JP2013064606A - Mobile vehicle and mobile vehicle power supply method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly provide more accurate information on guidance to a power supply facility for a mobile vehicle.SOLUTION: A mobile vehicle M comprises: a storage battery 3; charging means 1 and 2 for charging the storage battery 3; a navigation device 4 for generating guidance information for a power supply facility T and providing the guidance information to a driver; and a vehicle control unit 5 for causing the navigation device 4 to notify the driver of the guidance information for the power supply facility T when the battery level of the storage battery 3 becomes less than a threshold.

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving vehicle and a moving vehicle power feeding method.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a mobile vehicle power supply system in which ground equipment includes a vehicle power storage information acquisition module, a vehicle position information acquisition module, an optimal power supply area search module, an optimal route search module, and a power supply area / route information transmission module. (See paragraphs 0029 to 0049, etc.). That is, the mobile vehicle power supply system searches for an optimal power supply area for the mobile vehicle to supply power based on the vehicle storage information acquired from the mobile vehicle by the ground facility via the wireless communication device, the position information of the mobile vehicle, and the like. At the same time, the optimum route to the optimum feeding area is searched, and the information on the optimum feeding area and the information on the optimum route are transmitted to the moving vehicle via a wireless communication device.

JP 2010-193657 A

  By the way, since the above-mentioned conventional technology obtains the vehicle power storage information and the position information of the moving vehicle from the moving vehicle and searches for the optimum power feeding area and the optimum route based on the respective information, Lack of freedom. In other words, the above prior art cannot intervene the determination of the driver of the moving vehicle in determining the optimal power supply area and the optimal route. Therefore, the power supply area and the optimal route that are accurate for the moving vehicle reflecting the driver's intention. Can not provide.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to more promptly provide guidance information to a power supply facility that is more accurate for a moving vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solution means for a moving vehicle, a mobile vehicle including a storage battery and a charging means for charging the storage battery with electric power, and generating guidance information for a power supply facility And a navigation control device for informing the vehicle and a vehicle control unit for informing the navigation device of the guidance information for the power supply facility when the storage battery charge amount decreases to a threshold value.

  As a second solving means relating to a moving vehicle, in the first solving means, the navigation device stores a plurality of power feeding facilities as a part of map information, and a travel route to the nearest power feeding facility is obtained. A means of displaying as guide information is adopted.

  As a third solving means relating to a moving vehicle, in the first or second solving means, the navigation apparatus is configured to provide a destination when a vehicle control unit is instructed to provide guidance information during route guidance for a specific destination. The power supply facility located near the original route is displayed as guidance information.

  As a fourth solving means relating to a moving vehicle, in any one of the first to third solving means, the navigation apparatus further includes a communication means for acquiring power feeding facility information indicating the status of the power feeding facility from the outside. A method of generating guidance information in consideration of facility information is adopted.

  As a fifth solving means relating to a moving vehicle, in any of the first to fourth solving means, the charging means adopts a means in which power is received from a power supply facility in a non-contact manner and the storage battery is charged with electric power. To do.

  Further, in the present invention, as a means for solving the moving vehicle power feeding method, when a plurality of power feeding facilities for the moving vehicle are provided in a place where the moving vehicle equipped with the storage battery can travel, and the charge amount of the storage battery decreases to a threshold value, A means is adopted that informs the driver of the guide information to the power supply facility generated by the mobile vehicle, moves the mobile vehicle to a specific power supply facility, and supplies power to the mobile vehicle at the specific power supply facility.

  According to the present invention, when the charged amount of the storage battery decreases to the threshold value, the navigation device provided in the moving vehicle generates and notifies the guide information to the power feeding facility, so the ground equipment creates the guide information. Compared with the prior art provided to a moving vehicle, it is possible to more promptly provide guidance information to a power feeding facility that is appropriate for the moving vehicle.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the mobile vehicle M and the ground feeding facility T which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the characteristic operation | movement of the moving vehicle M which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the guidance screen in the moving vehicle M which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Although FIG. 1 shows a moving vehicle M and a ground power supply facility T, for convenience of explanation, the power supply facility T, which is a ground facility, will be described first.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply facility T includes a power supply coil T1, a power supply converter T2, and a control device T3. Such a power supply facility T is a ground facility that supplies (feeds) power to the moving vehicle M in a non-contact manner by using the power supply coil T1, and is a place where the moving vehicle M can stop, for example, a road (public road). It is provided in front of the traffic lights, in front of the train crossing, parking lots of various facilities, temporary stop space of stores, land facing the road, etc.

  The feeding coil T1 is embedded in the vicinity of the ground of a stop area provided in one or a plurality of such feeding facilities T. The power feeding converter T2 is a device that supplies AC power for power feeding to the power feeding coil T1 based on a control signal input from the control device T3. Such a power feeding converter T2 converts commercial power of 50 Hz or 60 Hz into AC power having a frequency (for example, several hundred Hz to several MHz) suitable for power feeding to the moving vehicle M, and outputs the AC power to the power feeding coil T1.

  When the moving vehicle M stops in the stop area, the control device T3 instructs the feeding converter T2 to supply power to the stopped moving vehicle M (stopped vehicle). For example, the control device 3 determines that the moving vehicle M has stopped in the stop area based on a change in the impedance (load impedance of the feed converter T2) viewed from the feed coil T1 side from the feed converter T2, and feeds power. The converter T2 is started to supply power to the feeding coil T1.

  Here, when the moving vehicle M stops in the stopping area, the power receiving coil provided in the moving vehicle M is electromagnetically coupled to the feeding coil T1, so that the load impedance changes according to the presence or absence of the moving vehicle M in the stopping area. To do. The control device T3 determines whether or not the moving vehicle M has stopped in the stop area based on such a change in load impedance.

  Next, the moving vehicle M will be described. The moving vehicle M according to the present embodiment is a vehicle that moves using electric power such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle as a power source, and travels on a place where it can move, such as a public road or a private road, when operated by a driver. As shown in FIG. 1, the moving vehicle M includes a power receiving coil 1, a charging circuit 2, a storage battery 3, a navigation device 4, and a vehicle control unit 5. Although omitted in FIG. 1, the moving vehicle M naturally includes components necessary for traveling, such as an engine and / or a traveling motor, an operation handle, and a brake.

  The power receiving coil 1 is provided at the bottom of the moving vehicle M so as to face the power feeding coil T1. The power receiving coil 1 has substantially the same coil diameter as the power supply coil T1 that is ground equipment, and receives AC power from the power supply coil T1 in a non-contact manner by being electromagnetically coupled to the power supply coil T1. In other words, the moving vehicle M is a vehicle that receives non-contact power supply by electromagnetically coupling the power receiving coil 1 to the power supply coil T1 of the ground equipment. The power receiving coil 1 outputs AC power (received power) received from the power feeding coil T 1 to the charging circuit 2.

  Here, non-contact power reception from the power supply coil T1 of the power supply facility T of the power reception coil 1 of the moving vehicle M is performed based on a magnetic field resonance method. That is, a resonance capacitor (not shown) for constituting a resonance circuit is connected to each of the power receiving coil 1 and each power supply coil T1. Further, for example, the capacitance of the resonance capacitor is the same as the resonance frequency of the power reception side resonance circuit composed of the power reception coil 1 and the resonance capacitor and the resonance frequency of the power supply side resonance circuit composed of the power supply coil T1 and the resonance capacitor. The frequency is set.

  The storage battery 3 is a secondary battery that can store a sufficient amount of electric power as a driving power source for the mobile vehicle M, and is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery or various fuel cells. The storage battery 3 charges DC power supplied from the charging circuit 2 and supplies (discharges) traveling driving power to a driving power converter (not shown). The driving power converter is a power converter that supplies driving power to a motor that generates traveling power of the moving vehicle M.

  The navigation device 4 is a device that operates based on a predetermined navigation program, detects a traveling position of the moving vehicle M based on a positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), and stores the traveling position by itself. It is displayed on the display unit as a guidance screen together with a neighboring map based on the data. The navigation device 4 generates a recommended travel route for the travel destination of the moving vehicle M as a guide voice from a speaker (sound generator). That is, the navigation device 4 itself generates guidance information including a guidance screen and guidance voice based on the positioning system, map data, etc., and provides it to the driver.

  In addition, the navigation device 4 stores in advance the position information and attribute information of the power feeding facility T provided at various places as part of the map data, and based on the acquired information about the power feeding facility T, the navigation vehicle 4 Guide the travel to the nearest power supply facility T. The attribute information includes the scale of the power supply facility T, the power supply performance, and the like.

  For example, when the travel destination is not specified by the driver and the travel route guidance is not performed, the navigation device 4 displays the travel route to the nearest power supply facility T (power supply guide route) on the display unit as a guidance screen. In addition to the display, the guidance voice speaker for the power supply guidance route is pronounced. On the other hand, when a specific travel destination is designated by the driver and the route guidance for the specific travel destination is being performed, the navigation device 4 supplies the power feeding facility T located near the original route to the travel destination. Is displayed on the display unit as a guidance screen.

  Further, the navigation device 4 has a function of wireless communication with the outside by, for example, supporting a well-known optical beacon, and the power supply facility information such as the operating status and congestion status of each power supply facility T in the vicinity of the traveling position is externally provided. To obtain guidance information (guidance screen and guidance voice) in consideration of this feeding facility information. That is, the navigation device 4 generates, for example, guidance information (guidance screen and guidance voice) that excludes the power feeding facility T that is not in operation or the power feeding facility T that is heavily congested from the targets to be introduced to the driver.

  Here, the plurality of power supply facilities T provided in each place are intensively managed by, for example, a dedicated power supply facility management center. That is, each power supply facility T and the power supply facility management center are connected to each other by a communication line, and the power supply facility management center transmits the power supply facility information from the power supply facilities T in each place through the communication line at a predetermined time interval. The information is collected (for example, every hour), and the power supply facility information is provided in response to a request from the power supply facility T.

  The vehicle control unit 5 is a software type control device that functions based on a predetermined vehicle control program, and controls the charging of the storage battery 3 by controlling the power conversion operation of the charging circuit 2. When the vehicle control unit 5 detects power reception from the power feeding coil T1 by the power receiving coil 1 based on, for example, a change in the voltage between the terminals of the power receiving coil 1, the vehicle control unit 5 activates the charging circuit 2 to charge the storage battery 3 with direct current. In addition, the vehicle control unit 5 monitors the charging state of the storage battery 3, that is, the charging amount through the charging circuit 2 during traveling, and the charging amount of the storage battery 3 reaches a predetermined threshold (guide threshold). If it judges that it fell, the navigation apparatus 4 will be made to alert | report the guidance information for drive | working to the electric power feeding facility T. FIG.

  Next, the characteristic operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As described above, the vehicle control unit 5 monitors the charge amount of the storage battery 3 via the charging circuit 2 during traveling. And if the vehicle control part 5 judges that the charge amount of the storage battery 3 fell to the guidance threshold value by the power consumption accompanying driving | running | working (step S1), it will instruct | indicate to the navigation apparatus 4 and charge amount will decrease. Voice guidance indicating that the user is present (step S2).

  Thereafter, the navigation device 4 searches the map data for a power feeding facility T existing in the vicinity of the current position (step S3). That is, for example, the navigation device 4 searches for a power feeding facility T located within a predetermined radius from the current position or within the predetermined radius and ahead of the current traveling direction as a power feeding facility T existing in the vicinity. Then, the navigation device 4 obtains, from the outside, the power feeding facility information (such as the operating status and congestion status of each power feeding facility T) related to the neighboring power feeding facility T picked up as a result of the search processing in step S3 using a wireless communication function. (Step S4).

  Then, the navigation device 4 extracts a power supply facility T (for example, one that is operating and has a low degree of congestion) from neighboring power supply facilities T based on the power supply facility information, and extracts in this way. The power supply facility T is narrowed down to the nearest one (target power supply facility Ta) (step S5). By narrowing down the power supply facilities T as described above, the power supply facilities T most appropriate for the driver are extracted.

  Further, the navigation device 4 determines whether the current operation state of the navigation device 4 is a state in which a route destination is specified by a driver and route guidance is being performed, or a normal state in which route guidance is not being performed (step S6). ). When the navigation device 4 determines that the route guidance is being performed as a result of the determination process in step S6, the navigation device 4 displays the target power supply facility Ta on the guidance screen (step S7), and further travels toward the target power supply facility Ta. Is voice-guided (step S8).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the navigation device 4 extracts a power feeding facility T within a predetermined radius and ahead of the traveling direction from the current traveling position as the target power feeding facility Ta, the navigation device 4 detours toward the target power feeding facility Ta as illustrated. A route is set and displayed as a guidance screen.

  On the other hand, if the navigation device 4 determines that the route guidance is not in progress as a result of the determination process in step S6, the power supply facility T extracted in the narrowing-down process in step S5, that is, the neighboring power supply facility T based on the power supply facility information. The power supply facility T extracted from among them is displayed as a candidate power supply facility Tb on the guidance screen (step S9).

  The moving vehicle M in the present embodiment arrives at the target power supply facility Ta when the driver performs a driving operation according to the travel route guidance based on the cooperation between the navigation device 4 and the vehicle control unit 5, and The vehicle stops on a stop area provided in the power supply facility Ta.

  When the control device T3 of the target power supply facility Ta determines (detects) that the moving vehicle M has stopped in the stop area of the power supply facility T, it outputs a control signal to the power supply converter T2 and starts supplying power to the power supply coil T1. Let Here, when the moving vehicle M stops in the stop area of the power feeding facility T, the power receiving coil 1 of the moving vehicle M (stopped vehicle) is electromagnetically coupled to the power feeding coil T1. As a result, a part of the AC power supplied from the power feeding converter T2 to the power feeding coil T1 is contactlessly transmitted from the power feeding coil T1 to the power receiving coil 1 of each moving vehicle M (stopped vehicle).

  The AC power that is contactlessly transmitted from the power feeding coil T1 to the power receiving coil 1 is maximized when the power receiving coil 1 is directly facing directly above the power feeding coil T1, that is, when the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1 are closest to each other. However, the stop position of the moving vehicle M varies depending on the driving operation of the driver. Therefore, it cannot be expected that the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1 face each other. However, in this embodiment, since the magnetic field resonance method is adopted, the transmission efficiency of AC power transmitted in a non-contact manner from the feeding coil T1 to the receiving coil 1 is high.

  The control device T3 continues the non-contact power supply to the moving vehicle M (stopped vehicle) via the feeding coil T1 until the start of movement of the moving vehicle M is detected, and starts the movement of the moving vehicle M in the stop area. When detected, a control signal is output to the power feeding converter T2 to stop the power supply to the power feeding coil T1. Thereby, the power feeding operation to the moving vehicle M at the target power feeding facility Ta is completed.

  According to this embodiment, when the vehicle control unit 5 determines that the charge amount of the storage battery 3 has decreased to the threshold value, the navigation device 4 generates and notifies the guidance information for the power supply facility T itself. Therefore, it is possible to provide guidance information to the power supply facility T that is accurate for the moving vehicle M, as compared with the prior art in which the ground facility creates guidance information and provides it to the moving vehicle. Moreover, since the navigation apparatus 4 generates and notifies the guide information to the power feeding facility T by itself, the guide information can be quickly provided to the driver of the mobile vehicle M.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, the power feeding facility T is narrowed down using the power feeding facility information of the power feeding facility T acquired from the outside. However, such power feeding facility information acquisition and narrowing processing may be omitted. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the guidance method to the electric power feeding facility T was changed with the case where route guidance is being performed and the case where route guidance is not being performed, this may also employ | adopt the same guidance method.

(2) In the above embodiment, the power receiving coil 1 is provided at the bottom of the moving vehicle M and the power feeding coil T1 is embedded in the stopping area so that the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the power receiving coil 1 is provided on the side portion (entrance / exit door) of the moving vehicle M, and the power supply coil T1 is placed around the stop area so as to face the side portion (entrance / exit door) of the moving vehicle M on the road shoulder. You may provide in the position. Alternatively, the power receiving coil 1 may be provided on the ceiling of the moving vehicle M, and the feeding coil T1 may be provided above the stop area so as to face the ceiling of the moving vehicle M.

(3) In the above embodiment, when the moving vehicle M stops in the stop area, power supply is started unconditionally, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by using the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1 for signal transmission, wireless communication between the vehicle control unit 5 and the ground control device T3 is enabled via the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1. You may determine the stop state in the stop area of the moving vehicle M by radio | wireless communication, you may confirm the necessity of electric power feeding prior to the start of electric power feeding, or you may transmit / receive the accounting information regarding electric power feeding. In this case, the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1 function as an antenna for wireless communication, and the vehicle control unit 5 and the control device T3 function as communication means using such an antenna.

(4) Instead of the communication device using the power receiving coil 1 and the power feeding coil T1, an individual communication function may be provided in the moving vehicle M and the power feeding facility T. For example, it is conceivable to use an optical beacon as an individual communication function and a radio communication device using radio waves as an individual communication function. However, as an individual communication function, between a moving vehicle M and a power feeding facility T, As long as communication, that is, communication at a relatively short distance is possible, a dedicated communication system may be used.

(5) In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the moving vehicle M has stopped in the stop area of the power supply facility T based on the change in load impedance. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Such stop determination of the moving vehicle M may be determined by providing a separate sensor. For example, a three-dimensional laser radar or a stereo imaging device is installed so that the entire stop area of the power supply facility T can be photographed, images are taken at a constant time period, the position of the moving vehicle is restored from the three-dimensional shape, and the positions are obtained over a plurality of periods. The stoppage of the moving vehicle may be determined based on whether they are the same.

(6) Furthermore, when a power feeding facility is newly established, the navigation apparatus receives position information and attribute information of the newly established power feeding facility via a wireless communication function with the outside from the external power feeding facility management center, and Data may be updated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power receiving coil, 2 ... Charging circuit, 3 ... Storage battery, 4 ... Navigation apparatus, 5 ... Vehicle control part, T ... Feeding facility, T1 ... Feeding coil, T2 ... Feeding converter, T3 ... Control device

Claims (6)

A mobile vehicle comprising a storage battery and charging means for charging the storage battery with electric power,
A navigation device for generating and notifying guidance information to the power feeding facility;
A mobile vehicle comprising: a vehicle control unit that causes the navigation device to notify guidance information to a power feeding facility when a charge amount of the storage battery decreases to a threshold value.   The mobile vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device stores a plurality of power feeding facilities as a part of map information, and displays a travel route to the nearest power feeding facility as the guidance information. .   The navigation device displays a power feeding facility closest to a travel route to a destination as the guidance information when the vehicle control unit is instructed to notify the guidance information during route guidance to a specific destination. The moving vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.   The communication apparatus which acquires the electric power feeding facility information which shows the condition of the said electric power feeding facility from the outside is further provided, The said navigation apparatus considers the said electric power feeding facility information, and produces | generates the said guidance information, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The moving vehicle according to any one of the above.   The mobile vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the charging unit receives power from the power supply facility in a non-contact manner and charges the storage battery with electric power. A plurality of power feeding facilities for the moving vehicle are provided in a place where the moving vehicle including the storage battery can travel,
When the amount of charge of the storage battery decreases to a threshold value, the mobile vehicle informs the driver of guidance information for the power supply facility generated by the mobile vehicle, and moves the mobile vehicle to a specific power supply facility.
A moving vehicle power feeding method, wherein power is fed to the moving vehicle at the specific power feeding facility.

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