JP2018117500A - vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle that can be externally charged according to a time schedule created by a server, and also that can be externally charged according to a time schedule with high possible accuracy, regardless of whether or not radio communication is in an installation place of a charging station.SOLUTION: In a case that a DCM 150 can communicate with a server 300 in an installation place of a charging station 200, an ECU 170 performs a process for timer charging according to a charging schedule created by the server 300 using SOC data after a vehicle 100 has arrived at the installation place. Whereas in a case that the DCM 150 cannot communicate with the server 300 in the installation place of the charging station 200, the ECU 170 performs a process for timer charging according to a charging schedule created by the server 300 using SOC data in a place remote from the installation place.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, and more particularly, to a vehicle that can communicate with a server.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2011-244563 (Patent Document 1) is an electric vehicle capable of charging an in-vehicle power storage device using electric power supplied from a charging stand outside the vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as “external power reception”). Disclose. A time schedule regarding the start and end of charging of the power storage device mounted on the electric vehicle is generated in the data center. And in this electric vehicle, external charge is performed according to the time schedule produced | generated in the data center (refer patent document 1).

JP 2011-244563 A

  As in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable that a time schedule related to the start and end of external charging is generated in a server, and the generated time schedule is transmitted to the vehicle. In this case, in order for the server to generate a time schedule, the vehicle needs to transmit SOC data indicating the SOC (State Of Charge) of the on-vehicle power storage device to the server. Therefore, for example, when the charging station is installed in a place where wireless communication is not possible, such as underground, the vehicle cannot transmit the SOC data to the server and cannot generate a time schedule in the server. For example, even when the charging station is installed in a place where wireless communication is possible, when the time schedule is generated using SOC data in a place where wireless communication is possible away from the charging station, Since the transition of the SOC until arrival cannot always be accurately predicted, the accuracy of the time schedule may be reduced.

  The present disclosure has been made to solve such a problem, and the purpose of the present disclosure is to perform external charging according to a time schedule generated by a server regardless of whether wireless communication is possible or not at a charging stand installation location. It is possible to provide a vehicle that can perform external charging according to a time schedule that is as accurate as possible.

  The vehicle of the present disclosure can communicate with the server. The vehicle includes a power storage device, a control device, and a wireless communication device. The control device is configured to execute processing for external charging, which is charging of the power storage device using electric power supplied from a charging station outside the vehicle, according to a time schedule. The wireless communication device is configured to transmit SOC data indicating the SOC of the power storage device to the server and receive a time schedule generated by the server using the SOC data. When the wireless communication device can communicate with the server at the charging station installation location, the control device performs processing for external charging according to the time schedule generated by the server using the SOC data after the vehicle arrives at the installation location. On the other hand, if the wireless communication device cannot communicate with the server at the installation location, the processing for external charging is executed according to the time schedule generated by the server using the SOC data at a location away from the installation location. To do.

  According to this vehicle, when wireless communication is possible at the charging station installation location, external charging is performed according to the time schedule generated using the SOC data after the vehicle arrives at the charging station installation location. Therefore, external charging according to a highly accurate time schedule can be realized. On the other hand, according to this vehicle, when wireless communication is impossible at the place where the charging station is installed, external charging is performed according to the time schedule generated using the SOC data at the place where wireless communication is possible. Even when wireless communication is impossible at the place where the stand is installed, external charging according to the time schedule generated by the server can be realized.

  According to the present disclosure, external charging according to a time schedule generated by a server is possible regardless of whether or not wireless communication is possible at a charging stand installation location, and external charging according to a time schedule that is as accurate as possible. The vehicle which can do is provided.

It is a whole block diagram of an external charging system. 1 is an overall block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a server. It is a figure for demonstrating the process sequence of the timer charge in case wireless communication is impossible in the installation place of the charging stand in a house. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the timer charge in a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a 1st timer charge process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a 2nd timer charge process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[Configuration of external charging system]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an external charging system 1 to which a vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment is applied. Referring to FIG. 1, external charging system 1 includes a vehicle 100, a charging stand 200, and a server 300.

  Vehicle 100 is connected to charging station 200 via charging cable 400. Charging stand 200 is a device that supplies electric power from a power source to vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is configured to perform charging (external charging) of an in-vehicle power storage device (described later) using electric power supplied from the charging stand 200. Vehicle 100 has a function of automatically starting external charging according to a preset time schedule. Hereinafter, external charging by such a function is also referred to as “timer charging”. In the present embodiment, an example in which the technique of the present disclosure is applied to timer charging in external charging via the charging cable 400 will be mainly described. However, the technique of the present disclosure is, for example, a power transmission device outside the vehicle 100 It can also be applied to timer charging in charging (non-contact charging) of an in-vehicle power storage device using electric power received in a non-contact manner.

  Server 300 receives, for example, data indicating the SOC of the power storage device mounted on vehicle 100 (hereinafter also referred to as “SOC data”) and data indicating the next scheduled departure time of vehicle 100 from vehicle 100. A time schedule in timer charging (hereinafter also referred to as “charging schedule”) is generated in accordance with the recorded data. In external charging system 1, vehicle 100 can perform timer charging according to the charging schedule received from server 300.

[Vehicle configuration]
FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

  Referring to FIG. 2, vehicle 100 includes a charging inlet 110, a power storage device 120, a charger 130, a PCU (Power Control Unit) 140, a DCM (Data Communication Module) 150, and a GPS (Global Positioning System). A module 160 and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 170 are provided.

  Charging connector 410 of charging cable 400 is connected to charging inlet 110. Then, power from a power source outside the vehicle is supplied to the vehicle 100 via the charging connector 410 and the charging inlet 110.

  The power storage device 120 is a power storage element configured to be chargeable / dischargeable. The power storage device 120 includes, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, or a lead storage battery, and a power storage element such as an electric double layer capacitor.

  The charger 130 converts an alternating current supplied from a power supply outside the vehicle through the charging inlet 110 into a direct current. Then, the charger 130 increases or decreases the voltage to a desired voltage and supplies the voltage to the power storage device 120. The charger 130 includes, for example, a rectifier circuit that converts an alternating current into a direct current and a converter that steps up or steps down the voltage. Charger 130 is not limited to such a configuration, and may be configured to supply DC power supplied from a power source outside the vehicle to power storage device 120, for example.

  PCU 140 includes an inverter, a motor connected to the inverter, and the like, and generates a driving force for driving vehicle 100 by using electric power supplied from power storage device 120.

  The DCM 150 is a wireless communication device that can wirelessly communicate with the outside. The DCM 150 is, for example, a communication module compliant with a communication standard such as W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), or a wireless LAN standard such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11. including.

  The GPS module 160 is a receiving device used in a satellite positioning system. The GPS module 160 calculates the current position of the vehicle 100 based on the received signal.

  ECU 170 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (not shown), and each device (charger 130, PCU 140, DCM 150) of vehicle 100 based on information stored in the memory and information from each sensor (not shown). , GPS module 160). ECU 170 has a built-in timer and can recognize the current time.

  As a main function realized by the ECU 170, there is a timer charging function. In particular, ECU 170 can perform timer charging according to the charging schedule automatically generated by server 300. When ECU 170 recognizes that the time indicated by the charging schedule received from server 300 has arrived, it controls charger 130 to start external charging. Thereby, a timer charging function is realized.

[Server configuration]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server 300. Referring to FIG. 3, server 300 includes communication module 310, storage device 320, and controller 330.

  The communication module 310 is a communication module that can communicate with the vehicle 100 and other devices having communication functions. Communication module 310 receives information about vehicle 100 (for example, SOC data) from vehicle 100. In addition, the communication module 310 receives information on electricity charges for each time zone from a server (for example, managed by a power company). The communication module 310 outputs the received information to the controller 330.

  The storage device 320 stores various information collected from the Internet, a control program executed in the server 300, and the like. For example, the storage device 320 stores information on electricity charges for each time period received by the communication module 310.

  The controller 330 generates a charging schedule according to the information on the electricity rate for each time period, the SOC data of the vehicle 100, etc. acquired via the communication module 310. For example, the controller 330 generates a charging schedule in which the SOC of the power storage device 120 reaches the target value by the next scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100 and the electric charge is as low as possible. In the present embodiment, the next scheduled departure time of vehicle 100 is set in advance by the user. Information indicating the next scheduled departure time set by the user is transmitted from the vehicle 100 to the server 300, for example, at a timing at which SOC data or the like is transmitted from the vehicle 100 to the server 300.

  The controller 330 transmits the generated charging schedule to the vehicle 100 via the communication module 310. In vehicle 100, timer charging is executed according to the received charging schedule.

[Difference in timer charging procedure depending on home communication environment]
As described above, in order to realize timer charging according to the charging schedule generated by server 300, vehicle 100 transmits, for example, SOC data of power storage device 120 and data indicating the next scheduled departure time to server 300. For example, if the installation location of charging station 200 at home is a place where wireless communication is possible, vehicle 100 may receive SOC data and the like after server 101 has been connected to charging inlet 110 after arrival at home. Can be sent to.

  However, in the case where the installation location of the charging stand 200 at home is a place where wireless communication is not possible, the vehicle 100 stores the SOC data and the like after arrival at the home and after the charging connector 410 is connected to the charging inlet 110. Cannot send to 300. If the SOC data or the like cannot be transmitted to the server 300, the charging schedule cannot be generated in the server 300, and timer charging according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300 cannot be realized.

  For example, if the following method is used, timer charging according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300 can be realized even if the place where the charging stand 200 is installed at home is a place where wireless communication is not possible. First, vehicle 100 transmits SOC data to server 300 at a place where wireless communication is possible away from home. The controller 330 of the server 300 modifies the received SOC data by taking into account the change in SOC from home to home. Note that the amount of change in the SOC up to the home is calculated by the controller 330 based on, for example, the location information of the user of the vehicle 100 that has been acquired in advance by the server 300 and the electricity cost information of the vehicle 100. The controller 330 generates a charging schedule based on the corrected SOC data. Server 300 transmits the generated charging schedule to vehicle 100. In vehicle 100, timer charging is realized according to the received charging schedule.

  However, even when the installation location of the charging station 200 at home can be wirelessly communicated, if the charging schedule is generated using the SOC data at a location away from the home, the SOC of the SOC until it arrives at the home thereafter. Since the transition cannot always be accurately predicted, the accuracy of the charging schedule may be reduced.

  Therefore, in vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment, ECU 170 uses the SOC data after vehicle 100 arrives at the installation site of charging station 200 when DCM 150 can communicate with server 300 at the installation site of charging station 200. The process for timer charging is executed according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300. Hereinafter, the process for timer charging is also referred to as “first timer charging process”. On the other hand, when DCM 150 cannot communicate with server 300 at the place where charging stand 200 is installed, ECU 170 performs timer charging according to a charging schedule generated by server 300 using SOC data at a place away from the place where charging stand 200 is installed. Execute the process for. The process for timer charging in this case is also referred to as “second timer charging process” below.

  According to the vehicle 100, when wireless communication is possible at the place where the charging stand 200 is installed, timer charging is executed according to the charging schedule generated using the SOC data immediately before starting external charging. Timer charging according to the charging schedule can be realized. On the other hand, according to vehicle 100, when wireless communication is impossible at the place where charging station 200 is installed, timer charging is executed according to a charging schedule generated using SOC data at a place where wireless communication is possible. Even when wireless communication is impossible at the place where the stand 200 is installed, timer charging according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300 can be realized.

  Note that in the vehicle 100, for example, information indicating the location at home (for example, address information) is registered in advance by the user. ECU 170 attempts wireless communication by DCM 150 when vehicle 100 is parked at the home registered by the user. Whether or not wireless communication is possible is stored in an internal memory of ECU 170, for example. If wireless communication by DCM 150 is possible at home, ECU 170 determines that DCM 150 can wirelessly communicate with server 300 at the place where charging stand 200 is installed at home. On the other hand, when wireless communication by DCM 150 is impossible at home, ECU 170 determines that DCM 150 cannot wirelessly communicate with server 300 at the installation location of charging stand 200 at home.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a timer charging processing procedure (second timer charging processing procedure) when wireless communication is impossible at the place where the charging stand 200 is installed at home. Referring to FIG. 4, DCM 150 cannot wirelessly communicate with server 300 in the first section around the place where charging station 200 is installed at home. The second section is a section that is farther from the charging stand 200 than the first section (the distance from the home is farther from the first section), and the third section is the charging stand 200 than the second section. (The distance from the home is farther than the second section.)

  When vehicle 100 enters the third section on its way home, it prepares data that needs to be transmitted to server 300 for timer charging. For example, when the vehicle 100 enters the third section, the ECU 170 reads information related to the next scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100 preset by the user from the internal memory, or calculates the SOC of the power storage device 120. . When the vehicle 100 enters the third section, the ECU 170 determines the size of the second section based on the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 100 and the time required for data exchange between the vehicle 100 and the server 300. (The transmission start position of data to the server 300 is determined). Note that the width of the third section is set in advance.

  When the vehicle 100 enters the second section, the vehicle 100 transmits various data prepared in the third section to the server 300. In server 300, a charging schedule is generated based on the received data. While the vehicle 100 is traveling in the second section, the server 300 transmits the generated charging schedule to the vehicle 100.

  Thereafter, the vehicle 100 enters the first section and arrives at home. The vehicle 100 performs timer charging by using the charging schedule received in the second section. Thus, according to the vehicle 100, timer charging according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300 can be realized even when wireless communication is not possible at the place where the charging stand 200 is installed.

[Specific processing procedure for timer charging]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for timer charging in vehicle 100. The process shown in this flowchart is executed after the vehicle system is activated.

  Referring to FIG. 5, ECU 170 determines whether or not DCM 150 can wirelessly communicate with server 300 at the place where charging stand 200 is installed at home (step S100). As described above, ECU 170 determines whether wireless communication is possible at the place where charging stand 200 is installed by referring to information indicating the result of wireless communication trial at home stored in the internal memory.

  If it is determined that wireless communication is possible at the place where charging stand 200 is installed at home (YES in step S100), ECU 170 executes a first timer charging process (step S110). On the other hand, when it is determined that wireless communication is not possible at the place where charging station 200 is installed at home (NO in step S100), ECU 170 executes a second timer charging process (step S120). Hereinafter, the first and second timer charging processes will be described in order.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first timer charging process. Referring to FIG. 6, ECU 170 determines whether or not charging connector 410 is connected to charging inlet 110 (step S200). If it is determined that charging connector 410 is not connected to charging inlet 110 (NO in step S200), ECU 170 continues monitoring the connection of charging connector 410 to charging inlet 110.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that charging connector 410 is connected to charging inlet 110 (YES in step S200), ECU 170 transmits data necessary for timer charging (next scheduled departure time, SOC data, etc.) to server 300. The DCM 150 is controlled to transmit to Then, ECU 170 controls DCM 150 to receive a charging schedule generated in server 300 based on the transmitted data (step S210).

  Thereafter, ECU 170 performs processing for timer charging in accordance with the received charging schedule (step S220). For example, ECU 170 controls charger 130 to start external charging when the charging start time indicated by the charging schedule arrives.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second timer charging process. Referring to FIG. 7, ECU 170 determines whether or not vehicle 100 has entered the third section (step S300). For example, ECU 170 determines whether vehicle 100 has entered the third section by detecting the output of GPS module 160. If it is determined that vehicle 100 has not entered the third zone (NO in step S300), ECU 170 continues monitoring the entry of vehicle 100 into the third zone.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that vehicle 100 has entered the third section (YES in step S300), ECU 170 prepares data that needs to be transmitted to server 300 for timer charging (step S305). Thereafter, ECU 170 completes preparation of data while vehicle 100 is traveling in the third section, and determines whether vehicle 100 has entered the second section or moved out of the third section (step S310). ). Note that while the vehicle 100 is traveling in the third section, the determination in step S310 is repeatedly executed by the ECU 170.

  If it is determined that vehicle 100 has moved out of the third section (“moved out of third section” in step S310), the process proceeds to step S300. On the other hand, when it is determined that vehicle 100 has entered the second section (“second section entry” in step S310), ECU 170 determines data necessary for timer charging (next scheduled departure time, SOC data, etc.). ) Is transmitted to the server 300. Then, ECU 170 controls DCM 150 to receive a charging schedule generated in server 300 based on the transmitted data (step S315).

  Thereafter, ECU 170 completes transmission / reception of data while vehicle 100 is traveling in the second section, and determines whether vehicle 100 has entered the first section or moved out of the third section (step S320). ). Note that the determination in step S320 is performed while the vehicle 100 travels in the second section and while the vehicle 100 moves from the second section to the third section and then travels in the third section. Is repeatedly executed by the ECU 170.

  When it is determined that vehicle 100 has moved out of the third section (“moved out of third section” in step S320), ECU 170 resets (discards) the received charging schedule (step S325). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S300.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that vehicle 100 has entered the first section (“first section entry” in step S320), ECU 170 has arrived at the home (charging station 200) or moved again to the second section. It is determined whether or not (step S330). Note that while the vehicle 100 is traveling in the first section, the determination in step S330 is repeatedly executed by the ECU 170.

  When it is determined that vehicle 100 has moved again to the second section (“move to second section” in step S330), ECU 170 resets the received charging schedule (step S335) and again for timer charging. Data that needs to be transmitted to the server 300 is prepared (step S340). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S315.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that vehicle 100 has arrived at home (“arrival at home” in step S330), ECU 170 is connected to charging inlet 110 after charging connector 410 is connected, and in accordance with the charging schedule received in step S315. Processing for timer charging is executed (step S345).

  As described above, in vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment, ECU 170 determines the SOC after vehicle 100 arrives at the installation location of charging station 200 when DCM 150 can communicate with server 300 at the installation location of charging station 200. A process for timer charging is executed according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300 using the data. On the other hand, when DCM 150 cannot communicate with server 300 at the place where charging stand 200 is installed, ECU 170 performs timer charging according to a charging schedule generated by server 300 using SOC data at a place away from the place where charging stand 200 is installed. Execute the process for. According to the vehicle 100, timer charging according to the charging schedule generated by the server 300 can be realized regardless of whether wireless communication is possible at the place where the charging stand 200 is installed, and the charging schedule is as accurate as possible. The timer charging according to the above can be realized.

  In vehicle 100 according to the above embodiment, home location information is registered in advance by the user. Then, when the vehicle 100 is parked at the location indicated by the registered position information, wireless communication by the DCM 150 is tried, and whether or not wireless communication at home is possible is determined according to the result of the attempt. However, the method for determining whether or not wireless communication is possible at home is not limited to this. For example, whether or not wireless communication is possible at home may be determined by the following method. ECU 170 specifies a place where vehicle 100 performs external charging at a predetermined frequency or higher. The place where external charging is frequently performed is likely to be at home. ECU 170 determines that the installation location of charging stand 200 at home is wirelessly communicable when DCM 150 is wirelessly communicable when vehicle 100 is parked at the specified location, while DCM 150 communicates wirelessly. When it is impossible, it is determined that the place where the charging stand 200 is installed at home is not wirelessly communicated. Even with such a method, it is possible to determine whether or not wireless communication is possible at home.

  In vehicle 100 according to the above embodiment, the user sets the scheduled departure time for the next time in advance. However, the next scheduled departure time is not necessarily preset by the user. For example, the next scheduled departure time may be estimated by the server 300 based on statistical information indicating the correlation between the actual arrival time of the vehicle 100 and the actual arrival time of the next vehicle, and the home arrival time of the vehicle 100. Good. In this case, for example, in the first timer charging process, ECU 170 controls DCM 150 so that information indicating the time when vehicle 100 arrives at home is transmitted to server 300 after vehicle 100 arrives at home. . Further, for example, in the second timer charging process, the ECU 170 transmits information indicating the time before the vehicle 100 enters the first section to the server 300 before the vehicle 100 enters the first section. The DCM 150 is controlled. In server 300, for example, the time at which vehicle 100 arrives at the home is predicted according to the time before entering the first section.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1 External Charging System, 100 Vehicle, 110 Charging Inlet, 120 Power Storage Device, 130 Battery Charger, 140 PCU, 150 DCM, 160 GPS Module, 170 ECU, 200 Charging Stand, 300 Server, 310 Communication Module, 320 Storage Device, 330 Controller 400 charging cable, 410 charging connector.

Claims (1)

A vehicle capable of communicating with a server,
A power storage device;
A control device configured to execute processing for external charging, which is charging of the power storage device using electric power supplied from a charging station outside the vehicle, according to a time schedule;
A wireless communication device configured to transmit SOC data indicating the SOC of the power storage device to the server and to receive the time schedule generated by the server using the SOC data;
The controller is
When the wireless communication device can communicate with the server at the charging station installation location, the processing is performed according to the time schedule generated by the server using the SOC data after the vehicle arrives at the installation location. While running
When the wireless communication apparatus cannot communicate with the server at the installation location, the vehicle executes the processing according to the time schedule generated by the server using the SOC data at a location away from the installation location.

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