Aftertreatment Preheating via User Intent Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing preheating methods for aftertreatment devices in vehicles powered by internal combustion engines risk excessive battery drain when the vehicle is not subsequently started, leading to reduced preheating capacity and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A preheating method that adapts the temperature rise of aftertreatment devices based on user intent detection, using a thermal system with controlled heating power levels, including a start-up step and successive cycles to reach maximum efficiency without full power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If full power preheating is applied to ensure the aftertreatment device reaches activation temperature quickly, then the efficiency of pollutant conversion is improved, but excessive battery drain occurs when the vehicle is not subsequently started
Solution Approach 1:
The preheating system dynamically adjusts its power output based on real-time detection of user intent to start the vehicle. The control unit modulates the heating element power between low and high levels according to detected key actions, making the system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by applying full power only when needed (when vehicle start is detected) and reducing power when unnecessary (when vehicle start is not detected), thus maintaining productivity when required while minimizing energy loss otherwise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism through detection means that monitor user actions (key actions) and provide information to the control unit. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust preheating power levels based on the likelihood of vehicle startup. When key actions indicating intent to start are detected, the system increases power to ensure efficient pollutant conversion; when such actions are not detected, the system reduces power to prevent excessive battery drain. This feedback-driven adaptation resolves the technical contradiction between maintaining high efficiency and avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.
2Ease of operation
If preheating is initiated early (e.g., when user approaches vehicle) to allow immediate vehicle operation, then the user convenience is improved, but the risk of unnecessary battery power consumption increases when vehicle is not started
Solution Approach 1:
The preheating process is segmented into distinct power levels (low and high) that can be applied at different stages based on user behavior. The system provides an initial low-power preheating phase when the user approaches the vehicle, ensuring some level of convenience without full energy commitment. If key actions indicating intent to start are subsequently detected, the system transitions to high-power preheating. This segmentation allows the system to provide user convenience through early preheating initiation while controlling battery power consumption by applying full power only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial preheating action (low power level) initially when the user approaches the vehicle, providing some benefit without full energy consumption. This partial action maintains user convenience by starting the preheating process early, while the control unit reserves the option to apply excessive action (high power level) only if key actions indicating vehicle start intent are detected. This approach resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient early action for user convenience while avoiding excessive energy consumption when the vehicle is not started.
3Measurement precision
If multiple key actions are monitored to detect intent to start, then the accuracy of predicting vehicle startup is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only controls the preheating power levels but also detects and processes multiple different key actions (door opening, seatbelt fastening, ignition key insertion, etc.). By making the control unit multi-functional, the system achieves high detection accuracy through monitoring multiple indicators of startup intent without adding separate dedicated detection devices for each action. This universality resolves the contradiction by improving measurement precision through multiple detection parameters while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from adding separate detection systems for each key action.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces energy consumption and battery wear by avoiding full power preheating when the vehicle is not started, optimizing energy use and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Implementation Method 1
manufacturers add electrical devices, such as heating grids, to the catalytic converters to perform this preheating operation
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a preheating method for controlling the rise in temperature of an after-treatment device (100) of a motor vehicle that is driven at least partially by an internal combustion engine, characterised in that the preheating method comprises a step (6) of pre-heating the after-treatment device (100) at a threshold heating power level (22, 44) and at least one cycle (40, 42) following the pre-heating step (6), this cycle (40, 42) comprising a step (7, 8) of detecting a user activity included in a list of key activities representing a desire (103) to start up the vehicle and a step (9, 10) of increasing the heating power level to a higher heating power level when a key activity representing a desire (103) to start up the vehicle is detected.