Patent Publication Number: US-2021190870-A1

Title: Combination determination apparatus, combination determination method, and program

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-231881, filed on Dec. 23, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a combination determination apparatus, a combination determination method, and a program. 
     Background 
     In recent years, secondary use of a secondary battery (battery) for on-vehicle use mounted on an electric vehicle has progressed. The secondary use of the secondary battery includes reuse as an on-vehicle secondary battery mounted on another vehicle and use in other applications, for example, use in an electric power storage system. In the related art, a battery secondary use management system has been disclosed which determines a secondary use destination of a battery in use in advance before the end of use on the basis of an expected end-of-use timing (for example, refer to PCT International Publication No. WO2015/012144). 
     SUMMARY 
     It is possible for a user aiming at secondary use of a secondary battery to understand the performance of the secondary battery after the end of use to some extent, but it is difficult for the user to understand the performance when combining such secondary batteries. Therefore, in secondary use in which a plurality of secondary batteries are combined, it is difficult to select a secondary battery to be used. 
     Aspects of the present invention provide a combination determination apparatus, a combination determination method, and a program capable of suitably selecting a secondary battery used for secondary use. 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a combination determination apparatus including: a selection part that selects, from a plurality of secondary batteries having a use history, a reference battery when part or all of the plurality of secondary batteries are combined to be a secondary use battery, based on a state of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and a determination part that determines an availability of each of secondary batteries other than the reference battery among the plurality of secondary batteries as a combination battery that are combined with the reference battery to be the secondary use battery, based on a state of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is the combination determination apparatus according to the first aspect described above, wherein the determination part may determine the availability of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery among the plurality of secondary batteries, based on a use environment of the secondary use battery. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is the combination determination apparatus according to the first or second aspect described above, wherein the determination part may determine the availability of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery among the plurality of secondary batteries, based on a total cost of the secondary use battery. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention is the combination determination apparatus according to any of the first to third aspects described above, wherein the selection part may select the reference battery based on a variation in a condition of the secondary battery. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention is the combination determination apparatus according to any of the first to fourth aspects described above which may further include: a communication part that communicates with a terminal device; an acquisition part that acquires a state of a secondary battery that corresponds to identification information of the secondary battery that is transmitted by the terminal device; and a transmission control part that causes the communication part to transmit a determination result by the determination part, wherein the determination part may specify a secondary battery of which an availability is determined based on the identification information of the secondary battery that is transmitted by the terminal device, and the transmission control part may cause the communication part to transmit the determination result by the determination part to the terminal device that has transmitted the identification information. 
     A sixth aspect of the present invention is the combination determination apparatus according to any of the first to fourth aspects described above which may further include: a generation part that generates a combination pattern of the secondary batteries to be the secondary use battery based on a selection result of the selection part and a determination result of the determination part; and a provision part that provides a generation result of the generation part, wherein the generation part may generate a plurality of combinations of the secondary batteries to be the secondary use battery, and the provision part may provide a plurality of combinations of the secondary batteries. 
     A seventh aspect of the present invention is a combination determination method by a computer, including: selecting, from a plurality of secondary batteries having a use history, a reference battery when part or all of the plurality of secondary batteries are combined to be a secondary use battery, based on a state of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and determining an availability of each of secondary batteries other than the reference battery among the plurality of secondary batteries as a combination battery that are combined with the reference battery to be the secondary use battery, based on a state of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery. 
     An eighth aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that includes a program causing a computer to: select, from a plurality of secondary batteries having a use history, a reference battery when part or all of the plurality of secondary batteries are combined to be a secondary use battery, based on a state of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and determine an availability of each of secondary batteries other than the reference battery among the plurality of secondary batteries as a combination battery that are combined with the reference battery to be the secondary use battery, based on a state of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery. 
     According to the first to eighth aspects described above, it is possible to suitably select a secondary battery used for secondary use. 
     According to the second and third aspects described above, it is possible to determine the availability of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery in accordance with a user&#39;s request. 
     According to the fourth aspect described above, it is possible to make it easier to determine the availability of each of the secondary batteries other than the reference battery. 
     According to the fifth aspect described above, it is possible to provide combination information to a user requiring the combination information. 
     According to the sixth aspect described above, it is possible to provide combination information to a user having less information of the secondary battery. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing an example of a combination determination system according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing an example of a configuration of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing an example of a configuration of a terminal device. 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of a configuration of a combination determination apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of a battery database. 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on a terminal device in which a combination information request application has been activated. 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device of which an agreement button has been operated. 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device after setting a total cost and a use environment of a secondary use battery. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device after a two-dimensional code is read by an image capture part. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device that receives combination information. 
         FIG. 11  is a view showing another example of an image displayed on the terminal device that receives combination information. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing an example of a process in the combination determination apparatus. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing another example of a process in the combination determination apparatus. 
         FIG. 14  is a view showing an example of a configuration of a combination determination apparatus according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device that receives combination information. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of a combination determination apparatus, a combination determination method, and a program of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, it is assumed that a vehicle  10  is an electric vehicle. However, it is only necessary for the vehicle  10  to be a vehicle that is externally chargeable and a vehicle on which a secondary battery that supplies electric power for traveling is mounted. The vehicle  10  may be a hybrid vehicle or a fuel-cell vehicle. 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment of a combination determination apparatus is described. 
     [Overall Configuration] 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing an example of a combination determination system  1  according to the first embodiment. The combination determination system  1  is a system that determines, when a plurality of used batteries are combined and reused, an availability of a combination of the used battery. The used battery is, for example, a battery which has a use history mounted on the vehicle  10  and becomes a used one. The combination determination system  1  provides combination information regarding a combination of the used batteries by the combination determination apparatus  200  to the terminal device  100  in response to a request of the terminal device  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the combination determination apparatus  200  communicates with the terminal device  100  via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a provider device, a radio base station, and the like. The terminal device  100  is, for example, a portable terminal used by a user manufacturing a battery (hereinafter, referred to as a “secondary use battery”) obtained by combining part or all of the used batteries. 
     The combination determination apparatus  200  stores battery information of a plurality of used batteries  50  that become a used one and that are removed from the vehicle  10 . The battery information is information indicating a battery state and is, for example, information of a battery state such as a “normal temperature capacity”, a “low temperature capacity”, and a “self-discharge performance” of the used battery  50 . The battery information may be, for example, battery information transmitted by a vehicle or information provided from a vendor or the like that has removed the used battery  50  from the vehicle  10 . 
     The terminal device  100  sequentially reads a two-dimensional code  52  attached to each of the plurality of used batteries  50 , for example, by an operation of a user U and acquires a plurality of code information. The terminal device  100  transmits the plurality of acquired code information to the combination determination apparatus  200 . The combination determination apparatus  200  selects a reference battery from the plurality of used batteries  50  using the plurality of code information and the like. The reference battery is a used battery that becomes, when manufacturing the secondary use battery, a reference in identifying a used battery available for the secondary use battery among the plurality of used batteries  50 . The code information is an example of “identification information”. 
     After selecting the reference battery, the combination determination apparatus  200  determines whether or not each of the used batteries  50  other than the reference battery is available for the secondary use battery. Hereinafter, a used battery  50  to be determined is referred to as a determination target battery. Among the determination target battery, a battery that is determined to be suitable for use as the secondary use battery is referred to as a combination battery. The combination determination apparatus  200  generates combination information regarding a combination of the used batteries  50 . 
     The combination information includes selection information which is information of the reference battery and availability information which is information of whether or not the determination target battery is available. The combination determination apparatus  200  transmits the generated combination information that includes the selection information and the availability information to the terminal device  100 . Hereinafter, configurations of the vehicle  10 , the combination determination apparatus  200 , and the terminal device  100  are described. 
     [Vehicle  10 ] 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing an example of a configuration of the vehicle  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the vehicle  10  includes, for example, a motor  12 , a PCU (Power Control Unit)  14 , a battery  16 , a battery sensor  18 , a charging port  22 , a converter  24 , a battery information control part  30 , and a communication device  40 . 
     The motor  12  is, for example, a three-phase AC electric motor. A rotor of the motor  12  is connected to a drive wheel. The motor  12  rotates a drive wheel using supplied electric power. The motor  12  generates electric power using kinetic energy of the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates. The PCU  14  includes, for example, a control part and a DC-DC converter. The control part calculates electric power to be supplied to the motor  12 , for example, on the basis of detection values of various sensors provided in the vehicle. For example, the DC-DC converter increases a voltage of electric power supplied from the battery  16  and supplies the electric power calculated by the control part to the motor  12 . 
     The battery  16  is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. The battery  16  stores electric power introduced from the charger  80  outside the vehicle  10  and performs discharging for traveling of the vehicle  10 . The battery sensor  18  is, for example, a group of sensors including an electric current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a temperature sensor. The battery sensor  18  outputs, for example, an electric current value, a voltage value, and a temperature of the battery  16  to the battery information control part  30 . The battery  16  becomes a used battery  50  shown in  FIG. 1  by being removed from the vehicle  10  after the use of the battery  16  by the vehicle  10  is finished. 
     The charging port  22  is provided to be directed toward a vehicle body outside of the vehicle  10 . The charging port  22  is connected to the charger  80  via the charging cable  70 . The charging cable  70  includes a first plug  72  and a second plug  74 . The first plug  72  is connected to the charger  80 . The second plug  74  is connected to the charging port  22 . Electricity supplied from the charger  80  is supplied to the charging port  22  via the charging cable  70 . The charger  80  may be connectable to the network NW. The charging cable  70  includes a signal cable attached to an electric power cable. The signal cable mediates communication between the vehicle  10  and the charger  80 . Therefore, an electric power connector and a signal connector are provided on each of the first plug  72  and the second plug  74 . 
     The converter  24  is provided between the charging port  22  and the battery  16 . The converter  24  converts an electric current introduced from the charger  80  via the charging port  22 , for example, an alternating current (AC), into a DC. The converter  24  outputs the converted DC to the battery  16 . 
     The battery information control part  30  calculates a state of the battery  16  on the basis of the electric current value, the voltage value, and the temperature of the battery  16  output by the battery sensor  18 . The state of the battery  16  includes, for example, items such as a normal temperature capacity, a low temperature capacity, a normal temperature output, a low temperature output, an efficiency, a self-discharge performance, and a use history. The battery information control part  30  outputs battery information and a battery ID regarding the calculated state of the battery  16  to the communication device  40  when the battery  16  is removed from the vehicle  10 . 
     The communication device  40  includes a radio module for connecting to a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network. 
     The communication device  40  transmits the battery information output by the battery information control part  30  to the combination determination apparatus  200  via the network NW shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     [Terminal Device  100 ] 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing an example of a configuration of the terminal device  100 . The terminal device  100  is, for example, a portable terminal device, a tablet, or the like which is used by the user U shown in  FIG. 1 . The user may be assumed to be, for example, a manufacturer that combines a plurality of used batteries  50  and manufactures a secondary use battery. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the terminal device  100  includes, for example, a terminal communication part  110 , a touch panel  120 , an image capture part  130 , a control part  140 , and a terminal storage part  180 . A combination information request application  182  is installed on the terminal device  100 . The terminal storage part  180  stores a combination information request application  182 . 
     The combination information request application  182  is an application program that supports a service including provision of combination information. The terminal device  100  can be used as a device that requires provision of the combination information to the combination determination apparatus  200  by activating the combination information request application  182 . The terminal storage part  180  stores user ID information  184  that specifies a user who owns the terminal device  100 . 
     The terminal communication part  110  is, for example, a wireless communication device that can access the network NW using a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network. The terminal communication part  110  transmits request information including a request output by the control part  140  to the combination determination apparatus  200 . The request information is information for requesting the combination information. The terminal communication part  110  receives various information transmitted by the combination determination apparatus  200 . 
     The touch panel  120  includes an input part  122  and a display part  124 . The input part  122  receives, for example, an input operation based on a manual operation of the user. The input part  122  receives an input operation by the user through a GUI (Graphical User Interface) switch set in the display part  124 . The GUI switch is displayed, for example, in a form such as a selection button. The input operation by the user is, for example, an operation in which the user touches (presses) the GUI switch on the touch panel. The input part  122  outputs the input information to the control part  140  when there is an input operation by the user. The display part  124  displays an image based on a control of the control part  140 . 
     The image capture part  130  is, for example, a camera provided to face the outside of a housing of the terminal device  100 . For example, the image capture part  130  captures an image of a two-dimensional code  52  assigned to the used battery  50  by a control of the control part  140 . The image capture part  130  outputs image information of a captured image to the control part  140 . 
     The two-dimensional code  52  includes code information assigned to the used battery  50 . The two-dimensional code  52  may be any code. The two-dimensional code  52  may be, for example, a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark). The code information includes, for example, the battery ID assigned to the used battery  50  and the like. 
     The two-dimensional code  52  may be displayed directly on the used battery  50 , may be displayed on a packing material that packs the used battery  50 , or may be displayed in a document, an advertisement, or the like when a transaction for secondary use is performed in a place different from the used battery  50 . The two-dimensional code  52  may be displayed through printing or the like or may be displayed in an image or the like using a display device or the like. 
     The control part  140  receives input information and the like output by the touch panel  120 . When the input information has been output by the touch panel  120 , the control part  140  causes the touch panel  120  to display a secondary-use-battery use-information input screen. The control part  140  transmits the generated request information to the combination determination apparatus  200  using the terminal communication part  110 . The control part  140  acquires a total cost and a use environment of the secondary use battery on the basis of an operation of the secondary-use-battery use-information input screen by the user. 
     The control part  140  causes the image capture part  130  to capture the two-dimensional code  52  attached to the used battery  50 . The control part  140  reads the code information from an image of the two-dimensional code  52  included in the image information output by the image capture part  130 . The terminal device  100  reads the two-dimensional code  52  by the image capture part  130  for all of the plurality of used batteries  50  and reads the code information by the control part  140 . 
     The control part  140  generates the request information that includes battery ID information included in the acquired code information of the plurality of used batteries  50 , information of the total cost and the use environment of the secondary use battery, and the user ID information  184  stored in the terminal storage part  180 . The control part  140  transmits the generated request information to the combination determination apparatus  200  using the terminal communication part  110 . 
     The control part  140  receives combination information transmitted by the combination determination apparatus  200  using the terminal communication part  110 . The combination information includes the selection information and the availability information. The control part  140  generates an image in accordance with the received combination information. The control part  140  causes the generated image to be displayed on the display part  124  of the touch panel  120 . 
     [Combination Determination Apparatus  200 ] 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of a configuration of the combination determination apparatus  200 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the combination determination apparatus  200  includes, for example, a communication part  210 , an acquisition part  220 , a selection part  230 , a determination part  240 , a provision part  250 , and a storage part  280 . The acquisition part  220 , the selection part  230 , the determination part  240 , and the provision part  250  are implemented by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be implemented by hardware (a circuit part including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or may be implemented by software and hardware in cooperation. The program may be stored in a storage device (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in advance or a flash memory or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM and installed when the storage medium is mounted in a drive device. The storage part  280  is implemented by the storage device described above. 
     The communication part  210  includes a communication interface such as a NIC. The communication part  210  performs communication between the communication device  40  mounted on the vehicle  10  and the terminal communication part  110  mounted on the terminal device  100  via the network NW. The communication part  210  receives the battery information transmitted by each of a plurality of vehicles  10  and the request information transmitted by the terminal device  100 . The communication part  210  outputs the received battery information and the received request information to the acquisition part  220 . 
     The acquisition part  220  acquires the battery information output by the communication part  210 . When the battery information is acquired, the acquisition part  220  adds new battery information to a battery database  282  stored in the storage part  280  and updates the battery database  282 . 
     Here, the battery database  282  is described.  FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of the battery database  282 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the battery database  282  includes battery IDs assigned to the plurality of batteries  16 , respectively. The battery database  282  includes items of a “normal temperature capacity”, a “low temperature capacity”, a “normal temperature output”, a “low temperature output”, an “efficiency”, a “self-discharge performance,” and a “usage history” as elements in each of the plurality of batteries  16 . In the battery database  282 , evaluation ranks of the items of the “normal temperature capacity”, the “low temperature capacity”, the “normal temperature output”, the “low temperature output”, the “efficiency”, the “self-discharge performance”, and the “usage history” with respect to the plurality of batteries  16  are stored. The evaluation ranks are “S”, “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, and “F” in a descending order. For example, in a battery having a battery ID of “001”, the “normal temperature capacity” is “C”, the “low temperature capacity” is “C”, the “normal temperature output” is “C”, the “low temperature output” is “B”, the “efficiency” is “B”, the “self-discharge performance” is “D”, and the “usage history” is “B”. 
     The acquisition part  220  receives the request information output by the communication part  210 . When receiving the request information, the acquisition part  220  authenticates the user transmitting the request information on the basis of the user ID information included in the request information. The acquisition part  220  may perform user authentication in another way. For example, the acquisition part  220  may authenticate the user by biometric authentication such as user&#39;s face authentication instead of or in addition to the authentication by the user ID. 
     The selection part  230  reads battery information indicating a battery state of the used battery  50  having the battery ID included in the request information from the battery database  282 . The selection part  230  selects a reference battery from the used batteries  50  on the basis of a battery state of each of the used batteries  50  shown in the read battery information. When selecting the reference battery, the selection part  230  compares, for example, variations of the items of the battery state in the plurality of used batteries  50 . The selection part  230  selects, for example, a used battery  50  having the lowest variation of the items as the reference battery. The reference battery may be selected in another way. For example, the reference battery may be selected based on the total cost and the use environment of the secondary use battery instead of or in addition to the variation of the battery information of the used battery  50 . 
     For example, it is assumed that the battery IDs included in the request information transmitted by the terminal device  100  are “002”, “004”, “005”, “008”, and “010”. In this case, among the battery database  282  shown in  FIG. 4 , the used battery  50  having a battery ID of “004” represents an evaluation rank of “B” for all items and has the smallest variation. Therefore, the selection part  230  selects the used battery  50  having the battery ID of “004” as the reference battery. 
     The determination part  240  specifies a used battery  50  that becomes a determination target battery on the basis of the battery ID transmitted by the terminal device  100 . Among the plurality of used batteries  50  that store battery information in the battery database  282 , the determination part  240  determines that used batteries  50  other than the reference battery among the used batteries  50  including the battery ID transmitted by the terminal device  100  are the determination target battery. 
     The determination part  240  determines whether or not a determination target battery is available as the combination battery when the secondary use battery is manufactured. Therefore, the determination part  240  compares a battery state of each of the used batteries  50  other than the reference battery with a battery state of the reference battery. The determination part  240  determines whether or not the determination target battery is available as the combination battery on the basis of a result of comparison between the battery state of the determination target battery and the battery state of the reference battery. Whether or not the determination target battery is available as the combination battery may be determined only by comparing the battery state of the determination target battery with the battery state of the reference battery, or may be determined by referring to a comparison result between a battery state of another determination target battery and the battery state of the reference battery. The availability referred to in the embodiment does not indicate whether or not a battery is available for secondary use but indicates whether or not a battery is available in combination with the reference battery. 
     When determining whether or not the determination target battery is available as the combination battery only by comparing the battery state of the determination target battery with the battery state of the reference battery, for example, the determination target battery may be determined to be available in a case where the number of items representing a different evaluation rank is equal to or less than two as a result of comparison between the battery state of the determination target battery and the battery state of the reference battery, and the determination target battery may be determined to be unavailable in a case where the number of items representing a different evaluation rank is three or more. Further, in the item of evaluation, the determination target battery may be determined to be available in a case where the rank of the determination target battery is separated by equal to or less than one rank from the rank of the reference battery, and the determination target battery may be determined to be unavailable in a case where the rank of the determination target battery is separated by equal to more than two ranks from the rank of the reference battery. Further, the availability as the combination battery may be determined by considering together the number of items representing a different evaluation rank and the separation degree of the rank in the item representing a different evaluation rank. 
     For example, the determination part  240  may adjust or set a reference of determination whether or not the determination target battery is available as the combination battery on the basis of the use environment and the total cost. For example, in a case where the use environment of the secondary use battery is a warm location, the difference in a low temperature capacity from the reference battery for determining that the determination target battery is suitable for the combination battery may be larger than that in a case where the use environment is a low temperature location. Further, in a case where the total cost is high, when there is an item having a higher evaluation rank than the evaluation rank of the reference battery, it may be determined that the determination target battery is not suitable for the combination battery. In a case where the total cost is low, even when there is an item having a higher evaluation rank than the evaluation rank of the reference battery, it may be determined that the determination target battery is suitable for the combination battery. 
     In a case where the availability as the combination battery is determined with reference to a comparison result between the battery states of other determination target batteries and the battery state of the reference battery, for example, the number of items in which the battery state of the determination target battery is different from the battery state of the reference battery may be compared for a plurality of determination target batteries, and it may be determined that determination target batteries having a small number of items are available and other used batteries are unavailable. Further, in place of or in addition to the number of different items, the availability as the combination battery may be determined with reference to the degree of separation of the rank in an item having a different evaluation rank. Further, the number of the determination target batteries that are available may be determined in advance, or it may be possible to determine the availability as the combination battery at the time of determination. 
     The provision part  250  generates combination information that includes selection information identifying the reference battery selected by the selection part  230  and availability information indicating whether or not the determination target battery is available as the combination battery. The provision part  250  transmits and provides the generated combination information to the terminal device  100  using the communication part  210 . The provision part  250  causes the communication part  210  to transmit the determination result by the determination part  240 . The provision part  250  is an example of a “transmission control part”. 
     Next, processes of the vehicle  10 , the terminal device  100 , and the combination determination apparatus  200  will be individually described with respect to a process executed in the combination determination system  1 . 
     [Process of Vehicle  10 ] 
     The vehicle  10  calculates the state of the battery  16  mounted on the vehicle  10  at an appropriate timing in the battery information control part  30 . The appropriate timing may be specified in any manner and may be, for example, a timing with a regular time interval or a predetermined time. The vehicle  10  stores the battery information calculated in the battery information control part  30 . When the battery  16  is removed from the vehicle  10 , the vehicle  10  transmits the stored battery information to the combination determination apparatus  200  by the communication device  40 . 
     [Process of Terminal Device  100 ] 
     The terminal device  100  transmits request information to the combination determination apparatus  200  in response to an operation of a user of the terminal device  100 , receives the combination determination information provided by the combination determination apparatus  200 , and displays the combination determination information on the display part  124  of the touch panel  120 . Hereinafter, for example, a procedure until a user who has a battery for which combination information is desired to be received transmits the request information, and a procedure until the combination information is received and displayed on the display part  124  of the touch panel  120  are described. 
     The user who wants to receive the combination information operates the terminal device  100  so as to start up the combination information request application  182 . The terminal device  100  that has received the operation activates the combination information request application  182  through the control part  140 .  FIG. 6  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device  100  in which the combination information request application  182  is activated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the control part  140  causes the touch panel  120  to display a request image  502 Q, an agreement button  502 Y, and a reject button  502 N. The request image  502 Q is an image that displays “Would you like to determine the combination adequacy of a battery?” and is an image which notifies the user that the combination information can be requested. 
     The agreement button  502 Y is a GUI switch that displays “Yes”. When the user wants to request the combination information, the user operates the agreement button  502 Y. The reject button  502 N is a GUI switch that displays a text of “No”. A user who does not intend to request combination information and wants to end the combination information request application  182  operates the reject button  502 N. 
     When the user operates the agreement button  502 Y or the rejection button  502 N as an input operation, the touch panel  120  outputs the input information to the control part  140 . The control part  140  to which input information based on the operation of the agreement button  502 Y is output causes the touch panel  120  to display the secondary-use-battery use-information input screen. The control part  140  to which input information based on the operation of the rejection button  502 N terminates the combination information request application  182 . 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device  100  in which the agreement button  502 Y is operated. The screen shown in FIG.  7  is the secondary-use-battery use-information input screen. The secondary-use-battery use-information input screen displayed on the display part  124  of the touch panel  120  by the control part  140  includes an inquiry image  504 Q, a first use environment button  504 A, a second use environment button  504 B, a third use environment button  504 C, a total cost button  504 T, and a setting completion button  504 F as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The inquiry image  504 Q is an image that displays “How will you use the reuse battery?” and is an image which notifies the user that the use environment of the secondary use battery and the total cost are inquired. The first use environment button  504 A is a GUI switch that displays a text of “Indoor” or “Outdoor”. Each time the user operates the first use environment button  504 A, the text displayed on the first use environment button  504 A is switched between “Indoor” or “Outdoor”. 
     The second use environment button  504 B is a GUI switch that displays a text of “Domestic” or “Overseas”. Each time the user operates the second use environment button  504 B, the text displayed on the second use environment button  504 B is switched between “Domestic” or “Overseas”. The third use environment button  504 C is a GUI switch that displays a text of “Cold location” or “Warm location”. Each time the user operates the third use environment button  504 C, the text displayed on the third use environment button  504 C is switched between “Cold location” or “Warm location”. 
     The total cost button  504 T is a GUI switch that displays a text of “High cost” or “Low cost”. Each time the user operates the total cost button  504 T, the text displayed on the total cost button  504 T is switched between “High cost” or “Low cost”. For example, the user U selects “high cost” in a case where it is desired to enhance the performance of the secondary use battery even if the total cost is high. The user U selects “low cost” in a case where it is desired to reduce the total cost even if the performance of the secondary use battery is low. 
     The setting completion button  504 F is a GUI switch that displays a text of “Setting completion”. 
     The user operates the setting completion button  504 F, and thereby, the control part  140  sets the total cost and the use environment of the secondary use battery that are consistent with the displays of the first use environment button  504 A, the second use environment button  504 B, the third use environment button  504 C, and the total cost button  504 T. 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device  100  after setting the total cost and the use environment of the secondary use battery. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the control part  140  causes the touch panel  120  to display a photography instruction image  510  and a frame image  512  after setting the total cost and the use environment of the secondary use battery. For example, the control part  140  causes a text image of “Please read the barcode attached to the battery” to be displayed as the photography instruction image  510 . The control part  140  causes the frame image  512  to be displayed below the photography instruction image  510 . In this way, the terminal device  100  causes the user U to perform a reading work of the two-dimensional code  52 . 
     For example, when the user U performs an operation by which the image capture part  130  reads the two-dimensional code  52  included in the frame image  512  in accordance with the instruction based on the photography instruction image  510 , the control part  140  causes the image capture part  130  to photograph the two-dimensional code  52 . The image capture part  130  outputs image information including the two-dimensional code  52  to the control part  140 . 
     The control part  140  reads code information from the image of the two-dimensional code  52  included in the image information output by the image capture part  130  and acquires battery ID information included in the code information. 
     Subsequently, the control part  140  causes a screen shown in  FIG. 9  to be displayed on the touch panel  120 , assuming that there may be a used battery  50  of which the two-dimensional code  52  is not read. 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device  100  after the two-dimensional code  52  is read by the image capture part  130 . The control part  140  causes the touch panel  120  to display a reading prompt image  520 Q, a reading performing button  520 Y, and a reading finish button  520 N, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The reading prompt image  520 Q is an image that displays “Please read the bar code of the next battery” and is an image that prompts the user U to read the two-dimensional code  52  in another used battery  50  of which the two-dimensional code  52  is not read. 
     The reading performing button  520 Y is a GUI switch that displays “Yes”. 
     In a case where there is a used battery  50  of which the reading of the two-dimensional code  52  is not completed, the user U operates the reading performing button  520 Y. The reading finish button  520 N is a GUI switch that displays a text of “No (reading finished)”. After reading the two-dimensional codes  52  of all of the used batteries  50 , the user U operates the rejection button  502 N and finishes the reading work of the two-dimensional code. 
     After the user U finishes the reading work of the two-dimensional code, the control part  140  reads out the user ID information  184  stored in the terminal storage part  180 . The control part  140  generates request information on the basis of battery ID information, information of the use environment and the total cost, and the user ID information  184 . The control part  140  transmits the generated request information to the combination determination apparatus  200  using the terminal communication part  110 . 
     Further, in a case where the combination information is transmitted by the combination determination apparatus  200  when the combination information request application  182  is activated, the terminal device  100  receives the transmitted combination information through the terminal communication part  110 . In a case where the terminal device  100  receives the combination information when the combination information request application  182  is not activated, the combination information request application  182  may be activated. 
     The terminal communication part  110  outputs the received combination information to the control part  140 . In a case where the combination information output by the terminal communication part  110  is acquired, the control part  140  causes the display part  124  of the touch panel  120  to display an image corresponding to the selection information and the availability information included in the combination information.  FIG. 10  is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the terminal device  100  that receives the combination information. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the touch panel  120  of the terminal device  100  that receives the combination information displays a reference battery ID screen  530 , a first combination battery ID screen  532 A to a fourth combination battery ID screen  532 D, and a first combination battery use availability screen  534 A to a fourth combination battery use availability screen  534 D. The reference battery ID screen  530  is a screen showing a battery ID of the used battery  50  that becomes the reference battery. The first combination battery ID screen  532 A to the fourth combination battery ID screen  532 D are screens showing battery IDs of a first used battery to a fourth used battery indicating availability information. The first combination battery use availability screen  534 A to the fourth combination battery use availability screen  534 D are screens showing whether or not the first used battery to the fourth used battery are available as the combination battery. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , the used battery  50  of the battery ID of “004” becomes the reference battery. The used batteries  50  of the battery IDs of “002”, “005”, and “010” are a battery that is suitable as the combination battery, and the used battery  50  of the battery ID of “008” is a battery that is not suitable as the combination battery. In this way, the terminal device  100  displays the reference battery and whether or not the used batteries  50  other than the reference battery are available as the combination battery. 
     As the display of the reference battery and the combination battery, for example, an evaluation rank capable of being evaluated such as “S” to “F”, and an evaluation rank obtained by evaluating each used battery  50  may be displayed.  FIG. 11  is a view showing another example of an image displayed on the terminal device  100  that receives the combination information. As shown in  FIG. 11 , for example, in the used battery  50  having a battery ID of “004”, the evaluation of “B” among the evaluation ranks of “S” to “F” is colored and marked for all of the items. Therefore, it can be known that the used battery  50  having the battery ID of “004” is evaluated that the evaluation ranks of all of the items are “B”. 
     Further, in the display shown in  FIG. 11 , a text indicated as “Reference” is displayed on the evaluation display  540  of a used battery  50  that becomes the reference battery among the used batteries  50 , which is here a used battery  50  having a battery ID of “004”. This display indicates that the used battery  50  having a battery ID of “004” is the reference battery. Further, among the evaluation displays of the used batteries  50 , a qualification label image  546  indicating “OK” is displayed on the evaluation displays  542 A,  542 B, and  542 D of the used batteries  50  which are available as the combination battery, which are here the evaluation displays having the battery IDs of “002”, “005”, and “010”. Further, among the evaluation displays of the used batteries  50 , a non-qualification label image  548  indicating “NG” is displayed on the evaluation display of the used battery  50  which is unavailable as the combination battery, which is here the evaluation display  542 C having the battery ID of “008”. 
     [Process of Combination Determination Apparatus  200 ] 
     Subsequently, a process of the combination determination apparatus  200  is described. The combination determination apparatus  200  mainly performs a process of updating the battery database  282  and a process of providing combination information. These processes may be performed in a series of processes or may be performed in different processes. In the embodiment, the process of updating the battery database  282  and the process of providing the combination information is described as different processes. 
     First, the process of updating the battery database  282  is described.  FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing an example of the process of the combination determination apparatus  200 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the combination determination apparatus  200  determines whether or not the acquisition part  220  has acquired the battery information transmitted by the vehicle  10  (Step S 102 ). When it is determined that the acquisition part  220  has not acquired the battery information, the combination determination apparatus  200  ends the process shown in  FIG. 12 . When it is determined that the acquisition part  220  has acquired the battery information, the acquisition part  220  reads the battery database  282  stored in the storage part  280  (Step S 104 ). Subsequently, the acquisition part  220  adds the acquired battery information to the battery database  282  and updates the battery database  282  (Step S 106 ). In this way, the combination determination apparatus  200  updates the battery database  282  and ends the process shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     Subsequently, the process of providing the combination information is described.  FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing another example of the process of the combination determination apparatus  200 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the combination determination apparatus  200  determines whether or not the acquisition part  220  has received request information transmitted by the terminal device  100  (Step S 202 ). When it is determined that the request information transmitted by the terminal device  100  has not been received, the combination determination apparatus  200  repeats the process of Step S 202 . 
     When it is determined that the request information transmitted by the terminal device  100  has been received, the acquisition part  220  performs authentication of the user U on the basis of the user ID included in the request information (Step S 204 ). The selection part  230  reads battery information corresponding to the battery ID included in the request information from the battery database  282  after the acquisition part  220  performs authentication of the user U (Step S 206 ). 
     Subsequently, the selection part  230  compares variations of the items of the battery state indicated in the read battery information (Step S 208 ). The selection part  230  selects, as the reference battery, a used battery  50  having the smallest variation of the items of the battery state from the plurality of used batteries  50  (Step S 210 ). 
     When the selection part  230  selects the reference battery, the determination part  240  specifies a determination target battery from the used batteries  50  other than the reference battery (Step S 212 ). The determination target battery is arbitrarily specified from used batteries  50  that have not been a determination target battery among the used batteries  50  having a battery ID included in the request information. 
     After specifying the determination target battery, the determination part  240  compares the battery state of the determination target battery with the battery state of the reference battery (Step S 214 ). Subsequently, the determination part  240  determines whether or not the determination target battery is available as the combination battery on the basis of a comparison result between the battery state of the determination target battery and the battery state of the reference battery (Step S 216 ). 
     Subsequently, the determination part  240  determines whether or not a used battery  50  that has not been the determination target battery remains among the used batteries  50  having the battery ID included in the request information (Step S 218 ). When it is determined that a used battery  50  that has not been the determination target battery remains, the determination part  240  returns to Step S 212 , specifies the determination target battery, and proceeds to Step S 214 . 
     When it is determined that a used battery  50  that has not been the determination target battery does not remain, the provision part  250  generates combination information that includes the selection information and the availability information (Step S 220 ). Then, the provision part  250  transmits the generated combination information to the terminal device  100  using the communication part  210  (Step S 222 ). In this way, the combination determination apparatus  200  ends the process shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     According to the first embodiment described above, the combination determination apparatus  200  selects a reference battery when manufacturing a secondary use battery from a plurality of used batteries  50  on the basis of the battery state of each of the used batteries. Further, the combination determination apparatus  200  specifies a determination target battery from the used batteries  50  other than the reference battery on the basis of the request information transmitted by the terminal device  100  and determines whether or not the determination target battery is available as a combination battery on the basis of the battery state of the determination target battery. Therefore, it is possible to suitably select a used battery that is used when manufacturing the secondary use battery. 
     Further, the combination determination apparatus  200  selects the reference battery on the basis of the variation of the battery state of the used battery. Therefore, it is possible to make it easier to determine the availability of the used batteries  50  other than the reference battery. Further, the combination determination apparatus  200  generates the combination information on the basis of the request information transmitted by the terminal device  100  and transmits the combination information to the terminal device transmitting the request information. Therefore, the combination determination apparatus  200  is able to provide combination information to a user U who requires the combination information. 
     In the first embodiment, the user U receives the combination information by reading the two-dimensional code  52  of all of the used batteries  50  but may receive the combination information in another way. For example, the user U may read the two-dimensional code  52  of all of the used batteries  50 , and the combination determination apparatus  200  may first select a reference battery. In this case, subsequently, each time the user U reads the two-dimensional code of the used battery  50 , the terminal device  100  may transmit the code information to the combination determination apparatus  200 , and the combination determination apparatus  200  may determine whether or not the used battery  50  having a battery ID indicated by the transmitted code information is suitable as the combination battery and may transmit the combination information to terminal device  100 . In this way, the user U can know whether or not the used battery having the two-dimensional code  52  is available as the combination battery each time the two-dimensional code  52  is read. 
     Further, the combination determination apparatus  200  may propose the reference battery to the user U, and the user U may accept the proposal. In this case, the user U accepts the reference battery and then reads the two-dimensional code  52  attached to the used battery  50  other than the reference battery, and thereby, the combination information of the used battery  50  of which the two-dimensional code  52  is read by the combination determination apparatus  200  may be transmitted to the terminal device  100 . The combination determination apparatus  200  may perform the selection of the reference battery, for example, on the basis of only the variation of the items in the battery information of the used battery. In a case where the proposal of the combination determination apparatus  200  is rejected by the user U, the combination determination apparatus  200  may propose another used battery  50  as the reference battery. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment of the combination determination apparatus is described. In the description of the second embodiment, elements common to those of the first embodiment may be given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may be omitted. 
       FIG. 14  is a view showing an example of a configuration of a combination determination apparatus  200  according to the second embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the combination determination apparatus  200  of the second embodiment includes a communication part  210 , an acquisition part  220 , a selection part  230 , a determination part  240 , a provision part  250 , a generation part  260 , and a storage part  280 . The generation part  260  generates a plurality of combinations of the used batteries  50  including a reference battery and a combination battery from the used batteries  50  included in the battery database  282  on the basis of the selection result of the selection part  230  and the determination result of the determination part  240 . 
     The generation part  260  transmits the selection information regarding the plurality of generated combinations of the used batteries  50  to another device which is, for example, the terminal device  100  by using the communication part  210 . For example, in a case where a display device is provided on the apparatus that includes the generation part  260 , the generation part  260  may not transmit the selection information to another device and may display an image corresponding to the selection information on the display device or the like. 
     The selection part  230  selects a reference battery, for example, on the basis of the battery state of the used battery  50  stored in the battery database  282 . Subsequently, the determination part  240  compares the battery state of the used battery  50  other than the reference battery with the battery state of the reference battery and determines the availability as a used battery. The generation part  260  generates a combination pattern of the reference battery selected by the selection part  230  and the used batteries  50  that are determined as a combination battery by the determination part  240 . The provision part  250  transmits and provides a combination of the used batteries  50  as a generation result generated by the generation part  260  to the terminal device  100 . 
     For example, in a case where a condition is imposed in selecting the reference battery, the selection part  230  selects the reference battery in consideration of the imposed condition on the basis of the battery state of all of the used batteries  50  stored in the battery database  282 . Similarly, in a case where a condition is imposed in determining the combination battery, the determination part  240  selects the reference battery in consideration of the imposed condition on the basis of the battery state of the used batteries  50  excluding the reference battery among all of the used batteries  50  stored in the battery database  282 . The condition here may be, for example, a condition regarding the secondary use battery such as the use environment of the secondary use battery, the total cost, the number of used batteries that are used for the secondary use battery. Alternatively, the condition may be a physical condition such as an individual item of the battery state or the size of the used battery  50  or the like. 
     The selection part  230  may select a reference battery under different conditions, and the determination part  240  may determine the combination battery under different conditions, generate a combination pattern of the used batteries  50 , and propose a combination pattern of the used batteries generated under the respective different conditions. A combination pattern may be generated by selecting a reference battery and a combination battery, for example, according to a pattern (hereinafter, referred to as a “normal pattern”) that does not impose a condition on the selection of the reference battery and the determination of the combination battery, a pattern that presents the lowest price (hereinafter, referred to as a “low-price pattern”), a pattern that presents the highest performance (hereinafter, referred to as a “high-spec pattern”), or a pattern that presents the smallest size (hereinafter, referred to as a “space-saving pattern”). 
     In this case, for example, the used battery  50  is selected as a reference battery and a combination battery according to the normal pattern, the low-price pattern, the high-spec pattern, and the space-saving pattern, and the combination information is transmitted to the terminal device  100 . The terminal device  100  causes the touch panel  120  to display the battery ID of the used battery  50  in each of the normal pattern, the low-price pattern, the high-spec pattern, and the space-saving pattern as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     According to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to provide the combination information to a user U who does not hold the used battery  50  and is not able to read the two-dimensional code. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the combination information to a user having less information regarding the used battery  50 . 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.