Gear Lever Controlled Vehicle Assistance System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motor vehicle driver assistance systems for tailbacks or slow traffic are expensive and potentially dangerous due to their reliance on sophisticated sensors and technology, making them unsuitable for lower-range vehicles and lacking intuitiveness in activation.

Innovation Solution

An automotive electronic control system that uses a servo-assisted powertrain and braking system, controlled by a body computer and electronic control units, allowing drivers to manually control acceleration and deceleration using the gear lever in specific directions, eliminating the need for expensive sensors and providing a user-friendly interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sophisticated radar, video and/or ultrasound sensors, adaptive cruise control systems with Stop-and-Go function, lane keeping support systems and electromechanical steering are used, then driver assistance functionality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver assistance functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the expensive sensor suite (radar, video, ultrasound sensors) and complex systems (lane keeping support, electromechanical steering) from the driver assistance system, retaining only the essential gear lever-based control mechanism that can be implemented with existing vehicle components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex systems with simpler, cheaper alternatives that can be implemented using existing vehicle components, making the technology economically viable for lower-range vehicles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Extent of automation

If the driver assistance system completely takes over control of the motor vehicle, then automation level is improved, but driver engagement decreases and safety may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation levelVSAvoiddriver engagement and safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial automation where the system assists the driver with acceleration and deceleration control through the gear lever, but the driver maintains full control and engagement, avoiding complete automation that would disengage the driver

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The gear lever serves as an intermediary control mechanism that maintains driver engagement while providing automated assistance, acting as a mediator between full manual control and complete automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If complex sensor-based systems are implemented, then driving assistance capability is improved, but system complexity and potential distraction to the driver increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving assistance capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing gear lever multi-functional by enabling it to control acceleration and deceleration in addition to its traditional gear shifting function, eliminating the need for separate complex control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes existing vehicle components (gear lever, transmission control systems) to provide driver assistance functionality, allowing the vehicle's own components to serve the dual purpose of traditional operation and assisted driving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3085592B1Driver assistance during tailbacks or slow traffic
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 FCA ITALY SPA
  • EP3085592B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3085592B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3085592B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A motor vehicle (MV) comprising servo-assisted powertrain (PWT) and braking system (BS), and an electronic control system (ECS) configured to receive quantities indicative of operating conditions of the motor vehicle (MV), the powertrain (PWT), the braking system (BS), and other on-vehicle systems/components comprising a gear lever (GL), and to control the motor vehicle powertrain (PWT) and the braking system (BS) during tailbacks or slow traffic in response to operation of the gear lever (GL) to control the movement of the motor vehicle (MV) in said situations.