JP2012200104A - Energy monitoring device and energy monitoring system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an energy monitoring device which allows a user to cut down costs and know its charge state at home, and an energy monitoring system using it.SOLUTION: An energy monitoring device 2 comprises a display unit 23 which notifies an energy amount used in a prescribed area, a wireless communication unit 22 which receives a charge state signal indicating a charge state from a charge control device 1 for controlling charging of electricity to a charge unit 33 of an electric vehicle 3, and a control unit 21 which outputs to the display unit 23 an operation signal for making notification corresponding to the charge state signal. Since the energy monitoring device 2 uses the display unit 23 to make notification corresponding to the charge state signal transmitted from the charge control device 1, it enables a user to know a charge state without going to the place of charging.

Description

  The present invention relates to an energy monitoring apparatus and an energy monitoring system using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a battery remaining amount monitoring system that can monitor the remaining amount of a vehicle-mounted battery at home using a charging cable (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This battery remaining amount monitoring system includes a current sensor that is attached to a charging cable and measures the charging current to the battery, a battery remaining amount calculating unit that calculates the remaining amount of battery from the charging current measured by the current sensor, And a battery remaining amount display unit that is provided and displays the battery remaining amount. In this battery remaining amount monitoring system, since the remaining amount of battery is displayed on the battery remaining amount display section provided in the house, the resident can know the charging state without going to the charging place.

JP 2010-110101 A (paragraph [0012] -paragraph [0014] and FIG. 1)

  In the battery remaining amount monitoring system shown in Patent Document 1 described above, it is possible to know the remaining amount of the battery while in the house, but it is necessary to install a dedicated device such as a remaining battery amount calculating unit and a remaining battery amount display unit. Therefore, the cost was increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an energy monitoring device capable of knowing the state of charge at home while suppressing an increase in cost and an energy monitoring system using the energy monitoring device. There is to do.

  The energy monitoring device of the present invention is a signal that receives a charging state signal indicating a charging state from a notification unit that notifies the amount of energy used in a predetermined area and a charging control device that controls charging of the charging unit of the electric vehicle. A receiving unit and a control unit that causes the notification unit to perform a notification operation according to the charge state signal are provided. Here, the electric vehicle includes an electric vehicle (EV) having only an electric motor as a power source, a hybrid vehicle (HEV) and a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) using both an engine and an electric motor as a power source.

  In this energy monitoring device, the signal receiving unit receives at least one of a charging start signal indicating start of charging of the charging unit or a charging stop signal indicating stop of charging of the charging unit as a charge state signal, and the control unit Preferably, the notification unit notifies the charging unit that charging has started or stopped according to the charging start signal or the charging stop signal received by the signal receiving unit.

  Further, in this energy monitoring device, the signal receiving unit receives a charging continuation signal indicating that the charging unit is being charged as a charging state signal, and the control unit charges the charging unit when charging is in progress. It is also preferable to notify from the notification unit that it is in the middle.

  Furthermore, in this energy monitoring device, the signal receiving unit receives a leakage detection signal transmitted from the charge control device when leakage is detected as a charge state signal, and the control unit detects leakage according to the leakage detection signal received by the signal receiving unit. It is also preferable to notify from the notification unit that it has been detected.

  Further, in this energy monitoring device, the signal receiving unit receives at least one of the current charge amount or the scheduled charging completion time as a charging state signal, and the control unit converts the charging state signal received by the signal receiving unit. It is also preferable to notify the current charge amount or charge completion scheduled time included from the notification unit.

  Further, the energy monitoring apparatus preferably includes a signal transfer unit that transfers a signal to a server provided outside, and the control unit preferably causes the signal transfer unit to transfer the charge state signal received by the signal reception unit to the server. .

  An energy monitoring system of the present invention includes the above energy monitoring device and a charge control device, the charge control device includes a signal transmission unit that transmits a charge state signal, and the control unit of the energy monitoring device receives a signal. The notification unit is caused to perform a notification operation according to the charge state signal received by the unit.

  In this energy monitoring system, the charging control device includes an imaging unit and transmits video data captured by the imaging unit from the signal transmission unit, and the control unit of the energy monitoring device notifies the video data received by the signal reception unit. It is preferable to perform at least one of displaying on a monitor provided in the storage unit or storing in a storage unit provided in the energy monitoring device.

  There is an effect that it is possible to provide an energy monitoring device and an energy monitoring system capable of knowing the state of charge at home while suppressing an increase in cost.

It is a system configuration figure showing an example of the energy monitoring system of this embodiment. An example of the charge control apparatus which comprises the same is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the other example of the charge control apparatus which comprises the same as the above. It is a schematic system diagram using the charge control device which constitutes the same. It is a sequence diagram explaining operation | movement same as the above. It is a sequence diagram explaining another operation | movement same as the above. It is a sequence diagram explaining another operation | movement same as the above. It is a sequence diagram explaining another operation | movement further same as the above. It is a sequence diagram explaining another operation | movement same as the above.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an energy monitoring system will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of an energy monitoring system according to the present embodiment. The energy monitoring system includes an energy monitoring device 2 and a charging control device 1 as main components.

  The charging control device 1 is a device for controlling charging to a charging unit 33 of an electric vehicle 3 described later, and is installed outside the house. The charging control device 1 includes a power supply relay 14, a charging control unit 11 that controls the opening / closing operation of the relay 14, and a wireless communication unit 12 that wirelessly transmits a charging state signal described later. In addition, the charging control device 1 includes an operation unit 15 including a plurality of operation buttons (for example, a charge start button and a charge stop button) and a display unit 13 that displays a charge state such as charge start and charge stop. Here, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication unit 12 constitutes a signal transmission unit.

  The energy monitoring device 2 collectively controls each electric device provided in a predetermined area (for example, a house), automatically optimizes the energy usage, and displays and uses the energy usage. It is a device for encouraging people to save energy, and is installed in a home such as a living room. The energy monitoring device 2 causes a wireless communication unit 22 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 12 of the charging control device 1 and a notification operation according to the charge state signal received by the wireless communication unit 22. The control part 21 which outputs the operation signal for this, and the display part 23 which performs alerting | reporting operation | movement according to the operation signal output from the control part 21 are provided. In addition, the energy monitoring device 2 determines the amount of power generated by the operation unit 25 for performing various operations, the wired communication unit 24 that communicates with the server 4 described later via the network NT, and the storage battery 7 described later. A power generation amount management unit 26 to manage and a usage amount management unit 27 to manage the electricity usage amount are provided. Here, in this embodiment, the notification unit and the monitor are configured by the display unit 23, and the signal receiving unit is configured by the wireless communication unit 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the energy monitoring device 2 is connected to a server 4 via a network NT. The server 4 accumulates and manages a wired communication unit 41 that communicates with the wired communication unit 24 of the energy monitoring device 2 and various data transmitted from the energy monitoring device 2 side, power charges for each time zone, and the like. And a data management unit 42. In response to the data request signal from the energy monitoring device 2, the server 4 transmits the power charge to the energy monitoring device 2, and the energy monitoring device 2 uses the power consumption based on the received power charge and the amount of power used. The fee is calculated and displayed on the display unit 23. In addition, the server 4 receives the charge state signal and the like transmitted from the energy monitoring device 2 and accumulates them in the data management unit 42. Here, in the present embodiment, the wired communication unit 24 constitutes a signal transfer unit.

  The electric vehicle 3 includes a wireless communication unit 32 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 12 of the charging control device 1, a charging processing unit 31 that controls a charging current to the charging unit (battery) 33, and a charging control device. 1 charging plug 60 (refer to FIG. 2) and a charging connector 34 that is detachably connected. Here, the electric vehicle 3 includes an electric vehicle (EV) having only an electric motor as a power source, a hybrid vehicle (HEV) using both an engine and an electric motor as a power source, and a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV).

  The above-described charging control device 1 and energy monitoring device 2 each have a unique address, and the signal transmitted from each device includes the above address. Therefore, each device receives only a signal including the same address as that assigned to itself, and does not receive other signals.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, charging power is supplied to the electric vehicle 3 from the distribution board 5 provided in the house. The distribution board 5 is provided with an AC power supply (not shown) provided outside. And an alternating current output obtained by converting a direct current output from the solar battery 6 and the storage battery 7 by the power conditioner 8 (see FIG. 1). Here, the control unit 21 of the energy monitoring device 2 receives a radio signal including the power generation amount from the storage battery 7 via the radio communication unit 22, and stores the power generation amount included in the received radio signal in the power generation amount management unit 26. Let Further, the control unit 21 receives a radio signal including the used power amount from the distribution board 5 via the wireless communication unit 22 and stores the used power amount included in the received radio signal in the used amount management unit 27.

  FIG. 2 is a front view and a side view showing an example of the charge control device 1. The charge control device 1 includes a device body 70 made of synthetic resin formed in a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape and a charge derived from the device body 70. A charging plug 60 provided at the tip of the cable CB2 and detachably connected to the charging connector 34 of the electric vehicle 3 is used by being attached to a wall or the like. Openings are provided at the corners of the front surface and the lower surface of the apparatus main body 70, and a storage portion 71 for storing a part of the charging plug 60 at the time of non-charging is provided so as to face the opening. In addition, on the front surface of the apparatus main body 70, a plurality of (three in FIG. 2A) light emitting diodes LD1 to LD3 constituting the display unit 13 are arranged in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the charging plug 60 includes a cylindrical charging connection portion 61 that is plugged into the charging connector 34 of the electric vehicle 3 on the distal end side, and a lock claw 62 that engages a recess provided in the charging connector 34. It has. Further, a handle 63 is provided on the rear side of the charging plug 60 for gripping with a hand. Then, by holding the lock claw 62 of the charging plug 60 on the plug holding body 72 of the apparatus main body 70, the charging plug 60 is held on the apparatus main body 70 as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). The In addition, CB1 in FIG. 2A is a power cable connected to the distribution board 6.

  FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing another example of the charging control device 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic system diagram using the charging control device 1. The charging control device 1 includes a housing 80 including a rectangular parallelepiped body 81 whose one surface is open, and a cover 82 attached to the body 81 so as to close the opening of the body 81. A support portion 83 that protrudes outward from the body 81 is provided at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cover 82, and a hooking hole 83 a is provided in the support portion 83. Therefore, the housing 80 is supported in a state of being hung on the wall surface or the like by hooking a pin provided on the wall or the like to the hooking hole 83a. Further, from the side wall on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the body 81 (left side in FIG. 4), a power cable CB1 provided with a power plug 85 connected to the power outlet 9 is led out to the outside of the housing 80. A charging cable CB2 having a charging plug 86 connected to the electric vehicle 3 at the tip is led out from the side wall on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of 80 (right side in FIG. 4). In the following description, the charging control device 1 shown in FIG. 2 will be described, but it goes without saying that the charging control device 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used.

  Next, each operation | movement of the energy monitoring system of this embodiment is demonstrated sequentially, referring FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing operations at the start and stop of charging of the electric vehicle 3. The charging plug 60 removed from the device main body 70 of the charging control device 1 is connected to the charging connector 34 of the electric vehicle 3 (step S1). At this time, the display unit 13 of the charge control device 1 is a display indicating that charging is being stopped by the light emitting diodes LD1 to LD3, and the relay 14 is in an open state. When a charge start button provided on the apparatus main body 70 is pressed from this state (step S2), a charge start signal is output to the charge control unit 11 (step S3). The charging control unit 11 outputs a closing signal in accordance with the above charging start signal to close the relay 14 (step S4), and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the charging start signal to charge the display unit 13 while charging. The display is switched (step S5). Moreover, the charge control part 11 outputs a charge start signal (charge state signal) to the wireless communication part 12, and transmits it to the wireless communication part 22 of the energy monitoring apparatus 2 from the wireless communication part 12 (step S6). The wireless communication unit 22 outputs the received charge start signal to the control unit 21 (step S7), and the control unit 21 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the above charge start signal to the display unit 23, for example, sound or The start of charging is notified by light, video, etc. (step S8).

  Subsequently, the charging plug 60 is connected to the charging connector 34 of the electric vehicle 3 during charging (step S11). At this time, the display unit 13 is a display indicating that charging is in progress, and the relay 14 is in a closed state. When a charge stop button provided on the apparatus main body 70 is pressed from this state (step S12), a charge stop signal is output to the charge control unit 11 (step S13). The charging control unit 11 outputs an open signal in accordance with the above-described charging stop signal to open the relay 14 (step S14), and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the charging stop signal to stop charging the display unit 13. (S15). Moreover, the charge control part 11 outputs a charge stop signal (charge state signal) to the wireless communication part 12, and transmits it to the wireless communication part 22 of the energy monitoring apparatus 2 from the wireless communication part 12 (step S16). The wireless communication unit 22 outputs the received charge stop signal to the control unit 21 (step S17), and the control unit 21 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the charge stop signal to the display unit 23, for example, sound or The fact that charging has been stopped is notified by light, video, or the like (step S18). Through these notification operations, it is possible to know that charging of the charging unit 33 of the electric vehicle 3 has started and that charging of the charging unit 33 has been stopped. In this example, the case where charging is stopped by pressing the charge stop button has been described as an example. However, for example, when charging is automatically stopped when an abnormality such as leakage detection described later is detected, charging is performed automatically when full charging is performed. In the case of stopping the charging, the charging is stopped by the same sequence, and the display unit 25 and the speaker 28 notify that the charging is stopped.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation during charging of the electric vehicle 3. The charging plug 60 removed from the device main body 70 of the charging control device 1 is connected to the charging connector 34 of the electric vehicle 3 (step S21). At this time, the display unit 13 of the charge control device 1 is a display indicating that charging is being stopped by the light emitting diodes LD1 to LD3, and the relay 14 is in an open state. When a charge start button provided on the apparatus main body 70 is pressed from this state (step S22), a charge start signal is output to the charge control unit 11 (step S23). The charging control unit 11 outputs a closing signal according to the charging start signal to close the relay 14 (step S24), and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the charging start signal to charge the display unit 13. The display is switched (step S25). Moreover, the charge control part 11 outputs a charge start signal (charge state signal) to the wireless communication part 12, and transmits it to the wireless communication part 22 of the energy monitoring apparatus 2 from the wireless communication part 12 (step S26). The wireless communication unit 22 outputs the received charging start signal to the control unit 21 (step S27), and the control unit 21 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the above charging start signal to the display unit 23, for example, sound or The start of charging is notified by light, video, etc. (step S28).

  Furthermore, the charging control unit 11 periodically outputs a charging continuation signal (charging state signal) to the wireless communication unit 12 during charging, and transmits the signal from the wireless communication unit 12 to the wireless communication unit 22 of the energy monitoring device 2. (Step S29). The wireless communication unit 22 outputs the received charging continuation signal to the control unit 21 (step S30), and the control unit 21 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the above charging continuation signal to the display unit 23, for example, sound or The fact that the battery is being charged is notified by light or video (step S31). This notification operation is continuously performed while the wireless communication unit 22 receives the above-described charging continuation signal, that is, while charging. And by this notification operation, it is possible to know that the charging unit 33 of the electric vehicle 3 is being charged, and the time when the notification operation is started is the charging start time, and the time when the notification operation is ended is the time when the charging is completed. It can also be judged. As another method of the notification operation, the above-described charging start signal and charging stop signal are used as the charging continuation signal, and when the charging start signal is received, the notification operation during charging by the display unit 25 and the speaker 28 is performed. May be continued, and then the notification operation may be stopped when a charge stop signal is received.

  FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an operation when a leakage occurs during charging of the electric vehicle 3. Note that the operation at the start of charging (steps S41 to S48) is the same as the operation described with reference to FIGS. When the charging control unit 11 of the charging control device 1 detects a leakage during charging of the electric vehicle 3 (step S49), the charging control unit 11 outputs an open signal to open the relay 14 (step S50). Then, an operation signal corresponding to the leakage detection is output to switch the display unit 13 to a display indicating leakage (step S51). In addition, the charging control unit 11 outputs a leakage detection signal (charging state signal) to the wireless communication unit 12 and causes the wireless communication unit 12 to transmit it to the wireless communication unit 22 of the energy monitoring device 2 (step S52). The wireless communication unit 22 outputs the received leakage detection signal to the control unit 21 (step S53), and the control unit 21 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the leakage detection signal to the display unit 23, for example, sound or It is notified that leakage has been detected by light, video, etc. (step S54). By this notification operation, it is possible to know a charging abnormality (leakage in this example) occurring outdoors while in the house.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of transferring the above-described various charging state signals to the server 4. The operation at the start of charging (steps S61 to S68) is the same as the operation described with reference to FIGS. The control unit 21 of the energy monitoring device 2 outputs the charging start signal (charging state signal) received by the wireless communication unit 22 to the wired communication unit 24 and transmits the signal from the wired communication unit 24 to the wired communication unit 41 of the server 4. (Step S69). The wired communication unit 41 outputs the received charge start signal to the data management unit 42 (step S70), and the data management unit 42 uses the charge start signal as a customer ID (ID set for each energy monitoring system). Corresponding storage management is performed (step S71). According to said structure, by accessing the server 4 with a portable terminal etc., a charge condition can be confirmed even from whereabouts. In addition to the confirmation from the portable terminal, the server 4 may notify the portable terminal of the state by the PUSH method. In addition, the charge state signal transferred to the server 4 is not limited to the charge start signal, and may be the above-described charge stop signal, charge continuation signal, or leakage detection signal. Other than that.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an operation until the scheduled charging completion time is displayed on the display unit 23 of the energy monitoring device 2. Note that the operation at the start of charging (steps S81 to S88) is the same as the operation described with reference to FIGS. After starting charging, the charging control unit 11 of the charging control device 1 outputs a request signal for requesting the remaining charge (current charging amount) to the wireless communication unit 12, and the wireless communication unit 12 sends the request signal to the electric vehicle 3. To the wireless communication unit 32 (step S89). The wireless communication unit 32 outputs the received request signal to the charging processing unit 31 (step S90), and the charging processing unit 31 outputs a response signal including the remaining charge amount to the wireless communication unit 32 to perform wireless communication. Transmission is performed from the unit 32 to the wireless communication unit 12 of the charging control device 1 (step S91). The wireless communication unit 12 outputs the received response signal to the charge control unit 11 (step S92), and the charge control unit 11 creates a charge state signal including the remaining charge amount and outputs it to the wireless communication unit 12. At the same time, the wireless communication unit 12 is transmitted to the wireless communication unit 22 of the energy monitoring device 2 (step S93). The wireless communication unit 22 outputs the received charge state signal to the control unit 21 (step S94), and the control unit 21 calculates a scheduled charge completion time from the remaining charge included in the charge state signal, and displays the display unit. The charging completion scheduled time is notified by sound, light, video, or the like (step S95). By this notification operation, it is possible to know the time required to complete charging. In addition, you may make it alert | report the charge remaining amount (present power receiving amount) by said alerting | reporting operation | movement, and you may make it notify charging completion scheduled time as a charge condition signal.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, since the energy monitoring device 2 installed in the house is provided with the notification unit (display unit 23) for notifying the charging state, the resident can charge at home without going to the charging place. Since the state can be known and the notification unit is provided in the energy monitoring device 2, it is not necessary to install a dedicated device as in the conventional example, and an increase in cost can be suppressed. Further, by using the energy monitoring device 2, it is possible to provide an energy monitoring system capable of knowing the state of charge at home while suppressing an increase in cost.

  Here, it is also preferable to provide the image pickup unit 16 in the charging control apparatus 1, and in this case, the state of the outside of the house can be confirmed while being in the house by imaging the state of the outside of the house by the image pickup unit 16, and in particular, the vehicle There is an advantage that it is useful for prevention of theft and power theft, and that there is no need to separately provide a dedicated imaging means for imaging the situation outside the house. Furthermore, a storage unit (not shown) may be provided in the energy monitoring device 2 and the captured video data may be stored in the storage unit. In this case, the video data can be checked later.

  In this embodiment, wireless communication is performed between the charging control device 1 and the electric vehicle 3, but wired communication (for example, communication via a dedicated communication line, power line carrier communication via a power line, etc.) is performed. May be. Further, the charging control device 1 and the energy monitoring device 2 are not limited to wireless communication, and may be wired communication. Furthermore, the energy monitoring device 2 and the server 4 are not limited to wired communication, and may be wireless communication. In the present embodiment, all of the charge start signal, the charge stop signal, and the charge continuation signal are notified, but for example, only the charge start signal and the charge stop signal may be notified, or only the charge continuation signal is notified. In any case, it is possible to know when charging starts and when charging stops. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the energy monitored by the energy monitoring device 2 is electricity has been described as an example. However, in addition to electricity, it may be gas or water, and similarly has a function of notifying the state of charge. Just do it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Charge control apparatus 2 Energy monitoring apparatus 3 Electric vehicle 21 Control part 22 Wireless communication part (signal receiving part)
23 Display section (notification section)
33 Charger

Claims (8)

  An informing unit for informing the amount of energy used in a predetermined area, a signal receiving unit for receiving a charging state signal indicating a charging state from a charging control device for controlling charging of the charging unit of the electric vehicle, and the charging state signal An energy monitoring apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the notification unit to perform a notification operation according to the above.   The signal receiving unit receives at least one of a charging start signal indicating start of charging of the charging unit or a charging stop signal indicating stop of charging of the charging unit as the charge state signal, and the control unit 2. The energy monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the charging unit that charging has started or stopped according to the charging start signal or the charging stop signal received by the signal receiving unit. apparatus.   The signal receiving unit receives a charging continuation signal indicating that the charging unit is being charged as the charging state signal, and the control unit is charging the charging unit when charging is in progress. The energy monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the fact.   The signal receiving unit receives a leakage detection signal transmitted from the charge control device when leakage is detected as the charge state signal, and the control unit detects a leakage according to the leakage detection signal received by the signal receiving unit. The energy monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification unit notifies the fact.   The signal reception unit receives at least one of a current charge amount or a charge completion scheduled time as the charge state signal, and the control unit includes a current state included in the charge state signal received by the signal reception unit. The energy monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the charge amount or the scheduled charge completion time is notified from the notification unit.   A signal transfer unit that transfers a signal to an externally provided server, wherein the control unit causes the charge state signal received by the signal receiving unit to be transferred from the signal transfer unit to the server. Item 6. The energy monitoring device according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   The energy monitoring device according to claim 1, and the charge control device, wherein the charge control device includes a signal transmission unit that transmits the charge state signal, and the energy monitoring device. The control unit causes the notification unit to perform a notification operation according to the charge state signal received by the signal reception unit.   The charging control device includes an imaging unit and transmits video data captured by the imaging unit from the signal transmission unit, and the control unit of the energy monitoring device receives the video data received by the signal reception unit. The energy monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of displaying on a monitor included in the notification unit or storing in a storage unit included in the energy monitoring device is performed.

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