Navigation apparatus, vehicle information display apparatus, and vehicle information display system

• US 9,709,412 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Tech Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ishii, Yasuhiro, Yamada, Yusaku, Funaba, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Borrero, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US14/818,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20150336467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22, 701123, 701533, 701 1, 701 2, 701 36, 701 99, 701101, 701 26, 701412, 701 21, 701 19, 701 20, 701117, 701 70, 701416
• 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

An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation apparatus, a vehicle information display apparatus, and a vehicle information display system, that enables a travelable range to be recognized even while a user is not riding on an electric vehicle.

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. An apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a processor to execute a program; and

a memory to store the program which, when executed by the processor, results in performance of steps comprising;

acquiring a remaining power amount of a battery of said electric vehicle from a remaining power amount acquisition section mounted on said electric vehicle;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and a travel cost calculation condition which includes ON/OFF of an air conditioner of said electric vehicle; and

transmitting vehicle information that includes said travelable distance from said electric vehicle, via the Internet, to a display device located outside said electric vehicle, and physically disconnected from said electric vehicle,

wherein said travelable distance is displayed by said display device so as to be visible to a vehicle user when said vehicle user is not riding on said electric vehicle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a charge start signal from an input section of said display device; and

outputting said charge start signal to said electric vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a charge completion signal from said electric vehicle; and

outputting said charge completion signal to said display device,

wherein said charge completion is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a destination which inputted by an input section of said display device;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and said destination; and

outputting a power cost to said display device,

wherein said power cost is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

2. An apparatus located outside of an electric vehicle, comprising:

a processor to execute a program; and

a memory to store the program which, when executed by the processor, results in performance of steps comprising;

acquiring, via the Internet, a remaining power amount of a battery of said electric vehicle, which is acquired by an remaining power amount acquisition section mounted on said electric vehicle, from said electric vehicle;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and a travel cost calculation condition which includes ON/OFF of an air conditioner of said electric vehicle; and

outputting vehicle information that includes said travelable distance to a display device located outside said electric vehicle, and physically disconnected from said electric vehicle,

wherein said travelable distance is displayed by said display device so as to be visible to a vehicle user when said vehicle user is not riding on said electric vehicle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a charge start signal from an input section of said display device; and

outputting said charge start signal to said electric vehicle.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a charge completion signal from said electric vehicle; and

outputting said charge completion signal to said display device,

wherein said charge completion is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a destination which inputted by an input section of said display device;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and said destination; and

outputting a power cost to said display device,

wherein said power cost is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

3. An apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a processor to execute a program; and

a memory to store the program which, when executed by the processor, results in performance of steps comprising;

acquiring a remaining power amount of a battery of said electric vehicle from an remaining power amount acquisition section mounted on said electric vehicle; and

transmitting said remaining power amount from said electric vehicle, via the Internet, to an apparatus located outside said electric vehicle,

wherein a travelable distance is calculated based on said remaining power amount and a travel cost calculation condition which includes ON/OFF of an air conditioner of said electric vehicle by said apparatus located outside said electric vehicle, and is displayed by a display device located outside said electric vehicle so as to be visible to a vehicle user when said vehicle user is not riding on said electric vehicle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a charge start signal from an input section of said display device; and

outputting said charge start signal to said electric vehicle.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a charge completion signal from said electric vehicle; and

outputting said charge completion signal to said display device,

wherein said charge completion is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a destination which inputted by an input section of said display device;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and said destination; and

outputting a power cost to said display device,

wherein said power cost is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

4. A vehicle information display system, comprising:

an apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle, comprising;

a first processor to execute a program; and

a first memory to store the program which, when executed by the first processor, results in performance of steps comprising;

acquiring a remaining power amount of a battery of said electric vehicle from a remaining power amount acquisition section mounted on said electric vehicle; and

transmitting said remaining power amount from said electric vehicle, via the Internet, to an apparatus located outside said electric vehicle,

said apparatus located outside said electric vehicle, comprising;

a second processor to execute a program; and

a second memory to store the program which, when executed by the second processor, results in performance of steps comprising;

acquiring said remaining power amount from said apparatus mounted on said electric vehicle;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and a travel cost calculation condition which includes ON/OFF of an air conditioner of said electric vehicle; and

outputting vehicle information that includes said travelable distance to a display device located outside said electric vehicle, and physically disconnected from said electric vehicle,

said display device located outside said electric vehicle, configured to;

acquire said travelable distance from said apparatus located outside said electric vehicle; and

display said travelable distance so as to be visible to a vehicle user when said vehicle user is not riding on said electric vehicle.

5. An vehicle information display control method comprising:

acquiring, from an electric vehicle, a remaining power amount of a battery of said electric vehicle, which is acquired by an remaining power amount acquisition section mounted on said electric vehicle;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and a travel cost calculation condition which includes ON/OFF of an air conditioner of said electric vehicle; and

outputting vehicle information that includes said travelable distance to a display device located outside said electric vehicle, and physically disconnected from said electric vehicle,

wherein said travelable distance is displayed by said display device so as to be visible to a vehicle user when said vehicle user is not riding on said electric vehicle, and

wherein at least one of said acquiring and said outputting is performed via the Internet.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a charge start signal from an input section of said display device; and

outputting said charge start signal to said electric vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a charge completion signal from said electric vehicle; and

outputting said charge completion signal to said display device,

wherein said charge completion is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.

17. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a destination which inputted by an input section of said display device;

calculating a travelable distance of said electric vehicle based on said remaining power amount and said destination; and

outputting a power cost to said display device,

wherein said power cost is outputted to said vehicle user by said display device.