Four-Wheel Drive Controller Mode Switching Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Four-wheel drive vehicles often experience reduced traveling performance due to improper operation of the drive mode selector, leading to inappropriate transfer device arrangements, which can compromise safety and efficiency, especially during off-road driving.
Innovation Solution
A controller for a four-wheel drive vehicle that includes a lock mechanism, switch mechanisms, and a detector to ensure that the transfer device arrangement matches the selected drive mode, preventing improper switching and maintaining appropriate traveling modes for optimal performance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the selector for the traveling mode is installed on a position that is easy to be operated by the driver and readily accessible by the passenger, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to improper operation by passengers or prank operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by detecting the current drive mode arrangement before allowing traveling mode switching. The determiner checks whether the drive mode arrangement corresponds to the selected drive mode, and only permits traveling mode switching when the correspondence is confirmed, preventing improper mode selection before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the drive mode arrangement and comparing it with the selected drive mode. The detector provides real-time information about the actual drive mode arrangement, and this feedback is used by the determiner to control whether traveling mode switching is permitted, ensuring reliability while maintaining accessibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transfer device shifts through multiple arrangements (2WD to full-time 4WD via direct-connection 4WD), then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to prolonged time during which the drive mode does not correspond to the transfer device arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification at each stage of the mode transition to detect whether the drive mode arrangement corresponds to the selected drive mode. By checking the correspondence before permitting traveling mode switching, the system ensures reliability even during multi-stage transitions, preventing improper traveling mode selection during the transition period
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the permitting condition for traveling mode switching based on the current drive mode arrangement. During multi-stage transitions, the determiner continuously evaluates whether the current arrangement corresponds to the selected drive mode, allowing or prohibiting traveling mode switching dynamically to maintain reliability throughout the transition process
3Productivity
If the drive mode selector is operated quickly without confirmation, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to improper operation leading to incorrect traveling mode selection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by detecting the drive mode arrangement and comparing it with the selected drive mode before allowing traveling mode switching. This preliminary check ensures that even quick operations result in correct traveling mode selection, maintaining reliability without sacrificing operational speed
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification by automatically detecting the drive mode arrangement and determining whether traveling mode switching is permitted. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual confirmation while ensuring reliability, allowing quick operations to proceed safely without compromising correctness
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A controller of a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a first operation part (5) that switches drive mode of the vehicle; a second operation part (6) that switches off-road traveling modes indicating traveling modes for off-road driving of the vehicle; a transfer controller (1) that controls the arrangement of a transfer device (13) in accordance with the drive mode; a detector (8) that detects the arrangement of the transfer device (13); a determiner (2a) that determines whether a switching of the traveling modes is permitted or not based on the drive mode and the arrangement detected by the detector (8); and a setter (2b) that sets the traveling modes of the vehicle (10) based on the detected arrangement and input operations to the first operation part (5) and the second operation part (6) when the determiner (2a) determines the switching of the traveling modes is permitted, and maintains the current traveling mode when the determiner (2a) determines the switching of the traveling modes is not permitted.