Vehicle Controller Wakeup for Evaporative Emissions Diagnostics

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to minimize unnecessary battery power consumption and system degradation while performing evaporative emissions system diagnostics, which are more reliable at ambient temperature conditions, without maintaining the controller in an activated state.

Innovation Solution

Estimating the time it will take for the evaporative emissions system temperature to reach a threshold temperature of ambient temperature and waking the controller from a sleep mode at that time to perform diagnostics, using cooling curves and Euler's number to determine the optimal wake-up time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the controller is maintained in an activated state to perform diagnostics at ambient temperature conditions, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic reliabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary actions by calculating the time required for the evaporative emissions system to reach ambient temperature conditions before initiating the diagnostic procedure. This allows the controller to wake from sleep mode at the optimal moment when temperature conditions are favorable, ensuring diagnostic reliability while minimizing power consumption by staying in sleep mode during the waiting period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically transitions between sleep mode and activated state based on calculated temperature conditions. Rather than remaining statically activated, the controller adjusts its operational state dynamically, waking only when the evaporative emissions system temperature is within the threshold of ambient temperature, thus optimizing the balance between diagnostic reliability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the controller is kept activated to ensure proper diagnostic conditions, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but system degradation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidsystem degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller calculates in advance the time required for the evaporative emissions system to reach suitable temperature conditions for diagnostics. By performing this preliminary calculation, the controller can wake at the precise moment when conditions are optimal, ensuring diagnostic accuracy while minimizing the duration of controller activation and thereby reducing system degradation from prolonged exercise of system components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller skips the intermediate period of unsuitable temperature conditions by remaining in sleep mode, and directly transitions to the activated state only when optimal conditions are reached. This avoids unnecessary activation during suboptimal conditions, reducing system degradation while ensuring diagnostic accuracy is achieved when conditions are favorable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Ease of operation

If the controller wakes immediately after engine shutdown to perform diagnostics, then diagnostic timing is simplified, but power consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic timingVSAvoidunnecessary power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs a preliminary calculation of the time required for the evaporative emissions system to reach ambient temperature conditions immediately after engine shutdown. This preliminary action allows the controller to determine the optimal wake time in advance, ensuring that diagnostics are performed at the right moment without unnecessary prolonged activation, thus reducing energy loss while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller uses periodic action by calculating and setting a specific wake time based on the thermal characteristics of the evaporative emissions system. Rather than remaining continuously activated or waking at fixed intervals, the controller wakes at a predetermined optimal time when temperature conditions are expected to be favorable, minimizing energy consumption while maintaining diagnostic effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic 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

This approach reduces battery power consumption, minimizes system degradation, and enhances the reliability of diagnostic results by performing diagnostics at desirable temperature conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature in the evaporative emissions system will be within a threshold temperature of present ambient temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a temperature in the evaporative emissions system will be within a threshold temperature of present ambient temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11568686B2System and method for a vehicle diagnostic wakeup

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for waking a controller from a sleep mode are described. In one example, the controller may be woke in response to an estimated amount of time that it will take for a temperature in an evaporative emissions system to be within a threshold temperature of ambient temperature.