EV Motor Torque Mapping via Shifter-Based Character Unlocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery electric vehicles lack the sense of achievement and driving pleasure associated with manual transmission vehicles, as the enhanced driving experiences are not achieved through the driver's own actions.

Innovation Solution

A battery electric vehicle equipped with an accelerator pedal, shifter, data management device, and motor control device that manages vehicle characteristic data to simulate manual transmission experiences, allowing drivers to unlock special vehicle characteristics by meeting predetermined actions, providing a sense of achievement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple torque characteristics are provided through control patterns, then driving pleasure is improved, but sense of achievement is lost because driver action is not required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving pleasureVSAvoidsense of achievement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes torque characteristics based on shifter operations. The motor control device adjusts torque output in real-time according to the detected shifter position, creating an adaptive driving experience that responds to driver actions while maintaining multiple torque patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback from shifter operations to control torque characteristics. The detection device monitors shifter position and feeds this information back to the motor control device, which then adjusts torque output accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that links driver action to vehicle response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If standard vehicle characteristic data is used initially, then ease of operation is maintained, but driving experience is limited without special characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddriving experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares multiple vehicle characteristic data sets in advance, including both standard and special characteristics. The special data is pre-configured and ready to be activated when unlock conditions are met, allowing the system to transition from standard to enhanced driving experiences

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes vehicle characteristic parameters by switching between different data sets. When unlock conditions are satisfied, the system transitions from standard vehicle characteristic data to special vehicle characteristic data, fundamentally altering the torque characteristics and driving experience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4389498A1Battery electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4389498A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4389498A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4389498A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The battery electric vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an accelerator pedal, a shifter, a data management device that manages vehicle characteristic data, and a motor control device that controls an electric motor according to the vehicle characteristic data. The vehicle characteristic data is data configured to change an output characteristic of the electric motor with respect to an operation of the accelerator pedal according to an operation position of the shifter. The vehicle characteristic data includes standard vehicle characteristic data and special vehicle characteristic data that has been locked. The data management device is configured to unlock the special vehicle characteristic data when an unlock condition in which a predetermined action of a driver is used as a requirement is satisfied.