JP2010055845A - Outlet device and security system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outlet device and a security system capable of preventing theft of an electric vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: As for the outlet device A, by setting a control unit 3 to an alert mode during charge of the electric vehicle EV, when it becomes disconnected by removing a charge cord 200, the control unit 3 as a control means generates an alarm sound (sounds) from a speaker 5 as an alarm means. Accordingly, the theft of the electric vehicle EV can be prevented, and moreover it can be prevented not only that the electric vehicle EV is stolen but also that an outlet 2 is used without permission. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an outlet device installed outdoors such as a garden, and a security system for preventing theft of an electric vehicle charged from the outlet device via a charging cord.

  In recent years, internal heat engines (gasoline engines, diesel engines, etc.) and electric motors (motors) are used in combination as eco-friendly vehicles that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and oil (gasoline, light oil, etc.) consumption. Hybrid cars and electric cars that run only with electric motors are attracting attention. In addition, as a form of hybrid vehicle, currently, the one that recharges the secondary battery while driving is the mainstream, but the secondary battery is charged while parking using a home AC power source (commercial AC power source). If the remaining capacity of the secondary battery decreases when the vehicle runs on an electric motor, a vehicle that runs on an internal heat engine will be marketed several years later. The latter type of vehicle is called a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

By the way, when an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (hereinafter, these two types of vehicles are collectively referred to as an “electric vehicle”) is marketed, an outlet is provided outside the house (outdoor) to charge the electric vehicle. It is necessary to install. In order to install this type of outdoor outlet, the outlet is placed in a pole with the lower part buried in the ground. )) Has already been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1), in which a power supply line branched from the outlet is connected to the outlet.
JP-A-10-223339

  By the way, in the conventional outlet device as described in Patent Document 1, since the outlet is disposed in the storage portion with the door provided on the pole, the outlet can be freely connected by closing and locking the door. There was little possibility of being used. However, it is considered that charging of electric vehicles is often performed at night, and since the time required for one charging (charging time) is relatively long, such as several hours, it is connected throughout the night. It is thought that there are many opportunities to be left alone. Therefore, there is a possibility that the charging cord is removed during the night charging and the outlet is used without permission, or the electric vehicle is stolen.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof relates to an outlet device and a security system that can prevent theft of an electric vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is connected to a power supply line fed from a commercial AC power source and a power supply line in a pole that is erected with its lower part buried in the ground outdoors. Detection means for detecting the connection state between the outlet and the electric vehicle and the outlet via the charging cord, an alarm means for generating an alarm, and an alarm from the alarm means when the detection means detects a disconnection state between the electric vehicle and the outlet. And control means for switching between a warning mode and a non-warning mode using a key means, and the control means is only detected when the mode switching means is switched to the warning mode. An alarm is generated from the alarm means according to the detection result.

  According to the invention of claim 1, if the mode switching means is switched to the warning mode during charging of the electric vehicle, the control means generates an alarm from the warning means when the charging cord is disconnected and becomes disconnected. Therefore, the theft of the electric vehicle can be prevented. In addition to theft of the electric vehicle, it is possible to prevent the outlet from being used without permission.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the communication means that communicates with the outside wirelessly or by wire is housed in the pole, and the control means is the detecting means when the mode switching means is switched to the warning mode. When the non-connected state is detected, alarm information for notifying the occurrence of abnormality is transmitted from the communication means.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to notify the resident who is indoors of the occurrence of an abnormality (removal of the charging cord) by receiving the alarm information transmitted from the outlet device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is the outlet device according to claim 2, the center device installed at a remote place, and alarm information installed indoors and transmitted from the communication means of the outlet device. And a communication device for notifying the received alarm information to the center device via a communication line, and the center device transfers the alarm information notified from the communication device to a predetermined communication terminal. And

  According to the invention of claim 3, for example, when the charging cord is removed while the resident is away, the alarm information is notified to the communication terminal such as a mobile phone carried by the resident by way of the center device. You can know the occurrence of anomalies even if you are in the place.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the outlet device includes imaging means disposed on the pole, and the control means of the outlet device transfers the video imaged by the imaging means from the communication means to the communication device. The communication device displays the video received from the outlet device on the video display device installed indoors and transmits the video to the center device via the communication line. The center device receives the video received from the communication device. Is transferred to the communication terminal.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the situation of the electric vehicle and its surroundings can be visually recognized by the video imaged by the imaging means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the outlet device includes voice ringing means disposed on the pole, and the control unit of the outlet apparatus rings voice received from outside by the communication means. It is characterized by making a means ring.

  According to invention of Claim 5, a suspicious person can be intimidated by the audio | voice sounded from an audio | voice sounding means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, when the center device receives the alarm information from the communication device, the center device distributes the alarm information including the installation location of the communication device to the communication terminal. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to share information on a region where an abnormality has occurred.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electrical outlet apparatus and security system which can prevent theft of an electric vehicle can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
The outlet device A of this embodiment includes a cylindrical pole 1 as shown in FIG. The pole 1 is erected with its lower part buried in the ground, and is installed, for example, in a garden of a detached house. In the pole 1, an outlet 2, a control unit 3, an IC card reader 4, a speaker 5, a display lamp 6, and the like are accommodated.

  The outlet 2 includes a pair of voltage poles and a ground pole (not shown), and a power supply line Lp and a ground line (not shown) branched from a housing board (not shown) installed in the dwelling unit. And a terminal portion (not shown) connected to the container 2a is housed in a container body 2a made of a synthetic resin molded product. However, since this type of outlet 2 is well known in the art, detailed illustration and description of the configuration will be omitted.

  Here, the pole 1 is provided with an openable / closable door (not shown), and the outlet 2 is stored in the storage part inside the door so that the outlet 2 cannot be used when the door is closed. It has become. It is desirable that the door can be locked.

  The IC card reader 4 is a conventionally known non-contact type, and has a function of reading authentication information stored in the IC card 100 and outputting it to the control unit 3. However, since this type of IC card reader 4 is well known in the art, detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted. Further, the IC card reader 4 is not limited to the non-contact type, and may be a contact type.

  Although not shown, the control unit 3 includes a microcomputer, a memory, an input / output interface, and the like, and implements various functions to be described later by executing a program stored in the memory by the microcomputer. Yes.

  The speaker 5 is disposed above the pole 1 and is driven by the control unit 3 to sound an alarm sound. The display lamp 6 is composed of a light emitting diode disposed on the top of the pole 1, and is driven by the control unit 3 to emit light (light on).

  The pole 1 is erected near the parking place of the electric vehicle EV, and the electric vehicle EV and the outlet 2 are connected via the charging cord 200. The charging cord 200 is provided with a connector 201 for connecting to the electric vehicle EV on one end side, and an insertion plug 202 connected to the outlet 2 on the other end side. When the connector 201 is connected to a power supply port (not shown) of the electric vehicle EV and the plug 202 is connected to the outlet 2, an AC power is supplied from the outlet 2 to the electric vehicle EV through the charging cord 200. The secondary battery mounted on the automobile EV is charged.

  Here, the control unit 3 has a detection function for detecting whether or not the outlet 2 is connected to the electric vehicle EV via the charging cord 200, that is, a connected state and a disconnected state. This detection function can be realized, for example, by measuring the current flowing through the terminal portion of the outlet 2, and determining that the measured value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and the disconnected state if the measured value is less than the predetermined value. That is, in this embodiment, the control unit 3 corresponds to the detection means.

  Further, the control unit 3 compares the authentication information output from the IC card reader 4 with the authentication information stored in advance in the memory, and determines that authentication is possible if the two match, and if the two do not match, the authentication is performed. It has an authentication function that determines that it is impossible. Furthermore, the control unit 3 has a mode switching function for switching between a warning mode and a non-warning mode when it is determined that authentication is possible. That is, in this embodiment, the IC card 100 and the IC card reader 4 correspond to key means, and the control unit 3 corresponds to mode switching means. However, the key means is not limited to the IC card 100 and the IC card reader 4, and may be, for example, a conventionally known RFID tag and reader, a biometric authentication device, or a dial lock.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  First, the user (resident) connects the parked electric vehicle EV and the outlet 2 with the charging cord 200 and then causes the IC card reader 4 to read the IC card 100. Then, the control unit 3 collates the authentication information output from the IC card reader 4 and switches from the non-warning mode to the warning mode if it is determined that authentication is possible. At this time, the control unit 3 turns on the display lamp 6 to inform the user that the mode has been switched to the warning mode. Then, when the connection between the electric vehicle EV and the outlet 2 is released in the alert mode and the control unit 3 detects a disconnected state, the control unit 3 drives the speaker 5 to sound an alarm sound. If the IC card reader 4 is read by the IC card reader 4 while the alarm sound is sounding to switch from the warning mode to the non-warning mode, the control unit 3 immediately stops driving the speaker 5 and stops the alarm sound. .

  As described above, according to the outlet device A of the present embodiment, when the control unit 3 is set to the warning mode while the electric vehicle EV is being charged, the charging cord 200 is disconnected and becomes in a disconnected state. Since the control unit 3 as the control means generates (sounds) an alarm sound from the speaker 5 as the alarm means, the electric vehicle EV can be prevented from being stolen. In addition to theft of the electric vehicle EV, it is possible to prevent the outlet 2 from being used without permission.

(Embodiment 2)
A system configuration of the security system according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

  The outlet device A includes a communication unit 7 that performs power line carrier communication (PLC) through a power supply line Lp and an imaging device 8 that includes a CCD imaging device, a CMOS imaging device, and the like housed in a pole 1. Except for this, it has the same configuration as the outlet device A of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same components as those of the outlet device A of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The power supply line Lp is connected to a plurality of (in the illustrated example, two) outlets 21a and 21b installed indoors (in the dwelling unit H) via a housing panel 20 installed in the dwelling unit H. Communication devices 22a and 22b that perform power line carrier communication with the communication unit 7 of the outlet device A are connected to the outlets 21a and 21b. One communication device 22a corresponds to a conventionally known PLC master adapter (so-called "PLC master device"), and the other communication device 22b and the communication unit 7 of the outlet device A are each a PLC terminal adapter (so-called "PLC slave device"). ). However, since the configurations of the PLC master adapter and the PLC terminal adapter, the communication method of power line carrier communication, and the like are well known in the art, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  An internet connection device 24 is connected to the communication device 22a corresponding to the PLC master device via a LAN cable Ls. The Internet connection device 24 is a communication device such as an ADSL modem, a cable modem, or an ONU, and is for connecting the communication device 22a to the Internet NW to perform bidirectional communication. However, since such an Internet connection device 24 is well known in the art, illustration and description of a detailed configuration are omitted.

  On the other hand, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “personal computer”) PC is connected to the communication device 22b corresponding to the PLC slave unit via a LAN cable Ls. Therefore, bidirectional data communication can be performed between the control unit 3 of the outlet device A and the personal computer PC in the home via the communication unit 7 and the communication device 22b, and the control unit 3 of the outlet device A and the Internet NW. Bidirectional data communication can be performed with the center device S connected to the computer via the communication unit 7, the communication device 22a, and the Internet connection device 24.

  The center device S is composed of a computer device having a data communication function via the Internet, and an identification code (different from the data communication address) assigned to the control unit 3 of the outlet device A and the identification code The correspondence relationship with the identification code of the communication terminal (mobile phone MP) registered in advance is managed in the data table. The mobile phone MP, which is a communication terminal, is connected to the Internet NW through a network (mobile phone network) operated by a mobile phone carrier (mobile phone carrier), and performs data communication with the center device S via the Internet NW and the mobile phone network. It can be performed. However, since the cellular phone MP having such a function is conventionally known, detailed illustration and description of the configuration are omitted. The communication terminal is not limited to the mobile phone MP, and may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a notebook computer having a function of connecting to the Internet NW and performing data communication.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  When the control unit 3 of the outlet device A detects the disconnection state when the connection between the electric vehicle EV and the outlet 2 is detected in the warning mode, the control unit 3 drives the speaker 5 to sound an alarm sound and generate an abnormality (charging code 200 Alarm information for notifying the connection release) is transmitted (multicast) from the communication unit 7 via the feeder line Lp together with the identification code. The communication device 22b receives the signal (multicast frame) transmitted from the communication unit 7 of the outlet device A and transfers it to the personal computer PC. In the personal computer PC, the external speaker device 23 is driven based on the alarm information transferred from the communication device 22b to sound an alarm sound. Accordingly, since the alarm sound is generated not only from the speaker 5 of the outlet device A but also from the speaker device 23 in the house H, it is possible to reliably notify the occurrence of an abnormality.

  On the other hand, when the communication device 22a receives a signal (multicast frame) transmitted from the communication unit 7 of the outlet device A, the center device transmits the signal (packet) including the alarm information and the identification code via the Internet connection device 24. To S. When the center device S receives a packet including alarm information and an identification code from the communication device 22a, the center device S obtains an identification code (for example, a telephone number) of the mobile phone MP corresponding to the identification code by referring to the data table. The alarm information is transmitted to the mobile phone MP having the identification code. The alarm information transmitted from the center device S is received by the mobile phone MP through the Internet NW and the mobile phone network. In the mobile phone MP, an alarm sound is output from a speaker based on the alarm information received from the center apparatus S, or a message is displayed on a display device such as an LCD to notify the occurrence of an abnormality. Therefore, even if the user (resident) is not in the dwelling unit H, the occurrence of an abnormality can be known.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the outlet device A includes the imaging device 8, and the electric vehicle EV captured by the imaging device 8 and the surrounding video (moving image or still image) are transmitted from the control unit 3 to the communication unit 7. To the communication devices 22a and 22b. The video is received by the personal computer PC via the communication device 22b and displayed on the screen of the personal computer PC. The video is transmitted to the center device S via the communication device 22a and transferred from the center device S to the mobile phone MP. Then, the cellular phone MP displays the video received from the center device S on the display device. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electric vehicle EV and the surrounding situation can be visually recognized by the video imaged by the imaging device 8.

  Here, since it is possible to transmit voice information (voice data) from the communication device 22b to the communication unit 7, if a voice threatening the suspicious person is emitted toward a microphone (not shown) provided in the personal computer PC. The sound is transmitted from the communication device 22b to the communication unit 7 and transferred to the control unit 3, and the control unit 3 drives the speaker 5 to sound the sound, thereby suspicious person who has disconnected the charging cord 200. Can be threatened remotely. Similarly, since voice information can be transmitted from the mobile phone MP to the communication unit 7 via the center device S and the communication device 22a, a voice threatening the suspicious person is emitted toward the microphone of the mobile phone MP. Then, the sound can be sounded from the speaker 5 of the outlet device A to threaten the suspicious person remotely.

  Further, when alarm information is transmitted from the outlet device A to the center device S, the center device S can also notify a related organization such as a police station or a security company. Further, in the center apparatus S, the location (address or longitude / latitude) of each dwelling unit H where the security system of the present embodiment is installed is managed in a data table in association with the identification code of the control unit 3, for example, When alarm information is received from the control units 3 of a plurality of dwelling units H within a period of one day to several weeks, the alarm information including the location of the abnormality is displayed in the communication terminal registered in the data table. You may make it deliver to the communication terminal in which the address is registered to the area | region of the predetermined range including an occurrence place. In this way, it is possible to share information on the area where the abnormality has occurred. In addition, you may make it deliver the map information which marked the said abnormality occurrence place as alarm information containing the place of abnormality occurrence.

It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of the outlet apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a system configuration figure showing an embodiment of a security system concerning the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Outlet device Lp Feed line 1 Pole 2 Outlet 3 Control unit 4 IC card reader 5 Speaker 100 IC card

Claims (6)

Inside the pole, where the lower part is buried underground, the feeder line fed from the commercial AC power supply, the outlet connected to the feeder line, and the connection state of the electric vehicle and outlet via the charging cord Detecting means for detecting, an alarm means for generating an alarm, a control means for generating an alarm from the alarm means when the detecting means detects a disconnected state of the electric vehicle and the outlet, and an alarm mode using a key means The mode switching means that can be switched to the non-warning mode is stored,
The outlet device characterized in that the control means generates an alarm from the alarm means according to the detection result of the detection means only when the mode switching means is switched to the alert mode.   Communication means that communicates with the outside by radio or wire is housed in the pole, and the control means is more abnormal than the communication means when the detection means detects the unconnected state when the mode switching means is switched to the warning mode. 2. The outlet device according to claim 1, wherein alarm information for notifying the occurrence is transmitted. 3. The outlet device according to claim 2, a center device installed in a remote place, alarm information sent indoors and transmitted from communication means of the outlet device, and received alarm information via a communication line. A communication device for notifying the device,
The center device transfers alarm information notified from the communication device to a predetermined communication terminal.   The outlet device includes an imaging unit disposed on the pole, and the control unit of the outlet device causes the image captured by the imaging unit to be transmitted from the communication unit to the communication device, and the communication device receives the image received from the outlet device. The center device transmits the video received from the communication device to the communication terminal, and displays the video on a video display device installed indoors and transmits the video to the center device via a communication line. 3. The security system according to 3.   5. The outlet device includes voice sounding means disposed on the pole, and the control means of the outlet device causes the voice sounding means to sound the sound received from the outside by the communication means. Security system.   The security system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein when the center device receives the alarm information from the communication device, the center device distributes the alarm information including the installation location of the communication device to the communication terminal. .

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