Vehicle allocation apparatus and vehicle allocation method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12291113-B2
Application number	US-202217817368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2022
Priority date	Aug 18, 2021
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

A processor obtains power reception information including information on a power reception form of a power reception apparatus of each of a plurality of vehicles. The processor obtains power transmission information including information on a power transmission form of a power transmission apparatus available on a travel path through which each of the plurality of vehicles can travel. The processor selects as a vehicle to be dispatched from among the plurality of vehicles, a vehicle that can receive electric power from the power transmission apparatus on the travel path, based on the power reception information and the power transmission information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle allocation system, comprising:
a vehicle allocation apparatus;
a plurality of vehicles on standby; and
a terminal;
the vehicle allocation apparatus being configured to select a vehicle to be dispatched from among the plurality of vehicles on standby, the vehicle allocation apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a memory in which a program executable by the processor is stored, wherein

each of the plurality of vehicles includes
a power reception apparatus configured to receive electric power from any one of a plurality of power transmission apparatuses,
a battery for traveling that is charged with electric power received by the power reception apparatus, and
a motor generator configured to receive electric power from the battery and provide rotational force to a drive wheel of the vehicle,

each of the plurality of power transmission apparatuses includes
a contact power transmission apparatus configured to transmit electric power through a charging cable, and
a wireless power transmission apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit electric power,

the power reception apparatus includes at least one of a contact power reception apparatus that receives electric power from the contact power transmission apparatus and a wireless power reception apparatus that receives electric power from the wireless power transmission apparatus, and
the processor is configured to:
obtain power reception information including information on a power reception form of the power reception apparatus of each of the plurality of vehicles,
obtain power transmission information including information on a power transmission form of a power transmission apparatus of the plurality of power transmission apparatuses available on each of a plurality of travel paths through which each of the plurality of vehicles can travel,
when a user makes a vehicle dispatch request, select a travel path from among the plurality of travel paths,
select as the vehicle to be dispatched from among the plurality of vehicles, such that the power reception form of the power reception apparatus of the vehicle to be dispatched matches with the power transmission form of the power transmission apparatus available on the selected travel path, and
control supply of power to the motor generator to provide rotational force to the drive wheel of the vehicle, wherein

the travel path is a path to a location where the user gets in the dispatched vehicle.

2. The vehicle allocation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the power reception information includes information indicating electric power received per unit time by the power reception apparatus, and
the power transmission information includes information indicating electric power transmitted per unit time by the power transmission apparatus.

3. The vehicle allocation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the processor selects as the vehicle to be dispatched from among the plurality of vehicles, a vehicle in which electric power received per unit time by the power reception apparatus matches with electric power transmitted per unit time by the power transmission apparatus.

4. The vehicle allocation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is further configured to exclude from candidates for the vehicle to be dispatched, a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles that will arrive later than time designated by the user at the location where the user gets on the dispatched vehicle.

5. The vehicle allocation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when there are vehicles that can be selected as the vehicle to be dispatched, the processor is further configured to select as the vehicle to be dispatched, a vehicle shortest in travel distance to the location where the user gets on the dispatched vehicle.

6. A vehicle allocation method of selecting a vehicle to be dispatched from among a plurality of vehicles on standby, each of the plurality of vehicles including a power reception apparatus configured to receive electric power from any one of a plurality of power transmission apparatuses, a battery for traveling that is charged with electric power received by the power reception apparatus, and a motor generator configured to receive electric power from the battery and provide rotational force to a drive wheel of the vehicle, each of the plurality of power transmission apparatuses including a contact power transmission apparatus configured to transmit electric power through a charging cable and a wireless power transmission apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit electric power, the power reception apparatus including at least one of a contact power reception apparatus that receives electric power from the contact power transmission apparatus and a wireless power reception apparatus that receives electric power from the wireless power transmission apparatus, the vehicle allocation method comprising:
obtaining power reception information including information on a power reception form of the power reception apparatus of each of the plurality of vehicles;
obtaining power transmission information including information on a power transmission form of a power transmission apparatus of the plurality of power transmission apparatuses available on each of a plurality of travel paths through which each of the plurality of vehicles can travel;
when a user makes a vehicle dispatch request, selecting a travel path from among the plurality of travel paths;
selecting as the vehicle to be dispatched from among the plurality of vehicles, a vehicle that can receive electric power from the power transmission apparatus available on the selected travel path, based on the power reception form of the power reception apparatus of the vehicle matching with the power transmission form of the power transmission apparatus available on the selected travel path; and
controlling supply of power to the motor generator to provide rotational force to the drive wheel of the vehicle, wherein the travel path is a path to a location where the user gets in the dispatched vehicle.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hirano Takahiro
• TSUGE Shogo
• Ikemura Ryosuke
• Arino Yohei
• Ito Masaki
• Takahashi Yuki

Classifications

• B60L53/62

  in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge · CPC title

• B60L53/66

  Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles · CPC title

• B60L53/53

  Batteries · CPC title

• B60L2240/622

  by satellite navigation · CPC title

• B60L2240/72

  Charging station selection relying on external data · CPC title