Vehicle control device mounted in vehicle and method for controlling the vehicle

• US 10,663,970 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Yongsoo, Kong, Kwangsik, Ahn, Dongkyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Rodney A
• Application Number:
  US16/030,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20190204840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• 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 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle control device includes: a communication unit; a sensing unit configured to sense information associated with a vehicle; an output unit including at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit; at least one processor; and a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which causes the at least one processor to perform operations including: receiving, through the communication unit, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device; receiving, through the sensing unit, third information associated with the vehicle; generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information; and outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device comprising:

an interface unit including a first port configured to be connected to a communication unit of a vehicle, a second port configured to be connected to a sensing unit of the vehicle configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a third port configured to be connected to an output unit of the vehicle comprising at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through the communication unit of the vehicle, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device;

receiving, through the sensing unit of the vehicle, third information associated with the vehicle;

generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information; and

outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information,

wherein outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information comprises;

determining, through the sensing unit, whether the driver is inside the vehicle;

based on a determination that the driver is inside the vehicle, outputting, through the communication unit, the fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle to the output unit; and

based on a determination that the driver is not inside the vehicle, transmitting, through the communication unit, the fourth information to the second external device.

2. The vehicle control device of claim 1, wherein the first information associated with charging stations comprises at least one of:

a distance between a current location of the vehicle and each of the charging stations, a charging method of each of the charging stations, a number of chargers available at each of the charging stations, a charging power of the chargers at each of the charging stations, services available at each of the charging stations, or an estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle at each of the charging stations,

wherein the second information associated with the driver comprises schedule information associated with the driver and available on the second external device, and

wherein the third information associated with the vehicle comprises at least one of;

route information configured to guide the vehicle to a destination, a charging method of the vehicle, or an amount of power required to charge the vehicle.

3. The vehicle control device of claim 2, wherein the fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle comprises at least one of:

at least one graphical object configured to represent the one or more charging stations accessible by the vehicle from a preset route of the vehicle based on the route information, a distance between the vehicle and the second external device, a speed of movement of the second external device, an estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle, a departure time for the driver to begin returning to the charging station to arrive at the charging station at the estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle, the driver'"'"'s estimated time of return to the charging station, information associated with an estimated amount of power needed to charge the vehicle, information associated with at least one car-sharing service, information associated with public transportation to reach the destination, or information associated with services available at the charging station.

4. The vehicle control device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

displaying, through the display unit, map information and preset route information associated with a preset route of the vehicle;

determining, based on the first, second, and third information, one or more charging stations accessible by the vehicle from the preset route of the vehicle; and

displaying, on the map information, at least one graphical object configured to represent the one or more charging stations accessible by the vehicle from the preset route of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle control device of claim 4, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving a selection of a graphical object from the at least one graphical object;

based on receipt of the selection, displaying, through the display unit, a portion of the first information corresponding to a charging station represented by the selected graphical object; and

transmitting, through the communication unit, a charging reservation request to a server associated with the selected charging station.

6. The vehicle control device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

determining that the vehicle is being charged; and

based on the determination that the vehicle is being charged, transmitting, through the communication unit, the fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle to the second external device.

17. The vehicle control device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

determining that (i) the charging of the vehicle is complete, or (ii) a remaining time to complete charging of the vehicle is less than a reference time; and

based on the determination that (i) the charging of the vehicle is complete, or (ii) the remaining time to complete charging of the vehicle is less than the reference time, performing at least one of;

outputting, through the output unit, information associated with services available at the charging station based on the first information associated with the charging station, or

transmitting, through the communication unit, the information associated with services available at the charging station to the second external device.

7. A vehicle control device comprising:

an interface unit including a first port configured to be connected to a communication unit of a vehicle, a second port configured to be connected to a sensing unit of the vehicle configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a third port configured to be connected to an output unit of the vehicle comprising at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through the communication unit of the vehicle, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device;

receiving, through the sensing unit of the vehicle, third information associated with the vehicle;

generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information;

outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information;

receiving, through the communication unit, location information of the second external device; and

determining a distance between the vehicle and the second external device based on the location information of the second external device.

8. The vehicle control device of claim 7, wherein a location of the second external device corresponds to the location of the driver, and wherein the operations comprise:

calculating a departure time for the driver to begin returning to the charging station based on the distance between the vehicle and the second external device, a speed of movement of the second external device, and an estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle; and

transmitting, through the communication unit, the departure time to the second external device.

9. The vehicle control device of claim 8, wherein calculating a departure time for the driver to begin returning to the charging station comprises:

subtracting an estimated travel time between the location of the second external device and the charging station from the estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle control device of claim 7, wherein the operations comprise:

determining an estimated time of return to the charging station by the driver based on the second information associated with the driver; and

transmitting, through the communication unit to the second external device, information associated with an expected charging level of the vehicle at the driver'"'"'s estimated time of return.

11. The vehicle control device of claim 7, wherein the operations comprise:

determining that the vehicle is being charged;

determining that the distance between the vehicle and the second external device is greater than or equal to a reference distance; and

based on the determination that (i) the vehicle is being charged, and (ii) the distance between the vehicle and the second external device is greater than or equal to a reference distance;

transmitting, through the communication unit, fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle, and

performing a preset control associated with the vehicle.

12. The vehicle control device of claim 11, wherein the preset control associated with the vehicle comprises at least one of:

locking doors of the vehicle, receiving images through a camera mounted in the vehicle, or outputting an audible alert if other users approach within a given distance of the vehicle.

13. A vehicle control device comprising:

an interface unit including a first port configured to be connected to a communication unit of a vehicle, a second port configured to be connected to a sensing unit of the vehicle configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a third port configured to be connected to an output unit of the vehicle comprising at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through the communication unit of the vehicle, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device;

receiving, through the sensing unit of the vehicle, third information associated with the vehicle;

generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information;

outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information;

determining, based on the first, second, and third information, that an estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle at one of the charging stations is later than a scheduled charging completion time of the driver; and

based on the determination that the estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle at one of the charging stations is later than the scheduled charging completion time of the driver, outputting, through the output unit, information associated with use of a temporary vehicle through a car-sharing service provided by the charging station.

14. The vehicle control device of claim 13, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving a user request for a car-sharing service;

based on receipt of the user request, receiving, through the communication unit, an authority to control a selected vehicle from the first external device;

transmitting, through the communication unit, the received authority to control the selected vehicle to the second external device; and

transmitting, through the communication unit, fifth information to the selected vehicle, the fifth information comprising at least a portion of the third information associated with the vehicle.

15. The vehicle control device of claim 14, wherein the fifth information is configured to control the selected vehicle such that route information of the selected vehicle matches route information of the vehicle based on the at least a portion of the third information.

16. A vehicle control device comprising:

an interface unit including a first port configured to be connected to a communication unit of a vehicle, a second port configured to be connected to a sensing unit of the vehicle configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a third port configured to be connected to an output unit of the vehicle comprising at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through the communication unit of the vehicle, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device;

receiving, through the sensing unit of the vehicle, third information associated with the vehicle;

generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information;

outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information;

determining, based on the first, second, and third information, that an estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle at one of the charging stations is later than a scheduled charging completion time of the driver; and

based on the determination that the estimated time of completing charging of the vehicle at one of the charging stations is later than the scheduled charging completion time of the driver, outputting, through the output unit, information associated with use of a public transportation to reach a destination of the driver from the charging station.

18. A vehicle control device comprising:

an interface unit including a first port configured to be connected to a communication unit of a vehicle, a second port configured to be connected to a sensing unit of the vehicle configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a third port configured to be connected to an output unit of the vehicle comprising at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through the communication unit of the vehicle, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device;

receiving, through the sensing unit of the vehicle, third information associated with the vehicle;

generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information;

outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information;

determining, based on the second information associated with the driver, a first time period during which the driver is not scheduled to use the vehicle; and

controlling the vehicle to autonomously drive to a first charging station, charge the vehicle at the first charging station, and autonomously drive back to a location of the driver within the first time period.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of wheels;

a power source configured to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels; and

a vehicle control device comprising;

an interface unit including a first port configured to be connected to a communication unit of a vehicle, a second port configured to be connected to a sensing unit of the vehicle configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a third port configured to be connected to an output unit of the vehicle comprising at least one of a display unit or an audio output unit;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through the communication unit of the vehicle, first information associated with charging stations from a first external device and second information associated with a driver of the vehicle from a second external device different from the first external device;

receiving, through the sensing unit of the vehicle, third information associated with the vehicle;

generating fourth information associated with charging of the vehicle based on at least one of the first information, the second information, or third information;

outputting, through the communication unit or the output unit, the fourth information;

receiving, through the communication unit, location information of the second external device; and

determining a distance between the vehicle and the second external device based on the location information of the second external device.