WO2023016637A1

WO2023016637A1 - Method and control unit for a vehicle for assisting a user of a vehicle with charging the vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2023016637A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/072386
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingo Totzke; Andreas BLATTNER
Original assignee: Cariad Se
Priority date: 2021-08-11
Filing date: 2021-08-11
Publication date: 2023-02-16
Also published as: EP4355608A1

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a method for assisting a user of a vehicle (10) with charging the vehicle (10) at a certain charging station (14), wherein prior to reaching a location of the certain charging station (14) with the vehicle (10), at least one charging station property (SP) associated with the certain charging station (14) is determined, and at least one property (EP) of a charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28) of the vehicle (10) is determined. Further, in dependence of the at least one charging station property (SP) and of the at least one property (EP) of the charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28), for the certain charging station (14) a charging assistance information (I0) different from the location of the certain charging station (14) is output to the user for assisting the user in performing a charging process at the certain charging station (14).

Description

METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR A VEHICLE FOR ASSISTING A USER OF A VEHICLE WITH CHARGING THE VEHICLE

DESCRIPTION:

The invention relates to a method for assisting a user of a vehicle with charging the vehicle at a certain charging station, wherein prior to reaching a location of the charging station with the vehicle, at least one charging station property associated with a charging station and at least one property of a charging equipment of a vehicle is determined. The invention also relates to a vehicle and a control unit for a vehicle.

Depending on the charging type, like AC(alternating current)-charging, DC(direct current)-charging or HPC (high-power charging), different plug-in systems are required to charge an electric vehicle. Depending on the charging standard different connector types exist, for example a Type 1 connector, a Type 2 connector, a Type GB connector for AC charging, a CSS connector, and so on. Especially first-time users of electric vehicles or users who do not use electric vehicles often, like new customers or users in other countries or regions of the world, like first-time users of electric vehicles in the USA, are thus faced with lots of questions, when selecting and approaching a charging station like whether such a charging station is compatible for charging the vehicle or which charging plug is to be used this time, and so on. Due to the different types of charging, connector types, and charging equipment in the vehicle, there is a large number of possible combinations. On the other hand, this leads to uncertainty of the vehicle driver when selecting and approaching a charging station and thus contributes to being afraid of the charging process and the interaction with the charging infrastructure. For instance, if the user has parked on the wrong side of the charging station and thus the charging cable is too short to connect the vehicle with the charging station, the user has to reposition the vehicle relative to the charging station to be able to connect the charging station with the vehicle. This reduces the driving comfort. WO 2012/068089 A1 describes a system for updating a charge station database including information about the charge station location and/or characteristics by determining and verifying the charge station location and characteristics after a vehicle has connected to a charging station. The vehicle determines the charge station location based upon the location of the vehicle while connected to the charging station. This location information is transmitted by the vehicle to a central database. Furthermore, it is described that charging stations are only compatible with certain vehicles, due to, for example, outlet connection types. This information can be identified either directly via the characteristics of a charging station or indirectly, as the type of connection in the vehicle is known, the charge station database can include the type of connections and/or compatibility with vehicles. Optionally, when displaying charging stations to a user, only charging stations that are compatible to the vehicle can be displayed.

Nevertheless, it would be still advantageous to assist a user with charging the vehicle at a certain charging station even more, e.g. also on compatible charging stations, that means also on a charging station that has already been determined as being compatible.

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a method, a control unit and a vehicle, which allow to assist a user of a vehicle with charging the vehicle as good as possible.

The objective is accomplished by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments with convenient and non-trivial further embodiments of the invention are specified in the following description, the dependent claims and the figures.

According to the invention a method for assisting a user of a vehicle with charging the vehicle at a certain charging station is provided, wherein prior to reaching a location of the charging station with the vehicle at least one charging station property associated with the charging station is determined and at least one property of a charging equipment of the vehicle is determined. Furthermore, in dependence of the at least one charging station property and of the at least one property of the charging equipment, for the certain charging station a charging assistance information different from the location of the certain charging station is output to the user for assisting the user in performing a charging process at the certain charging station. The invention thereby is based on several findings: For example, it can happen, that a vehicle is compatible with a certain charging station, however, the charging cable for connecting the vehicle with the charging station is currently not present in the vehicle. Also, it is possible, that there are different kinds of charging cables present in the vehicle, which might comprise for example different connector types to be connected with different corresponding connectors of different charging stations. In this situation, it would be very helpful for a user to know whether the cable necessary for charging the vehicle at the certain charging station is present in the vehicle, and in case several cables are present in the vehicle, which of them can be used to charge the vehicle or to connect the vehicle with a certain charging station. Moreover, depending on the vehicle type and charging type a vehicle may comprise several charging connector units, each compatible with a certain connector type or charging type. Also in this situation it would be very helpful for a user to know which of those charging connector units is to be used for charging the vehicle at the charging station. Also, even in case the vehicle comprises only a single charging connector unit, it is advantageous to park the vehicle relative to the charging station such that this charging connector unit is as close as possible to the charging station, because charging cables usually have a limited length. All these different situations can now advantageously be considered when assisting a user with charging the vehicle, especially prior to reaching the location of the charging station by outputting the charging assistance information in dependence of the at least one property of the charging equipment of the vehicle and the at least one charging station property. The assistance information can therefore be optimally adapted to the charging equipment of the vehicle with regard to the properties of the certain charging station. So, even in case the certain charging station has already been determined to be compatible, at least in principle, with the vehicle with regard to the charging equipment of the vehicle, further helpful information can be provided to a user in form of the charging assistance information, like which cable is to be used for charging the vehicle at the certain charging station, especially in case there are several cables in the vehicle, whether the required cable is present in the vehicle at all, and e.g. at which side of the charging station the vehicle is to be parked and/or which of several charging connector units of the vehicle is to be used. Thus, even in case the compatibility with a certain charging station has already be confirmed, more useful pieces of information in form of the charging assistance information can be provided to the user, especially also prior to reaching the location of the certain charging station, which provides more comfort and support for the user to perform the charging process. Thus, by means of this method, a user or driver of a vehicle can proactively be informed when approaching the charging station whether, and especially how charging is possible at the charging station. This increases the comfort of the user or driver of a vehicle.

Moreover, the property of the charging equipment, and especially also the charging assistance information, preferably relates to at least one certain charging cable, especially to a presence of at least one certain charging cable, in the vehicle and/or a position of at least one charging connector unit of the vehicle with respect to a certain side of the vehicle. For example, when the at least one property of the charging equipment is determined, it can be determined as such property, which charging cables the vehicle is equipped with and which of them is currently on board, and which kinds of charging connector units does the vehicle comprise and where are they positioned. The determined vehicle equipment properties can be compared with the corresponding charging station properties and by this comparison the required vehicle equipment and its properties, like kind and/or location, can be determined. For example, it can be determined which charging cable is to be used in case the vehicle is equipped with several different charging cables, whether the required charging cable is currently on board of the vehicle, which connector unit is to be used and at which side of the vehicle it is positioned. E.g., the vehicle may comprise a charging connector unit for AC-charging on the left vehicle side and another charging connector unit for DC-Charging on the right vehicle side. In case the certain charging station is only adapted for AC-charging, the charging connector unit on the left side of the vehicle can be determined to be used for the certain charging station and this can be output as charging assistance information to the user. This allows to determine particularly helpful charging information to better assist a user with charging the vehicle.

The vehicle can be configured as an electric vehicle. Thus, the vehicle can comprise a rechargeable storage device, like a battery, especially a high-voltage battery. The charging station preferably is configured as a public charging station or at least a semi-public charging station. Nevertheless, a corresponding support and assistance for a driver can also be provided in case of a private charging station. The charging equipment of the vehicle relates to charging cables, like the at least one certain charging cable, or other components of the vehicle related to charging, like the at least one charging connector unit. When the position of the charging connector unit is determined with regard to a certain side of the vehicle, the position of the charging connector unit can be classified into several pre-defined classes of positions, like a left side of the vehicle, a right side of the vehicle, a front side of the vehicle, a rear side of the vehicle, a front left side, a front right side, a rear left side, and a rear right side of the vehicle. It might also be possible to define, for example, only two different classes of positions, like one class relating to the left side of the vehicle and another class relating to the right side of the vehicle.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the charging assistance information comprises a parking recommendation concerning a parking position and/or a parking orientation of the vehicle relative to the charging station, wherein the parking recommendation has been determined in dependence of the determined position of the at least one charging connector unit of the vehicle, and especially a parking space information of a charging parking space associated with a charging station as the at least one charging station property. So, advantageously, the user of the vehicle can be informed about how to park most appropriately with regard to the certain charging station depending on the position of the charging connector unit which is to be connected with the certain charging station. The charging assistance information can, for example, comprise a recommendation in the form of parking such that the charging station is on the left side of the vehicle or on the right side of the vehicle or in the front of the vehicle or behind the vehicle, depending at least on the position of the charging connector unit of the vehicle. Further, the recommendation may also consider the charging parking space associated with a charging station.

Depending on this charging parking space, not every orientation of above- named examples might be possible. Depending on the information about the charging parking space associated with a charging station, especially the position and extent of the charging parking space associated with the certain charging station, a recommended parking position can be determined, e.g., by a control unit of the vehicle, such that a distance between the at least one charging connector unit which is to be used for charging the vehicle at the certain charging station, and the certain charging station is minimized among all possible parking positions. Thus, it can advantageously be achieved that the user can connect the charging connector unit of the vehicle with the certain charging station by means of even a short charging cable and a repositioning of the vehicle can be avoided. Generally, the information about the at least one property of the charging equipment of the vehicle can be stored in a memory of the control unit of the vehicle or can be otherwise determined, as explained later. The information about the charging station property can be acquired by means of communicating with the charging station directly or with a server associated with the charging station. The server provides for example a charging station database with all the charging station related information, or the charging station property can be acquired by means of swarm data provided by other vehicles, which have already used the certain charging station. Also such swarm data can be stored in a database which is provided by a server, like an Internet server.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention the position of the at least one charging connector unit is determined in dependence of at least one charging station property which is a suitable cable type and/or connector type and/or charging type, which is compatible with the charging station, especially wherein the vehicle comprises at least two of the charging connector units at different positions of the vehicle, wherein each of the charging connector units is associated with a certain charging cable and/or charging cable connector and/or charging type. A charging type can define a charging power or charging current. A charging type can be a standard type of charging or a fast charging type with higher charging power than the standard charging type. The charging type can also be an AC-charging or a DC-charging. Thus, the vehicle may comprise two different charging connector units, for example, one for standard charging and one for fast charging or one for AC-charging and one for DC-charging. If the charging station is only configured for the standard charging and not for fast charging as charging type or only for AC-charging and not for DC-charging, the corresponding position of the compatible charging connector unit of the vehicle can be determined in dependence of this charging type of the certain charging station as charging station property. This also constitutes a very helpful information for a user of the vehicle. Moreover, this information can again be used to provide a corresponding parking recommendation for the user, as described above. Thus, the user can again be informed in advance how to park with regard to the charging station, so that the distance between the charging connector unit to be used for the charging at the charging station is minimized. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention the assistance information comprises an information about the determined position of at least one charging connector unit. So, by means of the assistance information, the user cannot only be informed about a recommended parking position, but also about the position of at least one charging connector unit which is to be used to charge the vehicle at the charging station. Thereby, it can be avoided that the user accidentally tries to connect the charging cable with the wrong charging connector unit of the vehicle, especially in case the vehicle comprises several of said charging connector units. Also in case the vehicle only comprises a single charging connector unit, this constitutes a helpful information for the user, especially in case the user is not very familiar with the vehicle. So the user can advantageously be informed that the charging connector unit of the vehicle is located on the right side or on the left side of the vehicle as an example. The user does not have to search the vehicle connector unit and time can be saved.

Also if it is possible that the vehicle can be charged at the certain charging station according to two different charging types, like the standard type of charging and the fast charging, the charging assistance information can comprise corresponding information for each charging type. For example, the user can be informed to park in front of a charging station and to use the charging connector unit at the front left side of the vehicle in case of fast charging and to park the vehicle behind the charging station and to use the charging connector unit and the right rear side of the vehicle in case of the standard charging type shall be used for charging. Thus, the user can be fully informed about the options to charge the vehicle and corresponding recommendations and advices can be provided.

Similarly, the user can also be informed about the kind of cable to be used for the respective charging types. Each cable can be associated with an identifier and the identifier can be output to the user as part of the charging assistance information. The identifier can be a number, a connector type, a color of the cable or also the position of the corresponding cable storage, in which the cable is stored in the vehicle.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention at least one suitable cable type and/or connector type, which is compatible with a charging station, is determined as the at least one charging station property, and it is determined whether a charging cable that corresponds to the determined cable type and/or connector type is present in the vehicle by comparing the at least one charging station property and at least one property of the charging equipment.

So, advantageously, it cannot only be determined whether the vehicle in principle is compatible with the connector types of the charging station, but also whether such a suitable cable is currently present in the vehicle. Thus, it can be avoided that the user drives to the charging station and then recognizes that he left the required cable at home.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention it is determined whether the charging cable corresponding to the determined cable type and/or connector type is present in the vehicle by obtaining an information about one or more charging cables, which are present in the vehicle from a data storage device, in which information about the one or more charging cables, which have been defined to be in the vehicle, is stored, and/or by means of a cable detector of the vehicle, which is configured to detect charging cables in the vehicle and to determine the kind of a charging cable, which has been detected.

So, on the one hand, the information about which cables are currently present in the vehicle can be derived from a data storage device, like a data storage device of the control unit of the vehicle for executing a method according to the invention of one of its embodiments. Thus, in the storage device it can be stored which cables are within the vehicle as a standard, like the cables, with which the vehicle is initially sold. In case a user additionally buys additional cables the information about the additional cables can also be stored in the data storage device, e.g., by means of a corresponding user input. Moreover, the information about the cables currently present in the vehicle can also be derived from a cable detector of the vehicle. This cable detector is capable of detecting cables in the vehicle and also to determine the kind of the charging cable which has been detected. This has the great advantage that always an up to date information about currently present cables in the vehicle can be provided.

Also, this allows for further advantageous embodiments, like informing the user when starting the vehicle that one or more cables which might be required for charging the vehicle are missing or are not within the vehicle. To detect cables within the vehicle the respective cables can be equipped with a transponder or similar communication technique. Then, the cable detector can be configured to send a request signal. If the transponder of a certain cable detects the request signal, it can send a response signal. If the detector detects the response signal, the respective cable is detected as being within the vehicle.

If the detector does not detect a response signal within a certain time limit, it determines that the cable is not within the vehicle. Thereby, different request signals can be sent by the detector for different kinds of cables and/or different cables can be configured to send respective different response signals in response to receiving the request signal. Thereby, the detector can also determine the kind of cable as soon as a cable is detected. Another option would be that the cable detector is configured as an optical cable detector. The cable detector can comprise a camera, e.g., positioned in a trunk or a front trunk of the vehicle or near typical storage positions for storing charging cables in the vehicle. The detector may also comprise several cameras at such different positions. By means of the images captured by the camera and known image analysis methods, it can be determined whether and which charging cables are present within the images and therefore are present in the vehicle. Also, the vehicle may comprise at least one cable storage and the cable storage itself can be used as cable detector. For example, such cable storage can be provided with a certain mechanism which is activated in case the cable is stored in the cable storage, like a button on a cable holder, which is automatically pressed by the cable in case the cable is positioned in the cable holder. In case of several different cables, each cable storage can be associated with a certain cable type. Thereby, also the cable type can be determined when detecting a cable within the vehicle.

Therefore, there are many advantageous possibilities for detecting charging cables which are present in the vehicle, and for determining the kind of charging cable of the detected cables.

The kind of charging cable can be defined by the connector types of the connectors, comprised by the charging cable, and/or by the charging type, for which the charging cable can be used, like standard charging or fast charging or AC-charging or DC-charging.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the charging station property is requested as soon as the charging station is within a certain distance from the vehicle. Such a distance is defined to be preferably smaller than five kilometers, especially smaller than one kilometer. Such distance can also be defined to be smaller than 500 meters. This has the advantage that the charging station property only has to be requested if the vehicle is quite close to the certain charging station. This on the one hand still allows to output the charging assistance information just in time, and on the other hand to avoid unnecessary requests of charging station properties of charging stations, which are far away and for which it is very unlikely that the user intends to charge the vehicle at those charging stations. Therefore, unnecessary data transfer can be avoided. Whether the certain charging station is within the defined certain distance from the vehicle or not can be determined by known geofencing methods. In some cases the certain distance can also be much larger, for instance in the course of planning a route, where charging stops are planned as well along the route. Thus, also other criteria can be defied, according to which the charging station property is requested, which are defined in the following.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the charging station property is requested as soon as the certain charging station is selected by the user for charging the vehicle. The charging station can be selected by the user for example by means of a navigation system of the vehicle. For example, the navigation system may show all possible, especially compatible, charging stations along a road, which is to be travelled with the vehicle, like a planned route or the like. The user may then choose one of the displayed charging stations as the certain charging station. The navigation system may also show all charging stations in a certain region, which are known to the navigation system, wherein this region can be selected by the user. In this case, no route has to be planned. Then, the user may select one of those charging stations as the certain charging station. Then, the charging station property can be requested. This has especially the advantage that the user can be informed very early, for example, which cable is necessary for charging the vehicle at the selected charging station. In case the selected charging station is not compatible with the vehicle for any reasons, like the necessary charging cable is not in the vehicle, or the selected charging station is already occupied, or the parking situation is not ideal with regard to the position of the charging connector unit of the vehicle, then the user can re-schedule his route more easily and select a different charging station. Optionally, the navigation system can show only compatible charging stations, such that the user can only select one charging station from the compatible charging stations. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention the charging station property is requested as soon as the certain charging station is selected by the vehicle according to a pre-defined criterion as potential charging station for the next charging of the vehicle. The vehicle may be configured to automatically select a potential charging station to charge the vehicle, for example in dependence of a planned route and/or the current state of charge of the battery of the vehicle. Also in this case, namely the certain charging station is selected by the vehicle instead of the user himself, the charging station property of this certain charging station can also be requested and a corresponding charging assistance information can be output to the user.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention the charging station property is requested for all charging stations as the certain charging station that are within a certain distance from the vehicle and/or that are along a planned route of a navigation system of the vehicle. This makes it possible to output the charging assistance information before the user selects one of them. The selection of the user can then more easily be based on the output of the charging assistance information.

Also, the certain distance can be again defined to be five kilometers at maximum, especially one kilometer at maximum. Which charging stations are within the defined certain distance can again be determined based on known geofencing methods.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention a compatibility of the certain charging station for charging the vehicle is determined in dependence of whether the charging cable that corresponds to the determined cable type and/or connector type, which is compatible with the certain charging station, is present in the vehicle, and/or in dependence of a comparison of a charging type associated with the certain charging station as charging station property with the charging type associated with the vehicle, and/or in dependence of a current or future occupancy of the certain charging station. Preferably, in case the certain charging station is not compatible for charging the vehicle, the user is informed also about the incompatibility by means of the charging assistance information.

Therefore, also helpful additional further information with respect to the compatibility of the vehicle with the certain charging station can be output by means of the charging assistance information. If it is determined that the charging station is compatible with the vehicle, the above-mentioned charging assistance information can be output to the user, like a parking recommendation, a hint, which cable to use to charge the vehicle, and a hint whether the required cable is onboard, as well as a hint on which side of the vehicle the charging connector unit of the vehicle, that is to be used, is positioned.

So, if the charging cable, that corresponds to the determined cable type and/or connector type which is compatible with the charging station, is present in the vehicle, the vehicle and the certain charging station can be classified as being compatible. Otherwise, when the necessary charging cable is not in the vehicle, the charging station and the vehicle can be classified as being incompatible. Further, in case the charging type associated with the certain charging station, like normal charging or fast charging, is not compatible with the charging type associated with the vehicle, also the certain charging station can be classified as being incompatible with the vehicle. In case the certain charging station is occupied or will be occupied at the time of arrival at the charging station, the charging station can also be regarded as being incompatible with the vehicle, or more precisely as being not available. In all these cases, the user can be informed accordingly. Otherwise, the charging station can be regarded as being compatible with the vehicle. Also in this case a corresponding charging assistance information can be output to the user.

Whether the certain charging station is currently occupied or will be occupied at the arrival time can for example be determined on the basis of reservations, which have been made for the certain charging stations by other vehicles. Also swarm data can be used to gather this information.

The invention also relates to a control unit for a vehicle for assisting a user of the vehicle with charging the vehicle at a certain charging station, wherein the control unit is configured prior to reaching a location of the certain charging station with the vehicle to determine at least one charging station property associated with the certain charging station and at least one property of a charging equipment of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to output for the certain charging station in dependence of the at least one charging station property and of the at least one property of the charging equipment, a charging assistance information different from the location of the certain charging station to the user for assisting the user in performing a charging process at the certain charging station. The advantages described with respect to the method according to the invention similarly apply to the control unit according to the invention.

Especially, the control unit can also be configured to determine as the at least one property of the charging equipment a kind and/or presence of at least one certain charging cable in the vehicle and/or a position of at least one charging connector unit of the vehicle with respect to a certain side of the vehicle, and to output charging assistance information to the user in dependence of the at least one charging station property and the at least one property of the charging equipment.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a control unit according to the invention or its embodiments.

The invention also comprises embodiments of the control unit that comprise features that correspond to features as they have already been described in connection with the embodiments of the inventive method. For this reason, the corresponding features of the embodiments of the inventive control unit are not described here again.

The control unit may comprise a data processing device or a processor circuit adapted to perform an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor circuit may comprise at least one microprocessor and/or at least one microcontroller and/or at least one FPGA (field programmable gate array) and/or at least one DSP (digital signal processor). Furthermore, the processor circuit may comprise program code which comprises computer-read- able instructions to perform the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code may be stored in a data memory of the processor device.

The inventive vehicle is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger vehicle or a truck, or as a bus or a motorcycle.

The invention also comprises the combinations of the features of the different embodiments. In the following an exemplary implementation of the invention is described. The figures show:

Fig. 1 a schematic illustration of a vehicle with a control unit for assisting a user with charging the vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 a flow chart to illustrate a method for assisting a user with charging a vehicle according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle 10 with a control unit 12 for assisting a user with charging the vehicle 10 at a certain charging station 14 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the vehicle 10 comprises charging equipment, like two charging cables 15, 16, which may differ from each other with respect to their charging connectors or the charging type, for which they can be used, like AC-charging, DC-charging, standard charging or fast charging, where a standard charging uses a lower charging power than fast charging. Moreover, as further charging equipment the vehicle 10 may comprise at least one charging connector unit. In this example, the vehicle 10 comprises two charging connector units 17, 18.

The charging connector units 17, 18 can differ from each other with respect to the connector type, with which they can be connected and/or with regard to the charging type, as explained before. In this example, the vehicle front is denoted by 20 and the first connector unit 17 is on the left side 22 of the vehicle, whereas the second connector unit 18 is on the right side 24 of the vehicle. The properties of this charging equipment, namely the equipment properties EP, can be made available to the control unit 12. For example, those properties EP may define the positions of the connector units 17, 18, namely on the left side 22 or on the right side 24 of the vehicle 10, as well as properties of the charging cables 15, 16, like the charging type or connector type for which they can be used to connect with a charging station, like the certain charging station 14 in this case. Moreover, the vehicle 10 may also comprise separate cable storage devices 26, 28, each associated with one of the cables 15, 16. Those storage devices 26, 28 can be configured as separate compartments or mountings or something else. The vehicle 10 may also comprise a detection unit 30 to detect, whether those cables 15, 16 are present in the vehicle 10. This can be a detection unit 30, which is for example included in the storage devices 26, 28, like a pressure sensor or button, which detects when a cable 15, 16 is stored in the respective storage devices 26, 28. Also the cables 15, 16 can be equipped with a transponder each, which allows for a respective identification of the cables 15, 16 by means of the control unit 12. By means of these transponders, the control unit 12 can check whether the cables 15, 16 or which of them is currently within the vehicle 10. The detection unit 30 can be configured as a communication unit to communicate with the transponder of the respective cables 15, 16. The detection unit 30 can also be configured as a camera.

All those information can be stored in the control unit 12 as equipment properties EP. In case of a change, like one of the cables 15, 16 is taken out of the respective storage 26, 28, then the equipment properties EP can be updated correspondingly. Other information can be stored in the control unit 12 as well, like the charging types, like AC-charging, DC-charging or a high-power charging, for which the vehicle 10 is basically configured.

When the vehicle 10 is approaching a charging station, like in this case the certain charging station 14, for example, when a distance to the certain charging station 14 is smaller than a pre-defined value, like one kilometer or even smaller than 500 meters, then the properties SP of the charging station 14 can be requested, for example from an Internet server 32 comprising a central data base. In this data base charging station properties SP of different charging stations can be stored. Those charging station properties SP can be provided by the charging station 14 itself and be transmitted to the Internet server 32 or can also be provided on the basis of swarm data, which again have been provided by other vehicles 34, which have already used the charging stations 14 for charging their vehicles 34 or which have acquired the charging station properties SP, like the current occupancy of the respective charging stations 14, when driving by the charging stations 14. In the alternative, the charging station properties SP of the certain charging station 14 can be requested from the charging station 14 also directly without the need of the Internet server 32. Those charging station properties SP may comprise the positions and other position information about the parking spaces 36, 38, on which vehicles can park for charging at the charging station 14, or the charging types provided by the certain charging station 14 and/or the charging standards, namely the connector types, which can be connected to the charging station 14. Optionally, also a real-time information about which parking spaces 36, 38 and/or charging sites of the charging station 14 are currently occupied. The control unit 12, that receives the station properties SP can use the information to check, which charging equipment is necessary to charge the vehicle 10 at the charging station 14 and whether this required equipment is currently on board. Especially, the control unit 12 may compare the determined equipment parameters EP to the received station parameters SP and determine for example whether or not the charging cables 15, 16 are compatible with the charging station 14 or which one and whether the vehicle 10 is compatible with the charging station 14 with regard to the charging type, and the control unit 12 can also check, especially by using the cable detector 30, whether the required cable 15, 16, which is compatible and required for charging the vehicle 10 at the charging station 14 is within the vehicle 10. Also, based on the charging type provided by the certain charging station 14 the control unit 12 can determine, which of the connector units 17, 18 is to be used for the charging and at which side 22, 24 of the vehicle 10 this connector unit 17, 18 is positioned. In case, the charging station and the vehicle 10 are basically compatible, for example with regard to the charging type, and the charging station is not occupied, especially not fully occupied, then a charging assistance information I0 can be output on a display device 40 of the vehicle to assist the user with charging the vehicle 10 at the certain charging station 14. Such information I0 can comprise, which connector unit 17, 18 is to be used for the charging and at which side 22, 24 of the vehicle 10 this connector unit 17, 18 is positioned. The information I0 can further comprise, which of the cables 15, 16 is to be used for the charging and optionally in which storage 26, 28 it is positioned. The information I0 can also comprise, whether the required cable 15, 16 is on board of the vehicle 10 at all. Moreover, the information I0 can comprise a recommendation how to park the vehicle 10 at the certain charging station 14. In the illustration of Fig. 1 the first connector unit 17, the second cable 16 and the second storage 28 as well as the first parking space 36 are highlighted. This may correspond to the information I0, which is output to the user. So in this example, the control unit may recommend by outputting this information I0 to the user to use the first parking space 36 of the charging station 14 and to park in forward direction, so that the charging station 14 preferably is in the front of the vehicle 10 when the vehicle is parked. Further, the control unit 12 can advise the user by means of the charging assistance information I0 to use the first connector unit 17 on the left side 22 of the vehicle 10 and further to use the second cable 16 in the second storage 28. Also, a position information about this storage 28 can be output to the user, for example in the form of “on the right side”, “in the trunk”, or else. Generally, such storage devices 26, 28 can be positioned in a trunk of the vehicle or in a front trunk of the vehicle or also in the compartment. In case the equipment of the vehicle 10 and the equipment of the charging station 14 are not compatible and/or the charging station 14 is occupied, then the driver or user can be informed by means of a warning, which can also be output on the display 40 of the vehicle 10.

Such warning may include, that a charging is not possible at the certain charging station 14 and a different charging station needs to be selected and/or the user needs to drive to a different charging station. Optionally, also a suitable route to a nearby charging station or a charging station near an already planned route can be determined and be offered to the user. Thereby, the control unit 12 can check in advance, whether such different charging station is suitable or compatible with the vehicle 10.

Also, already during the route planning, especially before the beginning or at the beginning of the route or trip by means of a navigation function it can be requested for a respective charging infrastructure, which requirements for the charging equipment of the vehicle 10 exist.

This information can then be considered when planning the route, including the planning of charging stops. Thereby, the method as described cannot only be executed by the control unit 12 of the vehicle 10 but can also be executed by a control unit external of the vehicle 10, like by the Internet server 32. In other words, also the determined equipment properties EP of the vehicle 10 can be transmitted to the Internet server 32 which then checks, whether the vehicle 10 and the charging station 14 are compatible and determines suitable advices and/or recommendations for the user in form of the charging assistance information and transmits this information back to the vehicle 10 which can then be displayed on the display 40 to the user.

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart for illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention. The method starts in step S12, where the control unit 12 checks, whether a charging station 14 is sufficiently close to the vehicle 10. If this is not the case, this step can be repeated, until a charging station 14 is close enough to the vehicle 10. Optionally, in step S12 it can also be checked, whether the user has selected a certain charging station 14. So if the user has selected a certain charging station 14 or it has been identified, that the vehicle 10 approaches a certain charging station 14, for example by means of geofencing or planning a charging stop in the course of route planning, then in step S14 the station properties SP of this charging station 14 are requested and received in step S16. These properties SP of the charging infrastructure, like the charging station 14, may relate to available charging types and connector types or else. Optionally also real-time information of the charging infrastructure 14 about the current occupancy situation of charging sites and the charging station 14 and parking places 36, 38 can be requested. In step S18 the charging equipment properties EP of the vehicle 10 are determined and in step S20 the equipment properties EP and the station properties SP can be compared with regard to compatibility. So in step S20 the compatibility of the requirements of the respective charging infrastructures and of the charging equipment of the vehicle 10, including the vehicle side 22, 24, which shall be used for the charging can be determined.

Optionally, also it can be checked, whether the required charging cables 15, 16 are currently on board. In case it is determined, that the charging station 14 is not compatible with the vehicle 10, then a corresponding information can be output in step S22 to the user, especially by means of a display unit 40. This information may include a warning about the not possible charging process and an optional planning of a route or replanning of a route to a suitable charging station close to the vehicle 10 or near of the already planned route.

In case of compatibility, in step S24 the charging assistance information I0 can be determined. This information I0 may include a driver information about the charging cable 15, 16 and the vehicle side 22, 24 to be used for the charging at the charging station 14. Then this information I0 is output in step S26 on the display 40.

Optionally, the information, especially the station properties SP, of potentially suitable charging infrastructures and charging stations can already be requested during the route planning prior to the start of the trip or at the beginning of the trip, and therefore an adaption of the route planning including charging stops can be done at an early stage.

Overall, the example shows how a function to support the charging process can be provided. By means of this function a driver can be informed proactively when driving to a charging station, whether and if yes, how at the charging station can be charged, considering the charging type and the connector types, optionally also considering the current occupancy situation of the charging station and of the parking spaces. Thus, the driving comfort is enhanced, because the vehicle is not positioned unnecessarily at a charging station and the driver leaves the vehicle to connect the vehicle with the charging station. Optionally, this function can offer suitable charging stations during the route planning to the user just in time. Thereby, it can be avoided, that the vehicle drives to unsuitable charging stations. Thereby, driving distances and driving times are optimized.

Claims

CLAIMS: Method for assisting a user of a vehicle (10) with charging the vehicle (10) at a certain charging station (14), wherein prior to reaching a location of the certain charging station (14) with the vehicle (10),

- at least one charging station property (SP) associated with the certain charging station (14) is determined; and

- at least one property (EP) of a charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28) of the vehicle (10) is determined; characterized in that in dependence of the at least one charging station property (SP) and of the at least one property (EP) of the charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28), for the certain charging station (14) a charging assistance information (I0) different from the location of the certain charging station (14) is output to the user for assisting the user in performing a charging process at the certain charging station (14). Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the property (EP) of the charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28), relates to at least one certain charging cable (15, 16) in the vehicle (10), especially a presence of the at least one certain charging cable (15, 16) in the vehicle (10), and/or a position (22,24) of at least one charging connector unit (17, 18) of the vehicle (10) with respect to a certain side (22, 24) of the vehicle (10). Method according one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the charging assistance information (I0) comprises a parking recommendation concerning a parking position and/or a parking orientation of the vehicle (10) relative to the certain charging station (14), wherein the parking recommendation has been determined in dependence of the determined position (22, 24) of the at least one charging connector unit (17, 18) of the vehicle (10), and especially a parking space information of a charging parking space (36, 38) associated with the certain charging station (14) as the at least one charging station property (SP). Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein characterized in that the position (22, 24) of the at least one charging connector unit (17, 18) is determined in dependence of the at least one charging station property (SP), which is a suitable cable type and/or connector type and/or charging type, which is compatible with the certain charging station (14), especially wherein the vehicle (10) comprises at least two of the charging connector units (17, 18) at different positions (22, 24) of the vehicle (10), wherein each of the charging connector units (17, 18) is associated with a certain charging cable (15, 16) and/or charging cable connector and/or charging type. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein characterized in that the assistance information (I0) comprises an information about the determined position (22, 24) of the at least one charging connector unit (17, 18). Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein characterized in that at least one suitable cable type and/or connector type, which is compatible with the certain charging station (14), is determined as the at least one charging station property (SP), and it is determined whether a charging cable (15, 16), that corresponds to the determined cable type and/or connector type, is present in the vehicle (10) by comparing the at least one charging station property (SP) and the at least one property (EP) of the charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28). Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein characterized in that whether the charging cable (15, 16) corresponding to the determined cable type and/or connector type is present in the vehicle (10) is determined by obtaining information about one or more charging cables (15, 16), which are present in the vehicle (10):

- from a data storage device on which information about the one or more charging cables (15, 16), which have been defined to be in the vehicle (10), is stored;

- by means of a cable detector (30) of the vehicle (10), which is configured to detect charging cables (15, 16) in the vehicle and to determine the kind of a charging cable (15, 16), which has been detected. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein characterized in that the charging station property (SP) is requested

- as soon as the certain charging station (14) is within a certain distance from the vehicle (10);

- as soon as the certain charging station (14) is selected by the user for charging the vehicle (10);

- as soon as the certain charging station (14) is selected by the vehicle (10) according to ta predefined criterion as potential charging station (14) for the next charging of the vehicle (10);

- for all charging stations (14) as the certain charging station (14) that are within a certain distance from the vehicle (10) and/or along a planned route of a navigation system of the vehicle (10). Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein characterized in that a compatibility of the certain charging station (14) for charging the vehicle (10) is determined in dependence

- of whether the charging cable (15, 16) that corresponds to the determined cable type and/or connector type, which is compatible with the certain charging station (14), is present in the vehicle (10); and/or

- of a comparison of a charging type associated with the certain charging station (14) as charging station property (SP) with a charging type associated with the vehicle (10); and/or

- of a current or future occupancy of the certain charging station (14); and in case, the certain charging station (14) is not compatible for charging the vehicle (10), the user is informed about the incompatibility by means of the charging assistance information (I0). Control unit for a vehicle (10) for assisting a user of the vehicle (10) with charging the vehicle (10) at a certain charging station (14), wherein the control unit is configured prior to reaching a location of the certain charging station (14) with the vehicle (10) to determine,

- at least one charging station property (SP) associated with the certain charging station (14); and

- at least one property (EP) of a charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28) of the vehicle (10); characterized in that the control unit is configured to output for the certain charging station (14) in dependence of the at least one charging station property (SP) and of the at least one property (EP) of the charging equipment (15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 28), a charging assistance information (IO) different from the location of the certain charging station (14) to the user for assisting the user in performing a charging process at the certain charging station (14).