WO2020166602A1

WO2020166602A1 - Charging apparatus, charging method, program, and memory medium

Info

Publication number: WO2020166602A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/005319
Authority: WO
Inventors: 威人藤田
Original assignee: 本田技研工業株式会社
Priority date: 2019-02-12
Filing date: 2020-02-12
Publication date: 2020-08-20
Also published as: JPWO2020166602A1

Abstract

According to the present invention, a management device is provided with: an acquisition unit which is detachably mounted to an electric vehicle and which, at a charging station where a plurality of batteries for supplying the electric vehicle with electrical power used for traveling are exchanged and stored and where the stored batteries are recharged, acquires information concerning a timing at which the batteries are provided; and a planning unit which generates a charging plan for the batteries on the basis of the acquired timing, wherein the planning unit generates a charging plan for the batteries so as to cause the charging of the batteries to be initiated at a charging initiation timing that uses, as a benchmark, a lattermost charging initiation timing at which it is possible to make the amount of charge of the batteries reach a prescribed level in accordance with the timing at which the batteries are to be provided.

Description

Charging device, charging method, program, and storage medium

The present invention relates to a management device, a management method, a program, and a storage medium.
The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-22725 filed on February 12, 2019, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a portable electric energy storage device, for example, a collection/charge distribution device that collects, charges, and distributes a detachable battery when power is consumed by mounting and using the detachable battery on a moving body such as an electric scooter. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). This collecting and charging/distributing device has a plurality of containers for detachably housing a removable battery for charging or the like.

In recent years, a shared use service for batteries using a collection/charging distribution device has been provided. This service is, for example, a service in which a user who visits the charging device can replace the removable battery by installing a collection/charging distribution device in each of the charging devices such as charging stations constructed in a plurality of places in the area.

There is a charging control device that sets a charging plan when charging the vehicle battery from the charger (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This charge control device is set according to the learning result of the learning device corresponding to the user who uses the vehicle. Further, a technique of acquiring information indicating a target value of the operating rate of the battery station and determining the number of storage batteries that can be provided to the user based on the target value (for example, refer to Patent Document 3), a scheduled boarding time, and the like. Based on the required charging period, there is a technique of calculating a charging start time for completing charging at the scheduled boarding time, and starting charging with a predetermined charging current value from the calculated charging start time (for example, See Patent Document 4).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-527689 JP, 2017-93088, A Japanese Patent No. 6345291 Patent No. 3554057

In the battery shared service using the collecting and charging distribution device described in Patent Document 1, since the user often visits an arbitrary charging device according to his/her own convenience, the charging device requires a portion necessary for lending. It is required to prepare the battery of. Therefore, it is necessary to fully charge the battery. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses that a charging plan is set. However, in the charging plan of Patent Document 2, it is difficult to prepare batteries for renting because the users who use the charger are limited.

The present invention is to provide a charging device, a management charge, a program, and a storage medium that allow the charging device to prepare a battery for a loan.

The charging device, the charging method, the program, and the storage medium according to the present invention have the following configurations.
(1): A charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power, an acquisition unit that acquires an estimated value of the charging state of the battery by the charging unit, and a charging state of the battery are A charging unit that determines a charging mode of the battery to satisfy the estimated value of the charging state acquired by the acquiring unit, and the charging unit of the battery that is determined by the determining unit. And a charging control unit that controls the charging of the battery.

(2): In (1), the charging mode includes at least one of a charging period and a charging speed for charging the battery by the charging unit, and the determination unit satisfies the estimated value of the state of charge. Thus, at least one of the charging period and the charging speed is determined.

(3): In (2), the elements that specify the charging period include a charging start date and time when the charging unit starts charging the battery and a charging end date and time when the charging unit finishes charging the battery. , A charging duration time from the start of charging of the battery by the charging unit to the end thereof, the determining unit is configured to satisfy the estimated value of the state of charge, the charging start date and time, the charging At least one of the end date and time and the charging duration time is determined.

(4): In (3), when determining the charging start date and time, the determining unit determines the latest date and time among the dates and times that satisfy the estimated value of the state of charge as the charging start date and time. is there.

(5): In (3) or (4), when the determination unit determines the charging start date and time, the charging control unit prohibits charging by the charging unit before the charging start date and time. is there.

(6): In any one of (1) to (5), the elements that specify the state of charge include a target date and time that is a target date and time, and a target charge amount that is a target charge amount at the target date and time. And are included.

(7): In (6), the battery is detachably attached to the power device, and further includes a holding portion that detachably holds the plurality of batteries, and the target charge amount is the number of batteries. And a target charge amount of each of the batteries.

(8): In (7), the charging control unit sets the batteries to be charged in order from the battery having the largest charge amount among the plurality of batteries held by the holding unit.

(9): In any of (6) to (8), the target date and time is determined based on the date and time when the user starts using the battery.

(10): In any one of (3) to (5), the elements that specify the state of charge include a target date and time that is a target date and time, and a target charge amount that is a target charge amount at the target date and time. In addition, when determining the charging end date and time, the determination unit determines a date and time according to the target date and time as the charging end date and time.

(11): In any one of (1) to (10), the power device is a moving body that can move using the power supplied from the battery.

(12): In any one of (1) to (11), the battery is a battery shared by a plurality of users.

(13): In any one of (1) to (12), it further comprises a generation unit that generates the estimated value of the state of charge based on the movement information of the battery.

(14): In (13), the generation unit generates the estimated value of the state of charge by machine learning using the movement information as input data.

(15): In (14), the generation unit generates the estimated value of the state of charge based on the information on the location of the charging device.

(16): In (15), the battery is attachable/detachable to/from the power device, and the generation unit estimates the charging state based on information on the number of batteries held in the charging device. It produces a value.

(17): In (15) or (16), the generation unit is configured to store the charging state based on environment information indicating at least one of weather, a date, and a day of the week in a region where the charging device is installed. To generate an estimate.

(18): According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer of a charging device acquires an estimated value of a state of charge of the battery by a charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power, and A control in which the charging state of the battery determines a charging mode of the battery for satisfying the estimated value of the acquired charging state and causes the charging unit to charge the battery based on the determined charging mode of the battery Is the charging method.

(19): An aspect of the present invention causes a computer of a charging device to acquire an estimated value of a state of charge of the battery by a charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power, and The charging state of the battery causes the charging mode of the battery to satisfy the estimated value of the acquired charging state to be determined, and the charging unit charges the battery based on the determined charging mode of the battery. It is a program that controls the control.

(20): One aspect of the present invention causes a computer of a charging device to acquire an estimated value of a state of charge of the battery by a charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power. The charging state of the battery causes the charging mode of the battery to satisfy the estimated value of the acquired charging state to be determined, and the charging unit charges the battery based on the determined charging mode of the battery. It is a storage medium that stores a program for performing control.

(1) to (6) It is possible to make the charging device prepare batteries for the lending.
According to (14) to (17), the timing of providing the battery can be acquired accurately.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a management system of an embodiment. It is a block diagram of the management system of an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of battery data. It is a figure which shows an example of charge ST data. It is a figure which shows an example of battery total data. It is a figure which shows an example of user total data. It is a figure which shows an example of charge ST total data. It is a figure which shows an example of the production|generation process of a provision condition estimation model. It is a figure which shows an example of charging plan data. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed in a management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed in a management apparatus. It is a graph which shows an example of change of SOC of a battery stored in a charging station. It is a figure which shows an example of the production|generation process of a provision condition estimation model. It is a figure which shows an example of charge ST total data. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed in a management apparatus.

Embodiments of a charging device, a charging method, a program, and a storage medium of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the management system 1 includes a plurality of battery units 100 and a plurality of charging stations 200. Each of the battery units 100 includes a removable battery (hereinafter referred to as “battery”) 120 that is removable from the electric vehicle 10. The charging station 200 charges the battery 120 included in the battery unit 100 before renting the battery unit 100 to the user. Charging station 200 rents and provides battery unit 100 to the user, and the user mounts battery unit 100 on electric vehicle 10. The user returns the battery unit 100 in any of the plurality of charging stations 200 after the charge amount of the battery 120 of the rented battery unit 100 is reduced. The charging station 200 lends the battery unit 100 including the other battery 120 that has been charged to the user who returned the battery unit 100. In this way, the user replaces the battery unit 100 (battery 120) in the charging station 200.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<Overall configuration of management system 1>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a management system 1 using the management apparatus 400 of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the management system 1 using the management apparatus 400 of the embodiment. The management system 1 includes a plurality of battery units 100, a plurality of charging stations 200, and a management device 400. The management device 400 is communicably connected to the plurality of charging stations 200 via the network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), provider device, wireless base station, and the like.

The management device 400 is communicatively connected to the mobile terminal 20 carried by the user via the network NW. As a result, the charging station 200 and the mobile terminal 20 can send and receive communication data to and from the management device 400 via the network NW. The management system 1 is a system that can provide a share service in which a plurality of users share a battery 120 in a battery unit 100 that is a drive source of an electric vehicle 10. The management device 400 manages the plurality of battery units 100 and the plurality of charging stations 200 in the management system 1. The electric vehicle 10 is an example of a “power device”, and the charging station 200 is an example of a “charging device”.

The “electric power device” is not limited to the motorcycle 12, but is, for example, a vehicle (one-wheel, three-wheel, four-wheel, etc.) that can be driven by electric power and can be detachably attached with the removable battery 14, or an assisted bicycle. May be. Instead of these vehicle-type moving bodies, the “electric power device” may be a portable charging and feeding device that is carried by a person or a vehicle, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2019-068552. Further, the “power device” may be a mobile robot, an autonomous traveling device, an electric bicycle, an autonomous traveling vehicle, another electric vehicle, a drone flying vehicle, or another electric moving device (electric mobility). Hereinafter, as an example, it is assumed that the “power device” is the motorcycle 12.

<Electric vehicle 10>
The electric vehicle 10 is a vehicle in which the battery unit 100 is detachably mounted. The electric vehicle 10 is a saddle type vehicle (“electric two-wheel vehicle”) that is driven by an electric motor driven by electric power supplied from a battery 120 in the battery unit 100. A battery unit 100 is mounted on the electric vehicle 10. In the first embodiment, the two battery units 100 can be mounted on the electric vehicle 10. The number of battery units 100 that can be mounted on the electric vehicle 10 may be one or three or more.

The electric vehicle 10 may be a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle that is driven by a combination of the battery unit 100 and an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. The electric vehicle 10 applicable to the management system 1 may be an electric motorcycle, a vehicle such as an electric bicycle, an electric tricycle, an electric four-wheel vehicle, an electric kick skater, or a robot. The electric vehicle 10 is an example of a “moving body”.

<Mobile terminal 20>
The mobile terminal 20 is, for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a laptop computer owned by a user who borrows a battery. In the mobile terminal 20, an UA (User Agent) such as an application program or a browser operates to support the share service of the battery 120. The mobile terminal 20 can refer to a station map indicating the location of the charging station 200. The station map may be held by the management device 400 or may be downloaded to the mobile terminal 20. The mobile terminal 20 can acquire peripheral station information regarding the charging stations 200 around the user by searching the station map using the current position of the user.

The mobile terminal 20 includes a display device that displays various types of information and images and a touch panel (display panel with a touch sensor) that also serves as an input device that receives user operations. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 20 is a smartphone and an application program (battery reservation application) is running. The mobile terminal 20 accepts a user's reservation for the battery unit 100. The user can reserve the lending of the battery unit 100 by operating the touch panel of the mobile terminal 20. When the user reserves the lending of the battery unit 100, lending to the non-reserving users other than the reserved user of the reserved battery unit 100 is disabled.

The user, for example, searches the nearby charging station 200 by the mobile terminal 20, and if the found charging station 200 has a rentable battery unit 100, the user can reserve the battery unit 100. When a plurality of charging stations 200 are searched, the user can select the charging station 200 to be used.

When the user makes a reservation for the battery unit 100, the battery reservation application activated in the mobile terminal 20 generates reservation desired information according to the user's reservation operation. The mobile terminal 20 transmits the generated reservation request information to the management device 400. The reservation request information includes, for example, a user ID, a charging station 200 for which the battery unit 100 is desired to be rented, and information regarding a desired lending time. The lending desired time is an example of a date and time when the user wishes to lend the battery.

<Battery unit 100>
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery unit 100 is mounted on the electric vehicle 10 and stored in the charging device 220 in the charging station 200. The battery unit 100 is a cassette type that is detachably attached to the electric vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery unit 100 includes a battery 120, a battery communication unit 140, a self-position detecting unit 160, and a battery control device 180.

The battery 120 is, for example, a power storage device (secondary battery) such as a lithium ion battery. The battery 120 is detachably attached to the electric vehicle 10 and supplies electric power for traveling the electric vehicle 10. The battery communication unit 140 is a device for communicating with the charging station 200. The battery communication unit 140 is connected to the charging station 200 via a communication line, and transmits information and the like generated by the battery control device 180 to the charging station 200.

The self-position detection unit 160 includes, for example, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver and a self-position detection control unit. The GNSS receiver measures the position of itself (the self-position of the battery unit 100) based on the radio waves coming from the GNSS satellite (for example, GPS satellite). The self-position detection control unit includes, for example, a CPU and various storage devices, and detects the self-position of the battery unit 100. The self-position detection control unit generates self-position information based on the detected self-position of the battery unit 100 and outputs it to the battery control device 180.

The battery control device 180 includes, for example, a battery control unit 182 and a battery storage unit 184. The battery control unit 182 includes, for example, a BMU (Battery Management Unit; control unit). The BMU controls charging and discharging of the battery 120. For example, the BMU controls charging of the battery 120 when the battery unit 100 is stored in the charging station 200, and controls charging and discharging of the battery 120 when the battery unit 100 is attached to the electric vehicle 10.

The current value, voltage value, temperature, etc. of the battery 120 are detected by various sensors such as a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a temperature sensor. These sensors output the detection result to the battery control unit 182. The battery control unit 182 calculates the SOC (State of Charge) of the battery 120 based on the output detection results of the various sensors. The battery control unit 182 stores the calculated SOC of the battery 120 in the battery storage unit 184.

The battery control unit 182, when the charging station 200 rents out the battery unit 100 to the user, the user ID of the user who owns the electric vehicle 10, the ID of the charging station that lent out the battery unit 100 (hereinafter referred to as “STID”), Information on lending date and time and SOC at lending is acquired. The user ID is, for example, an ID composed of different numbers assigned to each user in order to individually identify a plurality of users. The STID is, for example, an ID including a different number assigned to each charging station 200 in order to individually identify the plurality of charging stations 200. The battery control unit 182 stores, in the battery storage unit 184, the acquired user ID of the electric vehicle 10, the STID of the charging station 200 that rented out the battery unit 100, the lending date and time, and the SOC at lending time.

The battery control unit 182 generates information on the movement history of the user of the electric vehicle 10 based on the self-position information output by the self-position detection unit 160 when the electric vehicle 10 equipped with the battery unit 100 travels. .. The self-position detecting unit 160 detects the self-position every predetermined time, for example, every one minute, and outputs self-position information to the battery control unit 182. The battery control unit 182, based on the self-position information output by the self-position detection unit 160, for example, the user of the electric vehicle 10 listing the positions (for example, positions indicated by latitude and longitude) at which the electric vehicle 10 has traveled in time series. Generate the movement history of. The battery control unit 182 stores the generated information on the movement history of the user of the electric vehicle 10 in the battery storage unit 184. The movement history of the user corresponds to the movement history of the battery. The information on the movement history of the user is an example of movement information.

When the user returns the battery unit 100 to the charging station 200, the battery control unit 182 stores the user ID, STID, lending date and time, lending SOC, and user movement history information stored in the battery storage unit 184. The battery unit 100 is transmitted to the returned charging station. At this time, the battery control unit 182 transmits the battery ID stored in the battery storage unit 184 and the SOC of the current battery 120, which is the SOC at the time of return, to the charging station 200 that returns the battery unit 100. The battery ID is, for example, an ID including a different number assigned to each battery unit 100 (or battery 120) in order to individually identify the plurality of battery units 100 (or batteries 120).

<Charging station 200>
The charging station 200 is a facility for storing and charging the battery unit 100, and is installed in a plurality of places. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charging station 200 includes a charging device 220 and a charging station control device (hereinafter referred to as “ST control device”) 240. One or more charging devices 220 are installed in the plurality of charging stations 200.

The charging device 220 includes the slot portion 221, the authentication/display 223, and the charger 227 shown in FIG. 2 shown in FIG. The slot portion 221 includes an upper slot portion 221U and a lower slot portion 221L. Since the upper slot portion 221U and the lower slot portion 221L have a common configuration, the configuration of the upper slot portion 221U will be described as a representative. The upper slot portion 221U includes, for example, a turntable that rotates around a vertical axis. A battery accommodating portion (hereinafter referred to as “accommodating portion”) is provided on the turntable. The accommodating portion is provided in each of the regions divided into four equal parts in a plan view of the turntable. The charging device 220 holds the plurality of batteries 120 detachably by the slot portion 221. The slot part 221 is an example of a holding part.

In the slot portion 221, each of the upper slot portion 221U and the lower slot portion 221L can accommodate four battery units 100, and the charging device 220 can accommodate eight battery units 100. Therefore, eight battery units 100 can be stored in the charging station 200 having one charging device 220 installed, and 16 battery units 100 can be stored in the charging station 200 having two charging devices 220 installed. Can be stored.

An outlet is provided on the surface of the charging device 220. The user can take the battery unit 100 in and out from the housing located at the outlet. The accommodation portion located at the outlet can be replaced by rotating the turntable. The four accommodating portions are separated by a partition plate. The partition plate is made of, for example, a transparent material.

The authentication/display unit 223 is a device having at least an authentication function and a display function. The authentication/display device 223 can read the record information of the NFC card (not shown) carried by the user by using near field communication (NFC; Near Field Communication), for example. Thereby, the charging station 200 authenticates the user who has the authority to use the share service by using the user ID included in the recorded information. The authentication/display device 223 can detect a radio wave transmitted by a radio wave transmitter possessed by the user. The authentication/display unit 223 detects the user who has reserved the use of the battery unit 100 approaching the charging station 200, based on the detection result of the radio wave transmitted by the radio wave transmitter operated by the user.

The authentication/display device 223 includes, for example, a touch panel (display panel with a touch sensor). With this, it is possible to input necessary information according to the user's operation and to provide various visible information to the user. The authentication/display device 223 is arranged in the upper left portion of the charging device 220. The authentication/display device 223 displays various information. For example, the authentication/display device 223 displays information for notifying the accommodation unit in which the battery unit to be rented to the user is accommodated.

The charger 227 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the back side of each accommodation portion in the slot portion 221 shown in FIG. The charger 227 can be connected to the battery 120 of the battery unit 100 and charged. A power source for supplying electric power to the battery 120 is connected to the charger 227. When the battery 120 is connected to the charger 227, the battery unit 100 and the charging station 200 are connected via a communication line, and signals can be transmitted and received between the battery unit 100 and the charging station 200. The charger 227 is an example of a charging unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ST control device 240 includes an ST communication unit 242, an ST control unit 244, a charging control unit 246, and an ST storage unit 250. The ST control unit 244 and the charge control unit 246 are realized, for example, by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software) stored in the ST storage unit 250. Some or all of these functional units are hardware (circuit units; LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. It may be realized by (including circuitry), or may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, or a removable storage medium (non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM. A storage medium) and may be installed by mounting the storage medium on a drive device. The ST storage unit 250 is realized by the storage device described above. The ST storage unit 250 stores the STID of the charging station 200 provided with the ST control device 240.

The ST communication unit 242 receives the information returned and transmitted by the battery unit 100 connected to the charger 227 via the communication line. The ST communication unit 242 transmits/receives information to/from the management device 400 via the network NW. The ST communication unit 242 includes, for example, a communication interface such as a wireless module for connecting a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network and a network card for connecting to the network NW.

The ST control unit 244 causes the ST communication unit 242 to receive and acquire the battery connection information transmitted by the battery communication unit 140 when the battery 120 of the returned battery unit 100 is connected to the charger 227. The ST control unit 244 stores various information such as the battery ID, the user ID, the STID, the lending date and time, the SOC at the time of lending, the SOC at the time of returning, the movement history of the user, and the like, together with the battery connection information, in the ST communication unit 242 to receive and acquire. The ST control unit 244 stores various acquired information, for example, the charging plan data 478 transmitted by the management device 400, in the ST storage unit 250.

The lending date and time is an example of a target date and time that is a target date and time, and the lending SOC is an example of a target charge amount that is a target charge amount at the lending date and time. The target date and time may be a date and time other than the lending date and time. The target date and time may be the estimated date and time or the date and time designated by the user or the like. The target charge amount may be a charge amount other than the SOC at the time of rental. The SOC at the time of lending may be a so-called full charge, which is the maximum charge allowable amount of the battery 120, or may be a charge amount reduced from the full charge, for example, a charge amount of 90% of the full charge. The plurality of batteries 120 stored in the charging station 200 may have a common lending SOC or a different lending SOC. For example, when renting out the five battery units 100, the rented SOC of the four batteries 120 may be fully charged, and the rented SOC of the one battery 120 may be 90% of the full charge.

The ST control unit 244 generates the battery data 252 when the battery connection information is acquired. The ST control unit 244 attaches the battery ID, the user ID, the STID, the lending date and time, the lending SOC, the returning SOC, the user's movement history, and the user's own STID transmitted from the battery unit 100 and stored in the ST storage unit 250. Then, the battery data 252 is generated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the battery data 252. As shown in FIG. 3, the battery data 252 includes items of the battery ID, the user ID, the STID at the time of lending and returning, the date and time, the SOC, and the movement history of the user. The ST storage unit 250 stores battery data 252 for all the battery units 100 stored in the slot portion 221 of the charging device 220. When the battery unit 100 is rented and removed from the charger 227, the ST control unit 244 erases the battery data 252 stored in the ST storage unit 250 for the rented battery unit 100.

The ST control unit 244 updates the charging ST data 254 stored in the ST storage unit 250 when the battery connection information is acquired and the battery data 252 is generated or deleted. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of charging station data (hereinafter referred to as “charging ST data”) 254. As shown in FIG. 4, the charging ST data 254 includes items of STID, location, number of slots, and number of storage batteries. The information about the STID, the location, the number of slots, and the number of storage batteries of the charging station 200 is an example of operating information indicating the operating state of the charging device.

The item of STID included in the charging ST data 254 is an item indicating the STID attached to the charging station 200, and the item of the location included in the charging ST data 254 is an item indicating the location of the charging station 200. .. The item of the number of slots included in the charging ST data 254 is an item indicating the number of accommodating portions of the slot portion 221 in the charging device 220 of the charging station 200, and the number of battery units 100 that can be stored in the charging station 200. It is the same number.

The item of the number of stored batteries included in the charging ST data 254 is the number of battery units 100 stored in the charging station 200. The number of stored batteries is an example of the number of batteries held by the charging device. The ST control unit 244 adds 1 to the number of storage batteries in the charging ST data 254 when the battery data 252 is generated, and subtracts 1 from the number of storage batteries in the charging ST data 254 when deleting the battery data 252. The ST control unit 244 subtracts 1 from the number of slots and repairs the charger 227 to be usable when one accommodation unit of the slot unit 221 becomes unusable due to, for example, a failure of the charger 227. As a result, the slot number 221 is incremented by 1 when the accommodating portion that has been unusable becomes usable. The ST control unit 244 may increase or decrease the number of slots when the charging device 220 is added or removed.

The charging ST data 254 further includes items such as slot number, battery ID, return date and time, SOC at return, scheduled charging start date and time, and scheduled charging completion date and time. The item of slot No. is, for example, an item indicating a number assigned to each accommodation portion of the slot portion 221 in the charging device 220 installed in the charging station 200. Slots Nos. "1001" to "1004" are attached to the accommodating portions of the upper slot portion 221U, and slot numbers "2001" to "2004" are attached to the accommodating portions of the lower slot portion 221L.

The item of battery ID is an item showing a battery ID attached to the battery unit 100 housed in the housing portion of the slot portion 221. The battery ID item is set to “vacant” for the accommodation unit in which the battery unit 100 is not accommodated. The item of return date and time is an item indicating the date and time when the battery unit 100 housed in the housing portion of the slot portion 221 was returned to the charging station 200. The item of SOC at the time of return is an item indicating the SOC when the battery unit 100 accommodated in the accommodation portion of the slot portion 221 is returned to the charging station 200.

The item of scheduled charging start date and time is an item indicating the scheduled charging start date and time when charging of the battery unit 100 housed in the housing portion of the slot portion 221 is started. The item of scheduled charging completion date and time is an item indicating a scheduled charging completion date and time when charging of the battery unit 100 housed in the housing portion of the slot portion 221 is completed. The scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time are both calculated and set based on the charging plan data 478 transmitted by the management device 400. The item of scheduled charging start date and time is on standby for charging until the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time are set.

The setting of the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time will be further described after the charging plan data 478 described later is described. The scheduled charging start date and time is an example of the “latest charging start timing at which the battery charge amount can reach a predetermined amount” of the present invention, and “the battery charge amount can reach a predetermined amount. 2 is an example of “charging timing based on the latest charging start timing”.

When the ST control unit 244 acquires the battery connection information and generates the battery data 252, the ST control unit 244 uses the ST communication unit 242 to acquire the acquired battery connection information, the generated battery data 252, and the updated charging ST data 254. It is transmitted to the management device 400. When the ST control unit 244 erases the battery data 252, the ST control unit 244 transmits the updated charging ST data 254 to the management device 400 using the ST communication unit 242.

When transmitting the battery data 252 to the management device 400, the ST control unit 244 may transmit all of the stored battery data 252 to the management device 400, or only the generated battery data 252 to the management device 400. You may send it. When transmitting the charging ST data 254 to the management apparatus 400, the ST control unit 244 may transmit the entire charging ST data 254, or may transmit only the STID and the number of storage batteries in the charging ST data 254. When the number of slots changes, the number of slots may be added and transmitted.

The ST control unit 244 causes the ST communication unit 242 to receive and acquire the reservation information and the charging plan data 478 transmitted by the management device 400. The ST control unit 244 stores the acquired reservation information and charging plan data 478 in the ST storage unit 250. When the ST control unit 244 stores the reservation information in the ST storage unit 250, the ST control unit 244 prepares for the user who rents out the battery unit 100 to perform authentication.

The ST control unit 244 performs display control of the authentication/display unit 223 and authentication control when, for example, a user corresponding to the reservation information output by the ST communication unit 242 comes to the site. After the reserved user arrives at charging station 200 and authenticates with authentication/display 223, ST control unit 244 causes authentication/display 223 to display information about battery unit 100 to be rented to the user.

The charging control unit 246 charges the battery 120 with the electric power consumed by the user. The charging control unit 246 reads out the charging plan data 478 stored in the ST storage unit 250, and based on the read-out charging ST data 254 and charging plan data 478, the battery 120 housed in each housing unit of the slot unit 221. The charging period as a charging mode is calculated and determined. The charging control unit 246 is an example of a determination unit.

-The charging period is the period from the charging start date and time to the charging completion date and time. The charging control unit 246 calculates and determines the scheduled charging completion date and time and the scheduled charging start date and time. The scheduled charging start date and time is an example of the charging start date and time that is an element of the charging period, and the scheduled charging completion date and time is an example of the charging end date and time that is a factor of the charging period. The charging control unit 246 prohibits the charger 227 from charging the battery 120 at a time before the scheduled charging start date and time.

The charging control unit 246 adjusts the time to start charging the battery 120 in each battery unit 100 housed in the slot portion 221 of the charging device 220 based on the determined scheduled charging start date and time. The charging control unit 246 starts charging the battery 120 at the scheduled charging start date and time. The charge control unit 246 charges the battery 120 with electric power, for example, until the battery 120 in the battery unit 100 housed in the slot unit 221 is fully charged.

<Management device 400>
The management device 400 functions as a web server or an application server, provides various information to the mobile terminal 20, and acquires information uploaded by the mobile terminal 20, for example, reservation request information. The management device 400 communicates with the charging station 200 to transmit, to the charging station 200, reservation information indicating that the user has reserved the battery unit 100.

Further, the management device 400 makes a charging plan of the battery 120 in the battery unit 100 stored in the charging station 200. In the charging plan, the charging of the battery 120 is started at the charging start timing based on the latest charging start timing that allows the charging amount of the battery 120 to reach a predetermined amount according to the timing at which the battery unit 100 is provided. It is generated as a plan for.

The management device 400 determines the time at which the battery unit 100 stored in the target charging station 200 is provided (hereinafter referred to as “provided time” and the number of battery units 100 prepared for the provided time (hereinafter referred to as “provided number”). The charging plan information is generated based on the charging plan information (charging plan data 478) based on the charging plan data. The management device 400 transmits the generated charging plan data 478 to the charging station 200. The provision time is the present invention. Is an example of "timing at which the battery is provided".

The management device 400 includes, for example, a communication unit 410, an acquisition unit 420, a generation unit 430, a planning unit 440, a reservation unit 460, and a storage unit 470. The acquisition unit 420, the generation unit 430, the planning unit 440, and the reservation unit 460 are realized by a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware such as LSI, ASIC, FPGA, GPU, or may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (non-transitory storage medium) such as HDD or flash memory, or in a removable storage medium (non-transitory storage medium) such as DVD or CD-ROM. It may be installed and installed by mounting the storage medium on the drive device. The storage unit 470 is realized by the storage device described above.

The storage unit 470 stores information such as the battery IDs of the plurality of batteries 120 used in the management system 1, the STIDs of the plurality of charging stations 200, and the locations. When the battery 120 or the charging station 200 is newly added to the management system 1, the storage unit 470 additionally stores the battery ID, STID, and the like.

The communication unit 410 transmits/receives information to/from the mobile terminal 20, the charging station 200, a weather server (not shown), and the like via the network NW. The communication unit 410 includes a communication interface such as a wireless module for connecting a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network or a network card for connecting to the network NW. The communication unit 410 receives various kinds of information transmitted by the mobile terminal 20, the charging station 200, and a weather server (not shown).

The acquisition unit 420 acquires various information using the communication unit 410. For example, the acquisition unit 420 acquires the battery data 252 transmitted by the charging station 200, the reservation request information transmitted by the mobile terminal 20, and the weather information transmitted by the weather server. The weather information includes past weather information and future weather forecast information. The acquisition unit 420 stores the acquired information in the storage unit 470. The acquisition unit 420 generates and acquires the battery total data 472, the user total data 474, and the charging ST total data 476 based on the battery data 252 transmitted by the charging station 200, the weather information transmitted by the weather server, and the like. To do.

The battery total data 472 is data about all the battery units 100 managed by the management device 400. The user total data 474 is data for all users who have a history of lending any of all the battery units 100 managed by the management device 400. The charging ST total data 476 is data on the battery units 100 stored in all the charging stations 200 managed by the management device 400.

The acquisition unit 420 stores the acquired battery total data 472 in the storage unit 470. When the battery total data 472 is stored in the storage unit 470, the acquisition unit 420 reads the battery total data 472 stored in the storage unit 470 and updates the battery total data 472 based on the battery data 252. And stores it in the storage unit 470. Similarly, the acquisition unit 420 stores the acquired user total data 474 and charge ST total data 476 in the storage unit 470. When the user total data 474 and the charging ST total data 476 are stored in the storage unit 470, the acquisition unit 420 reads the user total data 474 and the charging ST total data 476 stored in the storage unit 470, and performs the user total. The data 474 and the charging ST total data 476 are updated and stored in the storage unit 470.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the battery total data 472. As shown in FIG. 5, the battery total data 472 includes items of battery ID, lending status, lending/returning date and time, and lending/returning SOC. The item of battery ID is an item indicating an ID included in the battery data 252.

The item of the lending status is an item indicating which charging station 200 the battery unit 100 is rented from the charging station 200 or, if it is stored. When the battery unit 100 is rented out, the item of the rented status is “rented out” like the battery 120 whose battery ID is BA001 in FIG. When the battery unit 100 is not rented out and stored in the charging station 200, the item of the rent status is the charging station 200 in which the battery 120 is stored, like the battery IDs BA002 and BA003 in FIG. Will be the STID.

The item of lending/returning date and time is an item indicating the date and time when the battery unit 100 was lent from the charging station 200 or returned to the charging station 200. The item of lending/returning date and time indicates the date and time when the battery unit 100 is lent when the charging station 200 is lent. The item of lending/returning date and time indicates the date and time when the battery unit 100 is returned to the charging station 200 when the battery unit 100 is stored in the charging station 200.

The item of SOC at lending/returning is an item showing SOC at the time of lending or returning the battery unit 100 lent from the charging station 200 or stored in the charging station 200. The SOC of lending/returning SOC indicates the SOC of the battery unit 100 at the time of lending when the charging station 200 is lent. The item of lending/returning date and time indicates the SOC at the time of returning the battery unit 100 when the battery unit 100 is stored in the charging station 200.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the user total data 474. As shown in FIG. 6, the user total data 474 includes items of use history No. for each user, lending time zone, holiday information, lending STID, return STID, movement history, and weather information, to which a user ID is attached. .. The item of usage history No. is, for example, an item indicating the number of times the battery unit 100 has been lent to the user. For example, the acquisition unit 420 adds the usage history No. each time the battery data 252 is transmitted by the charging station 200. The acquisition unit 420 acquires the following items for each usage history No.

The item of the lending time zone is, for example, an item indicating the time from when the battery unit 100 is lent to the user until it is returned. The item of holiday information is an item regarding whether the date of lending the battery to the user is a weekday or a holiday. The holiday information here is classified into, for example, “weekdays”, “holidays”, or “continuous holidays”. For example, "holiday" is included in "continuous holiday", but "holiday" corresponding to "continuous holiday" is included in "continuous holiday" instead of "holiday". Holidays may be day of the week or may be classified as weekdays during consecutive holidays. Classifications such as "end of month" and "beginning of the month" may be provided. Holiday information and weather information are examples of environmental information. The environmental information is information indicating at least one of weather, date, and day of the week in the area where the charging device is installed.

The item of STID for lending is an item showing the STID attached to the charging station 200 that has lent the battery unit 100 to the user. The item of return STID is an item indicating the STID attached to the charging station 200 to which the battery unit 100 has been returned by the user. The acquisition unit 420 identifies the charging station that rented out the battery unit 100 based on the battery data 252, and identifies the charging station that returned the battery 120 based on the information of the charging station 200 that transmitted the battery data 252. The acquisition unit 420 acquires a rental STID and a return STID according to the charging station that rented out the battery unit 100 and the charging station that returned it.

The item of movement history is an item indicating the movement history of the user. The acquisition unit 420 acquires the movement history of the user included in the battery data 252 and uses it as the movement history as it is. The item of weather information is an item indicating the weather in the rental time zone corresponding to the usage history No. The acquisition unit 420 determines and acquires the weather in the rental time zone corresponding to the usage history No. based on the weather information transmitted by the weather server and received using the communication unit 410.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the charging ST total data 476. As shown in FIG. 7, the charging ST total data 476 includes items of STID, location, number of slots, and number of storage batteries. Each item of STID, location, number of slots, and number of storage batteries indicates the STID, location, number of slots, and number of storage batteries corresponding to each of the plurality of charging stations 200. When acquiring section ST data 254 transmitted by charging station 200, acquisition section 420 updates charging ST total data 476.

The generation unit 430 generates the provision condition estimation model 480 for generating the charging plan data 478 as a learning model. The generation unit 430 generates the provision condition estimation model 480 by machine learning using each item in the user total data 474 as input data and a charging plan as output data, for example.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the generation unit 430 uses, as input data, the total number of rented batteries, the moving range and moving time zone of the user, the location of the charging station 200 and the number of stored batteries, holiday information, and weather information, A provision condition estimation model 480 including a neural network model that outputs the provision time and the number of provisions of the battery 120 after charging in the charging station 200 (hereinafter referred to as “provision condition”) is generated. The provision condition is an example of “charge state”. The acquisition unit 420 acquires an estimated value that is the number of provision conditions generated by the generation unit 430.

The generation unit 430 acquires the total number of rented batteries from the battery total data 472. The generation unit 430 acquires the moving range and moving time zone of the user, holiday information, and weather information based on the user total data 474. The generation unit 430 acquires the location of the charging station and the number of stored batteries from the charging ST total data 476. The generation unit 430 stores the generated provision condition estimation model 480 in the storage unit 470.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of the generation process of the provision condition estimation model 480. As shown in FIG. 8, the generation unit 430 generates a provision condition estimation model 480 having an input layer, a hidden layer, and an output layer. Data such as the total number of rented batteries, the movement history and movement time zone of the user, the location of the charging station 200 and the number of stored batteries, holiday information, and weather information are input to the input layer. The charging plan is output from the output layer. The hidden layer has a multilayer neural network that connects the input layer and the output layer. The hidden layer parameters are optimized by performing machine learning with the input to the input layer as learning data and the data to be output from the output layer as teacher data. The generation unit 430 generates the provision condition estimation model 480 by unsupervised learning, but may generate the provision condition estimation model 480 by supervised learning. The total number of rented batteries is an example of the total number of batteries that can be held in the charging device. The information on the total number of rented batteries is an example of operation information indicating the operation status of the batteries.

When the charging plan execution time comes, the planning unit 440 uses the provision condition estimation model 480 generated by the generation unit 430 and information such as the location of the charging station 200, holiday information, and weather conditions to determine the provision condition. presume. The charging plan execution time may be set arbitrarily, and may be set, for example, three times a day at a fixed time, for example, 8:00, 16:00, or 0:00. Alternatively, the charging plan may be executed in response to a request from the outside such as the charging station 200.

The planning unit 440 makes a charging plan based on the estimated provision conditions, and generates charging plan data 478. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the charging plan data 478. As shown in FIG. 9, the charging plan data 478 is data that is generated for the charging station 200 and includes the number of batteries 120 provided for each providing time in the battery unit 100 stored in the charging station 200.

The planning unit 440 inputs the input data such as the total number of rented batteries, the location and storage battery number of the charging station, holiday information, and weather information to the provision condition estimation model 480, and the provision condition of the battery 120 in the target charging station 200. To estimate. Planning unit 440 generates charging plan data 478 based on the estimated provision condition and transmits the charging plan data 478 to charging station 200 using communication unit 410.

The reservation unit 460 generates reservation information based on the reservation request information when the reservation request information transmitted by the mobile terminal 20 is stored in the storage unit 470. The reservation information includes, for example, the user ID of the user who reserved the battery unit 100, the STID of the reserved charging station 200, and the reservation time. The reservation unit 460 generates the user ID included in the reservation request information as the user ID of the reservation information. The reservation unit 460 generates STID information of the charging station 200 reserved based on the information of the charging station 200 that desires to rent the battery unit 100, which is included in the reservation request information. The reservation unit 460 generates reservation information based on the information on the desired lending time included in the reservation desired information. The reservation unit 460 transmits the generated reservation information to the charging station that rents out the battery unit 100 using the communication unit 410.

Next, an example of processing in the management device 400 will be described. Management device 400 updates provision condition estimation model 480 when receiving battery data 252 or charging ST data 254 transmitted by charging station 200. Management device 400 generates charging plan data 478 and transmits it to charging station 200 when the charging plan execution time comes. Therefore, first, a process when the battery data 252 or the charging ST data 254 transmitted by the charging station 200 is received will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed in the management device 400. The flow shown in FIG. 10 shows the flow when the battery data 252 or the charging ST data 254 transmitted by the charging station 200 is received. Management device 400 determines whether communication unit 410 has received battery data 252 or charging ST data 254 transmitted by charging station 200 (step S110). When it is determined that the battery data 252 or the charging ST data 254 is not received, the management device 400 repeats the process of step S110 until the battery data 252 or the charging ST data 254 is received.

When it is determined that the battery data 252 or the charging ST data 254 is received, the acquisition unit 420 reads the battery total data 472 from the storage unit 470 and updates the battery total data 472 based on the battery data 252 (step S120). Specifically, the acquisition unit 420 updates the information of the data according to the battery total data 472 or the charging ST data 254 battery ID. The acquisition unit 420 stores the updated battery total data 472 in the storage unit 470.

Subsequently, the acquisition unit 420 reads the user total data 474 from the storage unit 470 and updates the user total data 474 based on the battery data 252 (step S130). Specifically, the acquisition unit 420 adds the usage history of the data of the user ID according to the battery data 252 in the user total data 474. When adding the usage history, the acquisition unit 420 also refers to the weather information transmitted by the weather server. The acquisition unit 420 stores the updated user total data 474 in the storage unit 470.

Subsequently, the acquisition unit 420 reads the charge ST total data 476 from the storage unit 470 and updates the charge ST total data 476 based on the charge ST data 254 (step S140). Specifically, the acquisition unit 420 updates the item of the storage battery number in the charging ST total data 476 to the storage battery number included in the charging ST data 254. The acquisition unit 420 stores the updated charging ST total data 476 in the storage unit 470.

Subsequently, the generation unit 430 reads the user total data 474 and the provision condition estimation model 480 stored in the storage unit 470, performs machine learning, and updates the provision condition estimation model 480 (step S150). The generation unit 430 stores the updated provision condition estimation model 480 in the storage unit 470. In this way, the management device 400 ends the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the management device 400. The flow shown in FIG. 11 shows the flow when the charging plan execution time has come. It is determined whether or not the charging plan execution time has come (step S210). When it is determined that the charging plan execution time has not come, the management device 400 repeats the process of step S210 until the charging plan execution time comes.

When it is determined that the charging plan execution time has come, the planning unit 440 reads out the charging ST total data 476, weather forecast information, and provision condition estimation model 480 stored in the storage unit 470 (step S220). Subsequently, the planning unit 440 inputs the location, holiday information, weather, etc. of the charging station 200 included in the charging ST total data 476 into the provision condition estimation model 480 to estimate the provision condition of the battery unit 100 in the charging station 200. (Step S230).

Subsequently, the planning unit 440 makes a charging plan based on the estimated supply conditions and generates charging plan data 478 (step S240). The planning unit 440 uses the communication unit 410 to transmit the generated charging plan data 478 to the charging station 200 that is the target for which the charging plan is generated (step S250). In this way, the management device 400 ends the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

The charging station 200, which has received the charging plan data 478 transmitted by the management device 400, starts charging of the battery 120 of the battery unit 100 housed in each of the slots 221 of the charging device 220, based on the received charging plan data 478. Adjust the time. The charging control unit 246 in the charging station 200 reads out the charging ST data 254 and the charging plan data 478 stored in the ST storage unit 250, and based on the charging ST data 254 and the charging plan data 478, each accommodation of the slot unit 221. A scheduled charging completion date and time and a scheduled charging start date and time of the battery 120 housed in the unit are calculated.

First, the charging control unit 246 acquires the provided number of the battery units 100 estimated to be necessary for the providing time, based on the charging plan data 478. Subsequently, the charging control unit 246 refers to the charging ST data 254, and based on the SOC at the time of returning the battery 120 housed in each housing unit of the slot unit 221, the time required for charging the battery 120 is completed. (Hereinafter referred to as "required charging time") is calculated. The charging control unit 246 calculates, for the provided number of battery units 100 estimated to be necessary in the provision time, the provision time as the scheduled charging completion date and time, and the time before the provision time as much as the required charging time as the scheduled charging start date and time. , Charging ST data 254. As for the battery units 100 exceeding the number provided, the charging of the battery 120 is not started, but the charging standby is performed. The required charging time is an example of the charging continuation time which is an element of the charging period. When setting the charging period, the charging control unit 246 may calculate the charging period using the scheduled charging completion date and time and the scheduled charging start date and time, or may calculate the charging period using the scheduled charging completion date and time and the required charging time. You may.

For example, suppose that in the charging station 200, five battery units 100 are stored in the charging station 200 at 14:00, and the number of battery units 100 provided is three at the provision time of 15:00. In this case, the charging control unit 246 sets the batteries 120 of the three battery units 100 having a large charging SOC of the batteries 120 among the five battery units 100 as the batteries 120 to be charged. The charging control unit 246 sets the scheduled charging completion date and time for the battery 120 to be charged at 15:00 on the current day. In this way, the charging control unit 246 sets the batteries 120 held by the slot portion 221 of the charging station 220 as the target batteries to be charged in the descending order of the amount of charge.

Subsequently, the charging control unit 246 calculates the required charging time for the three battery units 100 having the scheduled charging completion date and time set at 15:00 on the current day. The required charging time becomes shorter as the SOC at the time of return increases. The charging control unit 246 calculates and sets the scheduled charging start date and time by subtracting the required charging time from the scheduled charging completion date and time. For example, when the scheduled charging completion date and time is 15:00 on the current day and the required charging time is 20 minutes, the charging control unit 246 sets the time 20 minutes back from 15:00 to a predetermined amount (for example, SOC) of the battery charge amount. =100 [%]), the charging start date and time is set to the latest start timing that can reach the charging start date and time or a time with a certain margin (for example, several [min]). 246 starts charging the battery 120 when the charging start date and time is 14:40.

The charging control unit 246 sets the scheduled charging start date and time for each battery unit 100 housed in the slot portion 221 of the charging device 220. The charging control unit 246 starts charging the battery 120 when the date and time reaches the scheduled charging start date and time, and provides the battery unit 100 including the number of batteries 120 of the provided number which has reached a predetermined amount, for example, the full charge time. To prepare.

The management device 400 according to the above-described first embodiment generates a charging plan for the battery 120 to start charging the battery 120 at the timing when the battery unit 100 is provided. For this reason, the management device 400 can cause the charging station 200 to prepare the battery for the rental. Management device 400 generates charging plan data 478 including the number of battery units 100 provided in the providing time and transmits the charging plan data 478 to charging station 200. Therefore, the management device 400 can start the charging of the battery 120 at the latest charging start timing at which the charge amount of the battery 120 can be fully charged in synchronization with the timing at which the battery 120 is provided.

The battery 120 has a large amount of charge, and if the SOC continues to be high, deterioration of the battery 120 is likely to progress. Particularly in summer when the temperature and humidity are high, the battery 120 is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, if the battery 120 is unnecessarily charged, the battery 120 may be deteriorated, the life of the battery 120 may be shortened, and the commercial value of the battery 120 may be reduced. In this respect, the management device 400 according to the first embodiment starts charging the battery 120 at the latest charging start timing at which the charge amount of the battery 120 can be fully charged in synchronization with the timing at which the battery 120 is provided. Can be done. Therefore, according to the management device 400 of the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the situation where the deterioration of the battery 120 is advanced to shorten the life of the battery 120 or the commercial value of the battery 120 is reduced.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing an example of changes in the SOC of the battery 120 stored in the charging station 200. In FIG. 12, as shown by bar graphs R1 to R4 after time t5, it is assumed that the number of pieces provided increases during the providing time. For example, in the charging station 200, it is assumed that after the lending of the battery unit 100 progresses until the time t1 and the SOC decreases, the battery unit 100 gradually starts to be returned from the time t2.

In this case, if the charging of the battery 120 is started immediately after the battery unit 100 is returned, the battery 120 is fully charged at the time t3 as shown by the first SOC change graph L1 indicated by the broken line. After that, this state continues until time t5. On the other hand, when the management device 400 makes a charging plan, the time when charging starts is delayed until time t4, as indicated by the second SOC change graph L2 indicated by the solid line. As a result, the time from when the battery 120 is fully charged until it is rented can be shortened by the shortened time T100 shown in FIG.

The management device 400 according to the first embodiment described above provides the provision time by inputting the input information including the movement history of the electric vehicle 10 in which the battery 120 is attached to the provision condition estimation model 480 obtained by machine learning. To get. Therefore, it is possible to accurately estimate the provision conditions in the charging station 200.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. The management device 400 according to the first embodiment generates the provision conditions of the provision time and the provision number as the charging plan, but the management device 400 according to the second embodiment is the scheduled charging start date and time and the charging completion schedule in the charging station 200. Generate the date and time as a charging plan. The planning unit 440 makes a charging plan based on the charging-ST aggregate data 484.

In the second embodiment, the management device 400 causes the generation unit 430 to generate the provision condition estimation model 482 shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of the generation process of the provision condition estimation model 482. In the input layer of the provision condition estimation model 480, each data of the total number of rented batteries, the movement history and movement time zone of the user, the location of the charging station 200 and the number of stored batteries, holiday information, and weather information is input. The output time of the battery 120 stored in the charging station 200 is output from the output layer. When a plurality of batteries 120 are stored in the charging station 200, the output layer provides the first providing time, the second providing time,... The k-th providing time (k= Integer) is output. The providing condition estimation model 482 may be generated in any of supervised learning and unsupervised learning.

The planning unit 440 calculates the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time of each battery 120 stored in the charging station 200, based on the generated provision conditions, and updates the charging ST total data 484. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the charging ST total data 484. In the management device 400 according to the second embodiment, the items in the charging ST total data 484 include the STID of each charging station 200 and each item of the location, as well as the slot number of the number of slots in the charging device 220 and the number of storage batteries. Battery ID, return date and time, SOC at return, scheduled charging start date and time, and scheduled charging completion date and time. These items are common to the items included in the charging ST data 254 transmitted by the charging station 200.

The planning unit 440 inputs information such as the location of the charging station 200, the number of storage batteries, holiday information, and weather to the provision condition estimation model 482, and estimates the provision time for the provision number. For example, when the number of batteries 120 stored in the charging station 200 is the same as the number of batteries provided or the number of batteries 120 stored in the charging station 200 is less than the number of batteries provided, the planning unit 440 charges the battery. Scheduled charging start date and scheduled charging completion date and time for all the batteries stored in the station 200 are set.

When the number of the batteries 120 stored in the charging station 200 is larger than the provided number, the planning unit 440 selects the scheduled charging start date/time and the scheduled charging completion from the batteries 120 stored in the charging station 200 for the provided number. The battery 120 to set the date and time is selected. In this case, the planning unit 440 sets the scheduled charging start date/time and the scheduled charging completion date/time of the unselected battery 120 as “charging standby”.

The planning unit 440 calculates the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time based on the provision time. In this case, the planning unit 440 first calculates the provision time as it is as the estimated charging completion time. The planning unit 440 sets any one of the first provision time to the kth provision time as the scheduled charging completion date and time of the battery 120. The planning unit 440 sets the scheduled charging completion date and time, excluding the battery 120 for which the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time have already been set. The planning unit 440 calculates the required charging time based on the SOC at the time of return for the battery 120 for which the scheduled charging completion date and time is set, and calculates the scheduled charging start date and time based on the scheduled charging completion date and the required charging time.

The planning unit 440 updates the charging ST total data 484 based on the calculated scheduled charging start date and scheduled charging completion date and time. The planning unit 440 extracts the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date from the updated charging ST aggregation data 484 to generate the charging plan data. The charging plan data is data corresponding to the charging station 200 that is the transmission destination. Planning unit 440 transmits the generated charging plan data to corresponding charging station 200 using communication unit 410.

The charging station 200 receives the charging plan data transmitted by the management device 400. The charging control unit 246 in the charging station 200 sets the scheduled charging start date and scheduled charging completion date and time included in the charging plan data received using the ST communication unit 242. The charging control unit 246 adjusts the charging start time of the battery 120 included in the battery unit 100 housed in each housing unit of the slot unit 221 of the charging device 220 based on the set scheduled charging start date and scheduled charging completion date and time. To do.

Next, the processing when the charging plan execution time in the second embodiment is reached will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the management device 400. The management device 400 determines whether or not the charging plan execution time has come (step S310) and when it judges that the charging plan execution time has not come, the processing of step S210 is repeated until the charging plan execution time comes.

Subsequently, when it is determined that the charging plan execution time has come, the management device 400 reads the provision condition estimation model 482 and the like (step S320) and estimates the provision condition (step S330). After estimating the provision condition, the planning unit 440 calculates the scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time of the battery 120 for the battery unit 100 accommodated in the accommodation unit of each slot unit 221 in the charging station 200 (step S340). ).

The planning unit 440 calculates the scheduled charging start date and the scheduled charging completion date and time for the battery 120 whose scheduled charging start date and scheduled charging completion date and time are in charging standby. The planning unit 440 updates the charging ST totalization data 484 based on the calculated scheduled charging start date and time and scheduled charging completion date and time of the battery 120, and stores it in the storage unit 470. The planning unit 440 generates charging plan data based on the calculated scheduled charging start date and time and scheduled charging completion date and time. The planning unit 440 uses the communication unit 410 to transmit the generated charging plan data to the charging station 200 corresponding to the charging plan (step S350). In this way, the management device 400 ends the process shown in FIG.

The management device 400 according to the second embodiment has the same effects as the management device 400 according to the first embodiment. The management device 400 according to the second embodiment is included in the battery unit 100 housed in each housing part of the slot part 221 of the charging device 220 in each charging station 200, as well as the provision time and the number of batteries provided, as a charging plan. The scheduled charging start date and time and the scheduled charging completion date and time of the battery 120 are calculated. Therefore, compared with the management device 400 according to the first embodiment, the load on the ST control device 240 in the charging station 200 can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, "the latest charging start timing at which the battery charge amount can reach the predetermined amount" (hereinafter referred to as "first timing") and "the battery charge amount can reach the predetermined amount. Although the "charging timing based on the latest possible charging start timing" (hereinafter referred to as "second timing") is used as a common timing, the first timing and the second timing may be different timings. For example, the second charging timing may be a predetermined time before the first timing, for example, 10 minutes before or 30 minutes before. Particularly in the winter, the battery 120 can be sufficiently warmed up by advancing the second timing earlier than the first timing.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the battery unit 100 lent to the user is displayed on the authentication/display unit 223, but it may be displayed on another display unit or the like. For example, a light, such as a spotlight, may be provided in each housing of the slot portion 221, and the user may be notified of the battery unit 100 to be rented to the user by turning on or blinking the light. In the above embodiment, the generation unit 430 in the management device 400 generates the provision condition estimation model 480, and the planning unit 440 uses the provision condition estimation model 480 to perform the charging plan, but the charging plan is performed according to another aspect. May be. For example, the planning unit 440 may perform the charging plan by a rule base based on each data input to the input layer of the provision condition estimation model 480, for example. The provision condition is an estimated value of the provision condition generated by the generation unit 430, but the provision condition may be other than the estimated value of the provision condition generated by the generation unit 430. The provision condition acquired by the acquisition unit 420 is, for example, an estimated value of the provision condition generated by the generation unit 430, but it may be a provision condition such as a designated value specified by a user input without using machine learning. Good.

In the above-described embodiment, the charging control unit 246 calculates and determines the charging period as the charging mode of the battery 120, but it may calculate and determine the charging speed of the battery 120 instead of the charging period. For example, when the scheduled charging completion date and time is 15:00 on the current day, the charging control unit 246 sets the scheduled charging start date and time to 14:40 in the above-described embodiment. The time and date may be, for example, 14:30. The charging control unit 246 may determine the charging speed without determining the scheduled charging completion date and time and the scheduled charging start date and time.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the plurality of storage units are movable, but the plurality of storage units may be fixed. Although the turntable is used as the structure for moving the housing portion, other means such as a slider may be used. In this case, the moving mechanism may be a so-called puzzle-type moving structure, for example.

As described above, the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described using the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can be added.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Management system 10... Electric vehicle 20... Portable terminal 100... Battery unit 120... Battery 140... Battery communication part 160... Self position detection part 180... Battery control device 182... Battery control part 184... Battery storage part 200... Charging station 220 Charging device 240... ST control device 242... ST communication part 244... ST control part 246... Charging control part 250... ST storage part 252... Battery data 254... Charging ST data 400... Management device 410... Communication part 420... Acquisition part 430 ...Generation unit 440...Planning unit 450...Selection unit 460...Reservation unit 470...Storage unit 472...Battery total data 474...User total data 476,484...Charging ST total data 478...Charging plan data 480,482...Provision condition estimation model

Claims

A charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power,
An acquisition unit that acquires an estimated value of the state of charge of the battery by the charging unit,
A determining unit that determines a charging mode of the battery so that the charging state of the battery satisfies the estimated value of the charging state acquired by the acquiring unit;
A charging control unit that controls the charging unit to charge the battery based on the charging mode of the battery determined by the determination unit,
Charging device.
The charging mode includes at least one of a charging period and a charging speed for charging the battery by the charging unit,
The determination unit determines at least one of the charging period and the charging speed so as to satisfy the estimated value of the state of charge,
The charging device according to claim 1.
The elements that specify the charging period include a charging start date and time when the charging unit starts charging the battery, a charging end date and time when the charging unit finishes charging the battery, and a charging of the battery by the charging unit. The charging duration from the start to the end is included,
The determination unit determines at least one of the charging start date and time, the charging end date and time, or the charging duration time so as to satisfy the estimated value of the state of charge.
The charging device according to claim 2.
When determining the charging start date and time, of the dates and times that satisfy the estimated value of the state of charge, the determination unit determines the latest date and time as the charging start date and time,
The charging device according to claim 3.
When the determination unit determines the charging start date and time, the charging control unit prohibits charging by the charging unit before the charging start date and time,
The charging device according to claim 3 or 4.
The element for specifying the state of charge includes a target date and time that is a target date and time, and a target charge amount that is a target charge amount at the target date and time,
The charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The battery is detachable from the power device,
Further comprising a holding portion that detachably holds the plurality of batteries,
The target charge amount includes the number of the batteries and a target charge amount of each of the batteries,
The charging device according to claim 6.
The charging control unit, among the plurality of batteries held by the holding unit, is a charging target in order from the battery having a large charge amount,
The charging device according to claim 7.
The target date and time is determined based on the date and time when the user starts using the battery,
The charging device according to any one of claims 6 to 8.
The element for identifying the state of charge includes a target date and time that is a target date and time, and a target charge amount that is a target charge amount at the target date and time,
In determining the charging end date and time, the determining unit determines a date and time according to the target date and time as the charging end date and time,
The charging device according to any one of claims 3 to 5.
The power device is a movable body that can move using electric power supplied from the battery,
The charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
The battery is a battery shared by a plurality of users,
The charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
Further comprising a generator that generates the estimated value of the state of charge based on the movement information of the battery,
The charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
The generator generates the estimated value of the state of charge by machine learning using the movement information as input data.
The charging device according to claim 13.
The generation unit generates the estimated value of the state of charge based on information on the location of the charging device,
The charging device according to claim 14.
The battery is detachable from the power device,
The generation unit generates the estimated value of the state of charge based on information on the number of batteries held in the charging device,
The charging device according to claim 15.
The generation unit generates the estimated value of the state of charge based on environmental information indicating at least one of weather or date or day of the week in which the charging device is installed,
The charging device according to claim 15 or 16.
The computer of the charger is
Obtaining an estimated value of the state of charge of the battery by a charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power,
The charging state of the battery determines a charging mode of the battery for satisfying the estimated value of the acquired charging state,
Based on the determined charging mode of the battery, the charging unit performs control to charge the battery,
How to charge.
In the computer of the charging device,
To obtain an estimated value of the state of charge of the battery by a charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power,
The state of charge of the battery causes the state of charge of the battery to satisfy the estimated value of the obtained state of charge to be determined,
Causing the charging unit to control the charging of the battery based on the determined charging mode of the battery,
program.
In the computer of the charging device,
To obtain an estimated value of the state of charge of the battery by a charging unit that charges a battery that supplies power to a power device that uses power,
The state of charge of the battery causes the state of charge of the battery to satisfy the estimated value of the obtained state of charge to be determined,
Causing the charging unit to control the charging of the battery based on the determined charging mode of the battery,
A storage medium that stores a program.