Engine Start-Stop Control for Detachable Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine start/stop systems in vehicles with detachable doors fail to optimize fuel efficiency and emissions quality, as they do not account for the door's attachment state and operator presence, leading to increased fuel consumption and potential unintended vehicle movement when the driver leaves the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A system that detects the driver side door's attachment state and the operator's presence using a door control unit and seat belt sensor, adjusting the engine start/stop strategy based on these conditions and the type of transmission system, ensuring the engine is only stopped or restarted when the operator is present and the door is attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine start/stop function is enabled based on door attachment state, then fuel efficiency and emissions quality are improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional detection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The door control unit (DCU) is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only controls door operations but also detects door attachment state and communicates this information to the engine control system. This multi-functionality allows the existing DCU to serve dual purposes, reducing the need for separate detection systems and thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while enabling fuel efficiency improvements through start/stop functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The door control unit acts as an intermediary between the door system and the engine control system. It receives door attachment state information and transmits this data to the engine control unit, which then decides whether to enable the start/stop function. This intermediary approach allows the engine control system to make informed decisions without directly monitoring door states, simplifying the overall system architecture while still achieving the desired fuel efficiency benefits.
2Loss of energy
If the engine is stopped when the driver door is detached, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential unintended vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the door attachment state and provides feedback to the engine control system. When the door is detected as detached, this information is fed back to prevent engine stopping, ensuring the engine remains running for immediate vehicle control. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust engine operation based on real-time door status, maintaining safety while optimizing fuel efficiency when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting door detachment status before the engine stop decision is made. When door detachment is detected, the system proactively prevents the engine stop sequence from initiating, thereby avoiding the potential safety issue of unintended vehicle movement. This preliminary prevention ensures that the engine remains operational as a safety safeguard while still allowing start/stop functionality to operate when doors are properly attached.
3Reliability
If the start/stop function is restricted when door attachment is uncertain, then vehicle safety is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to prolonged idling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of door attachment state using the door control unit before making engine stop decisions. By establishing the door attachment status in advance through DCU detection and communication, the engine control system can confidently enable or disable the start/stop function based on confirmed door status, rather than restricting operation due to uncertainty. This preliminary detection eliminates the need for conservative restrictions while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual or mechanical door status verification with electronic detection through the door control unit. The DCU electronically monitors door attachment and communicates this data to the engine control system, eliminating the need for mechanical switches or manual verification. This electronic substitution provides more reliable and certain door status information, allowing the start/stop function to operate safely without prolonged idling restrictions.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine start/stop function in a vehicle with a detachable door. In one example, a method may include, adjusting an engine start/stop strategy responsive to a driver side door of the vehicle been detected to be absent. The adjustment to the start/stop strategy further may be modified based on a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.