EV Mode Switching via Steering Grip Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In battery electric vehicles, unintended mode switching due to misoperation or other reasons can cause delays in the driver's response to changes in vehicle behavior when transitioning between motor driving mode and gear shift driving mode.
Innovation Solution
A controller is programmed to permit switching between motor driving mode and gear shift driving mode only when the steering wheel is gripped, ensuring the driver can respond quickly to vehicle behavior changes, and additional conditions such as vehicle stoppage or neutral gear position are considered to minimize unintended mode changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mode switching is permitted at any time, then the driver can switch between driving modes freely and quickly, but unintended mode switching may occur due to misoperation causing delay in driver response
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel grip detection serves as an intermediary condition between the driver's intention and the mode switching execution. The grip detection unit detects whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel, and this detection result is used by the control unit to permit or prohibit mode switching. This intermediary mechanism ensures that mode switching only occurs when the driver is actively controlling the vehicle, thereby preventing unintended switching while maintaining operational ease.
2Reliability
If mode switching is restricted to when steering wheel is gripped, then unintended mode switching is prevented, but switching may be delayed when driver cannot respond quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the steering wheel grip state before permitting mode switching. By continuously monitoring whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel in advance, the system ensures that mode switching can be executed immediately when the driver intends to switch modes and is in a state to respond to vehicle behavior changes. This preliminary action prevents time delay while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If additional conditions (vehicle stoppage, neutral gear) are added for mode switching, then unintended mode changes are minimized, but the complexity of switching conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit integrates multiple switching conditions (steering wheel grip detection, vehicle stoppage detection, neutral gear position detection) into a single universal control mechanism. Rather than implementing separate control systems for each condition, the control unit evaluates all conditions through one integrated logic, permitting mode switching when any of the conditions are met. This multi-functional approach minimizes unintended mode changes while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery electric vehicle includes a motor configured to output torque for driving to a drive shaft, a mode selector configured to select a driving mode from a plurality of driving modes based on driver's operation including a motor driving mode that the battery electric vehicle is driven by outputting a required torque required for driving from the motor and a gear shift driving mode that the battery electric vehicle is driven with behavior of torque output from the motor as behavior of the torque in an engine vehicle including an engine and a transmission based on the driver's shift operation, and a controller programmed to control the motor such that the battery electric vehicle drives in the driving mode selected by the mode selector. The controller is programmed to permit switching between the motor driving mode and the gear shift driving mode when a steering wheel is gripped.