DE102017213984A1 - Method for operating a navigation device for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device (15) for a motor vehicle (10), wherein a user input that specifies a destination (26) of a drive of the motor vehicle (10) by the navigation device (15) via an operating device (11), is received, and a route (25) for the trip is planned. The invention provides that in a predetermined search area (28) around the destination (26) around a charging station (29) for reloading at least one operating means for the motor vehicle (10) is determined and as the end point of the planned route (25), the charging station ( 29) and the motor vehicle (10) is navigated to the charging station (29) instead of the destination (26).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device for a motor vehicle. A user may specify a destination for a trip, and the navigation device then plans a route for the trip. The invention also includes a navigation device, which is operated according to the method according to the invention, as well as a motor vehicle with the navigation device.

When a drive is performed with a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle thereby consumes resources, such as fuel or electrical energy. Thus, a user of such a motor vehicle is forced to reload or replenish at least one resource for the motor vehicle to restore a range or driving ability of the motor vehicle. In particular, in an electrically driven motor vehicle, the recharging of the equipment "electrical energy" is time-consuming. If reloading takes longer than 5 minutes or more than 10 minutes, it is usually desirable for a user to use that time for employment other than just waiting.

From the US 2013/0046457 A1 For example, a navigation system is known which also plans intermediate stops when planning a route in order to allow the recharging of a battery of a motor vehicle during a journey. The charging station is selected according to whether there is also a restaurant or a golf course or an entertainment park, depending on the preferences of the vehicle passengers.

The invention is based on the object, in a motor vehicle, the loss of time that a user could have by reloading at least one resource at a charging station to keep low.

The object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. The invention also includes developments which are described by the dependent claims, the following description, and the figures.

The invention provides a method for operating a navigation device. The navigation device may be provided in a motor vehicle or it may be wholly or partly formed by a server of the Internet, which may be coupled to the motor vehicle via a communication link. The method relates to navigating the motor vehicle, i. the navigation assistance by means of the navigation device. For this purpose, a user input is received by the navigation device via an operating device. The user input specifies a destination of a drive of the motor vehicle. This destination thus represents the user specified or desired navigation destination. The navigation device then plans a route for this trip.

According to the invention, it is provided that the navigation device does not navigate the motor vehicle directly to the destination, but rather to a charging station provided at the destination for at least one operating means of the motor vehicle. The user can then park the motor vehicle at the charging station and go to the destination to perform an activity planned there, while the motor vehicle is being recharged at the charging station. Thus, the user does not have to wait at the charging station, but can pursue the planned activity at the destination. For this purpose, the method provides that a charging station for reloading at least one operating means for the motor vehicle is determined in a predetermined search area around the destination. The search area may e.g. be set by a search radius around the destination. The search radius may define a distance (e.g., maximum mileage) or time (e.g., maximum number of minutes) for the remainder of the journey from the charging station to the destination. For example, a position or a location of the charging station can be determined in a digital road map. The charging station is then defined as the end point of the planned or planned route instead of the destination specified by the user. The motor vehicle is then navigated instead of the destination just to the charging station. This can be done in the known manner by issuing driving instructions for the user.

The invention provides the advantage that a user of the motor vehicle can leave the motor vehicle at the charging station and from there can go to the destination, where he can directly perform an activity planned at the destination. The recharging of the motor vehicle can therefore take place or take place at the charging station, without the user of the motor vehicle having to wait at the charging station for the end of the charging process during this time. Instead, he can use the time at the destination to carry out the planned activity.

The invention also includes further developments, which give additional advantages.

According to a further development, an estimated time of arrival at the charging station is estimated. This can be used to select one of the charging stations depending on an availability forecast in the event that several charging stations are available within the search area. This Availability Forecast indicates whether there is a charge port on the charging station available at arrival time. A charging port can be Charging plug or an induction plate for a power transmission or a tap for a liquid or gaseous fuel. An availability forecast may be formed based on utilization data indicating the availability of at least one charge port of the charging station in the past at known times and / or days. It can then be checked which utilization typically results for the day and time corresponding to the arrival time. For example, such a charging station can be selected for which a predetermined minimum probability of availability results. This refinement has the advantage that at the time of arrival the motor vehicle with the predetermined minimum probability can actually be connected to a charging port of the charging port, because such is available or free.

Another development provides that the navigation device generates reservation data and transmits it, whereby a charging connection to the charging station is reserved by the reservation data. This results in the advantage that you do not have to rely on an availability forecast, but can ensure that the charging port for the vehicle is reserved at the time of arrival.

In order to estimate the said time of arrival, a further development provides that the traffic data and / or weather data concerning the route are taken into account. This takes into account the influence of a traffic obstruction (e.g., congestion and / or construction site) and / or driving speed due to the weather (e.g., fog and / or rain) in estimating the driving time.

Since a charging process at a charging station for an electrically driven motor vehicle takes the longest, the method is provided in particular for the case that the at least one operating means comprises electrical energy for an electric drive unit of the motor vehicle. The charging station is then preferably an electrical charging station for charging a traction battery of the motor vehicle.

Of course, the user of the motor vehicle must still go from the charging station to the destination to which he actually wanted to be navigated. So that he does not have to cover this route unnecessarily, a further development provides that initially a demand which the motor vehicle at the destination is expected to have regarding the at least one operating means is determined. It is therefore checked whether the stock of the at least one operating means in the motor vehicle at the destination is presumably smaller than a predetermined threshold value. In route planning, instead of the destination, the charging station is set as the endpoint only if the demand meets a predetermined demand criterion. Thus, the supply of the at least one operating means in the motor vehicle must be smaller than the said threshold, which is indicated by the demand criterion. Only in this case, then not the destination itself, but the charging station is annavigiert. Otherwise, the user of the motor vehicle is navigated to the destination itself, so set the destination as the end point of the route.

In order to assist the user with the change from the charging station to the destination and / or from there back to the charging station, a further development provides that the search area is dependent on a user-definable search distance parameter and / or depending on an availability of a public transport is set or fixed. The user can thus specify by means of the search parameter itself how far the charging station should be at most from the destination. The search parameter may include a distance indication and / or a travel time indication. Additionally or alternatively, e.g. When selecting the charging station, the size of the search area allows for the availability of a traffic connection that can be used between the charging station and the destination, so that the user can change from his motor vehicle to the public transport. For example, if public transport is available, the search area may be larger than if there is no public transport. A particular example of public transport is a tram, a bus, a subway, a taxi and a S-Bahn.

In order to further assist the user, a further development provides that schedule data and / or ticket data for the traffic connection is determined and the user of the motor vehicle for a further journey from the charging station to the destination and / or for a return journey from the destination to the charging station to be provided. It is thus determined by the navigation device for the user, at what time or at what times by means of public transport means between the charging station and the destination can be traveled (timetable data). Additionally or alternatively, even a ticket or a ticket for each trip purchased or booked digitally (ticket data).

The invention has hitherto been described in the context that the motor vehicle can be recharged with the at least one resource at the end of the journey, so that the motor vehicle for a subsequent drive again has a sufficient supply of at least one resource.

But even during the planned trip must be ensured that the motor vehicle does not remain due to a lack of at least one resource or is stationary. According to a further development, a remaining supply to the at least one operating means in the motor vehicle is therefore measured once or repeatedly before and / or while driving, and a remaining residual range of the motor vehicle is determined as a function of the remaining supply. It is thus checked how far the motor vehicle can still drive with its stock. If this is not sufficient up to the destination or the charging station selected there, an additional charging station for refilling the at least one operating means can be determined along the route within the respectively remaining remaining range. It is then planned or inserted a stop at an additional charging station. Thus, a user of the motor vehicle is navigated without own planning while driving to at least one additional charging station, so that the motor vehicle does not remain due to a lack of the at least one resource or fails. Also for determining the remaining range traffic data and / or weather data can be considered. Thus, for example, an expenditure of energy for a further journey through traffic (eg stop-and-go traffic, city traffic) and / or for air conditioning of the motor vehicle eg due to the weather and / or temperature (eg heat and / or frost) be taken into account.

Of course, an additional charging station depending on an availability forecast from several additional charging stations can be selected, as has already been described in connection with the charging station at the destination. Thus, it is advantageously ensured that a charging connection having a predetermined minimum probability is available when the motor vehicle arrives at the additional charging station. This shortens the duration of the stopover to a minimum. Also for the availability forecast, the arrival time can be estimated by taking into account traffic data and / or weather data.

The additional charging station may additionally or alternatively be selected as a function of at least one additional criterion which stipulates that at least one predetermined device that can be used by at least one occupant of the motor vehicle during the reloading process at the additional charging station must be present at the additional charging station. During the waiting time at the additional charging station, the at least one occupant of the motor vehicle can thus use the device that was previously specified or predetermined for selecting the additional charging station. Thus, the at least one occupant of the motor vehicle loses no time by idle waiting at the auxiliary charging station, because he can use the device. The device may e.g. be a restaurant or an amusement park.

In order for an occupant of the motor vehicle also to be able to save or remove a desired or preferred device, an embodiment provides for a preference of the at least one occupant with regard to possible device types (eg restaurant or cinema or playground) and / or with respect to a specific device ( eg a certain rest area) of the respective individual occupant and / or a predetermined fleet of foreign vehicles based on historical visit data, which describe a respective visit statistics of the possible device types and / or the specific device is determined and an additional charging station with a preferred device type or preferred equipment is selected. For this purpose, a threshold, e.g. for a number of past visits. In other words, device types and / or specific devices are learned. Of course, if the preference is determined by the visiting data of other vehicles, the passenger's preference is only estimated because it is believed that his taste is similar to that of the inmates of other vehicles. So a popular stopover is chosen.

An auxiliary charging station may also be reserved for an estimated, estimated time of arrival of the motor vehicle. Then one is advantageously not dependent on a prognosis, but the availability of a charging connection to an additional charging station is ensured by the reservation.

The invention also includes the said navigation device. It has a computing device which is set up to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The computing device may for this purpose have a microprocessor or a plurality of microprocessors. The described method steps can be realized as a program code for the computing device. The navigation device may be provided in a motor vehicle or realized by a server arrangement of the Internet. The navigation device can also be provided as a distributed device partly in the motor vehicle and partly in a server arrangement. A server arrangement may be realized on the basis of a computer or a computer network. The navigation device can be provided for navigation assistance for a driver of a motor vehicle and / or for route planning of an autopilot of the motor vehicle.

In connection with a navigation device in the motor vehicle, the invention also includes a motor vehicle with said navigation device. The motor vehicle according to the invention may be a motor vehicle, for example a passenger car or lorry.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or in isolation.

• 1 eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines Kraftfahrzeugs und eine Darstellung einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Navigationsvorrichtung; und
• 2 eine Skizze zur Veranschaulichung einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, wie es durch die Navigationsvorrichtung von 1 durchgeführt werden kann.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle and a representation of an embodiment of the navigation device according to the invention; and
• 2 a sketch illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the invention, as it by the navigation device of 1 can be carried out.

Functionally identical features are each provided with the same function symbols in the figures.

1 shows a motor vehicle 10 that can be configured as a motor vehicle, in particular passenger cars. In the motor vehicle 10 can an infotainment system 11 (Information Entertainment System), via which a (not shown) driver of the motor vehicle 10 Navigation instructions for a navigation assistant can get to with the motor vehicle 10 to make a trip. The driver represents a user of the motor vehicle 10 The navigation can also for an autopilot of the motor vehicle 10 be provided.

The car 10 may include an electric drive motor for the ride. The drive motor can with an electric battery of the motor vehicle 10 be coupled, which can store electrical energy for the operation of the drive motor. The battery must be recharged with electrical energy when the energy is consumed. The electrical energy is an example of a resource.

The infotainment system 11 can by means of a mobile module 12 over a cellular connection 13 with a server arrangement 14 be coupled or communicate. The server arrangement 14 may include one or more computers of the Internet. By the server arrangement 14 can be a navigation device 15 be provided or formed. The navigation device 15 can for a planning of said ride a planning module 16 for determining a route, a reservation module 17 for generating reservation data R for reserving a charging station 18 at one operator 19 the charging station 18 and a forecasting module 20 for determining an availability forecast regarding availability of a charging port 21 the charging station 18 exhibit. About the charging port 21 can the motor vehicle 10 to the charging station 18 be connected to receive electrical energy to charge the battery. Finally, a service module or short service module 22 for determining and / or reserving at least one device 23 at the charging station 18 be provided. The modules 16 . 17 . 20 . 22 can each as a program code of the navigation device 15 be realized.

The charging station 18 here represents only one of several charging stations of a road network over which the ride can lead. For all charging stations, the described method steps can be performed.

The navigation device 15 can be from a navigation database 24 digital map data 25 can be determined based on which can be determined where a charging station as the charging station 18 located.

2 illustrates a method such as that by means of the navigation device 15 can be carried out.

Starting from a current location 24 of the motor vehicle 10 can a route 25 through the planning module 16 be planned.

The user can do this for the route 25 a destination 26 specify. The destination 26 can eg by means of the infotainment system 11 entered by the user. The infotainment system 11 Here is an example of an operating device. The destination 26 can also be entered by means of another control device, for example by means of a smartphone or by means of a smartwatch or by means of a personal computer.

The planning module 16 can then travel planning 27 but as the final destination or end point of the route 25 not necessarily the entered destination 26 but one within a predetermined search range 28 around the destination 26 arranged or available charging station 29 , The search area 28 can through a search radius be set. The location or address of the charging station 29 can be based on the map data 25 be determined. The user of the motor vehicle 10 So when he arrives at the charging station 29 the car 10 there at a charging port 30 connect so that the motor vehicle 10 can be recharged with electrical energy. From there, the user then at most a distance that corresponds to the search radius, travel to the destination 26 to reach. The search radius may have a value in a range of 20m to 3km. The search area 28 can be determined by a search parameter that the user can set.

The planning module 16 can also determine if a public transport 31 available is that of the charging station 29 to the actual destination 26 and / or back drives. Thus, the user can use the motor vehicle 10 at the charging station 29 left for a charge and using public transport 31 to the desired destination 26 travel on and / or from there back to the charging station 29 , It can also ticket data 32 at least one ticket for public transport 31 reserved or procured.

By means of the reservation module 17 can the charging port 30 the charging station 29 for the motor vehicle 10 reserved. This can be done by generating the reservation data R done to the operator of the charging station 29 can be sent out (see 1 ). The reservation details may also include an estimated time of arrival for the reservation.

Additionally, another reservation may be made in the same way 33 for at least one additional charging station 34 along the route 25 created or performed for a stopover.

As an alternative to a reservation can also be provided that the forecasting module 20 an availability forecast 35 based on historical usage data of the respective charging station 29 . 34 determines and provides. In 2 is shown as an example, as over the time t the availability forecast 35 may indicate an occupancy probability or availability probability (symbolized by the symbol "%") for different times, wherein the probability of availability indicates with which probability a charging station is occupied or available for a charging / free. As a result, such a charging station 29 . 34 be selected, not using reservation data 33 make reservations. Nevertheless, due to the availability forecast 35 a planning of a stopover at the charging station 34 be performed.

The user of the motor vehicle 10 thus has no effort in planning the route 25 since automated by the navigation device 15 also at least a stopover to ensure a sufficient supply of electrical energy in the motor vehicle 10 is scheduled. Furthermore, a reload at the actual destination 26 be scheduled by the route 25 towards an endpoint with a charging station 29 is planned.

The embodiment described so far only the recharging of electrical energy. It may also be the recharging of fuel, such as gasoline or diesel or natural gas, for an internal combustion engine and / or the refueling of hydrogen for a fuel cell assembly of the motor vehicle 10 in the same way in the route planning 27 be taken into account.

Thus, charging or refueling breaks are scheduled for the user. There can be an automatic reservation of a charging station. Forecast data for traffic and / or weather and / or charging station availability can also be taken into account here.

Through the service module 22 for example, based on the map data 25 also be determined which of several possible charging stations 18 along the route 25 a predetermined device 23 that the user wants to use while charging. For example, a type of device may be indicated by a user's digital user profile. Generally, the selection of the additional charging station 34 from several available charging stations 34 depending on a preference, which at the at least one vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle 10 individually or personally and / or to persons from predetermined foreign vehicles in the past was observed. It can be determined how often a particular device or a certain type of device has been visited by the respective vehicle occupant in the past and / or was visited by foreign vehicles for a visit.

So there may be non-charging facilities like the facility 23 be determined as a break suggestion, ie it may be a reload with an activity or activity near the selected charging station 34 be determined.

Thus, a journey with an electrically driven motor vehicle including a charge break can be automated by the navigation device 15 be planned. There is security for arrival at each charging station 34 . 29 without first having to lie due to lack of electrical energy. This also reduces the phenomenon of so-called Range anxiety of using an electrically driven motor vehicle 10 , It can forecast data of an availability forecast 35 and / or a traffic load and / or the weather as well as offers from an additional facility 23 at every charging station 29 . 34 in the route planning 27 the route 25 be taken into account.

The navigation device 15 can also in the motor vehicle 10 be provided, for example in the infotainment system 11 ,

Overall, the exemplary embodiment shows how a reloading process can be scheduled into a route planning.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

motor vehicle

11

Infotainment system

12

mobile module

13

communication link

14

server configuration

15

navigation device

16

planning module

17

reservation module

18

charging station

19

operator

20

forecast module

21

charging port

22

services module

23

Facility

24

Database

25

map data

26

destination

27

route planning

28

search area

30

charging port

31

Public transportation

32

ticket information

33

reservation

34

Additional charging station

35

Availability forecast

R

reservation data

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

• US 2013/0046457 A1 [0003]

Claims (13)

A method for operating a navigation device (15) for a motor vehicle (10), wherein the navigation device (15) via an operating device (11) a user input, which specifies a destination (26) of a drive of the motor vehicle (10) is received and a Route (25) is planned for the journey, characterized in that in a predetermined search area (28) around the destination (26) around a charging station (29) for reloading at least one operating means for the motor vehicle (10) is determined and as an endpoint of planned route (25) the charging station (29) is determined and the motor vehicle (10) instead of to the destination (26) to the charging station (29) is navigated. Method according to Claim 1 in which an estimated time of arrival is estimated at the charging station (29) and - the charging station (29) comprises a plurality of charging stations (29, 18) available within the search area (28) in dependence on an availability prognosis (25) which indicates availability of a charging connection (29). 30) indicates the charging station (29) at the time of arrival, is selected and / or - reservation data are generated and transmitted by which a reservation of the charging port (30) of the charging station (29) is signaled for the arrival time. Method according to Claim 2 in which traffic data and / or weather data relating to the route (25) are taken into account for estimating the time of arrival. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one operating means comprises electrical energy for an electric drive unit of the motor vehicle (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a demand that the motor vehicle (10) is likely to have at the destination (26) with respect to the at least one resource is determined and instead of the destination (26) the charging station (29) is used as end point only in the case is determined that the demand meets a predetermined requirement criterion. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the search area (28) is set as a function of a user-definable search distance parameter and / or in dependence on an availability of a traffic connection provided by a public local traffic means (31). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein timetable data and / or ticket data (32) determined for a traffic connection and a user of the motor vehicle (10) for a further journey from the charging station (29) to the destination (26) and / or for a return journey from the destination (26) to the charging station (29) are provided. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein before and / or while driving a remaining supply to the at least one operating means in the motor vehicle (10) measured and depending on the remaining supply a remaining range of the motor vehicle (10) is determined and along the route (25) within the remaining range remaining in each case determines an additional loading station (34) for refilling the at least one operating means and in the route (25) a stop at the additional loading station (34) is scheduled. Method according to Claim 8 wherein the additional charging station (34) is selected from a plurality of additional charging stations in dependence on an availability forecast (35) and / or as a function of at least one additional criterion, the additional criterion stipulating that at least one predetermined, at least one occupant of the motor vehicle (10) during a Recharging at the auxiliary charging station (34) usable device (23) to the additional charging station (34) should be present. Method according to Claim 9 wherein a preference of the at least one occupant regarding possible types of equipment and / or specific equipment from the respective individual occupant and / or from a predetermined fleet of foreign vehicles based on historical visit data, which a respective visit statistics of the possible device types and / or the specific Device is described, determined and a Zusatzladestation (23) is selected with a preferred type of device and / or the preferred specific device (23). Method according to one of Claims 8 to 10 , wherein for a probable arrival time the additional charging station (34) is reserved. Navigation device (15) with a computing device, which is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle with a navigation device according to Claim 12 ,

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