NAVIGATION APPARATUS, VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20120253655A1
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Tech Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Funaba, Yuji, Ishii, Yasuhiro, Yamada, Yusaku
• Granted Patent: US 9,134,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle information display system according to the present invention includes a navigation apparatus and a vehicle information display apparatus. The navigation apparatus includes: a storage section mounted on an electric vehicle, for storing map information and a destination; an own vehicle position information acquisition section for obtaining own vehicle position information; a remaining power amount acquisition section for obtaining a remaining power amount; a travel cost calculation section for calculating a power cost based on the map information, the destination, and the own vehicle position information; a travelable range calculation section for calculating a travelable range based on the power cost and the remaining power amount; and a communication section for transmitting vehicle information including the travelable range to the outside. The vehicle information display apparatus includes: a communication section installed outside the electric vehicle, for receiving the vehicle information; and a control section for outputting the vehicle information.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a storage section mounted on an electric vehicle, for storing map information and a destination;

an own vehicle position information acquisition section for obtaining own vehicle position information;

a remaining power amount acquisition section for obtaining a remaining power amount;

a travel cost calculation section for calculating a power cost based on said map information, said destination, and said own vehicle position information;

a travelable range calculation section for calculating a travelable range based on said power cost and said remaining power amount; and

a communication section for transmitting vehicle information including said travelable range to the outside of the vehicle, to allow said vehicle information to be displayed on a vehicle information display apparatus.

17. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

in a case where it is determined that a round trip between an own vehicle position and the destination is not allowed based on the power cost and the remaining power amount, the travelable range calculation section calculates a charging time necessary for making a round trip,

the communication section transmits, as the vehicle information, said charging time to the outside.

18. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

in a case where it is determined that an arrival at the destination from an own vehicle position is not allowed based on the power cost and the remaining power amount, the travelable range calculation section calculates a charging time necessary for arriving at the destination or a charging time necessary for making a round trip to the destination,

the communication section transmits, as the vehicle information, said charging time to the outside.

19. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the travel cost calculation section calculates the power cost by using a destination received from the outside.

20. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the storage section stores a registered destination that is a destination registered on a registration list,

the travel cost calculation section calculates the power cost by using said registered destination.

21. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the storage section stores, as a learned destination, a spot that has been set as a destination a predetermined number of times or more, or a destination that has been visited at a predetermined frequency or more,

the travel cost calculation section calculates the power cost by using said learned destination.

22. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the storage section stores, as a learned pattern, a travel pattern in which the electric vehicle has previously traveled,

the travel cost calculation section calculates the power cost by using said learned pattern.

23. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16,

comprising identification means for identifying a driver of the electric vehicle, wherein

the storage section stores, as a learned pattern of each of said drivers, a travel pattern in which the electric vehicle has previously traveled,

the travel cost calculation section calculates the power cost by using the learned pattern of each of said drivers.

24. The navigation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the travel cost calculation section calculates the travel cost by using a travel cost condition for calculating the travel cost, said travel cost condition being received from the outside.

25. A vehicle information display apparatus comprising:

a communication section installed outside an electric vehicle, for receiving vehicle information including a travelable range; and

a control section for outputting said vehicle information, to allow said vehicle information to be visibly displayed to a user of the vehicle.

26. The vehicle information display apparatus according to claim 25, wherein

the control section makes the output so as to display the travelable range on a list or a map according to classifications.

27. The vehicle information display apparatus according to claim 25,

comprising an input section for selecting a destination, wherein

said control section outputs a charging time necessary for arriving at the selected destination, or a charging time necessary for making a round trip to the selected destination.

28. The vehicle information display apparatus according to claim 25,

comprising an input section for receiving a charge start instruction, wherein

said communication section transmits said charge start instruction to a charger.

29. The vehicle information display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein

the communication section receives a charge completion signal from the charger,

said vehicle information display apparatus comprises a notification section for notifying completion of charging when said communication section receives said charge completion signal.

30. A vehicle information display system comprising a navigation apparatus and a vehicle information display apparatus,

said navigation apparatus including:

a storage section mounted on an electric vehicle, for storing map information and a destination;

an own vehicle position information acquisition section for obtaining own vehicle position information;

a remaining power amount acquisition section for obtaining a remaining power amount;

a travel cost calculation section for calculating a power cost based on said map information, said destination, and said own vehicle position information;

a travelable range calculation section for calculating a travelable range based on said power cost and said remaining power amount; and

a communication section for transmitting vehicle information including said travelable range to the outside of the vehicle, to allow said vehicle information to be displayed on a vehicle information display apparatus,

said vehicle information display apparatus including;

a communication section installed outside said electric vehicle, for receiving said vehicle information; and

a control section for outputting said vehicle information, to allow said vehicle information to be visibly displayed to a user of the vehicle.