Engine Control Torque Shaping Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine control systems face conflicts between maintaining minimum idle speed and ensuring driving comfort, often resulting in compromised performance and comfort due to the lack of a continuous transition between idle control and torque shaping, and parameterization interdependence.

Innovation Solution

An engine control system that implements a continuous transition between idle control and torque shaping, using situation recognition to determine a weighting index for shaping the torque requirement, allowing for independent optimization of both controller performance and driving comfort by decoupling parameterization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If torque shaping is completely switched off to prevent engine stalling, then engine reliability is improved, but driving comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine stalling preventionVSAvoiddriving comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the torque shaping continuously adaptive based on real-time engine operating conditions. Instead of a fixed switch-off threshold, the system dynamically adjusts the degree of torque shaping through a weighting factor that varies with engine speed, load, and other parameters, allowing smooth transition between comfort-oriented and safety-oriented control modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing a weighting factor that continuously varies between 0 and 1, modifying the torque requirement in a graded manner. This parameter change enables the system to balance between torque shaping (for comfort) and idle speed maintenance (for reliability) based on current operating conditions, rather than using binary on/off control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If torque conversion is strengthened in the near-idle range to prevent stalling, then engine reliability is improved, but oscillations in engine speed occur worsening control stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine stalling preventionVSAvoidengine speed stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the torque conversion strength based on real-time feedback from engine sensors. The weighting factor is continuously updated according to engine speed deviations, ensuring that torque conversion is applied smoothly and adaptively rather than as a fixed strong correction, thereby preventing oscillations while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If idle speed control operates with high dynamics to counteract speed changes, then engine reliability is improved, but driver's desired torque is negatively influenced worsening driving comfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidle speed maintenanceVSAvoiddriver's desired torque response
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a weighting factor parameter that continuously varies between 0 and 1, allowing the idle speed control to adaptively adjust its influence on the final torque requirement. When driver torque demand is high, the weighting factor reduces the idle control's impact, preserving driver intent while still maintaining engine stability through subtle adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If switching solution is used between idle control and torque shaping, then implementation simplicity is improved, but conflicts between idle speed control and driving comfort arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol implementation simplicityVSAvoiddriving comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a weighting factor as an intermediary element that mediates between idle speed control and torque shaping. This intermediary allows both control strategies to work simultaneously with varying degrees of influence, eliminating the need for abrupt switching while maintaining implementation feasibility through a straightforward calculation approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3568582B1Engine control, engine control method and corresponding computer program
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3568582B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3568582B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3568582B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an engine control, an engine control method and to a corresponding computer program. The engine control is designed to form the torque request of an idle speed control (MLL) as a function of a situation recognition (2).