Portable device for displaying charge information and charge information display system

• US 8,829,910 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishidai, Tetsuo, Kawashima, Hidemitsu, Tsujiko, Yoshiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US12/954,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 324/427
• US Class Current: 324/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A portable device for displaying charge information has a transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a signal, requesting charge information on a battery, to a controller provided with a unit for detecting a remaining amount of a battery, a reception unit for wirelessly receiving the charge information from the controller, a storage unit for storing charge information received by the reception unit, a display unit for displaying charge information stored into the storage unit, and a charge prediction information calculating unit for calculating prediction information regarding a state-of-charge of the battery based upon charge information stored in the storage unit in the case of the reception unit being unable to receive charge information from the controller after transmitting a signal requesting charge information from the transmission unit. The prediction information calculated by the charge prediction information calculating unit is displayed in the display unit.

Claims

1. A portable device for displaying charge information, comprising:

a transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a signal, requesting charge information on a battery, to a controller provided with a unit for detecting a remaining amount of a battery;

a reception unit for wirelessly receiving the charge information from the controller;

a storage unit for storing charge information received by the reception unit; and

a display unit for displaying charge information stored into the storage unit, wherein

during charging of the battery, the reception unit receives, from the controller, charge characteristic data representing a charged amount of the battery with respect to charging time for the battery,

the storage unit stores the charge characteristic data received by the reception unit,

the portable device further comprises a charge prediction information calculating unit for calculating prediction information regarding a state-of-charge of the battery based upon the charge information and the charge characteristic data stored in the storage unit in the case of the reception unit being unable to receive charge information from the controller after transmitting a signal requesting charge information from the transmission unit, and

the display unit displays the prediction information calculated by the charge prediction information calculating unit when the charge prediction information calculating unit calculates the prediction information.

2. The portable device for displaying charge information according to claim 1, wherein

the charge prediction information calculating unit calculates prediction information including a predicted remaining amount of the battery and predicted time before completion of charging.

3. The portable device for displaying charge information according to claim 1, wherein

the device further comprises a first determination unit for determining whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from past receipt of charge information in the case of the reception unit being unable to receive charge information from the controller after transmitting a signal requesting charge information from the transmission unit, and

past charge information stored in the storage unit is displayed in the display unit when the first determination unit determines that the predetermined period has elapsed.

4. The portable device for displaying charge information according to claim 3, wherein

the device further comprises a second determination unit for determining whether or not charge information received in the past is stored in the storage unit, and

the charge prediction information calculating unit calculates the prediction information when it is determined by the first determination unit that the predetermined period has not elapsed and it is determined by the second determination unit that the charge information is stored in the storage unit.

5. A charge information display system, comprising:

a controller comprising;

a remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of a battery, and

a first transmission unit for transmitting charge information on a battery, which includes a remaining amount detected in the remaining amount detecting unit; and

a portable device for displaying charge information comprising;

a second transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting to the controller a signal requesting the charge information,

a reception unit for wirelessly receiving the charge information from the controller,

a storage unit for storing charge information received by the reception unit,

a display unit for displaying the charge information stored into the storage unit, wherein

during charging of the battery, the reception unit receives, from the controller, charge characteristic data representing a charged amount of the battery with respect to charging time for the battery,

the storage unit stores the charge characteristic data received by the reception unit,

the portable device further comprises a charge prediction information calculating unit for calculating prediction information regarding a state-of-charge of the battery based upon the charge information and the charge characteristic data stored in the storage unit in the case of the reception unit being unable to receive charge information from the controller after transmitting a signal requesting charge information from the second transmission unit, and

the display unit displays the prediction information calculated by the charge prediction information calculating unit when the charge prediction information calculating unit calculates the prediction information.

6. The charge information display system according to claim 5, wherein

during charging of a battery, the controller generates the charge characteristic data representing a charged amount of the battery with respect to charging time for the battery, and transmits the data from the first transmission unit to the portable device for displaying charge information.

7. The charge information display system according to claim 6, wherein

the controller generates the charge characteristic data based upon a current remaining amount, an ambient temperature and a charging system of the battery.