Vehicle Control for Catalyst Preheating Energy Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accurately predicting the traveling energy amount needed during the preheating of a vehicle's catalyst device is challenging due to varying traveling loads influenced by route and traffic conditions, which complicates setting the appropriate warming start charge amount for the battery.

Innovation Solution

A data structure is implemented that stores positional information and cumulative relative frequency distribution data related to traveling loads, allowing processors to calculate predicted traveling load amounts based on current and future positions, enabling accurate energy predictions and optimal charge management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the warming start charge amount is set based on fixed thresholds, then the control logic is simple, but the prediction accuracy of traveling energy amount deteriorates due to varying traveling loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracy of traveling energy amountVSAvoidcomplexity of data structure and processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the traveling load data by dividing the road into multiple sections and creating separate cumulative relative frequency distribution tables for each section. This segmentation allows the system to capture local characteristics of different road segments, improving prediction accuracy without requiring a single complex global model.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing cumulative relative frequency distribution tables for various road sections before actual vehicle operation. These pre-computed tables contain historical traveling load data organized by road section, enabling rapid query and prediction during real-time operation without complex calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If historical traveling data is collected and processed, then the prediction accuracy improves, but the data processing time and communication delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of traveling load predictionVSAvoidcommunication delay time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating cumulative relative frequency distribution tables from historical data and storing them in a database before they are needed. When a prediction is required, the system only needs to query the pre-computed tables based on the current road section, avoiding time-consuming real-time calculations and reducing communication delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating specific cumulative relative frequency distribution tables for each road section rather than using a single global table. This allows the prediction to be tailored to local characteristics of the specific road section the vehicle is traveling on, improving accuracy while keeping each local table manageable in size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the catalyst device is preheated using battery energy, then the exhaust gas quality is improved, but the battery charge amount decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas qualityVSAvoidbattery charge amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the minimum necessary battery charge amount for catalyst preheating in advance, before the actual preheating process begins. The system calculates this minimum charge amount based on the predicted traveling load and uses it to decide whether to proceed with preheating, ensuring that the battery retains sufficient charge for subsequent vehicle operation while still achieving the necessary catalyst warming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the warming start charge amount threshold based on predicted traveling load conditions. When the predicted traveling load is low, the system can afford to use more battery energy for preheating (lowering the threshold). When the predicted traveling load is high, the system raises the threshold to conserve battery energy, thus optimizing the trade-off between exhaust gas quality and battery charge maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution allows for precise prediction of traveling energy needs, ensuring the catalyst device is warmed efficiently before switching to the charge sustaining mode, thereby maintaining exhaust gas quality and optimizing battery charge levels.

Implementation Method 1

the catalyst device is electrically heated (preheated) by a heater or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3882094B1Non-transitory storage medium and vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3882094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3882094B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3882094B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A non-transitory storage medium for use in an information processing device (3) in a vehicle control system (1). The storage medium stores: pieces of positional information; pieces of cumulative relative frequency distribution information associated with individual vehicle traveling directions, the pieces of cumulative relative frequency distribution information being related to data on traveling loads associated with the individual vehicle traveling directions on a plurality of vehicles (2) having traveled through points indicated by the pieces of positional information, or data on traveling load amounts depending on a traveling time or a traveling distance from the points; and instructions that are executable by processors to perform functions comprising calculating a predicted value of the traveling load amount depending on the traveling time or the traveling distance from an arbitrary point based on the cumulative relative frequency distribution information associated with individual vehicle traveling directions at the arbitrary point.