JP2011169663A - Device for warning remaining capacity of battery of electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a 'battery remaining capacity warning device for an electric vehicle' which enables a user to surely know that the remaining electric capacity of its battery has reduced to a predetermined power quantity, even when the user is away from the electric vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The warning device includes: a vehicle-position acquisition means (S11) for acquiring a parked position of the electric vehicle; a specific charging facility acquisition means (S12) for acquiring the position of a specific charging facility for charging the battery; an electric quantity calculation means (S13) for calculating a predetermined electric quantity to be used for traveling from the parked position of the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility; and a warning transmission means (S18) for transmitting a warning signal to a predetermined communication terminal, when a start determination means (S15) determines that the electric vehicle is not started, and a battery remaining capacity determination means (S17) determines that the remaining electric capacity of the battery acquired by a remaining capacity acquisition means (S16) has reduced up to the predetermined electric quantity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus that issues an alarm when the remaining battery level of an electric vehicle is low.

  Conventionally, the power from the storage battery is supplied to the mounted device by the power circuit, the main key switch turns the power circuit on and off, and the remaining capacity meter that measures the remaining capacity of the storage battery issues a warning signal when the capacity of the storage battery is insufficient, There has been proposed a storage battery capacity shortage warning device for an electric vehicle configured such that a warning means warns of a shortage of capacity (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The timer means starts measuring a predetermined period based on the off operation by the key switch and outputs an operation signal. Based on the operation signal, the suppression means is at least the remaining capacity meter and the warning means of the power supply circuit to the warning means. When the stop operation is suppressed and the capacity is insufficient, a warning operation and a capacity display are performed for a predetermined time after the stop operation by the switch.

  According to the storage capacity shortage warning device of the electric vehicle, when the capacity of the storage battery measured by the remaining capacity meter is insufficient, the operation of the remaining capacity meter and the warning device can be continued during a predetermined period after the stop operation. In addition, since the warning device can warn of insufficient capacity, it is possible to prevent forgetting to charge the storage battery. As a result, it is possible to prevent the electric vehicle from being unable to run due to insufficient charging.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-7954

  However, in the above-mentioned warning device for insufficient storage battery capacity of an electric vehicle, the user of the electric vehicle is still on the electric vehicle or close to the electric vehicle after turning off the key switch of the electric vehicle and stopping the operation. The user can know that the capacity of the storage battery is insufficient by the warning issued by the warning device, but when the user of the electric vehicle is far away from the electric vehicle, the warning device emits. There was a case where the warning could not be heard.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, so that even when the user is away from the electric vehicle, it is possible to reliably know that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery has decreased to a predetermined amount of electricity. The present invention provides a battery remaining power warning device for an electric vehicle.

  A battery remaining amount alarm device for a first electric vehicle according to the present invention is a battery remaining amount alarm device for an electric vehicle provided with a rechargeable battery as a power source of an electric motor for traveling, wherein the parking position of the electric vehicle is Vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring the battery, specific charging facility acquisition means for acquiring the position of the specific charging facility for charging the battery, and to be used for traveling from the parking position of the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility Electricity amount calculating means for calculating a predetermined amount of electricity, activation determination means for determining whether or not the electric vehicle is activated, remaining amount acquisition means for acquiring the remaining electric charge of the battery, and the remaining amount acquisition means Battery remaining amount determining means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of electric power of the battery acquired by the method has decreased to the predetermined amount of electricity, and the electric vehicle is not activated and the remaining amount of electric power of the battery is equal to the predetermined amount Electric quantity A configuration that includes a warning transmitting means for transmitting a warning signal to a predetermined communication terminal when dropped.

  With such a configuration, when the electric vehicle is not activated and the remaining battery power is reduced to a predetermined amount of electricity, an alarm signal is transmitted to a predetermined communication terminal. Recognizing that the remaining battery power is low, drive the electric vehicle to a specific charging facility. At this time, since the remaining amount of electricity in the battery is before the amount of electricity required to travel from the parking position to the specific charging facility, the electric vehicle can travel to the specific charging facility.

  A battery remaining amount alarm device for a second electric vehicle according to the present invention is a battery remaining amount alarm device for an electric vehicle provided with a rechargeable battery as a power source for an electric motor for traveling, wherein the electric vehicle is parked. Vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring a position, specific charging facility acquisition means for acquiring the position of a specific charging facility for charging the battery, and use for traveling from the parking position of the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility An electric quantity calculating means for calculating a predetermined electric quantity to be calculated; a remaining quantity acquiring means for acquiring the remaining electric power of the battery; and the remaining electric quantity of the battery acquired by the remaining quantity acquiring means is set to the predetermined electric quantity. A predicted time calculating means for calculating a predicted time to reach, an activation determining means for determining whether or not the electric vehicle is activated, and a predicted time for determining whether or not the predicted time has elapsed from a predetermined timing. And determining means, a configuration in which the electric vehicle and a warning transmitting means for transmitting a warning signal to a predetermined communication terminal when the elapsed yet not and the estimated time to start.

  With such a configuration, when the electric vehicle is not activated and a predicted time from a predetermined timing has elapsed, an alarm signal is transmitted to a predetermined communication terminal. Recognize that the remaining amount is low, and drive the electric car to the specified charging facility. At this time, since the remaining amount of electricity in the battery is before the amount of electricity required to travel from the parking position to the specific charging facility, the electric vehicle can travel to the specific charging facility.

  In the battery remaining power warning device for the first or second electric vehicle according to the present invention, the specific charging facility acquisition means searches for a charging facility in a predetermined vicinity range of the parking position acquired by the vehicle position acquisition means. And charging facility search means for acquiring the charging facility as the specific charging facility from the charging facility obtained by the charging facility search means.

  With such a configuration, when the remaining amount of electricity of the battery that spontaneously discharges has decreased to a predetermined amount of electricity that should be used for traveling in the charging facility near the parking position, and from the predetermined timing, An alarm signal is transmitted to the communication terminal when the estimated time until the remaining amount decreases to a predetermined amount of electricity to be used for traveling in the charging facility near the parking position.

  In the battery remaining power warning device for the first or second electric vehicle according to the present invention, the specific charging facility may be an outlet at the user's home or a nearest or nearest charging station.

  With this configuration, when the electric vehicle arrives at the home or the nearest or nearest charging station, the user charges the battery of the electric vehicle at the outlet at the home or the nearest or nearest charging station.

  In the first or second battery level alarm device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, the communication terminal may be a personal computer or a mobile phone of a user of the electric vehicle.

  With such a configuration, an alarm signal is transmitted to the user's personal computer or mobile phone, so that the user of the electric vehicle knows that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery is low.

  According to the battery remaining amount alarm device of the first electric vehicle according to the present invention, when the electric vehicle is not activated and the remaining amount of electric power of the battery is reduced to a predetermined amount of electricity, an alarm signal is transmitted to a predetermined communication terminal. Therefore, the user of the electric vehicle notices that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery is low, and drives the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility. At this time, since the remaining amount of electricity in the battery is before the amount of electricity required to travel from the parking position to the specific charging facility, the electric vehicle can travel to the specific charging facility. As a result, even when the user is away from the electric vehicle, it is possible to reliably know that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery has decreased to a predetermined amount of electricity.

  According to the second battery level alarm device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, an alarm signal is transmitted to a predetermined communication terminal when the electric vehicle is not activated and a predicted time from a predetermined timing has elapsed. Therefore, the user of the electric vehicle notices that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery has decreased, and drives the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility. At this time, since the remaining amount of electricity in the battery is before the amount of electricity required to travel from the parking position to the specific charging facility, the electric vehicle can travel to the specific charging facility. As a result, even when the user is away from the electric vehicle, it is possible to reliably know that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery has decreased to a predetermined amount of electricity.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the battery remaining amount alarm apparatus of the electric vehicle which concerns on the 1st or 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of the alarm signal based on the battery residual amount alarm performed in the battery residual amount alarm apparatus of the electric vehicle shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of the alarm signal based on the prediction time until the battery remaining amount of electricity reaches the predetermined amount of electricity performed in the battery remaining amount warning device of the electric vehicle shown in FIG.

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

  A battery remaining amount alarm device for an electric vehicle (own vehicle) according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a rechargeable battery (storage battery) as a power source for an electric motor for traveling, and a route from a current position to a destination. A navigation device for guiding the user. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus has a processing unit 12 composed of a computer unit (including a CPU). The processing unit 12 includes a GPS unit 17 and sensors 18 (wheel speed sensor, gyro sensor, acceleration sensor) for providing position information necessary for vehicle navigation, a storage unit 14 for storing map information and various information (for example, , Hard disk unit) is connected. Further, the processing unit 12 includes a display unit 13 provided in the vehicle interior and configured by an LCD or the like, an operation unit 11 such as an operation button or a touch panel configured in the display unit 13, and a speaker 16 provided in the vehicle interior. An output circuit 15 for supplying an audio signal is connected. Further, the processing unit 12 is connected with a communication unit 19 capable of wireless communication with an information center, a mobile phone base station, a provider, or the like, and a vehicle control ECU 20 for controlling the own vehicle.

  Here, a unit of an autonomous navigation system is constituted by the sensors 18 (wheel speed sensor, gyro sensor, acceleration sensor). In this embodiment, the sensors 18 are mainly used to provide the processing unit 12 with the position information of the own vehicle, and the GPS unit 17 is used in an auxiliary manner. In order to provide the processing unit 12 with the position information of the vehicle, the GPS unit 17 may be mainly used, and the sensors 18 may be used as assistance. Further, either the GPS unit 17 or the sensors 18 may be used to provide the processing unit 12 with the position information of the own vehicle.

  The communication unit 19 is configured to transmit to a predetermined communication terminal. Specifically, the communication unit 19 is configured to be able to transmit an e-mail by wireless communication to a user's personal computer or mobile phone via an information center, a provider, or a mobile phone base station. Here, the storage unit 14 stores an e-mail address of the user's personal computer, a telephone number or an e-mail address of the user's mobile phone. The vehicle control ECU 20 is connected to a key switch sensor for detecting whether or not a key switch for starting the engine of the host vehicle is turned on. When this key switch is turned on, it is determined that the vehicle has started. Further, the battery is provided with a battery remaining amount sensor for detecting the remaining amount of electricity of the battery, and this battery remaining amount sensor is connected to the processing unit 12.

  The processing unit 12 executes processing related to vehicle navigation based on the position information from the GPS unit 17 and the sensors 18 and the map information read from the storage unit 14. In the processing related to the vehicle navigation, for example, a route from the own vehicle position to the destination is searched based on the own vehicle position (vehicle position) obtained by the GPS unit 17 and the sensors 18 and the position of the destination. The vehicle position mark and the set route are displayed on the display unit 13 together with the map related to navigation, and guidance related to the route guidance of the vehicle (display or voice output) is performed. The destination includes the location of a specific charging facility for charging the battery. Examples of the specific charging facility include an outlet at the user's home, the nearest charging station, or a charging station that is close to the user.

  The processing unit 12 performs a battery remaining amount alarm process according to the procedure shown in FIG. The user parks the vehicle (electric vehicle) in the parking lot, turns off the key switch, leaves the vehicle, for example, uses another transportation, and walks to another place (for example, Go to home. The processing unit 12 starts an electric remaining amount alarm process when the key switch is turned off (START). First, the GPS unit 17 and sensors 18 (wheel speed sensor, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor) detect The vehicle position is acquired (S11), and the position of the specific charging facility is acquired from the map information stored in the storage unit 14 (S12). For example, a charging facility located within a predetermined vicinity range of the vehicle position is searched from various charging facilities stored in advance in the storage unit 14, and one charging facility, for example, the own charging facility is obtained from the charging facility obtained by the search. The position of the charging facility closest to the car can be acquired as the position of the specific charging facility. It is also possible to acquire the location of the user's home registered in advance, the location of the charging station closest to the home, or the location of the charging facility closest to the user as the location of the specific charging facility. Furthermore, it can be determined by the user's operation whether the position of the specific charging facility is acquired by the search or from the registered one. Furthermore, the position of the specific charging facility can be acquired from an external server using a communication means. The processing unit 12 performs a route search from the parking position of the own vehicle to the position of the acquired specific charging facility, and calculates the amount of electricity required when the own vehicle travels the route from the current position to the specific charging facility. (S13). Then, based on the calculated amount of electricity, the processing unit 12 sets a predetermined amount of electricity (hereinafter referred to as an alarm amount of electricity) when an alarm is issued so as to charge the battery to the user of the electric vehicle (S14). This amount of electricity for warning is the amount of electricity that should be used for traveling from the parking position of the vehicle to the specified charging facility, and the amount of electricity that is required for the traveling is a certain amount of electricity. It is a quantity and is set in consideration of not only the distance from the parking position of the vehicle to the destination but also the gradient of the road through which it passes.

Thereafter, the processing unit 12 determines whether or not the host vehicle is activated (S15), acquires the remaining battery charge based on the detection output of the remaining battery sensor (S16), and the remaining battery charge. (S17) is repeatedly executed to determine whether or not the alarm electricity quantity has been reduced. When the parking time (days) is extended and the remaining amount of electricity (obtained in S16) of the battery that spontaneously discharges in the process (S15, S16, S17) becomes equal to or less than the alarm electric quantity (YES in S17), the process The unit 12 transmits alarm information indicating that the remaining battery charge has been reduced to a predetermined amount of electricity from the communication unit 19 to the user's personal computer or portable terminal via the information center, provider or mobile phone base station. (S18). This alarm information can also be transmitted by e-mail.
A user who has parked his / her vehicle without noticing a decrease in the remaining amount of electricity due to the spontaneous discharge of the battery, when the alarm information is received by his / her personal computer or portable terminal, I noticed that the remaining battery power of the battery is low. As a result, the user can return to the parked vehicle at an appropriate timing. The battery of the vehicle still has the amount of electricity to travel to a specific charging facility (charging facility near the parking lot, home, the nearest charging station, etc.). The battery of the vehicle can be charged at the specific charging facility before it is discharged so that it cannot be used.

  A processing unit that repeatedly executes processing (S16, S17) for determining whether or not the remaining amount of electricity in the battery has decreased to the alarm electricity amount while determining whether or not the vehicle is activated (S15). 12, when the user returns in the process and the vehicle is started (key switch is turned on) (YES in S15), the battery remaining amount alarm process is terminated (END).

  Next, a battery remaining amount alarm device for an electric vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 has a built-in timer for measuring time. This processing unit 12 calculates the amount of discharge per unit time of the battery based on the detection output of the battery remaining amount sensor, and parks the own vehicle. A predetermined amount of electricity (corresponding to the amount of warning electricity) to be used for traveling from the position to the specific charging facility is calculated. Further, the processing unit 12 calculates a predicted time until the remaining amount of electricity of the battery decreases to the amount of electricity, and sets the predicted time as a timing for issuing an alarm so that the user of the own vehicle is charged with the battery. Configured. The configuration not described here is almost the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment.

  The processing unit 12 performs a battery remaining amount alarm process according to the procedure shown in FIG. The user parks the vehicle (electric vehicle) in the parking lot, turns off the key switch, leaves the vehicle, for example, uses other transportation, and walks to another place (for example, home). )go to. The processing unit 12 starts an electric remaining amount alarm process when the key switch is turned off (START). First, the GPS unit 17 and sensors 18 (wheel speed sensor, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor) detect The vehicle position is acquired (S21), and the position of the specific charging facility is acquired from the map information stored in the storage unit 14 (S22). In this case as well, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, for example, a charging facility located within a predetermined vicinity range of the vehicle position is searched from various charging facilities stored in advance in the storage unit 14. Then, from the charging facility obtained by the search, one charging facility, for example, the position of the charging facility closest to the own vehicle can be acquired as the position of the specific charging facility, the location of the user's home registered in advance, It is also possible to acquire the position of the nearest charging station from the home or the position of the charging facility that is close to the home as the position of the specific charging facility. It is also possible to determine by the user's operation whether the position of the specific charging facility is acquired by the search or from the registered one. Furthermore, the position of the specific charging facility can be acquired from an external server using a communication means. The processing unit 12 performs a route search from the parking position of the own vehicle to the position of the acquired specific charging facility, and calculates the amount of electricity required when the own vehicle travels the route from the current position to the specific charging facility. Then, based on the amount of electricity, a predetermined amount of electricity corresponding to the warning amount of electricity described above is calculated (S24). This predetermined amount of electricity is the amount of electricity with a certain margin in the minimum amount of electricity required for traveling from the parking position of the vehicle to the specified charging facility, as in the case of the above-mentioned warning electricity amount. It is calculated in consideration of not only the distance from the parking position of the car to the destination but also the gradient of the road through which it passes. Then, the processing unit 12 acquires the remaining battery charge based on the detection output of the remaining battery sensor (S25). Thereafter, the processing unit 12 calculates an estimated time (predicted number of days) from when the remaining amount of electricity is acquired to the predetermined remaining amount of electricity based on the discharge characteristics of the battery (S26), The predicted time is set as a time for determining when to issue a warning so as to charge the battery to the user (S27).

Next, the processing unit 12 starts the built-in timer at a predetermined timing, that is, when an estimated time is set (S28). Thereafter, the processing unit 12 determines whether or not the vehicle has been started (S29), and whether or not the predicted time has elapsed, specifically, the measured time of the timer reaches the predicted time. The process of determining whether or not (S30) is repeated. In the process, when the estimated time elapses (YES in S30), the processing unit 12 passes the parking time from the communication unit 19 to the user's personal computer or mobile terminal via the information center, provider, mobile phone base station, or the like. Alarm information for notifying that (parking days) has reached the predicted time and the remaining amount of electricity of the battery that is naturally discharged has been reduced to the predetermined amount of electricity is output (S31). This alarm information can be transmitted by e-mail, as in the case of the first embodiment described above.
Also in this case, when the user who continues to park the vehicle without noticing the decrease in the remaining amount of electricity due to the spontaneous discharge of the battery, when the alarm information is received by his / her personal computer or portable terminal, the alarm Information indicates that the parking time is too long to limit the battery's remaining battery power. As a result, the user can return to the parked vehicle at an appropriate timing. The battery of the vehicle still has the amount of electricity to travel to a specific charging facility (charging facility near the parking lot, home, the nearest charging station, etc.). The battery of the vehicle can be charged at the specific charging facility before it is discharged so that it cannot be used.

  Note that the processing unit 12 that repeatedly executes the process (S30) for determining whether or not the predicted time has passed while determining whether or not the vehicle is activated is used in the process. When the person returns and the vehicle is started (key switch is turned on) (YES in S29), the battery remaining amount alarm process is terminated (END).

  As described above, the battery remaining amount alarm device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention reliably ensures that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery has decreased to a predetermined amount of electricity even when the user is away from the electric vehicle. It is useful as a device that can be known and that issues an alarm when the remaining battery power of an electric vehicle is low.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Navigation apparatus 11 Operation part 12 Processing unit 13 Display part 14 Memory | storage part 15 Output circuit 16 Speaker 17 GPS unit 18 Sensors 19 Communication unit 20 ECU for vehicle control

Claims (5)

A battery remaining power alarm device for an electric vehicle equipped with a rechargeable battery as a power source for an electric motor for traveling,
Vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring a parking position of the electric vehicle;
Specific charging facility acquisition means for acquiring the position of the specific charging facility for charging the battery;
An electric quantity calculating means for calculating a predetermined electric quantity to be used for traveling from the parking position of the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility;
Activation determination means for determining whether or not the electric vehicle is activated;
A remaining amount acquisition means for acquiring an electric remaining amount of the battery;
Battery remaining amount determining means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of electricity of the battery acquired by the remaining amount acquiring means has decreased to the predetermined amount of electricity;
An alarm transmission means for transmitting an alarm signal to a predetermined communication terminal when the electric vehicle is not activated and the remaining electric power of the battery is reduced to the predetermined electric energy; apparatus. A battery remaining power alarm device for an electric vehicle equipped with a rechargeable battery as a power source for an electric motor for traveling,
Vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring a parking position of the electric vehicle;
Specific charging facility acquisition means for acquiring the position of the specific charging facility for charging the battery;
An electric quantity calculating means for calculating a predetermined electric quantity to be used for traveling from the parking position of the electric vehicle to the specific charging facility;
A remaining amount acquisition means for acquiring an electric remaining amount of the battery;
Predicted time calculating means for calculating a predicted time until the remaining amount of electricity of the battery acquired by the remaining amount acquiring means reaches the predetermined amount of electricity;
Activation determination means for determining whether or not the electric vehicle is activated;
Predicted time elapse determining means for determining whether or not the predicted time has elapsed from a predetermined timing;
An alarm transmission means for transmitting an alarm signal to a predetermined communication terminal when the electric vehicle is not activated and the predicted time has elapsed;
Battery level alarm device for electric vehicles equipped with The specific charging facility acquisition unit includes a charging facility search unit that searches for a charging facility in a predetermined vicinity range of the parking position acquired by the vehicle position acquisition unit,
The battery remaining amount alarm device for an electric vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a charging facility as the specific charging facility is acquired from the charging facility obtained by the charging facility search means.   The battery remaining power alarm device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the specific charging facility is an outlet at the user's home or the charging station nearest or close to the user. The battery remaining power alarm device for an electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication terminal is a personal computer or a portable terminal of a user of the electric vehicle.

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