Automated Driving Torque Control Without Downshift Shock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-vehicle control devices perform downshifting during automated driving even when the increase in requested driving force is due to slight gradients or curving, leading to gearshift shock and noise for drivers and passengers, thereby reducing drivability.

Innovation Solution

The in-vehicle control device prioritizes driving force increase from the electric motor over traditional engine-based downshifting, allowing for increased driving force without downshifting the transmission, thus suppressing gearshift shock and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If downshifting is performed to increase driving force during automated driving, then driving force is improved, but gearshift shock and noise increase, reducing drivability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving forceVSAvoidgearshift shock and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical downshifting approach with an electric motor-based driving force increase approach. When driving force increase is requested during automated driving, the system prioritizes increasing output from the electric motor rather than performing transmission downshifting, thereby eliminating gearshift shock and noise while maintaining improved driving force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Power

If downshifting is performed in response to predicted driving force increase, then driving force is improved, but unexpected gearshift shock occurs on slight gradients or curves, reducing drivability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving forceVSAvoiddrivability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system substitutes electric motor control for mechanical downshifting control. The processor determines whether driving force increase is truly necessary by analyzing multiple parameters including vehicle speed, acceleration, gradient, and curve information. When increase is needed, it commands the electric motor to increase output rather than downshifting, eliminating unexpected gearshift events on slight gradients or curves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from multiple sensors (vehicle speed sensor, acceleration sensor, gradient sensor, curve information) to continuously monitor driving conditions and adjust electric motor output accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond appropriately to actual driving needs without unnecessary downshifting events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4563381A1In-vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4563381A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4563381A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4563381A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An in-vehicle control device (40) is configured to be installed in a vehicle (20) including an engine (22), a transmission (30) configured to change speed of motive power of the engine (22) and perform output to a drive shaft (36) connected to a drive wheel, an electric motor (26) configured to input and output motive power to and from the drive shaft (36), a power storage device (29) configured to input and output electric power to and from the electric motor (26), and a steering device (34). The in-vehicle control device (40) includes a processor (41), and the processor (41) is configured to, at a time of driving force increase request when a driving force increase request is made to bring the vehicle (20) into a predetermined target state during the automated driving control, give priority to driving force increase from the electric motor (26) without downshifting the transmission (30), over driving force increase that involves downshifting the transmission (30).