JP5919760B2 - Charging assist device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an auxiliary charging device, and more particularly to an apparatus for preventing forgetting of a charging operation for a storage battery mounted on a vehicle.

  Electric vehicles that run only on electric motors and hybrid vehicles that run using both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine are equipped with a large-capacity storage battery in the vehicle to supply power to the electric motor for driving and the air conditioner in the passenger compartment. In addition to collecting electric energy as regenerative energy and charging the storage battery during traveling, it is also realized that the storage battery is repeatedly traveled by charging from an external power source (charging facility).

  For this type of vehicle, it is necessary to connect the charging plug to charge when the remaining charge in the storage battery is low. It has been proposed to check the remaining charge level and output a warning sound or voice message, or to warn that it is necessary to charge by lighting or blinking (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-209901 A

  However, in the charging auxiliary device described in Patent Document 1, a warning is issued despite the fact that the charging of the storage battery is required and the charging plug is being connected. There is a possibility that there is a user who feels stressed. In particular, in the case of a usage situation where it is necessary to charge every day in order to travel a long distance, a warning is issued every day.

  In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to devise a warning only when the charging plug is not connected after a certain time has elapsed. However, if the user leaves the vehicle before the fixed time elapses, the user cannot notice the warning caused by forgetting to connect the charging plug and move the vehicle to the desired location. There is a possibility that it will become impossible to run.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging auxiliary device that can inform a user of only necessary charging work that has not been done without causing stress, and can reliably avoid forgetting to charge. .

  A first aspect of the invention relating to a charging auxiliary device that solves the above problem is a charging auxiliary device that is mounted on a vehicle together with a rechargeable battery that is supplied with electric power from an external power source and promotes connection of a charging plug for supplying the electric power. A connection detection unit that detects whether or not the charging plug is connected to the vehicle side, an information communication unit that wirelessly communicates with a communication partner registered in advance, and the connection detection after a power-off operation of the vehicle A notification control unit that causes the information communication unit to transmit notification information notifying that the charging plug is not connected when it is detected that the charging plug is not connected by the detection operation of the unit. To do.

  According to a second aspect of the invention relating to the auxiliary charging device that solves the above problem, in addition to the specific matter of the first aspect, the notification control unit measures the elapsed time from the power-off operation of the vehicle. And the connection detector is configured to detect whether the charging plug is connected or not when an elapsed time measured by the time measurement unit exceeds a preset delay time. To do.

  In a third aspect of the invention related to the auxiliary charging device that solves the above problem, in addition to the specific matter of the first or second aspect, the notification control unit includes a time counting unit that counts the current time, When the current time measured by the time counting unit exceeds a preset notification time, the notification information is transmitted by the information communication unit.

  In a fourth aspect of the invention related to the charging auxiliary device that solves the above problem, in addition to the specific matter of the second or third aspect, the notification control unit arbitrarily changes a preset time. A time change unit is provided.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the charging plug is not connected after the power-off operation of the vehicle, wireless communication is performed with a communication partner registered beforehand. Therefore, even in a place away from the vehicle (a place where the notification in the passenger compartment cannot be confirmed), it can be notified that the charging plug is not connected and charging to the storage battery is not started, and the storage battery is reliably connected. Connection work for charging can be promoted.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the detection operation for confirming whether or not the charging plug is connected is performed when the set delay time elapses after the vehicle is turned off and the charging plug is not connected. In addition, wireless communication is performed with a communication partner registered in advance. Therefore, it is possible to avoid receiving a notification prompting the charging operation to the storage battery even though the charging plug is connected, and to prevent the notification information from becoming troublesome. Can do.

  According to the above third aspect of the present invention, when the charging plug is not connected after the vehicle power-off operation, at the setting notification time, wireless communication is performed to the communication partner registered beforehand. . Therefore, it is possible to reliably start the charging of the storage battery at a time convenient for the user, for example, it is possible to charge with power at an inexpensive time.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the set time can be arbitrarily changed. Therefore, the time setting suitable for the user can be set arbitrarily, and notification can be received at a convenient time.

  Here, in an embodiment of the present invention, the battery control device includes a remaining amount detection unit that detects a remaining charge amount in the storage battery, and the notification control unit is preset with a remaining charge amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit. In the case where it is less than or equal to the remaining threshold value, notification information indicating that the charging plug is not connected may be transmitted by the information communication unit. In this case, it is possible to avoid requesting a charging operation until the remaining amount of charge in the storage battery is sufficient, and it is possible to prevent inconvenience from receiving notification information.

It is a figure showing an example of vehicles carrying one embodiment of a charge auxiliary device concerning the present invention, and is a block diagram showing the outline whole composition. It is a flowchart explaining the control processing procedure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views showing an example of a vehicle equipped with an embodiment of a charging auxiliary device according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is constructed so as to travel by supplying electric energy in a storage battery 11 to an electric motor (drive source) 12 and rotationally driving wheels 13. Is also consumed by in-vehicle electrical equipment such as air conditioners in the passenger compartment.

  The storage battery 11 is connected to a charging plug 101 of a charging facility (external power source) 100 installed in each home or charging stand by opening a charging port 14 prepared on the exterior member side. By performing an input operation on the operation panel 102 of the charging facility 100, the on-vehicle charger 15 converts the alternating current supplied from the charging facility into a direct current for full charging.

  Here, in the present embodiment, an electric vehicle (EV: Electric Vehicle) equipped with only the electric motor 12 as a drive source will be described as an example, but a hybrid vehicle (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle) that uses an internal combustion engine is also described. Needless to say, the present invention is applicable to a case where a storage battery charging function is provided. In the present embodiment, a case where an AC current of commercial power is converted into a DC current so that it can be charged in the storage battery 11 by the in-vehicle charger 15 will be described as an example. The on-board charger 15 may be configured to perform only the charging control for storing the direct current converted on the charging facility 100 side in the storage battery 11 to the full level.

  In addition to the electric motor 12, the vehicle 10 is equipped with various electric devices that use electric energy in the storage battery 11. In addition to the control device 21 that performs overall control of the entire vehicle, the navigation device 22 and a communication device are provided. (Information communication part) 23 etc. are mounted in-vehicle. Here, in the present embodiment, it is illustrated that the control device 21 is interposed between the navigation device 22 and the communication device 23, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say.

  The navigation device 22 includes a touch panel that displays and outputs various types of information and also functions as an operation panel for inputting various types of information. In addition to a so-called navigation function such as route guidance by setting a destination, various types of operations described later are provided. It is configured to be usable as an operation panel (operation unit) for inputting information.

  The communicator 23 is composed of, for example, an in-vehicle communication module that performs wireless communication using a mobile phone network, and updates stored information in the navigation device 22, remote operation of a vehicle air conditioner (not shown), It is constructed and mounted so that it can execute communication processing for wirelessly communicating various information.

  Although not shown in the figure, the control device 21 exchanges various types of information with the navigation device 22 and the communication device 23 by executing various control processes in accordance with a control program stored in the storage medium. Thus, a desired function is realized.

  In addition, the control device 21 is connected to a power button 25, and turns on / off electrical devices including the electric motor 12, the navigation device 22, the communication device 23, and the like according to pressing of the power button 25. Here, the power button 25 is installed so that the user holds down a portable remote controller (not shown) having a remote control operation function instead of the cylinder key, and the control device 21 is in a standby state when the power is off. When the power button 25 is pressed, power-on is permitted on condition that the authentication process by wireless communication with the portable remote controller is completed. In this embodiment, the case where the above-described portable remote controller is used as an intelligent key will be described as an example of application to a so-called keyless system. However, the present invention may be applied to a system in which the power is turned on / off by a cylinder key. Needless to say, it is good.

  The control device 21 is connected to a remaining amount sensor (remaining amount detection unit) 27 for detecting the remaining charge amount in the storage battery 11 and whether the charging plug 101 of the charging facility 100 is connected to the charging port 14. Is connected to a presence / absence sensor (connection detection unit) 28, and the remaining charge in the storage battery 11 detected by the remaining amount sensor 27 during traveling according to the control program is equal to or less than a first charging threshold value set in advance. When it is confirmed that the charging is completed, a charging warning lamp prepared in an instrument panel (not shown) is flashed to notify that charging is necessary.

  Further, the control device 21 executes a processing procedure (method) for confirming the necessity of charging into the storage battery 11 and notifying the charging request according to the control program even when the power is turned off. When it is confirmed that the remaining charge in the storage battery 11 detected by the quantity sensor 27 has become equal to or lower than the second charging threshold set higher than the first charging threshold set in advance, the charging work is performed. Message data (notification information) indicating that it is necessary is delivered to the user's mobile phone 202 registered in advance by the communication device 23 via the mail server 201 even when the user is at a remote location at an optimal timing. Send mail.

  Specifically, the control device 21 incorporates a control program and a storage medium so as to function as a notification control unit 31, a communication destination storage unit 32, a time measuring unit 33, a time measurement unit 34, and a time storage unit 35. .

  The communication destination storage unit 32 stores the mail address of the mobile phone 202 possessed by the user as one of various types of information for specifying a communication partner when exchanging information and performing the update processing of the navigation device 22 or the like. It is stored and registered in advance as the destination (transmission destination) of the above charging work request message. In addition, this user does not need to be restricted to the driver who drives the vehicle 10, and may be a person in charge of charging the storage battery 11.

  The time measuring unit 33 is configured by a clock function that measures the current time that can be used in common with other in-vehicle electric devices.

  The time measurement unit 34 includes a timer function that starts, stops, or resets the measurement of the elapsed time in response to repeated input of the same signal from the outside or input of different signals.

  The time storage unit 35 is preset with, for example, a time suitable for charging or an elapsed time from power-off as the time for executing the notification process for transmitting the above charging work request message to the user.

  In accordance with the control program described above, the notification control unit 31 performs overall control of the units 32 to 35 based on the detection information of the remaining amount sensor 27 and the presence / absence sensor 28 after the power is turned off (operation), thereby entering the storage battery 11. A processing procedure for confirming whether or not charging is necessary and notifying a charging request at an optimal timing is executed.

  Here, the e-mail address of the user's mobile phone 202 stored and registered in the communication destination storage unit 32, the notification time set in the time storage unit 35, which will be described later, and the delay time from the power-off are the navigation device. The operation panel included in the failure diagnosis service tool 300 indicated by the broken line in the figure is configured to be input and set from the operation panel included in the line 22 and to be changeable. Input setting / change may be performed from That is, the navigation device 22 and the failure diagnosis service tool 300 constitute a time changing unit.

  Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the notification control unit 31 includes the electric motor 12, the navigation device 22, the communication device 23, and the like by stopping the vehicle 10 in a garage or the like and pressing the power button 25. When the electric device is turned off (step S1), the elapsed time measurement unit 34 starts measuring the elapsed time since the power is turned off (step S2), and the remaining charge in the storage battery 11 is charged when parking for a long time. It is confirmed from the detection information of the remaining amount sensor 27 whether or not it has decreased to the second charging threshold value that should be determined to be necessary (step S3). This notification processing procedure is terminated.

  Whether or not the charging plug 101 of the charging facility 100 is connected to the charging port 14 when it is confirmed in step S3 that the remaining charge in the storage battery 11 has decreased to the second charging threshold or less. Confirming from the detection information of the sensor 28 (step S4), when the charging plug 101 is connected, the notification processing procedure is terminated as it is because it is already connected and charging is in progress.

  In step S4, when the connection of the charging plug 101 is not confirmed, it is confirmed whether or not the elapsed time from the power-off measured by the time measurement unit 34 exceeds the delay time set in the time storage unit 35. (Step S5), when the set delay time has not elapsed, the process returns to Step S4 and repeats the same process, while when the set delay time has elapsed, the notification is continued in the time storage unit 35. It is confirmed whether or not the time is set (step S6), and when it is not set, the process skips to step S8 to be described later and executes the notification process. Here, the delay time in the time storage unit 35 may be set to a time that is sufficiently longer than the time required to connect the charging plug 101 to the charging port 14, for example, 10 minutes, 30 minutes. What is necessary is just to set arbitrarily, such as 1 hour.

  In step S6, when it is confirmed that the notification time is set, it is confirmed whether or not the current time measured by the time counting unit 33 exceeds the notification time set in the time storage unit 35. (Step S7) When the current time does not exceed the set notification time, the process returns to Step S4 and repeats the same process. On the other hand, when the current time exceeds the set notification time, the process proceeds to Step S8 to be described later and the notification process is performed. Run. Here, the notification time in the time storage unit 35 may be set to a time suitable for charging the storage battery 11, for example, if a convenient time such as a time zone in which commercial power is inexpensive is set arbitrarily. Good.

  In step S8, the mail address of the user's mobile phone 202 stored and registered in advance in the communication destination storage unit 32 is prepared in advance, for example, together with the number of distances that can be traveled with the remaining charge in the storage battery 11. Then, mail transmission of a message notifying that the charging plug 101 is not connected is executed.

  Thus, in the vehicle 10, even when the user is away after turning off the power, it can be received by the mobile phone 202 having the notification message that prompts the user to connect and charge the charging plug 101, and is away from the vehicle 10. You won't lose track of what you need to charge. In addition, the notification message is not sent immediately after the power is turned off, but can be received when an arbitrarily set delay time is exceeded, so that the connection work of the charging plug is not forgotten. Nevertheless, it can be avoided that the notification message is sent and becomes troublesome. In addition, the notification message can be received at a time convenient for the user, if necessary, and only when the charging plug 101 is not connected by that time until the optimal charging timing. A notification message can be received. In addition, since the notification message is sent by e-mail only when the remaining charge in the storage battery 11 is equal to or less than the second charging threshold, it can be avoided that the notification message is received until it is unnecessary. Can be prevented.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even when the vehicle is away from the vehicle 10, only when the charging plug 101 is not connected, a notification message that prompts the connection work can be received, and the charging work of the storage battery 11 is stressed. Therefore, the charging operation of the storage battery 11 can be reliably performed and the travel distance of the vehicle 10 can be ensured.

  Here, in the above-described embodiment, a notification message is sent by e-mail to the mobile phone 202 to notify that the connection work of the charging plug 101 is necessary. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a vehicle such as the above-described mobile remote controller is used. By transmitting a notification signal to a portable communication device capable of short-distance communication up to the vicinity of ten, an installed vibration function, blinking of an LED, sound output such as a buzzer, etc. may be made to function.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the notification message mail transmission is executed after detecting the remaining charge in the storage battery 11 will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the case of a vehicle or the like constructed in the above, a notification message may be sent by mail without detecting the remaining charge.

  The scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments, but includes all embodiments that provide the same effects as those intended by the present invention. Further, the scope of the invention is not limited to the combinations of features of the invention defined by the claims, but may be defined by any desired combination of particular features among all the disclosed features. .

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described so far, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be implemented in various forms within the scope of the technical idea.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 11 Storage battery 12 Electric motor 14 Charging port 15 Charger 21 Control device 22 Navigation device 23 Communication device 25 Power button 27 Residual amount sensor 28 Presence sensor 31 Notification control unit 32 Communication destination storage unit 33 Timekeeping unit 34 Time measurement unit 35 Time storage unit 100 Charging facility 101 Charging plug 201 Mail server 202 Mobile phone 300 Service tool for fault diagnosis

Claims (2)

A charging auxiliary device that is mounted on a vehicle together with a rechargeable battery that is supplied with electric power from an external power source and that facilitates connection of a charging plug for supplying the electric power,
A remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of charge in the storage battery, a connection detecting unit for detecting whether or not the charging plug is connected to the vehicle side, and an information communication unit for wirelessly communicating with a pre-registered communication partner The remaining amount of charge in the storage battery is detected to be lower than a preset charging threshold by the detection operation of the remaining amount detection unit after the power-off operation of the vehicle, and the power source of the vehicle A notification control unit that causes the information communication unit to transmit notification information notifying that the charging plug is not connected when the connection detection of the charging plug is detected by the detection operation of the connection detection unit after an off operation; , equipped with a,
The notification control unit
A timekeeping section that measures the current time,
A time changing unit for arbitrarily changing the preset notification time,
The charging assistance device , wherein the information communication unit transmits the notification information when a current time measured by the time counting unit exceeds the notification time . The notification control unit
A time measurement unit for measuring an elapsed time from the power-off operation of the vehicle,
2. The connection detection unit according to claim 1, wherein when the elapsed time measured by the time measurement unit exceeds a preset delay time, the connection detection unit is made to detect whether or not the charging plug is connected. The charging auxiliary device according to the description.

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