Gear Dependent Pedal Mapping for Vehicle Torque Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle control systems use a single pedal map for all gears, which can lead to inefficient fuel consumption, aggressive pedal response, and rough gear shifts, affecting driver experience and transmission longevity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing different pedal maps for each gear, allowing the vehicle control unit to dynamically adjust torque generation by weighting the outputs of initial and target gear pedal maps during gear shifts, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency and smoothness of gear transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single pedal map is used for all gears, then the device complexity is reduced, but fuel consumption efficiency deteriorates and gear shift smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedal map structureVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single pedal map into multiple gear-specific pedal maps (first pedal map for initial gear, second pedal map for target gear). Each pedal map is optimized for its specific gear range, allowing the system to select the appropriate map based on current gear position, thereby improving fuel efficiency without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different pedal maps based on the current gear position. During gear shifts, the VCU transitions from the first pedal map to the second pedal map, allowing the propulsion parameter control to adapt dynamically to changing gear conditions, optimizing fuel consumption across different operating ranges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a single pedal map is used for all gears, then the device complexity is reduced, but gear shift smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedal map structureVSAvoidgear shift smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the propulsion control into gear-specific pedal maps, where each map is calibrated to provide smooth transitions for its specific gear. This segmentation allows the system to maintain optimal acceleration characteristics for each gear while transitioning between them, improving overall gear shift smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The VCU dynamically transitions between pedal maps during gear shifts, ensuring smooth propulsion parameter adjustments. The system monitors gear position changes and seamlessly switches from the first pedal map to the second pedal map, maintaining smooth acceleration and minimizing shift shocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If different pedal maps are used for different gears, then fuel consumption efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidpedal map structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The VCU serves multiple functions by managing multiple pedal maps - it selects the appropriate pedal map based on gear position, switches between maps during gear transitions, and controls propulsion parameters optimally for each gear. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by delivering superior fuel efficiency across all gear ranges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the propulsion control parameters by selecting different pedal maps for different gears. Each pedal map contains optimized parameter sets for its specific gear range, allowing the VCU to adjust propulsion parameters dynamically based on gear position, thereby improving fuel consumption efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If different pedal maps are used for different gears, then gear shift smoothness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear shift smoothnessVSAvoidpedal map structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The VCU is designed to handle multiple pedal maps and perform intelligent selection and switching based on gear position. This multi-functional capability enables smooth gear transitions while managing the complexity of maintaining multiple optimized pedal maps for different gear ranges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to gear changes by switching between pedal maps in real-time. The VCU monitors gear position and seamlessly transitions between the first and second pedal maps, ensuring smooth propulsion delivery during gear shifts while managing the complexity through dynamic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10913460B2Vehicle propulsion control using gear dependent pedal mapping during gear shift

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 VOLVO CAR CORP

AI summary

A controller for a vehicle is configured to determine an amount of torque to be generated by a propulsion source of the vehicle during a shift from an initial gear of a transmission of the vehicle to a target gear of the transmission. The controller is configured to determine the amount of torque based on a position of an acceleration pedal of the vehicle, a first pedal map for the initial gear, and a second pedal map for the target gear. The controller is further configured to output, during the shift from the initial gear to the target gear, one or more commands to control one or more operating parameters of the propulsion source to generate the amount of torque.