to non-users
Solution Approach 1:
The door lock operation serves as a feedback mechanism that confirms the approaching person is indeed the authorized user. This feedback ensures that notifications are only sent to relevant users, maintaining information relevance while still being accessible to all actual users who lock the door
4Device complexity
If the user is not notified outside the vehicle, then the notification system is simple, but the user may not be informed of the need to charge in time
Solution Approach 1:
The notification is provided in advance when the user locks the door and leaves the vehicle, rather than waiting until they return. This preliminary notification gives the user sufficient time to charge the battery before the next trip, preventing time loss due to unexpected power depletion while keeping the notification system relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
An information control device for an electric vehicle including a vehicle-mounted battery that is charged with electric power supplied from a power supply provided at an outside of the vehicle includes a lock operation detector, a remaining power detector, and a notification controller. The lock operation detector is configured to detect a lock operation of a door lock mechanism of the vehicle. The remaining power detector is configured to detect a remaining power amount of the vehicle-mounted battery. The notification controller is configured to control a notifying device to make a notification to the outside of the vehicle. The notification is indicative of information that recommends power charge of the vehicle-mounted battery if the remaining power amount is small when the door lock mechanism has been locked or is to be locked, based on detection results of the lock operation detector and the remaining power detector.