EV Drivetrain Virtualization for ICE-Like Shift and Clutch Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack the driving sensations and excitement typically associated with internal combustion engine vehicles, such as the feeling of a transmission and clutch, leading to a less engaging driving experience for enthusiasts.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that virtualize the characteristics of an internal combustion engine driving system in electric vehicles by mimicking engine speed, vibration, and gear-shift effects using a controller and virtualization device, allowing drivers to experience a simulated ICE driving sensation without modifying the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If an electric vehicle uses a fixed gear ratio reducer instead of a multi-step transmission, then the driving system becomes simpler and more efficient, but the driver loses the engaging sensation of gear shifts and clutch operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the ICE driving system characteristics through software simulation. The controller replicates engine speed, torque curves, gear shift patterns, and clutch engagement behaviors that do not physically exist in the EV, allowing drivers to experience familiar sensations without actual mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical mechanical system (ICE, transmission, clutch) with an electronic control system that generates equivalent sensory outputs. Instead of actual engine vibrations and gear shifts, the system uses motor control to reproduce these effects through vibration actuators and acoustic generators
2Device complexity
If an electric vehicle omits launching devices like torque converters or clutches, then the driving system becomes simpler, but the vehicle loses the characteristic launching sensation that drivers expect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual launching device by simulating the behavior of torque converters and clutches through software. The controller calculates virtual engine speed and torque characteristics that mimic ICE launching behavior, even though no physical launching devices are present in the EV drivetrain
3Ease of operation
If an electric vehicle provides seamless gear shifting characteristics, then driving becomes smoother and more comfortable, but drivers experience boredom due to lack of driving interest and excitement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the virtual driving characteristics based on driver selection and driving conditions. The controller can switch between different virtual driving modes (e.g., sport mode with simulated gear shifts, comfort mode with smooth delivery) to provide variety while maintaining the underlying smooth EV characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A method of virtualizing the characteristics of an internal-combustion-engine vehicle in an electric vehicle includes: receiving vehicle driving information of the electric vehicle at a controller, determining a current vehicle driving mode based on the input vehicle driving information by the controller, determining a virtual engine speed in the determined vehicle driving mode using the vehicle driving information by the controller, outputting a control signal for virtualizing characteristics of an internal-combustion-engine (ICE) driving system corresponding to a current vehicle driving mode based on the determined virtual engine speed by the controller, and virtualizing the characteristics of the ICE driving system corresponding to the current vehicle driving mode by controlling an operation of a virtualization device according to the output control signal by the controller.