DE102020209514A1 - Method for locating at least one charging point - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for locating at least one charging point (2) by a vehicle (1), the following steps being carried out:
- determining (101) a vehicle position (320) of the vehicle (1),
- Providing (102) a loading point position (330) of the loading point (2),
- Carrying out a distance determination (103) of a value-related distance information (202) over a distance (302) of the vehicle (1) to the charging point (2) using the determined vehicle position (320) and the provided charging point position (330),
- Carrying out a direction determination (104) of a direction indication (201) about a direction (301) of the charging point (2) in relation to the vehicle (1),
- Displaying (105) the valued distance information (202) together with the direction information (201) for an occupant of the vehicle (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for locating at least one charging point. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system and a computer program.

It is known from the prior art that measures are taken in electric vehicles to make it easier to find a charging point. However, these are often not sufficient to enable reliable localization of the charging point.

Charging points are not located in a recurring and visible position like petrol pumps, such as at a gas station. In addition, in most cases, charging stations are not signposted and are not conspicuously large, as is the case with gas stations. When navigating to a charging point, it often happens that the destination has already been announced, but the charging station is not yet visible to the driver on site.

From the documents EP 3 343 178 A1 , DE 10 2018 201 894 A1 , EP 3 521 763 A2 and US 6,374,183 B1 generic methods are known.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object to increase the charging convenience and the reliability of operation in electric vehicles.

The above object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1, a system having the features of claim 9 and by a computer program having the features of claim 10. Further features and details of the invention result from the respective dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features and details that are described in connection with the method according to the invention also apply, of course, in connection with the system according to the invention and the computer program according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention is or is always referred to mutually can.

The object is achieved in particular by a method for locating at least or precisely one charging point by a vehicle, in particular by a navigation system. The method can be carried out accordingly by the vehicle, for example by vehicle electronics. The method can be used to find a charging point and preferably to guide a driver of the vehicle for navigation. The localization can thus include finding the charging point and/or navigating to the charging point and/or instructing the driver on how to navigate (e.g. by means of a corresponding display).

The vehicle is designed, for example, as an electric vehicle, which has an electric motor for locomotion and a rechargeable battery for supplying energy to the electric motor. The vehicle is designed, for example, as a passenger vehicle or truck. The battery can be designed as a drive. Furthermore, the electric motor can represent the sole drive of the vehicle, so that the energy supply must always be guaranteed for operation of the vehicle. Accordingly, in order to ensure the operation of the vehicle, it may be necessary to have reached a charging point for recharging the battery by the time the battery reaches the critical state of charge. This can be supported by the localization of the method according to the invention. The charging point can be designed as a stationary charging device for carrying out an electrical charging process in the electric vehicle, preferably for recharging the drive battery of the electric vehicle, and is preferably provided as part of a charging station with a number of charging points.

• - Ermitteln einer (aktuellen, also Ist-) Fahrzeugposition des Fahrzeuges, vorzugsweise einer geographischen Position und/oder anhand eines Positionsbestimmungssystem wie GPS (Global Positioning System), bspw. durch einen GPS-Sensor des Fahrzeuges,
• - Bereitstellen einer Ladepunktposition des Ladepunkts, vorzugsweise durch ein Auslesen dieser Ladepunktposition aus einer Datensammlung des Fahrzeuges (z. B. eines Navigationssystems) und/oder über ein Netzwerk wie das Internet, wobei die Ladepunktposition wie die Fahrzeugposition als eine geographische Position ausgeführt sein kann,
• - Durchführen einer Entfernungsbestimmung einer wertemäßigen Entfernungsangabe über eine (relative) Entfernung des Fahrzeuges zum Ladepunkt anhand der ermittelten Fahrzeugposition und der bereitgestellten Ladepunktposition, vorzugsweise durch eine Berechnung durch ein Navigationssystem des Fahrzeuges (anhand einer Karteninformation mit Straßendaten) oder durch eine geometrische Entfernungsermittlung, um die Entfernungsangabe als Angabe über eine noch zu fahrende Entfernung bis zum Ladepunkt oder einer Entfernung als Luftlinie zu bestimmen,
• - Durchführen einer Richtungsbestimmung einer Richtungsangabe über eine Richtung des Ladepunktes in Bezug zum Fahrzeug, vorzugsweise anhand einer Angabe in Bezug zu wenigstens einer Himmelsrichtung, bevorzugt über die Richtung bei einer Draufsicht auf das Fahrzeug und den Ladepunkt (Vogelperspektive), besonders bevorzugt durch ein Navigationssystem des Fahrzeuges,
• - Anzeigen der wertemäßigen Entfernungsangabe gemeinsam mit der Richtungsangabe für einen Insassen, insbesondere Fahrer, des Fahrzeuges.

In a method according to the invention, the following steps can advantageously be carried out, preferably one after the other in the order given or in any order, it also being possible for the steps to be carried out repeatedly:

• - Determination of a (current, i.e. actual) vehicle position of the vehicle, preferably a geographic position and/or using a position determination system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), e.g. by a GPS sensor of the vehicle,
• - Providing a charging point position of the charging point, preferably by reading this charging point position from a data collection of the vehicle (e.g. a navigation system) and/or via a network such as the Internet, wherein the charging point position, like the vehicle position, can be implemented as a geographic position,
• - Carrying out a distance determination of a value-based distance information about a (relative) distance of the vehicle to the charging point based on the determined vehicle position and the provided charging point position, preferably by a calculation by a navigation system of the vehicle (based on map information with road data) or by a geometric distance determination in order to determine the distance information as an indication of a distance still to be driven to the charging point or a distance as the crow flies,
• - Carrying out a direction determination of a direction information about a direction of the charging point in relation to the vehicle, preferably based on an indication in relation to at least one compass direction, preferably via the direction in a plan view of the vehicle and the charging point (bird's eye view), particularly preferably by a navigation system of the vehicle,
• - Displaying the value-related distance information together with the direction information for an occupant, in particular the driver, of the vehicle.

The displays may be visual to the occupants to guide the occupants in operating the vehicle. Especially in the vicinity of the charging point (i.e. in the immediate vicinity of the charging point), a distance specification together with a direction specification can be decisive in order to find the charging point in a targeted manner without a long search. Therefore, the advantage can be obtained that the reliability of the operation of the vehicle is improved.

The accuracy of the vehicle position can be provided, for example, in the range of 1 meter to 10 meters in order to enable precise navigation. The direction determination and/or distance determination can be carried out at least partially by using a navigation system of the vehicle. The display can include generating a representation in which the distance information is displayed in text form and/or numerically and/or the direction information is displayed in the form of a pointer and/or a compass.

The display can be visual on a display device such as a display or touchscreen. Correspondingly, the display can include a digital control of the display device for visualizing the representation. In this way, the representation can be displayed graphically on a screen in the vehicle interior.

The direction indication can be displayed in compass form by displaying the direction as a pointer relative to the vehicle as the center of a compass and relative to a cardinal point. Correspondingly, the pointer can be displayed at the point radially around the vehicle position (in a plan view of the vehicle) at which it points in the cardinal directions in which the charging point is located from the perspective of the vehicle. This can therefore also be the direction of the charging point from the driver's perspective when he is looking in the direction of travel. If necessary, the representation of the directional information can be graphically supplemented by a representation of cardinal points.

Provision can also be made for the charging point to be selected from a list of several other charging points before the distance and/or direction is determined. The other charging points are e.g. B. all charging points that meet a specified criterion (e.g. have a maximum distance from the vehicle or meet other properties, e.g. are suitable for the electric vehicle or are not occupied). The method steps according to the invention can thus also be initiated automatically if a charging point of these further charging points meets the criterion, for example has reached the maximum distance. Manual selection of a charging point can also be provided. The determination of direction and/or distance and/or the display of the corresponding indication of direction and/or further distance can possibly only take place for the selected charging point.

The value-related distance specification can e.g. B. be displayed and / or represented that the distance (of the vehicle to the charging point) as a value of a length (z. B. in meters or miles) is given. This value must be updated regularly, e.g. B. at a maximum time interval of 1 s (second).

A further advantage within the scope of the invention can be achieved if the display is activated automatically depending on the distance of the vehicle from the charging point (keyword geo-fencing). In particular, this can be used to display or switch to the compass function in the immediate vicinity of the charging point (as a destination or intermediate destination for vehicle navigation). For example, the current distance can be checked at regular time intervals (such as a maximum of 100 s or 10 s or 1 s). The display can be activated automatically when the current distance between the vehicle and the charging point falls below a predefined distance (such as a maximum of 100 m) in order to only display the distance and/or direction together when the vehicle is close to the charging point. The close range is z. B. as the area below the predefined distance. This can be an area in which a view of the charging point can be expected for the occupants or the driver is. This is, for example, a maximum area of 100 m (meters) around the charging point.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the direction is determined based on a determined alignment of the vehicle and the provided charging point position, with the directional information preferably being displayed radially to the position of the vehicle (also referred to as a compass function), with the radial position of the directional information changing can change (automatically) depending on the current direction. The variation of the direction information depending on the current direction can support the navigation of the vehicle in the vicinity. In this case, radial refers in particular to a plan view of the vehicle. According to such a representation, the position of the vehicle can be defined as the center of a compass, with the indication of direction being a pointer of this compass. The orientation can e.g. B. can be determined using a navigation system and / or an electronic compass of the vehicle.

It is also advantageous if, within the framework of the invention, the steps are carried out automatically and repeatedly in order to regularly update the distance information and the direction information. For this purpose, for example, a timer such as an electronic timer can be used in order to trigger the execution of the steps at predefined time intervals. It can also be provided that the time intervals between the repetitions vary, e.g. B. depending on the distance between the vehicle and the charging point. In particular, in the vicinity of the charging point, an increased (continuous) update rate can be provided.

According to a further possibility, it can be provided that when the orientation of the vehicle changes during the display, the indication of the direction is automatically adapted to the changed orientation. The function of the display can thus also be understood as a dynamically changing compass function. Also, the indication of the direction can only be given graphically and not in terms of values. On the other hand, the distance can only be specified in text form and/or numerically.

It can be advantageous if, within the scope of the invention, the distance information is automatically updated when the distance from the vehicle to the charging point changes when it is displayed. A timer such as an electronic timer can also be used for this purpose in order to trigger the determination of the distance at predefined time intervals. Provision can be made for the time intervals to vary, e.g. B. depending on the distance between the vehicle and the charging point. When the vehicle approaches the charging point, the value of the distance would be counted down.

Furthermore, it can be provided within the scope of the invention that the distance information and/or the direction information is displayed on a common display surface of a display device, preferably in the form of a center console and/or a head-up display and/or an instrument cluster and/or a navigation screen. of the vehicle are displayed. The display device can be aligned with the occupants and in particular the driver (thus, for example, with the driver's seat) in order to make the displayed representations easily recognizable for the driver while driving. The display can optionally be in the display of the navigation system, and thus the representations of the direction and distance z. B. be placed next to a map for vehicle navigation.

Furthermore, the distance information can include a graphic and/or numerical representation of the distance. This numeric representation has, for example, a maximum of one or a maximum of two or a maximum of three digits and includes one or no decimal places. The representation is displayed, for example, graphically (eg next to the representation of the direction information) on a screen in the vehicle interior. The display can correspondingly include generation of the display(s) in which the distance information is displayed in text form and/or numerically and/or the direction information is displayed in the form of a pointer and/or a compass.

It is possible for the distance and/or direction information to be displayed in addition to the display of a vehicle navigation system (a navigation system), ie z. B. the representations used for this are displayed next to it, or that the display of the distance and/or direction information at least partially replaces the display of the vehicle navigation (i.e. in particular switching from the navigation display to the compass function).

It may also be possible that the distance and/or direction information is only displayed (e.g. switching or fading in) (automatically) when the vehicle has reached a predefined (small) distance from the charging point and is therefore in the in the immediate vicinity of the charging point. Outside this distance, the display cannot be activated or can be activated manually. The determination that the predefined distance has been reached can be made, for example, by a navigation system.

It is also possible for a navigation system of the vehicle to carry out (active) route guidance to the charging point in parallel with the method steps of the method according to the invention. The charging point can be a final destination or an intermediate destination of the vehicle navigation. The route guidance can be supplemented by displaying the direction and distance information.

The distance specification can e.g. B. be valued by representing the distance as a numeric value in a predefined unit. If necessary, the unit can also be reproduced in text form in this representation. Optionally, a note in text form can also be displayed in this display, e.g. an indication of the selected charging point. It may be possible that the unit used to value distance (such as meters or miles) can be switched. This can be possible depending on a user setting, for example.

• - eine Verarbeitungsvorrichtung zur Durchführung der Schritte eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• - eine Anzeigevorrichtung zur Darstellung der wertemäßigen Entfernungsangabe gemeinsam mit der Richtungsangabe für einen Insassen des Fahrzeuges.

The invention also relates to a system for a vehicle for locating at least one charging point, having:

• - a processing device for carrying out the steps of a method according to the invention,
• - a display device for displaying the valued distance information together with the direction information for an occupant of the vehicle.

The system according to the invention thus brings with it the same advantages as have been described in detail with reference to a method according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a computer program, in particular a computer program product, comprising instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a processing device of a vehicle, cause the latter to carry out the steps of a method according to the invention. The computer program according to the invention thus brings with it the same advantages as have been described in detail with reference to a method according to the invention.

The processing device can, for example, be designed as an electronic processing device of the vehicle, for example integrated into a control unit of the vehicle. It can also be possible for a navigation system to be part of the processing device. At least one non-volatile data memory can also be provided in order to provide the charging point positions for different charging points and/or the computer program according to the invention.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Anzeigevorrichtung, bei welcher die Entfernungs- und Richtungsangabe dargestellt werden,
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Entfernung und Richtung bei einer Draufsicht auf das Fahrzeug,
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen System
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung zur Visualisierung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a display device in which the distance and direction information are displayed,
• 2 a schematic representation of a distance and direction in a plan view of the vehicle,
• 3 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention
• 4 a schematic representation for visualizing a method according to the invention.

In the following figures, the same reference numbers are used for the same technical features of different exemplary embodiments.

A method and system according to the invention serves to localize at least one charging point 2. For this purpose, according to the invention, the display 105 of distance information 202 is used together with direction information 201, as exemplified in 1 is shown.

The localization relates, for example, to vehicle navigation, in which a navigation system navigates the vehicle 1 from its current location 320 to the location 330 of a charging point 2 (see 2 ). The invention is based in particular on the finding that providing a compass function can help a driver to find a charging point 2 in the immediate vicinity of the charging point 2 in a particularly reliable manner, improving the navigation of a vehicle 1 .

The compass function used is first described below. This is in 1 shown schematically as a representation on a display surface 35, in which a distance specification 202 and a direction specification 201 to the charging point 2 are graphically represented together. Optionally, further distance information 202 and/or direction information 201 of further charging points 3 can also be displayed here, but can be graphically differentiated from the selected charging point 2 if necessary.

The display area 35 is z. B. Part of a screen in the vehicle interior. It can be seen that the representations 201, 202 on the display area 35 can be supplemented by the representation of a map 210 of a navigation system of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, it is possible that the representations 201, 202 are not shown in addition to the map 210, but instead replace it. The display 105 of the distance information 202 and/or the direction information 201, i.e. the graphic representation of the representation, can only take place, for example, if an in 2 illustrated predefined distance 305 to charging point 2 is reached. This makes it possible for the display 105 to support the navigation to the charging point 2 only in the vicinity of the charging point 2 . Only in this close-up range does it make sense to display the distance information 202 as a value (particularly numerical, ie numerical) information of the distance 302 and/or to display the direction information 201 in relation to the cardinal points. Directional information 201 can thus be provided by displaying a pointer like a compass, which dynamically adapts to a change in the alignment of vehicle 1 . In this way, steering of the vehicle 1 for navigating to the charging point 2 can be significantly simplified using this direction information 201 and in particular in combination with the distance information 202 .

In 3 a system 10 for the vehicle 1 for locating at least one charging point 2 is shown schematically. The system 10 can have a processing device 20 (of the vehicle 1) for carrying out the steps of a method according to the invention and a display device 30 (of the vehicle 1) for displaying the value-based distance information 202 together with the direction information 201 for an occupant of the vehicle 1.

In 4 the individual method steps of a method according to the invention for locating at least one charging point 2 by a vehicle 1 are visualized. According to a first method step, a vehicle position 320 of the vehicle 1 is determined 101. According to a second method step, a charging point position 330 of the charging point 2 is provided 102. Then, according to a third method step, a distance determination 103 of a value-based distance indication 202 over a distance 302 of the vehicle can be determined 1 to the charging point 2 based on the determined vehicle position 320 and the provided charging point position 330. Furthermore, according to a fourth method step, a direction determination 104 of a direction specification 201 can be carried out via a direction 301 of the charging point 2 in relation to the vehicle 1 . Then, according to a fifth method step, a display 105 of the value-based distance information 202 together with the direction information 201 for an occupant of the vehicle 1 can take place. In this case, the display 105 can be activated automatically depending on the distance 302 of the vehicle 1 from the charging point 2 . In 2 clarifies in more detail that the automatic activation of the display 105 can take place when the current distance 302 of the vehicle 1 to the charging point 2 falls below a predefined distance 305, so that the distance information 202 and/or the Show direction 201 together.

It is also possible for direction determination 104 to be carried out using a determined alignment of vehicle 1 and the charging point position 330 provided. In 1 it is shown that in the display 105 the direction information 201 can be displayed radially to the position of the vehicle 1 , the radial position of the direction information 201 changing depending on the current direction 301 . The distance information 202 and the direction information 201 can e.g. B. on the common display area 35 of the display device 30, z. B. in the form of a center console and / or a head-up display and / or an instrument cluster and / or a navigation screen of the vehicle 1 are displayed.

The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively in the context of examples. It goes without saying that individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, insofar as this makes technical sense, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Reference List

1

vehicle

2

Charging point, selected charging point

3

more charging points

10

system

20

processing device

30

display device

35

display area

101

Detect

102

Provide

103

distance determination

104

direction determination

105

To sue

201

indication of direction

202

distance indication

210

map

301

direction

302

distance

305

predefined distance

320

vehicle position

330

charging point position

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 3343178 A1 [0004]
• DE 102018201894 A1 [0004]
• EP 3521763 A2 [0004]
• US 6374183 B1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Method for locating at least one charging point (2) by a vehicle (1), the following steps being carried out: - determining (101) a vehicle position (320) of the vehicle (1), - Providing (102) a loading point position (330) of the loading point (2), - Carrying out a distance determination (103) of a value-related distance information (202) over a distance (302) of the vehicle (1) to the charging point (2) using the determined vehicle position (320) and the provided charging point position (330), - Carrying out a direction determination (104) of a direction indication (201) about a direction (301) of the charging point (2) in relation to the vehicle (1), - Displaying (105) the valued distance information (202) together with the direction information (201) for an occupant of the vehicle (1). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the display (105) is activated automatically depending on the distance (302) of the vehicle (1) from the charging point (2). procedure after claim 2 , characterized in that the automatic activation of the display (105) takes place when the current distance (302) of the vehicle (1) to the charging point (2) falls below a predefined distance (305) in order to only become visible in a close range of the vehicle (1st ) to the charging point (2) to display the distance information (202) and/or the direction information (201) together. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the direction determination (104) is carried out using a determined alignment of the vehicle (1) and the provided loading point position (330), with the display (105) indicating the direction (201) radially to the position of the vehicle (1) is displayed, with the radial position of the direction information (201) changing depending on the current direction (301). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steps are automatically repeated in order to regularly update the distance information (202) and the direction information (201). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the orientation of the vehicle (1) changes during the display (105), the directional information (201) is automatically adapted to the changed orientation. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that if the distance (302) of the vehicle (1) to the charging point (2) changes in the display (105), the distance information (202) is automatically updated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance information (202) and the direction information (201) on a common display surface (35) of a display device (30), namely in the form of a center console and/or a head-up display and /or an instrument cluster and/or a navigation screen of the vehicle (1), the distance information (202) including a numerical representation of the distance (302). System (10) for a vehicle (1) for locating at least one charging point (2), comprising: - a processing device (20) for carrying out the steps of a method according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , - a display device (30) for displaying the value-based distance information (202) together with the direction information (201) for an occupant of the vehicle (1). Computer program, comprising instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a processing device (20) of a vehicle (1), cause the latter to carry out the steps of a method according to one of Claims 1 until 8th to execute.

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