Patent Publication Number: US-2022212558-A1

Title: Power supply device, power supply program, and power supply control system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-001117 filed on Jan. 6, 2021, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a power supply device, a power supply program, and a power supply control system. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2019-531680 (JP 2019-531680 A) discloses a charging device that identifies which of a wired charging system and a wireless charging system is employed by a vehicle to which electric power is supplied in supplying electric power to the vehicle from an external power source and performs supply of electric power to the vehicle by switching the charging system to the identified system. 
     SUMMARY 
     When a disaster occurs, it is necessary to charge a vehicle within a limited time. 
     The present disclosure provides a power supply device, a power supply program, and a power supply control system that can efficiently charge a vehicle when a disaster occurs. 
     A power supply device according to the present disclosure is a power supply device that supplies electric power to a motor-driven vehicle including a power storage device through one of wireless supply of electric power using a wireless system and wired supply of electric power using a wired system. The power supply device includes a processor configured to perform control for recommending the supply of electric power using the wired system as a power supply system for the motor-driven vehicle when information on a disaster is received. 
     A power supply program according to the present disclosure is a power supply program causing a processor of a power supply device, which supplies electric power to a motor-driven vehicle including a power storage device through one of wireless supply of electric power using a wireless system and wired supply of electric power using a wired system e, to perform control for recommending the supply of electric power using the wired system as a power supply system for the motor-driven vehicle when information on a disaster is received. 
     A power supply control system according to the present disclosure is a power supply control system including: a motor-driven vehicle that includes a power storage device; and a power supply device that supplies electric power to the motor-driven vehicle through one of wireless supply of electric power using a wireless system and wired supply of electric power using a wired system and includes a processor configured to perform control for recommending the supply of electric power using the wired system as a power supply system for the motor-driven vehicle when information on a disaster is received. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to efficiently charge a vehicle when a disaster occurs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a power supply control system according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply control system according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram illustrating a power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply control system according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram illustrating a power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on a display provided in a power supply device according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on a display provided in a vehicle according to the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram illustrating a power supply control routine which is performed by a power supply control system according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings mentioned in the following embodiments, the same or corresponding elements will be referred to by the same reference signs. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. 
     First Embodiment 
     First, a power supply control system according to a first embodiment will be described below.  FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a power supply control system including a power supply device according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply control system according to the first embodiment. 
     The power supply control system  1  includes a power supply control device  20 , vehicles  30 , and a power supply device  40 . In the power supply control system  1  according to this embodiment, the power supply control device  20 , the vehicles  30 , and the power supply device  40  are communicatively connected to each other via a network  10 . The network  10  is constituted by an Internet network or a mobile phone network that allows the power supply control device  20 , the vehicles  30 , and the power supply device  40  to communicate with each other. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicles  30  are motor-driven vehicles that can travel in a hybrid travel mode or an EV travel mode. In each vehicle  30 , a battery  37  is charged with electric power supplied from a wired power supply unit  41  or a wireless power supply unit  42  which is managed by the power supply device  40 . 
     The power supply control device  20  transmits acquired information on power supply control (hereinafter referred to as power supply control information) corresponding to a disaster to a power supply device  40  which is provided in the corresponding area. 
     The power supply control device  20  includes a communication unit  21 , a power supply control information preparing unit  22 , a storage unit  23 , and a control unit  24 . The power supply control device  20  is constituted by one or more computers or the like including a central processing unit (CPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). 
     The communication unit  21  accesses the network  10  and communicates with the vehicles  30  and the power supply device  40 . The communication unit  21  includes a receiver unit that receives information on the vehicles  30  from the power supply device  40  and a transmitter unit that transmits various types of information including a power supply signal to the vehicle  30  which is a transmission target. The communication unit  21  receives, for example, information on a disaster which is transmitted from a disaster control center of a central government or a local government. 
     The power supply control information preparing unit  22  prepares disaster information based on the information on the disaster acquired from the outside. The disaster information includes information on a disaster which is predicted to occur in the future in addition to a disaster which has occurred already. 
     The storage unit  23  includes a computer-readable recording medium, and various programs and various types of data are stored therein such that they can be written and read. This recording medium includes a storage medium such as an optical disc, a flash memory, or a magnetic disk and a drive device of the corresponding storage medium. 
     The storage unit  23  includes a control information storage unit  231 . The control information storage unit  231  stores information on power supply control of the power supply device  40  when a disaster has occurred. 
     The control unit  24  comprehensively controls operations of the constituent units of the power supply control device  20 . 
     The configuration of a vehicle  30  will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The vehicle  30  includes a transceiver unit  31 , a communication unit  32 , a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit  33 , a power supply signal processing unit  34 , an input and output unit  35 , and an electronic control unit (ECU)  36 . The battery  37  that supplies electric power to the constituent units is provided in the vehicle  30 . The battery  37  is configured to be rechargeable. A component that controls the vehicle  30  is constituted by one or more computers including a CPU, an FPGA, a ROM, and a RAM, or the like. 
     The transceiver unit  31  serves as a receiver unit that receives a power supply signal from the power supply device  40  and serves as a transmitter unit that transmits its information to the power supply device  40  using electromagnetic waves. The receiver unit and the transmitter unit that transmits its information to the power supply device  40  may not be unified into a single body, but may be provided separately. 
     The communication unit  32  communicates with the power supply control device  20  by wireless communication via the network  10 . The communication unit  32  receives operation support information for supporting the operation of the vehicle  30  from the power supply control device  20 . The operation support information includes road traffic information such as information on regulations or congestion. The communication unit  32  may be configured to transmit its information to the power supply device  40  connected thereto. 
     The GPS unit  33  receives radio waves from GPS satellites and detects the position of the vehicle  30 . The detected position is output to the outside or stored in a storage unit as position information of the vehicle  30 . 
     The power supply signal processing unit  34  converts a power supply signal received from the power supply device  40  to electric power and supplies the converted electric power to the battery  37 . The power supply signal is a wireless power supply signal which is received by the transceiver unit  31 . When the power supply device  40  is connected in a wired manner, electric power supplied therefrom is input to the battery  37 . 
     The input and output unit  35  includes a touch panel display, a speaker, and a microphone. The input and output unit  35  is configured to output predetermined information such as information on operation support by displaying text, figures, or the like on a screen of the touch panel display or outputting sound from the speaker under the control of the ECU  36 . The input and output unit  35  is configured to input predetermined information to the ECU  36  by allowing a user of the vehicle  30  or the like to operate the touch panel display or to utter speech to the microphone. 
     The ECU  36  is constituted by an information processing device such as a microcomputer including a CPU, an FPGA, a ROM, and a RAM. The ECU  36  comprehensively controls electrical operations of the constituents of the vehicle  30 . The ECU  36  is configured to perform arithmetic operations using data which is input or data which is stored in advance and a program and to output the results of operations as a control command signal. 
     The vehicle  30  includes a storage unit including a storage medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory and a drive device of such a storage medium and a sensor that detects an object which gets closer in the traveling direction. An operating system (OS) and programs of various applications required for the ECU  36  to comprehensively control the operations of the constituents of the vehicle  30  are stored in the storage unit. 
     The vehicle  30  includes a drive mechanism and an operation mechanism for driving the vehicle  30 . Specifically, the vehicle  30  includes a power train and driving wheels as the drive mechanism. The power train includes a power source that generates a driving force and outputs the driving force from an output shaft and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force output from the power source to the driving wheels  2 . The operation mechanism includes a shift lever and an accelerator pedal. When the vehicle  30  travels autonomously, the constituents thereof operate in accordance with instruction signals under the control of the ECU  36 . 
     The power supply device  40  includes a wired power supply unit  41 , a wireless power supply unit  42 , and a power supply control unit  43 . The power supply device  40  is constituted by one or more computers including a CPU, an FPGA, a ROM, and a RAM. 
     The wired power supply unit  41  includes a connector that is connected to the vehicle  30 . The wired power supply unit  41  transmits a power supply signal to the vehicle  30  in a state in which the connector is connected to the vehicle  30 . 
     The wireless power supply unit  42  transmits a power supply signal to the vehicle  30  by wirelessly communicating with the transceiver unit  31  of the vehicle  30 . Wireless charging between the vehicle  30  and the power supply device  40  is performed through transmission of the power supply signal from the wireless power supply unit  42 . The transceiver unit  31  provided in the vehicle  30  and the wireless power supply unit  42  provided in the power supply device  40  communicate with each other to supply a power supply signal to the vehicle  30 . The transceiver unit  31  and the power supply device  40  each include, for example, a coil, a switching circuit, and a rectification and smoothing circuit and transmit and receive a power supply signal using a magnetic resonance system. Accordingly, the vehicle  30  and the power supply device  40  communicate in a wireless manner. In this embodiment, an example in which supply of electric power and transmission of information are performed using electromagnetic waves is described, but a configuration for supply of electric power and transmission of information using light may be employed. 
     The power supply control unit  43  comprehensively controls the operations of the constituents of the power supply device  40 . When a disaster occurs and power supply control information for controlling supply of electric power in the disaster is received from the power supply control device  20 , the power supply control unit  43  controls the power supply device  40  based on the power supply control information. 
     In this embodiment, the power supply device  40  has a detection function of detecting a vehicle  30  which is located on the power supply device  40  and a reception function of receiving information of the vehicle  30 . The detection function and the reception function are realized, for example, using a roof antenna. For example, the detection function involves transmitting a detection signal to the power supply device  40  when a vehicle  30  is detected. When a vehicle can be detected using a power supply coil or the like, the coil may be used for detection as well as for supply of electric power. 
     A power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system  1  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram illustrating the power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system according to the first embodiment. 
     First, the power supply control device  20  prepares power supply control information when information on a disaster is acquired (Step S 101 ). The power supply control information which is prepared here includes a type or a scale of the disaster and information for recommending supply of electric power using a wired system from the power supply device which is set for the disaster. 
     The power supply control device  20  transmits power supply control information to the power supply device  40  which is installed in the corresponding area (Step S 102 ). 
     On the other hand, the power supply device  40  determines whether power supply control information has been received (Step S 103 ). When power supply control information has not been received (Step S 103 : NO), the power supply control unit  43  repeatedly determines whether power supply control information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that power supply control information has been received (Step S 103 : YES), the power supply control unit  43  causes the routine to proceed to Step S 104 . 
     In Step S 104 , the power supply control unit  43  performs a setting for prioritizing supply of electric power using a wireless/wired system based on the power supply control information. In the first embodiment, the setting for prioritizing supply of electric power using a wired system is performed. After this setting has been performed, the power supply control unit  43  controls the supply of electric power using a wired system (Step S 105 ). Accordingly, when the power supply device  40  supplies electric power to the vehicle  30 , a process of performing the supply of electric power using a wired system is performed. For example, when the vehicle  30  cannot cope with the wired system, the supply of electric power using the wireless system may be permitted or the supply of electric power may be set to be rejected. 
     Thereafter, the control unit  24  determines whether resolution information of the disaster has been received (Step S 106 ). Here, when it is determined that the resolution information has not been received (Step S 106 : NO), the control unit  24  repeatedly ascertains whether the resolution information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the resolution information has been received (Step S 106 : YES), the control unit  24  causes the routine to proceed to Step S 107 . 
     In Step S 107 , the control unit  24  transmits release information for releasing the power supply control due to the disaster to the power supply device  40 . 
     On the other hand, the power supply control unit  43  determines whether the release information has been received (Step S 108 ). When it is determined that the release information has not been received (Step S 108 : NO), the power supply control unit  43  repeatedly ascertains whether the release information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the release information has been received (Step S 108 : YES), the power supply control unit  43  causes the routine to proceed to Step S 109 . 
     In Step S 109 , the power supply control unit  43  restores the power supply control to a normal state and releases the control for prioritizing the wired system from the power supply device  40 . The normal state which is mentioned herein represents a state in which a disaster does not occur or occurrence of a disaster is not predicted. In the normal state, both the wired system and the wireless system can be used without either being prioritized. 
     In the aforementioned first embodiment, when a disaster occurs, the supply of electric power using the wired system is prioritized and supply of electric power to a vehicle  30  is performed using the wired system. In performing supply of electric power to a vehicle  30 , transmission efficiency of a power supply signal in the supply of electric power using the wired system is higher than that in the supply of electric power using the wireless system. Accordingly, it is possible to increase a residual power storage capacity of a vehicle  30  in a shorter time in comparison with a case in which the supply of electric power using the wireless system is performed. According to the first embodiment, it is possible to efficiently charge a vehicle when a disaster occurs. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment will be described below.  FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply control system according to the second embodiment. The power supply control system  1 A according to the second embodiment includes a power supply device  40 A instead of the power supply device  40  of the power supply control system  1  according to the first embodiment. Differences from the first embodiment (the configuration of the power supply device  40 A and the process details of the power supply control system  1 A) will be described below. 
     The power supply device  40 A includes a wired power supply unit  41 , a wireless power supply unit  42 , a power supply control unit  43 A, and a display unit  44 . The power supply device  40 A is constituted by one or more computers including a CPU, an FPGA, a ROM, and a RAM. 
     The power supply control unit  43 A comprehensively controls the operations of the constituents of the power supply device  40 A. When a disaster occurs and power supply control information for controlling supply of electric power in the disaster is received from the power supply control device  20 , the power supply control unit  43 A includes a display control unit  431  that controls display of the display unit  44  based on the power supply control information. 
     The display unit  44  includes a display and a speaker. The display unit  44  displays an image on the display under the control of the display control unit  431 . 
     A power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system  1 A will be described below with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram illustrating the power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system according to the second embodiment. 
     Similarly to Steps S 101  to S 104  in the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the power supply control device  20  acquires information on a disaster, power supply control information is transmitted to the power supply device  40 A and the power supply device  40 A performs a setting for prioritizing supply of electric power using a wired system (Steps S 201  to S 204 ). 
     After the setting for prioritizing the supply of electric power using a wired system has been performed, the power supply control unit  43 A displays power supply recommendation information for recommending charging using the wired system on the display unit  44  (Step S 205 ).  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on a display provided in a power supply device according to the second embodiment. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , charging using the wired system is recommended to a user of the vehicle  30  by displaying a wording “charging using a wired system is recommended due to occurrence of a disaster” on the display unit  44  (the display) of the power supply device  40 A. Accordingly, a power supply process using the wired system is performed on the vehicle  30 . 
     At this time, the power supply control device  20  may display information for recommending the supply of electric power using the wired system on a display of the vehicle  30  which is traveling in a disaster area.  FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on a display provided in a vehicle according to the second embodiment. For example, on a display screen W 1  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , text information D 2  is displayed to overlap a navigation image D 1  including map information. The text information D 2  includes information indicating that a current position at which the vehicle is traveling is in the disaster area and information on a recommended charging system. Through this display, a driver or the like of the vehicle  30  which is traveling in the disaster area is notified of the fact that the vehicle is traveling in the disaster area and the recommended charging system. The driver can perform charging using the recommended charging system when supply of electric power is performed in the disaster area. 
     Thereafter, the control unit  24  determines whether resolution information of the disaster has been received (Step S 206 ). Here, when it is determined that the resolution information has not been received (Step S 206 : NO), the control unit  24  repeatedly ascertains whether the resolution information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the resolution information has been received (Step S 206 : YES), the control unit  24  causes the routine to proceed to Step S 207 . 
     In Step S 207 , the control unit  24  transmits release information for releasing the power supply control due to the disaster to the power supply device  40 A. 
     On the other hand, the power supply control unit  43 A determines whether the release information has been received (Step S 208 ). When it is determined that the release information has not been received (Step S 208 : NO), the power supply control unit  43 A repeatedly ascertains whether the release information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the release information has been received (Step S 208 : YES), the power supply control unit  43 A causes the routine to proceed to Step S 209 . 
     In Step S 209 , the power supply control unit  43 A restores the power supply control to a normal state and releases the control for prioritizing the wired system from the power supply device  40 A. 
     According to the aforementioned second embodiment, it is possible to efficiently charge a vehicle by recommending charging using a wired system with high transmission efficiency of a power supply signal through display when a disaster occurs. 
     Third Embodiment 
     A third embodiment will be described below. A configuration of a power supply control system according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the power supply control system  1 A according to the second embodiment and thus description thereof will be omitted. Process details different from those in the second embodiment will be described below. 
       FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram illustrating a power supply control routine which is performed by the power supply control system according to the third embodiment. Similarly to Steps S 201  to S 204  in the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the power supply control device  20  acquires information on a disaster, power supply control information is transmitted to the power supply device  40 A and the power supply device  40 A performs a setting for prioritizing supply of electric power using a wired system (Steps S 301  to S 304 ). 
     After a setting for prioritizing a wired system has been performed, the power supply control unit  43 A determines whether a vehicle  30  to be supplied with electric power is able to be charged using both the wired system and the wireless system (Step S 305 ). At this time, the power supply control unit  43 A acquires information of the vehicle  30  from the vehicle  30  which is located in a power suppliable range from the power supply device  40 A in a wireless or wired manner. When it is determined that the vehicle  30  to be supplied with electric power is able to be charged using only one of the wired system and the wireless system (Step S 305 : YES), the power supply control unit  43 A causes the routine to proceed to Step S 309 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle  30  to be supplied with electric power is able to be charged using both the wired system and the wireless system (Step S 305 : NO), the power supply control unit  43 A causes the routine to proceed to Step S 306 . 
     In Step S 306 , the power supply control unit  43 A displays power supply recommendation information for recommending charging using the wired system on the display unit  44 . For example, the information illustrated in  FIG. 6  is displayed on the display unit  44 . At this time, recommendation information (see  FIG. 7 ) may be displayed on a display of the vehicle  30 . 
     Thereafter, the control unit  24  determines whether resolution information of the disaster has been received (Step S 307 ). Here, when it is determined that the resolution information has not been received (Step S 307 : NO), the control unit  24  repeatedly ascertains whether the resolution information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the resolution information has been received (Step S 307 : YES), the control unit  24  causes the routine to proceed to Step S 308 . 
     In Step S 308 , the control unit  24  transmits release information for releasing the power supply control due to the disaster to the power supply device  40 A. 
     On the other hand, the power supply control unit  43 A determines whether the release information has been received (Step S 309 ). When it is determined that the release information has not been received (Step S 309 : NO), the power supply control unit  43 A repeatedly ascertains whether the release information has been received. On the other hand, when it is determined that the release information has been received (Step S 309 : YES), the power supply control unit  43 A causes the routine to proceed to Step S 310 . 
     In Step S 310 , the power supply control unit  43 A restores the power supply control to a normal state and releases the control for prioritizing the wired system from the power supply device  40 A. 
     According to the aforementioned third embodiment, it is possible to efficiently charge a vehicle by recommending charging using a wired system with high transmission efficiency of a power supply signal when a disaster occurs. 
     In the third embodiment, an example in which recommendation information is displayed on the power supply device  40 A is described above, but a configuration in which the power supply device  40 A controls the power supply system may be employed as described above in the first embodiment. 
     In the first to third embodiments, an example in which the power supply device controls supply of electric power with reception of disaster information as a trigger is described above, but the disclosure is not limited to the disaster information and can also be applied to, for example, a case in which reservations for use of the power supply device are continuously made and a charging time required for each vehicle  30  is shortened. 
     Recording Medium 
     In an embodiment, a program that can perform the processing method of the power supply control system can be recorded on a recording medium which can be read by a computer or another machine or device (hereinafter referred to as a computer or the like). By causing a computer or the like to read and execute the program of the recording medium, the computer or the like serves as control units of the constituent devices of the power supply control system. Here, the recording medium which can be read by a computer or the like is a non-transitory recording medium which stores information such as data or a program by an electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical operation and which can be read by the computer or the like. Examples of a removable recording medium which can be detached from a computer or the like out of such recording media include a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disc, a CD-ROM, a CD-R/W, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a BD, a DAT, a magnetic tape, or a memory car such as a flash memory. Examples of a recording medium fixed to a computer or the like include a hard disk and a ROM. An SSD can be used as a recording medium which can be detached from a computer or the like and can also be used as a recording medium which is fixed to a computer or the like. 
     Other Embodiments 
     In the power supply control system according to any of the aforementioned embodiments, “unit” can be replaced with “circuit.” For example, a communication unit can be replaced with a communication circuit. 
     A program which is executed by each device of the power supply control system according to any of the aforementioned embodiments may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and may be provided by being downloaded via the network. 
     Other advantageous effects and modified examples can be easily derived by those skilled in the art. Broader aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the same as described above and any specific details and any representative embodiment described above. Accordingly, the present disclosure can be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit or range of the comprehensive concept of the disclosure defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.