FR3152255A1 - Method and device for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle. Indeed, the method comprises the reception (31) of first data representative of a time instant, the determination (32) of a connection state of the electric vehicle to a charging station at the time instant and the control (33) of the alert system according to the connection state, the control comprising a transmission of second data representative of a first message intended for a mobile communication device when the electric vehicle is not connected to the charging station at the time instant. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Method and device for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle

The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle.

Technological background

The electrical energy needs of an electric vehicle are met by one or more batteries on board the vehicle, with at least one traction battery providing the electric vehicle with energy for movement.

Depending on the charge level of the traction battery, the amount of electrical energy available in the electric vehicle ensures a certain autonomy of this vehicle. The autonomy of the electric vehicle thus defined allows a user to travel a distance less than or equal to this autonomy without having to recharge the electric vehicle, that is to say without having to recharge the traction battery of the electric vehicle.

To achieve a long range, the vehicle's traction battery must be recharged. The electric vehicle is then connected to a charging station to provide the electrical energy needed to increase the traction battery's state of charge (SOC). Several types of charging stations are available for this purpose, from a simple household power outlet to a fast charger.

Some energy suppliers offer different rates depending on the time of day, for example. In a domestic installation, it may also be preferable to charge the electric vehicle's traction battery at times when the energy requirement for household electrical appliances is minimal, such as at night.

Many manufacturers offer the ability to set charging times for the traction battery of an electric car, allowing it to be charged during off-peak hours or at the best time of day depending on the user's needs.

However, if the electric vehicle is not plugged into the charging station, then it will not charge its traction battery and the electric vehicle will not have maximum range when a user uses it.

Summary of the present invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the control of the recharging of a traction battery of an electric vehicle.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:
- reception of first data representative of a time instant;
- determination of a connection status of the electric vehicle to a charging station at the time instant;
- control of the alert system depending on the connection status, the control comprising a transmission of second data representative of a first message to a mobile communication device when the electric vehicle is not connected to the charging terminal at the time instant.

A user is then alerted via the mobile communication device that the electric vehicle is not connected to the charging station. They can then plug it in or take into account that the electric vehicle will not have its maximum range when they use it next.

According to one variant, the method comprises the following steps:
- obtaining a charge level of a traction battery of the electric vehicle;
- comparison of the charge level with a threshold value;
the second data being emitted only when the charge level is below the threshold value.

If the vehicle is not connected to the charging station at the time at which charging should be carried out, but the traction battery of the electric vehicle is sufficiently charged, i.e. its charge level is higher than the threshold value, then the second data is not sent, a user will therefore not receive a first message.

According to a variant of the method, the determination of a connection status of the electric vehicle to a charging station at the time instant is implemented only when the electric vehicle is not in use.

According to a variant of the method, the control comprises a transmission of third data representative of a second message to the mobile communication device when the electric vehicle is connected to the charging station at the time instant.

This second message allows a user to confirm that the electric vehicle is charging at the current time.

According to a variant of the method, the first data is received from a human-machine interface on board the electric vehicle via a wired connection.

A user then sets the time instant from the electric vehicle.

According to a variant of the method, the first data is received from the mobile communication device via a wireless link.

A user thus sets the time instant without necessarily being present on board the electric vehicle.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to an electric vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a system comprising an electric vehicle as described above according to the third aspect of the present invention and a mobile communication device.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or terrestrial radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an environment of an electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a device configured for controlling a vehicle load warning system of the FIG. 1 , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a method for controlling a vehicle load warning system of the FIG. 1 , according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Description of examples of implementation

A method and a device for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

The terms “first(s)”, “second(s)” (or “first(s)”, “second(s)”), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to identify and distinguish different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, a charging alert system of an electric vehicle is controlled, for example by a computer of the electric vehicle. For this purpose, first data representative of a time instant are received, a connection state of the electric vehicle to a charging terminal at the time instant is determined and the alert system is controlled as a function of the connection state, the control comprising a transmission of second data representative of a first message to a mobile communication device when the electric vehicle is not connected to the charging terminal at the time instant.

Such a method makes it possible to alert a user that the electric vehicle is not charging at the time instant corresponding to a planned time instant. The user is then able to plug in the electric vehicle so that its traction battery is charged as planned, or if it is impossible to plug in the electric vehicle, the user is able to consider the current state of charge of the battery and the resulting range of the electric vehicle so as not to be surprised the next time the electric vehicle is used.

There FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an environment 1 in which an electric vehicle operates, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The electric vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with electric motor(s). The electric vehicle 10 thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example an automobile, a truck, a bus.

The electric vehicle 10 has a traction battery. The term “battery” is used to designate a battery pack comprising one or more batteries, each battery comprising one or more electric accumulators.

The battery corresponds for example to an electric accumulator designed to supply electrical energy to the vehicle, in particular to power at least one traction motor of the electric vehicle 10. Such a traction motor corresponds for example to a motor connected to a gearbox, to a transmission shaft or to a wheel of the electric vehicle 10. The battery corresponds for example to a lead or lead-acid battery or even to a nickel-aluminium hydride battery, these batteries being designed to quickly supply a large quantity of current and to be quickly recharged.

A BMS (Battery Management System) is, for example, associated or coupled with the battery. Such a BMS system makes it possible to obtain or measure one or more parameters of the battery at a given time t, such as for example:
- the voltage: total or of each battery cell;
- stored energy: total or of each battery cell;
- temperature: average temperature, coolant inlet temperature, coolant outlet temperature, temperature of each battery cell;
- the state of charge, known as SOC (from the English “State of Charge”) or depth of discharge, known as DOD (from the English “Depth of Discharge”) indicating the charge level of the battery;
- the state of health, known as SOH (from the English “State Of Health”);
- the current (intensity in amperes) into the battery or out of the battery; and/or
- the internal resistance of the battery: ohmic resistance and ionic resistance.

The electric vehicle 10 also includes, for example, a computer receiving one or more of the battery parameters listed above and implementing the operations of the process described below.

The electric vehicle 10 is also configured to communicate (receive and/or transmit) data with other devices and/or an infrastructure of a communication network according to a wireless communication mode, called V2X (from the English “Vehicle-to-everything” or in French “Vehicle to everything”).

For this purpose, the electric vehicle 10 has a communication device corresponding for example to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”) associated with one or more antennas.

The environment 1 of the electric vehicle 10 comprises, for example, a mobile communication infrastructure, for example an infrastructure of a V2X type network, with which the electric vehicle 10 is configured to communicate data. The communication infrastructure implements, for example, communications according to LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (Long-Term Evolution - Advanced), C-V2X (Cellular - Vehicle to Everything) technology which is based on 4G and/or 5G, based on LTE. The electric vehicle 10 advantageously communicates using a so-called V2X communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.11p standards of ITS G5. In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle carries a node to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and/or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication.

The network infrastructure comprises, for example, communication devices 110 corresponding to relay antennas and/or roadside units (RUs), each corresponding to a node of the network.

The antenna or UBR 110 is advantageously connected to one or more remote servers 111, for example via the “cloud” 100 (or in French “nuage”), via a wired and/or wireless connection. The antenna or UBR 110 is thus configured to act as a relay between the “cloud” 100 (and the remote server 111) and the electric vehicle 10.

The communication system of the electric vehicle 10 is also configured to communicate with one or more mobile communication devices 101 in direct communication mode and/or via the infrastructure of the wireless communication network. The mobile communication device 101 corresponds for example to a smartphone, a tablet or even a connected mobile object such as a connected watch, also called a smartwatch.

The wireless communication between the electric vehicle 10 and the mobile communication device 101 is established for example according to a direct communication mode, for example when the mobile communication device is at a distance from the electric vehicle 10 allowing such a communication mode, for example at a distance of less than 10, 20 or 50 m. The wireless connection is based for example on one or more wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® (based on IEEE 802.11).

The electric vehicle 10 and/or the mobile communication device 101 are further configured to communicate with one or more remote devices 111, for example one or more “cloud” servers, for example via the wireless communication network infrastructure.

According to a particular embodiment, the BMS system associated with the battery, the computer and the communication unit are advantageously connected via a wired network, for example a CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO/IEC 802.3 standard) type network. According to an alternative embodiment, the communication unit and the BMS system are connected via the wired network via the computer.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electric vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates in its passenger compartment a display system comprising a screen and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical human-machine interface, called HMI, on the screen. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embarké”) of the electric vehicle 10.

The screen is for example touch-sensitive and corresponds for example to an LCD type screen (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Display à cristals liquide"), for example of the TFT type (from the English "Thin-Film Transistor" or in French "Transistor en film mince"), or OLED (from the English "Organic Light-Emitting Diode" or in French "Diode électroluminescente biologique"). The screen is for example arranged in the center of the dashboard, for example above a central facade, or behind a steering wheel. Of course, the position of the screen is not limited to these examples, the screen can be arranged in any position, for example on the central facade.

The screen is configured to allow the driver and/or passengers of the electric vehicle 10 to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via an HMI displayed on the screen. For example, the screen makes it possible to control the IVI system of the electric vehicle 10, as well as, for example, the system responsible for controlling the charging alert system of the electric vehicle.

A process for controlling a charging alert system of the electric vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of one or more computers of the electric vehicle 10.

In a first operation, first data representative of a time instant are received.

The time instant corresponds to a time at which charging of the traction battery of the electric vehicle 10 must begin. This time instant is for example configured by a user and is defined by a time and a day of the week, this time instant being for example recurring every week.

For example, the user sets the following time instants:
- 6:30 p.m. on Monday,
- 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and
- 8 p.m. for Saturday.

Alternatively, the time instant is defined only by a schedule or time slot, with the load being implemented at the scheduled time each day.

According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the first data are received from a human-machine interface embedded in the electric vehicle 10 via a wired connection. The user sets the time instant via the HMI of the screen of the electric vehicle 10. According to this example, the time instant is then determined by the IVI computer which transmits the first data representative of this time instant to the computer in charge of the process via a wired connection, for example via the communication bus.

According to another particular exemplary embodiment, the first data are received from the mobile communication device 101 via a wireless link. The communication device 101 is for example a smartphone having an application allowing the user to configure the time instant. The remote device then transmits the first data representative of this time instant to the computer in charge of the process via a direct or indirect wireless link.

In a second operation, a connection state of the electric vehicle 10 to a charging station at the time instant is determined. The connection state takes for example 2 values or 2 states, namely the connected state and the unconnected state.

This determination is carried out, for example, by measuring a voltage on an input terminal of an electrical outlet of the electric vehicle 10, by measuring a current flowing through an input terminal or by checking the presence of a plug in the power outlet of the electric vehicle 10 mechanically.

According to one variant, the determination is implemented only when the electric vehicle 10 is not in use.

“In use” means, for example:
- the electric vehicle 10 moves,
- an electric motor of the electric vehicle 10 is energized or rotating, or
- a person is present in a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle 10.

Thus, the electric vehicle 10 is not in use if it is, for example, parked, engine off and without occupants.

In a third operation, the charging alert system of the electric vehicle 10 is controlled according to the connection state. The control comprises a transmission of second data representative of a first message to the mobile communication device 101 when the electric vehicle 10 is not connected to the charging terminal at the time instant.

The mobile communication device 101 receiving the second data and the mobile communication device 101 having enabled the setting of the time instant are identical or distinct according to different exemplary embodiments.

The second data, according to an exemplary embodiment, correspond to the first message to be displayed on a screen of the recipient mobile communication device 101.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the second data comprises an identification code of a message type, the first message then being determined by the recipient mobile communication device 101 based on the identification code received. The first message is for example determined from a correspondence table determining messages to be displayed on the mobile communication device 101 based on identification codes.

According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the first message comprises an indication of the current charge level of the traction battery or an indication of a current autonomy of the electric vehicle 10.

The first message makes it possible, for example, to warn a user that the electric vehicle 10 is not charging at the configured time instant. The user can thus act accordingly, for example by plugging in the electric vehicle 10 if it is nearby, or if it is not possible to plug in the electric vehicle 10 before a next use, the user then takes into consideration the charge level of the traction battery of the electric vehicle 10 or the current autonomy of the electric vehicle 10 in order to adapt its next use, for example by planning a visit to a charging station if the journey requires recharging the traction battery of the electric vehicle 10.

According to an alternative embodiment, the control of the charging alert system of the electric vehicle 10 comprises a transmission of third data representative of a second message to the mobile communication device 101 when the electric vehicle 10 is connected to the charging terminal at the time instant. Thus, a user is for example informed that the electric vehicle 10 is charging at the configured time instant.

According to a variant, in a fourth operation, a charge level of a traction battery of the electric vehicle 10 is obtained. This charge level is for example obtained from the BMS system of the electric vehicle 10.

In a fifth operation, the charge level is compared to a threshold value. This threshold value is for example equal to 70, 80 or 95%, determined at the factory or set by a user, for example the driver or the owner of the vehicle 10.

The second data are then transmitted only when the charge level is lower than the threshold value. A user then does not receive a first message via the mobile communication device 101 if the charge level of the traction battery of the electric vehicle 10 is higher than this threshold value.

This comparison makes it possible not to bother a user, the first message not being necessary if the charge level of the traction battery of the electric vehicle 10 is sufficient, i.e. higher than the threshold value.

This process thus makes it possible to alert a user that the electric vehicle 10 is or is not charging at a time instant at which charging has been planned. The second or third data transmitted allow the user to receive a first or second message on a mobile communication device 101 in order to inform him of the connection status of the electric vehicle 10. The user is then able to act according to the message received and will not be surprised by an unexpected charge level of a traction battery of the electric vehicle 10 during a next use of the electric vehicle 10.

ThereFIG. 2schematically illustrates a device 2 configured for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle, for example of the electric vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 2 corresponds for example to a device on board the electric vehicle 10, for example a computer.

Device 2 is for example configured to implement the operations described with regard to the FIG. 1 and/or steps of the method described with regard to the FIG. 3 . Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as a vehicle on-board computer, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 2, individually or in combination, may be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and/or into discrete components. The device 2 may be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and/or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 21.

According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 22 comprise one or more of the following interfaces:
- RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced;
- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French);
- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French);
- LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 comprises a communication interface 23 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de contrôles”) type, CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible”), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 240, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 250 and/or other peripherals 260 (projection system) via output interfaces 24, 25 and 26 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

There FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle, for example of the electric vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the electric vehicle 10 or by the device 2 of the FIG. 2 .

In a step 31, first data representative of a time instant are received.

In a step 32, a connection state of the electric vehicle 10 to a charging station at the time instant is determined.

In a step 33, the charging alert system of the electric vehicle 10 is controlled according to the connection state, the control comprising a transmission of second data representative of a first message to a mobile communication device 101 when the electric vehicle 10 is not connected to the charging terminal at the time instant.

According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to the FIG. 1 apply to the process steps of the FIG. 3 .

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for controlling the recharging of a traction battery of an electric vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

The present invention also relates to an electric vehicle 10, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous vehicle with a land motor, comprising the device 2 of the FIG. 2 .

The present invention also relates to a system comprising an electric vehicle 10, comprising the device 2 of the FIG. 2 and a mobile communication device 101.

Claims (10)

A method of controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle (10), said method comprising the following steps:
- reception (31) of first data representative of a time instant;
- determination (32) of a connection state of the electric vehicle (10) to a charging terminal at said time instant;
- control (33) of said alert system as a function of said connection state, said control comprising a transmission of second data representative of a first message to a mobile communication device (101) when the electric vehicle (10) is not connected to said charging terminal at said time instant. The method of claim 1, comprising the following steps:
- obtaining a charge level of a traction battery of the electric vehicle (10);
- comparison of said charge level with a threshold value;
said second data being emitted only when said charge level is lower than said threshold value. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, for which said determination (32) is implemented only when the electric vehicle (10) is not in use. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, for which said control comprises a transmission of third data representative of a second message to said mobile communication device (101) when the electric vehicle (10) is connected to said charging terminal at said time instant. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, for which said first data are received from a human-machine interface on board the electric vehicle (10) via a wired link. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first data is received from said mobile communication device (101) via a wireless link. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor. Device (2) for controlling a charging alert system of an electric vehicle, said device (2) comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Electric vehicle (10) comprising the device (2) according to claim 8. A system comprising the electric vehicle (10) according to claim 9 and a mobile communication device (101).