FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
VEHICLE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND CHARGING CONTROL
METHOD
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED
AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
VEHICLE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND CHARGING CONTROL
METHOD
5
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle
information management device to be installed in a train,
and relates to a charging control method.
10
Background
[0002] In a train, conventionally a storage battery is
charged with regenerative power obtained from a
regenerative brake. Patent Literature 1 discloses a
15 technique for a vehicle to charge a storage battery with
regenerative power when the voltage of the storage battery
does not reach a set voltage, and to convert regenerative
power into heat and consume the heat when the voltage of
the storage battery reaches the set voltage. In Patent
20 Literature 1, the storage battery is operated at a voltage
in anticipation of an increase in the voltage due to the
regenerative power, so as to minimize the consumption of
regenerative power in the form of heat.
25 Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2009-171772
30 Summary
Technical Problem
[0004] However, in the conventional technique described
above, in order that regenerative power is prevented from
3
being consumed in the form of heat, the storage battery
needs to be operated at a decreased voltage according to
the increase in voltage which occurs when the maximum
regenerative power is generated, relative to the maximum
operable voltage for the storage battery. 5 Thus, there is a
problem that the storage battery needs to be continuously
operated without fully utilizing the capacity of the
storage battery in the situation where regenerative power
is not generated.
10 [0005] The present invention has been achieved to solve
the above problems, and an object of the present invention
is to provide a vehicle information management device that
makes it possible to charge a storage battery in response
to an operational state of a train.
15
Solution to Problem
[0006] To solve the above described problems and achieve
the object the present invention relates to a vehicle
information management device. The vehicle information
20 management device includes: an information obtainer to
obtain information on a current operational state of the
train; a storage to store charging control information
therein, where in the charging control information, control
contents of charging the storage battery with power
25 generated by using an engine to be installed in the train
are set correspondingly to an operational state of the
train; and a controller to obtain charging control
information that matches the current operational state of
the train from the storage, and to control charging of the
30 storage battery on a basis of the charging control
information obtained.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
4
[0007] The vehicle information management device
according to the present invention has an effect where it
is possible to charge a storage battery in response to an
operational state of a train.
5
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train having a vehicle information management
device installed therein.
10 FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a
target value for a charging rate of a storage battery when
the vehicle information management device charges the
storage battery with power generated by a generator.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a
15 target value for a charging rate of the storage battery
when the vehicle information management device charges the
storage battery with power generated by the generator.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third example of a
target value for a charging rate of the storage battery
20 when the vehicle information management device charges the
storage battery with power generated by the generator.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the third example of
the target value for the charging rate of the storage
battery when the vehicle information management device
25 charges the storage battery with power generated by the
generator, in a table format.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of
the vehicle information management device to charge the
storage battery with power generated in the generator using
30 an engine.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a
processing circuitry included in the vehicle information
management device is configured by a processor and a memory.
5
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which
the processing circuitry included in the vehicle
information management device is configured by dedicated
hardware.
5
Description of Embodiments
[0009] A vehicle information management device and a
charging control method according to embodiments of the
present invention will be described in detail below with
10 reference to the accompanying drawings. The present
invention is not limited to the embodiments.
[0010] Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train 1 having a vehicle information
15 management device 10 according to an embodiment of the
present invention installed in the train 1. The train 1
includes vehicles 2 and 3. While the number of vehicles in
the train 1 is two in FIG. 1, this is merely an example.
It is allowable that the number of vehicles in the train 1
20 is three or more. The train 1 also covers a single-vehicle
train where the number of vehicles is one. The vehicle 2
includes the vehicle information management device 10, a
charger-discharger 20, a storage battery 30, an in-vehicle
device 40, an engine 50, a generator 60, and a motor 70.
25 [0011] The vehicle information management device 10
executes control of charging the storage battery 30 with
power generated in the train 1. Specifically, the vehicle
information management device 10 executes control of
generating power by the generator 60 using the engine 50,
30 that is, control of producing electric power. The vehicle
information management device 10 executes control of
charging the storage battery 30 through the chargerdischarger
20: with power generated by the generator 60
6
using the engine 50; and with regenerative power generated
during the deceleration or stopping of the train 1.
Regenerative power is generated in the motor 70 when the
motor 70 is used as a regenerative brake. The motor 70 is
otherwise used for running of the train 1. 5 In the train 1,
even though regenerative power is generated in a state
where the charging rate of the storage battery 30 is high,
all or a part of the regenerative power is converted into
heat or the like and wasted without being charged to the
10 storage battery 30. In view of that, in the present
embodiment, the vehicle information management device 10
controls charging of the storage battery 30 by determining
the control contents in response to the current operational
state of the train 1, taking into account the regenerative
15 power generated in the motor 70 and other factors. The
vehicle information management device 10 executes control
of driving the motor 70 by using power in the storage
battery 30 through the charger-discharger 20 such that the
motor 70 is used for running of the train 1. For example,
20 the vehicle information management device 10 is a TIMS
(Train Information Management System) that manages the
operation of the in-vehicle device 40 installed in the
vehicles 2 and 3 of the train 1.
[0012] Under the control of the vehicle information
25 management device 10, the charger-discharger 20 charges the
storage battery 30: with power generated by the generator
60 using the engine 50; and with regenerative power
generated when the motor 70 is used as a regenerative brake.
Under the control of the vehicle information management
30 device 10, the charger-discharger 0: drives the motor 70 by
using power in the storage battery 30; and uses the power
in the storage battery 30 for running of the train 1.
[0013] The storage battery 30 is charged with power
7
generated in the train 1. As described above, the power
generated in the train 1 includes: power generated by the
generator 60 using the engine 50; and regenerative power
generated when the motor 70 is used as a regenerative brake.
The power charged to the storage battery 5 30 is used for
running of the train 1. The power charged to the storage
battery 30 is also used by the in-vehicle device 40.
[0014] The in-vehicle device 40 is a device installed in
the vehicles 2 and 3. The in-vehicle device 40 is
10 installed in each vehicle and is, for example, an air
conditioner and a guide display device that shows a
stopping station. However, the in-vehicle device 40 is not
limited to these devices.
[0015] Under the control of the vehicle information
15 management device 10, the engine 50 drives the generator 60.
The engine 50 may drive the generator 60 by using power
supplied from outside of the train 1, or may drive the
generator 60 by using fuel.
[0016] The generator 60 is driven by the engine 50.
20 Under the control of the vehicle information management
device 10, the generator 60 generates power, that is,
produces electric power. The generator 60 charges the
storage battery 30 with the generated power through the
charger-discharger 20.
25 [0017] The motor 70 is used for running of the train 1.
The motor 70 operates as a generator when the motor 70 is
used as a regenerative brake to decelerate or stop the
train 1, and generates regenerative power. The motor 70
charges the storage battery 30 with the generated
30 regenerative power through the charger-discharger 20.
[0018] The configuration of the vehicle information
management device 10 is described below. The vehicle
information management device 10 includes an information
8
obtainer 11, a storage 12, and a controller 13.
[0019] The information obtainer 11 obtains information
on the current operational state of the train 1. The
information on the current operational state of the train 1
includes the current train location of the 5 train 1, and the
current charging rate of the storage battery 30. The
information on the current operational state of the train 1
may also include the current passenger load factor of the
train 1, the current operating state of the air conditioner
10 in the train 1, and other factors. The information
obtainer 11 outputs the obtained information on the current
operational state of the train 1 to the controller 13. As
described above, in a case where the vehicle information
management device 10 is the TIMS, the vehicle information
15 management device 10 has a function of obtaining
information on: the current train location of the train 1;
the current charging rate of the storage battery 30; the
current passenger load factor of the train 1; the current
operating state of the air conditioner in the train 1; and
20 other factors.
[0020] The storage 12 stores charging control
information therein. In the charging control information,
the control contents of charging the storage battery 30
with power generated by the generator 60 using the engine
25 50 installed in the train 1 are set correspondingly to the
operational state of the train 1. The control contents are
used by the controller 13 to control charging of the
storage battery 30. In the present embodiment, the
charging rate of the storage battery 30 to be set in the
30 vehicle information management device 10 is described below.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first example
of a target value for a charging rate of the storage
battery 30 when the vehicle information management device
9
10 according to the present embodiment charges the storage
battery 30 with power generated by the generator 60. In
FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents the train location
of the train 1 within the traveling section from a station
A to a station B, while the vertical axis 5 represents the
charging rate of the storage battery 30. The traveling
section of the train 1 is already known. In the traveling
section in which the train 1 travels along a downward slope,
the storage battery 30 is charged with regenerative power,
10 and consequently a charging rate 21 of the storage battery
30 increases as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, in the
traveling section in which the train 1 travels along a
downward slope, at the point in time when the train 1
departs from the station A, a target value 23 for the
15 charging rate of the storage battery 30 when the storage
battery 30 is charged with power generated by the generator
60 is set such that even though the charging rate 21 of the
storage battery 30 increases, a peak 22 of the charging
rate of the storage battery 30 still does not reach 100%.
20 The target value 23 for the charging rate illustrated in
FIG. 2 is set in advance by responsible personnel in a
railway company that provides services of the train 1,
taking into account: geographical information on the
traveling section from the station A to the station B; the
25 vehicle performance of the train 1,; and other factors.
Examples of the geographical information include a gradient
and a curve. It is also allowable to set the target value
23 for the charging rate, taking into account regenerative
power to be obtained in the traveling section.
30 [0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second example
of a target value for a charging rate of the storage
battery 30 when the vehicle information management device
10 according to the present embodiment charges the storage
10
battery 30 with power generated by the generator 60. In
FIG. 3, identically to FIG. 2, the vertical axis represents
the charging rate, while the horizontal axis represents the
train location. In a traveling section in which the train
1 travels along an upward slope, power 5 in the storage
battery 30 is used, and consequently a charging rate 31 of
the storage battery 30 decreases as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Thus, in the travelling section in which the train 1
travels along an upward slope, at the time point when the
10 train 1 departs from the station A, a target value 32 for
the charging rate of the storage battery 30 when the
storage battery 30 is charged with power generated by the
generator 60 is set higher than the target value in the
traveling section in which the train 1 travels along a
15 downward slope. The target value 32 for the charging rate
illustrated in FIG. 3 is set in advance by responsible
personnel in a railway company that provides services of
the train 1, taking into account geographical information
on the traveling section from the station A to the station
20 B, the vehicle performance of the train 1, and other
factors. It is also allowable to set the target value 32
for the charging rate, taking into account regenerative
power to be obtained during the traveling section.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third example
25 of a target value for a charging rate of the storage
battery 30 when the vehicle information management device
10 according to the present embodiment charges the storage
battery 30 with power generated by the generator 60. In
FIG. 4, identically to FIG. 2, the vertical axis represents
30 the charging rate, while the horizontal axis represents the
train location. In FIGS. 2 and 3 described above, the
target value for the charging rate of the storage battery
30 when the storage battery 30 is charged with power
11
generated by the generator 60 is set at the time point when
the train 1 departs from the station A. However, setting
of the target value is not limited thereto. Specifically,
the target value for the charging rate of the storage
battery 30 when the storage battery 5 30 is charged with
power generated by the generator 60 is set correspondingly
to the train location of the train 1 between the station A
and the station B.
[0024] In FIG. 4, the target value for the charging rate
10 of the storage battery 30 is set to 50% at a point #1 of
the train location with a distance 0 from the station A.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the train 1 is at the point
#1, as the charging rate of the storage battery 30
decreases to 25%, the generator 60 starts power generation
15 using the engine 50, and when the charging rate of the
storage battery 30 increases to 50% as the target value,
the generator 60 stops power generation using the engine 50.
Likewise, in FIG. 4, the target value for the charging rate
of the storage battery 30 is set to 65% at a point #2 of
20 the train location with a distance 500 from the station A.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, at the point #2, when the
charging rate of the storage battery 30 decreases to 30%,
the generator 60 starts power generation using the engine
50, and when the charging rate of the storage battery 30
25 increases to 65% as the target value, the generator 60
stops power generation using the engine 50. Likewise, in
FIG. 4, the target value for the charging rate of the
storage battery 30 is set to 90% at a point #3 of the train
location with a distance 950 from the station A. As
30 illustrated in FIG. 4, at the point #3, when the charging
rate of the storage battery 30 decreases to 50%, the
generator 60 starts power generation using the engine 50,
and when the charging rate of the storage battery 30
12
increases to 90% as the target value, the generator 60
stops power generation using the engine 50. Likewise, in
FIG. 4, the target value for the charging rate of the
storage battery 30 is 80% at a point #4 of the train
location with a distance 0 from 5 the station B. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, at the point #4, when the charging
rate of the storage battery 30 decreases to 40%, the
generator 60 starts power generation using the engine 50,
and when the charging rate of the storage battery 30
10 increases to 80% as the target value, the generator 60
stops power generation using the engine 50.
[0025] The information in a graph format illustrated in
FIG. 4 is listed in a table format in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a
diagram illustrating the third example of the target value
15 for the charging rate of the storage battery 30 when the
vehicle information management device 10 according to the
present embodiment charges the storage battery 30 with
power generated by the generator 60, in a table format. In
FIG. 5, "point" indicates the train location of the train 1
20 between the station A and the station B. "Station code"
indicates the next station at which the train 1 stops.
"Distance from station" indicates a distance from the
station A in the direction toward the station B. The train
location can be identified by using the station code and
25 the distance from station. "Charging rate" indicates a
charging rate at which the storage battery 30 starts being
charged or a charging rate at which the storage battery 30
stops being charged in accordance with start or stop shown
in the field "power generation" next to "charging rate" in
30 FIG. 5. "Power generation" indicates the control contents
to be executed by the vehicle information management device
10 when the charging rate of the storage battery 30 reaches
the value shown in "charging rate" described above. The
13
information in the table illustrated in FIG. 5 is listed in
a unit of station code for the next station at which the
train 1 stops. Therefore, the information at the point 4
illustrated in FIG. 4 is described in a table in which
information is listed in a unit of station 5 code for the
next station from the station B. It is allowable that the
storage 12 stores therein charging control information
either in a graph format of FIG. 4 or in a table format of
FIG. 5. In the charging control information, the control
10 contents by the vehicle information management device 10,
when the generator 60 charges the storage battery 30, are
set in accordance with the operational state of the train 1.
The charging control information illustrated in FIG. 4 or 5
is set in advance by responsible personnel in a railway
15 company that provides services of the train 1, taking into
account geographical information on the traveling section
from the station A to the station B, the vehicle
performance of the train 1, and other factors.
[0026] The storage 12 stores therein the charging
20 control information corresponding to the operational state
of the train 1. Specifically, the storage 12 stores
therein the charging control information illustrated in FIG.
4 or 5 with respect to each information on the operational
state obtained by the information obtainer 11. The storage
25 12 stores therein the charging control information with
respect to each passenger load factor of the train 1, for
example, when the passenger load factors of the train 1 are
20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. This is because the load on
the train 1 during traveling differs depending on the
30 passenger load factor, and accordingly the amount of power
used from the storage battery 30 differs. The storage 12
also stores therein the charging control information with
respect to each operating state of the in-vehicle device 40
14
in the train 1, for example, an air conditioner. This is
because the load on the train 1 during traveling differs
depending on the operating state of the air conditioner,
for example, a running mode such as heating or cooling, and
a set temperature, and accordingly the amount 5 of power used
from the storage battery 30 differs. It is allowable that
the storage 12 stores therein charging control information
in consideration of both the passenger load factor of the
train 1 and the operating state of the air conditioner in
10 the train 1. For example, the storage 12 stores therein
charging control information when the passenger load factor
of the train 1 is 100% and the air conditioner is in
operation in the cooling mode at the set temperature of
26C.
15 [0027] The controller 13 obtains information on the
current operational state of the train 1 from the
information obtainer 11. The controller 13 obtains
charging control information that matches the current
operational state of the train 1 from the storage 12. The
20 controller 13 controls charging of the storage battery 30
on the basis of the obtained charging control information.
[0028] For example, the information obtainer 11 obtains,
as information on the current operational state of the
train 1, the current charging rate of the storage battery
25 30 and the current train location of the train 1. In this
case, the controller 13 obtains charging control
information that matches the current train location of the
train 1 from the storage 12. The controller 13 controls
charging of the storage battery 30 by using the obtained
30 charging control information and the current charging rate
of the storage battery 30.
[0029] The information obtainer 11 obtains, as
information on the current operational state of the train 1,
15
the current charging rate of the storage battery 30, the
current train location of the train 1, and the current
passenger load factor of the train 1. In this case, the
controller 13 obtains charging control information that
matches the current passenger load factor 5 of the train 1
and the current train location of the train 1 from the
storage 12. For example, the controller 13 reads a portion
of the charging control information that matches the
current passenger load factor of the train 1 as illustrated
10 in the table in FIG. 5. This portion corresponds to the
current train location of the train 1. The controller 13
controls charging of the storage battery 30 by using the
obtained charging control information and the current
charging rate of the storage battery 30.
15 [0030] The information obtainer 11 also obtains, as
information on the current operational state of the train 1,
the current charging rate of the storage battery 30, the
current train location of the train 1, and the current
operating state of the air conditioner in the train 1. In
20 this case, the controller 13 obtains charging control
information that matches the current operating state of the
air conditioner in the train 1 and the current train
location of the train 1 from the storage 12. For example,
the controller 13 reads a portion of the charging control
25 information that matches the current operating state of the
air conditioner in the train 1 as illustrated in the table
in FIG. 5. This portion corresponds to the current train
location of the train 1. The controller 13 controls
charging of the storage battery 30 by using the obtained
30 charging control information and the current charging rate
of the storage battery 30.
[0031] Next, descriptions are made on the operation of
the vehicle information management device 10 to charge the
16
storage battery 30 with power generated by the generator 60
using the engine 50. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating
the operation of the vehicle information management device
10 according to the present embodiment to charge the
storage battery 30 with power generated by 5 the generator 60
using the engine 50.
[0032] In the vehicle information management device 10,
the information obtainer 11 obtains information on the
current operational state of the train 1 (Step S1). The
10 information obtainer 11 outputs the obtained information on
the current operational state of the train 1 to the
controller 13. On the basis of the current operational
state of the train 1 obtained by the information obtainer
11, the controller 13 obtains charging control information
15 that matches the current operational state of the train 1
from the storage 12 (Step S2). The controller 13 controls
charging of the storage battery 30 by using the obtained
charging control information and the current charging rate
of the storage battery 30 (Step S3).
20 [0033] A specific operation of the controller 13 using
the charging control information illustrated in FIGS. 4 and
5 is described below. For example, when the charging rate
of the storage battery 30 decreases to 25% at the point #1
in the traveling section from the station A to the station
25 B, the controller 13 outputs a power-generation start
command to the engine 50 and the generator 60 to instruct
the generator 60 to start power generation using the engine
50. When the engine 50 and the generator 60 receive the
power-generation start command from the controller 13, the
30 generator 60 starts power generation using the engine 50.
When the charging rate of the storage battery 30 increases
due to the power generation by the generator 60 using the
engine 50, and consequently the charging rate of the
17
storage battery 30 increases to 50%, then the controller 13
outputs a power-generation stop command to the engine 50
and the generator 60 to instruct the generator 60 to stop
power generation using the engine 50. When the engine 50
and the generator 60 receive the power-5 generation stop
command from the controller 13, the generator 60 stops
power generation using the engine 50.
[0034] Similarly to the above, when the charging rate of
the storage battery 30 decreases to 30% at the point #2 in
10 the traveling section from the station A to the station B,
then the controller 13 outputs a power-generation start
command to the engine 50 and the generator 60. When the
engine 50 and the generator 60 receive the power-generation
start command from the controller 13, the generator 60
15 starts power generation using the engine 50. When the
charging rate of the storage battery 30 increases due to
the power generation by the generator 60 using the engine
50, and consequently the charging rate of the storage
battery 30 increases to 65%, then the controller 13 outputs
20 a power-generation stop command to the engine 50 and the
generator 60. When the engine 50 and the generator 60
receive the power-generation stop command from the
controller 13, the generator 60 stops power generation
using the engine 50.
25 [0035] Similarly to the above, when the charging rate of
the storage battery 30 decreases to 50% at the point #3 in
the traveling section from the station A to the station B,
then the controller 13 outputs a power-generation start
command to the engine 50 and the generator 60. When the
30 engine 50 and the generator 60 receive the power-generation
start command from the controller 13, the generator 60
starts power generation using the engine 50. When the
charging rate of the storage battery 30 increases due to
18
the power generation by the generator 60 using the engine
50, and consequently the charging rate of the storage
battery 30 increases to 90%, then the controller 13 outputs
a power-generation stop command to the engine 50 and the
generator 60. When the engine 50 and 5 the generator 60
receive the power-generation stop command from the
controller 13, the generator 60 stops power generation
using the engine 50.
[0036] It is allowable that the storage 12 stores
10 therein charging control information in which many points
are set within the traveling section from the station A to
the station B illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case,
the controller 13 may control charging of the storage
battery 30 within a traveling section from the first point
15 to the second point, as next to the first point, in
accordance with the control contents at the first point.
[0037] Next, the hardware configuration of the vehicle
information management device 10 is described. In the
vehicle information management device 10, the storage 12 is
20 a memory. The information obtainer 11 and the controller
13 are implemented by a processing circuitry. It is
allowable that the processing circuitry is either dedicated
hardware, or a memory and a processor that executes
programs stored in the memory.
25 [0038] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in
which the processing circuitry included in the vehicle
information management device 10 according to the present
embodiment is configured by a processor and a memory. In a
case where the processing circuitry is configured by a
30 processor 91 and a memory 92, the respective functions of
the processing circuitry of the vehicle information
management device 10 are implemented in software, firmware,
or a combination of the software and the firmware. The
19
software or firmware is described as a program and stored
in the memory 92. In the processing circuitry, the
processor 91 reads out and executes the program stored in
the memory 92 to thereby implement each of the functions.
That is, the processing circuitry includes 5 the memory 92
that stores therein programs that eventually execute the
processing of the vehicle information management device 10.
These programs are also regarded as causing a computer to
execute the procedure and method of the vehicle information
10 management device 10.
[0039] The processor 91 may be a device such as a CPU
(Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an
arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a
DSP (Digital Signal Processor). A nonvolatile or volatile
15 semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory),
a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM
(Erasable Programmable ROM), and an EEPROM® (Electrically
EPROM), or a device such as a magnetic disk, a flexible
disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a MiniDisk, or a DVD
20 (Digital Versatile Disk) corresponds to the memory 92, for
example.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in
which the processing circuitry included in the vehicle
information management device 10 according to the present
25 embodiment is configured by dedicated hardware. When the
processing circuitry is configured by dedicated hardware,
then for example, a single circuit, a combined circuit, a
programmed processor, a parallel-programmed processor, an
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA
30 (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof
corresponds to a processing circuitry 93 illustrated in FIG.
8. The functions of the vehicle information management
device 10 may be implemented by each individual processing
20
circuitry 93 or may be collectively implemented by a single
processing circuitry 93.
[0041] As for the respective functions of the vehicle
information management device 10, it is possible to
configure that some parts of the functions 5 are realized by
dedicated hardware and other parts thereof are realized by
software or firmware. In this manner, the processing
circuit can realize each function described above by
dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of
10 these elements.
[0042] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the vehicle information management device 10:
obtains information on the current operational state of the
train 1; and obtains charging control information that
15 matches the current operational state of the train 1 from
charging control information in which the control contents
of charging the storage battery 30 with power generated by
using the engine 50 to be installed in the train 1 are set
correspondingly to the operational state of the train 1; so
20 that the vehicle information management device 10 controls
charging of the storage battery 30 on the basis of the
obtained charging control information. Due to this
operation, the vehicle information management device 10 can
charge the storage battery 30 in response to the
25 operational state of the train 1. For example, when the
train 1 travels along a downward slope, the vehicle
information management device 10 can set a target value for
a charging rate of the storage battery 30 when the storage
battery 30 is charged with power generated by the generator
30 60 such that the target value is low at a point before the
downward slope. Also, when the train 1 travels along an
upward slope, the vehicle information management device 10
can set a target value for the charging rate of the storage
21
battery 30 when the storage battery 30 is charged with
power generated by the generator 60 such that the target
value is high at a point before the upward slope.
[0043] The configurations described in the above
embodiments are only examples of the content 5 of the present
invention. The configurations can be combined with other
well-known techniques, and part of each of the
configurations can be omitted or modified without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
10
Reference Signs List
[0044] 1 train, 2, 3 vehicle, 10 vehicle information
management device, 11 information obtainer, 12 storage,
13 controller, 20 charger-discharger, 30 storage
15 battery, 40 in-vehicle device, 50 engine, 60 generator,
70 motor.
22
We Claim :
1. A vehicle information management device that executes
control of charging a storage battery with power generated
in a train, the vehicle information management device
5 comprising:
an information obtainer to obtain information on a
current operational state of the train;
a storage to store charging control information
therein, where in the charging control information, control
10 contents of charging the storage battery with power
generated by using an engine to be installed in the train
are set correspondingly to an operational state of the
train; and
a controller to obtain charging control information
15 that matches the current operational state of the train
from the storage, and to control charging of the storage
battery on a basis of the charging control information
obtained.
20 2. The vehicle information management device according to
claim 1, wherein
the information obtainer obtains, as information on
the current operational state of the train, a current
charging rate of the storage battery and a current train
25 location of the train, and
the controller obtains charging control information
that matches the current train location of the train from
the storage, and controls charging of the storage battery
by using the charging control information obtained and the
30 current charging rate of the storage battery.
3. The vehicle information management device according to
claim 2, wherein
23
the information obtainer further obtains, as
information on the current operational state of the train,
a current passenger load factor of the train, and
the controller obtains charging control information
that matches the current passenger load factor 5 of the train
and the current train location of the train from the
storage, and controls charging of the storage battery by
using the charging control information obtained and the
current charging rate of the storage battery.
10
4. The vehicle information management device according to
claim 2, wherein
the information obtainer further obtains, as
information on the current operational state of the train,
15 a current operating state of an air conditioner in the
train, and
the controller:
obtains charging control information that matches
the current operating state of an air conditioner in the
20 train and the current train location of the train from the
storage; and
controls charging of the storage battery by using
the charging control information obtained and the current
charging rate of the storage battery.
25
5. A charging control method for a vehicle information
management device that executes control of charging a
storage battery with power generated in a train, the
charging control method comprising:
30 a first step of obtaining information on a current
operational state of the train by an information obtainer;
a second step of obtaining charging control
information that matches the current operational state of
24
the train by a controller from a storage to store charging
control information therein, where in the charging control
information, control contents of charging the storage
battery with power generated by using an engine to be
installed in the train are set correspondingly 5 to an
operational state of the train; and
a third step of controlling charging of the storage
battery by the controller on a basis of the charging
control information obtained.
10
6. The charging control method according to claim 5,
wherein
at the first step, the information obtainer obtains,
as information on the current operational state of the
15 train, a current charging rate of the storage battery and a
current train location of the train,
at the second step, the controller obtains charging
control information that matches the current train location
of the train from the storage, and
20 at the third step, the controller controls charging of
the storage battery by using the charging control
information obtained and the current charging rate of the
storage battery.
25 7. The charging control method according to claim 6,
wherein
at the first step, the information obtainer further
obtains, as information on the current operational state of
the train, a current passenger load factor of the train,
30 at the second step, the controller obtains charging
control information that matches the current train location
of the train and the current passenger load factor of the
train from the storage, and
25
at the third step, the controller controls charging of
the storage battery by using the charging control
information obtained and the current charging rate of the
storage battery.
5
8. The charging control method according to claim 6,
wherein
at the first step, the information obtainer further
obtains, as information on the current operational state of
10 the train, a current operating state of an air conditioner
in the train,
at the second step, the controller obtains charging
control information that matches the current train location
of the train and the current operating state of an air
15 conditioner in the train from the storage, and
at the third step, the controller controls charging of
the storage battery by using the charging control
information obtained and the current charging rate of the
storage battery.