Route searching device, terminal device, and route searching method

• US 9,835,463 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation, Power Systems Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation, Power Systems Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Takahashi, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LI, CE LI
• Application Number:
  US14/898,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/64 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/68 Traffic data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/00 Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles current collectors in general H01R41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• 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 90/12 : 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

When a route searching command is input, a control unit searches for a provisional route disregarding remaining energy. Next, a finding unit finds charging lanes and charging spots near the provisional route and a calculation unit calculates a charging lane traveling distance and a spot charging usage amount. Then, a searching unit searches for charging lane information, and the like, the first route that restrains charging up cost and uses charging lanes and searches for, on the basis of the spot charging usage amount, charging spot information, and the like, the second route that restrains charging up cost and uses charging spots. A generation unit generates information about the retrieved routes that includes charging up cost and the expected time required. which is presented by a presentation unit. Accordingly, it is possible to find routes including charging plans that use charging lanes and charging spots and to enhance user convenience.

Claims

1. A route searching device that searches for a route to a destination, comprising:

an input unit through which a user selects a route priority for a vehicle;

a presentation unit that presents information for a route to the destination; and

one or more processors configured to;

find both of a charging lane that charges a battery of the vehicle while the vehicle travels on the charging lane, and a charging spot that charges the battery of the vehicle while the vehicle is stopped on the charging spot;

determine information (a) and (b) when the user selects on the input unit a priority for a first route in which use of the charging lane has a higher priority than use of the charging spot, where information (a) and (b) are

(a) information for a route to the destination using the charging lane when the vehicle can reach the charging lane without charging the battery at the charging spot, and

(b) information for a route to the destination using both the charging spot that the vehicle can reach when the vehicle cannot reach the charging lane without charging the battery at the charging spot and the charging lane closest to the charging spot; and

present on said presentation unit an applicable one of information (a) and (b).

2. The route searching device according to claim 1, wherein said one or more processors is further configured to search for the first route and a second route that gives priority to charging the battery of the vehicle on the charging spot, and

wherein the route searching device further comprises a generation unit generating information for presentation on the presentation unit that further includes information for presentation related to the first route and information for presentation related to the second route.

3. The route searching device according to claim 2, wherein said one or more processors is further configured to calculate a charging cost for each of said first route and said second route;

wherein said generation unit further generates information for presentation related to the charging cost for both said first route and said second route calculated by said one or more processors.

4. The route searching device according to claim 2, wherein said one or more processors is further configured to calculate, for both said first route and said second route, at least one of an expected time point of arrival at said destination, and an expected traveling time required for traveling to said destination;

wherein said generation unit further is configured to generate information for presentation related to at least one of information for presentation related to at least one of the expected time point of arrival at said destination and the expected traveling time required for traveling to said destination via said first route, and information for presentation related to at least one of the expected time point of arrival at said destination and the expected traveling time required for traveling to said destination via said second route.

5. A route searching method that is employed by a route searching device that searches for a route to a destination, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a route priority for a vehicle;

presenting on a presentation unit information for a route to the destination;

one or more processors finding both of a charging lane on which a battery of the vehicle is charged while the vehicle travels on charging lane, and a charging spot at which the battery of the vehicle is charged when the vehicle is stopped on the charging spot;

said one or more processors also determining information (a) and (b) when the selecting step selects a priority for a first route in which use of the charging lane has a higher priority than use of the charging spot, wherein information (a) and (b) are

(a) information for a route to the destination using the charging lane when the vehicle can reach the charging lane without charging the battery at the charging spot, and

(b) information for a route to the destination using both the charging spot that the vehicle can reach when the vehicle cannot reach the charging lane without charging the battery at the charging spot and the charging lane closest to the charging spot; and

presenting on the presentation unit an applicable one of information (a) and (b).

6. A non-transient computer readable medium having recorded thereon a route searching program that, when executed, causes a computer in a route searching device that searches for a route to a destination to execute the route searching method according to claim 5.

7. A route searching device that searches for a route to a destination, comprising:

a reception unit that receives route priority information from a terminal device;

a transmission unit that transmits to the terminal device information for a route to the destination; and

one or more processors configured to;

find both of a charging lane that charges a battery of the vehicle while the vehicle travels on the charging lane, and a charging spot that charges the battery of the vehicle while the vehicle is stopped on the charging spot;

determine information (a) and (b) when the reception unit receives from the terminal device a priority for a first route in which use of the charging lane has a higher priority than use of the charging spot, wherein information (a) and (b) are

(a) information for a route to the destination using the charging lane when the vehicle can reach the charging lane without charging the battery at the charging spot, and

(b) information for a route to the destination using both the charging spot that the vehicle can reach when the vehicle cannot reach the charging lane without charging the battery at the charging spot and the charging lane closest to the charging spot; and

send to said transmission unit, for transmission to the terminal device, an applicable one of information (a) and (b).

8. The route searching device according to claim 7, wherein the terminal device comprises:

a receiver receiving one of information (a) and (b) for presentation; and

a display presenting said one of information (a) and (b) for presentation from said receiver.