JP7000815B2 - Vehicle management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle management system for a charging facility that charges a vehicle having an automatic driving function and a non-contact external charging function.

Conventionally, a technique for efficiently performing external charging of an in-vehicle battery by applying automatic driving control to a vehicle equipped with a non-contact type external charging device (wireless charging device) has been studied. That is, after automatically controlling the vehicle position so that the power receiving coil mounted on the lower surface of the vehicle and the power feeding coil embedded in the road surface are close to each other, power is received from the power feeding coil side using electromagnetic induction or magnetic resonance. It is a technology that transmits power to the coil side. By fully automating the movement of the vehicle during external charging, the alignment accuracy of the power receiving coil on the vehicle side with respect to the power feeding coil on the road surface side can be improved, and the charging efficiency can be improved.

As a conventional concrete operation method, if there is no space in the parking area where the power supply coil of the wireless charging device is buried, the vehicle is temporarily put on standby at another place, and if there is space, the vehicle is automatically put on standby. A method of moving to a parking area and starting charging can be mentioned (see Patent Document 1). Further, a method has been proposed in which the vehicle is parked in a predetermined parking frame in advance and the vehicle is moved from the parking position to the position of the external charging device according to the charging schedule reflecting the user's wishes (Patent Document). 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-141161 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-050877

However, the above operation method is premised on charging with one external charging device, and may not be suitable as an operation method of an external charging system installed in a large-scale parking lot. For example, in a service area or parking area that can accommodate hundreds of vehicles, a mechanism that allows an unspecified number of vehicles to simultaneously perform external charging is desired. In addition, the service area and parking area are often just one of the passing points where you stop by on the way to your destination, and there are situations where your staying time is unnecessarily long due to waiting in line for external charging. I want to avoid it.

For example, some vehicles that are externally charged in the service area want to charge the battery to a fully charged state for long-distance driving of 200 km or more, while others require a light charge that secures a mileage of about 20 km. .. On the other hand, in the conventional operation method, the battery is often charged until the battery is fully charged regardless of the amount of electric power actually required by the occupant, and the waiting time tends to be long. Therefore, it is not a uniform operation method that simply charges all vehicles to a fully charged state (charge rate is 100%), but the charge amount can be changed according to the user's convenience and the driving plan of each vehicle. It is desirable to do so. From this point of view, there is room for improvement in the conventional external charging system.

One of the purposes of this case was devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and by providing a vehicle management system for charging facilities that enables efficient external charging of multiple vehicles at a high rotation rate. be. Not limited to this purpose, it is also possible to exert an action / effect derived from each configuration shown in the “mode for carrying out the invention” described later, which cannot be obtained by the conventional technique. It can be positioned as a purpose.

(1) The disclosed vehicle management system is a vehicle management system for a charging facility that charges a vehicle equipped with an automatic driving function and a non-contact external charging function as well as an automatic driving control device for controlling the state of automatic driving . .. This system has a constant current area in which a constant current charging device for performing constant current charging is installed in the vehicle, and a constant voltage area in which a constant voltage charging device for performing constant voltage charging is installed in the vehicle. Equipped with an area. Further, it includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the remaining amount of electricity remaining in the battery of the vehicle and the target charge amount which is the target value of the amount of electricity added by the charge. Further, based on the remaining amount and the target charge amount, information on the implementation conditions of the automatic driving is acquired from the vehicle entering the parking area via the network, and the automatic operation of the vehicle is instructed via the network. By having the operation control device control the state of the automatic driving, the automatic driving control for moving the vehicle by the automatic driving is performed , and the vehicle is charged with the constant current or the constant voltage in the constant current area. It is equipped with a facility management unit that carries out the constant voltage charging in the area.

(2) When the remaining amount of the vehicle that has entered the parking area is equal to or higher than the preset first reference value, the facility management unit performs the constant voltage charge in the constant voltage area, and the remaining amount. When the amount is less than the first reference value, it is preferable to carry out the constant current charging in the constant current area.
(3) The facility management unit adds the target charge amount to the remaining amount before charging for the vehicle for which constant current charging is performed in the constant current area, which is equal to or higher than a preset second reference value. In this case, it is preferable to move the vehicle to the constant voltage area and charge the vehicle only in the constant current area when the target charge amount is less than the second reference value.

(4) A detection unit for detecting the number of vehicles existing in the constant current area is provided, and the facility management unit sets the value of the second reference value lower as the number of vehicles detected by the detection unit increases. It is preferable to do.
(5) It is preferable that the number of parking / stopping frames in the constant voltage area is larger than the number of parking / stopping frames in the constant current area.

(6) A vehicle detection unit for detecting the number of vehicles existing in each area in the parking area is provided, and the facility management unit moves the vehicle by the automatic driving based on the number of vehicles in each area. Is preferable.
(7) The facility management unit is provided with an inter-facility communication unit that shares information on the number of vehicles by communicating with other charging facilities existing in the vicinity of the charging facility, and the facility management unit is responsible for information on the target charge amount. At the time of acquisition, it is preferable to present the congestion status estimated from the information on the number of vehicles in the other charging facility to the occupants of the vehicle.

(8) The parking area has a completion area in which the vehicle parks after charging in the constant current area or the constant voltage area, and the facility management unit sets the vehicle for which external charging is completed in the completion area. It is preferable to move by the automatic operation.
(9) Each of the constant current area and the constant voltage area has a plurality of passages connecting the inlet and the outlet in parallel, and the front end side is in contact with one said passage and the rear end side is in contact with the other passages. It is preferable to have a plurality of parking / stopping frames arranged in.
(10) The facility management unit acquires information on the locked state of the door lock switch, information on the operating state of the ignition switch, and information on the operating position of the select lever before the automatic operation is being carried out, and the automatic operation is being carried out. It is preferable to acquire steering information, driving force, and braking force information of the steering wheel.

By providing a constant current area and a constant voltage area in the parking area and automatically moving the vehicle to the area according to the remaining battery level and the target charge amount to charge the vehicle, the operating rate of the charging device is increased. External charging can be efficiently performed, and an unspecified number of vehicles can be efficiently charged.

It is a top view which shows the parking area of the vehicle management system of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship between the movement of a vehicle, and the control content. It is a graph for demonstrating the change of electric energy of a battery at the time of charging. It is a block block diagram of a vehicle management system. This is an example of a confirmation screen sent to a vehicle approaching a charging facility and an occupant. It is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the vehicle management system. It is a flowchart about application for charge. It is a flowchart about control of automatic operation.

Hereinafter, the vehicle management system of the charging facility as an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely examples, and there is no intention of excluding the application of various modifications and techniques not specified in the following embodiments. Each configuration of the present embodiment can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. In addition, it can be selected as needed, or it can be combined as appropriate.

[1. Facility composition]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a parking area 10 in the vehicle management system of the present embodiment. The charging facility 14 having a parking area 10 is provided in a parking lot such as a highway parking area (PA), a service area (SA), a roadside station, a shopping mall, a commercial facility, or a city hall. The parking area 10 is provided with three sections, a constant current area 11, a constant voltage area 12, and a completion area 13, as charging areas. Each area 11 to 13 is provided with a sufficient area for a plurality of vehicles 20 to park and stop, and a plurality of parking / stopping frames (lots) are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, a general parking area for parking and stopping a vehicle that is not charged may be provided in the parking area 10.

The constant current area 11 is a section in which the vehicle 20 before charging stands by, and is a section in which constant current charging can be performed. The constant current area 11 is provided with an entrance of the parking area 10. Therefore, the area where the vehicle 20 that has entered from the outside to the inside of the parking area 10 first traverses is the constant current area 11. Further, in the constant current area 11, a constant current charging device 40 for performing constant current charging to the vehicle 20 is installed. A feeding coil 44 for wireless constant current charging is embedded in all parking / stopping frames provided in the constant current area 11.

The constant voltage area 12 is a section where constant voltage charging is performed. In the constant voltage area 12, a constant voltage charging device 45 that performs constant voltage charging on the vehicle 20 is installed. A feeding coil 49 for wireless constant voltage charging is embedded in all parking / stopping frames provided in the constant voltage area 12. More parking frames in the constant voltage area 12 are set than parking frames in the constant current area 11. The reason for this is that constant voltage charging takes longer than constant current charging. By increasing the number of parking / stopping slots for constant voltage charging, the number of constant voltage charging units per unit time will increase. As a result, the number of constant voltage charges per unit time approaches the number of constant current charges per unit time, and the turnover rate of external charging in the charging facility 14 increases.

The completion area 13 is a section where the charged vehicle 20 stays. The completion area 13 is provided with an exit of the parking area 10. Since it is conceivable that the vehicle 20 that has entered the parking area 10 will leave without charging, it is preferable to provide an exit in the constant current area 11.
Hereinafter, when the vehicles 20 existing (parked and stopped) in the areas 11 to 13 are described separately from each other, the constant current vehicle 51 and the constant voltage vehicle are described according to the names of the areas 11 to 13. 52, called completed vehicle 53.

The flow line layout of the vehicle 20 in the parking area 10 of the present embodiment is as simple as possible in view of the automatic driving control of the vehicle 20, and all the parking / stopping frames are retracted when the vehicle is parked / stopped. The layout is not required. That is, the vehicle 20 can enter and exit each parking / stopping frame without backing up. In the layout of FIG. 1, all passages in each area 11 to 13 are one-way. Each of the constant current area 11, the constant voltage area 12, and the completion area 13 has a plurality of passages connecting the inlet and the outlet of each area in parallel. All parking frames are arranged so that their front ends are in contact with one aisle and their rear ends are in contact with the other aisles. With such a layout, the flow line for passing through the start point and end point of each area 11 to 13 and an arbitrary parking / stopping frame becomes one-way, it is not necessary to retract the vehicle 20 in the hall, and the vehicle 20 can be efficiently moved. It can be moved and charged. It should be noted that the flow lines and passages referred to here may be defined by drawn lines (white lines, arrow displays, etc.) on the road surface, and it is not necessary to physically restrict the passage.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between the movement of the vehicle 20 and the control content in the present implementation system. The vehicle management system of the present embodiment includes a management device 1 installed in the parking area 10 of the charging facility 14, a constant current charging device 40 installed in the constant current area 11, and a constant voltage installed in the constant voltage area 12. It has a charging device 45. The management device 1 uses wireless communication with the vehicle 20 or wireless communication with the smartphone 30 (communication terminal) possessed by the occupant (user) of the vehicle 20 to be non-contact with automatic driving control. Implement external charge control. The management device 1 is provided one by one in one charging facility 14. It is assumed that the smartphone 30 is previously associated with the vehicle 20 of the occupant who possesses the smartphone 30 through a predetermined authentication procedure (account authentication) and connection procedure (pairing).

The vehicle management system of the present embodiment has a function of automatically performing wireless external charging according to the preference and desire of the occupant of the vehicle 20. As shown in FIG. 2, this system can not only charge by combining constant current charging and constant voltage charging, but also can perform only constant current charging or only constant voltage charging. What kind of external charging is carried out is determined according to the amount of electric power of the battery 25 mounted on the vehicle 20.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a change in the electric energy of the battery 25 from the start to the end of external charging. Here, the magnitude of the electric energy is classified into three areas (ranges) by two threshold values (first reference value and second reference value), and the LOW range, MID range, and HIGH are arranged in order from the one with the smallest electric energy. Called a range. When charging from the LOW range to the HIGH range as shown in curve A, charging is performed by combining constant current charging and constant voltage charging. On the other hand, when charging from the LOW range to the MID range is sufficient as in curve B, only constant current charging is performed. Further, as shown in curve C, a certain amount of electric power remains at the time of starting charging, and when charging from the MID range to the HIGH range, only constant voltage charging is performed.

The flow of movement and control of the vehicle 20 in the parking area 10 will be described. First, the occupant of the vehicle 20 stops the vehicle 20 in an arbitrary parking / stopping frame in the constant current area 11, and applies to the management device 1 to carry out external charging using the smartphone 30 (or from the vehicle 20). The management device 1 confirms the vehicle 20 to be charged and the charge amount, and sets the charge start time and the target charge amount in consideration of the charge amount desired by the occupant and the congestion situation. After that, the occupants may get off and move to commercial facilities, toilets, entertainment facilities, etc., or may take a break in the car. After that, the position of the vehicle 20 is automatically managed by the management device 1.

When performing constant current charging, the management device 1 causes the constant current charging device 40 to perform wireless charging. The constant current charging device 40 performs constant current charging by supplying power to the power receiving coil 26 of the vehicle 20 via the power feeding coil 44. After that, when carrying out constant voltage charging, the vehicle 20 is moved to the constant voltage area 12, and the constant voltage charging device 45 is made to carry out wireless charging. The constant voltage charging device 45 performs constant voltage charging by supplying power to the power receiving coil 26 of the vehicle 20 via the power feeding coil 49. The vehicle 20 for which external charging has been completed is transferred to the completion area 13, and information to that effect is transmitted to the occupant's smartphone 30. In response to this, the occupant gets on the vehicle 20 parked in the completion area 13 and leaves the parking area 10.

In many existing quick charging facilities (for example, 50kW output type quick chargers), the occupant can set the charging time in minutes. On the other hand, many occupants want to keep the charging rate as high as possible when charging, and the amount of charging per unit time is relatively small, so the upper limit of continuous charging time (for example, 30 minutes) is the actual charging time. It has become. However, in order to increase the rotation rate of the vehicle 20 in the charging facility 14, it is desirable to reduce the amount of one charge to shorten the continuous charging time and to charge the vehicle diligently (increase the charging frequency). Therefore, the vehicle management system of the present embodiment provides a mechanism for promoting the operation of the vehicle 20 with the minimum required charge amount.

[2. Hardware configuration]
FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram of the vehicle management system. This system includes a management device 1, a vehicle 20, a smartphone 30, a constant current charging device 40, and a constant voltage charging device 45.
The management device 1 is an electronic computer (computer) having a function of managing the vehicle 20, the constant current charging device 40, and the constant voltage charging device 45 existing in the parking area 10. The management device 1 has a built-in processor (central processing unit), memory (main memory), storage device (storage), interface device, and the like, and is connected to each other via an internal bus. Further, the management device 1 also has a function of communicating with another management device 1 that manages another parking area 10 via an external network 9. The network 9 is a general term for a wired or wireless communication network formed by using, for example, a wireless communication network (carrier network) of a telecommunications carrier or the Internet.

The vehicle 20 is an electric vehicle (electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid vehicle, etc.) equipped with a drive motor powered by the battery 25, and has an automatic driving function and a non-contact external charging function. The battery 25 is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery or a nickel hydrogen battery, and can be charged (externally charged) by a constant current charging device 40 or a constant voltage charging device 45. A power receiving coil 26 for wireless charging is provided on the lower surface side of the vehicle 20. The charging state of the power receiving coil 26 is controlled by an external charging control device 21 (electronic control device, computer). The wireless charging method of this embodiment is a magnetic resonance type (magnetic field resonance type, magnetic field coupling type). The power receiving coil 26 is capable of receiving high frequency power (for example, power having an LF band frequency of about 30 to 300 [kHz]), and a resonance capacitor, a rectifier, a transformer, or the like is interposed between the battery 25 and the power receiving coil 26. Be dressed up. By controlling the transformer, the charging voltage and charging current of the battery 25 can be changed.

The devices to be controlled during automatic driving of the vehicle 20 are a drive source 27, a brake device 28, a steering device 29, and the like, and the state of automatic driving is controlled by the automatic driving control device 22 (electronic control device, computer). To. Further, the vehicle 20 is provided with a positioning device 23 and a communication device 24. The positioning device 23 is an electronic control device for measuring the position of the vehicle 20 based on detection information such as a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), a vehicle speed sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a yaw rate sensor.

The communication device 24 is an electronic control device for communicating with the management device 1 and the smartphone 30 via the network 9. Each of the external charge control device 21, the automatic operation control device 22, the positioning device 23, and the communication device 24 may be provided as an independent electronic control device or may be provided as an integrated electronic control device. The electronic control device referred to here includes, for example, a processor (central processing unit), a memory (main memory), a storage device (storage), an interface device, and the like, and is connected to each other via an internal bus.

The smartphone 30 is a portable communication device possessed by the occupants of the vehicle 20, and also has a function as an electronic computer (computer). As is well known, the smartphone 30 has a built-in processor (central processing unit), memory (main memory), storage device (storage), interface device, and the like, and is connected to each other via an internal bus. Further, the smartphone 30 has a built-in input / output control device 31, a communication device 32, a display 33, and a touch panel 34. The information displayed on the display 33 and the operation input information on the touch panel 34 are controlled by the input / output control device 31. The communication device 32 is an electronic control device for communicating with the management device 1 and the vehicle 20 via the network 9.

In the present embodiment, the smartphone 30 is used for the occupant of the vehicle 20 to apply for a reservation for external charging to the management device 1, or for confirming the charging state and the automatic driving state of the vehicle 20. The communication target of the smartphone 30 may include at least the vehicle 20. That is, the information exchange between the smartphone 30 and the management device 1 may be realized via the vehicle 20 or a direct connection may be realized via the network 9. It is also possible to use electronic devices (gadgets) such as mobile phones, tablet terminals, notebook computers, music players, and portable game machines instead of the smartphone 30.

The constant current charging device 40 and the constant voltage charging device 45 are devices that perform magnetic resonance type wireless charging, and also have a function as a computer. The constant current charging device 40 performs wireless charging so that the electric power supplied to the battery 25 of the vehicle 20 becomes a constant current. On the other hand, the constant voltage charging device 45 performs wireless charging so that the electric power supplied to the battery 25 of the vehicle 20 becomes a constant voltage. The constant current charging device 40 is provided with a power supply control device 41, a communication device 42, a high frequency power supply 43, and a power supply coil 44, and the constant voltage charging device 45 is provided with a power supply control device 46, a communication device 47, a high frequency power supply 48, and power supply. A coil 49 is provided.

The power supply control devices 41 and 46 included in the charging devices 40 and 45 include, for example, a processor (central processing unit), a memory (main memory), a storage device (storage), an interface device, etc., via an internal bus. These are connected to each other. The operating states of the high-frequency power supplies 43, 48 and the feeding coils 44, 49 are controlled by the feeding control devices 41, 46. The communication devices 42 and 47 are electronic control devices for communicating with the management device 1 via the network 9. These charging devices 40 and 45 may be at least as long as they can exchange information with the management device 1. Therefore, instead of wireless communication, a device configuration may be configured in which the device is connected to the management device 1 by wire (cable).

[3. Software configuration]
Software (program) for performing automatic driving control and external charge control of the vehicle 20 is installed in the storage device of the management device 1. Further, the management device 1 is provided with a vehicle detection unit 2, an inter-facility communication unit 3, an information acquisition unit 4, a facility management unit 5, and an occupant communication unit 6. These are shown by classifying the functions of the management device 1 for convenience, and each element may be described as an independent program or may be described as a composite program having these functions. .. These programs are stored in memory or storage and executed by the processor. Alternatively, these programs are recorded on a recording medium (removable media) such as an optical disk or a semiconductor memory, read onto the memory via a recording medium drive, and then executed.

The vehicle detection unit 2 (detection unit) detects information on the number and position of each vehicle 20 existing in the parking area 10. Here, information on the number and position of each vehicle 20 located in each area 11 to 13 of the parking area 10 is detected. When the parking area 10 is outdoors, each vehicle 20 can present the position information (for example, GNSS positioning information) detected by each vehicle 20. Further, the position information of each vehicle 20 may be detected by using radar devices installed in various places in the parking area 10. The vehicle detection unit 2 of the present embodiment detects the position of each vehicle 20 based on the image of the surveillance camera 16 installed in the parking area 10, and also detects the number of vehicles 20 in each of the areas 11 to 13.

The inter-facility communication unit 3 communicates with another charging facility 14 existing in the vicinity of the charging facility 14 (own facility) in which the management device 1 is installed, and the vehicle exists in each area 11 to 13 in the parking area 10. Information on the number of 20 units is shared. The term "neighborhood" as used herein means that the vehicle 20 is within a range of distance that the vehicle 20 can travel without stopping at the charging facility 14, and is, for example, within a circular range having a radius of about several hundred km. In the inter-facility communication unit 3, the name information of the nearby charging facility 14, the distance information to the charging facility 14, and the number information at the charging facility 14 are stored as a "number database". Further, the number information of the vehicle 20 is updated in real time by communication via the network 9. The data stored in the number database of the inter-facility communication unit 3 is illustrated below.

The information acquisition unit 4 acquires information necessary for external charging of the vehicle 20. Here, information such as the battery capacity of the battery 25 (maximum value of the charge amount), the amount of electric power remaining in the battery 25 (remaining battery amount), and the electric cost of the vehicle 20 (mileage per unit electric energy amount) is acquired. If necessary, information such as a vehicle model unique number, a vehicle model name, a vehicle body number (vehicle number), license plate information, and a current position (own vehicle position that the vehicle 20 knows by itself) is also acquired.

In addition, the information acquisition unit 4 presents the congestion status of the nearby charging facility 14 to the occupant, asks the occupant where he / she intends to set the next charging location, and uses the smartphone 30 (or communication of the vehicle 20). Control the input of the response (using the device 24) and set the charging schedule. The congestion status presented to the occupants here can be estimated from the number information stored in the number database of the inter-facility communication unit 3. For example, the congestion rate of the constant voltage area 12 can be expressed as a percentage of the number of constant voltage vehicles 52 with respect to the number of parking / stopping slots in the constant voltage area 12 (that is, the maximum number of vehicles that can be parked / stopped). Further, the higher the congestion rate of the constant current area 11, the easier it is for the congestion rate of the constant voltage area 12 and the completion area 13 to increase, and the higher the congestion rate of the completion area 13, the higher the congestion rate of the constant current area 11 and the constant voltage area 12. It is expected that it will not decrease easily. In this way, the information acquisition unit 4 predicts the current congestion degree and the future change of the congestion degree based on the number information of each area 11 to 13, and presents the predicted result to the occupant.

FIG. 5 is a screen example of a congestion situation displayed on the occupant's smartphone 30 (or the vehicle-mounted display of the vehicle 20) by the information acquisition unit 4. In this example, the distance to the charging facility 14 (other SA or PA) in the vicinity of the own facility (Okazaki SA) and the information on the number of vehicles 20 in each charging facility 14 are displayed on the roadmap, and the charging facility 14 is displayed. An icon (face mark) corresponding to the degree of congestion is displayed. The occupant shall input the next scheduled charging location suitable for the future traveling schedule by touch operation while checking the congestion status of the plurality of charging facilities 14 with the number information and the icon.

With such a user interface, the next scheduled charging location desired by the occupant can be easily specified, and the target charging amount can be calculated. For example, by dividing the distance to the next scheduled charging location by the electricity cost of the vehicle 20, the required electric energy required for traveling to the scheduled charging location is calculated as the target charging amount. Alternatively, the target charge amount may be obtained by adding a predetermined reserve power amount to the required power amount. When the target charge amount is calculated and acquired, it is confirmed that the charging facility 14 will be charged externally, the time required for external charging can be predicted, and the application for external charging is officially submitted to the management device 1. Accepted.

The charging schedule is set based on the congestion status of each area 11 to 13 and the target charge amount. If there is a vacancy in the constant current area 11 or the constant voltage area 12, charging can be started immediately at that time, so the charging start time is set to the time at that time. Further, the charging completion time is set to the time when the charging time corresponding to the target charge amount has elapsed. On the other hand, if there is no space in the parking / stopping frame, external charging is performed after the space is available. In this case, the waiting time until the charging start time can be calculated based on the number of vehicles 20 existing in the constant current area 11 and the constant voltage area 12 and the target charge amount of each vehicle 20.

When setting the contents of the charging schedule, if the remaining battery level at the time of admission is less than the first reference value, constant current charging is scheduled first. In addition, constant voltage charging is scheduled after that only when the value obtained by adding the target charge amount to the remaining battery level at the time of admission (that is, the battery power amount after charging) is equal to or higher than the second reference value. .. That is, when the amount of battery power after charging is less than the second reference value, only constant current charging is scheduled. On the other hand, when the remaining battery level at the time of admission is equal to or higher than the first reference value, only constant voltage charging is scheduled from the beginning. The second reference value is larger than the first reference value.

The above second reference value is a variable value according to the congestion status of the charging facility 14. That is, the second reference value is set low (to a small value) when the charging facility 14 is congested, and the second reference value is set high (to a large value) when the charging facility 14 is vacant. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the second reference value is set lower as the number of constant current vehicles 51 existing in the constant current area 11 increases. With such a setting, the constant current charging ends earlier (control is rounded up) as the venue becomes more crowded, so that the turnover rate of external charging in the charging facility 14 increases.

The facility management unit 5 manages the automatic operation and external charging of each vehicle 20 reserved for external charging. Here, automatic operation and external charging of each vehicle 20 are carried out according to the charging schedule. First, the facility management unit 5 acquires information on the implementation conditions of the automatic driving from the vehicle 20 before starting the automatic driving of the vehicle 20. Specific examples of the information acquired here include information on the locked state of the door lock switch, information on the operating state of the ignition switch (main switch), and information on the operating position of the select lever. In addition to these information, steering information, driving force, braking force information, etc. are acquired during automatic driving control, and the charge amount (current charge amount) at that time is acquired during external charging. Will be done.

Further, the facility management unit 5 controls to automatically move each vehicle 20 in the parking area 10 based on the number of vehicles in each area 11 to 13. When both constant current charging and constant voltage charging are performed, the vehicle 20 is transferred in the order of constant current area 11, constant voltage area 12, and completion area 13 in the order of "assembly line". The movement from the constant current area 11 to the constant voltage area 12 is carried out at least when there is a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12. Similarly, the movement from the constant voltage area 12 to the completion area 13 is carried out at least when there is a vacancy in the parking lot frame of the completion area 13.

As long as all the vehicles 20 are charged according to the charging schedule, there should be a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12 at the charging start time. However, if the constant voltage vehicle 52 cannot move to the completion area 13 due to the delay in leaving the completion vehicle 53, the constant voltage area 12 may be full at the charging start time. Considering the possibility that such a situation may occur, it is preferable to check the vacancy of the parking lot frame each time when each vehicle 20 in the parking area 10 is automatically moved. Further, when there is no vacant parking lot frame, it is preferable to inform the occupant's smartphone 30 that charging start or charging completion may be delayed.

Further, the facility management unit 5 causes the constant current charging device 40 to perform constant current charging (wireless charging) for the vehicle 20 located in the constant current area 11. For vehicles located in the constant voltage area 12, the constant voltage charging device 45 is made to carry out constant voltage charging (wireless charging). These external charges are carried out based on the amount of electric power charged in the battery 25 (charge amount), the amount of electric power remaining in the battery 25 (remaining battery amount), and the like. When only constant current charging or constant voltage charging is performed, external charging is continued until the charging amount reaches the target charging amount. When constant voltage charging is performed after constant current charging, constant current charging is performed until the remaining battery level reaches the second reference value, and then constant voltage charging is performed after the vehicle 20 is moved. do.

The occupant communication unit 6 provides the occupants of the vehicle 20 with information on the implementation status of external charging and automatic driving. Here, information such as the start and end of automatic operation, the start and end of external charging, and the change in the amount of charge during external charging is transmitted to the occupant's smartphone 30. The occupant can grasp the state of the vehicle 20 one by one while leaving the vehicle 20 and spending time in a commercial facility or an entertainment facility.

[4. Time chart]
FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the flow of control from the entry of the vehicle 20 into the charging facility 14 to the exit of the charging facility 14. When the vehicle 20 enters the parking area 10, the movement of the vehicle 20 is captured by the surveillance camera 16 installed in the parking area 10 and recognized by the management device 1. The occupant of the vehicle 20 parks the vehicle 20 in a favorite parking / stopping frame of the constant current area 11, and applies to the management device 1 to carry out external charging with the smartphone 30. Alternatively, the application may be made before the vehicle 20 is parked in the parking / stopping frame. At the time of this application, for example, information such as information on the place where the vehicle 20 is parked (number of parking / stopping frame) and desired charge amount is transmitted to the management device 1.

The management device 1 that has received the application confirms the existence of the vehicle 20 associated with the smartphone 30 from the number of the parking / stopping frame transmitted from the occupant, the image of the surveillance camera, and the like. In addition, information on the congestion status of other charging facilities 14 existing in the vicinity of the own facility is transmitted to the smartphone 30, and the next charging location is input. On the other hand, the vehicle 20 is requested to present various information, and information such as a vehicle model unique number, a vehicle model name, a current position, a battery capacity of the battery 25, a current charge amount (remaining battery level), and electricity cost is acquired.

The congestion status screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the occupant's smartphone 30, and the occupant can select the next scheduled charging location by touch operation. When the next scheduled charging location is selected, the information is transmitted from the smartphone 30 to the management device 1, and the target charging amount is calculated based on the distance to the location and the electricity cost of the vehicle 20. At this point, the application for external charging is officially accepted by the management device 1. The information acquisition unit 4 of the management device 1 sets the content of the charging schedule based on the remaining battery level and the target charge amount, and presents the contents to the occupant via the smartphone 30.

Further, the management device 1 starts the automatic driving control of the vehicle 20 after confirming that the execution conditions of the automatic driving are satisfied. As a result, the vehicle 20 moves to the parking / stopping frame of the constant current area 11. If the vehicle 20 is already parked in the parking / stopping frame of the constant current area 11, this movement is unnecessary. When the vehicle 20 arrives at the parking / stopping frame of the constant current area 11, the vehicle 20 notifies the management device 1 of the completion of the movement. In response to this, the management device 1 instructs the constant current charging device 40 to start constant current charging, and notifies the smartphone 30 that the external charging has started. Here, the occupant may leave the vehicle 20 and spend time in a commercial facility, an entertainment facility, or the like outside the vehicle.

The constant current charging device 40 performs wireless charging while monitoring the current charge amount of the battery 25 of the vehicle 20, and informs the management device 1 of the progress. The information on the progress is also transmitted from the management device 1 to the smartphone 30. Further, when the current charge amount of the battery 25 reaches the second reference value, the external charge control device 21 of the vehicle 20 transmits information to that effect to the constant current charging device 40, and in response to this, the constant current charging device 40 Stops the constant current charge and reports the completion of the constant current charge to the management device 1.

The management device 1 requests the vehicle 20 for information regarding the locked state of the door lock switch, the operating position of the select lever, and the like. When the vehicle 20 transmits these information to the management device 1, the management device 1 starts the automatic driving control of the vehicle 20 after confirming that the execution conditions for the automatic driving are satisfied. As a result, the vehicle 20 moves from the constant current area 11 to the vacant parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12. Further, the management device 1 notifies the smartphone 30 that the automatic driving control has been started.

When the vehicle 20 arrives at the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12, the vehicle 20 notifies the management device 1 of the completion of the movement. In response to this, the management device 1 transmits information on the target charge amount to the constant voltage charging device 45, instructs the start of wireless charging, and notifies the smartphone 30 that the external charging has started. The constant voltage charging device 45 performs wireless charging while monitoring the current charge amount of the battery 25 of the vehicle 20, and informs the management device 1 of the progress. The information on the progress is also transmitted from the management device 1 to the smartphone 30.

When the amount of charged electric power reaches the target amount of charge, the constant voltage charging device 45 notifies the management device 1 of the completion of charging. In response to this, the management device 1 starts automatic driving control of the vehicle 20 on condition that there is a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the completion area 13. As a result, the vehicle 20 moves from the constant voltage area 12 to the vacant parking / stopping frame in the completion area 13. At this time, the management device 1 informs the smartphone 30 that the automatic driving control has been restarted and that the vehicle 20 will soon be ready to start.

When the vehicle 20 arrives at the parking / stopping frame of the completion area 13, the vehicle 20 notifies the management device 1 of the completion of the movement. In response to this, the management device 1 notifies the smartphone 30 that the external charging is completed. The occupant who receives the contact gets on the vehicle 20 and leaves. The fact that the vehicle 20 has left the parking area 10 is recognized by the management device 1 based on the image of the surveillance camera 16. As a result, the management work of the management device 1 for the vehicle 20 is completed.

[5. flowchart]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for applying for external charging. The content of this flow corresponds to the control content from the time when the occupant of the vehicle 20 who entered the charging facility 14 applies for external charging until the charging schedule is determined. First, the management device 1 determines whether or not the application for external charging has been received from the occupant of the vehicle 20 (step A1), and if the application for external charging is not received, this flow ends. On the other hand, when an application for external charging is received, the information acquisition unit 4 presents the congestion status of the nearby charging facility 14 to the occupant's smartphone 30 based on the number database stored in the inter-facility communication unit 3 (step). A2). As a result, the occupant can select the next scheduled charging location while referring to the congestion status of the nearby charging facility 14.

The information acquisition unit 4 requests the vehicle 20 to present various information (vehicle model unique number, vehicle model name, current position, battery capacity of battery 25, current charge amount, electricity cost, etc.) and acquires the information (step A3). ). In addition, as a response from the occupant, information on the next scheduled charging location is acquired (step A4). Further, the target charge amount is calculated based on the distance from the own facility to the next scheduled charging place and the electricity cost of the vehicle 20 (step A5). As a result, the amount of electric power at the start of charging (remaining amount of battery at the time of admission) and the amount of battery electric power after charging as shown in FIG. 3 are determined.

After that, the information acquisition unit 4 sets the contents of the charging schedule based on the remaining battery level at the time of admission and the battery power amount after charging. That is, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level is equal to or higher than the first reference value (step A6), and if this condition is satisfied, only constant voltage charging is scheduled (step A10). On the other hand, when the remaining battery level is less than the first reference value, the number of constant current vehicles 51 existing in the constant current area 11 is referred to (step A7), and the second reference value is set according to the number. (Step A8). The second reference value is set to be lower (smaller value) as the number of constant current vehicles 51 increases.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the amount of battery power after charging is equal to or higher than the second reference value (step A9), and if this condition is satisfied, a schedule for constant voltage charging after constant current charging is set. Set (step A11). On the other hand, when the amount of battery power after charging is less than the second reference value, only constant current charging is scheduled (step A12). The charging schedule set here is displayed on the display 33 of the occupant's smartphone 30 (step A13).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of automatic operation and external charging.
First, it is determined whether or not the charging schedule includes constant current charging (step B1), and if constant current charging is not included, control is skipped to step B6. On the other hand, when constant current charging is included, the management device 1 sends an instruction to the constant current charging device 40 (step B2) to carry out constant current charging. During the constant current charging, it is determined whether or not the charging completion condition is satisfied (step B3), and the constant current charging is continued until this condition is satisfied. The charge completion condition is that the charge amount reaches the target charge amount, or the battery power amount after charging becomes equal to or higher than the second reference value.

When the charging completion condition is satisfied, after it is confirmed that the execution condition of the automatic operation is satisfied (step B4), it is determined whether or not the charging schedule includes constant voltage charging (step B5). Here, if the charging schedule does not include constant voltage charging, the control is skipped to step B12. On the other hand, when the charging schedule includes constant voltage charging, information on the number of units in the constant voltage area 12 is acquired (step B6), and it is determined whether or not there is a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12. Is done (step B7). Here, if there is no vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12, the occupant contact unit 6 informs the occupant's smartphone 30 that charging completion may be delayed (step B9), and a vacancy appears. The vehicle 20 is made to stand by in the constant current area 11 until.

On the other hand, if there is a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12, the facility management unit 5 implements automatic operation control for moving the vehicle 20 from the constant current area 11 to the constant voltage area 12, and the automatic operation control is performed again. Notify the occupant's smartphone 30 that it has started (step B8). After that, when the vehicle 20 arrives at the parking / stopping frame of the constant voltage area 12, the management device 1 sends an instruction to the constant voltage charging device 45 (step B10) to perform constant voltage charging. Even during the constant voltage charging, it is determined whether or not the charging completion condition is satisfied (step B11), and the constant voltage charging is continued until this condition is satisfied. The charge completion condition is that the charge amount reaches the target charge amount.

When the charging completion condition is satisfied, information on the number of units in the completion area 13 is acquired (step B12), and it is determined whether or not there is a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the completion area 13 (step B13). Here, if there is no vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the completion area 13, the occupant contact unit 6 informs the occupant's smartphone 30 that charging completion may be delayed (step B15) until the vacancy appears. The vehicle 20 is made to stand by in the constant voltage area 12. On the other hand, when there is a vacancy in the parking / stopping frame of the completion area 13, the facility management unit 5 implements automatic operation control for moving the vehicle 20 from the constant voltage area 12 to the completion area 13 (step B14). After that, when the vehicle 20 arrives at the parking / stopping frame in the completion area 13, the occupant communication unit 6 notifies the occupant's smartphone 30 that all the charging schedules have been completed. Further, the control is terminated when it is confirmed that the vehicle 20 has left the parking area 10.

Regarding the control of step B12, when the occupant is in the vehicle 20 or when the occupant is waiting in the vicinity of the vehicle 20, the automatic operation from the constant voltage area 12 to the completion area 13 is omitted. Then, the occupant may be allowed to board the vehicle 20 in the constant voltage area 12 and leave the vehicle. In this case, the occupant may manually cancel the automatic driving mode and drive the vehicle 20 to the exit by himself / herself. Further, as a condition for starting the control in step B12, it may be confirmed that there is no occupant in the vicinity of the vehicle 20. This condition is accurately determined by analyzing the surveillance camera image in the parking area 10 or by estimating the distance between the occupant and the vehicle 20 using the keyless operation system mounted on the vehicle 20. be able to.

[6. Action, effect]
(1) In the vehicle management system of the charging facility 14, the parking area 10 is provided with a constant current area 11 and a constant voltage area 12, and the movement of the vehicle 20 is performed according to the remaining amount of the battery 25 and the target charge amount. The state of charge is optimized. For example, only constant current charging is performed on the vehicle 20 that requires only light charging. Further, only constant voltage charging is performed on the vehicle 20 having a high battery level. By automating the proper use of constant current charging and constant voltage charging, the operating rates of the charging devices 40 and 45 can be increased and external charging can be efficiently performed, and the efficiency of an unspecified number of vehicles 20 can be increased. It can be charged at a high turnover rate. Further, since an expensive charging device that realizes constant current charging and constant voltage charging with one charging device is unnecessary, the initial cost and maintenance cost of the charging facility 14 can be reduced.

(2) In the above vehicle management system, the external charging to be performed first is selected from constant current charging and constant voltage charging according to the remaining amount of the battery 25. That is, if the remaining amount of the battery 25 is large, the battery 25 can be slowly charged while being protected from overvoltage by performing constant voltage charging in the constant voltage area. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of the battery 25 is low, the amount of electricity can be replenished in a short time by performing constant current charging in the constant current area. Therefore, a plurality of vehicles can be efficiently charged at a high rotation rate.

(3) In the above vehicle management system, constant voltage charging is performed after constant current charging according to the value obtained by adding the target charge amount to the remaining amount of the battery 25 before charging (that is, the amount of battery power after charging). Whether to do or not is selected. For example, even if the battery 25 of the vehicle 20 is not fully charged, if a certain amount of electric power is secured, the time-consuming constant voltage charging is omitted and only constant current charging is performed. There is. With such control, the average charging time per vehicle can be shortened as compared with the existing charging system, and an unspecified number of vehicles 20 can be efficiently charged at a high rotation rate.

(4) In the above vehicle management system, the second reference value is changed according to the number of constant current vehicles 51 existing in the constant current area 11. For example, if the number of constant current vehicles 51 is large, the second reference value is set low. That is, in a situation where the constant current area 11 is congested, the constant current charging ends early, and either the constant current charging shifts to the constant voltage charging or the charging ends. By such control, the turnover rate of external charging in the charging facility 14 can be increased.

(5) In the above vehicle management system, as shown in FIG. 1, the number of parking / stopping frames in the constant voltage area 12 is larger than the number of parking / stopping frames in the constant current area 11. As a result, the number of constant voltage charges per unit time can be increased. In addition, the number of constant voltage charges per unit time can be brought closer to the number of constant current charges per unit time, and the turnover rate of external charging can be further increased.

(6) In the vehicle management system of the charging facility 14, the parking area 10 of the vehicle 20 is divided into three areas, a constant current area 11, a constant voltage area 12, and a completion area 13, and vehicles located in each of the areas 11 to 13. Each vehicle 20 is automatically transferred based on the number of 20 vehicles. With such a mechanism, it is possible to carry out external charging while moving each vehicle 20 in the manner of "assembly line work", and it is possible to efficiently charge an unspecified number of vehicles 20. Therefore, the efficiency and turnover rate of external charging can be improved.

(7) In the above-mentioned vehicle management system, information on the number of units in each area 11 to 13 is shared by communication with other charging facilities 14 existing in the vicinity of the own facility. In addition, the number information obtained from the plurality of charging facilities 14 is stored in each charging facility 14 as a number database of the inter-facility communication unit 3, and is provided as reference material for the occupants to consider the "next charging scheduled place". To. Such control makes it easy for the occupant to determine an appropriate target charge amount. For example, instead of a uniform operation method that simply charges to a fully charged state (a state where the charging rate is 100%), it is possible to easily set the charging amount according to the convenience of the occupant and the driving plan of the vehicle. That is, it is possible to popularize an operation method of external charging such that charging only a necessary amount diligently, and it is possible to further improve the efficiency and turnover rate of external charging.

(8) The vehicle management system is provided with not only a constant current area 11 and a constant voltage area 12 where external charging is performed, but also a completion area 13 for the vehicle 20 after charging to stand by and park. Further, the vehicle 20 for which external charging has been completed is automatically transferred to the completion area 13. By such control, it is possible to eliminate the congestion (vehicle clogging) caused by the vehicle 20 that has been charged, and it is possible to further improve the efficiency and turnover rate of external charging. In addition, the occupant can spend time in a commercial facility or an entertainment facility without being overly concerned about the following vehicle 20 (vehicle waiting to be charged), and the convenience can be enhanced.

(9) As shown in FIG. 1, the constant current area 11 and the constant voltage area 12 provided in the charging facility 14 allow the vehicle 20 to enter and exit each parking / stopping frame without backing up. That is, a plurality of passages connecting the entrances and exits of the areas 11 to 13 in parallel are provided, and parking / stopping frames are arranged between the different passages. Further, the front end side of each parking / stopping frame is connected to one of a plurality of passages, and the rear end side is connected to another passage. With such a flow line layout, the vehicle 20 can be efficiently moved and charged, and the efficiency and rotation rate of external charging can be improved.

[7. Modification example]
In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle management system of the charging facility 14 provided in the parking area or the service area of the highway has been described in detail, but the installation location of the charging facility 14 is not limited to these, and the roadside station, the shopping mall, etc. It can be installed in parking lots such as commercial facilities and city halls. When the charging facility 14 is provided in a place facing a general road, the distance to the neighboring charging facility 14 changes depending on the route and is not uniquely determined. However, the distance (reference value) can be calculated by using the route guidance function and the distance prediction function built in the known navigation device. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the minimum required amount of electric power to go to the nearby charging facility 14, and it is possible to construct a system having the same operation and effect as the above-described embodiment.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the charging facility 14 provided with the parking area 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is exemplified, but the layout of the parking area 10 is not limited to this. For example, the completion area 13 may be omitted so that the occupant can get into the vehicle 20 and leave the vehicle from the place where the external charging is completed. In this case, the parking / stopping frames of the constant current area 11 and the constant voltage area 12 can be increased, and the efficiency and rotation rate of external charging can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, a system for charging the battery 25 of the vehicle 20 by a magnetic resonance type wireless charging method is exemplified, but the specific method of wireless charging is not limited to this. For example, an electromagnetic induction type wireless charging device may be used, or an electromagnetic wave radiation type wireless charging device using microwaves, laser light, or the like may be used. Regardless of the charging method, by automatically moving the parking area 10 provided with the constant current area 11 and the constant voltage area 12, it is possible to construct a system having the same operation and effect as the above-described embodiment. can.

1 Management device 2 Vehicle detection unit (detection unit)
3 Inter-facility communication unit 4 Information acquisition unit 5 Facility management department 6 Crew communication unit 10 Parking area 11 Constant current area 12 Constant voltage area 13 Completion area 14 Charging facility 20 Vehicle 30 Smartphone 40 Constant current charging device 45 Constant voltage charging device

Claims (10)

It is a vehicle management system of a charging facility that charges a vehicle equipped with an automatic driving function and a non-contact external charging function as well as an automatic driving control device that controls the state of automatic driving .
A parking area having a constant current area in which a constant current charging device for performing constant current charging is installed in the vehicle and a constant voltage area in which a constant voltage charging device for performing constant voltage charging is installed in the vehicle.
An information acquisition unit that acquires information on the remaining amount of electricity remaining in the battery of the vehicle and the target charge amount, which is the target value of the amount of electricity added by the charge.
Based on the remaining amount and the target charge amount, information on the implementation conditions of the automatic driving is acquired from the vehicle entering the parking area via the network, and the automatic driving control of the vehicle is controlled by instructions via the network. By letting the device control the state of the automatic driving, the automatic driving control for moving the vehicle by the automatic driving is performed , and the vehicle is charged with the constant current in the constant current area or in the constant voltage area. The facility management department that carries out the constant voltage charging of
A vehicle management system characterized by being equipped with. When the remaining amount of the vehicle that has entered the parking area is equal to or higher than a preset first reference value, the facility management unit performs the constant voltage charge in the constant voltage area, and the remaining amount is said. The vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein the constant current charging is performed in the constant current area when the value is less than the first reference value. When the facility management unit adds the target charge amount to the remaining amount before charging for the vehicle for which constant current charging is performed in the constant current area to be equal to or higher than a preset second reference value. The invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle is also moved to the constant voltage area, and the vehicle is charged only in the constant current area when the target charge amount is less than the second reference value. Vehicle management system. A detection unit for detecting the number of vehicles existing in the constant current area is provided.
The vehicle management system according to claim 3, wherein the facility management unit sets the value of the second reference value lower as the number of the units detected by the detection unit increases. The vehicle management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the number of parking / stopping frames in the constant voltage area is larger than the number of parking / stopping frames in the constant current area. A vehicle detection unit for detecting the number of vehicles existing in each area in the parking area is provided.
The vehicle management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the facility management unit moves the vehicle by the automatic driving based on the number of units in each area. It is equipped with an inter-facility communication unit that shares information on the number of vehicles by communicating with other charging facilities existing in the vicinity of the charging facility.
The facility management unit is characterized in that, when acquiring information on the target charge amount, the facility management unit presents to the occupants of the vehicle a congestion situation estimated from the information on the number of vehicles in the other charging facility. The vehicle management system according to 6. The parking area has a completion area in which the vehicle parks after charging in the constant current area or the constant voltage area.
The vehicle management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the facility management unit moves the vehicle for which external charging has been completed to the completion area by the automatic driving. Each of the constant current area and the constant voltage area is arranged so that a plurality of passages connecting the inlet and the outlet in parallel and the front end side of one passage and the rear end side of the other passages are in contact with each other. The vehicle management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a plurality of parking / stopping frames. The facility management unit acquires information on the locked state of the door lock switch, information on the operating state of the ignition switch, and information on the operating position of the select lever before the automatic operation is performed, and the steering is operated during the automatic operation. Acquire steering information, driving force, and braking force information
The vehicle management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the vehicle management system is characterized in that.

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