DE102016224538A1 - Method for charging an energy storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for charging an energy store (13) of at least one motor vehicle (1), comprising the steps of: registering the motor vehicle (1) with a coordinating device (2) which associates at least one stationary charging device (7) usable for charging the energy store (13) is, by sending a notification message to the coordination device (2) by the motor vehicle (1), determining a rank for the motor vehicle (1) in a loading order by the coordination device (2), the loading order indicating in which order the motor vehicle (1 Further motor vehicles (8-12) registered at the coordination device (2) are expected to be charged, guiding the motor vehicle (1) to a waiting position (14) spaced from the charging device (7), determining a departure time point at which the motor vehicle (1 ) is to be guided to the charging device (7), depending on its rank by the coordination device (2), triggering a r automatic guidance of the motor vehicle (1) to the charging device (7) at the departure time by the coordination device (2) and the beginning of the charging of the energy store (13) upon reaching the charging device (7).

Description

The invention relates to a method for charging an energy storage device of at least one motor vehicle. In addition, the invention relates to a coordination device for coordinating the loading of several motor vehicles and a motor vehicle.

In particular, energy storage of purely electrically driven vehicles or hybrid vehicles must be charged relatively frequently in order to provide energy for a driving operation can. For this purpose, different charging systems are known, for example, allow a shop via a cable connection or induction coils. Charging times for corresponding energy storage can be significantly longer than tank times, which would be required for example to fill a fuel tank at a gas pump. Therefore, there may be longer waiting times at public charging stations or other public charging facilities. In order to spare a driver longer waiting times in the motor vehicle, several approaches are known in the prior art.

For example, the document teaches DE 10 2015 200 018 A1 to build on a command to charge a communication link between the motor vehicle and the charging station, the charging station in this case provides information about a free loading space of the charging station, on which the vehicle is parked for charging an energy storage. The problem here is that not in all cases, a free loading space is available.

The publication DE 10 2008 055 881 A1 discloses a method for automatically loading vehicles, in which a vehicle is guided in a self-directed manner from a transfer area to a loading location and from there after the loading operation to a transfer area. The individual loading location may be designed to have one or more loading or waiting lines on which a plurality of vehicles may be accommodated. The loading or waiting line is designed so that it has a starting position that can be approached by the self-controlled vehicle. Subsequently, the vehicle is autonomously guided to the front vehicle in the loading or waiting line until the final position in which loading is possible is reached. The provision of loading or waiting lines, however, leads to an additional space requirement in the loading position. In addition, the individual vehicles must always be ready to go while waiting, which can potentially increase the energy consumption of the vehicles. In addition, a subsequent change in the order in the line is possible only with relatively large maneuvering.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a contrast improved method for charging an energy storage at least one motor vehicle.

• - Anmelden des Kraftfahrzeugs an einer Koordinationseinrichtung, der wenigstens eine zum Laden des Energiespeichers nutzbare, stationäre Ladeeinrichtung zugeordnet ist, durch Senden einer Anmeldenachricht an die Koordinationseinrichtung durch das Kraftfahrzeug ,
• - Ermitteln eines Rangs für das Kraftfahrzeug in einer Ladereihengfolge durch die Koordinationseinrichtung, wobei die Ladereihenfolge angibt, in welcher Reihenfolge das Kraftfahrzeug und an der Koordinationseinrichtung angemeldete weitere Kraftfahrzeuge voraussichtlich geladen werden,
• - Führen des Kraftfahrzeugs zu einer von der Ladeeinrichtung beabstandeten Warteposition,
• - Ermitteln eines Abfahrtszeitpunkts, zu dem das Kraftfahrzeug zu der Ladeeinrichtung geführt werden soll, in Abhängigkeit seines Rangs durch die Koordinationseinrichtung,
• - Auslösen einer automatischen Führung des Kraftfahrzeugs zu der Ladeeinrichtung zu dem Abfahrtszeitpunkt durch die Koordinationseinrichtung und Beginn des Ladens des Energiespeichers bei Erreichen der Ladeeinrichtung.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a method for charging an energy store of at least one motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

• Signing on of the motor vehicle to a coordination device which is assigned at least one stationary charging device which can be used for charging the energy store, by sending a registration message to the coordination device by the motor vehicle,
• Determining a rank for the motor vehicle in a loading sequence by the coordination device, wherein the loading order indicates in which order the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle registered at the coordination device are expected to be loaded,
• Guiding the motor vehicle to a waiting position spaced from the loading device,
• Determining a departure time at which the motor vehicle is to be guided to the charging device, depending on its rank by the coordination device,
• - Triggering an automatic guidance of the motor vehicle to the charging device at the departure time by the coordination device and the beginning of the charging of the energy storage device upon reaching the charging device.

According to the invention, it is proposed to specify the order of loading the motor vehicle and the other motor vehicles by means of a coordination device to which the individual motor vehicles are registered. As a result, it is not necessary that the motor vehicles are arranged in a physical queue, but they can be guided to a substantially arbitrary waiting position to wait there until a charger is available for them. Instead of a physical queue, a virtual queue in the form of the load order is thus used. On the one hand, this has the advantage that the waiting positions can be distributed as desired in the surroundings of the charging device, so that a loading location which has one or more loading devices and preferably also waiting positions can be made flexible. In addition, changes in the order in the load queue, for example, when a particular load is to be prioritized, very easily possible, since only the present in a storage device of the coordination device loading order must be changed and no physical movement of individual vehicles is required.

The automatic guidance of the motor vehicle to the charging device makes it possible to move the motor vehicle to the charging device without an active involvement of a driver and, in particular, without monitoring by the driver. Thus, the driver can leave the motor vehicle at the waiting position or before an automatic guidance to the waiting position or remain in the vehicle and use the waiting time otherwise. In particular, the charging of the energy storage can take place without a driver participation. For example, a charging cable can be connected to the motor vehicle by means of an actuator provided on the charging device or an operator present there, or charging can take place without contact. In particular, the motor vehicle can be automatically transferred after loading into or another waiting position at which it can be picked up by the driver. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to use waiting pauses and also loading times for other activities.

The coordination device is preferably associated with a plurality of charging devices and / or a plurality of waiting positions, wherein the waiting position or charging device used for a particular motor vehicle can be selected as required. For example, long routes between a waiting position and a charging device can be avoided or it can be selected a charging device that is suitable or particularly suitable for charging a particular motor vehicle, for example, it has a suitable charging connection and / or supports a specific charging mode and / or one certain charging current and / or a certain charging voltage can provide.

The registration of the motor vehicle to the coordination device can be done manually by a driver. However, it is also possible that this is done semi-automatically. For example, the motor vehicle can be automatically registered to a coordinating device which is assigned at least one charging device located close to the current motor vehicle position when the driver requests a charging process for the motor vehicle. However, it is also possible to automatically register the motor vehicle at the coordination device, for example, when a state of charge of an energy store falls below a certain limit, automatic guidance takes place along an autonomously planned route, or the like.

In the method according to the invention, the motor vehicle is preferably automatically guided to the waiting position. For example, the motor vehicle can be guided to the waiting position without a driver located in the motor vehicle. The guidance to the waiting position can be carried out by the coordination device, which transmits directly required driving interventions or at least one desired driving route to the motor vehicle. However, it is also possible for the coordination device to transmit only the location of the waiting position to the motor vehicle, after which the guidance to the waiting position takes place, for example, with the aid of map data held in the motor vehicle. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that the motor vehicle is guided by the driver himself to the waiting position.

The waiting position has in particular no charging possibility for the energy storage device of the motor vehicle.

In order to determine the departure time for the motor vehicle, the coordination device can assign the motor vehicle and the further motor vehicles in each case time intervals at the charging device or the charging devices in order of their rank. The length of a corresponding time interval in which the respective charging device is occupied by the respective motor vehicle, as will be explained in more detail later, be determined depending on an amount of energy to be charged or a possible charging speed, so for example a chargeable charging current. From this assignment, there is also a time interval for the motor vehicle, that is, when the motor vehicle can be loaded on which charging device. Depending on this time interval, the departure time can be determined.

Preferably, the departure time is determined as a function of a probable travel time of the motor vehicle from the waiting position to the charging device. A corresponding travel time can be fixed. For example, a probable travel time can be stored in the coordination device for a respective pair of a charging device with a waiting position. However, the travel time can also be determined as a function of a current time, for example as a function of a time of day and / or a day of the week and / or as a function of at least one vehicle parameter of the motor vehicle, for example as a function of an engine of the motor vehicle.

In particular, the coordination device can predict a charging time from which the charging device or a selected charging device is expected to be available for the motor vehicle and the departure time can be selected such that the charging time by the estimated travel time or one depending on this particular value is spaced from the departure time.

Before the departure time, the loading order and thus the rank of the motor vehicle can be changed at least once. In particular, this change may be a permutation of the load order or the insertion of a newly registered further motor vehicle or the removal of another motor vehicle from the load order, in particular in or out of a rank in front of the motor vehicle. For example, a user of another motor vehicle may decide not to carry out a charging process and thus remove the motor vehicle from the order of loading. In this case, the motor vehicle can remain in the waiting position and be picked up there or automatically guided to another pick-up position.

On the other hand, it is possible to load certain motor vehicles with a particularly high or very low priority. For example, it is possible that one of the other motor vehicles should first be made available to a user again after a relatively long time interval, so that the loading of other motor vehicles can be brought forward. On the other hand, it is possible that, for example, emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles or certain types of vehicles should be loaded with a higher priority. A priority for a motor vehicle may, for example, also depend on an agreement or a contract between an operator of the charging device assigned to the coordination device and a user of the motor vehicle.

The loading sequence is preferably determined and / or changed as a function of a reception time of the notification message by the coordination device. For example, as long as it is not otherwise affected, the load order may correspond to the order of receipt of the log messages.

As already mentioned, the order of loading can additionally be determined as a function of priority information that is independent of the time of reception and assigned to the motor vehicle. The priority information can in particular be transmitted from the motor vehicle to the coordination device. This can be done as part of the login message. The further vehicles are preferably each assigned a priority information. Various options for prioritizing individual motor vehicles have already been explained above.

By at least one of the other motor vehicles, an energy quantity information which relates to a total capacity and / or a state of charge and / or a free capacity of the energy storage of the respective motor vehicle and / or an amount of energy to be charged to the charging device by this motor vehicle, are transmitted to the coordination device, after which the departure time is determined as a function of the energy quantity information. If a larger amount of energy to be charged, for example, if the state of charge indicates a substantial emptying of the energy storage, it is expected that the charger is blocked longer. An estimated charging time for the individual motor vehicles can be taken into account in the previously explained planning of time intervals in which the motor vehicles are to be charged. Thus, the energy quantity information also affects when it is expected that the or one of the charging devices for the motor vehicle is free, so that the departure time can be adjusted.

Additionally or alternatively, the energy quantity information can also be taken into account in the context of determining the loading order. For example, vehicles with a relatively small amount of energy in the order of loading can be preferred, since a wait for a free charging device in these vehicles has a particularly strong effect on the total charging time.

By means of at least one of the further motor vehicles, charging information, on which a maximum charging speed of the energy store of the respective motor vehicle depends, can be transmitted to the coordination device, after which the departure time is determined as a function of the charging information. If only a slow charging of the energy storage is possible, a charging device used by the further motor vehicle is blocked for a longer time, whereby, as explained with regard to the energy quantity information, the departure time can be shifted.

The coordination device can transmit start-up information to the motor vehicle for triggering the automatic guidance to the charging device, which relates to the position of the charging device and / or a route from the waiting position to the charging device. Alternatively, the coordination device can also directly determine driving interventions that are to be carried out by the motor vehicle and transmit them. Corresponding driving interventions can be carried out by the motor vehicle by activating actuators of the motor vehicle correspondingly by a control device of the motor vehicle. The transmission of such starting information makes it possible that in the motor vehicle to use the method according to the invention before the start of the process no information must be present about the waiting position and / or the position of the charging device.

In addition, it is possible that the coordination device transmits after the registration of the motor vehicle, another starting information to the motor vehicle, which may relate to the position of the waiting position and / or a route to the waiting position and / or driving interventions that are required for approaching the waiting position.

In addition to the method according to the invention, the invention relates to a coordination device for coordinating the charging of several motor vehicles to at least one charging device associated with the coordination device, comprising a control device and a controllable by this communication device, wherein the control device is adapted to control the communication device such that the coordination device on the process according to the invention participates. The coordination device can be further developed with the features explained for the method according to the invention.

In addition, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having an energy store, a communication device and a control device, by means of which the motor vehicle can be automatically guided without driver intervention by the driver, wherein the motor vehicle is configured to participate in the method according to the invention as the motor vehicle or one of the further motor vehicles. wherein the communication device can be controlled by the control device for registering the motor vehicle at the coordination device and the motor vehicle can be automatically guided to the charging device by the control device at the departure time. The automated guidance to the charging device can take place, in particular, upon receipt of a corresponding message from the coordination device.

Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following embodiment and the accompanying drawing, which shows a traffic situation in which an embodiment of the method according to the invention by several embodiments of inventive motor vehicles is performed.

The figure shows a driving situation in which an energy storage 13 of the motor vehicle 1 should be loaded. This planned charging process can be initiated, for example, by a driver signaling a charging request by means of an appropriate operator input. A control device 3 of the motor vehicle 1 then controls a communication device 4 of the motor vehicle 1 to send a notification message to a coordinator 2 or at their communication device 5 transferred to.

Upon receipt of the login message, a controller determines 6 the coordination facility 2 a rank for the motor vehicle 1 in a loading order. The motor vehicles 8th are already at charging facilities 7 loaded. Therefore, the loading order includes beside the motor vehicle 1 the motor vehicles 9 . 10 . 11 who are already on a respective waiting position 14 are turned off.

The ranking of motor vehicles 1 and 9 to 11 depends on the one hand on the time at which a respective notification message was received and on the other hand on a priority information transmitted with the respective notification message. On the one hand, the priority information may depend on whether certain types of vehicle, for example emergency vehicles, are concerned. On the other hand, the priority information indicates how fast loading is to take place, that is to say, in particular, from when the respective motor vehicle 1 . 9 to 11 should be available to a user again. In the example shown gives the priority information for the motor vehicles 1 . 9 . 10 a medium priority. The car 11 should be picked up relatively late, for example, only the next day, by a user. Therefore, it is assigned a relatively low priority. The motor vehicles 1 . 9 . 10 are thus arranged in the order of loading according to their order of arrival, that is the motor vehicle 1 becomes the rank 3 assigned. The car 11 gets rank due to its low priority 4 ,

Because all charging directions 7 by motor vehicles 8th are occupied and also the motor vehicles 9 . 10 in the order of loading in front of the motor vehicle 1 stand, becomes the motor vehicle 1 first to the waiting position 14 guided. For this purpose, the control device 6 the coordination facility 2 via the communication facilities 4 . 5 a starting information to the motor vehicle 1 ready the position of the waiting position 14 describes. By the control device 3 becomes the motor vehicle 1 then automatically automated without a driver intervention to the waiting position 14 guided, which is represented by the arrow a.

The individual motor vehicles 1 . 8th to 11 in the context of the registration information provide energy quantity information to the coordination device 2 ready, which concerns a quantity of energy to be charged. In addition, a charging information is transmitted, which is a maximum charging speed of the energy storage 13 of the respective motor vehicle 1 . 8th to 11 concerns. From this can be for the individual motor vehicles 1 . 8th to 11 Determine how long a download is expected to take. Thus, it can be determined at what time the individual charging devices 7 expected to load a respective other motor vehicle available. Based on the order of loading and the required loading times for the already loading vehicles 8th and in the order of loading in front of the motor vehicle 1 located further motor vehicles 9 . 10 Thus, a charging time can be predicted, from the expected charging the energy storage 13 of the motor vehicle 1 at one of the charging devices 7 will be possible because this charging device 7 free is.

According to the loading order explained above, when one of the loaders becomes free, a loader becomes free 7 first the motor vehicle 9 to this charging device 7 guided, as shown by the arrow b. The next released charging station 7 is by the motor vehicle 10 used, as shown by the arrow c. The charging time would thus be the time at which the third of the charging stations 7 becomes free because the charging process of one of the motor vehicles 8th or the motor vehicles 9 . 10 is expected to be completed. However, since a certain driving time is required until the motor vehicle 1 the corresponding charging station 7 reaches, is a departure time at which an automatic guidance of the motor vehicle to the charging device, depending on a travel time of the motor vehicle 1 from the waiting position 14 to this charging device 7 determined. For example, the departure time can be selected so that the departure time is the travel time before the loading time.

However, it is also possible that the rank of the motor vehicle changes at least once before the departure time. For example, it is possible that at a time before the motor vehicle 10 to a free charging device 7 is led, a motor vehicle 12 at the coordination facility 2 is registered, which has a high priority, for example, because it is an emergency vehicle. Although this is initially also a waiting position 14 guided, as shown by the arrow d, but it is due to its high priority to the top of the loading order, that is ranked one. Accordingly, instead of the motor vehicle 10 the car 12 to the free charging station 7 guided, as shown by the arrow e. The car 10 can only go to the next free charging device 7 be guided, as shown by the arrow f. Thus, the charging time and thus the departure time for the motor vehicle is also delayed 1 , The car 1 thus becomes the charging pole that subsequently becomes free 7 guided, as shown by the arrow g.

At the departure time, the coordinator transmits 2 a starting information to the motor vehicle 1 taking a route according to arrow g from the waiting position 14 to the appropriate charging device 7 describes. The control device 3 of the motor vehicle 1 subsequently controls not shown actuators of the motor vehicle 1 such that the motor vehicle 1 the transmitted route follows, by not shown Umfeld detection systems of the motor vehicle 1 In addition, potential obstacles are detected in order to avoid collisions during automatic guidance.

The explained procedure ensures that the waiting positions 14 and the charging devices 7 essentially arbitrarily to each other can be arranged, so that a flexible design of charging stations is possible. The waiting positions 14 and the charging devices 7 lie in the example shown in close proximity to each other. However, it is also possible to hold the waiting positions 14 and / or the charging devices 7 in a larger environment, for example, of several kilometers to distribute. Existing surfaces can thus be used more effectively. In addition to this improved land use we also achieved that the loading order is flexibly adaptable and that unnecessary movements of motor vehicles 1 . 8th to 12 be avoided.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102015200018 A1 [0003]
• DE 102008055881 A1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Method for charging an energy store (13) of at least one motor vehicle (1), comprising the steps: - Registering the motor vehicle (1) to a coordination device (2), which is associated with at least one for charging the energy storage device (13) usable, stationary charging device (7) by sending a notification message to the coordination device (2) by the motor vehicle (1) . - Determining a rank for the motor vehicle (1) in a loading order by the coordination device (2), wherein the loading order indicates the order in which the motor vehicle (1) and at the coordination device (2) registered further motor vehicles (8 - 12) probably loaded become, Guiding the motor vehicle (1) to a waiting position (14) spaced from the loading device (7), Determining a departure time at which the motor vehicle (1) is to be guided to the charging device (7), depending on its rank by the coordination device (2), - Triggering an automatic guidance of the motor vehicle (1) to the charging device (7) at the departure time by the coordination device (2) and the beginning of the charging of the energy store (13) upon reaching the charging device (7). Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the departure time in dependence on a probable travel time of the motor vehicle (1) from the waiting position (14) to the charging device (7) is determined. Method according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that before the departure time the loading order and thus the rank of the motor vehicle (1) is changed at least once. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading order is determined and / or changed as a function of a reception time of the notification message by the coordination device (2). Method according to one Claim 4 , characterized in that the loading order is additionally determined as a function of an independent of the receiving time, the motor vehicle (1) associated priority information. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by at least one of the further motor vehicles (8 - 12) an energy quantity information, the total capacity and / or a state of charge and / or a free capacity of the energy store (13) of the respective motor vehicle (8 - 12). 12) and / or an amount of energy to be charged to the charging device (7) by this motor vehicle (8-12) is transmitted to the coordination device (2), after which the departure time is determined as a function of the energy quantity information. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that charging information from which a maximum charging speed of the energy store (13) of the respective motor vehicle (8-12) depends on at least one of the further motor vehicles (8-12) is sent to the coordination device (2 ), after which the departure time is determined as a function of the charging information. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coordination device (2) for triggering the automatic guidance to the charging device (7) transmits start-up information to the motor vehicle (1) indicating the position of the charging device (7) and / or a route from the waiting position (14) to the loading device (7). Coordination device for coordinating the charging of several motor vehicles (1, 8 - 12) to at least one charging device (7) associated with the coordination device (2), comprising a control device (6) and a communication device (5) controllable by said control device (5), characterized in that the control device (6) is arranged to control the communication device (5) such that the coordination device (2) participates in the method according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle with an energy storage device (13), a communication device (4) and a control device (3), by which the motor vehicle (1, 8 - 12) is automated feasible without driver intervention by the driver, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) thereto is set up as the motor vehicle (1) or as one of the other motor vehicles (8 -12) on the method according to one of Claims 1 to 8th in that the communication device (4) can be activated by the control device (3) for registering the motor vehicle (1, 8 - 12) on the coordination device (2) and the motor vehicle (2) is automatically automated by the control device (3) at the departure time the charging device (7) is feasible.

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