Timer reminder device and in-vehicle device

• US 9,964,927 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US14/768,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20150378315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 701120, 701410, 701533, 701 2, 701 22, 701 314, 701 45, 701102, 704235, 704275, 725 61, 3404071, 340529, 34053911, 340687, 3409322, 370252, 370509, 320107, 320104, 320109, 320134, 320153, 320162, 137223, 367197, 4555561, 446 57, 429 90, 702 89, 324430, 166369, 123 9015
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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 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

Abstract

A timer reminder device includes an acquiring portion, a determination portion, and a notification portion. When the determination portion determines that a predetermined display condition for displaying a timer setting information is satisfied, the notification portion permits a display portion to display the timer setting information acquired by the acquiring portion. As the display condition, the determination portion determines whether a user is getting off the vehicle. The notification portion permits the display portion to display the timer setting information for a fixed period when the determination portion determines that the user is getting off the vehicle.

Claims

1. A timer reminder device for a vehicle that is driven by electric power stored in a rechargeable battery disposed in the vehicle, the rechargeable battery being configured to be charged by an external power source in a state where the rechargeable battery is connected to the external power source, the timer reminder device comprising:

an acquiring portion that acquires a timer setting information from a managing portion disposed in the vehicle and managing a timer for automatically charging the rechargeable battery in a charging time zone set by a user, the timer setting information including a charging time zone information and a timer execution information, the charging time zone information being indicative of the charging time zone, the timer execution information being indicative of whether the timer is active in the charging time zone, the managing portion allowing the rechargeable battery to be automatically charged in the charging time zone when the timer is set and active in the charging time zone, and the managing portion disallowing the rechargeable battery to be charged in a time zone other than the charging time zone when the timer is set and active in the charging time zone;

a determination portion that determines whether a predetermined display condition for displaying the timer setting information is satisfied or not;

a notification portion that displays the charging time zone information and the timer execution information acquired by the acquiring portion on a display portion when the determination portion determines that the display condition is satisfied so as to remind the user that the timer is set and active in the charging time zone;

an operation receiving portion that receives a user'"'"'s operation; and

an information changing portion that changes the timer setting information according to the user'"'"'s operation received by the operation receiving portion, wherein

the predetermined display condition includes that a current time is outside of the charging time zone and the user is getting off the vehicle, and

the notification portion displays the charging time zone information and the timer execution information on the display portion for a fixed period when the determination portion determines that the current time is outside of the charging time zone and the user is getting off the vehicle.

2. The timer reminder device according to claim 1,

wherein the display portion is a display device provided in a portable terminal that is wirelessly communicable with the timer reminder device.

3. The timer reminder device according to claim 1, wherein

the information changing portion changes the charging time zone according to the user'"'"'s operation received by the operation receiving portion.

4. The timer reminder device according to claim 1, wherein

the information changing portion releases the timer according to the user'"'"'s operation received by the operation receiving portion.

5. A timer reminder device for a vehicle that is driven by an electric power stored in a rechargeable battery disposed in the vehicle, the rechargeable battery being configured to be charged by an external power source in a state where the rechargeable battery is connected to the external power source, the timer reminder device comprising:

an acquiring portion that acquires a timer setting information from a managing portion disposed in the vehicle and managing a timer for automatically charging the rechargeable battery in a charging time zone set by a user, the timer setting information including a charging time zone information and a timer execution information, the charging time zone information being indicative of the charging time zone the timer execution information being indicative of whether the timer is active in the charging time zone, the managing portion allowing the rechargeable battery to be automatically charged in the charging time zone when the timer is set and active in the charging time zone, and the managing portion disallowing the rechargeable battery to be charged in a time zone other than the charging time zone when the timer is set and active in the charging time zone;

a determination portion that determines whether a predetermined display condition for displaying the timer setting information is satisfied or not;

a notification portion that displays the charging time zone information and the timer execution information acquired by the acquiring portion on a display portion when the determination portion determines that the display condition is satisfied so as to remind the user that the timer is set and active in the charging time zone;

an operation receiving portion that receives a user'"'"'s operation; and

an information changing portion that changes the timer setting information according to the user'"'"'s operation received by the operation receiving portion, wherein

the display condition includes that a current time is out of the charging time zone and the current time is in one of states where a destination is set for a route guide processing, where a current position is a user'"'"'s own house or is separated from another destination by a predetermined distance, and where the current position is separated from a charging station by a predetermined distance, and

the notification portion displays the charging time zone information and the timer execution information on the display portion when the determination portion determines that the current time is out of the charging time zone and the current time is in one of the states.

6. The timer reminder device according to claim 5, wherein

the display condition includes whether the user is travelling on the vehicle at the current time, and

the notification portion displays the charging time zone information and the timer execution information on the display portion when the determination portion determines that the user is travelling.

7. The timer reminder device according to claim 5, wherein

the information changing portion changes the charging time zone according to the user'"'"'s operation received by the operation receiving portion.

8. The timer reminder device according to claim 5, wherein

the information changing portion releases the timer according to the user'"'"'s operation received by the operation receiving portion.

9. A system comprising:

an electric vehicle driven by electric power stored in a rechargeable battery disposed in the electric vehicle, the rechargeable battery being configured for charging by an external power source when the rechargeable battery is connected to the external power source, the electric vehicle having an in-vehicle device, a charge managing control unit, a battery control unit, and a seating sensor; and

a portable terminal operated by a user of the electric vehicle, the portable terminal being in wireless communication with the in-vehicle device of the electric vehicle;

wherein;

the battery control unit is configured to control charging of the rechargeable battery when the electric vehicle is connected to the external power source based on instructions received from the charge managing control unit;

the charge managing control unit is configured to store timer execution information that includes information indicating whether a timer for automatically charging the rechargeable battery is in a set state or a released state and, when the timer is in the set state, a charging time zone including a charging start time and a charging end time;

the charge managing control is further configured to instruct the battery control unit to permit charging of the rechargeable battery when (i) the electric vehicle is connected to the external power source and the timer is in the released state or (ii) the electric vehicle is connected to the external power source, the timer is in the set state, and a current time is between the charging start time and the charging end time;

the charge managing control unit is further configured to instruct the battery control unit to prohibit charging of the rechargeable battery when the timer has been set and the current time is not between the charging start time and the charging end time;

the in-vehicle device is configured to determine whether a predetermined display condition is met, the predetermined display condition including that the timer is set, the current time is not between the charging start time and the charging end time, and the seating sensor indicates that the user is separated from a seat of the electric vehicle;

the in-vehicle device is further configured to, in response to determining that the predetermined display condition is met, wirelessly communicate the timer execution information to the portable terminal;

the portable terminal is configured to, in response to receiving the timer execution information to the portable terminal, output a display indicating whether the timer is in the set state and, when the timer is in the set state, the charging start time and the charging end time;

the portable terminal is further configured to prompt the user to confirm the timer execution information or to modify the timer execution information by changing the timer from the set state to the released state when the timer is in the set state, by changing the timer from the released state to the set state when the timer is in the released state, by changing the charging start time when the timer is in the set state, or by changing the charging end time when the timer is in the set state;

the portable terminal is further configured to, in response to the user modifying the timer execution information, communicate the modified timer execution information to the in-vehicle device;

the in-vehicle device is configured to, in response to receiving the modified timer execution information from the portable terminal, communicate the modified timer execution information to the charge managing control unit; and

the charge managing control unit is further configured to, in response to receiving the modified timer execution information from the in-vehicle device, update the previously stored timer execution information based on the modified timer execution information received from the in-vehicle device.