Vehicle Engine Control After Emergency Stop for Cabin Air Conditioning

Solution Overview

Problem

After a vehicle is stopped by automatic-driving control due to an abnormal driver state, there is a risk of secondary disasters such as hypothermia or carbon monoxide poisoning, as engine driving may be necessary to maintain air conditioning, which can lead to exhaust gas backflow in snowy conditions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus that includes an automatic-driving processor and an engine processor, which reduces engine driving frequency after stopping, allowing air conditioner operation only when necessary, and controls electric power generation to maintain battery charge for air conditioning, ensuring minimal engine usage and preventing gas backflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the engine is driven frequently to maintain air conditioning operation after vehicle stopping, then the air conditioner can maintain interior temperature, but exhaust gas backflow and carbon monoxide poisoning risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterior temperatureVSAvoidexhaust gas backflow

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical engine-driven air conditioning system with an electrically-driven system. The air conditioner is operated using battery power instead of engine power, eliminating the connection between engine operation and climate control. This substitution allows temperature maintenance without engine running, thus preventing exhaust gas backflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary charging of the battery before vehicle stopping by controlling the engine to operate and charge the battery when the vehicle is moving. This preliminary action ensures sufficient battery power is stored to operate the air conditioner after stopping, eliminating the need for frequent engine restarts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of moving object

If the engine is driven frequently to maintain air conditioning operation, then the air conditioner can function continuously, but the frequency of engine starting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair conditioner operation durationVSAvoidengine starting frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary charging of the battery before vehicle stopping by controlling the engine to operate and charge the battery when the vehicle is moving. This preliminary action ensures sufficient battery power is stored to operate the air conditioner after stopping, eliminating the need for frequent engine restarts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical engine-driven air conditioning system with an electrically-driven system. The air conditioner is operated using battery power instead of engine power, allowing continuous operation without increasing engine starting frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the engine is reduced to minimal operation after stopping, then carbon monoxide poisoning risk decreases, but battery charge may be insufficient for air conditioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon monoxide poisoning riskVSAvoidbattery charge

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary charging of the battery before vehicle stopping by controlling the engine to operate and charge the battery when the vehicle is moving. This preliminary action ensures sufficient battery power is stored to operate the air conditioner after stopping, eliminating the need for frequent engine restarts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback control to monitor battery charge state and adjust engine operation accordingly. The engine processor detects battery charge levels and controls engine operation to maintain sufficient charge for air conditioner operation, ensuring energy balance without excessive engine running.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Minimizes engine driving after stopping, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and hypothermia by securing battery charge for air conditioner operation, while maintaining a safe vehicle interior temperature.

Implementation Method 1

controls electric power generation to maintain battery charge for air conditioning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentUS11926338B2Vehicle control apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.03.12 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

A vehicle control apparatus includes an automatic-driving processor and an engine processor. The automatic-driving processor is configured to perform an automatic-driving control to stop a vehicle in accordance with detection of an abnormal state of a driver who drives the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling. When the vehicle is in a standby state after stopping of the vehicle by the automatic-driving control, the engine processor is configured to perform an engine driving control to reduce how frequently an engine of the vehicle is started, compared with when the vehicle is in a normal traveling state. The standby state is a state in which an operation control of an air conditioner of the vehicle is allowed.