Method for controlling a drive system of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for controlling a drive system of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system can be operated with a first energy source and a second energy source, the method comprising the following steps: - detection (S1) of traffic sign information by a sensor; - transmission (S2) of the traffic sign information to a control means for controlling the drive system; - Control (S3) of the drive system as a function of the traffic sign information by the control means, wherein on the basis of the detected traffic sign information the drive system is operated exclusively with the first energy source, characterized in that the traffic sign information includes the indication that an area is being driven in which only motor vehicles with a certain type of drive are permitted.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a drive system of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Drive systems that can be operated with different energy sources are known from the prior art. There are drive systems with an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. The drive type can be selected, for example, by a user or automatically by a control device. Automated selection by the control device can be advantageous for using the drive system as efficiently as possible. Selection by the user can be advantageous if they want to drive the motor vehicle into an area where, for example, only motor vehicles with electric motors are permitted. They can then manually switch to the electric motor, allowing them to drive into this area.

[0003] It is also known from DE 10 2008 043 761 A1 and DE 10 2010 027 730 A1 that a vehicle assistance system is controlled based on an automatically recognized traffic sign.

[0004] In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of taking road traffic regulations into account in a method for the automated control of a drive system with two energy sources. Furthermore, a device suitable for this purpose and a motor vehicle with such a device are to be created.

[0005] This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1, by a device according to claim 5, and by a motor vehicle according to claim 6. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The drive system can be operated with a first and a second energy source. Drive with both energy sources can be achieved using only one or both energy sources simultaneously.

[0007] According to the method, traffic sign information is first detected by a sensor. The traffic sign information includes the indication that an area is being entered in which only motor vehicles with a specific drive type—e.g., electric—are permitted. The traffic sign information is transmitted to a control device for controlling the drive system. The drive system is then controlled based on the traffic sign information.

[0008] Based on the detected traffic sign information, the drive system is operated exclusively with the first energy source. Preferably, the first energy source corresponds to the drive type permitted in the area in question, so that the motor vehicle is permitted to drive in that area.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first energy source may comprise a fuel cell and / or a storage device for electrical energy. The storage device may, for example, be a battery or a rechargeable accumulator.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second energy source may be a fossil fuel such as diesel or gasoline.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensor can be embodied as an optical sensor. For example, the sensor can be a camera. The traffic sign information can then be recognized by software from the image captured by the camera.

[0012] The device according to claim 5 is suitable for carrying out a method according to an embodiment of the invention and comprises the sensor and the control means.

[0013] The motor vehicle according to claim 6 comprises the device and the drive system.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive system can comprise a first drive means, a second drive means, the first energy source, and the second energy source. The first drive means can be operated exclusively with the first energy source, and the second drive means can be operated exclusively with the second energy source.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] In a first step S1, traffic sign information is detected by a sensor. This can be done optically, for example. The sensor can then be embodied as a camera. The traffic sign information can, for example, include a notice stating that the motor vehicle may only be operated with the first energy source.

[0017] The traffic sign information is transmitted to a control means in a second step S2. The control means then controls the drive system of the motor vehicle in a third step S3 based on the traffic sign information. This means that the drive system is operated only with the first energy source, thus permitting the motor vehicle to drive in the area.

[0018] This process allows the control of the drive system to be fully automated, while also taking into account road traffic regulations regarding the energy source used by the vehicle. Manual intervention by the driver is then unnecessary.

Claims

[1] Method for controlling a drive system of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system can be operated with a first energy source and a second energy source, the method comprising the following steps: - detection (S1) of traffic sign information by a sensor; - transmission (S2) of the traffic sign information to a control means for controlling the drive system; - Control (S3) of the drive system in dependence on the traffic sign information by the control means, whereby the drive system is operated exclusively with the first energy source due to the detected traffic sign information, characterized by that the traffic sign information includes the indication that an area is being driven in which only motor vehicles with a specific type of drive are permitted. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized bythat the first energy source comprises a fuel cell and / or a storage device for electrical energy. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second energy source is a fossil fuel. [4] Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor is designed as an optical sensor. [5] Device for carrying out a method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises the sensor and the control means. [6] Motor vehicle comprising the device according to the preceding claim and the drive system. [7] Motor vehicle according to the previous claim, characterized bythat the drive system comprises a first drive means, a second drive means, the first energy source and the second energy source, wherein the first drive means can be operated exclusively with the first energy source and the second drive means can be operated exclusively with the second energy source.

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