Hybrid Engine Start Control Using Learned Accelerator Behavior
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid vehicles, the internal combustion engine often starts unintentionally due to driver-specific accelerator pedal operation characteristics, leading to inefficient fuel usage and unintended engine activation.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine start control apparatus that learns the driver's accelerator operation characteristic and adjusts the engine start timing based on this learning, implementing a first start process when the accelerator position exceeds a threshold and a second start process after a predetermined time, to accurately determine and prevent unintended engine starts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engine start threshold is set to respond quickly to accelerator depression, then the engine starts timely for intended acceleration requests, but the engine may start unintentionally due to driver-specific operation characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary learning of the driver's accelerator operation characteristics before making start decisions. By accumulating data on how the driver operates the accelerator pedal during normal acceleration, the system establishes a baseline pattern that is used to filter false start requests, thereby preventing unintended engine starts while maintaining timely response to genuine acceleration needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing the current accelerator operation pattern against the learned driver characteristics. When the accelerator position change matches the learned pattern, the engine start is permitted; when it deviates (indicating potential unintended operation), the start is suppressed. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by adapting the start threshold dynamically based on driver behavior patterns
2Reliability
If a fixed time delay is applied before engine start, then unintended starts are suppressed, but the engine response time increases for legitimate acceleration requests
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the engine start decision based on the learned driver characteristics rather than applying a fixed time delay. The evaluation criteria change adaptively according to the specific driver's accelerator operation patterns, allowing rapid response for legitimate requests while suppressing unintended starts without imposing uniform delays on all start attempts
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the evaluation parameters for engine start based on the learned accelerator operation characteristics. Instead of using a fixed threshold or time delay, the system adjusts the start criteria dynamically according to the driver's specific operation patterns, thereby maintaining fast response times for genuine acceleration while preventing unintended starts
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine start control apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories communicably coupled thereto. The one or more processors: generate a stop request for an internal combustion engine when an accelerator position based on an operation by a driver is less than a predetermined position threshold, and a start request for the internal combustion engine when the accelerator position becomes the position threshold or greater; learn an accelerator operation characteristic of the driver exhibited when a vehicle starts or accelerates; and execute, based on a result of learning the accelerator operation characteristic, a first start process of starting the internal combustion engine when the accelerator position becomes the position threshold or greater, and a second start process of starting the internal combustion engine after a state in which the accelerator position is the position threshold or greater continues for a predetermined time period.