Vehicle Engine Auto-Stop Control Unit with Reason Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers face uncertainty about why automatic engine stop or restart is prohibited in their vehicles, leading to confusion and potential misuse of vehicle operations, and existing solutions do not adequately address these issues.
Innovation Solution
An automatic stop device for vehicle engines that includes an automatic stop control unit for initiating and prohibiting engine stop based on predetermined conditions, a restart control unit for restarting the engine when conditions are met, and a storage unit to log and display the reasons for prohibiting engine stop or restart, allowing drivers to understand the causes and improving fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If automatic engine stop is implemented to improve fuel consumption, then fuel efficiency is improved, but driver understanding and trust in the system deteriorates due to lack of transparency about stop/prohibit reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the driver by displaying the reason why automatic engine stop is prohibited on a display unit. When the engine should be stopped but is prohibited due to various conditions (battery state, air conditioner status, etc.), the system shows this information to the driver, making the system's behavior transparent and understandable.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the automatic stop control system and the driver. It processes multiple input signals (vehicle speed, brake status, battery state, air conditioner status) and translates them into understandable output information displayed to the driver, bridging the gap between complex system operations and driver comprehension.
2Reliability
If multiple conditions are monitored to determine engine stop prohibition, then reliability of fuel efficiency optimization is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it monitors vehicle speed, brake operation status, battery state, air conditioner status, and other parameters; it determines whether automatic engine stop should be prohibited; and it displays the reason for prohibition. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate systems into a single control unit, managing complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring.
3Reliability
If automatic engine restart is performed based on battery charging amount, then battery maintenance is improved, but driver control and intent recognition deteriorates due to unintended restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the driver by displaying the reason for automatic engine restart on the display unit. When the engine is automatically restarted due to low battery charging amount, the system shows this information to the driver, making the restart behavior transparent and allowing the driver to understand the system's decision-making process.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic stop device for a vehicle engine includes: an automatic stop control unit which performs automatic engine stop when a predetermined automatic stop initiating condition is established while the vehicle is stopped, and prohibits automatic engine stop when the automatic stop initiating condition is not established; a restart control unit which performs automatic engine restart when a predetermined automatic stop cancelling condition is established after the engine is automatically stopped; and a storage unit which stores a cause of prohibiting automatic engine stop when automatic stop of the engine is prohibited while the vehicle is stopped, or a cause of performing automatic engine restart when the engine that has been automatically stopped is automatically restarted.