Engine Control Apparatus for Motorcycle Fall Recovery

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control systems for internal combustion engines require immediate shutdown upon vehicle fall, leading to bothersome restart operations and potential engine damage, especially in scenarios where the fall is not severe, causing time loss and physical burden during races.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus that generates a falling signal to stop engine operation temporarily, allowing a predetermined time for vehicle recovery before restarting, thereby preventing engine damage and enabling quick vehicle restart without shutdown.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the engine operation is stopped immediately upon vehicle fall, then the engine can be protected from damage due to poor lubrication, but the operator has to restart the engine which causes time loss and physical burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine protectionVSAvoidrestart time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the engine stop decision adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts whether to stop the engine based on real-time vehicle state detection (lean angle, engine speed, rider input) rather than following a static immediate-stop rule. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by protecting the engine only when necessary while avoiding unnecessary stops that cause time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of engine stop decision from a binary immediate-action to a conditional decision based on multiple parameters including lean angle magnitude, engine speed, and rider input signals. By monitoring these parameters and adjusting the stop decision accordingly, the system protects the engine when parameters indicate severe falls while allowing continuous operation when parameters show minor disturbances, thus eliminating unnecessary restart time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the engine operation is stopped immediately upon vehicle fall, then the lubrication system can be protected, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to repeated restart manipulations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine protectionVSAvoidrestart operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the engine control system to automatically determine whether stopping is necessary based on self-diagnosis of vehicle state. The control unit monitors lean angle, engine speed, and rider inputs to autonomously decide on engine stop/continue actions without requiring operator judgment or manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by automating the protection mechanism while eliminating the need for operator restart manipulations when automatic continuation is safe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle state parameters (lean angle, engine speed, rider input) and using this feedback to adjust engine operation decisions in real-time. The system receives feedback from sensors and rider inputs, processes this information, and adjusts the engine stop decision accordingly. This feedback loop enables intelligent differentiation between severe falls requiring protection and minor disturbances allowing continued operation, improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the engine operation is stopped upon vehicle fall, then the lubrication circulation can be maintained, but the productivity decreases due to time loss in restart operations during races

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication circulationVSAvoidrace performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the engine stop decision adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts whether to stop the engine based on real-time vehicle state detection (lean angle, engine speed, rider input) rather than following a static immediate-stop rule. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by protecting the engine only when necessary while avoiding unnecessary stops that cause time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of engine stop decision from a binary immediate-action to a conditional decision based on multiple parameters including lean angle magnitude, engine speed, and rider input signals. By monitoring these parameters and adjusting the stop decision accordingly, the system protects the engine when parameters indicate severe falls while allowing continuous operation when parameters show minor disturbances, thus eliminating unnecessary restart time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8738274B2Control apparatus for internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

In an apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle, it is configured to have a falling signal generator that generates a falling signal indicative of falling of the vehicle when the vehicle falls; an operation stopper that stops operation of the engine in response to the generated falling signal; and a suspender that suspends processing of the operation stopper to stop the operation of the engine until a predetermined time period elapses. With this, when the falling of the vehicle is not serious and the operator lifts the vehicle body within the predetermined time period, the operator can restart the vehicle to drive immediately after lifting the vehicle body.