JP2012198081A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device which can search for charging stations at which an electric vehicle can be charged in an appropriate charging time corresponding to a traveling mode of the electric vehicle and features of a facility equipped with the charging station.SOLUTION: A navigation device calculates a total charge amount V1 required for traveling to a destination and securing a residual charge amount n when arriving at the destination based on a battery charge amount a to be consumed while traveling to the destination, the residual charge amount n when arriving at the destination, and a battery charge amount p at a current location, and also calculates the number of charging times Cc when traveling to the destination by a guide route based on the total charge amount V1 and a charge amount converted from a charging time Tc at each charging station. The device searches a road map database for the last charging station from the destination within a virtual charging station distance LL calculated based on a distance L to the destination and the number of charging times Cc, and by taking the last charging station as a reference point, searches for the most distant charging station from the last charging station within the virtual charging station distance LL so as to set it as the next reference point, further, repeatedly searches for charging stations at least the number of charging times.

Description

  The present invention can guide an appropriate charging station including charging time so that it does not stay for charging at one charging station for a long time when moving toward a destination with an electric vehicle. The present invention relates to a navigation device.

In recent years, electric vehicles that reduce the influence on the global environment as much as possible are becoming popular. This electric vehicle is equipped with a battery, for example, a lithium ion battery, drives an electric motor using electric energy charged in the battery, and runs with a driving force generated by the electric motor. For this reason, since the range that can be driven by the electric energy stored in the battery becomes an area that can be moved by the electric vehicle, the battery arrives at the charging stand before the electric energy stored in the battery runs out and charges the mounted battery There is a need.
As for the charging time of the electric vehicle at the charging stand, even if it is a charging stand that performs quick charging, it takes a proper charging time to charge the mounted battery.
There is a navigation system that searches for a charging station that is within a travelable range in consideration of the current remaining battery capacity when traveling with such an electric vehicle (see Patent Document 1).
When the remaining capacity of the battery of the electric vehicle falls below a certain level, this navigation system calculates the travelable distance at that time and outputs a charging station within the travelable range together with identification information related to reachability. .

JP 09-210702 A

  Therefore, the conventional navigation apparatus has a problem that it is not possible to search for a charging station that takes into consideration the charging time that matches the movement mode when moving by an electric vehicle and the characteristics of the installation facility of the charging station.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a navigation device that can search for a charging station that performs charging in an appropriate charging time that matches the characteristics of a moving form and installation facility when moving by an electric vehicle. The purpose is to provide.

  The invention according to claim 1 stores a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of the host vehicle, destination setting means for setting a destination, charging station information including road station position information and road map information. A road map database, a route search unit for searching and calculating a guide route and distance from the current position detected by the current position detection unit to the destination on the road map information of the road map database, and the route search unit When the vehicle travels on the guide route searched for in (2), a total charge amount calculation unit that calculates a newly required charge amount in the route to the destination, and a plurality of proximity to the guide route searched by the route search unit And a charging station management unit that sets a charging station and sets a charging amount at each charging station based on the total charging amount calculated by the total charging amount calculation unit.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a priority table setting means for setting a priority table that defines the priority of the charging station installation facility in association with the stay time so that the priority becomes higher as the stay time becomes longer. For the installation facility with the highest priority in the priority table, the charge amount when the stay time is the charge time can secure the remaining charge amount upon arrival at the destination and can travel to the destination If the installation facility search unit that searches for an installation facility that falls within the range is determined based on the road map database and the installation facility search unit determines that there is no installation facility that falls within the range, according to the priority table For the installation facility whose priority is lowered by one step relative to the installation facility searched by the installation facility search unit, the charge amount when the stay time is the charge time is the remaining charge when the destination arrives And the installation facility re-search unit that repeats the search of the installation facility based on the road map database until the installation facility that falls within the range that can travel to the destination is searched, and the installation facility search unit or When the installation facility searched by the installation facility re-search unit is the first installation facility, it is determined whether or not it is possible to travel to the first installation facility with a charge amount before departure, and it is possible to travel. If it is determined, the first installation facility is determined as an installation facility to be guided, and if it is determined that the vehicle is not travelable, the first installation facility is determined as an installation facility to be guided, and the priority order is determined according to the priority table. For the installation facility that is lowered by one step with respect to the first installation facility, the first installation facility enters a range that can be traveled by the amount of charge when the stay time is the charge time, and The installation facility search is repeated based on the road map database until the installation facility that falls within the range that can be traveled from the current position with the charge amount before departure is searched, and the searched installation facility is guided second. A final installation facility determination unit that is determined as an installation facility, and an output unit that outputs the installation facility to be guided determined by the final installation facility determination unit onto the displayed guide route on the road map. It is characterized by that.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the destination is set and the search result of the guidance route to the destination is obtained, the charging amount is appropriately shared by the plurality of charging stations. There is an effect of improving the movement efficiency including it.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the charging time (stay time) at the charging station can be set appropriately, there is an effect that the movement efficiency including the charging time can be improved.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an appropriate charging station on the guide route is searched so that one charging time is within the range of the maximum charging time per predetermined charging station. And displayed on the guidance route. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the movement efficiency by searching in advance for a charging station that can perform appropriate charging that matches the movement form and the characteristics of the installation facility when moving by an electric vehicle.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the maximum charging time in the charging station is changed, it becomes possible to search for an appropriate charging station according to the change in the maximum charging time. Therefore, it is even more advantageous in carrying out appropriate charging that matches the movement form when moving by an electric vehicle and the characteristics of the installation facility.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set a charging time (staying time) that matches the characteristics of the facility where the charging stand is installed, which is further advantageous in charging.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the destination is set and the search result of the guide route to the destination is obtained, the priority to the installation facility becomes higher as the distance to the destination and the staying time become longer. As shown in the figure, installation facilities that can be charged appropriately according to the priority order are sequentially searched along the guide route and displayed along the guide route. The Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the movement efficiency by searching in advance for a charging station that can perform appropriate charging that matches the movement form and the characteristics of the installation facility when moving by an electric vehicle.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the charging station searched with the navigation apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the charging stand guidance method of the navigation apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the charging stand guidance method of the navigation apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the charging stand guidance method in the navigation apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the charging stand guidance method in the navigation apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the charging stand guidance method in the navigation apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the priority table of the navigation apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the charge facility guidance method in the navigation apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which the charging station guide method of this embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a charging station searched by the charging station guide method of this embodiment.
This navigation device includes a GPS receiver 1, a current position detector 2, a route search unit 3, an input unit 4, an output unit 5, a road map database 6, a total charge amount calculation unit 7, a battery management unit 8, and a charge count calculation unit. 9. A charging station search unit 10 and a display control unit 11 are provided.
The GPS receiver 1 receives time information carried on radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites.
The current position detection unit 2 calculates and detects the latitude, longitude, and height of the position at which the time information is received based on the time information received by the GPS reception unit 1.
The route search unit 3 searches a guide route from the current position to the destination based on the road map information read from the road map database 6, and further, a distance on the guide route from the current position to the destination. Is calculated.

The input unit 4 includes a touch panel device that captures various input data to navigation devices such as destinations, priority roads, and waypoints, as well as the maximum charging time Tc per charging station, and the host vehicle upon arrival at the destination. Various setting data input from the display including the remaining charge amount that should remain in the battery or the estimated travel distance after arrival is fetched.
The output unit 5 outputs various operation screens for operating the navigation device to the display, and displays and outputs the current position, the destination, the guidance route, and the like together with the road map. In addition, the charging station around the guide route from the current position to the destination searched by the charging station search unit 10 described later is output to the display together with the road map.

The road map database 6 is constituted by a recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD, and stores road map information and distance information including charging station information such as charging station position information as road map information. Read out.
The total charge amount calculation unit 7 calculates a total charge amount V1 to be charged for the electric vehicle to travel to the destination on the assumption that the remaining charge amount is secured in the battery when the destination arrives. This remaining charge amount is the remaining charge amount of the battery at the time of arrival at the destination input and set in advance from the input unit 4.

The battery management unit 8 performs battery management including calculation of the current remaining capacity of the battery installed in the electric vehicle, control of the charging current and discharging current of the battery, and the like.
The number-of-charges calculation unit 9 calculates the number of times of charging at a charging station on the way necessary for traveling to the destination. The calculation of the number of times of charging is performed as follows. First, the “remaining battery capacity at the time of arrival at the destination” is added to the “total charge amount V1 of the battery according to the distance from the current location required for traveling to the destination” calculated by the total charge amount calculation unit 7. The battery capacity obtained by adding "" is obtained, and the battery charge amount necessary to travel to the destination is obtained by subtracting the current remaining battery capacity from this battery capacity. Then, the battery charge amount is divided by the charge amount that can be charged to the battery per one charging station calculated from the maximum charging time Tc per one charging station input from the input unit 4, When the charging stations around the guide route are evenly installed, the necessary number of charging times Cc necessary to travel to the destination is calculated.

  The charging station search unit 10 divides the “distance of the guide route from the current position to the destination” by the calculated required number of charging times Cc, so that charging stations on or around the guide route are between the charging stations. The distance between the virtual charging stations is calculated within the range of the calculated virtual charging station distance LL from the destination, and when returning from the destination to the current position on the guide route The charging station farthest from the destination is searched by accessing the road map database 6 as the final charging station to be charged last. Further, a road map with a charging station that is farthest from the base point when following the guide route in the direction of the current position within the range of the distance LL between the virtual charging stations from the final charging station as the next base point Search by accessing the database 6. The search for the charging station as the base point searches for charging stations at least for the calculated number of charging times. The charging number calculation unit 9 and the charging stand search unit 10 constitute a charging stand management unit 13.

  The display control unit 11 performs display control of various data on the display in the output unit 5, and is a charging station previously input from the input unit 4 in correspondence with each charging station searched by the charging station search unit 10. Is displayed on charging time output units 411, 412, 413, and 414 shown in FIG. 2 to be described later.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the charging facility guidance method applied to the navigation device of this embodiment, which will be described below according to this flowchart.
First, various information required from the input unit 4 of the navigation device, which is input by an electric vehicle driver or a passenger, the remaining battery charge when the destination arrives or the estimated travel distance after arrival Various information such as the maximum charging time Tc per charging station is taken in (step S1). At this time, the destination can be input from registration information provided in the navigation device, or by a destination setting function for setting the destination from a facility, a telephone number, or the like. When this destination is set and further, via route designation, priority road designation, and the like are input, the route search unit 3 of the navigation device displays the guide route from the current position of the host vehicle to the set destination. A search is performed based on the road map information stored in the map database 6, and the road map read from the road map database 6 and the searched guide route are output to the display of the output unit 5.

Subsequently, the total charge amount calculation unit 7 calculates a total charge amount V1 to be charged for traveling to the destination on the assumption that the remaining charge amount is ensured when the destination arrives (step S2). This total charge amount V1 is calculated as follows. The distance L (Km) of the guide route to the destination searched by the route search unit 3, the amount of energy x (Wh) when the battery mounted on the host vehicle is fully charged, and the battery is fully charged From the distance that can be traveled in the state, the travel distance per unit energy of the charge amount stored in the battery, that is, the power consumption y becomes clear.
Further, the amount of battery energy required to travel to the destination, that is, the amount of battery charge a (Wh) required to travel to the destination, is obtained from the distance L / electricity cost y of the guide route to the destination. . Then, when the battery charge amount and the remaining charge amount that are desired to remain at the time of arrival at the destination are n (Wh), and the charge amount currently stored in the battery of the host vehicle is p (Wh), The total amount of charge V1 required to travel to the ground is “the amount of charge a (Wh) required to travel to the destination” + “the amount of battery charge n (Wh) that is desired to remain in the battery when the destination arrives. "-" It is calculated | required from the charge amount p (Wh) currently stored in the battery of the own vehicle.
“Charging amount n (Wh) to be left in the battery upon arrival at destination” is the remaining amount of charge upon arrival at the destination input in step S1 or the estimated travel distance after arrival at the destination q (Km) As “scheduled travel distance q after arrival at destination” / electric cost y.

  Subsequently, the total charging amount V1 required for traveling to the determined destination is calculated from the charging station one converted from the maximum charging time Tc per charging station inputted from the input unit 4 in the step S1. Divide by the amount of charge that can be charged to the battery at each location, and the charging stations are evenly installed around the guide route to the destination, and the charging time is allocated evenly to each charging station, traveling to the destination The required number of charge times Cc necessary for the calculation is calculated (step S3).

  The charging station search unit 10 divides the “distance of the guide route from the current position to the destination” by the calculated required number of charging times Cc, so that a virtual interval between the charging stations around the guide route is obtained. That is, it is calculated as the distance LL between virtual charging stations (step S4), and is within the range of the calculated distance LL between virtual charging stations between the charging stations from the destination, and is located on the guide route from the destination The charging station that is farthest when tracing in the direction of is searched by accessing the road map database 6 (step S5). In this case, the charging station SS2 shown in FIG. 2 is searched.

  Further, the charging station SS2 is used as a final charging station for final guidance on the guidance route, and the virtual charging station distance LL is traced on the guidance route in the direction of the current position with the final charging station as a base point. A charging station that is farthest from the base point on or near the guide route within the range LL between charging stations is searched by accessing the road map database 6 (step S6). In this case, the charging station SS4 shown in FIG. 2 is searched.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a charging station corresponding to the required number of charging times obtained in step S3 has been searched (step S7). Is replaced with the charging station searched in step S6 (step S8), and the process returns to step S6. As a result, in step S6, this time, the charging station SS4 is used as a base point to follow the guide route in the direction of the current position by the distance LL between the virtual charging stations, and the guiding path within the range of the distance LL between the virtual charging stations at this time. A search is made by accessing the road map database 6 for the charging station farthest from the charging station SS4 as the base point above or in the vicinity thereof. In this case, the charging station SS5 shown in FIG. 2 is searched.

  In this way, when searching for the charging stations for the required number of charging times obtained in step S3 is completed, the searched charging stations SS2, SS4, SS5, SS7 are read from the road map database 6 on which the guidance route is displayed and output. On the road map, the information is output in a display form distinguishable from other charging stations (step S9).

  The charging stations for the necessary number of charging times searched as described above are displayed on the road map on which the guidance route is displayed and output as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the guide route from the current position to the destination is displayed and output on a road map, and is further searched by the charging station search unit 9 for the required number of charging times on or near the guide route. The charging stations SS2, SS4, SS5, and SS7 are output in a display form that can be distinguished from other charging stations. Further, the charging stations SS2, SS4, SS5, SS7 have a maximum charging time Tc per charging station input in step S1, for example, “20 minutes” so that the corresponding relationship with each charging station becomes clear. "Is displayed on the charging time output units 411, 412, 413, and 414 by the display control unit 11.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when a destination is set and a search result of a guide route to the destination is obtained, one charging time is set to one preset charging station. An appropriate charging station on the guide route is searched so as to be within the range of the maximum charging time Tc per unit, and is displayed and output on the guide route. According to the search result of this charging station, if you drive while charging at the searched charging station, you can charge for a short time at multiple charging stations without stopping at one charging station for long time charging, As a whole, the vehicle can travel while securing the amount of charge required to travel to the destination.

  For this reason, when charging at the charging stand also serving as a break during movement, it is possible to charge at the charging stand while having a light meal also serving as a break. In addition, when a route for delivery of a package by a delivery vehicle can be set in advance, the delivery and delivery of the package can be performed according to the route set in advance, while charging can be performed at the charging stand, and each vehicle has its own movement. It is possible to move while distributing charging time at a plurality of charging stations by knowing in advance an appropriate charging station that matches the form. In addition, when moving by car, it is possible to eliminate situations such as having to stop for charging unnecessarily for a long time at a charging station where you do not want to stop for a long time. Search in advance for charging stations that can be charged appropriately according to the characteristics of the facility, such as the movement mode when moving by electric vehicle, such as being able to move to the destination while using the charging time for breaks and light meals Thus, the moving efficiency can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which the charging station guide method of this embodiment is applied. In FIG. 4, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.
In this embodiment, the display control unit 12 performs display control of various data on the display of the output unit 5, and applies to each charging station searched by the charging station search unit 10 described in the first embodiment. Correspondingly, the maximum charging time Tc per time at the charging station input in advance from the input unit 4 is displayed on the charging time output units 411, 412, 413, and 414 shown in FIG. Further, the maximum charging time Tc displayed corresponding to each charging station is changed to a charging time changing operation unit 411A, 412A, 413A, for enabling the maximum charging time Tc to be changed in units of 10 minutes for each charging station, for example. 414A is displayed.
Further, in this embodiment, the charging station recalculation unit 101 is configured in the route search unit 3. When the maximum charging time Tc displayed on the charging time changing operation units 411A, 412A, 413A, and 414A is changed, the charging station recalculation unit 101 appropriately changes the guidance route according to the change in the maximum charging time Tc. Recalculate the correct charging station. That is, when the maximum charging time Tc is changed, the distance between the virtual charging stations is recalculated for the charging station on the destination side based on the changed charging time, and the charging station searched by the charging station search unit is recalculated. Perform a re-search.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the charging station guidance method applied to the navigation device of this embodiment. 6 and 7 are explanatory views showing charging stations searched by the charging station guide method of this embodiment.
As shown as an example in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, the charging stations SS2, SS4, SS5, and SS7 are searched along the guide route R. In the first embodiment, the maximum charging time Tc is 20 minutes common to each charging station, but in this embodiment, the maximum charging time Tc of the charging station SS4 is changed from 20 minutes to 30 minutes as shown in FIG. Is done. The reason why the maximum charging time Tc is changed is that, for example, a restaurant is located near the charging station SS4 and the time for lunch can be allocated to the charging time, so the time is changed from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

  First, the charging station recalculation unit 101 determines whether or not an operation for changing the maximum charging time Tc has been performed on the charging stations SS2, SS4, SS5, and SS7 searched along the guide route R as shown in FIG. Determination is made (step S21). In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, since the maximum charging time Tc of the charging station SS4 has been changed from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, the charging station SS4 is determined as the charging station in which the maximum charging time Tc has been changed (step S22). Subsequently, using the charging station SS4 as a base point, the ratio of the changed maximum charging time Tc ′ to the original maximum charging time Tc is calculated (step S23).

Next, “the ratio of the changed maximum charging time Tc ′ to the original maximum charging time Tc” calculated in step S23 is multiplied by the “inter-virtual charging station distance LL” calculated in the first embodiment. A distance LL between the virtual charging stations is obtained (step S24). In this example, “changed maximum charging time Tc” / “original maximum charging time Tc” is “1.5” and “virtual charging station distance LL before change” × 1.5 is changed. This is the distance LL between the virtual charging stations later.
Then, the charging station along the guide route R farthest from the base point within the distance LL between the virtual charging stations is searched based on the charging station information stored in the road map database 6 (step S25). In this example, the charging station to be searched is the charging station SS1.
When the charging station SS1 along the guide route R farthest from the base point is searched, the already-searched charging between the charging station whose maximum charging time Tc determined in step S22 is changed and the newly searched charging station SS1. The stand SS2 is invalidated and removed from the target charging stand (step S26).
Then, the maximum charging time Tc of the charging station SS1 searched in step S25 is displayed. In this case, the maximum charging time “20 minutes” is displayed again as shown in FIG. 7 (step S27).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the destination falls within the range of the distance that can be traveled from the charging station SS1 by the amount of charge when charging is performed for "20 minutes" at the charging station SS1 (step S28). If the destination falls within the range of, the charging station search is terminated. On the other hand, if the destination does not fall within the range of travelable distance, the search is made in step S25 within the range of travelable distance with the charge amount when charging is performed with the maximum charging time “20 minutes”. The charging station recalculation unit 101 recalculates and re-searches the next charging station farthest from the charging station SS1 (step S29). As a result, when the search result of the next charging station is obtained, the process returns to step S26, the display about the charging station is performed, and the maximum charging time “20 minutes” is displayed (step S27), which is obtained as the search result. The processing from step S28 on the charging station is repeated until the destination falls within the range of the distance that can be traveled with the charging amount when the charging is performed for the maximum charging time “20 minutes”.

  In the above description, the case where the maximum charging time Tc is changed from 20 minutes to 30 minutes has been described as an example. However, even when the maximum charging time Tc is shortened from 20 minutes to 10 minutes, for example, The charging station recalculation unit 101 can recalculate and search for an appropriate charging station according to the change of the charging time Tc.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when the maximum charging time Tc in the charging station is changed, the charging stand recalculation unit 101 re-appropriates an appropriate charging station according to the change in the maximum charging time Tc. It will be possible to calculate and search. For this reason, if you drive while charging at the charging station found according to the search result of this charging station, you can charge for a short time at multiple charging stations without stopping at one charging station for a long time. As a whole, the vehicle can travel while securing the amount of charge necessary to travel to the destination. In addition, certain charging stations take into account the specific conditions of charging stations, such as allocating twice or three times the charging time compared to other charging stations, for example for lunch meals or visiting nearby tourist attractions. It is possible to change the maximum charging time, so when charging at a charging station that also serves as a break while moving, etc. It is possible to perform charging by allocating charging times twice or three times as compared with the charging station. In addition, when the route for delivery of packages by a delivery vehicle can be set in advance, the delivery of more packages compared to other charging stations and allocation of charging times twice or three times to charging stations near the delivery destination Therefore, it is possible to move using the charging time effectively, such as delivering packages during the charging time, and to carry out appropriate charging that matches the characteristics of the moving form and installation facility when moving by electric vehicle. There is an effect that it is possible to improve the movement efficiency by searching for a charging station that can be used in advance.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which the charging station guide method of this embodiment is applied.
This navigation device includes a GPS reception unit 151, a current position detection unit 152, a route search unit 153, an input unit 154, an output unit 155, a road map database 156, a total charge amount calculation unit 157, a battery management unit 158, an installation facility search unit. 160 and a display control unit 162.
The GPS receiving unit 151 receives time information carried on radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites.
The current position detection unit 152 calculates and detects the latitude, longitude, and height of the position where the time information is received based on the time information received by the GPS reception unit 151.

The route search unit 153 includes a final installation facility determination unit 201, a priority order table selection unit 202, a stay time charge amount calculation unit 203, and a priority order table setting unit 301. The route search unit 153 searches the guide route from the current position to the destination based on the road map information read from the road map database 156, and further, the distance on the guide route from the current position to the destination. Is calculated.
The final installation facility determination unit 201 searches for an installation facility, which will be described later, from the current position based on the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure, among the installation facilities provided with charging stations on the guide route from the current position to the destination. It is determined whether or not it is possible to travel to the installation facility searched by the unit 160 or the installation facility re-search unit 204. If it is determined that the vehicle can travel from the current position to the installation facility, the installation facility is finally installed. A facility.

The priority table selection unit 202 selects from the road map database 156 a priority table corresponding to a far destination or a near destination determined based on the distance of the guide route from the current position to the destination. It is assumed that the far destination is a destination at a distance of, for example, 60 km or more from the current position, and the near destination is a destination at a distance of, for example, less than 60 km from the current position. FIG. 10 (a) is an example of a priority table for installation facilities and their staying time according to a remote destination, and FIG. 10 (b) is an example of a priority table for installation facilities and their staying time according to a near destination. Show.
Returning to FIG. 8, the stay time charge amount calculation unit 203 calculates the charge amount that can be charged in the battery when charging is performed for the charge time corresponding to the stay time of each installation facility.
The priority table setting unit 301 sets a priority table in the road map database 156 that defines the priority of the charging station installation facility in association with the stay time so that the priority becomes higher as the stay time becomes longer.
The input unit 154 includes various input operation keys and a touch panel device, and accepts various input operations to a navigation device such as a destination, a priority road, and a waypoint, as well as a remaining battery charge when the destination arrives or travel after arrival The various input operation keys including the priority table for the planned distance, the installation facility and the staying time, or various setting data input from the display are fetched.
The output unit 155 outputs various operation screens for operating the navigation device to the display, and displays and outputs the current position, the destination, the guidance route, and the like to the display together with the road map. Further, the installation facility provided with the charging station on the guide route from the current position to the destination searched by the installation facility search unit 160 and the installation facility re-search unit 204 described later is output to the display together with the road map.

The road map database 156 is composed of a recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD, has information on installation facilities provided with charging stations, national road map information including location information of the installation facilities, priority on the installation facilities and their staying time. The ranking table etc. are saved and read as needed. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a priority order table. FIG. 10 (a) is a priority order table for installed facilities and their staying time according to a far destination, and FIG. 10 (b) is a near destination. A priority table for the installed facilities and their staying time is shown.
This priority table defines the priorities of installation facilities equipped with charging stations. This priority table shows the case where the destination is within a long distance range (for example, a distance range of 60 km or more) and the case where the destination is a medium distance or short distance range (a distance range of less than 60 km). Is set according to the near destination. In this priority table, the priority is set to be higher as it is higher, and the staying time is set to be longer as the installation facility has a higher priority.

In the priority table for remote destinations, the priority of installation facilities is higher for tourist destinations and service areas based on the situation of traveling far away on a trip or business trip and the characteristics of the installation facilities, and the staying time is higher. It is set long. For example, the priority of an installation facility that is a tourist spot and an installation facility that is a convenience store is higher than that of a convenience store because the tourist spot is farther away and the staying time is longer. The priority is set higher.
In addition, in the priority table for near destinations, the priority of the installed facility is determined by the frequency of going out, the situation of going out in a short time and the characteristics of the installed facility, and the priority is set higher at convenience stores and supermarkets and the staying time is set longer Has been. For example, the priority of an installation facility that is a convenience store and an installation facility that is a service area is that the convenience store is located at a closer distance and the frequency of going out is higher, and the staying time is longer because it is an installation facility that goes out in a short time. The priority is set higher in the installation facility that is a convenience store than in the service area.
The total charge amount calculation unit 157 calculates the total charge amount V1 when the electric vehicle travels to the destination while charging and when a certain amount of remaining charge amount is secured when the destination arrives. The remaining charge amount at the time of arrival at the destination is input and set in advance from the input unit 154 as the amount of charge that should be left in the battery when it arrives at the destination.

  The battery management unit 158 performs battery management including calculation of the current charge amount of the battery installed in the electric vehicle, control of the charge current and discharge current of the battery, and the like.

The installation facility search unit 160 includes an installation facility re-search unit 204.
The installation facility search unit 160 selects the priority selected by the priority table selection unit 202 according to the far destination or the near destination determined based on the “distance of the guide route from the current position to the destination”. Based on the destination on the guide route with the priority set in the rank table, “the amount of charge during the stay, which is the amount of battery charge when charging during the stay time of the installation facility” ≧ “the purpose The installation facility that falls within the range satisfying the condition of “remaining charge amount to be left upon arrival” + “charge amount necessary for traveling from the installation facility to the destination” is determined. Then, the installation facility that satisfies the above condition is searched from the installation facility information on the road map in the road map database 156. If there are a plurality of found installation facilities, it is determined as an installation facility that guides the installation facility that is farthest from the destination among the installation facilities that fall within the range that satisfies the condition.
The installation facility re-search unit 204, when the installation facility search unit 160 determines that the installation facility that falls within the range satisfying the above condition cannot be searched, the installation facility whose priority is lowered by one step according to the priority table. Search again based on the above conditions.

  The display control unit 162 controls the display of various data on the display in the output unit 155 and also controls the display on the display of the installation facility searched by the installation facility search unit 160.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the charging facility guidance method applied to the navigation device of this embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a charging facility guidance method in the navigation device of this embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the charging facility guidance method applied to the navigation apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the destination input by the driver or passenger of the electric vehicle from the input unit 4 of the navigation device, the remaining charge amount upon arrival at the destination, the estimated travel distance after arrival at the destination, and the stay time in the priority table Various information such as the changed staying time when changing is taken in (step S41).
At this time, the destination can be input from registration information provided in the navigation device, or by a destination setting function for setting the destination from a facility, a telephone number, or the like. When this destination is set, and a route point, priority road designation, and the like are further input, the route search unit 153 of the navigation device displays the guide route from the current position of the host vehicle to the set destination. Search based on the road map stored in the map database 156, calculate the distance from the current position to the destination, read the road map from the road map database 156 to the display of the output unit 155, the searched guidance Guidance information such as the route and the distance from the current position to the destination is output.

  Subsequently, the priority table selection unit 202 determines whether the destination is a far destination or a near destination based on the distance from the current position to the destination. A priority table is selected according to the determination result, and a priority table to be used is determined (step S42).

  Next, on the guidance route, according to the determined priority order table, first, the battery charged when charging is performed during the staying time for the installation facility on the guidance route corresponding to the installation facility having the highest priority. An installation facility whose amount can travel from the installation facility on the guide route to the destination and that is within a range in which the remaining charge amount that is desired to be retained upon arrival at the destination input in step S41 can be secured is determined. (Step S43). That is, regarding the installation facility on the guide route, if the battery charge amount when charging during the stay time is “stay time charge amount”, “stay time charge amount” ≧ “remaining when the destination arrives” The installation facility search unit 60 searches for and determines installation facilities that fall within the range (distance range L1 from the destination) that satisfies the condition of “remaining charge amount” + “charge amount necessary for traveling from the installation facility to the destination”. To do.

FIG. 11 shows the installation facilities on the guidance route determined by the installation facility search unit 60 based on this condition. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the priority table used is the priority table shown in FIG. 10 (a) corresponding to the far destination, the installation facility is a sightseeing spot, and the staying time is 60 minutes. Reference symbol R denotes a guide route from the current position to the destination, and reference numerals 501 and 502 denote two installation facilities that fall within a range that satisfies the above conditions (distance range L1 from the destination). The installation facility search unit 60 converts the stay time 60 minutes defined corresponding to the sightseeing spot that is the installation facility of the priority table into the stay time charge amount that is the charge amount when the charge time is 60 minutes. , “Installation facility“ tourism area ”that satisfies the condition of“ stay charge amount ”≧“ remaining charge amount that should be kept when the destination arrives ”+“ charge amount necessary for traveling from the installation facility to the destination ” Search for "". If there are a plurality of installation facilities “tourism spots” that satisfy the searched conditions, the installation facility “tourism spot” farthest from the destination is determined as the installation facility that guides. In FIG. 11, the distance that can be traveled with the remaining charge amount obtained by subtracting the “remaining charge amount that should be kept when the destination arrives” from the charge amount when the charge time is 60 minutes is L1 based on the destination. It is shown. As a result, the installation facility 501 and the installation facility 502 are searched for the installation facility “sightseeing spot” that falls within the range L1 that satisfies the above condition. Then, the installation facility 502 and the installation facility 502 are determined as the installation facility that the installation facility 502 guides as the installation facility “tourist place” farthest from the destination.
That is, when there is one determined installation facility, it is determined as an installation facility that guides the installation facility, and when there are a plurality of determined installation facilities, the distance is the farthest from the destination. It is determined as an installation facility for guiding a certain installation facility (step S45).

On the other hand, when the installation facility search unit 60 determines that there is no installation facility within the range that satisfies the above condition, the installation facility re-search unit 204 determines that the installation facility with the second highest priority according to the priority table is “ Determine the installation facilities that fall within the range that satisfies the condition of “charge amount of stay time” ≧ “remaining charge amount that should be kept when the destination arrives” + “charge amount necessary for traveling from the installation facility to the destination” (step S44).
As a result, when the installation facility re-search unit 204 searches for and determines an installation facility that falls within the range satisfying the above condition, this time, the installation facility having one priority lower than the highest priority read from the priority table is selected this time. The installation facility to be guided is determined (step S45).
On the other hand, if the installation facility re-search unit 204 determines that the installation facility that falls within the range that satisfies the condition cannot be searched again, the priority of the priority table is further lowered by one (step S46), and the process of step S44 is performed. Repeat until an installation facility that falls within the range that satisfies the above conditions can be searched.

In this way, the installation facility to be guided is searched based on the road map information including the installation facility information of the road map database 156 and the location information of the installation facility according to the priority order table. As a result, when the installation facility to be guided can be searched for, the final installation facility determination unit 201 next determines that the searched installation facility is within a range that can be traveled from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure. It is determined whether it is present (step S47).
A range indicated by a symbol LL in FIG. 11 indicates a range in which the vehicle can travel from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the installation facility to be guided is the installation facility 502, and the final installation facility determination unit 201 is within the range LL that can travel from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure for the installation facility 502. Judge whether it is in.
As a result, if the searched installation facility is within the range that can be traveled from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure, the installation facility search is terminated, and the searched installation facility is output to the output unit. The road map and the guidance route are displayed and output to the display 155 (step S61).
That is, when the installation facility searched by the installation facility search unit 160 or the installation facility re-search unit 204 is the first installation facility, the final installation facility determination unit 201 travels to the first installation facility with the amount of charge before departure. It is determined whether or not it is possible, and if it is determined that the vehicle is capable of traveling, the first installation facility is determined as the installation facility to be guided.

In the example of FIG. 11, the installation facility 502 is not in the range LL that can be traveled from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure. Therefore, when the found installation facility is not within the range where the current charge can travel from the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure, the final installation facility determination unit 201 determines that the installation facility determined in step S45 The installation facility with the priority order lowered by one priority is searched again according to the priority order table. In this case, using the installation facility determined in step S45 as a base point, the installation facility that falls within the range that can be traveled with the charge amount with the stay time corresponding to the installation facility to be searched again as the charging time is searched and determined. In other words, for an installation facility with a priority lower than the installation facility determined in step S45, “charge amount that can be charged during the stay time” ≧ “charge amount that can travel to the installation facility 502 as the base point” An installation facility that falls within a range that satisfies the conditions is searched and determined (step S48).
In the example of the priority table shown in FIG. 10A, the installation facility with the priority order that is one priority lower than the installation facility determined in step S45 is the service area, and the staying time is 20 minutes. Accordingly, an installation facility that can be traveled with a charge amount with a stay time of 20 minutes as a charging time is searched and determined based on the installation facility 502 determined in step S45. In the example shown in FIG. 11, a range in which L2 can travel with a charge amount with a stay time of 20 minutes as a charging time from the installation facility 502 as a base point is shown. Therefore, the installation facility 503 is searched and determined as an installation facility that falls within the range L2 that satisfies the condition “charge amount that can be charged during the stay time” ≧ “charge amount that can travel to the installation facility 502 as a base point”.
And it determines as the next installation facility which guides the said installation facility 503 (step S49).

Further, the final installation facility determination unit 201 determines whether or not the installation facility 503 is within the range in which the determined installation facility 503 can travel from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure (step) S50).
As a result, if the installation facility set as the base point is within the range where the current amount of charge is remaining in the battery before departure of the host vehicle, the search for the installation facility is terminated, and the determined installation facility Is output to the display of the output unit 155 together with the road map and guide route (step S61).

In the example shown in FIG. 11, when the current position is at a distance away from the installation facility 503, the determined installation facility 503 can travel from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure. It does not fall within the range.
For this reason, when the determined installation facility 503 does not enter the range where it can travel from the current position with the amount of charge remaining in the battery before departure, the process returns to step S48.
In the process of step S48 at this time, the final installation facility determination unit 201 searches for the installation facility with a priority order that is one priority lower than the installation facility 503 determined in step S49, according to the priority table, and the priority level The installation facilities that fall within the range when the installation facility 503 determined in step S49 is used as a base point can be traveled with the charge amount when the corresponding stay time is set as the charge time. Search and judge.
In the process of step S48, the installation facilities that fall within the above range that can be traveled with the charge amount when the corresponding staying time is set as the charging time are searched for the installation facilities with the priority lowered by one. And it repeats until the said installation installation searched in the range which can be drive | worked from the present position with the charge amount remaining in the battery before departure.

  That is, if the final installation facility determination unit 201 determines that it is not possible to travel to the first installation facility (installation facility 503) with the charge amount before departure (step S47), the installation that should guide the first installation facility For the installation facility that is determined as a facility and whose priority is lowered by one step with respect to the first installation facility according to the priority order table, the first range is within the range that can be traveled with the charge amount when the stay time is the charge time. The installation facility is repeatedly searched based on the road map database 156 until the installation facility is found and the installation facility that falls within the range that can be traveled from the current position with the charge amount before departure is searched. Is determined as the second installation facility to be guided (steps S48, S49, S50, S61).

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the destination is set and the search result of the guidance route to the destination is obtained, the distance to the destination and the priority of the installation facility becomes longer as the staying time becomes longer. Using a priority table that is set in advance so that the ranking is higher, installation facilities that can perform appropriate charging according to the priority are sequentially searched along the guidance route, and the guidance route is displayed. Displayed along.
Therefore, if you run while charging at the found installation facility, it will be possible to charge at the installation facility such as a sightseeing spot or resting place that is moving, with a charging time that matches the characteristics of the installation facility, sightseeing or resting On the other hand, it is possible to perform charging with an appropriate charge amount during the staying time.
As a result, while charging with an appropriate amount of charge adapted to the situation of each installed facility that was found, it is possible to move at multiple charging stations while distributing the charging time, and long at installation facilities that do not want to stay for a long time. It is possible to avoid the mismatch between the installation facility and the charging time when traveling by electric vehicle, such as spending time charging time unnecessarily, and appropriate charging that matches the characteristics of the moving form and installation facility when traveling by car It is possible to search for a charging station that charges in time and to improve the movement efficiency.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,151 ... GPS receiving part, 2,152 ... Current position detection part, 3,153 ... Route search part, 4,154 ... Input part (Destination setting means, remaining charge amount setting means, charging time setting Means) 5, 155... Output unit, 6, 156... Road map database, 7, 157... Total charge amount calculation unit, 8, 158 ... battery management unit, 9. ... charging station search unit, 11 ... display control unit (destination setting unit, remaining charge amount setting unit, charging time setting unit), 13 ... charging station management unit, 101 ... charging station recalculation unit, 160 ... Installation facility search unit, 201 …… Final installation facility determination unit, 202 …… Priority order table selection unit, 203 …… Stay time charge amount calculation unit, 204 …… Installation facility re-search unit, 301 …… Priority order table setting means .

Claims (6)

A current position detector for detecting the current position of the host vehicle;
Destination setting means for setting the destination;
A road map database storing charging station information including road station location information and road map information;
A route search unit that searches and calculates the guide route and distance from the current position detected by the current position detection unit to the destination on the road map information of the road map database;
When traveling on the guide route searched by the route search unit, a total charge amount calculation unit for calculating a charge amount newly required in the route to the destination;
Charging station management for setting a plurality of charging stations close to the guide route searched by the route searching unit and setting the charging amount at each charging station based on the total charging amount calculated by the total charging amount calculating unit And a navigation device. The charging stand management unit
A charging time setting means for setting a charging time for charging at the charging stand;
2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of charge at each charging station is calculated based on the charging time set by the charging time setting means. A remaining charge amount setting means for setting a remaining charge amount that should remain in the battery of the host vehicle upon arrival at the destination;
A battery management unit for detecting a current battery charge amount stored in the battery,
The total charge amount calculation unit includes a battery charge amount consumed by the host vehicle traveling to the destination according to the guide route, the remaining charge amount set by the remaining charge amount setting means, and the battery Based on the current battery charge amount detected by the management unit, the total charge amount to be charged for traveling to the destination is calculated so that the remaining charge amount is ensured when the destination arrives. ,
The charging station management unit, based on the total charge amount calculated by the total charge amount calculation unit and a charge amount converted from the charge time set by the charge time setting means, according to the guide route, A charge number calculation unit for calculating the number of charge times when traveling to,
A distance between the virtual charging stations on the guide route is calculated based on the distance to the destination on the guide route and the number of times of charging calculated by the charge number calculation unit, and the destination on the guide route is calculated. As a final charging station that lastly charges the charging station farthest from the destination within the distance between the virtual charging stations, the search is performed based on the road map information and the charging station information in the road map database. In addition, the road map information of the road map database with the farthest charging station as the next base point within the range of the distance between the virtual charging stations on the guide route from the base point as the base point of the searched last charging station And searching based on charging station information, and thus searching for charging stations within the range of the distance between the virtual charging stations at least the charging station And a charging station search unit to be repeated a few minutes,
An output unit for outputting the searched charging station onto a guide route on the displayed road map;
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A charging time change operation unit that allows the charging time set by the charging time setting means to be changed with respect to one charging station among the plurality of searched charging stations;
When the charging time is changed by the charging time changing operation unit, the distance between the virtual charging stations on the destination side is recalculated from the one charging station based on the changed charging time, and the recalculated A charging station recalculation unit that performs a re-search of the charging station searched by the charging station searching unit based on a distance between virtual charging stations;
The navigation device according to claim 3, further comprising: The road map database stores facility information where the charging station is installed,
The navigation device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the charging time setting means sets a charging time based on the facility information. A priority table setting means for setting a priority table that prescribes the priority of the installation facility of the charging station in association with the stay time so that the priority becomes higher as the stay time becomes longer;
For the installation facility with the highest priority in the priority table, the charge amount when the stay time is the charge time can secure the remaining charge amount upon arrival at the destination and can travel to the destination An installation facility search unit that searches for installation facilities that fall within the range based on the road map database;
When it is determined by the installation facility search unit that there is no installation facility that falls within the range, the installation facility whose priority is lowered by one step with respect to the installation facility searched by the installation facility search unit according to the priority table, The search for the installation facility is performed until the installation facility that falls within the range in which the charge amount when the stay time is set as the charge time can secure the remaining charge amount upon arrival at the destination and can travel to the destination is searched. An installation facility re-search section that repeats based on the road map database;
When the installation facility searched by the installation facility search unit or the installation facility re-search unit is set as a first installation facility, it is determined whether or not the first installation facility can be driven with a charge amount before departure. If it is determined that the vehicle is capable of traveling, the first installation facility is determined as an installation facility to be guided, and if it is determined that the vehicle is not travelable, the first installation facility is determined as an installation facility to be guided, and With respect to the installation facility whose priority is lowered by one step according to the priority table, the first installation facility enters a range that can be traveled by the amount of charge when the staying time is the charging time, In addition, the installation facility search is repeated based on the road map database until the installation facility that falls within the range that can be traveled from the current position with the charge amount before departure is searched, and the searched installation facility is guided. And final installation facility determination unit that determines as a second installation facility can,
An output unit that outputs the installation facility to be guided determined by the final installation facility determination unit onto a guide route on the displayed road map;
A navigation device characterized by comprising:

Images