Electric Vehicle Operating Device State Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicles with electric motors lack intuitive and clear operating states, making it difficult for drivers to distinguish between various states, leading to safety risks and inefficient operation, as there is no acoustic feedback from the internal combustion engine and additional control elements are required for starting, which can result in unintended movement or battery discharge.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a basic control element for switching the vehicle on and off and a switching control element for selecting operating states, allowing the vehicle to be switched on without needing additional control elements, providing clear feedback through a display device, and allowing the electric motor to be controlled only when the vehicle is in the ready-to-drive state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple operating states are introduced to control the electric motor, then the motor vehicle can be more precisely controlled, but the driver cannot clearly distinguish between the various operating states due to lack of acoustic feedback

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidstate distinguishability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces visual feedback through a display device that clearly indicates the current operating state and gear position to the driver. This compensates for the lack of acoustic feedback from the electric motor, allowing the driver to distinguish between different operating states (first, second, and third states) and gear positions (park, idle, forward, reverse) through visual information rather than auditory cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If additional control elements are required for starting the motor vehicle, then safety can be improved, but the operation becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control function into two distinct parts: a basic control element for switching the motor vehicle on/off and a gear selection element for selecting driving modes. This segmentation allows the starting operation to be simplified (pressing one button) while maintaining safety through the separate gear selection mechanism that prevents unintended movement, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary safety checks and preparations automatically when the basic control element is actuated. The control device ensures that the motor vehicle is properly configured and safe to operate before allowing the electric motor to engage, eliminating the need for multiple manual safety checks by the driver while maintaining high safety standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the motor vehicle can be switched on with a single control element, then operational simplicity is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential unintended movement or battery discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism - the gear selection element - that acts as a mediator between the basic control element and the electric motor activation. This intermediary ensures that even though the motor vehicle can be switched on with a single button press, the electric motor will only engage when the appropriate gear is selected, preventing unintended movement while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2701937B1Operating device for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle comprising an electric motor, and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 AUDI AG
  • EP2701937B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2701937B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2701937B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to an operating device (6) for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle (1) comprising an electric motor (2), according to at least three operating states. In a first operating state, the motor vehicle (1) is off; in a second operating state, the motor vehicle is on and the electric motor (2) is not controllable; and in a third operating state, the motor vehicle (1) is on and the electric motor (2) is in operation. The operating device (6) comprises a base operating element (9) for turning the motor vehicle (1) on and off, and a gear-shift operating element (13) for selecting a gear-shift step. The motor vehicle (1) can be switched from a first operating state to a second operating state simply by a signal from the base operating element (9) when the motor vehicle (1) is switched on, and the motor vehicle is switched from the second operating state to the third operating state by actuation of the gear-shift operating element (13) by selection of a gear-shift step associated with the third operating state.