Engine Controller Torque Rate Limiting for Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine control technologies fail to effectively prevent vehicle back-and-forth vibration during rapid acceleration or deceleration without compromising accelerator response, as they struggle with accurate inverse filter control and learned torque values that vary with operating conditions and load states.

Innovation Solution

An engine controller that calculates a balance torque to maintain stable engine torque during acceleration and deceleration, using a combination of electronically controlled throttle and ignition retard to control torque changes, ensuring the torque increase or decrease ratios are kept within prescribed limits to prevent shock and vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the amount of engine torque change is reduced to prevent vehicle back-and-forth vibration, then vibration suppression is improved, but accelerator response deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle back-and-forth vibrationVSAvoidaccelerator response
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary action by detecting acceleration/deceleration states in advance and proactively adjusting the torque increase/decrease ratios before the vehicle back-and-forth vibration occurs. This allows the system to prevent vibration while maintaining accelerator response by preparing appropriate torque control strategies ahead of time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically adjusts the torque increase/decrease ratios based on real-time detection of acceleration/deceleration states. By making the torque control adaptive and variable rather than fixed, the system can suppress vibration during specific conditions while maintaining responsive acceleration during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If learned torque values are used for vibration control, then control accuracy improves after learning, but vibration suppression fails before learning and varies with operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque control accuracyVSAvoidvibration suppression across operating conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously detects acceleration and deceleration states in real-time and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust torque control parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures vibration suppression works across all operating conditions without requiring prior learning, as the system adapts based on current vehicle state rather than historical data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If torque control is applied during acceleration and deceleration, then vehicle back-and-forth vibration is reduced, but torque response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle back-and-forth vibrationVSAvoidtorque response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller detects acceleration/deceleration states in advance and prepares appropriate torque control parameters before vibration occurs. This preliminary detection and preparation allows the system to apply torque control with minimal delay, reducing vibration while maintaining fast torque response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller implements torque control only during specific acceleration/deceleration states where vibration is likely to occur, rather than continuously. By skipping torque control during normal steady-state operation, the system minimizes response time delays while still effectively suppressing vibration when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP1849980B1Engine controller
Publication Date: 2014.11.05 HITACHI LTD
  • EP1849980B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1849980B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1849980B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

At the present invention, when an engine torque trace is set during acceleration or deceleration, the ratio of increase or decrease in the engine torque per unit time is restricted so that when the engine torque generated during acceleration or deceleration approaches an engine torque (balance torque) at which the engine is oriented upright with respect to the engine mount, the engine torque stays near the balance torque for a prescribed time. The setting of the engine torque trace alleviates the swing of the engine during rapid acceleration or deceleration, and the torque input value applied to the driving system after the convergence of the engine swing is optimized. The vehicle's back-and-forth vibration caused by a twist of the driving system can thereby be prevented.