EV Pseudo Shifter Control for Faster Manual Shift Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery electric vehicles struggle to simulate manual transmission shifting operations of internal combustion engine vehicles, leading to prolonged shift times that cause discomfort for drivers.

Innovation Solution

A battery electric vehicle system that includes an electric motor, an accelerator pedal, a pseudo shifter, and a controller, which simulates manual transmission operations by changing the relationship among vehicle speed, accelerator operation, and motor torque within a predetermined time, using a vehicle model with driver, engine, clutch, and transmission models to ensure timely shifting completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the rotational speed difference between virtual engine rotational speed and virtual input shaft rotational speed is used to control clutch engagement, then the shifting operation follows manual transmission behavior, but the shift time becomes excessively long causing driver discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshifting operation realismVSAvoidshift time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by adjusting the relationship among vehicle speed, accelerator operation amount, and motor torque before the clutch engagement condition is met. When the pseudo shifter is operated, the controller proactively changes these relationships within a predetermined time, preparing the system for upcoming clutch engagement and reducing the overall shift time while maintaining realistic shifting behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the clutch engagement condition requires rotational speed difference to decrease, then the shifting simulation is accurate, but the shift completion time increases causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshifting simulation accuracyVSAvoidshift completion time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by adjusting the relationship among vehicle speed, accelerator operation amount, and motor torque within a predetermined time after pseudo shifter operation. This proactive parameter adjustment ensures that the clutch engagement condition is met faster while maintaining accurate shifting simulation, thus reducing shift completion time without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle simulates manual transmission behavior with clutch disengaged during shifting, then the driving experience is authentic, but prolonged shift time causes driver discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual transmission simulationVSAvoidshift time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary actions by adjusting vehicle speed, accelerator operation amount, and motor torque relationships before clutch engagement is required. This ensures that when the pseudo shifter is operated, the system is already prepared to complete the shift quickly while maintaining authentic manual transmission simulation behavior throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4582292A1Battery electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4582292A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4582292A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4582292A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery electric vehicle (100) includes an electric motor (4F, 4R) as a driving source. The battery electric vehicle (100) includes an accelerator pedal (22), a pseudo shifter (24), and a controller (101). The pseudo shifter (24) imitates a shifter that is used to perform a shifting operation of a manual transmission internal combustion engine vehicle. The controller (101) is configured to change a relationship among a vehicle speed of the battery electric vehicle (100), an accelerator operation amount of the accelerator pedal (22), and torque of the electric motor (4F, 4R) in response to an operation of the pseudo shifter (24). The controller (101) is configured to change the relationship within a predetermined time after the pseudo shifter (24) is operated.