WO2008075408A1

WO2008075408A1 - Information processing device and fuel consumption calculation method

Info

Publication number: WO2008075408A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/325267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shigeru Tsujimura; Yuichiro Shioya; Hideki Odachi; Yuki Minamiyama; Taisuke Nakanishi
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2006-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2008-06-26

Abstract

An information processing device, a fuel consumption calculation method, etc. capable of, without requiring a dedicated device, accurately calculating fuel consumption and effectively presenting information on the fuel consumption. A communication system (S) mounted on a vehicle and wirelessly communicating with a wireless communication device installed at a fuelling station receives fueled amount data sent from a fueling station terminal (3) after the vehicle is fueled and representing at least the amount fueled, acquires travel distance data representing the distance of travel of the vehicle, and representing fuel consumption of the vehicle after calculating it based on the fueled amount data and the travel distance data.

Description

Specification

Information processing device, fuel consumption calculation method, etc.

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a technical field such as an information processing apparatus that performs wireless communication with a wireless communication device installed in a vehicle and installed in a gas station, and calculates fuel consumption.

Background art

Conventionally, various techniques for automatically calculating the fuel consumption (fuel consumption) of a vehicle have been proposed.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, a non-contact type accurate liquid level detection device using light, sound waves, or the like is combined with an existing mileage meter, so that an arbitrary time zone or an arbitrary traveling section can be obtained. A technology is disclosed that can detect the exact amount of fuel held and consumed and obtain accurate information on fuel consumption from the driver's seat of the vehicle. As a means of accurately detecting the amount of fuel held, the level of the liquid level on the line perpendicular to the cross section of the straight body of the fuel container and passing through the center point for measuring the capacity of the fuel container is detected in a non-contact manner. The method is adopted.

[0004] Further, in Patent Document 2, a fuel efficiency database corresponding to a road condition such as a road type for each vehicle type is created based on position information and fuel efficiency information for each vehicle force, and the vehicle control device is used to A technology is disclosed that allows a driver to obtain highly accurate fuel consumption information by transmitting vehicle information and fuel consumption information corresponding to the guidance route to the in-vehicle control device when information and guidance route information are received. Yes.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-292240

Patent Document 2: JP 2005-163584 A

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] However, the technique of Patent Document 1 requires a dedicated device for calculating the fuel consumption. On the other hand, the technique of Patent Document 2 uses an average value or modeled data, which may cause an error.

[0006] Therefore, in the present application, it is an object to solve such a problem, and a dedicated device is required. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and a fuel consumption calculation method that can calculate fuel consumption accurately and present information related to the fuel consumption effectively.

Means for solving the problem

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle and performs wireless communication with a wireless communication device installed in a gas station, wherein the vehicle The power of the wireless communication device that has been transmitted after refueling is also received. Refueling amount data receiving means for receiving the refueling amount data indicating at least the refueling amount, and traveling distance data acquisition for acquiring the traveling distance data indicating the traveling distance of the vehicle And fuel consumption calculation means for calculating the fuel consumption of the vehicle based on the fuel supply amount data and the travel distance data, and a fuel consumption presentation means for presenting information indicating the calculated fuel consumption. And

[0008] The invention according to claim 6 is a fuel consumption calculation method in an information processing apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle and performs wireless communication with a wireless communication device installed in a fueling station. The step of receiving at least oil supply amount data indicating the amount of oil supply, the step of acquiring travel distance data indicating the travel distance of the vehicle, and the oil supply amount data and the travel distance data, to which the wireless communication device power has been transmitted later The method includes a step of calculating fuel consumption of the vehicle based on the above and a step of presenting information indicating the calculated fuel consumption.

[0009] The invention of the fuel consumption calculation processing program according to claim 7 is a computer installed in a vehicle and performing wireless communication with a wireless communication device installed in a gas station after the vehicle is refueled. Refueling amount data receiving means for receiving at least refueling amount data indicating the amount of refueling transmitted from the wireless communication device, traveling distance data acquiring means for acquiring traveling distance data indicating the traveling distance of the vehicle, and refueling It is characterized by functioning as fuel consumption calculation means for calculating the fuel consumption of the vehicle and fuel consumption presentation means for presenting information indicating the calculated fuel consumption based on the quantity data and the travel distance data.

The invention of the recording medium according to claim 8 is characterized in that the fuel efficiency calculation processing program force S according to claim 7 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a communication system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information indicating fuel consumption accumulated in an information storage unit 23.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of fuel consumption calculation and presentation processing in the system control unit 27.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on the display unit 5 on which information indicating fuel consumption is displayed.

Explanation of symbols

[0012] 1 ETC terminal

2 Navigation device

3 Gas station terminal

21 GPS receiver

22 Sensor section

23 Information storage

24 Display

25 Audio output section

26 Operation unit

27 System controller

28 Interface §

S communication system

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment when the present application is applied to a communication system mounted on a vehicle.

[0014] First, the configuration and function of a communication system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a communication system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system S (an example of an information processing device) includes an ETC (Electric Toll Collection) terminal 1 (an example of a fuel amount data receiving means), a navigation device 2 and the like. Has been. [0017] ETC terminal 1 is generally an automatic toll collection (ETC) that performs charging (toll payment for toll road toll payment by credit card) via wireless communication with toll terminal installed at toll road terminal ) Force used in the system The ETC system is planned to be applied to the payment of refueling fees at gas stations (eg gas stations) in the future. In this embodiment, when the ETC terminal 1 approaches a gas station terminal (an example of a wireless communication device) 3 installed at a gas station, wireless communication is established via the respective antennas ATI and AT2, and the gas station terminal. Wireless communication with 3 is performed. Gas station terminal

3 is connected to a central processing unit (not shown) via a dedicated line, and indicates, for example, refueling time data indicating a refueling time and a filling station name transmitted from the central processing unit when refueling to the vehicle is completed. Refueling settlement data including refueling station name data, refueling amount data indicating the refueling amount, and refueling fee data indicating the refueling fee are received, and the refueling settlement data is transmitted to ETC terminal 1 by wireless communication. RU

[0018] Although not shown, the ETC terminal 1 includes a slot for inserting an IC card, a reader / writer for writing / reading data to / from the IC card, a control unit of the reader / writer, a liquid crystal panel, and the like. A display unit and the like are provided. When the ETC terminal 1 receives the refueling settlement data transmitted from the gas station 3, the ETC terminal 1 writes the refueling settlement data to the IC card inserted in the slot. Further, the signal cable force connected to the control unit of the ETC terminal 1 is electrically connected to the interface unit 28 of the navigation device 2, and the ETC terminal 1 receives the refueling settlement data. The refueling settlement data (only the refueling amount data may be used) is output to the navigation device 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 2 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 21, a sensor unit 22, an information storage unit 23 (an example of storage means), a display unit 24, and an audio output. It comprises a unit 25, an operation unit 26, a system control unit 27, an interface unit 28, and the like.

[0020] The GPS receiving unit 21 receives navigation radio waves output from GPS satellites arranged in the satellite orbit and orbiting the earth via an antenna (not shown). Based on the received signals, position information (longitude and latitude) ) And output to the system controller 27 as GPS data It has become.

[0021] The sensor unit 22 detects, for example, a speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle based on the vehicle speed pulse that also receives the equipment force on the vehicle side, and detects the travel distance of the vehicle based on the vehicle speed pulse (for example, by a pulse counter). Equipped with a mileage sensor and an azimuth sensor (gyro sensor) that detects the azimuth of the vehicle using geomagnetism, and each data (speed data, mileage data, azimuth data, etc.) detected by these sensors Will be output to the system controller 27!

The information storage unit 23 includes, for example, a CD (Compact Disc) ROM drive, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) —ROM drive, or an HD (Hard Disc) drive. Under the control of, calculate the data and program for route search and route guidance (route guidance) recorded on a recording medium such as CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or HD, and the fuel efficiency of the vehicle described later. It reads the fuel consumption calculation processing program, etc., for output to the system control unit 27. Furthermore, information indicating the fuel consumption calculated by the system control unit 27 is stored in the HD or the like in the information storage unit 23 in association with the date, time, etc. at the time of calculation (at the time of refueling). It has become.

[0023] Here, the data for performing route search, route guidance, and the like include, for example, map data, data necessary for route search (for example, link data, node data, etc.), route guidance data, Furthermore, it includes data for prompting the user to input or select (for example, menu data).

[0024] The map data includes image data for displaying a map on the display screen in the display unit 24, and data indicating coordinates of each point (coordinates (Χ, Υ) on the map corresponding to latitude and longitude). For example, multiple administrative boundary data indicating the boundaries of multiple administrative divisions on the map (including addresses corresponding to each administrative division), road data indicating roads on the map (each road name, Including each intersection name and each junction (junction) name), multiple facility data (such as gas stations and stores) on the map, multiple facility data (addresses corresponding to each facility, (Including postal codes and telephone numbers), and shape data (including names of rivers and mountains) indicating the shape of rivers and mountains. [0025] Further, the road indicated by the road data is also configured with a link force as a plurality of line segments, and at least two links are connected by one node. This node corresponds to, for example, a connecting portion including a contact point (a node) such as an intersection, a turning point, a branch point, a junction (junction) of each road, or an intern of a toll road.

[0026] The link data includes, for each link, the link ID of the link, the node IDs of two nodes to which the link is connected, the distance of the road corresponding to the link (distance of the road section), and It has information such as direction (the information is associated with each link)

[0027] The route guidance data includes image data, character data, voice data, and the like used for route guidance described later.

[0028] It should be noted that a program for calculating the fuel consumption of the vehicle is connected to a communication network including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network (including a radio base station) instead of being recorded in the information storage unit 23. The information may be stored and stored in a predetermined server, and may be appropriately transmitted from the server and output to the system control unit 27.

[0029] The display unit 24 includes, for example, a drawing processing unit, a nota memory, a display (for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like), and the drawing processing unit is controlled by the system control unit 27. The above map data and image data related to route guidance are developed and drawn in buffer memory, and then displayed on the display screen of the display (for example, map display, route display, list display of route distance, fee, etc.) It is summer. In addition, on the display screen, for example, a menu for prompting the user to input or select is displayed under the control of the system control unit 27.

[0030] The voice output unit 25 includes, for example, a DAC (digital Z analog signal converter), an amplifier, a spin force, etc., and voice data related to route guidance output from the system control unit 27 and fuel consumption of the vehicle. After the voice data related to DZA is converted by DAC, it is amplified by an amplifier and output as sound waves from a speaker.

[0031] The operation unit 26 has a plurality of operation buttons for receiving input instructions, selection instructions, and the like that are user-friendly, and sends an instruction signal corresponding to the operation button pressed by the user to the system control unit 27. Output. [0032] The system control unit 27 is provided with a CPU having a calculation function, a working RAM, a ROM for storing various data and programs, and the like so as to perform overall control of all the components in the navigation device S. It has become. Then, by reading and executing the CPU power of the system control unit 27, for example, the fuel consumption calculation program stored in the information storage unit 23, the mileage data acquisition means, full tank refueling determination means, fuel consumption calculation means, It functions as an indicating means, a fuel consumption change amount determining means, and the like. Note that the route search and route guidance functions in the system control unit 27 are not directly related to the present application and will not be described.

[0033] Specifically, the system control unit 27 transmits the refueling settlement data obtained from the ETC terminal 1 (that is, transmitted from the gas station terminal 3 installed in the gas station) after refueling the vehicle at the gas station. The fuel consumption of the vehicle is calculated based on the oil amount data included in the fuel charge adjustment data) and the mileage data obtained from the mileage sensor in the sensor unit 22 (for example, the fuel consumption (kmZl Liter) = mileage (km) Z refueling amount (liter)) and information indicating the calculated fuel consumption is displayed (for example, displayed on the display unit 24 or output from the audio output unit 25).

[0034] Here, the travel distance data used for the fuel consumption calculation is travel distance data indicating the travel distance of the vehicle from the previous refueling to the current refueling. For example, the pulse counter in the mileage sensor is reset by the system control unit 27 when refueling is completed at the filling station (that is, when refueling adjustment data is input from the ETC terminal 1). Thus, it is possible to obtain an accurate vehicle travel distance from the previous refueling to the current refueling. In addition, the system control unit 27 stores information indicating a travel route from the previous refueling point to the current refueling point, and based on the travel route, calculates a travel distance from the previous refueling point to the current refueling point. You may comprise so that it may obtain | require by calculation.

[0035] On the other hand, the fuel amount data used for fuel consumption calculation is fuel amount data indicating the fuel amount when both the previous and current refueling are full. In the case of full refueling both last time and this time, the current refueling amount is the exact fuel consumption (for example, gasoline, light oil, LP gas, etc.) during that time. Information indicating whether or not refueling is full is input from the user via the operation unit 26, for example. For example, when refueling is complete, display 24 When the full button indicating that the tank is full is displayed and the user operates the operation unit 26 and selects the full tank button within a predetermined time, the current refueling is stored as full tank refueling. Otherwise, it is stored that the current refueling is not full. If the default setting is set to full tank and there is no full tank release instruction or the like, the current refueling may be uniformly full.

[0036] Further, each time the fuel consumption is calculated, the system control unit 27 stores the information indicating the calculated fuel consumption in the information storage unit 23 in association with the date and time at that time. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information indicating the fuel consumption accumulated in the information storage unit 23.

[0038] Based on the information indicating the fuel consumption accumulated in this way, the system control unit 27 presents information indicating a change in the fuel consumption (for example, a graph indicating a transition of the fuel consumption calculated in the past).

[0039] Further, when the amount of change in fuel consumption is within a preset range, the system control unit 27 provides information to that effect (for example, information indicating that the fuel consumption has decreased or that the fuel consumption is poor). Warning information). Here, the amount of change in fuel consumption is, for example, the difference between the previous and current fuel consumption, the difference between the average of last month's fuel consumption and the average of this month, or the difference between the average of last year's fuel consumption and the average of this year's fuel consumption, etc. Is mentioned.

[0040] Next, the operation of the communication system S in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of fuel consumption calculation and presentation processing in the system control unit 27. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on the display unit 5 on which information indicating fuel consumption is displayed.

[0042] After refueling the vehicle at the filling station, when the ETC terminal 1 receives the refueling settlement data transmitted wirelessly from the filling station terminal 3, the ETC terminal 1 sends the refueling settlement data to the signal cable. To the navigation device 2. When the system control unit 27 inputs and acquires (for example, stores in a predetermined area of the RAM) the refueling adjustment data output in this way via the interface unit 28, the fuel consumption calculation and presentation process shown in FIG. 3 is started.

In the process shown in FIG. 3, first, the system control unit 27 performs, for example Refer to the information indicating whether or not the power is full tank refueling input and stored by the user and the information indicating whether or not the power is full tank refueling which is input and stored by the user when the current refueling is completed, It is determined whether or not the previous refueling and the current refueling are full tank refueling.

(Step S1), if both the previous and current lubrication are full (Step S1: YES), go to Step S2 and if both the previous and current lubrication are not full (Step S1: NO), the process is terminated.

[0043] In step S2, the system control unit 27 (CPU) takes in the oil amount data included in the oil reimbursement data acquired this time, and then continues the above-mentioned travel distance data (that is, from the previous oil supply to the current oil supply). (Travel distance data indicating the travel distance of the vehicle) (step S3).

[0044] Next, the system control unit 27 calculates the fuel consumption by dividing the travel distance related to the travel distance data by the fuel supply amount related to the fuel supply amount data (step S4), and indicates the calculated fuel consumption. The information is stored in the information storage unit 23 together with the date and time of the calculation (at the time of refueling) (step S5).

[0045] Then, the system control unit 27 displays information indicating the calculated fuel consumption on the display unit 24 (step S6). At this time, it is effective to display information indicating the fuel consumption calculated and accumulated in the past, for example, as shown in FIG.

[0046] Further, in step S4, the system control unit 27, for example, in the example shown in FIG. 4 !, the average fuel consumption from January to June and from July to December The average difference in fuel consumption is calculated, and it is determined whether the average difference (change amount) is within a preset range (for example, a range of 5 kmZl liters or more). In this case, it is more effective to display information to that effect (for example, information indicating that the fuel efficiency has decreased or warning information indicating that the fuel efficiency is poor) or outputting sound in step S6. is there.

[0047] As described above, according to the above embodiment, after refueling the vehicle at the filling station, the refueling amount data acquired from the ETC terminal 1 and the travel distance sensor in the sensor unit 22 were obtained. Since it is configured to calculate the fuel consumption of the vehicle based on the mileage data and to present information indicating the calculated fuel consumption, ETC terminals and navigation devices that are popular in general vehicles in recent years can be used, Requires special equipment (no software) No (reduced cost and labor for installing a dedicated device after purchasing a vehicle), it is possible to accurately calculate the fuel cost and present it effectively to the driver. In addition, high-accuracy refueling amount data used for fuel consumption calculation can be obtained efficiently via the refueling station power ETC terminal, so the fuel consumption can be calculated more efficiently and accurately without requiring the user to input the refueling amount. be able to. In addition, the fuel consumption of the vehicle itself, which reflects the individual differences of the vehicle and the driver's tendency, can be obtained.

[0048] Further, since the fuel charge data can be obtained from the ETC terminal 1 together with the fuel amount data, the fuel cost (for example, gasoline cost) required for the route search can be accurately calculated. In addition, a more accurate fee estimate can be made.

[0049] Further, since the fuel consumption of the vehicle is calculated when both the previous refueling and the current refueling are full, the more accurate fuel consumption can be calculated and presented.

[0050] Further, every time the fuel consumption is calculated, information indicating the fuel consumption is accumulated, and information indicating a change in fuel consumption based on the stored information indicating the fuel consumption is presented. The person can easily grasp the relationship between his driving operation and fuel consumption, and can correct the driving operation to improve fuel consumption.

[0051] In addition, when the amount of change in fuel consumption is within a preset range, information to that effect (for example, information indicating that the fuel consumption has decreased, or a warning indicating that the fuel consumption is bad (warning)) Information) is presented so that the driver and the like can quickly recognize the condition of the vehicle from the deterioration of fuel consumption, and can perform, for example, oil change.

[0052] In the above embodiment, for example, information indicating fuel consumption calculated for each driver (for example, father, mother, child, etc.) is accumulated, and information indicating fuel consumption and its change is stored for each driver. You may comprise so that it may show. In this configuration, for example, when fuel efficiency is calculated, information (for example, ID and name) for identifying the driver is input (a button corresponding to each driver is displayed on the display unit 24 for selection). (Alternatively, the IC card is divided for each driver, and the IC card card currently inserted in the ETC terminal 1 is configured to obtain the driver's card ID.) In addition, information for identifying the driver inputted together with the information indicating the calculated fuel consumption, etc. is stored in the information storage unit 23. According to such a configuration, when the fuel efficiency changes for each driver due to empty beakiness, vehicle speed, etc., The fuel consumption can be compared for each turnover. In addition, it is even better if the fuel consumption corresponding to each driver is displayed on the same screen so that they can be compared.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the fuel consumption calculation is performed by the navigation device 2. However, as another example, the ETC terminal 1 is provided with a vehicle speed pulse input terminal, and the ETC terminal 1 is connected to the vehicle speed. The travel distance is calculated from the vehicle speed pulse input from the pulse input terminal, and the fuel consumption is calculated from the travel distance data and the fuel amount data indicating the amount of fuel received from the gas station terminal 3, and on the display of the ETC terminal 1. (In this case, the ETC terminal 1 constitutes the information processing apparatus of the present application).

[0054] Also, if the CAN (Controller Area Network) —BUS in the vehicle is installed in the vehicle! /, The CAN board is connected to the CAN-BUS! However, if the ETC terminal 1 is connected to the CAN-BUS and the CPU board is configured to acquire the fuel amount data from the ETC terminal 1, the CPU board It is also possible to calculate the fuel consumption of the vehicle and configure it to be displayed on various displays connected to the CAN-BUS (for example, the instrument panel on the front of the driver's seat or the display for the rear seat). Good.

[0055] Also, in the above embodiment, if the refueling settlement data transmitted from the gas station terminal 3 to the ETC terminal 1 includes data indicating whether or not the tank is full, As described above, it is not necessary for the user to input information indicating whether or not the fuel is full when the refueling is completed.The system control unit 27 determines whether or not the full fuel is provided from the gas station terminal 3. Based on the data shown, it is necessary to determine whether the previous and current refueling is a full tank refueling.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An information processing device that is mounted on a vehicle and performs wireless communication with a wireless communication device installed in a gas station.

Refueling amount data receiving means for receiving refueling amount data indicating at least the refueling amount transmitted from the wireless communication device after refueling the vehicle;

Mileage data acquisition means for acquiring mileage data indicating the mileage of the vehicle;

Fuel efficiency calculation means for calculating the fuel efficiency of the vehicle based on the fuel amount data and the travel distance data;

Fuel consumption presentation means for presenting information indicating the calculated fuel consumption;

An information processing apparatus comprising:

[2] In the information processing device according to claim 1,

The information processing apparatus characterized in that the travel distance data acquisition means acquires travel distance data indicating a travel distance of the vehicle from a previous refueling to a current refueling.

[3] In the information processing device according to claim 2,

It further comprises a full tank refueling determination means for determining whether or not the previous refueling and the current refueling are full tank refueling,

The fuel consumption calculating means calculates the fuel consumption of the vehicle when it is determined that both the previous refueling and the current refueling are full.

[4] In the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

A storage unit that stores information indicating the fuel consumption each time the fuel consumption is calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit;

The information processing apparatus, wherein the fuel consumption presenting means presents information indicating a change in the fuel consumption based on the accumulated fuel consumption information.

[5] In the information processing device according to claim 4,

The fuel consumption presentation means presents information to that effect when the amount of change in fuel consumption is within a preset range.

[6] Information for wireless communication with wireless communication devices installed in vehicles and installed at gas stations A fuel consumption calculation method in a processing device,

Receiving oil amount data indicating at least the amount of oil transmitted from the wireless communication device after refueling the vehicle;

Obtaining mileage data indicating the mileage of the vehicle;

Calculating the fuel consumption of the vehicle based on the fuel amount data and the mileage data;

Presenting information indicating the calculated fuel consumption;

A fuel consumption calculation method comprising:

[7] A computer that is installed in a vehicle and performs wireless communication with wireless communication equipment installed at a gas station.

A refueling amount data receiving means for receiving refueling amount data indicating at least a refueling amount transmitted from the wireless communication device after refueling the vehicle;

Travel distance data acquisition means for acquiring travel distance data indicating the travel distance of the vehicle, based on the fuel amount data and the travel distance data, and a fuel consumption calculation means for calculating the fuel consumption of the vehicle; and

A fuel consumption calculation processing program that functions as fuel consumption presentation means for presenting information indicating the calculated fuel consumption.

[8] A recording medium, wherein the fuel consumption calculation processing program according to claim 7 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.