JP2021191115A - Vehicle control device and vehicle control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To shorten time for charging a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device includes an operation unit, a communication unit and a request unit. The operation unit performs arithmetic processing relating to a vehicle state of own vehicle. The communication unit communicates with an external device. The request unit requests the external device for arithmetic processing that the operation unit should run during charging via the communication unit when a battery is under being charged with power that is supplied from a charging installation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle control device and a vehicle control method.

Conventionally, so-called plug-in charging, which charges a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle via a charging cable, is becoming widespread. In such plug-in charging, the charging time can be shortened by using a quick charger (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, in recent years, with the spread of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, there is a technology related to plug-in charging corresponding to quick charging.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-158840

However, in the prior art, since various arithmetic processes are executed inside the vehicle even when the plug-in is charged, power is consumed by the amount of the arithmetic processes, which has been a hindrance to shortening the charging time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control device and a calculation method capable of shortening the charging time of a vehicle.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the vehicle control device according to the embodiment includes a calculation unit, a communication unit, and a request unit. The calculation unit performs calculation processing related to the vehicle state of the own vehicle. The communication unit communicates with an external device. When the battery is being charged by the electric power supplied from the charging equipment, the requesting unit requests the external device via the communication unit to perform the arithmetic processing to be executed during charging by the arithmetic unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the charging time of the vehicle.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an outline of a motor system. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an outline of a motor system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the ECU. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of calculation item information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of processing when a communication abnormality occurs. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the ECU.

Hereinafter, the vehicle control device and the vehicle control method according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below.

First, the outline of the vehicle control device and the vehicle control method according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an outline of a vehicle control method. The vehicle control method is executed by the ECU 10 shown in FIG. 1A. The ECU 10 is an example of a vehicle control device.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the ECU 10 according to the embodiment is mounted on the own vehicle MC and the other vehicle C, respectively. The own vehicle MC and the other vehicle C are, for example, a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle powered by an electric motor, respectively.

Further, FIG. 1A shows a case where the own vehicle MC is charging the battery by the electric power supplied from the charging equipment 50. Note that FIG. 1A shows a case where the charging method of the own vehicle MC is so-called plug-in charging in which the own vehicle MC and the charging equipment 50 are connected by a plug, but non-contact charging may be used. good.

The ECU 10 is an electronic control device that performs arithmetic processing related to vehicle information. Here, the arithmetic processing related to the vehicle information is a processing to be executed by the ECU 10 while the own vehicle MC is stopped or charging, and is an estimation processing of the remaining battery level (SOC; State Of Charge) of the own vehicle and the own vehicle. Various processes related to MC security etc. are included.

However, if the calculation process is performed by the ECU 10 while the MC of the own vehicle is being charged, the electric power is consumed by the ECU 10, and the charging time is delayed by the amount of the electric power consumed by the ECU 10.

Therefore, in the vehicle control method according to the embodiment, it is decided to request an external device to perform arithmetic processing to be executed by the ECU 10 when the own vehicle MC is charging. In the following, the case where the external device is the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C existing around the own vehicle MC will be described, but the external device may be the charging equipment 50 or the server that supplies power to the own vehicle MC.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 1A, the case where the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC requests the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C existing in the vicinity of the own vehicle MC for the calculation process, and the request is approved by the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C. show.

As a result, it becomes possible to substitute the arithmetic processing to be executed by the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC with the ECU 10. After that, the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC activates only the minimum hardware and suspends unnecessary hardware.

In the example shown in FIG. 1B, a case where the ECU 10 includes a communication unit 11 and a microcomputer, respectively, is shown, and a case where the microcomputer is composed of a plurality of chips is shown. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC transmits the calculation input information required for the calculation process by the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C to the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C, and the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C performs such a calculation. Alternative processing is executed based on the input information. The alternative process indicates a process to be executed on behalf of the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC.

After that, the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C transmits the calculation result information indicating the calculation result of the alternative processing to the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC. As a result, in the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC, only the hardware necessary for these series of processes needs to be activated, and the unnecessary hardware can be suspended.

Therefore, in the vehicle control method according to the embodiment, the power consumption during charging can be suppressed by the amount of suspending the hardware, so that the charging time can be shortened. In the above example, the case where the own vehicle MC and the other vehicle C have one ECU 10 each has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, there may be a plurality of ECUs 10 mounted on the own vehicle MC and the other vehicle C.

Next, a configuration example of the ECU 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the ECU 10. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the sensor group 20 is also shown. The sensor group 20 includes sensors that detect various states related to the own vehicle MC. For example, the sensor group 20 includes a sensor for detecting the state of the battery (voltage sensor, current sensor, temperature sensor, etc.), a sensor for detecting the surrounding condition of the own vehicle MC (imaging sensor, ranging sensor, etc.), and the like. Is done. The detection result by the sensor group 20 is notified to the ECU 10. The sensor group 20 may be provided inside the ECU 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ECU 10 according to the embodiment includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. The control unit 13 corresponds to the microcomputer shown in FIG. 1B. The communication unit 11 is a communication module that performs wireless communication with an external device according to a communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). In addition, for example, when communicating with the charging equipment 50 shown in FIG. 1A, the communication unit 11 may make a wired connection with the charging equipment 50 via a charging cable.

The storage unit 12 corresponds to, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The RAM or HDD stores the calculation item information 12a. The calculation item information 12a is information regarding a calculation processing item to be calculated by the ECU 10 during charging of the own vehicle MC.

Here, an example of the calculation item information 12a will be described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the calculation item information 12a is information in which the "model" and the "calculation item" are associated with each other.

"Model" indicates a model of an external device that outsources arithmetic processing. For example, the models may be classified according to the manufacturer, model number, OS (Operating System) version, computing power, and the like. The "calculation item" indicates an item of calculation processing to be executed by the ECU 10 while the own vehicle MC is being charged (including when the vehicle is stopped).

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a case where "security", "SOC", and the like are included in the calculation items is shown. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 3, “◯” and “×” indicate whether or not the corresponding calculation item is executed by the external device. Specifically, for the model "A1", it is shown that both security and SOC arithmetic processing can be executed. It is not necessary for the ECU 10 to store the calculation item information 12a in advance, and when requesting the external device for the calculation processing, the ECU 10 inquires to the external device whether the calculation processing is possible, and receives and stores the result. You may decide to do it.

Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the control unit 13 will be described. The control unit 13 includes a calculation unit 13a and a request unit 13b. The control unit 13 includes, for example, a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an input / output port, and various circuits.

The CPU of the computer functions as the calculation unit 13a and the request unit 13b of the control unit 13, for example, by reading and executing the program stored in the ROM. Further, at least a part or all of the calculation unit 13a and the request unit 13b of the control unit 13 may be configured by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

The calculation unit 13a executes various calculation processes related to the vehicle state of the own vehicle MC. For example, the calculation unit 13a executes calculations related to security and SOC based on the detection result of the sensor group 20.

The calculation unit 13a is configured to be composed of different hardware for each calculation item of the calculation process, and stops the hardware when the calculation process becomes unnecessary. That is, the hardware that executes the arithmetic processing of the arithmetic item requested to the external device is stopped during the period in which the arithmetic processing is executed by the external device.

Subsequently, the request unit 13b will be described. The request unit 13b is a processing unit that executes a series of processes related to the request for arithmetic processing. For example, when the battery of the own vehicle MC is being charged by the electric power supplied from the charging equipment 50, the requesting unit 13b requests the external device to perform arithmetic processing via the communication unit 11.

For example, when the own vehicle MC is being charged, the requesting unit 13b searches for an external device existing around the own vehicle MC via the communication unit 11. For example, such a search is performed by transmitting a beacon signal from the communication unit 11 using broadcast communication and determining whether or not there is a response to the transmitted beacon signal. That is, the search for an external device existing in the communication area of the communication unit 11.

For example, the beacon signal transmitted by the broadcast communication includes "Is the vehicle equipped with the external device stopped (for example, IG-OFF)?" And "What is the" model "of the external device?" , "What is the location information?", And the external device that received the beacon signal responds to the above question.

When the request unit 13b receives a response from the external device to the beacon signal, the request unit 13b individually communicates with the external device that has responded via the communication unit 11 to request arithmetic processing. At this time, for example, when the other vehicle C equipped with the external device is running, the request unit 13b excludes it from the request target. This is because when the other vehicle C is traveling, it deviates from the communication area of the communication unit 11.

Further, the requesting unit 13b may exclude the external device mounted on the stopped other vehicle C from the request target, for example, when the other vehicle C is being charged. .. This is because the power consumption of the other vehicle C is increased by requesting the arithmetic processing. That is, if the other vehicle C that is charging is requested to perform the arithmetic processing, the charging time of the other vehicle C will be delayed.

In this way, the requesting unit 13b requests another vehicle C (or charging equipment 50) existing around the own vehicle MC to perform arithmetic processing, so that short-range wireless communication with relatively low power consumption (for example, Bluetooth (for example, Bluetooth) (for example) Since communication can be performed using the registered trademark)), power consumption during charging can be suppressed.

The requesting unit 13b selects an external device for which arithmetic processing is requested based on the "model" from the external devices that have responded after excluding the request target. The requesting unit 13b refers to the calculation item information 12a and selects as an external device capable of executing the calculation processing for each calculation item.

At this time, when the requesting unit 13b executes a plurality of calculation items with the same external device, the requesting unit 13b preferentially selects the external device. In other words, the requesting unit 13b selects the external device so as to request the arithmetic processing to as few external devices as possible. At this time, it is preferable that the calculation unit 13a preferentially selects an external device having the same standard as the own device (ECU 10).

Here, the external device of the same standard refers to an external device that executes the same model and the same program as the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC, or an external device that is mutually compatible with the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC.

That is, the requesting unit 13b can smoothly execute the arithmetic processing requested by the external device by preferentially selecting the external device of the same standard. Further, when there are a plurality of external devices capable of calculating the same calculation item, the requesting unit 13b may select the external device according to the communication state with the external device. For example, the requesting unit 13b may select an external device closest to the own vehicle MC or an external device having the strongest communication signal strength.

When the request unit 13b finishes selecting the external device, the request unit 13b sets the calculation item and executes the request for the calculation process to the selected external device. After that, when the approval for the request for the arithmetic processing is received from the external device, the arithmetic unit 13a is suspended, and a series of processing related to the transmission of the arithmetic input information and the reception of the arithmetic result information is executed.

For example, the calculation input information includes information on the detection result of the sensor group 20 and information on the RAM value stored in the RAM. The external device executes the arithmetic processing of the requested arithmetic item based on these arithmetic input information.

In this way, by selecting the calculation item for each external device, the requesting unit 13b executes the calculation unit 13a and the external device without stopping all the calculation processes to be executed during charging of the own vehicle MC. can do.

However, it is assumed that a communication abnormality occurs with the external device, or that another vehicle equipped with the external device starts moving earlier than the charging of the own vehicle MC is completed. Therefore, the requesting unit 13b monitors the communication status with the external device that requested the arithmetic processing, and when a communication abnormality occurs, the request for the arithmetic processing is stopped and the arithmetic unit 13a is started from the stopped state. Let me.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of processing when a communication abnormality occurs. FIG. 4 shows a case where a communication abnormality occurs between the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC and the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C. In this case, the calculation input information cannot be transmitted from the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC to the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C, and the calculation result information cannot be transmitted from the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C to the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC.

Therefore, when a communication abnormality occurs, the calculation unit 13a starts the calculation and executes the calculation process requested to the external device. In other words, when a communication abnormality occurs, the arithmetic processing requested to the external device is taken over by the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC and executed. Specifically, if a communication error occurs after the calculation input information is transmitted from the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC to the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C and before the calculation result information is received from the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C, the self. The ECU 10 of the vehicle MC inherits from the calculation based on the calculation input information. On the other hand, if a communication error occurs before receiving the calculation result information from the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C and transmitting the next calculation input information to the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C, the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC performs the next calculation. Inherit from the calculation based on the input information.

As a result, even if a communication abnormality occurs, it is possible to continue the arithmetic processing. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the case where the calculation process is executed by the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC when a communication abnormality occurs. That is, the calculation processing may be requested to other external devices existing around the own vehicle MC. Further, here, the case where a communication abnormality occurs has been described, but the same applies to, for example, the case where another parked vehicle C starts traveling before the own vehicle MC.

Next, the processing procedure executed by the ECU 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the ECU 10. The processing procedure shown below is repeatedly executed by the ECU 10 of the own vehicle MC.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ECU 10 determines whether or not the battery of the own vehicle MC is being charged (step S101), and if the battery is being charged (step S101, Yes), an external device capable of requesting arithmetic processing is available. It is determined whether or not there is (step S102).

In the determination of step S102, when the requestable external device exists (step S102, Yes), the ECU 10 selects the calculation item to be requested to the external device (step S103), and executes the calculation item. Stop unnecessary functions (step S104).

After that, the ECU 10 starts transmitting the calculation input information to the external device (step S105) and starts receiving the calculation result information (step S106). Subsequently, the ECU 10 determines whether or not a communication abnormality has occurred with the external device (step S107), and if no communication abnormality has occurred (step S107, Yes), has the battery charging been completed? It is determined whether or not (step S108).

In the determination of step S108, the ECU 10 ends the process when the battery charging is completed (step S108, Yes), and when the battery charging is not completed (step S108, No), the process of step S101. Move to.

Further, the ECU 10 is not charging in the determination of step S101, there is no external device that can be requested in the determination of step S102, or a communication abnormality occurs in the determination of step S107 (step S101 /. Step S102 / Step S107, No), after executing the normal control (step S109), the process proceeds to the process of step S108.

As described above, the ECU 10 (an example of the vehicle control device) according to the embodiment includes a calculation unit 13a, a communication unit 11, and a request unit 13b. The calculation unit 13a performs calculation processing related to the vehicle state of the own vehicle MC. The communication unit 11 communicates with an external device. When the battery is being charged by the electric power supplied from the charging equipment 50, the requesting unit 13b requests the external device via the communication unit 11 to perform arithmetic processing to be executed by the arithmetic unit 13a during charging. Therefore, according to the vehicle control device according to the embodiment, the charging time can be shortened.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the external device is the ECU 10 of the other vehicle C has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the external device may be a server device. For example, when the own vehicle MC is being charged, the ECU 10 communicates with the server device via a predetermined network and requests arithmetic processing. Further, at this time, the ECU 10 may send and receive information to and from the server device via, for example, the charging equipment 50.

Further effects and variations can be easily derived by those skilled in the art. For this reason, the broader aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details and representative embodiments described and described above. Thus, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

10 ECU (an example of vehicle control device)
11 Communication unit 12 Storage unit 12a Calculation item information 13 Control unit 13a Calculation unit 13b Request unit MC Own vehicle

Claims (6)

An arithmetic unit that performs arithmetic processing related to the vehicle state of the own vehicle,
A communication unit that communicates with external devices,
When the battery is being charged by the electric power supplied from the charging equipment, the calculation unit is provided with a request unit that requests the calculation process to be executed during charging to the external device via the communication unit. Characterized vehicle control device. The requesting department
The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation process is requested to the charging equipment or another vehicle stopped around the own vehicle. The requesting department
Request the external device to perform the arithmetic processing of the arithmetic items that can be executed by the external device.
The calculation unit
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculation process of a calculation item not requested to the external device is performed during charging. The requesting department
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the calculation process is requested to the external device of the same standard. The calculation unit
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when an abnormality occurs in the communication state with the external device entrusted with the arithmetic processing, the arithmetic processing requested to the external device is executed. Vehicle control device. An arithmetic process that performs arithmetic processing related to the vehicle state of the own vehicle,
The communication process that communicates with external devices,
When the battery is being charged by the electric power supplied from the charging facility, the calculation process includes a request process of requesting the calculation process to be executed during charging to the external device via the communication process. A characteristic vehicle control method.

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