Virtual Manual Shifting in EVs With Clutch and Engine Speed Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack the sensory feedback of engine noise and vibration, making it difficult for drivers to perform smooth manual gear changes, as they cannot intuitively determine the timing of torque variations simulating manual transmission shifts.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle system with a pseudo-shifter, pseudo-clutch, and controller that calculates and displays virtual engine speed, allowing drivers to simulate manual gear changes by selecting virtual gear stages and clutch operation, providing visual feedback on an instrument panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If torque variation control is performed to simulate manual gear change operation in an electric vehicle, then the feeling of strangeness for drivers accustomed to manual transmission is suppressed, but the driver cannot determine the timing of torque variation control voluntarily by their own operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pseudo-clutch device and pseudo-shifter that replicate the operational interface of manual transmission vehicles. The pseudo-clutch pedal and pseudo-shifter lever copy the physical form and operation method of traditional clutch and shift devices, allowing drivers to perform familiar manual gear change operations without requiring actual mechanical transmission components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical clutch mechanism and shift mechanism with a control system that detects pseudo-clutch pedal operation and pseudo-shifter lever position. Instead of mechanical engagement and gear changing, the system uses torque variation control of the drive motor to simulate the effects of manual gear changes, substituting mechanical systems with electronic control.
2Device complexity
If manual gear change operation is simulated in an electric vehicle without engine noise and vibration, then the vehicle structure is simplified, but it is difficult for drivers to grasp the condition of the vehicle and perform smooth manual gear change operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism that provides visual information to the driver during simulated manual gear change operations. The notification device displays gear stage information and operational status to compensate for the lack of sensory feedback from engine noise and vibration, enabling drivers to perform smooth gear changes by providing real-time information about vehicle state and operation progress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the information presentation parameters by introducing visual notifications that display gear stage numbers and operational status. This transforms the invisible torque variations and motor speed changes into visible information, allowing drivers to grasp vehicle conditions and timing of gear changes through visual parameters rather than auditory or tactile parameters.
3Ease of operation
If the pseudo-clutch device and pseudo-shifter are added to enable manual gear change simulation, then driver convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the pseudo-clutch pedal and pseudo-shifter lever to serve multiple functions. The pseudo-clutch pedal not only simulates clutch operation but also serves as a gear selection input device when combined with pseudo-shifter lever positions. These components are integrated into the existing vehicle control system, allowing them to perform both traditional functions and new simulation functions without requiring completely separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle includes a shift lever and a clutch pedal for simulating manual gear changes of a traditional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission, and includes a controller for controlling the operation of the electric vehicle. The driver operates the shift lever in a similar fashion to that of a traditional manual transmission shift lever, however the associated gear positions do not correspond to physical gears in a transmission but rather virtual gear stage modes that correspond to mapped torque characteristics with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The clutch pedal is operated by the driver when the shift lever is operated. The controller calculates the virtual engine speed of the virtual engine based on the virtual gear stage mode selected by the shift lever and the operation amount of the clutch pedal, and displays the virtual engine speed on a display.