Engine Control Apparatus for Smooth Idle Stop Restart

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine control systems suppress driver-intended acceleration when restarting from an idle state, preventing smooth vehicle movement as they delay drive force application and reduction.

Innovation Solution

An engine control apparatus that determines the driver's readiness to start the vehicle by elapsed time and gear position, canceling drive power suppression when the driver is deemed ready, allowing for smooth acceleration based on driver intention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If drive power suppression is applied when the engine restarts from idle state, then sudden acceleration feel is prevented, but driver-intended acceleration is suppressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesudden acceleration feelVSAvoiddriver-intended acceleration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the drive power suppression control conditional and adjustable based on real-time detection of driver readiness. The system dynamically switches between suppression and non-suppression modes according to the detected gear position and elapsed time, allowing the control strategy to adapt to the driver's actual intentions rather than applying a fixed suppression policy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring gear position signals and elapsed time to determine driver readiness. This feedback loop allows the system to detect when the driver intends to accelerate (through gear selection) and adjust the drive power suppression accordingly, ensuring the control response aligns with the driver's actual intentions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If drive force is delayed with respect to accelerator command, then vehicle starts smoothly, but acceleration response is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth vehicle startVSAvoidacceleration response
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the drive force delay conditional rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts whether to delay the drive force based on detected driver readiness, allowing smooth starts when appropriate while maintaining rapid acceleration response when the driver intends to move the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using gear position and elapsed time information to determine whether to apply drive force delay. This feedback mechanism ensures that the delay is applied only when it contributes to smooth starting, while canceling the delay when the driver's acceleration intention is detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If throttle valve opening is controlled to suppress drive force, then vehicle movement is controlled, but driver acceleration intention is suppressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled vehicle movementVSAvoidacceleration performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the throttle valve control strategy conditional based on detected driver readiness. The system dynamically adjusts the degree of drive force suppression according to real-time conditions, allowing controlled vehicle movement when necessary while maintaining full acceleration performance when the driver intends to accelerate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring driver inputs and vehicle state to determine the appropriate throttle control strategy. This feedback loop ensures that throttle valve opening is controlled to achieve smooth vehicle movement only when the driver is not ready to accelerate, while allowing full acceleration response when driver intention is detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2687705B1Engine control apparatus, and engine control method
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2687705B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2687705B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2687705B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an engine control apparatus and an engine control method for enabling a more smooth start after the engine is restarted from idle stop in consideration of the status of preparation for starting on the part of the driver when restarting from idle stop, while using a control unit for restraining driving force. An engine control apparatus (10) is provided with: a start preparation determination unit (74) that determines whether the driver is prepared for starting; and an output control unit (70) that restrains the deriving force of an engine (12) which corresponds to a throttle-opening instructing operation by the driver at the time of starting after the engine (12) is restarted. When the start preparation determination unit (74) determines that the driver is prepared for starting, the output control unit (70) removes the restraint on the driving force of the engine (12).